Steve Berry ”The Admiral’s Mark” (Cotton Malone book 0.5)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Eight years ago Cotton Malone was an agent for the Justice Department, handling the toughest and most sensitive international investigations. But sometimes things became intensely personal. In his latest eBook original short story, New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry lays out just such a tale—one with shocking historical implications.

Cotton Malone never cared for the shady dealings of his brother-in-law, Scott Brown. But when Scott dies while scuba diving, Cotton’s wife and her grieving sister demand more than just a secondhand police report. So Malone heads to Haiti. There, beneath crystal clear waters, he learns that Scott found the sunken wreckage of the Santa Maria, the fabled flagship of Christopher Columbus, and he paid for the discovery with his life. Setting out to piece together what happened, Malone quickly realizes that he’s not the only man there with questions. An Israeli intelligence agent is in top secret pursuit of what Scott died trying to protect. And a sinister Austrian with a hidden agenda has no qualms about killing for the mysterious prize. On the hunt for something that has been lost for 500 years, Malone is suddenly enmeshed in a deadly cat and mouse game being played across the north shore of Haiti and beneath the Caribbean Sea—and he’ll have to fight just to get out of there alive.

Features an exciting preview of Steve Berry’s much-anticipated new thriller, The Columbus Affair

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Kā bonuss ‘’The Columbus Affair’’ beigās

Vērtējums/Rating: 2.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Malona sievas brālis Skots miris noslēpumainos apstākļos nirstot netālu no Haiti, tieši tāpēc viņa sieva mudina noskaidrot kaut ko vairāk, nekaitē, ka Malons ir aģents.

Malons tiek ieintriģēts, jo darbībā parādās gan Izraēlas slepenais dienests, gan arī Saimons, kas vien liecina, cik dziļi nepazīstamā teritorijā bija iekūlies Skots. Toms pieminēts vien dažos teikumos tā starp citu.

Notikumi risinās astoņus gadus pirms ‘’The Columbus Affair’’, nebūt neprasās būt lasījušam šo stāstu, vien kā interesants papildinājums.

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Brother-in-law of Cotton Malone dies mysteriously while diving near Haiti, that’s why his wife urges him to investigate and find something more. It doesn’t harm that Malone is an agent.

Cotton Malone gets intrigued after knowing the involvement of Israel and also Zachariah Simon which makes clear how deep his brother-in-law Scott was. Tom is mentioned only briefly.

This story tells about events eight years ago before ‘’The Columbus Affair’’ but there is no need to read this before, just an interesting addition.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Steve Berry – The Columbus Affair (Cotton Malone #12)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

A mysterious and ruthless billionaire, eminent international politicians, and a covert arm of the American government–all are linked by a single puzzling possibility:

“What if everything we’ve been told about the discovery of America is a lie? What if that lie was designed to hide the secret of why Columbus sailed in 1492? And what if that 500-year-old secret could violently reshape the modern political world?”

Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Tom Sagan has written hard-hitting articles from hot spots around the world. But when one of his stories from the Middle East is exposed as a fraud, his professional reputation crashes and burns. Now he lives in virtual exile–haunted by bad decisions and a shocking truth he can never prove: that his downfall was a deliberate act of sabotage by an unknown enemy. But before Sagan can end his torment with the squeeze of a trigger, fate intervenes in the form of an enigmatic stranger who forces Sagan to act–and his actions attract the attention of the Magellan Billet, an elite and top-secret corps of the United States Justice Department that deals with America’s most sensitive investigations. Sagan finds himself stuck in the center of an international incident, the repercussions of which will send shudders through not only Washington, D.C., but also Jerusalem. Coaxed into a deadly cat-and-mouse game, unable to distinguish friend from foe, Sagan is forced to Vienna, Prague, then finally into the Blue Mountains of Jamaica–where his survival depends on his rewriting everything we thought we knew about Christopher Columbus.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Nopirku to ‘’Latvijas grāmatu izstādē 2015’’

Vērtējums/Rating: 4.5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kolumbs un notikumi pirms vairāk kā 500 gadiem ir saistīti ar grāmatas tagadni visai intriģējošā veidā, uzdodot jautājumus par iespējamiem dārgumiem un leģendām, kā arī par pašu Kolumbu.

Toms, izbijis žurnālists, kurš novests tik tālu, ka ir gatavs sev padarīt galu, neparastā veidā tiek no saviem nodomiem aizkavēts un iesaistīts šajā piedzīvojumā.

No visiem tēliem varētu teikt, ka Toma meita Alle man patika vismazāk. Gan sava naivuma dēļ, uzticēdamās neīstajiem(viegli iespaidojama), gan savu dubulto standartu dēļ. Viņai vieglāk ir izdomāt dažādus iemeslus un dusmoties uz tēvu, nekā mēģināt rast risinājumu. Jāatzīst, ka arī pats Toms nav bez savas vainas.

Par šī stāsta ļaundariem varētu uzskatīt divus bagātus, savā ziņā līdzīgus, bet atšķirīgus vīrus – Zachariah Simon un Bène Rowe. Ja Saimons vēlas atrast zudušos dārgumus un atjaunot Trešo templi(ebreji…), kādēļ gatavs novākt jebko, kas stājas ceļā, tad Benē vairāk motivēts ar leģendu un dārgumu materiālo vērtību kā tādu. Bet kopumā, lai gan abi nekautrējas izmantot kriminālas metodes, Benē šķita labāks.

Pa lielam stāsts labs, netrūkst intrigas, bet būtu paticies, ja beigu notikumu noslēgtos citādāk, bet tāpēc jau esmu lasītājs. : )

                                                                                                                                                

Columbus and the events 500 years ago are linked with the present in a very intriguing way, asking questions about possible treasure and legends, also about Columbus himself.

Tom (ex-journalist) has gone so far that he is ready to take his own life but in an unusual way gets disturbed and included into this adventure.

From all characters I could say that Alle(Tom’s daughter) I liked the least. Trusting the wrong people, being naïve and also because of hers double standards. It was easier for her to blame her father and make up excuses than to search for solution. Of course Tom isn’t without fault himself.

Of this books villains you could consider Zachariah Simon and Bène Rowe, both wealthy and in some ways similar but definitely different. If Simon wants to find treasure and restore the Third temple by all means (Jews…) then Bène is motivated by the material value of treasure and legends surrounding them. I would like to think Bène as the better one of them two.

Overall the story was good with enough mystery but for me the conclusion could have been a bit different. : )

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Isaac Asimov ”The End of Eternity”

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Andrew Harlan is an Eternal, a man whose job it is to range through past and present Centuries, monitoring and, where necessary, altering Time’s myriad cause-and-effect relationships. But when Harlan meets and falls for a non-Eternal woman, he seeks to use the awesome powers and techniques of the Eternals to twist time for his own purposes, so that he and his love can survive together.

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Galvenais varonis Endrū Harlans ir viens no Mūžīgajiem, kuri uzrauga laiku, lai viss noritētu, kā vajag, un, ja nepieciešams, veiktu izmaiņas, pēc pašu domām cilvēcei vislabāko un piemērotāko. Bet arī Mūžīgajiem ir savi ierobežoju tādā ziņā, ka bezgalīgi tālu nākotnē ieskatīties nespēj, un tiek nodēvēti par slēptajiem gadsimtiem, kas uzreiz ir aizdomīgi un liek aizdomāties.

Starp Mūžīgajiem ir dažāds profesionālais darba iedalījums pēc ranga un spējām. Mūžīgie man atgādināja Observers (šāds nosaukums arī pašā darbā) no seriāla Fringe. Kas zin, varbūt ideja šeit aizgūta!

Viena no idejām(vairāk uz beigām), ka tieši notikumu koriģēšana ir tā lielākā kļūda, nevis pašu kļūdu atstāšana, ļaujot sabiedrībai tikt ar tām galā un atrisināt. Arī šajā ziņā saskatu līdzīgu Mužīgo galu.

Noÿs Lambent(ne-Mūžīgā) – viņai negaidīta loma ne vien Endrū dzīvē, bet arī pavisam globāli. Interesanta abu šo tēlu attiecību attīstība. Protams, Endrū nav vienīgais šajā stāstā esošais Mūžīgais un ne pat tas svarīgākais ranga ziņā, kuriem ir pašiem lietu kārtība un plāni.

Šis sanācis pirmais no lasītajiem/dzirdētajiem Azīmova darbiem un gan jau ne pēdējais! : )

                                                                                                                                                

Part of Andrew Harlan’s work being Eternal is to observe time make necessary changes if needed and of course only for the good of humanity. But Eternals aren’t completely powerful because although they can look into future they can’t do it infinitely which is suspicious by itself so they call them the hidden centuries.

There are different ranks between Eternals according to their power. They reminded me of Observers from TV series Fringe. Who knows! Maybe they got their idea from this one. Also the end of the Eternals is similar.

One of the ideas was that the correction of time and events is to be blamed and not the mistake. By doing so (correcting) actually harming more than if it would be left to society to make right.

Noÿs Lambent not being Eternal has big role not only in Andrew Harlan’s life but also globally. Fascinating and interesting relationship development between these two characters. Of course Andrew isn’t the only Eternal participating in this story who have their own plans and agenda.

This is my first book by Asimov and probably/hopefully won’t be the last one! : )

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”The Man With the Golden Gun” (James Bond (Original Series) book 13)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

A brainwashed James Bond has tried—and failed—to assassinate M, his boss. Now Bond has to prove he is back on form and can be trusted again. All 007 has to do is kill one of the most deadly freelance hit men in the world: Paco “Pistols” Scaramanga, the Man with the Golden Gun. But despite his license to kill, 007 is no assassin, and on finding Scaramanga in the sultry heat of Jamaica, he decides to infiltrate the killer’s criminal cooperative—and realizes that he will have to take him out as swiftly as possible. Otherwise 007 might just be the next on a long list of British Secret Service numbers retired by the Man with the Golden Gun…

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 1.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pēc iepriekšējās misijas Bonds ticis uzskatīts par mirušu, tāpēc viņa atgriešanās ir pārsteigums un uztverta ar skepsi.

Darbība vēlreiz atgriežas pazīstamajā Jamaikā(pirms tam kaut kā tiek paspēts iesaistīt Krieviju). Šķiet, iepriekšējo notikumu kopējā iespaidā Bonds atgriežas pie agrākās izturēšanās. Pie viena varam sastapt arī M un Fēliksu.

Pašas pēdējās daļas atlikšu, jo šī vairāk kā vilšanās. Gan jau nonākšu pie atlikušajām, bet tas vēlāk.

Ja godīgi, tad pilnībā netapa skaidrs, kas par uzdevumu/misiju Džeimsam Bondam šajā daļā veicama, vien, ka saistībā ar drošības nodrošināšanu Francisco “Pistols” Scaramanga.

                                                                                                                                                

Bond is considered to be dead which is why his return in London is surprising and received skeptically.

The plot once again takes place in Jamaica but not without previously somehow involving Russia. It seems that because of the latest events Bond has gone back to what he was before/at beginning of series. Few appearances of M and Felix Leiter.

The last books about James Bond  will be read but later because this one was more like disappointment.

If I’m honest then it wasn’t clear to me what exactly Bond did in this book, only that Francisco “Pistols” Scaramanga has something to do with that.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Andris Kolbergs ”Automobilī rīta pusē” (A. K. Kriminālromānu bibliotēka book 11)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Vārds Arkādijs Pinks jaunajam detektīvam šķiet dzirdēts kāda elektropreču veikala pazudušā direktora sakarā, bet pagaidām viņš nespēj iedomāties pat ne mazāko saikni starp šo vārdu un jūras krastā sniegā atrasto pagalam noskretušo mirušo vīru. Tomēr nelaimīgais baskājis ar smieklīgo adīto cepuri ir tas pats pazudušais reiz ietekmīgais direktors, turklāt – miris no šāviena, un, lai arī viss it kā liecina par pašnāvību, daži notikuma apstākļi ir vairāk nekā dīvaini.

Automobilī rīta pusē ir vienpadsmitā grāmata sērijā A. K. Kriminālromānu bibliotēka.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: SIA ‘’Dienas Grāmata’’

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Nopirku Rīgas grāmatu svētkos 2014

Vērtējums/Rating: 4.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pēc piecu gadu bēguļošanas Arkādijs Pinks tiek atrasts nošāvies jūras krasta. Par pašnāvību nav šaubu, bet pamatotas aizdomas, ka ir palīdzēts.

Izmeklētājs kopā ar kolēģiem sāk ar sākumu, ar Arkādija bēgšanu un tās iemeslu – krāpšanos lielos apmēros firmā ‘’Fotons’’. Brīžiem var likties, ka nekāds atrisinājums neradīsies.

Patika, ka Pinks netiek parādīts tikai kā noziedznieks un zaglis un varētu pat teikt, ka tiek daļēji attaisnots. Bez Izmeklētāja tiek piedāvāti arī citi POV(arī pats Arkādijs), kas palīdz izprast kopējo situāciju. Un tieši šādi pamazām skaidrojot arī atklājas vainīgi no tā paša ‘’Fotona’’, un ne bez izmeklētāja kolēģa Ivara palīdzības.

Tā arī paša izmeklētāja vārdu, no kura skatpunkta pārsvarā stāstīts, neieraudzīju, kas būtu paticies.

Šis stāsts bija stipri labāks par iepriekš lasīto ‘’Nekas nav noticis’’.

                                                                                                                                                

After five years of running and hiding Arkādijs Pinks is found dead at the beach. It’s clear that it is a suicide but with suspicion that there has been help.

Investigator together with colleagues start from the beginning with Arkādijs running away and the reason of it – fraud in the where he was a director. For a while it seems that the case might end with nothing.

What I liked was that Arkādijs isn’t showed only as a bad and evil criminal.

Mainly the story is told from investigators POV which helps to understand all whys.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”You Only Live Twice” (James Bond (Original Series) book 12)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bond, a shattered man after the death of his wife at the hands of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, has gone to pieces as an agent, endangering himself and his fellow operatives. M, unwilling to accept the loss of one of his best men, sends 007 to Japan for one last, near-impossible mission. But Japan proves to be Bond’s downfall, leading him to a mysterious residence known as the ‘Castle of Death’ where he encounters an old enemy revitalized. All the omens suggest that this is the end for the British agent and, for once, even Bond himself seems unable to disagree…

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pēc traģiskās sievas nāves Bonds vairs nav tas pats aģents, kas iepriekš, gan prasmju ziņā, gan efektivitātes. M jau gatavs viņu atlaist, bet kāds pierunā dot vēl vienu iespēju.

Tātad Bonds tiek novirzīts uz tādu kā diplomātisko misiju Japānā, bet še tev! Sakritība vai nē, tur slēpjas Blofelds. Uz beigām pat interesanta konfrontācija starp abiem tēliem ar letālu iznākumu vienam. Toties sākuma/ievada daļā drusku jautri bija klausīties ārkārtīgi nopietnajā ‘’Akmens Šķēres Papīrīts’’ spēle :D

Ja piekasītos, varētu teikt, ka šajā daļā ir vairāk ceļojums pa Japānu, nekā kaut kas cits. Bet tas nenozīmē, ka slikts ceļojums.

Arī ‘’You Only Live Twice’’ netrūkst Bonda meitenes, bet šoreiz vairāk mierinājumam + apstākļi.

                                                                                                                                                

After the tragic death of his wife Bond can’t do properly his job and isn’t the same agent as before. M is ready to fire him but someone else convinces M to give Bond a second chance.

So James is transferred to something like a diplomatic mission but what’d you know! Ernst Stavro Blofeld is there hiding. To the end and interesting confrontation between these two characters with lethal outcome for one of them. Also it was quite funny at the beginning to listen about very serious rock-paper-scissors game :D

‘’You Only Live Twice’’ was more like a travel story in Japan than spy book but that doesn’t mean that it was a bad one.

And it wouldn’t be a complete James Bond book without Bond girl but in this part she’s more like comfort and consolation.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon