Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Opening Moves by Steven James [4.5 stars]

Opening Moves by Steven James
From back cover:
Milwaukee, 1997. In a city reeling from the crimes of Jeffery Dahmer, a series of gruesome kidnappings and mutilations draws authorities into a case like nothing they've ever seen. Cops think a Dahmer copycat is on the loose.

But Patrick Bowers, working as a homicide detective, suspects this is more than an ode to the infamous cannibal. When he discovers that the shocking acts reference some of the most notorious and macabre killers in our nation's history, the investigation spirals into a nightmare of manipulation, brutality, and terror.

Wielding groundbreaking investigative techniques, Bowers must now face off with a killer who will stop at nothing to get his message out to the world.

I really, really like Steven James's books. They're extremely well written and full of facts. This book has a lot of true crime mixed into it.

This book was written after the first five books had been released, and I would recommend reading this one before you start The Pawn. Having read the other books, I was almost at a disadvantage because I knew the outcome to the main plotline. But don't get me wrong, this was still an incredible book! 

Opening Moves is quite gruesome, more so than the other books. The book starts out with the author saying how this book gave him nightmares while writing it. It really kind of grosses you out as you're reading it, you're thinking; There really can't be people out there like this, can there? But yes, unfortunately there is. And there are people out there who have to see and deal with this in real life. People like Pat. You really get to know him throughout this book. His thought process, what makes him the cop he is, and how he copes with everything. What I really love about Steven James's books is how he gets into the characters' heads. He tells the story from Pat's point of view, then switches to the killer.

Too many times have I read crime books and not felt a thing for the victim. It's just another book with another murder. But there's just enough back story on each victim, that you really feel for them, and hope that they might survive.

So, if you can get over the grisly details, I highly recommend this book if you like suspense and thrillers. This is an outstanding installment in the Patrick Bowers series.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Trinity: Military War Dog (A Breed Apart) by Ronie Kendig [4 stars]

Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig
From back cover:
An ex-Green Beret and his war dog on the greatest mission of their lives.
And probably their last.

A year ago in Afghanistan, Green Beret Heath Daniels's career was destroyed.
Along with his faith.
Now, he and his military war dog, Trinity, have a chance to redeem their skills through the A Breed Apart organization. The job works. But his passion is to be back in the field. The medical discharge says it can't happen due to the traumatic brain injury the forced Heath to the sidelines.

Until...
Military intelligence officer Darci Kintz is captured and the geological survey team she's covertly imbedded is killed while secretly tracking the Taliban in the beautiful but brutal Hindu Kush. It's clear only one dog can handle the extreme conditions to save her. And only one man can handle Trinity.

Time is running out on the greatest-and most dangerous-mission of their lives.
 
The author did a really good job of making Trinity seem realistic. She almost seemed human and she had a great personality.
There were some good character twists-not everyone was who they seemed to be. The characters in Ronie's books are always very interesting. Very real, which I really enjoy.

The first third or so of the book was a little slow, just trying to get everyone/everything straight until we get to the meat of the story.

I didn't like this book quite as much as the Discarded Heroes series (which I LOVED) but this is a great book full of military suspense, romance (a tad cheesy but not bad), and lots of action! I will be looking forward to the next book, Talon: Combat Tracking Team!