BONE LABYRINTH by James Rollins

If you have been following the exploits of the Sigma Force, this book is a tour de force.  The team, that now includes former assassin, Seichan, races from peril to peril all while trying to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. In searching for the beginning of modern man, a scientist who works with Baako, an unusually intelligent gorilla, is kidnapped and forced to reveal a part of her work to identify why and how Neanderthals became modern man.  Of course there is a demented quasi scientist in the Beijing Zoo who is trying to use the information to rule the world and controls an army of minions ready to die at his bidding.

Exciting, and based loosely on real science, this continuation of the Sigma Force series will satisfy fans and introduce new readers to a new series.   Hint: If you are new to the series, jot down the names of each character and a brief description as you meet them. Makes reading this series sooooo much easier, especially when characters (like Gray Pierce) are referred to by both names.

4 of 5 stars

Front Lines: She's Fighting for her Country by Michael Grant

FRONT LINES: SHE’s Fighting for her Country       by Michael Grant

This novel is alternative fiction that takes place just before and during World War II. The premise is that girls as well as boys must register for the draft at age 18 and serve in combat if called up.  The two female leads are both only 17, but lie about their ages and join up when America is attacked at Pearl Harbor.  They both expect to serve in “safe” secretarial type units and are surprised and chagrined when they discover they will serve in combat units.  The novel covers their experiences training and then in combat in North Africa. 

The author shows quickly that he is NOT a female in the early sections of the book.  The women’s actions and attitudes just don’t ring true, especially considering the time period is the 1940’s.  He gets better when the “action” becomes actual action in war zones.  The male members of the unit are both sexist and accepting of women in combat.  Although the book is more than 500 pages, only the first few actions of the unit are covered in any depth.  The end of the war is quickly summed up in a few foreshadows strewn throughout and then in a final few pages.  The very green female sergeant who imbeds herself in a combat action with no battle training and in relative defiance of her superiors is patently unrealistic.

Because the aftereffects on both the men and women in the unit and those at home are not covered the book cannot be considered a foreshadowing of today’s “women in combat” initiatives. The first part of the book drags a bit, but the later war scenes are quite good.

3 of 5 stars

ALL THE STARS IN THE HEAVENS by Adriana Trigiani

ALL THE STARS IN THE HEAVENS   by Adriana Trigiani

Although the main characters are named Clark Gable and Loretta Young, this book is much more fiction than history.  Loretta Young and Clark Gable did have a child out of wedlock (probably) that was later “adopted” by Loretta and that is the extent of the “historical” part of the love story.  That said, the book is quite fascinating for the many stories of the beginning of the movie industry in Hollywood.   Loretta and Clark were stars in the twenties, thirties and forties. Clark’s movie popularity extended until his death in 1960 reaching its zenith with Gone with Wind.  Both Gable and Young were Academy Awards winners for best actor.  Young’s career in films slowed considerably in the 1950’s, but she moved to television and achieved great success there also.

The interesting characters of Alda (Young’s assistant and friend) and her husband (a gifted movie scene painter) are entirely fictional.  Nonetheless they bring life to the behind the scenes episodes of movie making and are well rounded.  Movie aficionados will like seeing the sketches of famous actors, directors, producers and other Hollywood folk interspersed throughout the book.

At nearly 500 pages the book is too long and needed some judicious editing. Many of the scenes detailing Young’s opinions and thoughts, especially concerning Gable, are repetitious and boring.

4 of 5 stars

THEODORE BOONE: The Fugitive by John Grisham

THEODORE BOONE: THE FUGITIVE   by John Grisham

This is Grisham’s fifth book in the Theodore Boone series for young readers. Although I detected a bit of “talking down” to his audience, Grisham has the formula down pat for enticing and engaging middle school boys (and girls) to read. Theo is likable and just “rule breaking” enough to engage the young readers and just “law abiding” enough to appease the adults who might choose this thrilling read as a gift. There is danger -- and cliff hangers -- enough to keep the reluctant reader reading when a fugitive is identified by Theo. His “bad boy” uncle encourages him to continue when the authorities want Theo to be on the lookout for the killer and then to actively search for killer Duffy. When Duffy realizes Theo knows his identity and can recognize him, the danger is ratcheted up.

4 of 5 stars for a thrilling middle grade read.

ROGUE LAWYER by John Grisham

ROGUE LAWYER  by John Grisham

NOT a short story collection.

Grisham proves once again that he is not a formula writer – or at least his formula keeps changing – and always for the better!  ROGUE LAWYER begins as a collection of apparently disparate short stories centered on a lawyer that is the epitome of NOTHING like a corporate lawyer.  By the third “story” you begin to see the possible connections that will quickly become the plot of this tale.  Along the way you meet a cast of real characters from the innocent wronged citizen to the “out of the ghetto” up and comer to the most vicious bad guys. This is a page turner that will keep you up at night and just might change your opinion of both lawyers and cage fighters.

5 of 5 stars

THE SOUND OF GRAVEL by Ruth Wariner

What a sad – and horrifying – life these children had foisted upon them by adults who should have cared for and loved them.  It is hard to know where to start – with the father who wouldn’t give his children his name, a mother so blinded by faith she puts her children in mortal danger, a community that lives in abject poverty out of fear? – faith? – stupidity? It also shows the inadequacy of border patrols, government assistance, the safety net for children and women and on and on.

Ruth Wariner’s calm retelling of her childhood living in a cult was difficult to read.  The life of this family caught in the blindness of the mother to the toxic and heartbreaking reality of her family’s desperation and danger is written in straightforward prose. Ruth’s ability to ultimately save the remaining children is testament to her strength of character.

I can’t say that I “enjoyed” this book,  but it was certainly riveting reading. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t learn more about fundamental LDS, but then that was not the point of the book.

5 of 5 stars

To the publisher: On pages 9 and 28 there is an entire paragraph describing the “swimming reservoir” that is repeated word for word. It was pretty glaring as I was reading.