Review of The Green Room

The Green Room

Written by Faith Mortimer

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

A well-known axiom is “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” In Ms. Mortimer’s The Green Room, her protagonist Ella doesn’t know that her enemy is closer than one might believe.

Ella is living in an area where a serial killer is roaming. As a nurse in a local hospital, she tends to the sick and the physical pain that humans create. Her leisure time is with family, friends, and her boyfriend, who happens to be a police officer in search of the killer.

Ella’s knowledge of the events surrounding the rapes and her imagination leads to some interesting results. Her detective work uncovers information where two men are under investigation by her boyfriend.

The killer-rapist is close at hand; she knows. Convinced that the man who she just slept with and lived in the same building is the killer, she runs to the police officer. Then the truth comes out.

Faith Mortimer keeps the reader on edge throughout this thriller. Her character’s, especially Ella, are down to earth people caught up at the moment which leads the reader to believe the character’s conclusions.

When reading the prose, you feel the same as Ms. Mortimer’s characters. But when the ending arrives, and all revealed the astute reader could only say one thing, “Wow, I missed that.”

Purchased at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1peCY98

Review of I thought she'd be prettier

I thought she’d be Prettier

           Diana Lee

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The United Nations rates the United States with the third highest divorce rate of 4.34% per 1,000 marriages. Of the richest countries on the planet, 53% of our marriages end up in divorce court. Other words, more than half of marriages in the USA end up divorced.

That said; we can put Diana Lee’s book/journal in perspective. The aspiration for that “Happy ever after” marriage is the fabric of most societies. Her protagonist is attempting to reach in her second marriage to a younger never-been-married man.

Ms. Lee’s main character Anna writes a journal explaining her one-sided interpretation of the events that transpired between her and her second husband. In the honeymoon stage of their bliss, they have two boys, and sex continues to be fantastic. I won’t delve into that; I wasn’t there.

Anna tells us of Sammy and his faults but never lets the reader understand hers. It might give the reader some insight into why he did some stupid things – funny at times and hurtful others  So be it. No self-analysis was included.

The writer of this journal goes on to tell us how she came across finding out her husband’s infidelity with maybe two women. She becomes a self-made detective to the end, while still living in the fantasy world of what I call the “Soulmate syndrome.” Wasn’t her first husband her soul mate at one time?

The writing was charming and comfortable to read, but a little wishy-washy. It’s wishful thinking that women are to believe that Mr. Right exists – he doesn’t. You gotta make do with what you got and be happy he comes home to you each night.

Purchase at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1noOca3

Review of Feast Day of Fools

FEAST DAY OF FOOLS

    James Lee Burke

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

There is so much going on in this thriller that a list of characters should be provided. It took me awhile to figure who the main characters were because each is brought into the scheme using hyper descriptions.

Mr. Burke’s novel is character driven, placing them into an unusual story where everyone seems to be criminals except the Sheriff Hackberry Holland, his deputies, a Chinese lady and a few others. Interestingly the criminals with their extremely complicated nasty foolish background, clash throughout the novel upsetting an American town.

Basically, this multilevel story with the backdrop of the Mexican border is a simple good against the evil narrative. The spectrum of good to evil and all its shade between is brought out using the characters personalities.

When the characters collide in a fight to show their superiority, again, Mr. Burke leaves the reader thinking – wow, that doesn’t seem right. His detailed style exposes leaves one wondering – are there people like his characters: so complicated. The answer is yes, we are all complicated beings.

Mr. Burke’s has written a well thought out novel, but I believe that his over description of each character slows down the beat of his prose. Less sometimes is better, leaving the reader to imagine a little.

However, the novel is worth the read. His more in characterization keeps the reader wondering what that character will do, and they don’t do what the reader may think while reading the beforehand narrative.

Purchase:  http://amzn.to/1TfhINN

Review of THE PRETTIEST ONE

THE PRETTIEST ONE

A Thriller by

JAMES HANKINS

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Mr. Hankins writing keeps the reader engaged by opening intriguing doors. The first one is the front door of the lead character’s home. When opened, Caitlin/Katie is completely disoriented going through it.

Her husband, who is on the other side of that door, opens it, and her past comes into some focus. Where has she been all this time? What has she been doing? Did she kill someone?

Those questions and her real identity come out after the two of them proceed to literally and figuratively open many doors.  When the other doors open, you are lead on an interesting so journey of murder, theft, pedophilia events and criminality that unravel this thrilling ride through the protagonist’s life.

Locked in her mind is the answers.  They are so deep-seated because of her physiological state; she doesn’t know them. The doors must be opened to free her from her past.

Mr. Hankins’ writing keeps the reader on the edge while explaining how each character's story. Those individuals are colorfully put together.

Hankins’ main character has another side to her that appears when her brain clicks into a situation behind some of the doors. Her husband is confused, and her boyfriend is amazed, apprehensive about his part, and feels cheated.

The three reached the end of the complicated journey, walking through environments they thought they would never go through. It’s an adventure you’ll enjoy if you like THRILLERS.

Buy at Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1Tnwlhw

Review of Unexpected Gifts

Unexpected Gifts

Castle Mountain Lodge, Book 1

Elena Aitken

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

You have been hurt by a relationship that went south. This is what happened to the two main characters. Each is getting away from the proximity of their situation, ending up in a predicament that they try to make the best of.

They converse, comingle to the point of complete intimacy, and reach a level of personal comfort they have not experienced in a long time. Their friendliness and possible love commitment are put to the test when their individual history is confronted head-on by an unexpected interference of the past.

The winter wonderland environment surrounds the mating process, and each is enjoying the results. Love is in the air, and both adults are still questioning the symptoms of their relationship.

The novel comes to a peak with the results of this romantic comedy close to dissolution.  The couple, Andi, and Colin will end up with memories. Only by reading this well-developed story will the reader be filled with their romantic fix for the day. I read it in one sitting.

The novel is put together to gently push the reader onto the next chapter/ episode in the couple’s life. It’s a series, so one must be content for now with the somewhat unexpected conclusion, and will want to see where the couple goes from Castle Mountain Lodge.

Free on Amazon 2/7/2016:   http://amzn.to/1QlHIjI

      

Review of The Delphi Chronicle

THE DELPHI CHRONICLE

THE MANUSCRIPT

Russell Blake

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

There are conspiracies and people’s paranoia which leads them to think a conspiracy has accrued. In Mr. Blake’s DELPHI CHRONICLE, one is to believe that a manuscript has the answer to the government’s control of the global criminal activity.

No names are named, and the reality of the disclosure of the full documents of that movement is in question. However, essential elements are eliminating all who have come in contact with the Chronicle.

Mr. Blake’s protagonist is out of town, so to speak, avoiding confronting the situation head-on. He is trying to preserve his position, thereby getting to the root of the dilemma before him.

In the excerpt of THE MANUSCRIPT, you can understand why Mr. Blake is a best-selling author. Include in this book, are extracted from other novels: King of Swords and Geronimo Beach.

I can say that Mr. Blake’s writing is a thrilling motion. However, this "Come on" is good but left me hanging and if cared to find out the end, I would need to buy another book. It's a good promo gimmick. I recommend you purchase the novel which I believe might if I can remember to put it on my read list.

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/20PChBb

     

Review of Advocate's Dilemma

The Advocate’s Dilemma

Written by Teresa Burrell

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Attorney Sabre, who protects the rights of children, is put in an awkward position at the beginning of this dramatic novel. With the help of her personal detective JP, she tries to get to the root of this stressful predicament she and her clients are the centers.

Finger pointing and alternate suspects don’t lead to the culprit of the situation that is dividing family members including the two boys Sabre have vowed and legally needs to protect. It is embroiled in human abuse where parents use their children for personal gain.

This intriguing story will peak your interest into how people manipulate others to get what they want: love, drugs, sex, or comfort. Ms. Burrell puts it together into plausible events that may positively shock the reader.

Dilemma is book four in a series, but the story stands alone.

Purchase at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Q1TSUE