The Affair by Lee Child

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Genre - Suspense

Reacher once again is on the track to find out if the killing of beautiful females in the outback country where an military base is established. It involves a Senator, and highly ranked military officials based in the Pentagon, or does it? Who is to blame. Reacher is under cover to find out why, does he accept the military’s reasons or does he go and tie up loose ends to his own satisfaction. This book is one of Child’s earliest reads and gives the circumstances why he ends up in later books as a ‘lone ranger’.

Trivia: Did you know that the Pentagon is the world’s largest office building, boasting six hundred and a half million square feet with thirty thousand people, and more than 17 miles of corridors?


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Long Lost by Harlan Coben

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Genre - Mystery, Suspense


Myron Bolitar receives a phone call from Terese Collins, whom he has not heard from for 10 years after a very torrid affair and her disappearance left him shattered. Despite spending two years to trace her, he fails. Terese contacts Myron because she is a suspect in the killing of her ex-husband in Paris and also the possibility that her daughter may still be alive. Not the case, very involved but a great read particularly for Coben fans.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville Bookchat

Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

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Genre - Romance, Suspense


This is classified as a romance, but belies the fact that it ends up with a storyline involving the FBI and fraud on its highest level. The main characters are Olivia McKenzie and FBI agent Grayson Kincaid. Olivia’s estranged family are out to get her trust account and Olivia wants her father put behind bars for ripping off clients sophisticated Ponzi schemes. However, the novel starts with the stories of 4 young girls each having a life-threatening disease and whose parents no longer wish to be with them.

Once past reading the first chapters on the 4 girls, then the books creates more interest with more depth in the storyline. A book to be read in its entirety.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen

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Genre -Thriller


At the young age of 11, Catherine Ling was abandoned on the streets in Hong Kong and her survival was not easy. She befriended a man known as Hu Chang who was very skilled in potions and particularly poisons. Hu Chang takes her under his wing and tutors her. Hu Chang’s reputation as a Master Poisoner (good and bad) is enigmatic and he has the tendency to turn up without people being aware of his intentions. Catherine has an 11yo son Luke and both end up being targets to get to Hu Chang who also befriended Luke.

A very good read with plenty of philosophy and digress as to what the real essence of the poison is about.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

Beyond Fear by Jaye Ford

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Genre -Australian, Psychological Thriller

This is an absolute thriller and lives up to its name. Four women have a girls weekend away at a remote country B'n'B and their aim is for a few laughs and plenty of relaxing. Not the case. On the way there, they nearly get killed and when eventually finding the cottage come across two men who are camping nearby. Seems ideal, but turns out these two men who are brothers are vicious, crude and and are after something buried in the cabin which has since been refurbished. With only four women in the way, what could be easier? Keep reading for a very dramatic storyline. 

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

Cold Wind by C. J. Box

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Genre - Mystery


Good mystery set in a little outback town in Wyoming involving Joe Picket local Ranger covering a huge area of Wyoming. Joe’s father-in-law(Earl Alden) is missing and later found dead in horrific circumstances, and his mother-in-law is arrested for his murder. Earl Alden and his wife Missy owned a very large ranch and part of which was sold to build wind power machines dotting the beautiful countryside. Joe’s wife wants him to find out what is behind the arrest even though Joe does not get along nor lie his mother-in-law. A good read with plenty of the old western habits and appreciation of the hard life some of the settlers have.


---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville

Backfire by Catherine Coulter

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Genre - Thriller

This is an FBI thriller at its best and a must to read. The story involves a Judge Ramsay Hunt who is in the line to be killed, together with others close to him. A mystery note is delivered (for what you did, you deserve this) which is the crux of the story. Ramsay Hunt’s life hangs in the balance and it is a race against time for agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich to find out who is behind all of this.

---- Reviewed by Judy, Rowville