Santa Fe Dead

Santa Fe Dead by Stuart Woods is not a Who Dune It as our mother classified all such books where the reader guesses who the murderer is right up until the last page.  In Santa Fe Dead the reader knows who the murderer is from the first chapter.People are being knocked off all through the novel and the reader knows what will happen beforehand and who pulls the trigger. Even the detectives and the police know who the murders are.  The problem is proving it.  The reader, at lest this reader, frantically turned page after page sure the police or someone would step in and do something. Stuart Woods pulls it all together in a mind boggling climax. Even though Mr. Woods planted a seed several pages back, this reader forgot about it in the final maneuvering of the men hired to take care of the clever killer. This reader could have kicked herself for not anticipating the final killing on the last page. For lovers of fast, action based crime type novels, Santa Fe Dead is a must read.

The Girl on the Train

      The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins gets off to confusing start with the narrator imagining the names and lives of people she sees from the train as she rides each day to and from her make-believe job in a nearby city.

       Once the reader gets a grip on the pattern of Ms. Hwkins’ writing style and how she moves from one character’s view to another, the reader will find this novel fascinating.

       Rachel’s fear and depression works its way into the mind of the reader, letting her/him experience, as close as possible, the character’s pain and worry. Questions plague Rachel as she tries to remember how she was injured and why she has blood on her clothes.

       I can truthfully recommend this book, but be prepared to take notes, at least mentally, of who and what is happening in the first couple of chapters. The end knocked this reader for a loop. I just wasn’t prepared for it.

They Call Me Missing

 For those readers tuning in to the supernatural tales set in the 'Who Done It' category,   Cyndie Lord has just the book for you, They Call Me Missing. Ms. Lord writes in first person as the character Sandy Derringer, a tough, no nonsense private detective. Sandy Derringer's face to face meetings  with those physical beings harassing her at every turn pulls the reader into the action. The challenges from the physical world is equal to those spirit beings demanding her attention to solve their murders. Stress causes Sandy to have a short fuse and ready to deal hard knocks to anyone crossing her. They Call Me Missing can be purchases from Amazon in either paper back or Kindle format. It is a good read for those who aren't afraid of ghosts.