Lee Hunts

I just finished reading Betrayal, which is the third book in the Ryan Drake thriller series. In the latest instalment, Ryan Drake finds himself in hot water when a person from the past shows up in his life and does the incomprehensible. This is a betrayal that demands explanation, and it lands Drake in Russia, where he is dragged into a complex conspiracy that threatens his life and American relations with Russia. This book, in terms of plot, is by far the best book in the series up to this point. At the same time, the characters are only increasingly lacking as the story progresses and this weighs down my enjoyment, especially in retrospect. Interestingly, I've become more critical of the other books in hindsight, and I'm not entirely sure whether that is a more accurate reflection of my views or not. Either way, the previous books, while tense and exciting, notably lacked in the power of the plot twists. Maybe the Caine plot twist was good, but I remember the rest of the twis...

I just finished reading False Witness, by Karin Slaughter. This is a psychological thriller novel along the same vein as Gillian Flynn. It stars two female leads who are sisters with a dark shared secret between them that threatens to blow wide open after someone unexpected comes back into their lives. Like Flynn (and Jewel), this story is incredibly character driven, with much of the time spent going over the backstories of the two characters, and much of the plot centered on how the two sisters react to the provocations of the central threat. I think this story was one of the better psychological thriller novels that I have read. I especially like the focus on the characters, the woman's perspective (both the characters and the author), and the way the story progressed. And the realism that was acquired by bringing the pandemic into the story was also a nice touch. As usual for thrillers, I will only do a spoiler section, as these stories are best read going in blind. Just know t...

Cujo: Book Review (Quickie) I just finished reading Cujo, by Stephen King, which is one of his most popular books—so popular, in fact, that Cujo is now a household name known by basically everyone. Most people already know the basic premise: a 200 pound Saint Bernard goes rabid and threatens the lives of the main characters. All things considered, I think this is one of my favorite King novels. The horror is close to home, the supernatural elements are pared back to great effect, and the characterization is on point. Overall (No Spoilers) The last three King novels that I have read have been disappointing, even if there were elements in the stories that I liked. For reference, those stories were The Stand, Pet Sematary, and The Outsider—and you can go read my reviews of all these books on this blog. Because of this, Cujo was a refreshing return to form. King created serious conflict with compelling tension and an amazing ending. I read one review suggesting that all that cocaine gave h...

I just finished reading Sacrifice, by Will Jordan. Jordan is a YouTuber who goes by the name The Critical Drinker, and I have been watching his videos on and off for a few years now. I tried his first book, Redemption, a while back, and I thought it was good, and perhaps even great in certain ways. I have a review of that on this blog. Sacrifice is the second book in the series, where Ryan Drake is thrown back into the action again, tasked with saving a hostage before he is killed by a terrorist who has a bone to pick with Drake. This book is another compelling entry to the series. Rife with tension, fast-paced action sequences, and cut-throat brutality, this book has a lot going for it. I also have some critiques of the book, and they do have an effect on enjoyment. As usual, for thrillers and mysteries, I only do spoiler reviews, as I think you should just jump into the stories with nothing but an author name to motivate you. Overall, I like the book, though I have to admit I have a ...

American Pastoral: Book Review "At once expansive and painstakingly detailed.... The pages of American Pastoral crackle with the electricity and zest of a first-rate mind at work." —San Francisco Chronicle I just finished reading American Pastoral, a novel written by Phillip Roth. This book is a literary fiction novel about a man (the Swede) who represents the American Ideal: he was the star athlete in high school, he went on to marry the Miss New Jersey he met in college, and he inherited his father's glove making industry. And this book depicts this man's destruction when his daughter is ensnared by a radical communist ideology. This book is well-praised and held up as a great work of literature. It even won the Pulitzer Prize. I've only heard of that honor in passing, but apparently it matters. Of course, I absolutely despised this book in almost every respect. In terms of execution, I thought the ideas were horrifically handled and written. From the line level...

I just finished reading Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn. I have already read Sharp Objects (and I have a review of that), and I rather enjoyed that book for its atmosphere and its characters, even if the twists at the end were rather predictable. That motivated me to pick up another book by Flynn, and this is the next one on the block. This book is primarily about Libby Day, the sole survivor of a massacre of her whole family by her brother. She was the witness that helped put her brother behind bars. Now, she is pulled back into case twenty-five years later when a member of a true crime club contacts her. What follows is another novel steeped in dark emotions, disturbing sexuality, and violence, complete with a twisty plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. As usual, for mysteries, I think the story is best consumed with as little information as possible. That the author is Gillian Flynn should be enough of a pitch. As such, I will only be doing a spoiler review. Overall, I loved ...