Review: Don't Cry by Beverly Barton

           In this new serial killer thriller Beverly Barton introduces a set of fresh characters to enjoy and new web of interconnected friendships and old family secrets. While the main characters are Special Agent J. D. Cass and his budding relationship with grief counselor Audrey Sherrod, their friends and family are a close second.           The story is more mystery thriller than romance which a change from her other stories. There are short glimpses into the lives of Hart and Tamara that have wondering what will be next. I was still bouncing between the likely suspects for the Rocking Chair Killer until the very end but when the clues came together they fit very well and the story is tight.
          However, the relationship side of things with J. D. and Audrey left me unconvinced, the change in their feeling is too abrupt and they have other issues to work on that were not addressed.
          Luckily, Barton has already stated that there will be another book with these characters in the future so they will have an opportunity to work things out and convince me that there is something more to the relationship besides the mystery they were involved in together.

Review: Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

           The Glass Trilogy concludes with Spy Glass and Opal Carew has to make some serious decisions in this book. After reading it back in June I had to take some time away to think about it because so much happens in this book. Opal flounders around in the beginning trying to understand her new standing in life as a person immune to magic, much like Valek I believe and she has trouble adjusting.
             After some time recovering she ask her friends about the time during captivity and she realizes that something does seem right, something important of hers is missing. Then she goes on a quest, breaks into jail, breaks out of jail, finds something of hers, loses something of hers, gets addicted to something, and makes a hard choice about her life and the lives of others.
            Loose ends having to do with the odd community by the sea from the second book are tied up when she is forced to return there. During her time there her own magic is forced upon her and she becomes addicted enough to begin to understand Devlin's side of his own struggle with his addiction. While she fights her growing attraction to him she also fight keep herself and many others alive.
              This book is very hard to summarize without giving too much away but it is packed with emotional roller coasters and life changing events for Opal, thus it is not to be missed. This review is based on the Galley edition.

Review: Demon Hunts by C. E. Murphy

          Joanne Walker is my favorite character by C. E. Murphy, her other books are very good but the Walker Papers Series is her best. Demon Hunts is book five and takes place a few months after the Walking Dead, which put the setting in late December in Seattle. A series of murders in the surrounding areas lead to whispers of a serial killer but Joanne Walker is called in when the crime scenes are startling lacking in physical evidence and she is puzzled by the unfamiliar magical "tracks" she finds.
          In Murphy's usual writing style the story is fast paced and the reader is in Joanne's head every second as she reacts to the events around her and tries to get one step ahead of the killer. At the same time she also has to stay out of the news, not an easy goal when a smart reporter figures out that Joanne is prime new material if she could just be caught in action on camera.
           There are several interesting surprises in this book such as a past characters unexpected return, a revelation about Gary's spirit animal, and a very interesting magical opponent. All of which make this story a great fast read on a slow day. Make sure you plan for some series uninterrupted reading because you will not want to put it down.

Review: Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson

          Book 9 of the Queen Betsy series is both a disappointment and a shock. Eeek! I finished it in about 4 hours because after first few chapters I ended up speed reading to get through the whole time travel issue. Normally, I love the Queen Betsy series because she is a very charming and clueless Vampire Queen with interesting shoe fetishes likes the rest of us.
          However, this installment of the series is not really a story, it read like a plot device, so that the series can go in a new and unexpected direction. It should not be missed simply because the ending is so shocking and you end up wondering how it happened.
          No matter how bad the reviews say it is, and yes the book as a whole is not very good, it should be read just so that you know why Betsy is in trouble up to her ... er fangs.
Hint: The Book of the Dead has a big secret that is revealed in this book, as in whose skin it is made of and just who wrote it.

Review: A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

          I was still a teenager when I discovered The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner and at the time it only had the sequel book. After reading them I felt exhilarated and wishing for more and I was delighted when she made the Thief's world into a series.
          The latest installment, A Conspiracy of Kings, fleshed out one of the earliest characters in The Thief, Sophos, who accompanied the Magus on his quest to make Gen steal the Hamiathes's Gift. He then disappeared from the following books and his character was never really explored. This book takes care of this in spades, Sophos and his real place in Gen's world is a surprise.

          But I will not spoil it for you, the plot is tense and fast paced set of adventures for the most part as several wars are fought, lost, won, and even avoided. This is a book that follows the growth of its main character from sullen teen boy to responsible and strong, if naive, adult. All four books in this series are great for young boys who are hard to please. Girls will enjoy them as well and even the occasional adult like I am now.