Book Review – Glass Dolls

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Daisy E. White https://daisywhiteauthor.co.uk/ is the author of nearly a dozen novels. Glass Dolls was published in 2020 and is the first in her Detective Dove Milson series.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is 36-year-old Detective Constable Dove Milson. She has just been reassigned to a Major Crimes Team.

The naked body of a teenage girl has been found near the Devon coast. The corpse has been encased in glass, replicating the methods of convicted serial killer Peter Hayworth. But he is long dead. Milson bears a personal connection to the serial killer. Four years earlier, her niece was one of Hayworth’s victims. Milson herself was seriously injured while pursuing Hayworth.

As she and her new partner, Detective Sargent Steve Parker, begin their investigation, Milson’s other niece, Delta, goes missing. By then, the body of a second naked girl enclosed in glass has been found. The fear is that Delta will become the next Glass Doll. Not only must they find the killer, but they have to find Delta before it is too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 298-page mystery. It was a very smooth read with a few good plot twists. This is the second novel my Ms. White I have read. The other being Remember Me. She is a consistently good writer. I will be looking for more novels by Ms. White. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Death in Delft

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Graham Brack https://grahambrackauthor.com is the author of more than a dozen novels. Death in Delft was published in 2020. It is the first book of six in his Master Mercurius Mysteries novel series.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. I categorize this book/novel as G. The main character is Master Mercurius, a cleric from a University in Leiden.

The mystery is set in the Netherlands of 1671, where three young girls have disappeared. The Mayor of Delft has reached out for assistance in the investigation. Mercurius is sent to offer what learned assistance he can. Only one body has been found, so there is still an active hunt for the two other girls.

Mercurius must hunt for clues and try to locate the girls. It is feared that their bodies might soon be found as well.

While this is not a hard-core mystery, I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 245-page novel of historical fiction. The author does paint a good description of medieval Europe. This novel reminds me of the Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters, though those are a bit grittier. The cover art is plain, but appropriate for the novel. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

A Book to add to your WWII History Shelf – Sicily ’43

I subscribe to several different ebook sales notification services. One of those is BookBub.

In the email I received from them yesterday they noted that the 599 page ebook edition of Sicily ’43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe by James Holland https://www.griffonmerlin.com/ is currently available from Amazon for only $1.99. The book was published in 2020. It is a detailed account of the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. I have the book in my reading list already, but have not read it yet. I have read two of his other books, Big Week: The biggest air battle of World War IIand Normandy ’44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France. They were both superb WWII history reads.

If you are a student of WWII history you should act now to add this book to your bookshelf. These sales often last only a few days, so better to act soon.

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 590 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII. Included are links to many fiction and non-fiction books on WWII that I have read and reviewed. There are also links to WWII oriented podcasts.

Book Review – The Partnership: George Marshall, Henry Stimson, and the Extraordinary Collaboration That Won World War II

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – This is the first book to be published by Edward Farley Aldrich . The Partnership: George Marshall, Henry Stimson, and the Extraordinary Collaboration That Won World War II was released in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as G.

As stated in the book title, this is the story of George Marshal and Harry Stimson. Marshall was Chief of Staff of the US Army from 1 September 1939 until 18 November 1945. Henry Stimson served as the Secretary of War from 10 July 1940 until 21 September 1945. Together they led the US efforts in WWII.

The first 30% of the book details their childhood and early careers. The remainder of the book deals with the many challenges the two faced during the war. They worked well together in a true partnership. Their offices were next door to one another in the Pentagon. They generally had the connecting door between their private offices open for quick consultations.

They both had to deal with the logistical needs of a nation at war. They also had to frequently deal with disagreements with our allies, particularly with the British. Likewise, they had to discretely handle many power struggles. Some within the US government and others with allied powers.

A small portion of the book addresses their post-war lives.

I enjoyed the 22 hours I spent reading this 762-page history. While long, it is a very readable book. I had, of course, heard of George Marshal, but I was not nearly as familiar with Henry Stimson. The book provides a very behind-the-scenes look at the US war effort. The cover art is plain, but gives focus to the two primary figures. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 590 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII. Included are links to many fiction and non-fiction books on WWII that I have read and reviewed. There are also links to WWII oriented podcasts.

Book Review – When Earth Shall Be No More

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – This is the first novel by Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan https://kathrynosullivan.com. When Earth Shall Be No More was published in 2022. It is the first in a planned trilogy.

I received an ARC of this book through a promotion on BookSirens with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to a few scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as PG. The primary character is environmental scientist Constance Roy, but she is present in two parallel universes.

In one, Roy is one of a handful of people rescued from a doomed Earth and taken to the Orb. The Orb is an Ark spaceship currently orbiting Jupiter. Their saviors are an alien race simply referred to as the Curators. After nearly a year, their orbit is beginning to decay. A new home for humanity is still being sought and there only seems a short time left.

In the other, Roy is a single mother trying to discover what happened to her mother. She has been supported for years by a mysterious Foundation. When the two universes cross, she discovers that the key to saving the Orb Roy lies in her son, Nicolas.

I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 316-page science fiction novel. I thought that this was an odd story. It did have some of the familiar tropes of a “dying Earth”, but having the same character in two parallel universes is a unique twist. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The Confessor

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Andrew Turpin is the author of 10 novels. The Confessor was published in 2022 and is the third book in his Jayne Robinson Thriller series. I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Turpin in 2018.

I received an ARC of this book from the author with an expectation of a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character in the novel is former MI6 operative and now independent contractor Jayne Robinson.

In Washington, D.C., four Catholic Cardinals are assassinated on their way to meet with the President. Their secret message dies with them. Robinson is approached by the CIA to investigate. She is also engaged by a British Cardinal to delve into the murders.

What she uncovers is a conspiracy directed by Hezbollah. At first, the assassination seems linked to Mossad, but that is soon revealed to be a false lead. That does involve Mossad agents known to Robinson. She visits the Vatican for more information. The U.S. president is scheduled to soon meet with the Pope. Robinson and her colleagues must uncover the details of the conspiracy before it is too late.

I enjoyed the 6.5+ hours I spent reading this 446-page thriller. Several characters from earlier Jayne Robinson novels appear here again. As it is will all of Turpin’s works, there is intrigue and action throughout. While this novel could be read stand-alone, I recommend reading the first two books (The Kremlin’s Vote and The Dark Shah) in the series before The Confessor. The cover art is a bit bland, but it fits the plot. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – Tark’s Ticks War Paint

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Chris Glatte https://chrisglatte.com is the author of more than a dozen novels. Tark’s Ticks War Paint was published in 2022 and is the sixth novel in his Tark’s Ticks series.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this book/novel as R.

Tark and his Alamo Ranger squad are still deployed in New Guinea. Added to the unit is a replacement. Not only does the ‘new guy’ need to prove himself, but his Japanese heritage instantly puts him at odds with the rest of the team. They must set aside their differences and carry out their assigned missions.

Their first task is to perform a quiet reconnaissance on a Japanese airfield. As is often the case, plans quickly change, and the squad finds itself in combat. The second mission takes the unit deep into Japanese-held territory. Military Intelligence has uncovered plans for a Japanese General to visit a small island outpost. The squad is to intercept and kill him.

Their final mission in this novel involves a POW rescue attempt. The team is sent in ahead of the main rescue force. They decide to stray from their orders to reach additional POWs.

I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 300-page WWII action thriller. This is the second novel (The other was Tark’s Ticks Dark Valley) in the series that I have read. This is just as good as the previous novel. There is plenty of action, but the squad is not able to escape taking casualties. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded up to 5) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 590 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII. Included are links to many fiction and non-fiction books on WWII that I have read and reviewed. There are also links to WWII oriented podcasts.

Book Review – Life and Death on the Eastern Front

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Historian Anthony Tucker-Jones https://www.atuckerjones.com is the author of more than 50 books. Life and Death on the Eastern Front: Rare Colour Photographs From World War II was published in 2020.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as G.

The book contains more than 250 photos taken by Germans between 1936 and 1946. Most photos are of scenes on the Eastern Front up to late 1943. These are a bit unusual as they were all taken with color film. The photos, along with the commentary by Tucker-Jones, give a good description of the vehicles, weapons, and uniforms in use.

I enjoyed the 3 hours I spent reading this 352-page WWII history. Another interesting look at WWII from the German perspective. This is the third book (The others being Radio Operator on the Eastern Front: An Illustrated Memoir, 1940–1949 and Churchill, Master and Commander: Winston Churchill at War 1895–1945) from Tucker-Jones that I have read. They have all been solid WWII history reads. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

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If you have an interest in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest. 

• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 590 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII. Included are links to many fiction and non-fiction books on WWII that I have read and reviewed. There are also links to WWII oriented podcasts.

Book Review – The Lost tomb

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – N. J. Croft https://njcroft.com is the author of eight novels. The Lost Tomb was published in 2020 and is the second book in his Lost series.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. Major Noah Blakey, head of an elite anti-terrorist unit, is the primary character.

His ex-wife is reported killed in remote Mongolia. She was an archaeologist who had been looking for the tomb of Genghis Khan. Blakely goes to investigate her death. He soon finds himself and his three children in danger.

After the death of Genghis Kahn, a group of devout followers dedicate themselves to keeping his tomb hidden. Descendants of Kahn want to fulfill the prophecy he made at his death to expand his empire and dominate the world. All they need is a missing artifact from the tomb.

Blakely finds himself caught between these deadly factions. The line between history and myth becomes blurred the closer he gets to the truth.

I enjoyed the 8+ hours I spent reading this 281-page thriller. This novel is a very smooth read and includes history, action, suspense, and intrigue. I will be looking for any future novels by this author. I like the chosen cover art, and I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The Doomsday Medallion

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Avanti Centrae https://www.avanticentrae.com is the author of four novels. The Doomsday Medallion , the third book in his VanOps thriller series, was published in 2022. I was able to interview Ms. Centrae in September of 2020.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

Maddy Marshall has just finished her VanOps training and has joined her twin brother Will. With boyfriend and fellow VanOps agent, Bear they set about to find a 16-year-old French girl. The girl had predicted a Chinese attack in the South China Sea. With her successful prediction, which is somehow tied to Nostradamus, she is being sought by many.

The VanOps group must find her and keep her safe. The team must follow the clues to reveal the secret of Nostradamus.

I enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 409-page thriller. The novel is filled with action and intrigue. I had the opportunity to read both of the previous novels (The Lost Power and Solstice Shadows) in this series. While I enjoyed both of them, I think this novel is the best of the three. While the cover art is interesting, it isn’t tied closely to the story. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded down to 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).