Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx by Max McCoy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

McCoy knew this was his swan song and he pulled all the stops for a rip roaring tale. He nails all of the characters seen from previous films. Other characters are also very well written. McCoy has an unlabeled prologue and epilogue that adds layers to the storytelling that defines that Indiana Jones lives the life of adventure.

McCoy likely made the story too complicated as the story has a few spots of incongruity. One scene involving someone speaking to a crowd in English near the Chinese and Russia border while others are speaking other languages is poor narrative. There’s also inconsistencies involving an island scene, also.

Nevertheless, McCoy, with his writing, presents the heart and soul of the Lucas and Spielberg creation.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of 10 points.

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The Thief Who Couldn’t Sleep by Lawrence Block
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read block before and he does approach his writing in an unusual way. But this was really something. A vibrant character that embarks on a haplessly adventure through many countries and many unusual, quirky characters. The writing is as fresh today as it was when this book first came out in 1966.

I’m amazed at the vast amount of fascinating characters Block created in this book and how he assembled all of them, in their many locations, with their very individual stories, the main character’s story and so much more within 200 pages. Outstanding work.

On top of it all this book is superbly written. The writing makes it very difficult to put the book down. There’s also an energy to Block’s writing that helps the characters and story pop out.

Definitely in the top 5 books I’ve read this year.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of 10 points.

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Against All Enemies by John Gilstrap
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘Against All Enemies’ is another Gilstrap power packed book of fun. It is also still another volume with too similar last 100 pages.

What separates this book from other very good Gilstrap novels are threads of the story that are not what they appear. These are well woven and sets this volume above others in the Jonathan Graves series. I like how two separate stories get tied together.

The returning characters are as they always are. Other characters are more developed than Gilstrap usually writes. A few extras in the cast really fleshes out the story. There are two I would have liked to see even more involved in the story.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of 10 points.

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The Deadly Sunshade: An Asey Mayo Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love I found ‘The Deadly Sunshade’ with a sticker proclaiming the book “Brand New Published December 1940”! Finding the book in August of 2017, I decided to push it to the the front of the reading list to read this “Brand New” book. 😀

This light hearted approach of this book is practically non-existent in the book world the last few decades. Carl Hiassen comes close, but in a snide way. Taylor’s book is all in fun with murders to solve. It’s great fun.

The characters are all of Cape Cod and a quirky lot. Taylor well defines each character and does an outstanding job of being consistent with each character. As with a Hiassen or Tim Dorsey book, it helps to know the vicinity. In this case, I do not. Taylor’s dialogue apparently is out to ape the typical accents and local jargon of the area. It’s a nice touch.

The story is very well done. Lots and lots and lots happens to swirl amidst the murders and who did it. Also part of the setup is the war news of the time. Taylor wrote this with the thought that it would be read in 1940. Not anytime after. The book reflects the attitudes of pre-war America, without having any idea what was to occur after December 1940. That is fascinating in itself.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

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The Case of the One-Eyed Witness by Erle Stanley Gardner
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

‘The Case of the One-Eyed Witness’ by Erle Stanley Gardener bugged me plenty in the end. As I read through the book I thought I was steaming to a socko ending. Instead it was more of a smelly sock.

Gardner slowly ambles through a perplexing number of events that seem to go nowhere or connect. The story, characters, settings seem good. Then comes the ending. All that stringing along and Gardner couldn’t unstrung some and better spell out conclusions in a better planned story. There’s a lot of fluff to get through to have the narrative at the end undo a bunch and retell to a conclusion that couldn’t have been figured out until the last few pages.

The writing is, otherwise, good. It’s the plotting that is pure stinky socks.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.

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Leader as Coach by David B. Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘Leader as Coach’ is geared to those in managerial positions at white colored businesses. It could be read by anyone, setting aside all of the managerial advice. This book would also be good for those going into business coaching.

The writers are very thorough in mapping out a plan to make the reader a greater leader and coach. Most books of this type tend to spew out words and move on. This one checks you many times throughout in many ways. Though not obviously. Great for motivation.
The book looks short & simple, but care should be taken to have a note pad ready and to set aside the book and work on what is presented. Otherwise, this book may not have the results it could for the reader who tries to just read through it.

A drawback is the layout. It’s way, way too stylish and type font, colors, text size, text setting are all wrong. Those with any eye problems will have trouble getting through the book and may end up with a headache. Who had the idea was it to have text laid in with white and gold???? Might look good from a world view. But extremely stupid from a practical view. The layout also makes it very hard to mark passages.

Bottom line: I recommend this book: 7 out of ten points.

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End Game by John Gilstrap
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘End Game’ is probably best of the series I’ve read in order. This is book 6 of the Jonathan Graves series.

Though the premise is familiar, child needs saving from really bad guys, this book had extra layers built in far more plausible than other in the Gilstrap series. I really like the last part involving a street gang and how their turf has been crossed too many times. The bad guys are also deftly folded into the story.

The best part of the book is how exciting it all is. Gilstrap kept me ripping through pages to see just how one challenge after the other would bring me to a successful -How could it be?- conclusion. The book is VERY well planned, plotted and assembled. Nicely done.

Bottom line: I recommend this book: 9 out of ten points.

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Everglades Assault by Randy Striker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another of the seven MacMorgan action novels Randy White wrote before taking off with his Doc Ford series. This is very tight and reeking of formula. Nothing surprising or much of anything to make this stand out. Very disappointing is the ending which is an oft repeated ending in Florida novels. ‘

White’s characters are good. The settings are the best of the book and the only parts really worth reading.

Bottom line: i don’t recommend this book. 5 out of ten points.

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The Case for Impeachment by Allan J. Lichtman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I should first note: A friend wanted me to read this and I agreed to.

Lichtman does a fine job laying out why he thinks Obama should be impeached….oh, did I write Obama?…Well, he does that, too, unknowingly….Impeach Trump is what i meant to write. The writer goes chapter after chapter after chapter with well thought out reasoning. Lots of supporting data is included along with footnotes to support the writer’s reasons for impeachment of president Trump.

The writer includes much background of past impeachments and other historical information that help support his viewpoint. One huge qualm i have is one cannot compare the effort to impeach Andrew Johnson and Trump. could not be more different circumstances.

There are many drawbacks. First of all is that the writer reaches too far too often. Most of his claims are based upon what he writes as “lies”. Lie has becoming a mighty subjective term as late and this fellow is unforgiving involving misstatements and bravado, arguably Trump’s largest problem. Many of the “lies” would never hold up involving impeachment. Or else every politician and realtor with be in court for treason.

I find his part of Trump’s real estate games are taken apart as reasons for impeachment. Is there a realtor alive, who makes a living, that doesn’t platy the game Trump does of bending reality for a sale? I know of none and one reason i don’t tend to care for realtors and developers.

His climate change ideas are preposterous. To impeach Trump would first demand China’s dictator’s be deposed, based upon his arguments. America is the ultimate treehugger compared to most of the rest of the world. That and you can’t convict Trump for actions developed over two centuries of America as the author writes.

The writer get into the Russian hacking as reasoning for impeachment. Trouble is the only true evidence involving Russian hacking involves e-mails revealing the head of the DNC, Debbie Schultz, John Podesta, etc. worked to undermine their Democrat electorate and force them to regard a candidate who lost. Go for impeachment and that is what will be the response.

He goes on for pages about a temporary ban of countries that Obama wanted banned, too. He coulda left out the entire chapter. Can’t impeach a president when the previous president wanted the same thing.

The writer wraps up with his ideas as to how Trump could clean up his act. Trump should pay attention to that part.

Overall, this is a very good effort, despite my vast disagreements.

Bottom line: i recommend this book – For those looking for such ideas or wanting to read a differnet viewpoint. 6 out of ten points.

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Hunted Like a Wolf: The Story of the Seminole War by Milton Meltzer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Absolute rubbish. Rare that I’ll be that blunt. but, this deserves it. The book claims to be “THE story of the Seminole War”. This is political commentary with a very abbreviated, narrow view of the Seminole War.

Extract the commentary and the history might make up 50 pages. And the only history told is to support the commentary. So much is left out, that if the commentary is taken out, the story wouldn’t make sense. General known history of the war is here. But so much is not! Most all of those who commanded are brushed by. Hard to do with Scott and Jesup, but this guy manages to do it. That leaves out so much why the US took certain actions. The writers fills in with his political theories. Not history, but theories. Why waste time with documentation when you can make it up with theories? This volume is full of it. All blasting from a narrow minded political view of war.

That is THEE problem with this book. The writers slanted view point. This book should be titled as the writer’s commentary and political viewpoint of the Florida Seminole War and how horrible America is. The entire book is a treatise of America being a horrible country trying to take over the world. Could America have handled the indian issue better? Sure. But that should be examined not as history, but as opinion.

Take the line,”For once, the whites found it expedient to tell the truth.” (Page 86). There’s plenty of documentation that “whites”, whoever they are – I’ll suppose Americans, told the “truth”. His writing declare “whites” only told the “truth” once. That is not history. that is opinion!

Take page 52 where the writer states the settlers felt a need for “security”, writer’s words. Then the writer proceeds to disseminate why security was needed and how dare settlers ask for it and so on. Along the way bashing people’s faith. Opinion, not history.

The page preceding, 51, has this, “Florida belongs to us, they said, the way a foot belongs to a leg. We have a “right” to it.” – His writing. From there he writes how wrong he feels his interpretation of his writing of their thinking he assumes he thinks he knows. What???? No history here.

Interesting is that this 1972 books is peppered with words, human rights, refugees, white invaders, etc., are all political buzzwords found part of a certain mentality today.

I knew i was in trouble as the writers extensively used “white invaders” over and over and over and over again. This guy has a political ax to grind and this is his treatise of his hate of white people…and cloaked in it all, a lot of others, too – If i may leave MY opinion.

Bad title, bad history, opinion that does not belong….

Bottom line: i strongly do not recommend this book. 0 out of 10 points.

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Seminole: A Novel of Osceola by Theodore Pratt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pratt assembles this tale of Osceola based upon much that has been recorded. He gets a lot of the non-fiction right, but his fictional parts don’t pull it all together well.

The historical accuracy of much of the book is very accurate. From the killing of Wiley Thompson to his wife Morning Dew to the Green Corn Dance. To create his book, Pratt ads Gideon Sauny to intertwine in Osceola’s life to tell Osceola’s story. However, Pratt stumbles involving dialogue of Osceola and Gideon. Painting Osceola as such a stoic creature and then throwing that all away to fit Gideon doesn’t ring true. Or I could write Pratt’s writings sound like that of a white man. The entry of Gideon into the Green Corn Dance, despite the story, is unbelievable. Then there’s a whole thing of Prat trying to wrap up the book and this sends Gideon on a ridiculous trip and another unlikely conclusion.

The writing is not as good as other Pratt books. The writing is also far below similar work by Frank Slaughter.

The settings are very well written. Pratt does an excellent job letting readers know where they are in Florida. This is a tremendous help in orienting other activity in the book.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend the book. 5 out of ten points.

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