The Raven by Mike Nappa

A street performer known as The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch.  In one city councilman’s wallet, he finds not money, but compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants", The Raven decides to blackmail him. Soon the Ukrainian Mafia is after him. It’s up to private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill to sort out the clues and save hundreds of lives..

What’s the best thing about picking up a book and realizing that it’s the second book in a series?  Getting to pick up the first book!!  This book, “The Raven”, is the second in the Coffey & Hill Series by Mike Nappa.  The first book in the series, “Annabel Lee” is just as action-packed and suspenseful and shouldn’t be missed.  With that said, you don’t really need to read these in order, but there are parts of “The Raven” that make a lot more sense if you do.  I will warn you that there is a lot of violence in these books, enough so that the author convened a roundtable of other Christian authors to discuss this topic (http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Books/Whats-Too-Violent-for-Christian-Readers.aspx).  Getting past all of that, this is a terrific book filled with a great storyline, a very well developed plot and witty banter that plays well with all of the character interaction.

Is this a "Guys Book"?   No doubt about it!  Ukrainian mobs, corrupt politicians, gun runners, etc!  This book has everything you would want to read in a great suspense novel, without all of the garbage that comes along with a secular novel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Occupied by Craig Parshall

As a youth, Trevor Black unleashed spiritual forces he couldn’t comprehend. Years later, Trevor is a high-flying criminal defense lawyer in New York City, with a six-figure Aston Martin and a trophy wife. But in an extraordinary turn of events, he receives a burdensome gift: the ability to perceive the invisible. And the dark forces he now sees are all gunning for him.

When one of Trevor’s hometown friends is murdered, the MO is eerily similar to a shocking trail of murders that have already crossed the lawyer’s path. So Trevor must return home to find the killer. . . and face not only his own personal demons, but supernatural ones as well.

I enjoy a good mystery and I enjoy reading a great suspense novel, but put a piece of speculative fiction in front of me and I’ll devour the book.  This is one of those that doesn’t let you down.

Writing a story that breaks the veil between this world and the spiritual realm is not an easy task.  Craig Parshall has done this with the first book in his Trevor Black series.  I’m not a big fan of stories that use a lot of memories to tell a story, but you truly need those memories of Trevor’s as a kid to get the whole depth of this story.  Could there be more back story to the characters and more time spent fleshing them out?  Sure, but I feel Mr. Parshall gave me just enough of the story to still leave some to my imagination.  The story is wrapped up so it’s going to be interesting to see where the next book in this series takes us.

Is this a "Guys Book"?   For me, this is the ultimate type of a guy’s book.  I love the supernatural storyline, the battle between the spirits and demons always reminds me just what kind of world we live in.  It also reminds me that He saved me and protects me from the dark realm.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Domino Effect by Davis Bunn

Esther Larsen, a leading risk analyst at one of the country's largest banking institutions, is becoming more and more convinced that she has uncovered a ticking bomb with the potential to overshadow 2008's market crash. And as her own employer pursues "investment" strategies with ever-increasing levels of risk, she becomes convinced she must do something. Yet what can one person really do?

The markets are edging closer to a tipping point--like the teetering first domino in a standing row that circles the globe. And when Esther does sound the alarm, she wonders if anyone will take her seriously. But as public support grows for her ideas, so does the desperation of those whose conspiracy of greed she seeks to expose. With global markets on the brink, and her own life in danger, Esther is locked in a race with the clock to avert a worldwide financial meltdown

At no other time is this book more relevant then today.  Yes, this is fiction, but there is enough truth in this book to scare anyone.

I am by no means a business savvy guy.  I do understand basic concepts of business and the stock market, but when it gets into the nitty-gritty, I get confused.  This book is all about the corruption that happens with the stock market and the manipulation of it by Hedge Funds and banks.  Even with my limited knowledge, Mr. Bunn was able to explain the key concepts that keep me feeling like I knew what was going on and a part of the story.  Esther faces a rather daunting moral dilemma concerning how her employer is handling their investments.  The answer to that dilemma makes up the rest of the book so I won’t go into the specifics.  You get to see how her character evolves from a meager introvert to one that garners everyone’s attention.  There isn’t much of a spiritual element in her other than Esther’s new boyfriend attending Seminary.  That didn’t seem to detract from the story, but I’m always one that likes to see how Jesus can work in anyone’s life no matter the situation.

 

Is this a "Guys Book"?   There’s not a lot of action but there is intrigue as Esther’s plan is unhatched.  The famous battle of “can this be prevented in time…..” is clearly at work here.  Want to know if she “saves the world”???  Go BUY THIS BOOK!!  It’ll be the smartest business decision maybe you’ve made today.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”