Books, Books, Books!

I have been traveling quite a bit, first to Chicago for a wedding, then Phoenix to see Mom and Nana. While on the plane, I have finally had a chance to read, and I'm pleased to say that I sucked up three books like a sponge.

The first novel was A Time Gone By, a mystery by William Heffernan. I have been reading his work since I was in high school, and this one was one of his best. A judge is murdered in New York in 1945, and it's Jake Downing's first big case. Fast-forward thirty years later, and Jake has just buried his wife. The widowed Downing decides to re-open the case, knowing with all certainty that the man they convicted (and who was ultimately executed) was innocent of the crime.

Heffernan's novels are unique mysteries in that they are more concerned with how the crime affects the characters emotionally than providing action. This one was no exception, and also includes the author's trademark taste for well-realized locales and plenty of steamy sexuality.

MY REVIEW: ***1/2

Now that I had finished A Time Gone By, I needed another book for the train ride to Quincy (where the wedding was). I stopped at a Borders in Chicago and picked up Black Sunday. This is the first novel by Thomas Harris, who received worldwide fame for writing The Silence of the Lambs. This is also the only novel not to feature Hannibal Lecter.

This one was a real page-turner. A domestic terrorist plans to fly a blimp loaded with 1,500 lbs of plastic explosives into the Superbowl; killing an estimated 80,000 people (including the President). His opposition: a veteran Israeli intelligence operative who's convinced the threat is real. The result: a book read in weekend. I simply could not put this one down.

Thomas Harris writes books far too rarely; having only published five novels in over thirty years. But his books, when they do come out, are unusually well-realized visions and a major event in the literary world. He has not given an interview since the late 70's, so no word on when the next one will come out or what it will be about.

It was made into a movie by John Frankenheimer, but it is not shown on television out of sensitivity to the 9/11 victims.

MY REVIEW: ****

The last book I picked up was Blue Heaven by C.J. Box. I needed it for the flight home since I finished Black Sunday much sooner than I thought I would. I was drawn to this one because I saw it won an Edgar Award for best novel (2009). The Edgar is the Oscar-equivalent for mystery novels, so if you see it on a book, it's usually going to be a good one.

In this one, two kids witness four men commit a murder in the rural Idaho woods. Although spotted, they manage to escape. Unfortunately, the killers are ex-cops from Los Angeles, and when the kids go missing, they easily convince the local Sheriff to let them lead the search.

The kids are eventually found by Jess Rawlings, an aging rancher whose property is about to be foreclosed. He takes them in, believes their claims about witnessing a murder (despite no body being found), and decides not to report them until he can figure out what to do.

This one didn't work for me. Although it was certainly plausible that he wouldn't go into town because of the Sheriff being compromised; I could not figure out why Jess wouldn't just pile the kids into the car and drive 100 miles away to another police force. Or why not go directly to the press and turn the kids in live on TV?

It was also 50 pages too long. And it wasn't much of a mystery. It had a good premise, and it could have been great, but it wasn't. Certainly not worthy of the Edgar Award.

MY REVIEW: **

I am currently reading Columbine by Dave Cullen. I think this one is going to be a great one. And on a side note, I think I took a great roll of film in Phoenix, and am hoping to post it soon.