Ballantine Books

Tess Gerritsen – Vanish (Rizzoli & Isles #5)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

A blessed event becomes a nightmare for pregnant homicide detective Jane Rizzoli when she finds herself on the wrong side of a hostage crisis in this timely and relentless new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Body Double.

A nameless, beautiful woman appears to be just another corpse in the morgue. An apparent suicide, she lies on a gurney, awaiting the dissecting scalpel of medical examiner Maura Isles. But when Maura unzips the body bag and looks down at the body, she gets the fright of her life. The corpse opens its eyes.

Very much alive, the woman is rushed to the hospital, where with shockingly cool precision, she murders a security guard and seizes hostages . . . one of them a pregnant patient, Jane Rizzoli.

Who is this violent, desperate soul, and what does she want? As the tense hours tick by, Maura joins forces with Jane’s husband, FBI agent Gabriel Dean, to track down the mysterious killer’s identity. When federal agents suddenly appear on the scene, Maura and Gabriel realize that they are dealing with a case that goes far deeper than just an ordinary hostage crisis.

Only Jane, trapped with the armed madwoman, holds the key to the mystery. And only she can solve it–if she survives the night.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pagājis aptuveni mēnesis kopš Body Double beigām, un Ridzoli kuru katru brīdi var sākties dzemdības. Kur viņai tāda ‘’veiksme’’, ka tieši attiecīgajā dienā kļūst par ķīlnieci slimnīcā. Nodaļas līdz attiecīgajam momentam arī ļoti labas – teiksim tā, reizēm arī miroņi pamostas.

Ik pa brīdim atskats pagātnē no Milas skatpunkta(tagadnes stāstā ienāk vēlāk). Kopā ar viņu ir arī viena no ķīlnieku turētājiem Oļena. Cerībā uz amerikāņu sapni meitenes no Austrumeiropas tiek nogādātās pāri okeānam un visām apsolīts darbs, bet viņas nespēj iedomāties kāds. Varētu domāt, ka lai nu kur, bet ASV verdzība nebūtu, kur nu vēl seksa verdzība. Apstākļi, kurus meitenēm nākas izturēt ir vienkārši neaprakstāmi. Kādā vakarā Milai un Oļenai tiešām noveicas, kad viņas izbēg; tas abas saved kopā ar Džo. Vairākkārt pa CNN redzētas dokumentālās filmas par šo tēmu.

Ķīlnieku krīze saceļ kājās bezmaz visus Bostonas žurnālistus, bet viens no viņiem, Pīters Lūkass, uzskata, ka sava darba godīga pildīšana nav pietiekama. Atkal jāpiedomā pie statistiskās iespējas, kāda notiek romānā, ka Maura (pirms krīzes) uzticas tieši viņam, lai godīgi uzrakstītu par notikušo morgā.

Varētu teikt, ka Vanish būtu dalāms divās daļās, un otrā pēc ķīlnieku atbrīvošanas. Diemžēl Oļenai un Džo tā nebeidzas iepriecinoši, bet līdz tam abi, īpaši jau Džo, izklausījās pēc kārtīgiem konspiratoriem, piemēram, jau ar to, ka milzu korporācijas patiesībā kontrolē valsti.

Tālu no patiesības abi nav, vienīgais šoreiz par varas un resursu savtīgu izmantošanu savas pozīcijas iespēju dēļ un sevis piesegšanu.

Bez visa tā jāapsveic Ridzoli un Gabriels ar meitas Regīnas piedzimšanu. Patīkami lasīt, kā gan Gabriels, gan kolēģi un draugi darbojās situācijas atrisināšanā. Stāsts bija tik labs, ka gandrīz lielāko daļu izrāvu cauri vienā dienā. : )

                                                                                                                                                

It’s been about a month since Body Double ending and it’s time when the labour for Rizzoli could start any moment now. How ‘’lucky’’ you have to be that in the exact day you become a hostage in the hospital. Chapters leading to that moment are very good – let’s just say that sometimes dead people might wake up.

From time to time there are flashbacks from POV of Mila (she comes into the present story later). Together with her is one of hostage takers Olena. Hoping for American dream girls from East Europe goes over the ocean with the promise of a job but can’t imagine what kind of job it will be. You might think slavery doesn’t exist anymore and definitely not in the USA, but in this books they become sex slaves. Environment that these girls are force to live in are just horrible. One night Mila and Olena are really lucky escaping that place and sure death (at that moment). That event brings them together with Joe. Many times on CNN I have seen documentaries about this problem.

The hostage crisis assembles almost all Boston journalists as everyone tries to understand what’s happening. But one of them, Peter Lukas, thinks that what he receives for his job isn’t enough. Again I have to think how statistically probable is the chance before the crisis when Maura Isles trusted exactly to him to tell the story about what happened in morgue.

I would say that Vanish could be separated in two parts; the second would be after the hostages are freed. Unfortunately for Olena and Joe it doesn’t end well but until the moment all hell breaks loose they, especially Joe, sounded like pure conspirators, like that the big corporations actually control the country.

They are not that far from truth, only in this case it’s about abusing power trying to cover up what you have done.

Besides all that I would like to congratulate Rizzoli and Gabriel with the new born daughter Regina. Liked those chapters where Gabriel, her colleagues and friends do everything they can to free her and others. The book was so good that I flew through it, read most of the chapters in one day.

Tess Gerritsen – Body Double (Rizzoli & Isles #4)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Boston medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles literally meets her match–and must face a savage serial killer and shattering personal revelations–in the brilliant new novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of The Surgeon and The Sinner.

Dr. Maura Isles makes her living dealing with death. As a pathologist in a major metropolitan city, she has seen more than her share of corpses every day–many of them victims of violent murder. But never before has her blood run cold, and never has the grim expression “dead ringer” rung so terrifyingly true. Because never before has the lifeless body on the medical examiner’s table been her own.

Yet there can be no denying the mind-reeling evidence before her shocked eyes and those of her colleagues, including Detective Jane Rizzoli: the woman found shot to death outside Maura’s home is the mirror image of Maura, down to the most intimate physical nuances. Even more chilling is the discovery that they share the same birth date and blood type. For the stunned Maura, an only child, there can be just one explanation. And when a DNA test confirms that Maura’s mysterious doppelgänger is in fact her twin sister, an already bizarre murder investigation becomes a disturbing and dangerous excursion into a past full of dark secrets.

Searching for answers, Maura is drawn to a seaside town in Maine where other horrifying surprises await. But perhaps more frightening, an unknown murderer is at large on a cross-country killing spree. To stop the massacre and uncover the twisted truth about her own roots, Maura must probe her first living subject: the mother that she never knew . . . an icy and cunning woman who could be responsible for giving Maura life–and who just may have a plan to take it away.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kad Maura atgriežas no konferences Parīzē saistībā ar darbu, mājās viņu sagaida šoks un policijas uguņu gaismas. Kad citi ierauga Mauru, viņi ir šokā, un iemesls pavisam vienkāršs, visiem licies, ka nogalinātā ir viņa. Tik līdzīga ir mirusī! Diezgan daudz pārsteigumu un šokējošu jaunumu mūsu patoloģei.

Tas aizsāk pamatīgu notikumu virpuli, kurā Maura cenšas uzzināt par saviem vecākiem(adoptēta) un par sevi. Lai gan tiek vairākkārt brīdināta, ka patiesība var nebūt tik jauka kā cerēts, viņa paliek neatlaidīga. Vienīgais, kas drusku kaitināja, ka viņai tā iemīlēšanās/sajūtu rašanās visai ātra, varbūt mirkļu iespaidā.

Meklējumi iekustina arī citas izmeklēšanas – pazudušas personas, no kurām lielākā daļa grūtnieču tuvu dzemdību laikam, kā arī tiek atrasti skeleti. Šajā ziņā prologs visai intriģējošs! : )

Attiecībā par Ridzoli, viņa pat astotajā grūtniecības mēnesī turpina aktīvu izmeklēšanu (atšķirībā no citas Bostonas detektīves). Varētu domāt, ka pazudušo-nogalināto personu lietas viņu varētu kā nebūt ietekmēt, bet Ridzoli neļaujas tam un ir tāda kā vienmēr. Šķiet, ka attālums un karjeras attiecībās viņai nekaitē.

Ik pa brīdim dota iespēja iejusties jaunākās nolaupītās grūtnieces ādā. Arī šajā sižetiņā savi pavērsieni.

                                                                                                                                                

When Maura Isles comes home from medical conference in Paris she is shocked by all police in and around her house. When others see Maura, they are surprised because everyone that the victim is she. That’s how similar they are! Quite a lot surprising news for our medical examiner.

That is the start for a big avalanche of another events in which Maura tries to find out about her real parents (she was adopted) and about herself. Although she is warned that the truth might be painful she is still relentless. One thing that irritated was how fast she developed new romantic feelings, maybe just the effect of a moment(s).

Those searches shakes up some old missing person cases from which most are pregnant women close to their term, also some skeletons are found. In this case the prologue is intriguing! : )

But talking about Rizzoli even when she is eight months pregnant nothing can stop her from active investigation (differently from some other Boston detective). You would think that those missing-killed person cases would affect her somehow but she’s letting that to happen. Also it seems that the distance and carrier doesn’t have bad influence to her relationship.

From time to time the reader is given a POV from the newest kidnapped pregnant woman, there some twists and turns also in this little plot line.

Tess Gerritsen – The Sinner (Rizzoli & Isles #3)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Within the walls of a cloistered convent, a scene of unspeakable carnage is discovered. On the snow lie two nuns, one dead, one critically injured – victims of a seemingly motiveless, brutally savage attack.

Medical examiner Maura Isles’ autopsy of the murder victim yields a shocking surprise, but the case takes a disturbing twist. The body of another woman has been found. And someone has gone to a lot trouble to remove her face, hands and feet.

As long buried secrets are revealed so Dr Isles and homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, find themselves part of an investigation that leads to an awful, dawning realisation of the killer’s identity…

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4.5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Patologanatome Maura tiek izsaukta uz neiedomājamu nozieguma vietu, klosteri, kur varētu šķist, ka nekas tāds kā slepkavība nevarētu notikt. Māsas Kamillas autopsija dod negaidītus jaunumus, upurei kādu laiku pirms savas nāves bijušas dzemdības. Tā kādu laiku Ridzoli izmeklēšanas galvenā uzmanība vērsta viņas virzienā, bet drusku tiek piemirsts par citiem pavedieniem.

Grāmatā ir vairāki upuri, un atliek vien prātot, kā tās savijas kopējā stāstā. Pirmkārt jau prologā minētais vairākas nodaļas tiek tā arī atstāts, bet nav, par ko bēdāties, jo par to nav aizmirsts.

Uz Mauras galda nonāk arī upure ar sākotnēji neizskaidrojamiem ādas bojājumiem, bet pats dīvainākais, ka gan kājas, gan pēdas slepkava un arī sejas ādu slepkava paņēmis līdzi. Skaidri noprotama nabadzīga izcelsme.

Gan Maurai, gan Ridzoli ir sava romantiskā stāsta līnija; abām nav ne vainas : ). Mauras gadījumā tas ir bijušais vīrs, kurš negaidīti uzrodas pēc trim gadiem un uzjundī atmiņas un jūtas; vien kāda var būt sakritība, ka tieši sākoties šai lietai, ņemot vērā viņa darbavietu.

Tikmēr Ridzoli mēģina aprast ar domu, ka ir stāvoklī, un pirmās domas visticamāk pārsteidzīgas. Nomāc arī neziņa, kā gan to uztvertu FBI aģents un tēvs Gabriels Dīns (otrajā grāmatā) un kā tad izvērstos abu nākotne un attiecības. Ridzoli nespēj iedomāties sevi mātes lomā, un līdzīgi kā Maura tā pieradusi ar ‘’masku’’, ko valkā darbā, ka brīžiem aizmirst to noņemt ārpus tā.

                                                                                                                                                

Medical examiner Maura Isles gets a call to unthinkable crime scene, to convent, as you might think that nuns would be safe behind those walls. Sister Camille’s autopsy reveals surprising news that some time before her murder she gave birth. And that sends most of detective Rizzoli’s attention in her way forgetting a bit about other leads.

Camille isn’t the only victim in the book, and the reader can just wonder how that all fits together. Firstly it’s the prologue which is left there for few chapters but no need to fear as it won’t be forgotten.

On Isles’ examination table arrives a victim at the first with unknown lesions but the bizarre thing that the killer cut of her hands and feats and also took her face skin. Her origin of poverty is obvious.

Both Maura and Rizzoli has her own romantic story lines, and both were quite good. In Maura’s case it’s her ex-husband who turns up after three years without any message bringing up old memories and feelings; only what are the odds that it is right when the case starts considering his workplace.

Meanwhile Rizzoli tries to comprehend with idea that she is pregnant, and the first thoughts are rash. She’s overwhelmed by not knowing how FBI agent and the father Gabriel Dean (second book) would react and by thoughts of possible future and their relationship. Rizzoli can’t imagine being a mom, similarly to Maura they sometimes forget to take off their ‘’toughness’’ mask outside the work.

Steve Berry – The Lincoln Myth (Cotton Malone #9)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

A Cotton Malone adventure involving a flaw in the United States Constitution, a mystery about Abraham Lincoln, and a political issue that’s as explosive as it is timely—not only in Malone’s world, but in ours.

September 1861: All is not as it seems.With these cryptic words, a shocking secret passed down from president to president comes to rest in the hands of Abraham Lincoln. And as the first bloody clashes of the Civil War unfold, Lincoln alone must decide how best to use this volatile knowledge: save thousands of American lives, or keep the young nation from being torn apart forever?

The present: In Utah, the fabled remains of Mormon pioneers whose nineteenth-century expedition across the desert met with a murderous end have been uncovered. In Washington, D.C., the official investigation of an international entrepreneur, an elder in the Mormon church, has sparked a political battle between the White House and a powerful United States senator. In Denmark, a Justice Department agent, missing in action, has fallen into the hands of a dangerous zealot—a man driven by divine visions to make a prophet’s words reality. And in a matter of a few short hours, Cotton Malone has gone from quietly selling books at his shop in Denmark to dodging bullets in a high-speed boat chase.

All it takes is a phone call from his former boss in Washington, and suddenly the ex-agent is racing to rescue an informant carrying critical intelligence. It’s just the kind of perilous business that Malone has been trying to leave behind, ever since he retired from the Justice Department. But once he draws enemy blood, Malone is plunged into a deadly conflict—a constitutional war secretly set in motion more than two hundred years ago by America’s Founding Fathers.

From the streets of Copenhagen to the catacombs of Salzburg to the rugged mountains of Utah, the grim specter of the Civil War looms as a dangerous conspiracy gathers power. Malone risks life, liberty, and his greatest love in a race for the truth about Abraham Lincoln—while the fate of the United States of America hangs in the balance.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Populārs kļuvis mīts, ka ASV pilsoņu kara pamatā bija cīņa par vai pret verdzību, bet drīzāk īstais iemesls dienvidu štatu vēlme atdalīties no savienības. Tas arī apskatīts devītajā Malona sērijas grāmatas mūsdienu pasaulē. Bet kas gan tas būtu par Stīva Berija romānu bez bagātībām un zelta. : )

Malons iesaistās pēc kārtējā Stefānijas palīdzības lūguma pasargāt informatoru no mormoņu vidus, jo viens viņas aģents pazudis, bet otrs kavēsies. Varētu domāt, ka reliģijas sekotāji, lai cik ļoti vēlētos realizēt savas intereses atturētos no galējiem/pilnīgi jebkādiem līdzekļiem, bet tā nav. Protams, palīdz, ja viens no tādiem ir ASV senators.

Malons nav vienīgais, kuru Stefānija iesaista no malas. Kasiopeja un Džozepe Salazars(senatora kontaktpersonu Eiropā) bijuši pazīstami jau bērnībā un pat kādu brīdi kā pāris, tādēļ Stefānijai šķiet tikai loģiski lūgt arī viņas palīdzību. Diemžēl pateikt Malonam un Kasiopejai vienam par otru gan nenāk prāta, un tam var būt nepatīkamākas sekas kā varētu domāt.

Mormoņu aktivitātes piesaista Baltā nama uzmanību, un agrāk jebkuras runas par iespējamu atdalīšanos kopš Linkolna laika tikušas ātri vien pieklusinātas, bet tagad viss var mainīties, jo izrādās, ka diženie dibinātāji, kaut arī uz atsevišķa papīra, atstājuši iespēju tādai rīcībai. Protams atliek vien tāds nieks kā attiecīgo dokumentu atrast.

Diez vai mormoņi un senators līdz galam bija pārdomājuši potenciālās sekas, ja realizētu atdalīšanos, kas skartu vairāk nekā vienu štatu. Piemērām, pieļauju, ka akciju tirgi nebūtu iepriecināti un nesāktu kāpt uz augušu, un arī kas būtu ar valūtas vērtību.

Pēc desmitās grāmatas (The Patriot Threat) apraksta var spriest, ka arī tajā apspriesta ASV konstitūcija.

                                                                                                                                                

The myth the American Civil War was fought for or against slavery, but more likely because the southern states wanted to leave the Union. That also is the main theme in The Lincoln Myth’s nowadays world. But kind of Steve Berry’s book would it be without treasure and gold!

Malone is brought in after another favor for Stephanie, this time to guard an informant from Latter-Day Saints movement or just Mormons. You might think that religious people/followers wouldn’t use any means necessary to achieve their goals but no. Of course it helps that one of them is a senator.

Besides Malone Stephanie also involves Cassiopeia Vitt. Cassiopeia knows Josepe Salazar, who does what the senator tells him (in Europe), from her childhood and once were a couple. That’s why it’s obvious for Stephanie to ask her help. Unfortunately it’s not that obvious to inform Malone and Cassiopeia about each other and might have more unpleasant consequences than intended.

Activities of Latter-Day Saints attracts attention from White House, and if earlier any talks about secession was easily silenced then now everything could change because the great Founding Fathers might have created a document which allows it. There is only such a simple task as to find it.

I doubt if the Mormons or the senator really thought through every possible result from such secession. For one thing I think that stock markets would react positively, also what would happen with currency rate.

The description of the next book The Patriot Threat lets you think that it also talks about the constitution.

Steve Berry – The King’s Deception (Cotton Malone #8)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.

Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.

Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

                                                                                                                                                

Veco labo laiku vārdā bijušais aģents Kotons Malons piekrīt pavadīt uz Angliju kādu bēgli. Taču Londonā viņš negaidot nonāk ieroča stobra galā… Malons uzzina, ka nejauši iekļuvis diplomātiskā spēlē uz augstām likmēm – šo starptautisko incidentu uzkurina ģeopolitiskas kaislības un šokējoši Tjūdoru laika noslēpumi.

CIP operācija cenšas atrisināt gadsimtiem senu noslēpumu, kurš spētu satricināt Lielbritāniju līdz pašiem tās karaliskajiem pamatiem.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kas aizsākas, kā vienkāršs draudzīgs pakalpojums nodrošināt bēgļa/noziedznieka Iana (Garija vecumā~) nokļūšanu atpakaļ Lielbritānijā izvēršas par stipri vien komplicētāku lietu kopumu.

The King’s Deception notikumi nav uzreiz vai kaut kad pēc septītās grāmatas, bet noteikti pēc Aleksandrijas. Varbūt tas, kamēr mēģini saprast kad un, ka nelasīju šo uzreiz pēc iepriekšējās, ietekmēja vērtējumu negatīvi.

Kā viena no tēmām grāmatā, kas tiek risināta, ir Malona dēla Garija vēlme atrast un iepazīt savu bioloģisko tēvu; abi šo faktu uzzinājuši pavisam nesen un nezina kā īsti reaģēt, kā tas ietekmē Garija un Malona attiecības. Interesanti, ka, lai gan šis fakts pieminēts arī iepriekšējās grāmatas, nemanīju, ka Garijs zinātu šo faktu, bet netiek norādīts arī pretējais, protams, The King’s Deception ir pirmā reize, kad piedāvā Garija skatpunktu.

Bet Malona un Garija nokļūšana (bija doma pēc tam atpūsties Kopenhāgenā) Londonā nav nejauša. To noorganizē CIP aģents Bleiks Antrims. Kāpēc? Jo tieši viņš ir bioloģiskais tēvs. Šajā jautājumā un kā cilvēks Bleiks ir nicināms. Dēlu grib nevis iepazīt, bet drīzāk ieriebt Pemai(mātei), un attieksme pret sievietēm vispār kā pret ko zemāku. Arī darba ziņā Bleiks nav nekāds izcilais un pie pirmā piedāvājuma gatavs pārdoties.

Lielā vēsturiskā mistērija ir ap Elizabeti I (valdīja no 1558. līdz 1603.gadam). Visvisādas teorijas par viņas manierēm, izturēšanos un vēlmēm, kā arī palikšanu bez tieša mantinieka. Tiek apšaubīts, vai karaliene tiešām bijusi karaliene, domājot par dzimumu. Par pamatu ņemta reāla leģenda (Bisley boy), kas vairāk apskatīta Brema Stokera grāmatā ‘’Famous Imposters’’, autors vairāk pazīstams drošvien ar ‘’Drakulas’’ darbu. Interesanti pavērot sadaļu (četras tādas) sākumā esošos Elizabetes portretus. Ja pirmais ir viņas padsmit gados un var saskatīt sievišķīgus/meitenīgus vaibstus, tad nākamie trīs ne tik ļoti. Bet varbūt tas tikai tāds iespaidots iespaids.

Tas, kāpēc CIP ieinteresēta tajā visā, ir mūsdienīgāks fakts, kas reāli noticis. Skoti gatavi humanitāru apsvērumu rezultātā atbrīvot lībiešu teroristu, kurš atbildīgs par lidmašīnas Pan Am Flight 103 uzspridzināšanu. Iemesls – jo konstatēta saslimšana ar vēzi un mirs tāpat. Bet amerikāņi, protams, nav iepriecināti, tādēļ gatavi veikt operāciju pret savu sabiedroto, lai atrastu kaut ko, kas piespiestu viņus mainīt savu lēmumu. Malā nestāv arī britu izlūkdienests, kur arī saistība ar #7.5 grāmatu The Tudor Plot.

Drusku pietrūka Kasiopejas un citu Malona sabiedroto, bet arī ar viņu pašu un citiem bija labi.

                                                                                                                                                

What initially was just a favor to escort a fugitive back to England turned out to be a much complicated matter.

The King’s Deception isn’t chronologically after the 7th book. Maybe that and that I didn’t read this straight away after the previous book, affected the rating negatively.

One of the books themes is how Gary and Malone tries to deal with the fact that Malone isn’t his biological father and where is he? Interestingly that the fact is mentioned in previous books but I didn’t saw that Gary knows about it, of course this the first time where we get Gary’s POV.

But it wasn’t just a chance that Malone and Gary got to go to England. It was organized by CIA agent Blake Antrim. Why? Because he is the biological father. In this case and as a human Blake is despicable. He cares only about himself and the only reason to meet Gary is to hurt his mother Pam. His attitude against women is just horrible, almost as something lesser. In his work Blake isn’t great either and is ready to sell out at the first offer.

The big historical mystery is about Elizabeth I (ruled from 1558 to 1603). All kinds of theories about her behavior, manners and why she didn’t have any heirs or why she didn’t marry. The thing in question is her gender. A real legend Bisley boy is used and there more about it in Bram Stoker’s book Famous Imposters but he is probably more known by Dracula. It interesting to observe four portraits at the beginning of each part of Elizabeth I. If in the first one you can see feminine features than in others not so much. But maybe that was just influenced impression.

The reason why CIA is interested in this matter is more present-day fact that actually happened. Scots are willing to let go a Libyan terrorist who is responsible for bombing Pan am Flight 103 because he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer and will day anyway. But Americans are not happy with that, so they try to find out something that will force their allies to reconsider. British intelligence agencies aren’t standing by, and that’s the connection from The Tudor Plot.

Would have liked to have Cassiopeia and other allies of Malone but even with him it was good enough.

Tess Gerritsen – The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Boston, there’s a killer on the loose. A killer who targets lone women, who breaks into their apartments and performs terrifying ritualistic acts of torture on them before finishing them off. His surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician – a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them.

But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli begin their investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful medic with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and attempted murder but she shot her attacker dead. Now she is being targeted by the new killer who seems to know all about her past, her work, and where she lives.

The man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her…

                                                                                                                                                

Ir karsta, sutīga vasaras diena. Slepkavību izmeklēšanas detektīvs Tomass Mors tiek atsaukts no atvaļinājuma – pilsētā uzradies sērijveida slepkava. Tas ir kā plēsīgs zvērs, kas uzbrūk vientuļām sievietēm, naktī ielaužas viņu dzīvokļos un pirms upuru nogalināšanas veic dīvainus rituālus. Slepkavas ķirurga prasmes mudina domāt, ka viņš ir mediķis.
Jau pašā izmeklēšanas sākumā Mors un viņa partnere Ridzoli piedzīvo pārsteidzošu atklājumu: Katrīna Kordela, skaista ķirurģe ar noslēpumainu pagātni, ir cieši saistīta ar notikušajām slepkavībām. Pirms diviem gadiem viņa citā pilsētā bija kļuvusi par šausminošas izvarošanas un slepkavības mēģinājuma upuri. Un nu Kerolai uzglūn jaunais slepkava…

Aizslēdziet visas durvis, atvienojiet telefonu un aizvelciet aizkarus…

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Tomass Mors un Ridzoli ir neparasts izmeklētāju pāris, kas spiests darboties kopā. Bostonas pilsētā atrasta nežēlīgi nogalināta sieviete, bet pats trakākais, ka viņai izņemta dzemde, visticamāk kā trofeja.

Tomass tiek piesaistīts izmeklēšanai, jo pirms gada viņš vadīja līdzīgu izmeklēšanu, diemžēl bez panākumiem. Tikmēr Ridzoli kā vienīgā sieviete izmeklētāja savā iecirknī katru dienu saskaras ar nievājošu attieksmi un izmisīgi vēlas pierādīt savas spējas starp vīriešu kolēģiem.

Lai gan noziegumi, ļaundaris un kriminālais kopumā nav slikts, kaut kas tomēr pietrūka; nebija tā sajuta, kas mudinātu pēc iespējas ātrāk izlasīt lapaspusi. Nevajadzīga šķita arī romantiskā līnija, kur vīrietis atkal izjūt vajadzību mierināt un būt atbalsts, un ne starp Tomasu un Ridzoli. Varbūt pie vainas, ka vēl labā atmiņā ir detektīves Vorenas sērija. Interesanti, ka notikumu reģions ir Bostona un tās apkārtne, laikam gan Vorenai, gan Bobijam citas darīšanas bijušas. : )

Tomass saviem kolēģiem no malas šķiet misters pareizais, tāds, kas nekad nepārkāptu noteikumus un vienmēr seko katram burtam. Tomēr patiesībā viņš joprojām katru dienu mēģina tikt galā ar sievas nāvi un pretrunīgajām jaunajām jūtām.

Pāris interesantu epizožu no ķirurģes Katrīnas Kordelas ikdienas slimnīcā. Viņas saistība ar jaunajiem upuriem ir fakts, ka pirms diviem gadiem izdzīvoja līdzīgu uzbrukumu. Tas viss uzplēš kaut cik sadziedētas psiholoģiskās rētas. Gan viņa, un īpaši Tomass un Ridzoli prāto, kā gan šis slepkava zina sīkas detaļas no tām lietām, un, kāpēc viņš tā ieciklējies uz Kordelu. Tomēr skaidrs ir viens, tas nevar būt tas pats.

Patika aspekts par ļaundara upuru izvēles taktiku, lai gan drusku nožēlojami, ka izvēlas tādu, kas jau piedzīvojusi ļoti traumatisku un šausminošu notikumu; šajā ziņā nozīmīga ir viņa darbavietai. Kas nu viņam ļauj vieglāk tikt galā ar iecerēto upuri.

Vairākus gadus pirms bloga ēras bijus lasījis Rizzoli & Isles sērijas otro grāmatu, kas beidzot pamudināja uzsākt lasīt arī pārējo sēriju.

                                                                                                                                                

Thomas Moore and Rizzoli is unusual duo and couldn’t be much different that is forced to work together. In Boston there’s found a brutally murdered woman but the craziest is that the womb is missing and probably taken as a trophy.

Because detective Thomas Moore a year ago worked with a similar case (unfortunately unsolved) he is involved to investigate this one. Meanwhile Rizzoli desperately wants to prove that she can be as good as any male cop as she is the only one in her unit.

Although crimes, the culprit and everything together wasn’t bad something overall was missing. Plus an unnecessary romance where the male once again feels a need to help a damsel in distress; and it’s not Thomas and Rizzoli. Maybe that Detective D.D. Warren is still in a good memory is to be blamed. Interesting that the setting is in Boston and its area. I guess both Warren and Bobby had other thing to do and solve. : )

Anyway, from aside Thomas seems to be almost a saint, someone who strictly follows rules. But that is just a mask as inwardly he still tries get over a grief of wife’s death and the new contradictory feelings.

There were few interesting moments in surgeon’s Catherine Cordell daily routine at hospital. Her connection with the new victims is that two years ago she survived a similar attack. These new events bring back painful memories. Not only she but Thomas and Rizzoli (especially) wants to understand how this guy knows the details and why he is obsessed with Cordell. One thing is clear, this can’t be the same guy.

I liked how the culprit chose his victims but it’s a bit pitiful as he chooses already physically and mentally traumatized women; in this case his job and workplace really helps. That allows him to feel more powerful over his victim and helps to overpower them more easily.

Many years before my blog I read the second book of Rizzoli & Isles series what motivated me to finally read other books of this series.

Steve Berry ”The Tudor Plot” (Cotton Malone book 7.5)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this original eBook novella by the New York Times bestselling author of The King’s Deception, globetrotting intelligence agent Cotton Malone is lured into dangerous intrigue surrounding the world’s most famous royals—and uncovers a murderous conspiracy of terrorists and traitors, all born from an ancient tale of Saxon history.

“In Malone, [Steve] Berry has created a classic, complex hero.”—USA Today
  
In England to participate in the trial of suspected international terrorists, Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is mysteriously summoned to an audience with the Queen of England. A cryptic call has warned of looming danger to the ailing queen’s son and grandson—the next two heirs in line for the throne. And when the source of that ominous information, a notorious tabloid publisher, dies mysteriously, the royal family has reason to fear a genuine conspiracy. But they also suspect that the enemy lies within—and no one at Buckingham Palace, or even the nation’s own Secret Intelligence Service, can be trusted. Now it’s up to Malone to discover the truth. Matching wits with a power-mad politician and a vicious royal blue blood, he must race against time through the streets of London to the forbidden reaches of Iceland, all to stop a monstrous plot to seize the monarchy—one that stretches back to the time of Arthur.

Praise for Steve Berry and his Cotton Malone series
 
“Malone, a hero with a personal stake in the proceedings, is a welcome respite from the cold, calculating superspies who litter the genre.”—Entertainment Weekly 
 
“Steve Berry gets better and better with each new book.”—The Huffington Post

“Savvy readers . . . cannot go wrong with Cotton Malone.”—Library Journal

“Berry raises this genre’s stakes.”—The New York Times
 
“I love this guy.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

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

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Notikums pirms septiņiem gadiem Lielbritānijā, kad Malons vēl netirgo grāmatas. Viņa atrašanās iemesls uz salas ir vajadzība liecināt tiesā, bet pa starpu tam viņa prasmes vēlas izmantot pati karaliene.

Lai gan autors karaļnama personāžus ir izdomājis, tomēr ideja visai intriģējoša. Ja nu trešais vai trešā ceļā uz troni nevēlētos gaidīt līdz būtu viņa kārta tikt kronētam, bet izvēlētos paātrināt procesu.

Arī šī .5 grāmata ir prīkvels un Malona visticamākais pretinieks (viens no) astotajā grāmatā būs Thomas Mathew, MI6. Varbūt tieši pateicoties, ka šis darbs ir garākas, arī vērtējums augstāks, kā diviem iepriekšējiem prīkveliem.

                                                                                                                                                

Events in UK seven years ago when Cotton Malone wasn’t selling books. Reasons for him to be on the island was a need to testify in court but between that queen herself wants to use his skills.

Although characters of the royalties are fictional the idea is itself is intriguing. What if the third in line to throne wouldn’t want to wait but would choose to accelerate the process.

Also this .5 book is a prequel and I guess that one of Malone’s enemies in the 8th book will be Thomas Mathew from MI6. Maybe because this was longer than two previous prequels the rating also is higher to this one.

Pirmdienas teikums #56

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Pirmdienas teikums ir mana versija par Bonespark~ “Sunday Sentence”, kurā tiek izcelts teikums no tā, kas iepriekš izlasīts.

She wondered about the bluntness, searching her memory, recalling nothing in the press about any animosity, whether perceived or real, between the first couple.

Steve Berry ‘’The Jefferson Key’’ (Cotton Malone book 7)