Funky Reading

Long Lost ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Yes, another Coben featuring Myron Bolitar, and the converse of the blog last night -- this is the latest one in the series. In case you haven't noticed, Coben/Bolitar are my go-to team lately. The series is nice and robust (8-10 books?) and they're consistently good page turners with characters I enjoy, plotlines that work, and just plain solid writing.

This one has some good international twists, some mind-bending technology combined with terrorist cells that make you say "whoa", and enough grit to keep you from getting too comfortable. Does Coben stretch a little too far to work terrorists into his storyline? Perhaps. But hey, it's probably hard to get an editor to sign off on a storyline if it doesn't involve terrorists these days. They're the new bad guys; it's not like Russia is going to keep us up at night worrying anymore...

First Family ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

I'm seriously starting to wonder why I order Baldacci books at full hardcover prices. It's not that they're bad; it's just that they're not that good anymore. This is another in his trajectory of generally implausible plotlines that still gets you turning pages and saying, "this isn't so bad, but it could have been better."

If you like Baldacci, and this is the only thing short of some really bad stuff at the airport bookstore, you can read it instead of working on the plane. But it's not gonna be one you treasure...

Gone Tomorrow ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

I like superhero Reacher so, so much. And Child generally writes extraordinary stories with extraordinary plots for his extraordinary character to live in. See Bad Luck and Trouble in particular, and The Hard Way, and even Nothing to Lose.

But Child seems to be having a bit of a volatility problem. He can't seem to get 2 awesome books out in a row. Not that this one is bad (not even close). It just isn't killer good like Bad Luck and Trouble and his early ones. 

In this one the set-up is just a little weird and it never really plays out across the ending. There's no real closure on the key plot element. Which, I know, is a strategy some writers like to use to show that things aren't always "black and white" and that there aren't always happy endings. But c'mon. This is Reacher. He's all about black and white. He's all about revenge, about justice, etc.

And, I will admit, the revenge and justice visited upon the bad guys (would you believe they're women?) in this book is pretty awesome. You could just see the movie option rights go up while reading that part. But the other parallel storyline that triggers the story trajectory just kinda didn't work for me.

Well, enough said. If you've read Reacher/Child and enjoy them, this is worthy. If you haven't read them yet, start with the paperbacks and enjoy those. Then, with a long flight and a glass of wine, read Bad Luck and Trouble. Savor that one. Then, once you've gotten hooked, this is a fine addition to the shelf...

The Scarecrow ~ Michael Connelly

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I put Connelly on my top 5 NYT Bestseller authors list. Potentially even #1, but Lee Child is right there with him... And of course early Ludlum is tough to beat... So call him top 2 of the 21st century :)

Sometimes he writes so pure and so well that I can't imagine them being any better. Others of his books are simply outstanding. This is one of those simply outstanding books. 

I can't jump up and down and say "YOU GOTTA READ THIS! YOU GOTTA READ THIS!" on this one. Partly because I know a little too much about technology, so when an author takes license with the tech for the sake of the story, it just doesn't quite work. But, all that said, even though this isn't Bosch level stuff, this is a really darn good book. He brings a little new media vs. old media to bear, and he brings a lot of "a black hat hacker can do some real damage in today's connected world" into the book. In some authors hands, this would be a recipe for disaster. But he pulls it off and it's a fun read. 

If you like any of Connelly's work, this one needs to be in your bag. 

Deal Breaker ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Holy cow have I been bad about blogging lately! To my 4 loyal and faithful fans (you know who you are), I apologize. To all the others that graze through here for grins and laughs, I also apologize. I've read a couple dozen books since my last blog; I'll comment on the ones I remember, which should spare you some bad ones ;)

This is the first Myron Bolitar novel by Coben. Done way back in 1995. It's amazing to me how well he nailed his characters even back then, and successfully built a franchise that was so consistent. If a few clues along the way (and a violate on the front cover saying "The First Myron Bolitar Novel") hadn't been noticed by the ever sharp yours truly, I think he could have updated a few things and passed it off as a new one.

Very fun, very enjoyable. Tough story in spots (one of the victims was buried alive!), but fantastic fodder for an airplane or a pool.

Terminal Freeze ~ Lincoln Child

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Child continues his annoying (to me) habit of putting out books without Douglas Preston as a co-author and they sound great on the jacket covers. And, in fact, the plot lines have a lot of promise. But something is missing. Characters? Real engagement with the reader?

I just can't put my finger quite on it, and I keep giving him the benefit of the doubt. But this is another one -- good story that combines today's "reality show" world, economics of research and sponsorship, and folks just taking one too many risks without really thinking through what they're doing. It's set in an arctic climate, and it even has a native tribe that faces extinction in it (could it perhaps be that he tries to touch too many "hot" buttons in his books?).

It's definitely a page-turner, and a fine airplane read if someone leaves it on your seat. But it's probably not worth the price of the hardcover. Wait for the next Child/Preston collaboration (hint hint: Cemetery Dance) if you're rationing book purchases...

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life ~ Alice Schroeder

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

If you want an exhaustive dissection of the thermodynamics of drying paint under different atmospheric conditions, I fear you may find this author's name on the title page of such a dissertation.

I can't begin to tell you how sad I was to find a subject as rich and powerful as Warren Buffet reduced to such poor writing. I gave it 5 extra rating points just because of Buffett and because of everything he's done, because of his genius, and because of the absolutely spectacular nuggets of insight that are present in this book.

But.

Don't, for a moment, think this is a page turner. Don't expect it to get better in the next chapter, and don't expect the author will find her stride. It was too much of a stretch, too rich of a subject, and she had too many visions of being "the only authorized biography of an icon of our time, so let's make it accurate." She forgot the point about it being readable and enjoyable.

If you love Buffett, you'll be able to battle through. And you'll be rewarded with some keen insights, some amazing stories, and a lot of history. But I can't actually imagine recommending someone that doesn't love Buffett read this. It's like Chinese water torture of detailed minutia and it misses the mark.

Beat the Reaper ~ Josh Bazell

Funk Rating: 10 out of 10

As 2009 new books go, this is a rockstar of a book. Extraordinary... Truly enjoyed it - it's like nothing I've read before.

I can't recall a book that was so different, so creative in its plot and storyline, AND made me laugh out loud with the cleverness of the writing. I can tell you some of the ingredients:

• mobsters (think Sopranos)
• doctors in hospitals (think Robin Cook)
• laugh out loud sense of humor with the writing/and storyline (think DeMille)
• action hero (think Lee Child/Jack Reacher)
• youth and maturing (think Salinger / Catcher in the Rye)
• footnotes that are educational yet sarcastic (?!)
• flashbacks, multiple plot threads, etc. (all the best authors)

But I simply cannot do this book justice. It's a real treat to see someone do something new and different with a book. It's a thriller, but it's not. It's a narrative, but it's more than that.

This is just plain outstanding. Now, before I go any farther, I have to tell you that I'm not sure everyone will enjoy this book... The language and some of the scenes are a bit edgy, so for those that don't tolerate that well, I warn in advance.

But, if you want to take a risk with a book this year, this is one to try. I suspect you'll love it or hate it. Obviously, I fell into the former camp. I'm still shaking my head with a WOW. Between this and Daemon, I feel like I hit a double jackpot or something!

Daemon ~ Daniel Suarez

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This book had a solid 10 going into the last 50 pages. I was turning pages fast and furious and actually making time to read this. It's a spectacular ride that combines Internet technology, madmen, and some fascinating plot twists. It's Michael Chricton's Prey meets Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. On steroids, with some multi-player gaming thrown in for good measure.

If you like science fiction, this is a book you should definitely read. If you like technology fiction books, this is a page turner. If you lie at wake at night wondering how the world could go terribly wrong when everything is connected, when we have no real privacy anymore, and when machines are computationally fast enough to eliminate latency, this book will give you something to really stay awake at night and worry about.

But, and this is a big but for me, the bottom falls out in the last 25-50 pages. There really isn't an ending. I couldn't even find a cliffhanger and a "to be continued..." kind of line. It just sorta runs out of pages at a chapter break. Obviously there is a sequel coming, but he could have done so much more to at least tie this book off and let it stand alone. I would have more heartily recommended it if he did that.

As it stands, my rec would be to wait until book #2 comes out. Then buy them both together. Perhaps if you can just turn from the end of this one to the start of the next one it will work better... But, if you just can't help yourself, feel free to add this to your nightstand now. It's one of the more original stories in "near-in" science fiction thrillers out there...

Faith and Doubt ~ John Ortberg

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

As a Christian, every once in while I ask myself whether it's OK to have doubts about my faith or doubts about God. This is a very well done book that attacks this issue head-on. Ortberg has a wonderful way of putting things and expressing things so that by the time you're done you realize that it is natural, and appropriate to have doubts. One of the truisms that comes through is that if you don't have doubts, you can't have faith. Think about that. If something can't be doubted, if something is such a hard, absolute fact (say, for example, the sun is HOT), then you don't need any faith to say the sun is HOT.

I won't preach on this blog, but I will say this is a great book for anyone who's wondered if it's OK to doubt; if you can still be a solid Christian and still have doubts. Faith must trump doubt, but the existence of periodic questions or doubts is not only OK, but helpful and to be expected. Some doubts can be destructive, but many doubts can ultimately lead to strengthened faith. Like relationships with our loved ones, we must trust, we must put our faith in that person.

This isn't in the same class as Mere Christianity, but it's a great read. I recommend it.

Physics for Future Presidents ~ Richard A. Muller

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a book that I think everyone should read. Not necessarily because it's incredible (heck, I only gave it 8 stars), but because it cuts through so much media disinformation and cuts to the core of many of the biggest issues facing the world and future presidents: nuclear weapons, energy, climate change, space, etc.

Big topics, weighty issues. And this guy (from Cal no less!) has his head screwed on and his facts straight. If you fancy yourself educated on the bigger issues, I challenge you to read this book. It will make you sit up and think. For example, think dirty bombs are a real threat to the US? Think again, they're not. Think electric cars are the future? Think again, there are some issues that no one wants to talk about... Same with hydrogen fuel cells.

My only quibble with this book is that I don't think he's creative enough. Too much of his terrorist analysis relies upon the past and the obvious. Which, while I think is fine 98% of the time, may not be exactly the right way to run the country. Thinking outside the box is how the underdog wins...

Anyway, when you want to engage your brain a little beyond John Grisham, this is the one to buy from Amazon. Did I mention I can't believe this guy teaches at Berkeley?! And he got voted "Best Class at Berkeley by the students" -- I can't imagine many other things I have in common with undergrads there ;)

The Associate ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

It's been a while (perhaps first time ever?) since I gave Grisham a 9. But he demonstrates yet again why he is a master page-turning writer and a NYT bestseller book-in and book-out. I flew through this book in a roundtrip flight to LA last week. Enjoyed every page I turned oh-so-rapidly...

The plot is a little tricked up to get it going, but once it's off, it's a blast. Could be I'm still living my rationalization for why I'm not a lawyer at a big firm. Could be that I just think it's such a treat to escape to a different world for 4 hours or so and let the mind just relax...

This is a story of a young man who finds himself between a rock and a hard place, and manages to wiggle through. Along the way there are delightful digs, fun "new lawyer who acts like a spy" storylines, and some great characters. I can't think of many books that are so perfectly designed for an airplane or beach read. You won't remember this for the rest of your life; it's unlikely to change anything inside you; but I think you'll find yourself hard-pressed to put it down.

Enjoy!

Enough ~ John C. Bogle

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Part of me loved this book. It's high-time we started realizing:

(1) that we've had enough of the ridiculous, self-reinforcing spiral of financial infrastructure that has been built up over the past 25 years with investment bankers, private equity, hedge funds, mortgage bankers, lawyers, and other financial engineers that are overpaid to create layers of complexity in the form of derivatives, re-sellable coupon strips, swaps, etc. All in the name of risk management, portfolio management, and chasing the IRR... And,

(2) the important things in life can't be measured with money. Chasing money as the scorecard is a rabbit hole. You likely already have enough, you just don't realize it because you're looking the wrong way and thinking that next $X is all you need.

Bogle, who founded Vanguard, is obviously a wicked smart guy, and this book shows he's grounded in some pretty solid values. That said, he wandered his way through this book weaving the importance of efficient investing (which Vanguard does a great job at), values and morals, and a little preachiness. I enjoyed the book, but I could have used less "Vanguard as a great example" and more of his well-grounded arguments for why we've lost our way a bit over the past few decades...

I don't begrudge him anything. He's earned it, and he earned it the old fashioned way: by creating a company that does something valuable over the long-haul. It's a quick read, and a good reminder of what's important. And he helps you realize that your definition of "Enough" may be in need of a review...

Fade Away ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Another well-done page turner from Coben featuring Myron Bolitar. This one gets a little wacky in spots, but the characters are great, the plotline is sufficiently original that he keeps you guessing, and there are some good twists and turns. Ideal for a plane or other location when you don't want to think and want to just get away...

If you like the Coben books, this is another good one. If you want my paperbook copy, just shoot me an email. First come, first serve :)

Christopher's Ghosts ~ Charles McCarry

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I truly love McCarry's books about Paul Christopher. Some of the best espionage/spy fiction in the world. It's not all high-action italics like Ludlum, and it's not avenging angel stuff either. It's just plain, solid, outstanding writing and storytelling.

This is another great one in the series (see Tears of Autumn) and The Last Supper (which I failed to blog but enjoyed very much) and Old Boys (which I also failed to blog but enjoyed).

If you like classically written, enjoyable espionage, it's tough to beat any of the McCarry books.

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana ~ Anne Rice

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I read the first Anne Rice book about Christ as a child, Out of Egypt, about 30 months ago and enjoyed it immensely (9 out of 10). I'd have to say this one was pretty darn good as well. As with the first one in the series, the raw courage it took to write this, combined with some outstanding writing, earns major kudos from me.

We know so little about Christ's life before he started his miracles and his ministry. And this book tries to imagine what it was like to be him and to be around him before his first miracle of turning water to wine at a wedding in Cana. Of course it's not accurate; but that's not the point in my mind. The point is to put you there, at that time, imagining what it would be like to have Jesus as a neighbor, as a family member. Even what it was like to actually be Christ and to discover who you are and what your purpose is for His glory. What's it like to be a man, but know in your heart that you can never marry; what's it like to have a temper and be angry, but yet stop short of sinning? What is it like to forgive, over and over, and yet to still feel pain and hurt each time someone does something to you with words or action?

This is a book that I can heartily recommend to anyone. Few books are as provocative and well-written as this.

Drop Shot ~ Harlan Coben

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Back in 2006, I read my 1st Myron Bolitair book, Promise Me, by Coben. Enjoyed it and gave that one an 8. I think this one is even better. Some very good plot twists, a backdrop of tennis (which in my other resolution for 2009 I've decided to try to play more regularly), and good characters. This is a great, entertaining plane read.

Last night I went a little crazy on Amazon and bought like 6 other Bolitair stories since they're all in paperback. I'll keep you posted as I plow through them :)

The Accidental, Countdown

A little more catching up here... Two books to avoid if you can.

I never even got past the first 50 pages of The Accidental it was so bad. I have no idea how it could possibly have been nominated, much less a finalist, for a few awards. It stunk.

I read an Iris Johansen (Stalemate) last year and thought it was decent. But I picked up Countdown at an airport recently, and it wins the lousiest book I finished in 2008, hands down. Characters were incredibly weak, the dialog was downright awful, and the plotline was so contrived and tricked up that the only reason I finished it was to see if it could possibly redeem itself. And the ending dug the hole of bad writing just that much deeper.

So, there are two to NOT put on your reading list!

Resolved: To blog books again

Well hello! Happy 2009!

It's been about 5 months, and I think I actually kept pace pretty well and read 15-20 books or so. But I've been too busy to blog. And there's a weird momentum thing with blogging that turns into inertia when you don't blog...

I'll cheat a bit and do a couple quick reviews. I'm sure I'm missing some. But I aim to return to pace in 2009. We'll see...

Wishing you and your family a great and blessed 2009!

********

• Gate House - Nelson DeMille - 7 out of 10 - Entertaining writing/reading; goofy plot; awful ending
• Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things - 7 out of 10 - Provocative book about sustainable product design
• Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage - 6 out of 10 - Should be sub-titled "Stating the Obvious" or "Cribnotes from Porter, Dressed Up in Green Clothing". Not awful, but little new.
• The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly - 9 out of 10 - I sure do love Connelly; great storyline, great writing, and great book!
• Tsar: A Thriller - Ted Bell - 8 out of 10 - highly entertaining and well written. Bell has redeemed himself. Set aside believability before starting...
• Divine Justice - David Baldacci - 7 out of 10 - finally a less than goofy Camel Club book. Still short of actually a good book though...
• Extreme Measures: A Thriller - 8 out of 10 - would have been almost a full 10 if the ending wasn't so awful and trite.
• The Bodies Left Behind - Jeffery Deaver - 6 out of 10 - from anyone other than Deaver, this would be a 7.5. But it was sloppy in the plot, ridiculous in the characters after the plot twists, etc.
• Moscow Rules - Daniel Silva - 9 out of 10 - simply outstanding. If you like Silva, Gabriel Allon, or just plain great thrillers/avenging angels, this is great. A few weaknesses, but not many.
• The Forgery of Venus - Michael Gruber - 8 out of 10. A very different book. Entertaining and I enjoyed it.
• The Sleeping Doll - Jeffery Deaver - 8.5 out of 10 - some great plot twists and good writing. Classic Deaver
  

The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine ~ Benjamin Wallace

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This reminded me of a business book -- great outline, great plot/theory/story, but 2/3rd too long... At 336 pages, this book wanders ridiculously at times and doesn't even stay chronological...

But, for all that, the combination of characters, the history of how the world of expensive and old wines just exploded onto the scene in the 80s, and the whole possibility of actually owning a bottle of wine once owned by Thomas Jefferson is captivating and engaging. Most of the book is fun, and it's a glance into a world that is incredibly different (private jets used just to transport single bottles of wine?!; wine tastings that last for weeks and start at 9 am each day?!) from my existence.

It's fine escapism reading, even as it is too long by far.

East of Eden ~ John Steinbeck

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Well, I took a brief detour from the NYT Bestseller list to read this classic that was highly recommended by a friend. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the character development. I haven't read much Steinbeck, but boy do I respect his ability to work his craft! I felt the characters and the scenery come alive in ways that few authors accomplish. On that front, call this a 10+!

That said, there was a little too much tragedy, and not enough triumph in this book. I felt the plotline and general story thread got a little trumped up, a little too obvious, and a little too tragic for my tastes. I know he had a reason for doing that, but I would push back on Steinbeck (if he were alive) and say "Thou mayest" in terms of his plotline. If free will and choices do exist, and if we can craft our own destiny, I humbly suggest he could have put a few more positive outcomes in this book...

But, I'm quibbling, and God knows I'm not an actual critic or accomplished reader of "literature". It's a heck of a book, and I'm glad to have added it to the archives...

The Last Patriot ~ Brad Thor

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I have to give Thor some credit on this one -- a good page turner that combines history with today's global politics and the threat of fundamentalist Islam. Did you know Thomas Jefferson had some experience with Islam via the Barbary Wars (and that the US paid something like 20% of GDP to pirates back in those days?!)? Thor pulled a mild Dan Brown here, with some old religious clues combined with good old chutzpah of Scot Harvath.

This isn't a great book from a character development perspective, and in fact, it's a little weak and less "fun" than his other works. But there are still some good bad-ass things in here, and it's a page turner for sure. :)

Fine beach or airplane reading if you like the other Scot Harvath books. But I wouldn't put this in the bag until you've read other ones...

The Broken Window ~ Jeffery Deaver

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

Oh how I love Lincoln Rhyme! One of the truly great characters of the last 10-20 years in bestselling fiction. Wickedly intelligent, physically handicapped, and a study of the ultimately rational detective.

This isn't the best Rhyme novel as elegantly crafted plot turns go. In fact, it's almost downright plodding in that sense. But, it's just as terrifying as this one is just a touch closer to being "real" -- if someone knows everything about us based on all the technology that now surrounds us, how easy it can be to ruin our lives...

Deaver did a weird thing in this novel of keeping the character alive from The Cold Moon as a sub-plot. So clearly we're going to see that bad guy again. And it distracted from this book more than a little in my mind. It was almost as if Deaver outlined this story, got the go-ahead, and then ran out of gas and wrote a short novel. So his publisher told him to bulk it up by filling in some more pages with a tease on the sequel to The Cold Moon.

Any-the-who, if you love Rhyme, this is a pretty good one. Certainly short of his best, but a fun read.

The Last Lecture ~ Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

I have a sense that just about everyone reading this blog has seen Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture"

If you haven't, click the link above.

In a very real sense, this book is similar to business books that have a great theme and are super 30 minute lectures. And then someone decides to write a book. Result: the first 2 chapters rock and the balance of the book is filler. This book is a larger / longer version of his lecture, but the difference for me was that I didn't think it was filler. It was a rich, more contextual story about what an incredible path Randy has taken since he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

It's largely about him, his choices, his life, and his message to his kids and his wife. So, at times, you feel like Randy is kind of being a little selfish. But, you know what? He's earned it. His advice, his values, his point of view are powerful, refreshing, and inspiring to say the least. He's one amazing guy, and I don't think I'd have his courage if I were in his situation. So, I humbly applaud him (through my inevitable tears).

My favorite quote, and one I'm going to print in large type and hang on my wall is below. I love how he tags "find your passion" as the key to life. And, then, he follows it up with this:

"Brick walls are not there to keep you out, but to remind you how badly you want something. Brick walls aren't there to keep you out, they're there to keep all those other people out."

Next time I take on a brick wall, I'll be thinking of Randy...

Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure ~ Michael Chabon

Funk Rating: 0 out of 10 - another bail

What the Sam Hell is up with Michael Chabon?!

I think his The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay was one of the best books I've read - powerful, stunning, tour de force. The writing in that book and the story and the character and the plot were spectacular. And I loved The Final Solution (although it did take two tries to get through it). Then something happened. Not sure exactly what. Fawning fans? Ego-mania?

Shortly after the awful and ridiculously pretentious and egotistical Yiddish Policeman's Union (where the basic plotline is "you, Mr. Dumb Reader, try to figure out what I'm writing out here."), he's gone and done it again. Another ego-trip for Mr. Chabon to demonstrate what a talent he truly is to write in the style and of the time of ages past. This is a lousy, trumped up, completely shallow effort at replicating some of the most wonderful writing at the dawn of modern literature, in a country, age, and culture where tradition and history actually matter. And he does it very, very badly in my mind.

Crap. Junk. Pretentiousness at its highest evidence in today's literature.

I'm sick of Chabon. I don't for a second argue his skill as a writer. His mastery of English, his ability to construct sentences are with few peers. But as an author and a storyteller? He's lost his way. Badly.

Wow. I don't think I've written such a harsh criticism in the years I've been doing this blog. But in a different way from Tom Wolfe's Charlotte's Way, I wanted to throw this against the wall. It's that bad. If you read it, and enjoyed it, tell me what about it worked for you...

Devil May Care (James Bond) ~ Sebastian Faulks

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

It never ceases to amaze me how few people have actually read the original James Bond books by Ian Fleming. For such an incredible, iconic character, most only know Bond through the movie screen. But in my mind, Fleming is one of the most talented writers of 20th century thriller fiction. Fleming had an ability to bring a story alive through scenery and characters that was unique. And the books were tight, short, and full of fun.

I have to say that Faulks did a great job in bringing Bond back some 50 years later and being true to the actual Fleming legacy. If you want to compare this book to current thrillers and to the movies, forget it. You're missing the point. Fleming didn't do books with italics like Ludlum, he didn't do plot flips and mind-benders like Jeffrey Deaver, and he didn't do redemption stories like Archer.

Fleming wrote good guys vs. bad guys. With enough action, unique locations, quick-thinking, and just plain fun that it let you escape from your current existence. It let you fantasize that maybe, just maybe, you could be Bond. But probably not.

If you've never read Fleming, this won't float your boat. But if you read all the originals, twice or more, you will find this a worthy successor. It's not Fleming, but it's nice and close. And it's fun.

Prisoner of Birth ~ Jeffrey Archer

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

What a delight! It's like the early days of Archer all over again. Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, etc. Classics all. And this is right up there with them. Spectabulous storytelling. Good characters, fun plot twists, easy reading, GREAT ending.

If you like great stories, this is right up there in my mind with the others. Sure, you can guess parts of the ending. That's part of the fun; he doesn't pull a triple mind-bender on you that has you all whacked out with annoyance because you read a little too fast in your urgency to turn the page. He pulls off some good "whoas", but lets the story unfold nicely.

Oh, there are a few bizarre things that just don't quite make sense. Why, again, does Nick start writing a diary of such detail? But, that's minor compared to the simple joy of a good book.

My mom didn't think this was all that good of a book. But my best friend and I rate it highly. If you like the Jeffrey Archer of old, he's back. In all his storytelling glory. Perfect for an airplane, a beach, or an afternoon on the porch with a favorite beverage... Enjoy!

Nothing to Lose ~ Lee Child

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

As all my faithful readers know, I love Jack Reacher. Immensely. His last one, Bad Luck and Trouble, got a perfect 10 from me.

Remember when I blogged that Reacher was a superhero? Clearly, I have a bright future ahead as a fortune teller cum book promoter/editor. For in this book, Reacher truly does save the world... It's a good book as they go, but not up to the dizzying heights that Child has attained in the past.

My general issue is that the initial plot set-up is just plain kinda weird -- both for Reacher and for the plotline. Reacher is overly stubborn and pig-headed; and the plotline gets wrapped around itself a bit too much. I found this one just didn't come together as well along the way. That said, the ending is spectabulous, and quite enjoyable :)

If you read all the Reacher books, I'm interested in your take. If you don't read them, don't start here; go back to the early ones and polish off Bad Luck and Trouble first...

The Whole Truth ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Finally Baldacci leaves Oliver Stone and the Camel Club behind and writes something new! Unfortunately, it's still a little bit of a re-tread -- the world is run by a few powerful folks. We're all pawns in a military industrial complex game. Talented journalists, emotionally wrecked by stories they've covered, come back just in time to save us, along with secret agent men no one acknowledges. Love is possible, but denied.

For all the re-treads, Baldacci does pull in a few good elements. His plotline roughly tracks the changes in the media world; how soundbites, which took away actual reflective discourse and conversation, no longer even matter in a world of instant gratification of the Internet. How we all rush to judgment if the Internet tsunami says its so -- if a story is present all over the Net, it must be true. And let's all jump on anyone questioning the storyline we're reading that fits with our world view...

I think there is something interesting in the argument that the Net fosters a media consumption strategy of confirming your a priori beliefs. I read Drudge because I like what Drudge covers. Drudge links to lots of places, so I feel like I'm getting a good "balance". But, down deep, I know I'm not... I'm confirming my conservative bent by reading stories that appeal to conservatives.

Anyway, that's the provocative thought underlying this mental floss beach read. It's not bad, but it's not a heck of a good story either...

Blasphemy ~ Douglas Preston

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

I love books written by both Preston and Child. I'm less a fan of books written by one of them alone. And this is no exception to the weakness they seem to bring to their solo efforts. The plotline is actually not awful -- what happens when the world's most advanced minds push the edges of particle accelerators to see what the Big Bang was like? And what is the distinction between religion, faith, truth, and science?

Unfortunately, along the way, Preston so super-loaded the storyline with American Indians, governmental lobbyists, former CIA operatives, religious right activists, a single-minded President, long lost loves, numerology, and seriously deranged geniuses, that he lost sight of a more simple storyline. Then, he went over the top and pushed the "science as religion" button and he pretty much lost everything in the shuffle -- it's like someone talking, singing, waving their arms, playing the harmonica, and juggling at the same time. You kind of look at it in mild fascination and then go back to watching the graceful dancer that is just so incredibly talented at their craft.

It's not awful, and he kept me turning the page if only to figure out what he could possibly pull out next. The characters are kinda intriguing, and he does a few nice plot twists. But ultimately, it feels like a story that editors said "let's add x, y and z to the mix to give it a little more currency and adrenaline to the mix." And that's too bad. For he can do so much better...

How Life Imitates Chess ~ Garry Kasparov

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I've been a chess player since I was a kid. Never did chess club or anything serious, but I enjoy the game, and it's influenced my life. I'm running about a 1300-1400 on redhotpawn.com, which is respectable for a hack, but nothing to be particularly proud of...

I'm always shocked how few people actually play the game... I don't know how you can be successful in business and not be a reasonable chess player -- chess teaches you think a few steps ahead; to think strategically about your move, your position, the opponent, etc. It teaches you that there is another move after this one, and that your opponent will counter-move, so don't act as if no one else will respond to your actions...

Sharlene bought this for me for Christmas. It was a surprisingly good read. Oh sure, Kasparov has an ego that is staggering. But he's got a heck of a good head on his shoulders and he makes you think about offense, defense, setting up the pieces in the right way, and how sometimes you must sacrifice for greater glory down the road. He talks about "time, material and quality" as being the three key levers in chess, and in life. And I'd have to agree with him. You have to make trade-offs. You have to look for the strategic advantage across those three.

Perhaps the quote I loved most from this book was "The first essential for an attack is the will to attack." So, so true. I've seen time after time how people I know and respect just don't have the will to attack. And regardless of whether they get pushed into it or run away, the lack of will means they were destined to fail...

Much of this book reminded me of Sun Tzu. It's a fun and easy read. It's not a chess book, but he uses chess to illustrate his "life lessons" and to highlight how he thinks. Probably more enjoyable if you like chess, but perhaps worthy of an airplane read nonetheless.

Stamboul Train ~ Graham Greene

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

I'm not quite sure of the background on this book and how it came to be in my library. When I did a quick Amazon check on this, I bought this book back on May 16, 2000. Why? No clue. Why did I decide to finally read it now? Again, no clue. But, for some reason, Graham Greene has found his way into my consciousness lately, mentioned as a great 20th century author, so perhaps I pulled it off the shelf out of frustration after several lousy reads.

This is more "literature" than it is page turner, thriller fare. The author called it "an entertainment" when he wrote it, and while it's not entertaining in the way I think of the word, it is fascinating. I'm sure it's overly stereotypical of the time period (early 1930s), but I found it fascinating to see how life was lived a mere 75 years ago. With elements of major political movements (revolutions, socialism, etc.) that just aren't present in today's generally epic democracy vs. radical Islam world, and industrial revolution at its front end (trains belching smoke for goodness sake!), this is a heck of a time traveling read.

In addition, it's pretty darn well written. Someday I'll read what is generally regarded as classic Greene, and see what I really think of him. But, for now, I'll kind of put him in the zone of a Michael Chabon -- a serious author, with real talent for writing. May not make it through all of his stuff, but he's worth another one.

As for you, dear reader, I can't argue you should go out of your way. But, should you ever find a Graham Greene book on your shelf gathering dust, it's worth at least a few turns of the page...

Chasing Eden ~ S.L. Linnea

Funk Rating: 5 out of 10

Oh boy, I'm now double digit books behind... That's not good... Bad Johnny, bad blogger, [insert wrist slap here]... I'll see if I can catch up, but I may end up just skipping a few that aren't even worth the effort... I seem to have caught a dreadful disease of bad books. So give me some recs!

So why am I blogging this book at all if it's a 5? Well, as I anxiously await the new Dan Brown blockbuster (The Solomon Key, now some 3 years overdue and STILL not pre-order-able on Amazon), I decided to buy a bunch of other religious historical fiction type thrillers. And this one had an outline that I think could have been a winner: search for and find the Garden of Eden. In Iraq of all places!

But these writers have no real reason to call themselves authors, for this is one of the sloppier and poorest efforts I've read in a while. The character development stinks, the plot holes are painfully large, and the entire thing just doesn't hang together. It doesn't make any credible sense. How this book got 20+ reviews averaging over 4 on Amazon is beyond me...

So, this blog is an effort to save you, dear reader, from yourself should you find you can't wait for the next Dan Brown book either... You can thank me later...

The Appeal ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 7.5 out of 10

It's just like old times! Book came out last Tuesday, I blog it here on Sunday. Wheee! :)

I loved the original John Grisham. Eminently readable, terribly suspenseful, and always good for some fast page turning. No need to read every word, much less every sentence; it's just plain fun skimming...

This is close to that. I suspect the overall outline he turned into the publishers ran all of 3 pages, but it's still a pleasant beach (or ski chalet) read nonetheless. There are no grand surprises, but there is still some nice tension as JG keeps you guessing on where it will all net out. This is the new Grisham, with a political statement and message (Pelican Brief x 2), but still able to show both sides of the argument with some open-mindedness in the context of "you get the behaviors and the game that the law permits..."

If you like Grisham, I can't see why you won't like this one. If you don't care for him, this one won't change him into your favorite author. So I'll let you make your own decisions. Just be careful about how you think about elections and how your opinion gets shaped...

The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar ~ Robert Alexander

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This is another one of my catchup posts. While I was avoiding a few books, I snuck in this one...

The Kitchen Boy is historical fiction. Set in the last days of the Tsar Nicholas and his family, it's a novel of what might have happened in the last days of the Imperial Family. Its plotline is what really happened during the imprisonment and execution of the family, and explains the missing remains of two of the Romanov children.

As stories go, this is a pretty good one. Alexander turns a nice tale with some good character development, and you feel a little bit like you're there. Unfortunately, not unlike The Last King of Scotland, I have real heartburn when historical fiction is about people and not as much about events. I find myself thinking that this is how Czar Nicholas really was, and how his children really were. And that creates in my mind a false sense of understanding history. For I really have no clue. I don't know the details of the Russian royal family and the revolution. And I hate that someone is mucking with my mind and creating a memory/impression that is fictional, but doing it with real people and real events. If someone asks me about Czar Nicholas now, I can't help but conjure up what I know about him from this book. Argh.

That said, when I can successfully step back, this is a well written tale that gets you to turn the pages. It's clear the author has a real fondness for the family, and deplores the national tragedy brought on by the Bolsheviks. Can I recommend it? Sure -- it's a quick and good read. But be careful about keeping the distinction between fact and fiction clear; this is a novel, not a biography...

The Atrocity Archives ~ Charles Stross

Funk Rating: BAILED

An evil spirit has descended upon my reading nightstand. Yet another book that just stopped me cold. Couldn't get into it despite great ratings and recs; couldn't follow the storyline. Something just was broken between me and this book. I've been enjoying science fiction lately and picked this up with relish. Until I started reading it. Then I went into avoidance mode. I hate to quit on books. But sooner or later you have to admit the obvious when you're not picking it up anymore...

Can't say much about this book other than it didn't work for me. Your experience may vary...

Dirty White Boys ~ Stephen Hunter

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a "catchup" blog post (and I've got a few more coming). Along the way of my constipated nightstand, I managed to jam in a couple other books. This was one of them. I so incredibly loved Point of Impact by Hunter that I snuck in another one in the "trilogy". This one is about some escaped convicts and the cops that try to take them down.

I have to say that Hunter is an amazingly talented writer. His character development is extraordinary. He probably tried a touch too hard to make the good guys flawed, and the bad guys surprisingly redeeming. But, even so, it's a heck of a story. Some seriously awful and horrid plot twists (lots of blood, guts, mayhem and tragedy; love triangles run amok; twisted minds, etc.) make you almost cringe and say "oooh, that's nasty and bad." But, you keep on turning the page, and turning and turning.

As must always happen in any book I rate above a 6, the good guys win and the bad guys lose. But this book probably takes the prize for making that journey as painful as possible; for when you cheer you still cringe. If you are looking for a thriller that makes you really wonder if there is good in this world, and if you want your thrillers to be provocative about how the jail system in America is one of our most awful legacies to future generations, this is a must-read.

Global warming may kill us all in the end (author's note: it's -5 right now). But what we do to criminals with today's jail system may wreak far more painful and personal injury to us and our loved ones in our lifetime... If I took anything away from this book, it's that the next fundraiser that calls me about prison reform will actually get my attention and I will listen and see if I can support it.

The Best American Mystery Stories (2006) ~ Scott Turow (Editor)

Funk Rating: 4 out of 10

Well hello dear reader! It's been a long time since I last blogged a book. I can come up with 3 excuses:

1. I've had a bad string of lousy books (see below). Don't know about you, but when I've got a lousy book on the bedstand, I don't make much progress and things bog down...
2. I'm in the middle of about 5 books due to the above. I daresay there is a multiplicative effect when you have more than one lousy book on the nightstand.
3. My reading pace goes in phases and is correlated to airplane time. I haven't flown much in the past 6 weeks...

OK, enough excuses. And on to the blogging. This collection simply stunk. I'm prepared to say it's me, not the book, for the Amazonian reviewers seemed to like it. But, like most collections, I find I don't get into any kind of groove, the stories are too short to be fulfilling, and while every so often there will be a "whoa" moment, they are too far and few between.

So, for what it's worth, I can't even begin to recommend this one. The stories are just weird and weak...

Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night ~ James Patterson (editor)

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This is not a "book"; it's an anthology of 32 new short stories by top thriller authors such as Lee Child, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Eric Van Lustbader and David Morrell. There are some very good stories in here, but I must admit that putting a book like this on my nightstand had a SERIOUS impact on my reading pace. Why? (1) It's huge, so you can't really take it on a plane, and (2) you never read more than one story a night as there is no real page turning capability between stories, and sometimes you can't even finish one story in a night. So, that my dear reader is my excuse on why you haven't seen me blog much lately!

OK, with that defensive whine out of the way, I will say there are some fun ones in here (and only a few duds). The authors are all major names and the stories don't suffer from bloat that sometimes occurs when they have to write hundreds of pages. Many of the stories take existing characters or minor characters from prior novels and they fill in some gaps and further the character development.

This isn't a bad book by far. But be forewarned the impact it will have as it sits on your nightstand night after night and week after week :)

Point of Impact ~ Stephen Hunter

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This is an outrageously good book. It was turned into a movie, Shooter, and I wonder if I might have given it a full 10 if I hadn't seen the movie. It's that good. It plays to all my favorite elements: great characters developed exceedingly well, good vs. evil, the avenging angel of justice that removes the bad guys from the face of the earth in such wonderful ways, and so on. Throw in a little love interest, some serious loyalty and integrity, a dog, and plenty of "slyness" and you've got my number pegged.

It might be slightly over the top regarding guns - their manufacture, design, bullets, etc., but there's a reason it needs to be that way. This is a book for those that like Mitch Rapp, and Reacher. You like your "good guys" to have some violence and to be able to beat the bad guys at their own game. It's not a page-turning thriller in the way the story "flies", for it builds and builds. Reminded me a bit of Joseph Finder's Power Play in that sense, although it didn't have the page turning deep into the night aspect...

Very fun, and Stephen Hunter (and the fine friend who recommended it), are tops on my list...

Stone Cold ~ David Baldacci

Funk Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Once you set aside the general silliness of the plotline, this is a well written book. Good characters (although I suspect you'd want to know them from the prior stories) and some page-turning action. For me, it was the last 50 pages that brought it all together and made it an 8.5. There is real emotion and storytelling in this story, and while it's a little trumped up, it's much better than I originally feared.

Oliver Stone and his band of misfits are back together again. But this time there are some real wrongs to be righted and some bad, terrible history that needs to get re-written. I'm not sure how long Baldacci can (or should) keep these characters around, but he made this one work for me. With a decidely wicked and oh-so-justified conclusion of revenge. That said, the price paid prior to that conclusion was pretty high. Oh, did I mention there are two major plotlines that fulfill the comments of this paragraph? And yet a 3rd plotline deftly woven in that is a little light on the conclusion but still well done?

If you've liked the prior Camel Club series, this does not disappoint. It has earned its #1 spot on NYT Hardcover Bestsellers...

Protect & Defend ~ Vince Flynn

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

I simply love Mitch Rapp. As I've said many, many times in this blog, I hope there are guys like him out there. When you are fighting for something that is at the ideological core of your existence (freedom), when you are fighting against an enemy that does not value human life, nor any system of jurisprudence or democracy, or when you are fighting for your best friend who is in the hands of your enemy, I firmly believe that rules and law need to take a backseat. Shoot first and ask questions later. And skip the Monday morning quarterbacking altogether.

So this book works for me. Like all of Flynn's books, I am sure there are those out there that can't stomach them. But boy, does Mitch make me cheer when he evens the playing field. When he takes out like 20 bad guys in a few minutes by playing the same games the bad guys play, I feel quite good about it.

If you liked the other Flynn books, this is in the same vein. There are some credibility problems in the set-up, but overall, another great avenging angel who is one of the few that represents what needs to get done to successfully combat terrorists and those that feed/create/spawn them.

World Without End ~ Ken Follett

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

This is a delicious, delightful escape to the 14th century in England. A captivating tale that slowly grabs you and pulls you into a world that is so different from today, yet all so similar in terms of behaviors, motivations, desires, and the like. For all that technology and industry have brought us over the centuries, and for how different our day-to-day lives are, this book reminds the reader that people are people. With their noble sacrifices, their not-so-noble choices, their flaws, their love (both for others and for their passion, whatever it may be) and their ingenuity.

This is a long book, designed to create a separate world for its characters and for you to join them. The plot is a little wandering, but the characters and the themes are wonderfully done. Follett has followed up Pillars of the Earth with a real gem in my mind. It's not a page turner in the sense that some thrillers are (I'm not sure how one can write a 1000+ page "page turner"), and the characters are confusing for the first half until they appear with sufficient frequency to create a little lock-in. But for a town of a couple thousand growing to up to 7,000 inhabitants that lives through all sorts of trials, tribulations, and re-birth, it's a joy.

I'd certainly put this on your reading list if you want a big fat book this winter to read by the fire and cuddle up with. It reminded me of Tolkien's ability to create an alternate world that at the end you find is all so very real in your mind. Delightful, just delightful!

Playing for Pizza ~ John Grisham

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a pleasant, simple, mouth-watering, redeeming book. It's a quick read, and is basically a "playing for the love of the game" storyline that includes some incredible food, funny stories, a touch of a love story, and one man's quest to find himself.

Set in Italy, the book is about an athlete (football player) who escapes the madness of US pro sports because he's basically washed up. And he finds out what's important in life, and what's important to him. Along the way, Grisham writes about food as well as anyone in Zagat's or Food and Wine Magazine. I swear I want to go to Italy now more than ever because the best food and wine in the world is in Parma. And, of course, the Italian people are wonderfully fun, genuine, friends-and-family people (which is exactly how I remember them from my trips there).

I smiled my way through most of it, and while I'm no football fan, I enjoyed the heck out of the play-by-play re-caps. And the book ends as it should. When you need a light-hearted break, this is a fine one to fly through. No thriller plotlines, no complex science, just a good story.

Evil Genius ~ Catherine Jinks

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

This book was recommended to me after I blogged Soon I Will Be Invincible. The comment was that it is as a similar book, but better.

I would tend to say that this is a much more clever book in the writing as there is a whole set up of a "University" for evildoers and super-villians, and there is a fun "Mini-Me" aspect to it all. However, I also felt this one lacked the overall good vs. evil component and all that is wrapped up in the decision-making around moral choices.

Like SIWBI, this is an "out there" premise, and not normal fare for a thriller reader. For whatever reason, while I am in awe of the author's ability to spin the tale in a thoroughly clever way, I left this book feeling that I wished there was a meaningful antagonist to the Evil Genius (a young, pre-teenage, super-genius that has been sufficiently abandoned by family and peers due to his uniqueness that he spirals into imagined slights and outrageously clever means of revenge).  The Genius is manipulated and steered in ways that accelerate into a climax that while "redeeming" creates a gaping hole on credible outcome.

If you want something different, I would encourage an Amazon screening on this and SIWBI. They're similar but different, and I think will appeal to different readers for different reasons...

Power Play ~ Joseph Finder

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

There is a new (to me) contemporary master in the HOUSE. Name is Joseph Finder, and this guy can write thrillers. Imagine a train -- lots of cars to pull. Starts with what you know is serious horsepower given the intro. Then the cars start to move. And they accelerate. And accelerate. And accelerate.

Before you know it, you've read 50 pages when you knew it was time to put it down. That train is flying, momentum, plot twists, genius conductor at the helm. You're along for the ride and enjoying every minute of it. Just another page. OK, chapter. OK, it's ANOTHER 50 pages. You gotta put it down. People want to get off the plane...

You get the idea, this is a great book. Better than almost all in terms of pure, thrilling writing. It's anchored in a business context of a team-building offsite that goes off the rails, and reminds me in some ways of the classic Crichton Disclosure (for all the things captured well about how corporate America behaves).

If you like thrillers, and like them set in a business context, this is a gem. Enjoy!

The Wheel of Darkness ~ Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Funk Rating: 9 out of 10

Pendergast is BACK! Picking up where Book of the Dead leaves off, Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his ward Constance Greene set off in pursuit of a very unique and dangerous item that's been stolen from a remote monastery in Tibet.

The first thing you must do when you start reading this book is suspend disbelief. For once you stop objecting to the extraordinary plot twists and unlikely series of events, I think you'll love this mystery thriller. Like in all the Pendergast books, the skills Pendergast possesses are incredible, and there's a not insubstantial amount of Tibetan mysticism and meditation. I enjoyed all the untraditional elements of this one, and found the pages turning deep into the night and on the plane.

This is a book consistent with the Pendergast series and unlike most other thrillers and best sellers out there. The writing is outstanding, the characters and scene development elegant, and the plot twists largely unpredictable. Preston & Child cram a lot of intriguing and arcane knowledge into this thriller and do it as well as anyone. If you've loved the other ones in the series, this is one of the best.

The Husband ~ Dean Koontz

Funk Rating: 6 out of 10

Historically I've enjoyed Koontz. His books are usually fast page turners with sufficiently "odd" plots that they become intriguing mind-benders. Good airplane and vacation fodder. But this one just never worked for me. There was nothing particularly strange or paranormal in it, the characters were goofy, and the whole setup just didn't hang together for me.

In one sense, I found the book a bit similar to Caught Stealing -- where a generally average guy finds himself in some extraordinary circumstances and his world gets turned upside down. What he thinks he knows, he doesn't know. And for a gardener, he pulls off some amazing self-defense moves and planning (requiring a suspension of disbelief and adopting a "extraordinary times produce extraordinary heroes" acceptance of the storyline).

I can't recommend this book unless you have very little else to pick from...

The Last Colony ~ John Scalzi

Funk Rating: 7 out of 10

Well, it had to happen. Either I burned out on Scalzi, or Scalzi just couldn't quite pull off the hat trick of 3 top notch books in a row. I readily admit I got so addicted to the first two, that I couldn't help myself but read the last one in the series. And, while I've given it only a 7 for reasons below, it's still a heck of a read.

In this one, I felt that Scalzi was again trying to bring bigger topics to life through science fiction plotlines. This book is about freedom, democratic choice, political machinations, pawns that are used, and creative solutions that can be found when you give "mission intent" to capable people without telling them how to do their jobs. That said, while the topics are noble, I felt the story suffered as Scalzi tried to shoehorn too much into the storyline. I found there was more political backdrop than was necessary; too many "cover stories" baked into politicians telling soldiers what to do (and therefore vice-versa senior soldiers telling junior soldiers that "you don't know the half of it, here's real truth about what's really going on.") 

It's a fine story, eminently readable and enjoyable. If I read this first, I bet I would have scored it higher. But I know Scalzi writes great books, and I simply found the first two better than the last one. I look forward to where Scalzi goes next, as this has been set up as a trilogy and he clearly states in the epilogue that these characters are now done...

Holmes on the Range ~ Steve Hockensmith

Funk Rating: 8 out of 10*

I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan -- have been since I was a kid. If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, I think you'll really enjoy this book. If you also love the old West, and have a soft spot in your heart for cowboys and ranches, you will likely LOVE this book.

This is one of those incredibly clever, very fun, extremely well written books that will be a treat for some and fall flat for others. It's a who-dunnit murder mystery (several actually) set in a time over a hundred years ago. The language is brilliant and the clues are subtly laid down across dialog and scenes that are straight from the early days of huge ranches owned by Englishmen investing in the "New West", drifting cowboys (punchers), and hard times. Having just spent a week this past summer at a dude ranch in Wyoming, I loved every western phrase and the whole cowboy setup.

Parts of this book reminded me of The Final Solution by Michael Chabon, but only in the sense that I'm delighted to find well-written stories that harken back to the time when observation and a focused mind solved mysteries. The hero in this story has a touch of Columbo in him, for he's humble and unpretentious, yet asks the right questions, is troubled by small inconsistencies, and has a mind sharper than most.

If you share the love of "deducifying" a mystery, give this book a shot.

* if you don't care for Sherlock Holmes, or the old west, I can't imagine you'd enjoy this book...