Review: Shoot First

Shoot First by Eva Hudson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not final! ARC-Review!
Received an ARC for an honest review.
Wanted to fast read the final book (that I bought cheap just the day I finished the ARC, paying a promo price which makes me feel bad), but did not find the time yet.
If nothing was changed, a bit much with the bad planning (car needs gas, iPhone runs out of power).
And solving everything on her own.
Wanted to give 4 stars, but two events prevented me from it: one chapter needed at least an explaining sentence more - for me there was a part of the story missing, not from the main storyline, but one of Ingrids bad decisions, there could have been a whole chapter about it, from me just one word, not to spoil it: rooftop, and when you read it, you know what I mean. This for me is half a star less, I will check the published ebook wether that was changed, it may be and change the rating and the review accordingly.

The final half star was the twist at the end, while I thought she was making an interesting choice and the series could take a turn in an interesting direction, that was reversed with another twist which I seriously do not like. I will look into the next book or the reviews but this decision may be the end of reading the series for me, sorry.
Regardless, I miss Eva Hudson, hers was a sad story and the new author has done a good job, even if I may leave the series.


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Review: Hex Hall

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nice twists, even with the romance, sort of a love-triangle (you have been warned).
The romance takes a turn, and was ok for me.
The MC is just the right amount of unsure and weepy, but also gathers her wits and is strong at other times. Only she is not world-wise and gullible, a few times she fell for mean tricks, even in a normal school she would have suffered. She has a strong sense of trust once she makes a friend and later realizes that not everything is black-and-white, more like a grey area, even with people, very nicely developed and therefore one of my more likeable heroines.
One major twist I saw coming, was just too obvious, but others not. Fast read, recommended, but was somehow missing something (action? suspense? witchcraft? could have more of all), so 4 stars, for some maybe less, but I can live with that.
Just checked, I bought it Halloween!
No sex, could have done with a few kinky sex-scenes (shapeshifter-faerie?). No swearing (ah, for once not the same 5 boring US-american swear words!).
Recommended, will read the next book in the hope Sophie grows up.

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Review: The Breaking Point: A Body Farm Novel

The Breaking Point: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very twisty, as expected bloody, politics (!) the first 1/3 I had a hard time finding out in which year it was supposed to play. For new readers: the series is not published nor written in order, this book is somewhere in between:
After 9/11 but other events mentioned in the books (not in reality) had not happened yet! It is rather late when an exact date is mentioned (I looked, so could not have missed it).
As with other writers in genre (Kathy Reichs comes to mind), this series is hit-or-miss, the books varying in suspense and action. This is one of the best, if not the best of the series.
Personal tragedy is happening, and the case takes a few unexpected turns, which kept me guessing.
Highly recommended, and can be read as a standalone (which may be even less confusing than trying to place this time-whise in the big story of the other books).

This was written by a team, the original inventor who conceived and maintained the "University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility" known as the "Body Farm" untill his retirement, Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, who first met when Jon made one of a few TV-Documentaries about the Body Farm (although supposed to be very good, not available for purchase on DVD). They wrote a few non-fiction books alone or together about the Body Farm and the so far 8 novels (and a few novellas) of this series. Wikipedia has more about these two and the Body Farm.



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Review: Leviathan Wakes

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As I have a thing for filmed books, as soon as I read that there is a series made, I grabbed up this book and soon started it. That I already bought the Novella The Butcher of Anderson Station, helped, as the series was already on my radar.
Most of the book two alternating pov's, Miller (the detective) and Holden (the righteous man).
Complicated enough to grab ones attention even for the long read this has been.
A lot of action and some bloody fights keep the action going, but peppered with a few twists and decisions which while looking good or even inevitable at the time they where made, they have more or less unexpected results, and show that there might be a problem setting all information free.
Moral and later in the book self-justice gets discussed, although this is one case I think it is justified.
Still, to see it developed, handled and discussed makes for a nice change, in a lot of US-American books I read the last few years, this gets not questioned, or all acting persons agree with the vigilante (which I normally do not, this one case being the exception of the rule).

This book, the first in a series, has for me the makings of a TV-series which could be the next Game of Thrones, but a skimmed a few reviews of the next book, and I may be wrong, although the ratings are even higher. Still bought it, and will read it soon. Not sure wether this series is finished, but so far 5 novels and a couple of shorties / novellas have been published, so they may go on. Edit: have not checked correctly, or it has been added recently, but on Goodreads they list this series now as 9 books, with #06 expected to be published 2016, the following without a planned date.

Will comment this review when I have watched the (currently 4 episodes) TV-Series.


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Review: The Butcher of Anderson Station

The Butcher of Anderson Station by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bought this some time ago, for such a short story I think it should have been free as an add-on to one of the novels of the series or free as a teaser.
Good background addition, I read it then the character pops up in the first Expanse Book Leviathan Wakes, which helps to understand the character and the story better.

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Review: Closed Hearts

Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Started December, 08th 2013 and took a rather long break. Bought the Kindle-Trilogy-Box set, although I already bought and read the first book - another promotion, cost me even less than a Euro.
OK, I had to fresh my memory of the pervious book by reading a the last few pages again. It has been too long a break between Open Minds - Mindjack #01 and this one.
- Sorry, have some catching up to do on Goodreads with rating / reads / reviews (writing this December, 31st 2015).
Fast pace, devastating twist near the end. Will write more (hopefully) after reading the third book in 2016. Also bought the short stories / novella-compilations.
Highly recommended.


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Review: Anomaly

Anomaly by Tonya Kuper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Even for 3 stars, recommended.
But there is too much boring romance Reid-Josie for my taste.
Will read the next book in the series, but if the romance-level keeps up that may be my last.


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Review: Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More like 3.5 stars, bit much repetition (crying etc.).
Still a nice fluffy, fast read.
Recommended for fans of the series and it works better if you have read all other books before this.

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Review: No Good Deed

No Good Deed by Allison Brennan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another one in my favorite series by Allison Brennan.
This will not work as a standalone, with the story beginning two books earlier with Dead Heat. Some books by Allison Brennan have too much romance or personal problems for me to warrant 5 stars (or even 4). Not this one, this is for me just the right amount.
Lots of action and problems, with a few moles in the FBI/DEA and lots of people ending up dead.
This resolves all story-lines and ends the trilogy beginning with Dead Heat in the series of Lucy Kincaid and the Brennan-Universe of Kincaid/Rogan which also has other books.


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Review: Crux

Crux by Ramez Naam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not bought, lent with Amazon Prime for November 2015 (two books of a three part series, nice one, Amazon!).
A few nice twists and a solid second book in the trilogy, but more like 4.5 stars.
Will wait with buying the third book, read some other stuff.
Very highly recommended, but will not work as a standalone, I suggest reading the Nexus first, obviously.

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Review: Childhood's End

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not bought, lent with Amazon Prime for December 2015, due to the mini-series from SyFy. As often, I like to read the book and then see the film or (mini-) series.
And as sometimes happens, this was quite dated and not very suspenseful.
At times it dragged along, barely covering the philosophical themes with dialogue or story.
Nice idea, but basically I did not like both the style and the book, having read such drivel in my childhood and late teens, mostly still in German translation, though the Rama-series from Clarke I read in English, if I remember right.
Three stars for a good idea, and an interesting ending. If they filmed it, as it was written, I wonder why the chose this book. And if not, why bother at all?
My ebook (Kindle) has a scene, which was re-ritten during the cold-war-high-time, nice addition, which as far as the explanation goes, should be in all newer books.
I will watch the series at some point, and add a comment here, but am not looking forward to it.
Maybe my tastes have changed too much since last reading Clarke, and 2001 was also not really my cup of tea (hm, I have cut down my coffee-consumption, never really drank tea, except during vacation in the UK, it is safer to drink tea there, than coffee).
Not recommended, except as a sleeping pill.

A better book, if I am not totally off (should read it again), with something of a similar concept: Blood Music!


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Review: All In

All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wanted to pre-order this for Kindle, and was looking forward to reading it as soon as I got it, but could not order it as a Kindle ebook in Germany, had to jump through the usual hoops (VPN) to buy it as a Nook EPub from Barnes and Nobles and convert it to Mobi.
As with the other books of the series, a few great twists right up till the end! And this one was better than the last, having resolved and settled some of the romance-triangle.
Still no sex-scenes. But luckily more action, the background for Sloane and enough twists to screw your mind.
This is solid, must-read-page-turner 5 star for me. Although some adults may differ.
As I am for few years now retired and turned 49 this year I am not really YA, but still enjoy these genre a lot (although I could do with some sex-scenes, kinky please).
Highly recommended, but not really a standalone, you should have read the other books in the series.
Looking so forward to the next book!

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Review: Hidden

Hidden by Casey Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Probably a mistake to read 3,5 books in a row of a series.
Got this again as a promo through bookbub, rather cheap (not free).
And again I feel bad, that cannot really give more than 3 stars.
More like 2.5 until near the end, dragged along, a few little twists with a suprise ending which was more a cliffhanger but saved it to 3 stars.


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Review: Torn

Torn by Casey Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not to spoil anything, but in my view there was a major logic error with the DVD they got sent later in the book, regarding the number of crimes and victims filmed (there should have been 1 more, I paged back to see if I did remember wrong, I did not).
So, I hoped with time the writing and the books would progress and get better, but again, this is a solid 3 star if you can ignore the DVD, that would normally warrant a star less. It may be that it was explained, but I cannot remember that, it is rather late for me to write the review (being December now and having read the book 2 months and a lot of books ago).


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Review: Crime Scene: CSI Reilly Steel Prequel

Crime Scene: CSI Reilly Steel Prequel by Casey Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Short read, a novella. This is a prequel to the series, placing Steel in Quantico.
This gives an interesting view of the education on a real life case.
Still, as with the other books, too straight-forward, not enough twists.


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Review: Taboo

Taboo by Casey Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nice debut, but not enough suspense, guessed the killer early on, too straightforward, not enough twists. As I got this free from a Bookbub-promo-mail I feel bad about it, not paying for it, but this will not change my review.
Liking the setting (Dublin) I will read more of the series.



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Review: A Madness So Discreet

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As it was set in the late 19th century, not really my kind of book, but the idea and setting was great.
Took me a while to read, though, not much suspense.
Very well described and developed main character (heroine).
So, 4stars it is. If you like Asylum-Settings and mad people, I recommend giving this a try.

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Review: Book of Shadows

Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More like 3.5 .
Good use of Witchcraft and the suspension of believe and the struggles of the main-character with what he believes.
May be a bit too much fantasy for some, but I found it well integrated, but unexpected.
As I like to be surprised, it was a good thing.
Recommended thriller with supernatural overtones. But not her best book, so beware.


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Review: The Loch

The Loch by Steve Alten
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Liked the use of mobile tech (phones, internet on laptops) with realistic and spotty coverage.
The book felt rather long but it was worth it, if even for the main setting, Loch Ness, alone!
The science felt sound and the devastating deaths and fight scenes well describes.
Warrants still not really 5 stars, but as I write this now (3 months later, sorry) I do not care.
In my childhood I read some real-world (-ocean) books like Hans Hass, Costeau and others, having an interest in Ocean-Life, so this is right up my alley.
The descriptions of the places makes me want to be there, even if it is not for me (wandering does not suit me, sitting in a wheelchair).
Still, I am not sure wether to read another book by this writer. Probably not anytime soon.

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Review: The Naked Face

The Naked Face by Sidney Sheldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read this a long time ago (20-30 years) in German.
Wanted to read it again as I discovered the TV-Movie with Roger Moore was available as a Blu-ray and
I am usually fond of reading a book and the watching the Movie/TV-Show.
Have not watched the Movie (watched it also 20-30 years ago in German TV before reading the German book).
Romance and Mystery, no real thriller. What I really liked about the movie was an added subplot where the Dr. used a terminal with an off-site cpu for record keeping (at that time very high tech) which played a minor role.
The murder scenes are bloody and may be for someone expecting a more romance-read, disturbing.
Recommended standalone romance-mystery if you know Sheldon and what to expect.

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Review: Perfect Cover

Perfect Cover by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nice read, but way too much action, not enough suspense or free time (off time) for the characters. Even training should have happened more.
Will certainly read the next book in the series, can this recommend as a fast fluffy read during better books.

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Review: Nexus

Nexus by Ramez Naam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not bought, lent with Amazon Prime
Short review: bloody, very philosophical, reminds me of Snow Crash Snow Crash.
Questions and discusses the moral and ethical implications of the advances described.
Although very blood and quite a few people die, it questions the actions and decisions leading to the deaths and the hero is against the killing.
Certainly shows that not all is simply black and white, more like a grey fog.
Also questions the policy of the government.
A book to think about, and with a lot of action and fight scenes, a very good mixture, also some twists I did not see coming.
Already lent the next book in the series, and cannot wait to read it.
Highly recommended, and when it is clear, I might read them again, I will buy the books in the series!

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Review: Shadowland

Shadowland by Meg Cabot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After the DNF-desaster of Abandon which was unlikeable and boring, I was thinking wether to read another series I anticipated by her or not.
As I had already bought it, I decided to read it rather soon as to abandon it early on if it was written the same way.
But it was rather good, with just a little too much romance. Love triangle, but well developed and with an ok solution.
Really like the characters.
Also the ethics and moral of solving conflicts with a fist in the face is questioned, as is the death penalty or killing the killer.
Already read the next two books in the series,which I also recommend and will certainly read the next books (and another one is supposed to be published 2016, taking place in a time after finishing school, yeah, something to look forward to).
Recommended.

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Review: Face of a Killer

Face of a Killer by Robin Burcell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Suspensefull page-turner, nice twists, although some a little too much, too far out.
Also the chemistry between her ex and Sydney was way too much, I could have done without it.
For me, she would be better of without him (as usual for me, prefering the single strong female).
Except for that, very good characters and descriptions.
It will be interesting to see how this develops in the next book, which I will certainly read.
Highly recommended.


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Review: Nexus

Nexus by Ramez Naam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not bought, lent with Amazon Prime
Short review: bloody, very philosophical, reminds me of Snow Crash Snow Crash.
Questions and discusses the moral and ethical implications of the advances described.
Although very blood and quite a few people die, it questions the actions and decisions leading to the deaths and the hero is against the killing.
Certainly shows that not all is simply black and white, more like a grey fog.
Also questions the policy of the government.
A book to think about, and with a lot of action and fight scenes, a very good mixture, also some twists I did not see coming.
Already lent the next book in the series, and cannot wait to read it.
Highly recommended, and when it is clear, I might read them again, I will buy the books in the series!

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Review: Memory Man

Memory Man by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I gave this 4 stars, it is more like 3.5 .
The idea is great, but too much and grates on my nerves.
And again we have a hero who does most things on his own, yawn, boring.
Thinking back maybe 3 stars would be more than enough. But I will not change my rating.
Will probably not read another book with this hero.
Take it or leave it, not recommended, despite my rating.

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Review: The Adversary

The Adversary by Reece Hirsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not bought, lent with Amazon Prime.
Not enough twists for me, but ok read.
Reasonably fast read, not too long.
As this is a series, I might read the next book in the series: Intrusion
Recommended.

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Review: Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets by Liliana Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fluffy little romance-thriller, a few twists, but not enough meat, although the murders are well done.
Sex is mentioned, but not very explicit. Could have done with more suspense and less romance.
Feel bad, as I got this through a bookbub mail for free, but that should not influence my review.
Not sure I can recommend it, but will read the next book to find out.


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Review: Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets by Liliana Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fluffy little romance-thriller, a few twists, but not enough meat, although the murders are well done.
Sex es mentioned, but not very explicit. Could have done with more suspense and less romance.
Feel bad, as I got this through a bookbub mail for free, but that should influence my review.
Not sure I can recommend it, but will read the next book to find out.


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Review: Evil Never Dies

Evil Never Dies by T.R. Ragan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow!
Ok, this! is a great conclusion for the series, seriously did not see that one coming.
A lot is solved, not all to my satisfaction, but that is expected.
The series as a whole set is highly recommended, although I think all books suffer a bit from too many different story-lines.
Walks also a fine line between justice and vigilantism, often questioning the action of certain persons.
Very highly recommended!

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Review: Almost Dead

Almost Dead by T.R. Ragan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nearly 5 stars, but I cannot agree with the twist this takes into the next book, but still, great idea.
Read them in order, starting with the first book.
Recommended, fast page-turner.

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Review: Obsessed

Obsessed by T.R. Ragan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Warning: Cliff-Hanger ending.
A first, imho.
Better than the last one and reading the series in order helps.
Recommended, but only in order and with the caveat of the cliffhanger.

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Review: The Girl in the Spider's Web

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this in German translation, as it would be a translation for me anyways, not understanding the language in which it was originally written.
Price was rather high (Eur 18,99 for the eBook, due to our German law Buchpreisbindung it costs the same in all shops), so I chose not buy it. Might buy it, if the price sinks (probably in a few months or a year, then a paperback is published).

Mostly this is in the same style as the previous Millenium books from the late Stieg Larsson:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.
As with these previous books, a very good mixture of action and recherché. The science and computer scenes are very well done, just the right amount of information and real theories and no faults I could detect, everything feasible and for me very believable, down to the elliptical curves.
Although I think R.A.T. could have been explained once (Remote Access Tool, think VNC or TeamViewer), I heard the term for the first time a few months ago when watching "CSI Cyber", not sure how well known that term is. A list, maybe with links, of these words as something to look up in the book or on the internet would have been nice, also for "further reading" or source-material.
For some reason these 4 Millenium books are so far the only books, where the computer-hacking is described both correct and not too deep as to deliver a blue-print for would-be hackers, also without mistakes or too much made up technobabble. You get the feeling, the writer knows how to hack.
Often, in other books, I get the feeling the writer was told, how it works, but did not understand it - in fore- or afterwords this gets confirmed, some writers are honest enough to say so.
Really like the style, although some little scenes stumble a bit, but if memory serves me right, that was also the case in the Stieg Larsson-books.

It has been some time, since I read the first three books back2back, I could remember some stuff, so I am not entirely sure, this can be safely read as a standalone. As it is, I would recommend it to Stieg Larsson Fans anyway, so you have to decide for your self. It helps the background to read the other books - the second and third read like one big book, the second ending on a cliff-hanger directly followed by the third book, while the first book stands on its own and the main story is closed at the end of the book.

To close this, if you like the main idea of the Singularity, I suggest reading Avogadro Corp.
"The Singularity is Still Closer than it Appears ..."

Highly recommended, 5stars.


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Review: Flesh and Blood

Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Skipped #06-#21, not too fond of this series and her writing.
Wanted to check wether the writing got better.
But, just my luck, it ends with a cliff-hanger, so I will sometime read the next book.
Not recommended, the usual drivel, and not really the expected page-turner, although also not dull.
Got this cheap as a Bookbub-Promo at Barnes & Nobles (EBook), as usual I converted it and read it on my Kindle (Voyage)..


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Review: Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As mentioned before in the review to "Dead Heat (Lucy Kincaid #08)", this is not really a standalone but the second book of a (so far) two-parter.
It helps to understand the story, to read Dead Heat before this.
Less romance, I think, and more action.
Had this pre-ordered since April, 2015 - when I realized that there was a book before this one, so I bought that before reading this, and that was a correct guess, and a good decision.
Highly recommended.


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Review: Dead Heat

Dead Heat by Allison Brennan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Skipped the short-novella-collection.
Romance ok, but could have done without.
This together with the next book (Best laid plans) nearly a two-parter - no cliff-hanger, but I suggest to read them back2back.
Highly recommended.

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Review: Terminal: A Virals Novel

Terminal: A Virals Novel by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although pre-ordered a long time before it was published, I put off reading it, as I am sooo sad to see this series closed and finished.
Some romance and a solution to the pesky love-triangle.
A good conclusion to the series, although for some reason I would follow even non-fantasy-SF-storyline with Tory.
Highly recommended as is the whole series and the novellas (although expensive). Begs to be filmed with a few unknowns as the heroine/heroes. Pretty please?

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Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Back to back reading of all three books in the Trilogy. Still highly recommended. But I have just startet this.
###
Review follows when I am up to it.
Shorty: Ending ok, but could have been better (eg His dark materials), very bloody, very selfish


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Review: The Girl at Midnight

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Will probably write a longer review with the next book or the conclusion of the series (I think this is a trilogy?).
Highly recommended, a few nice twists, although the main one (what they found out in the end) I guessed from the beginning.

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Review: The Death Sculptor

The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No Sex, No romance, but also not too much suspense. Something was missing, a certain "je ne sais quoi".
Maybe it tried too hard.

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Review: Die Psycho-Trader: Aus dem Innenleben unseres kranken Finanzsystems. Ein Insider erzählt

Die Psycho-Trader: Aus dem Innenleben unseres kranken Finanzsystems. Ein Insider erzählt by Volker Handon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Currently not available in English.
Read this in German, as that is my first language.

German Review:
Am Ende mit einem Ausblick auf die Griechenlandkrise etwa über das Ziel hinausgeschossen.
Das Buch bietet aber so mal einen kritischen Blick auf die Börse aus Blick eines Daytraders.
Obwohl Fachbegriffe gebraucht werden, ist das Buch durchaus für den interessierten Laien geeignet, ausserdem nicht trocken staubig sondern eher überraschend spannend, vor allem da der Autor auch selbstkritisch von Fehlern berichtet, die er und andere gemacht haben.
Und es öffnet vielleicht auch manchem die Augen, wie unser aktueller Kapitalmarkt eigentlich aufgebaut ist.
Wünschenswert währe ein Glossar (für Kindle X-Ray) der Fachbegriffe am Ende gewesen.
Evtl. Hinweis für eine 2. Auflage, das sollte ja für ein EBook schnell zu realisieren sein.
Unbedingte Leseempfehlung!

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Review: Alienated

Alienated by Melissa Landers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thought this might be a fluffy SF-romance, but actually the racism and fear of alien is very well integrated and hits home for me.
Currently (September 2015) my country takes in a lot of immigrants from Syria and the like, and the situation is comparable, what with some right-wing-airheads setting fire to shelters. But the majority is friendly and helps the people to settle.
Recommended as a rather thoughtful "what-if", well written and engaging and not too much romance. Will certainly read the next book(s).

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Review: The Archived

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great story and worldbuilding, we learn part of it through flashbacks and part by Mac learning on the job.
Highly recommended, will read the second book The Unbound soon.

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Review: The Darkest Powers: Complete Trilogy Collection: The Awakening, The Summoning, The Reckoning

The Darkest Powers: Complete Trilogy Collection: The Awakening, The Summoning, The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More like 3.5 stars, for some it may lean to 4.
No Sex, a little romance, a little love triangle, but not too disturbing.
Recommended as a fast read.

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Review: Abducted

Abducted by T.R. Ragan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Should have read them in order, this one is so far (#01-#03 read) the best in the series, also, because it is the beginning, necessary to understand the underlying problems in the later books. We get to know the main characters, still, Hayley is my favourite character.
Jessica is a puzzle, I think she does not have the needed insight into people for her supposed goal of becoming a profiler. Also she does not like the detective field work - of which she would do a lot for the FBI, as a profiler. She does not always recognize when people lie and is rather trusting, believing in people being generally good.
Recommended, as the other books. Something is missing for me, and the stories and problems (in the later books more so) are a bit much, less would have been more. But well done. So 4 stars it is.

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Review: Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek by Jane Casey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As with the last book, romance was a bit much, but, in this case, nicely solved with a twist in the end I did not see coming.
So, again, 5 stars it is, with a bit dragging in the middle of the search for the missing girl.
The bad weather and the scenery makes me long for the UK.
Not to repeat myself, read my review of How to fall (and a little of
Bet your life).
Nice fast read, highly recommended, and while it could be read as a standalone, it is better for understanding to have read the others in the series.

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Review: Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek by Jane Casey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As with the last book, romance was a bit much, but, in this case, nicely solved with a twist in the end I did not see coming.
So, again, 5 stars it is, with bit dragging in the middle of the search for the missing girl.
The bad weather and the scenery makes me long for the UK.
Not to repeat myself, read my review of How to fall (and a little of
Bet your life).
Nice fast read, highly recommended, and while it could be read as a standalone, it is better for understanding to have read the others in the series.

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Review: Meets the Eye: A Jenna Blake Body of Evidence Thriller

Meets the Eye: A Jenna Blake Body of Evidence Thriller by Christopher Golden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon Prime lend for August 2015.
Could not wait to read it.
Fast read and once again a great book in the series.
Comparing this to other books, I prefer this short read to the longer ones, where often the story drags, often in the middle, and a lot of added descriptions (places, plants, animals) is unnecessary and does add nothing to the story or suspense.
With Zombies and the real background, I was surprised, that no book by Wade Davis was mentioned, I read the The Serpent and the Rainbow (which was filmed as a Horror-Movie by Wes Craven). While film is questionable, but I really like it, the books is no fiction, but a real life account about a pharma-concern who sends a young doctor (Davis) on a strange journey to discover chemical substances for use in medicine - and one of them is the the combination of poison, mentioned in the Jenna Blake-book which is used to fake death and control people. The Davis-book is complete with pictures, and I highly recommend it.
Meets the eye is short, but well written, very bloody in places and again Jenna is in danger. As nearly always.
Did not really see the final twist coming with the Mastermind behind it all (ok, I have not really thought about it, being caught up in the suspense and action).
Highly recommended and could be read as a standalone, while there is continuity, most story-lines are explained and if you read the books in short time, as I did with the last one and this one, it may feel a bit repetitive. Still, I rate this one 5 stars and think it was even better, than the last one.


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Review: Rissiges Eis

Rissiges Eis by Axel Hollmann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amazon Prime lend. German book in German, so the rest of the review will be in German.
This book is probably not available in english translation.
Review in German.
Grundidee ist gut.
Und wieder ein Buch, wo ich keine der handelnden Personen leiden kann. Die weibliche Heldin (Name schon vergessen) ist mir zu unausgewogen.
Oft zu zaghaft, dann wieder ermittelt sie und bringt sich in Gefahr.
Ganz schlimm fand ich den Polizisten, total überzogen, Einzelgänger, Alkoholiker, brutal und halsstarrig.
Habe etwa das letzte Drittel im FastForward überflogen.
Den Twist am Ende hab ich kommen sehen, auch wenn es genügend falsche Fährten gab.
Positiv ist aufgefallen, das ich keine Fehler gefunden habe, mittlerweile muss das ja erwähnt werden, wenn re-issues und selfpublished ebooks offensichtlich weder einen Editor hatten, noch ansatzweise durch die Rechtschreibprüfung gejagt worden.
Drei Sterne mag etwas viel sein, mehr so 2.5 aufgerundet. Keine Empfehlung.



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Review: City Of Fire

City Of Fire by Robert Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Kindle eBook bought July 28th, 2015 had a lot of obvious (scan?) errors, some I send to Amazon. As most or all errors where of the kind that a spellchecker should have caught, I think that and/or an editor was not involved, and even for a cheap book that was distracting. Hopefully for later readers this will corrected.

The book and story was too long with the places and backstory, could have been 20% shorter. Still, a page-turner, with a few twists.
An an insight in the mind of a serial rapist/killer. Also not all people in the book are not just bad or too good to be true, more like something in between.
Big twist in the end I did not see coming, well done with the red-herrings.
For the errors, and being too long, 1 star less. And I would have rather liked that it took place somewhere else, LA again, really? But with the fires very scary and well described. Also the background stories are well integrated not simply jumping back in time.
Although it was late, I did not stop near the end to finish the book, closing it, my bedtime clock showed 1:10 am, with planning to get up again at 7:30 am (which I did, yawn).
Highly recommended, like the heroine and if you can stand the sometimes epic feel of descriptions, and can stand the bloody crimes, give it a try.


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