Friday, February 28, 2020

Review of The Carter Street Hangman


The Carter Street Hangman
A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel

ANNE PERRY

Review by Author Roy Murry

A serial killer is garotting young women on Carter street in 1881. When a maid in Charlotte's house dies the same way, Inspector Thomas Pitt comes into her life.

The vicar (pastor) of the local church, whom Charlotte dislikes, comes to the house to preach about sin. The ones sinning, he intimates the women and, of course, the killer.

Man's sin is different from women in those days. Proper women should not be out after dark -very improper in those days.

These and other sins were discussions of the families, vicar, and wife, but mostly between Charlotte and Pitt. Thomas Pitt interviews everyone on Carter Street, looking for the man garotting the women.

The person is difficult to find by the police, five killings in all until Charlotte and Pitt have a conversation that leads to a shocking ending. The sin hits home at the place one would not believe.

It was a good read. However, the hangman writer left me hanging.




Review of Two Worlds




TWO WORLDS
TINA H. WHITE

Review by Roy Murry, Author

SIN, a religious context, is an act of transgression against divine law. What is embedded in your subconscious mind as sin is most important?

In Angie's mind, she has sinned and has not absolved herself. She has not appropriately confessed and is living with her guilt - her story brings you into her dark place.

It is a well-defined story that many of us humans have been. Ms. White has the reader lost in that world until the truth comes out in a surprising ending.

An enjoyable quick read that keeps the reader reading on without a break as I.



Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Review of Hypnotic Redemption


HYPNOTIC REDEMPTION
J B DARROCH

Review by Author Roy Murry

The subject of multiple murders is pounding her head with her hands, screaming, "Get Out, Get Out." The police book her for the deaths of four people, and Laura, her name, is arraigned in court.

The problem is the police have no evidence - her fingerprints are not on the weapon in the murders. And, she says in hysterical ways, "I did not kill them."

Is she crazy, or does she know who killed them and will not say? The secret lies within her mind and body, which can only be revealed by a hypnotic examination. 

What happens after that is a paranormal adventure which will keep your eyes pegged to the page - an entity is in control. This page-turner is a read I will not forget. It is haunting.

The story will keep you awake for a few hours but worth the time: an enjoyable suspenseful, fast read for those who believe or do not in the supernatural.



Friday, February 21, 2020

Review of LIFESPAN


LIFESPAN, Why We Age - and
Why We Don't Have To

David A. Sinclair, Ph.D.,
with Matthew D. LaPlante

Review by Author Roy Murry

This book is for the inquisitive minded person who cares about their mortality.  I take one day at a time.

However, after reading the intro, I decided to read on. I found myself in the middle of a Sinclair dissertation.

Muddling, through the molecular details he explains, I started to understand his longevity research. It took time reading the first one hundred pages, but it was worth slow read.

After that, the narrative moved along smoothly, learning how to live longer and healthier, understanding the aging process. DNA, gene, genetic material, cell division, chromosome, the tumor are not things that ordinary people, like me, think about in our daily endeavors.

Needed for this reading is some knowledge of biology. Mr. Sinclair's writing confines himself to his subject; it very difficult to put the book down when he explains his theorems, assumptions, opinions, many of which I can’t entirely agree.

However, the reading was enjoyable and eye wakening that I recommend.


Sunday, February 9, 2020

Review of SPEAK NO EVIL


SPEAK NO EVIL

TANYA ANNE CROSBY

Review by Author Roy Murry


Flo, a wealthy socialite newspaper heiress, dies supposedly falling a flight of stairs. She leaves a will in which her three daughters must complete specific tasks while living together in the family mansion for one year to receive their inheritance.

The eldest daughter must manage the newspaper; the middle daughter is to renovate the house, and the youngest is to write a novel. Neither wants the jobs needed to full fill the mother's will.

However, if one fails, no one gets the money. Let the games begin. The women must work harmoniously or fail.

Interwoven into the above scenario is a love story, a serial killer, and the Charleston wetlands that have a secret to unravel.  All collide into a thrilling story, ending in a flame.

Ms. Crosby does hook the reader in because many questions are left open after an ending event that would have nullified the beginning circumstance. Well worth the read - easy flowing, good characters, and twist and turns that keep the reader engaged.




Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Review of THE SOUL OF THE WORLD


The Soul of the World

Roger Scruton

Nothingness is on the other side - death. Therefore, should we believe in a monolithic god or just faith in one?

This and other questions of personal relationships, moral intuitions, and aesthetic judgments to light in this exceptional understanding of the world in which we live.

Sir Roger has gone into his "Nothingness," on January 12, 2020, with his passing over into another realm. He died — this book published in 2016.

In this lecture driven book, he outlines the journey us humans take in this time on earth - how we commune, how we think, and our thoughts of death and a higher power's participation in it – sacred vs. atheism. You have to be a bit of a philosophy scholar to understand his dissertation fully.

At times, his writing had me at a disadvantage, but his examination of human beings and their relationship with each god made sense.  Kant and Sartre’s philosophies drove home his points of observation at the end of this long read.

Sir Roger's explanations of the human mind, using his cognitive dualism, helped complete part of my life's journey. We will meet him in Nothingness soon enough.


Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Review of The Irish Cottage


THE IRISH COTTAGE
Finding Elizabeth

JULIET GAUVIN

Review by Author Roy Murry

Elizabeth, a persuasive, successful litigator's surrogate mother, dies, and Beth, as she is known, goes to Ireland to contemplate her future. She takes seven letters from that mother to read on her journey.

She meets Connor, and with the reading of those letters and fate, their involvement goes up each level after an instructive template of life. Each person has their psychological baggage to overcome the love affair.

Connor's friends are amazed at his change; Connor is overcome at Beth's transformation from the first day they met.  Both adults mend together physically and emotionally to the edge of saying, 
'I love you.'  

The ending of this journey is uplifting and will leave the reader wanting more when Beth leaves for London to full fill a quest, and Connor goes on an extended business trip.  I believe they will meet again in The London Flat, book two. I could be wrong, but...

Book one is an excellent hook into book two. You'll love it.