Winter Prey by John Sanford

"Winter Prey" is one of the prey novels by the bestselling author John Sanford. He is known as the Iceman. he is on a mission to keep his secret buried. He goes on a killing spree to get rid of everyone who may be able to expose him. He is skillful, intelligent, meticulous and deadly. The setting is Wisconsin during the winter.

Lucas Davenport has his hands full. The Iceman is about to throw false flares that direct the attention to others other than himself. He watches and positions himself to hear things that help him to be a step ahead. When Davenport and his team think that they have him he slips off. "Winter Prey"  is certainly a page turner, beautifully plotted and skillfully written. It is a first rate thriller and the characters are alive and interesting.

“The Road to Omaha” –A review

“The Road to Omaha” is a thriller novel by Robert Ludlum. He is nicknamed the Madman but his real name is General MacKenzie Lochinvar Hawkins. He is a former General in the United States army. He is bent on hitting back at the US government and fight for justice for the Wopotami Indians.

The Wopotami Indians signed a treaty with the US government but for over a hundred (100) years the terms of the treaty has not seen the light of day. General Hawkins aka Madman, self proclaimed fighter of the oppressed sets in motion a well thought out plan though dangerous but he remains undeterred, very characteristic of the Madman. He indeed shows his through courage and strategy that his title as General was earned.

There are forces within the US government who are bent on thwarting the plans of the General. They will use all means necessary to silence the Madman and his aides including the respected lawyer Aaron Pinkus, Sunrise Jennifer Redwing and Sam Lansing Devereaux.

This thriller is full of suspense and humour. “The Road to Omaha” cements Ludlum on a high pedestal as a Thriller King. The denouement is totally unexpected but realistic.

“We were The Mulvaneys” by Joyce Carol Oates

The Mulvaneys were just like any ordinary American family. There were a family of six. The father Michael Mulvaney, the mother Corinne Mulvaney and the chidren who were Mike jr.,  Patrick Marrianne and Judd Mulvaney.

Joyce Carol Oates starts by introducing the Mulvaneys to us.  She makes us get to know them like friends or acquaintances. The Mulvaney story is told by the youngest of the Mulvaneys who is Judd. His narration more or less is that of an omniscient narrator.

Just like any other family they had their hopes and aspirations. The children were blessed with parents who worked hard to better their lives. The parents were also blessed with children who were good children.

They were a happy family and everything seemed to be going well for them. However, it just happened that an incident occurred that had disastrous effect on the family. The Mulvaneys were never the same again.

The novel is well written though there is very little suspense or thrill. However, the characters stand out and they are very much alive and unique. The story is tragic as well as realistic. It depicts the ups and downs of the human life. That is to say no human being or a family has it all rosy. Joyce Carol Oates is indeed a great author owing to her ability to weave a plot around such a storyline and producing such a voluminous book.

“Whiteout" by Ken Follett

It is Christmas Eve and one of the top pharmaceutical facilities, Oxenford Medical in Scotland is facing a crisis. Two doses of an experimental drug are missing. A lab technician is suffering from Madoba-2 an incurable form of viral disease. A group of professional thieves are determined to break into Oxenford’s BSL4 facility which is the most secure and heavily protected. It houses  viruses which has no antidote or vaccine like Madoba-2. It also contains experimental drugs and vaccines.

Antonia Gallo is the head of security. A shrewd and intelligent woman who is meticulous and will do anything to protect the Oxenford Medical. She is up against professional thugs and traitors of the worst kind who are determined to pull off the robbery come what may. They are ruthless and do not value human life.

The novel is thrilling, full of suspense. It is well researched and educative. The story is certainly one that can happen in a real world situation where terrorism and certainly bio-terrorism is not out of place.

The characters are well developed and certainly humanized. The characters by their actions and character flaws mirrors us and we can relate to them.  Follett displays a great knowledge of human psychology which reflects in the characters. You are made to feel part of the unfolding story.

The plot is well written and the suspense is intense. . It is never boring.You are unable to put the book aside for an instance. Follet shows us why he is the great master thriller . Follett knows how to write. His writing is concise and beautiful. It is a story that is interspersed with love and romance.It is certainly a must read.

The setting is Scotland over the Christmas festivities and the snow was indeed falling heavily. Perhaps informing the title and inspiring the cover.

PS. It is a thriller taking place over Christmas and I had the privilege of reading it over Christmas.

“The Flanders Panel” by Arturo Perez-Reverte

“The Flanders Panel” is a great thriller based on a painting by Pieter Van Huys. This painting which is called The Game of Chess which was painted by him in 1471. It shows two chess players battling it out on a chessboard.

Underlying the simplistic fairly routine game of chess depicted in the painting holds the key to solving an age old mystery or to be precise a murder case committed five centuries ago. Julia an art expert tasked with the restoration of the game of chess stumbles upon a secret imbedded in the painting. It seems that the unfinished chess game is still being played by a master chess player or players murdering people based on the chess moves.

The novel is deep, philosophical, educative, entertaining and thrilling. Arturo Perez -Reverte masterfully weaves the plot around a game of chess depicted in an old painting. It is only a great writer who can write a thrilling story around a chess game.

The Flanders Panel makes one remember another great writer Saramago whose extraordinary writing ability make it possible for him to write a master piece around the theme of blindness. “The Flanders Panel” shows an indebt knowledge of chess and extraordinary imagination. It is worth reading.

“Bones to Ashes” by Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs  displays a phenomenal flair over the English language. Her ability to put words together beautifully is what makes “Bones to Ashes” a great novel. To be honest she knows how to write beautiful prose.

Evangeline Landry a one time friend of Temperance Brennan disappears when they were still children. What happened to her is still a mystery and Tempe as a forensic anthropologist comes across bones which she believes may be that of Evangeline. It re-ignites her desire to investigate and get to the truth to bring closure to what really happened to her friend.

In her quest to ascertain the truth, she traces her younger sister who is leaving a life plagued by misery for the circumstances she finds herslf and also due to her guilty conscience.

A ring of Paedophiles and teen sex predators are unmasked. Could the culprits of Evangeline Landry be the same culprits in the other disappearances? This novel certainly is not my type as a thriller lover and addict. To be honest it is a bit boring not really a page turner. However, the language is beautiful. The countless times that Kathy Reichs has to bring her knowledge of forensic anthropology to bear she shows that she knows her field very well.

The scientific knowledge in the novel well researched and not superficial. Kathy Reichs is a great researcher. The historical knowledge facts and knowledge from other disciplines she brings to bear in this novel are detailed.

In “Bones to Ashes” she does not disappoint but rather impresses. Writing about bones and taking us into the world forensic pathology educates and entertains us. It takes great flair to write an interesting plot around bones.