Review of Jack of Hearts

JACK OF HEARTS

A Detective Jack Stratton Novel

Christopher Greyson

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Jack, visiting his parents in a community for mature adults with his girlfriend and a large dog, is hoodwinked into solving a small crime wave. The mature adults are less than knowledgeable involvement.

Behind the petty thieves is hidden a deadly crime that comes to light because of Jack's probing and the mature adult's interference.  The large dog Lady, and Alice, Jack's soon to be, play their parts in uncovering the real crime which started when his parents and others returned from vacation cruise in the Caribbean.

The story has "It's close calls," mini adventures, and funny instances including a baby alligator confrontation. When mommy gator comes out of the water later, it's a big bite missed.

As far as a detective story goes, Hearts is a simple, straightforward case. I must have read too many mysteries because I solved the case faster than Jack.

However, the story was an enjoyable read with the introduction of Jack, Alice, and their big dog, Lady who stole the show in this book. All in All, I may read another of Mr. Greyson’s many novels.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/2wzJIX9

Review of ON BULLSHIT

ON BULLSHIT

Harry G. Frankfurt

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Humbug, Lies, Short of Lies, Bullshit, and Pretentious Bull, are among the items that Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Princeton University Frankfurt discusses in his book/thesis on how humanity has conducted itself when covering up something it doesn't want to reveal. His work is apolitical but resonates in the multi-media world we live in today 2017.

Not mentioning names, he notes “that the contemporary proliferation of bullshit has deeper sources in various forms.” I believe he is referring to the TV news media, Facebook, Twitter, and all opinion driven outlets.

Frankfurt's definition of the above mention shades of deception is clear and easy to digest for the average reader. However, the thesis is more appropriate for an academic audience, i.e., college Philosophy majors.

Somewhat humorous, Professor Frankfurt keeps the reader's attention in this short but dangerous work. The reader may, after reading and analyzing "On Bullshit," reevaluate their rhetoric, that of the talking heads in the TV media, and fellow humans.

I read the thesis twice before this review. It’s only 81 pages.

Purchase:  http://amzn.to/2xfMdKV

Review of Old School

OLD SCHOOL

Life in the Sane Lane

Bill O'Reilly &

Bruce Feirstein

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

'It is not often that people learn from the past, even rarer that they draw the correct conclusions from it.' I paraphrase Henry Kissinger who, by the way, is not one of my favorite people. However, his words are related to O'Reilly and Feirstein's thesis on human conditioning.

With the loss of truthful history and discipline in our schools, Old School values of the past are in the most cases lost in American culture. The authors wove into this book their knowledge of their cultural growth intellectually, using short stories of each families' past.  

Many of those stories resonated with me. I am a Baby Boomer who lived through the same period, albeit I served in Vietnam where my core values changed somewhat. Participating in war does that to you.

Snowflakes, however, live in the now and won't look at the psychological development of the past to add value to their life, unless there are core family values already installed. It’s an endeavor losing ground, according to the authors.

Unfortunately, this declarative historic on values will be only read by Old Schoolers and maybe psych majors who want to understand human conditioning. Americans are being conditioned at a faster rate today than in the 60s, 70s, and 80s via sound bites. The authors allude to this conditioning.

Mr. O'Reilly and Feirstein have put together a fast-moving book with laughs and interesting observations. However, its fundamental theories, although somewhat factual, won't work in today's world. Few young Americans read history, Snowflakes won’t.

I enjoyed the read because I am Old School. Buy at http://amzn.to/2wFr3pL

Review of I SPY, I SAW HER DIE

I SPY, I SAW HER DIE

Book 1 & 2

IAN C.P. IRVINE

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

"Do the right thing," is a thought many of us have when confronted with an event where a decision is needed. Mr. Irvine's protagonist, a professional hacker, Ray Luck has a lover who breaks up with him. She uses that phrase trying to bring him back to reality.

Luck disregards her plea, even though he thinks about it, her, and goes ahead about using one of his cyber programs anyway. He sees something that he might or might not have been programmed to witness - murder. 

Leaving his cyber 'Safe space,' Luck goes visit a hacker bro to get some clarification of the video he downloaded. The events that follow are life changing and threatening for Ray Luck because of the misuse of government power by a few. 

He puts his life and the lives of his lover, friends, and family in the crossfire of a foe; he thinks he knows. It's the right thing to do.

Mr. Irvine has written a two-book series; you can't put down. This thriller has all the ingredients with hurdles that seem impossible to get over for Ray Luck and a nemesis that has all the power to eliminate him from existence. 

Book two is a continuation of one. I recommend that you buy them together for a promotional price on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2waQLS9

Review of Chez Stinky

Chez Stinky

An Alpine Grove Romantic Comedy

Book 1

Susan C. Daffron

Review by Author Roy Murry

Not being an animal lover; I like other people's dogs and cats. Taking care of one is a tremendous responsibility, and you have to be a big-hearted person to be able to love and care for nine.

In Chez Stinky, Ms. Daffron's protagonist Kat, not to be confused with Cat, which she has one called Murphee, receives a call that is a life changer. Because of the death of her great aunt, she inherits four dogs and five cats that live in a country house.

It is a daunting task, to say the least. Katherine takes a vacation from her dead-end city job to visit what seems to be an unpleasant situation - four dogs are everywhere, all the cats are hiding, and the house built into a hill is falling apart. To top off that, the executor of the will doesn't like her.

Kat is a cat person, but when she gets to know the dogs, she falls in love with them. When she locates the cats, life becomes bearable.

Off course a man comes into the situation via the dog walker who was taking care of the animals before Kat arrived. He helps her with minor repairs to the house and her self-esteem which turns into more than anticipated.

The supporting characters, the events that follow, and the small-town ambiance give this first in a series a well-written lead into Kat's and her lover's story. I didn't get the comedy part, but, as I said, I am not an animal lover.

If you are, this is a cute series to read.  http://amzn.to/2uVkxhi

Review of WHAM

WHAM

TIMEWALKER Book 1

CAROL MARRS PHIPPS

& TOM PHIPPS

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

WHAM is not the first Phipps' book that I have read. I follow an author because they add something interesting to my life.

In TIMEWALKER, Book 1 in a trilogy, they have presented a fantasy that will keep the reader amazed. The storyline is not complicated, but the theoretical background is intriguing.

Children and Families, a futuristic government agency, in a military action, arrives at a family's home. They abduct Tess’s parents and her sister, for the betterment of society, because they have not done a good job bringing up their children.

Tess stays in their home but will have new roommates that will help her move in the right social direction. Her parents are in jail, and her sister is in sexual servitude unbeknownst to all.

A Fairy Grandfather comes from the past to intercede. The comparison of past and present is akin to how many feel about today's living versus living before the nuclear age arrived - governments taking too much control of everyday life.

In WHAM, these two worlds collide, the Fairy's world versus the Elite controlling one. The contrast is brought alive in the Phipps' vivid and sometimes dark prose.

You have to go through the mushroom ring to find a pleasant place in WHAM. Purchase to learn how. http://amzn.to/2eFsekA

Review of Resumed Innocent

RESUMED INNOCENT

RENE FOMBY

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

In all professions, everyone needs to earn their stripes before being able to sit down at the big boy's table. Resumed Innocent's protagonist attorney Samantha is a novice practicing criminal lawyer and has her office in a Texas good ole boy system where corruption controls the law. 

Samantha muddles through that system defending clients in minor criminal cases by upsetting the cable cart - judges and prosecutors. She makes a name for herself as the defender of the unprivileged. 

Her personal life has its conflicts with her husband's family because of his death. Money and crime are the backgrounds of the mal contentments of that family's patriarch.   

Sam, her nickname, is talked into defending a man who is in jail for the murder of his wife and children. His pastor says he is innocent and could never do such a thing, but the police and District Attorney has the goods on the man. 

They are convinced the right man is in jail. Even Sam has her doubts but takes on the case because she has a feeling but no facts to defend her client.

With two weeks to prepare for the court date, Sam world goes up in smoke, literally and figuratively. The FBI is brought in to protect her and child against an unknown group trying to destroy her life.

The novel culminates with the unraveling of hidden facts. Rene Fomby brings the reader a satisfactory conclusion where he or she will want to read more of Sam's adventures.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2t8Pxou