The Enemy Inside Paul Madriani Book Review

The Enemy Inside Paul Madriani

I want to start out by saying this was my first Steve Martini book. The Enemy Inside is book thirteen in the Paul Madriani series published by Harper. The book follows Paul Madriani as he works a new case defending an innocent young man.

Most of the book follows Madriani and partner Harry Hines chasing all over the country and then Switzerland, pursuing money-hiding schemes by prominent politicians. There is very little action in the book besides one killing and the ending. Most of the book was so complicated, and so boring, that eventually all we cared about was getting to the lukewarm finale. 

I found the book hard to follow the story was all over the place and chasing people that had to real meaning to the story. Parts of the book felt like filler to pad the pages. In the end everything does come together but the ending was like I said lukewarm fast and over with no build up or suspense.

I usually love courtroom drama’s but this book just did not hit the mark for me others in the series might. I give the book 3 stars because I think the book was readable but had a lot slow points that dragged on and did not like the abrupt ending.

Harry Bosch The Narrows Book Review

Harry Bosch The Narrows

I have to say so far out of all Bosch books I have read so far this one is my favorite. I really enjoyed the story, plot and character direction. I am really happy to see Harry Bosch become private investigator working on his own terms not dealing with the politics of the department.

FBI agent Rachel Walling makes a comeback to work with Bosch I love all the books she is with Harry Bosch. Her and Bosch have a great chemistry that just works well in the books. I always like to see Bosch with female partner I feel they keep him in check better.

Rachel Walling greatest fears have come true the Poet has surfaced. She has never forgotten the serial killer who wove lines of poetry in his hideous crimes and apparently he has not forgotten her. Harry Bosch gets pulled in from the widow of an old friend. Her husband's death seems natural, but his ties to the hunt for the Poet make Bosch dig deep.

Arriving at a derelict spot in the California desert where the feds are unearthing bodies, Bosch joins forces with Rachel. Now the two are at odds with the FBI and squarely in the path of the Poet.

We get to see Bosch new car in action as he rips around the hot desert and deals with his new roll as a father. He has to change his life a little to handle his ex wife and new daughter.

Best Harry Bosch book so far out of the series a 5 out of 5 stars.

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Star Wars Rebirth Edge of Victory Book Review

After reading the first several books of the New Jedi Order I found myself looking for a book more epic in scope, similar to Timothy Zahn's first trilogy and the first book of the series, Vector Prime. I enjoyed the book but story did have its slow points as any book does really.

This book feels like the third book of a trilogy not the second as a lot of what I felt loose ends were tied up Han and Leia patch things up and the death of Chewbacca is now a quiet ache in both their lives. Anakin explores his relationship with Tahiri, and takes Corran Horn, who went into hiding after the Ithor disaster, along for the ride. Jacen comes to grips with his views on the Force and Luke and a very pregnant Mara are awaiting the birth of their son.

Mara's Yuuzhan Vong disease begins to effect her again, they are forced to flee Coruscant to avoid arrest. Anakin, Tahiri, and Corran go on what should be a simple supply run for the Errant Venture, but run into the Peace Brigade and must flee into hyperspace. Kyp convinces Jaina and Rogue Squadron to help him destroy a new Vong superweapon located at Sernpidal.

Han, Leia, and Jacen are on a mission to set up a system to bring people and information out of occupied territory. And meanwhile, among the Yuuzhan Vong, Nem Yim continues her heresy. In my opinion, this was one of the best books from the New Jedi Order series. I especially enjoyed reading about Luke, Mara, and their child, and Anakin and Tahiri's growing romance was very cute. I reccomend this book to all Star Wars fans.

I would give it 5 stars out of 5.

Avengers vs. X-Men Book Review

The underlying plot was a good idea in this series I really liked very much. The Phoenix is coming again. It has burnt a fiery path of destruction on its way to Earth. The Avengers and X-Men know where it's heading or rather who it's heading to, Hope Summers. Cyclops believes the Phoenix through Hope will bring back mutant kind from the brink of extinction, but the Avengers fear for the Earth. Cyclops along with the X-Men is adamant that Hope stays with them even if it means war against the Avengers.

I really like the way the Phoenix get tied up with 5 people instead of just the one to make it more interesting. I like how you have Iron Man vs Magneto, Gambit vs Captain America and Black Panther vs Storm very interesting match ups that I think any comic book fan would want to see. The great one liners by spider-man and his banter back and forth with Wolverine adds some humor.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis (Author), Ed Brubaker (Author), Matt Fraction (Author), Jason Aaron (Author), Jonathan Hickman (Author) I think they did a great collaborative job on this almost 600 page series.

There was only one small let down towards the middle of the story nothing bad just seemed like it was there to kill time the story slows a bit then picks backup again. Other than that I was wholly invested. I personally sided with the X-Men. They seemed to be guilty before anything even happened which seemed really odd considering what Cap and the other avengers had been through with the Hulk. All in all though so much fun, a must read!

I would give this a 5 out 5 stars very well written time line was excellent and placement of matchups and character twists were great.

Invasion America Book Review

Invasion America was one of the best books that I have ever read in my life. The story line is interesting, yet also easy to follow, I really think this book is a huge success, The way the it is written captivates characters actions, and the setting of the story. When I read it, I feel like I am actually there along with the characters and traveling with them throughout the journey!!!

David Carter thinks he's just an ordinary kid, but nothing could be further from the truth. Revealed to be of royal heritage as the son of an alien prince and a human woman, David is now destined to lead the defense of Earth against hostile conquerors from the distant planet of Tyrus.

This is the first of the two part series the second part is actually the prequel to this book if you want you can read book 2 before book 1 which is very cool.

The was a cartoon miniseries in late 90’s This book picks up in the middle of the original series, where Rita, Cale, and Rafe are on the run from the Dragit. It really shows a character development in the characters of Cale and Rita. It also introduces a few characters that I wish would've been discussed in the show. It also explains why Doc was so hesitant to help David in the beginning. It gives a lot of background information and answers a lot of the unanswered questions left from the original series.

It covers events that Rafe brushed over in the first episode with his line about Rita becoming their guide, their friend, and, for Cale, something more.

I would give this book 5 out 5 stars because it’s such a great Sci-Fi book and so well done. Just like a lot of other books Christie Golden has done if you watch the series it does not spoil the book or vice versa. Defiantly a good read with good length not too long and not to short.

Inside WikiLeaks Book Review

I read this book do to my interest in the website WikiLeaks. Being an IT professional I thought this would be a great way for me to get a little back story on a website that is the center of news attention. The basis for the movie The Fifth Estate starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange  written by Daniel Domscheit-Berg, the former spokesman of WikiLeaks and cofounder.

The first thing I noticed about the author is he seems like kind of a loaner. He seems to just follow Julian Assange and do whatever he says for the most part. From the way the book is written it does seem like Julian Assange is type of person that likes to have a group of people around him that does what he says.

Remember when reading this book this is written by Daniel Domscheit-Berg who was a very important person at Wikileaks but also someone who quit the company due to bad terms. Not taking anything away from Daniel Domscheit-Berg he was very unbiased in the book and did very little bashing of Julian Assange.

Since Daniel Domscheit-Berg is an IT professional himself before joining Wikileaks he really gives you an in-depth look at the infrastructure behind Wikileaks and the steps they do to keep their data safe and there leaks confidential.

One thing great about this book is you learn the history of Wikileaks how it was founded and how it went from a small website to a huge media infrastructure both on technology end and on reporting leaks end.

Overall I think this was a great book I enjoy any history as long as it’s well written. This book really takes you inside the company and there operation. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The reason for 4 stars is because the book is a bit dated and I am sure some of the information on the technology infrastructure Wikileaks uses is not accurate anymore but the history still is accurate.

A Very Private Gentleman Book Review

Anyone who has seen The American with George Clooney will not recognize this book. The opposite is also true. They are very different. The book is literate the movie is entertaining unless you like car crashes and piles of bodies dripping gore in which case you will be bored .

I have to say after watching The American I wanted to read this book. Half way through there were a few high spots but I am not going to lie I was bored. The book is basically a biography told by the character examines where he lives how he lives and what he does to survive.

The main character and occupation are revealed in bits and pieces, slowly, almost like creating a mosaic or jigsaw, although, as he repeatedly states, much of it may be untrue in order to hide his location and identity.

That way the story tells the characters history even though technically “nothing” happens in the book we find out about his love for butterflies and his let's say, morally-questionable career. The novel is a beautifully-written insight into his philosophy and thinking, and, indeed, his whole way of life.

The novel is one man looking back on his life but also the story of a man falling in love with this part of Italy, as much as the young woman he meets there. 

I found the main character tiresome, especially all the nonsense about how he cannot divulge anything personal because then we could find him. At points I was

“Ok Mr. Butterfly. You are a dangerous, careful man, with many secrets. You're kind of cool. But let's move it along, shall we? Enough with the melodrama about your importance to history & the scenic tours of rural Italy. “

I found the book rather dull, and that is a shame. This is the first Martin Booth novel that I've read but it certainly won't be the last one. I don’t think he is a bad writer I just don’t think this book was for me I would give it 2 stars on a scale of 5.