Hell's Corner

By David Baldacci

            The final book of the Camel Club series is centered around a bombing that has taken place in Lafayette Park, across from the White House.  Once again, our friend Oliver Stone had a front row seat and now he’s involved in the whole mess. 

Oliver’s past indiscretions are seemingly forgotten, and now his government wants his help.  Oliver is given the task of getting to the bottom of the Russian drug trade.  Later as he is walking by the White House, the British Prime Minister’s motorcade arrives to pick up their charge and escort him to Blair House.  Suddenly, machine gun fire rings out into the night followed by a brief silence.  This silence is then shattered when the bomb in the park detonates. 

Stone gets out alive, and soon the government is relying on his insight to help determine who planted the bomb, and why.  He is paired up with Mary Chapman of the MI6, and the two begin their investigation into the attack.  They discover the origin of the bomb, but they have difficulty learning how it got there and how the bomb sniffing dogs missed it.  More interesting is that the bomber seems to be an obvious patsy, and the people involved in the case are being systematically eliminated.  As Oliver gets closer to solving the case, things become more and more dangerous for everyone involved.  The thrilling conclusion not only sheds light on the perpetrator, but discloses an interesting connection and motive for the crime.  The crescendo has a bit of nostalgia to it, as we find Oliver fighting for his life in a familiar location from a previous novel.  It was a very exciting and perilous conclusion to the book.

Baldacci once again created a very interesting story, slowly leading the reader along by feeding us small morsels of the main plot.  Baldacci uses characters from previous Camel Club books as they assist Oliver in a variety of tasks.  My single complaint with the story is consistent with previous books by Baldacci.  His scientific knowledge is sometimes limited, and his application to the story is often a stretch.  I am especially critical in this case because of how integral this “information” was to the main plot.  In the end, this could be overlooked and ultimately did not negatively affect the story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

Mudbound

by Hillary Jordan
         
           This novel is about the racial tension between white people and black people in the Mississipi Delta and how it affects them all in different ways. This story consists of six narrators, whose voices are woven together to share the events of this tale. Each narrator brings a different perspective, as half of them are white, half of them are black.  Three of the voices are the white McAllan family. The narrators from this family are Laura, Henry, and Jamie. The other family of narrators are the (black) Jackson's. The Jackson's consist of Hap, Florence, and Ronsel. Each person touches on the same events, but have their own personal voice that comes through. This story is centered around the racial tension in the south so as one can imagine, this story and it's narrators help to build a dramatic and unique novel.
            The story is set in the years 1946 and 1947 just as the turmoil of WWII is coming to an end. The readers are first introduced to the McAllan family. Laura is a woman who had considered herself condemned to spinsterhood until her brother brings his new boss, Henry McAllan to dinner. Henry soon begins to woo Laura and after a shaky courtship, he proposes. She convinces herself that despite his being unromantic, plain, and having a matter of fact personality, he would provide for her. Laura is content to live within the city of Memphis until Henry's dream of owning a cotton farm uproot the family (including Pappy, Henry's hateful father) to the Mississippi Delta. Laura's distaste for the new farm is simply illustrated by her suggestion of it's name "Mudbound". Jamie, Henry's younger, energetic, and handsome brother visits the farm after he returns from serving as a pilot in the war. His return creates two problems. His vitality and warm nature makes Laura question her marriage and Jamie's new drinking problem causes rifts among the family.  On this farm the McAllan's are secluded from visitations and all socialization except for the black sharecroppers, the Jackson's.
           Hap Jackson is the tenant farmer whose voice enlightens readers to the hope of Southern black people during this time period. His wife Florence is a midwife who is observant and intelligent. She helps the McAllan's after Laura's daughters get sick, and puts up with Pappy's racist comments. Despite the negativity and racism around her, the love her family has for one another cannot be dampened. Then there is their son Ronsel, who has experienced racial acceptance in Europe and finds the racial divide in the Delta hard to cope with upon returning from the war. Being a well decorated soldier means next to nothing to the racist white men in town. They view Ronsel as an overconfident problem, and Ronsel soon realizes the danger he is in if he stays in the Delta. During his return, he creates an unlikely friendship with Jamie McAllan which causes even more unrest among many angry town members and continues to create many dangers for the two young men.  
             All of these voices come together to tell a story about heartbreak, hope, and injustice. The racial tension in this book provides a roller coaster of emotions for readers. This novel was Hillary Jordan's debut and it was exceptionally written. Her descriptions of the scenery and the characters feelings were exquisite.  Although at times it was hard to read, due to the emotional impact of the content she wrote about, I loved this book. Pick up this book and enjoy the journey.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Up Next: A Time to Kill by John Grisham

Divine Justice

By David Baldacci

In the fourth book in the camel club series, we catch up with Oliver after his vengeful act on those who wronged him.  Oliver is now on the run, and has broken contact with his friends for fear that they will be unfairly punished for his activities.  Oliver flees his home in the cemetery, as a fugitive.  While acting as a good samaritan, he finds himself getting kicked off the train after breaking up a fight.  This act of kindness leads him to the small town of Divine, Virginia.  There’s something going on in Divine, and Oliver finds himself in the middle of it (of course).  While Oliver is trying to help out the town, his friends are trying to find him.  They understand why he is hiding, but are unwilling to abandon Oliver since he has always been there for them.

Oliver accompanies Danny Riker, the boy from the train, to his hometown of Divine.  Oliver knows that he is a wanted man, but decides to take the opportunity to earn some cash before hitting the road.  Always looking to help out, Oliver soon finds out that things in Divine are not what they seem.  The two major industries in the town are mining, and the supermax prison in the mountains.  Many of the miners are drug addicts who use methadone to numb their pain.  Danny’s father was a miner who was killed in a gas explosion in the mines.  An unusual number of deaths seem to be happening in this small town, and there seems to be a common thread.  Oliver puts his spy skills to work and begins to unravel the truth about the town, but will he survive as his opposition notices his snooping?

While Oliver deals with the conflict in Divine, Joe Knox is the agent in charge of piecing together the whereabouts of Oliver and bringing him to justice.  Joe begins by interviewing Oliver’s friends and begins to track his movement as a fugitive on the run.  As he digs into Olivers past, he discovers important details related to the crime Oliver has committed.   As Joe gets closer and closer to Oliver, he becomes less and less trusting of his agency, and begins to question how guilty Oliver really is. 

The book accelerates towards the conclusion, thrusting Oliver into sticky situations that make you wonder how he will survive.  In typical Baldacci fashion, as we near the end of the book all of the key pieces begin to fall into place and we finally have a clear picture of Divine’s radical secret.  Oliver finds himself struggling to survive and needing to make some hard decisions.  Should he trust someone he has determined to be an enemy, or will his friends be able to save him like he has so often done for them? 

While this was not my favorite book in the Camel Club series, I did enjoy following Oliver through more adventures.  This book felt much more fresh to me, since the subject was quite different from the others.  It was good to see Oliver’s skill set applied to a different scenario, instead of the typical government corruption.  At the same time, the side story kept the reader involved in the major arc of the series, Oliver’s past and relationship with the government.  I am eager to read the final book in the Camel Club series and see what will develop for Oliver and his friends.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci

Stone Cold

By David Baldacci

For the third book of the Camel Club series, we rejoin Annabelle and the Camel Club as they face their newest adversary.  While Annabelle is confronted with demons from her past, similarly Oliver finds that key men from his past are being systematically assassinated.  Enter Harry Finn, a man with a vendetta and one objective: eliminate Oliver Stone.

The action begins with a violent gas explosion at the home of Carter Gray, former Chief of Intelligence.  Due to their contentious history, Oliver Stone is at the top of the list of suspects.  We soon learn that Carter Gray is not dead, but he is happy to let his would-be assassin think that he is.  Slowly, more and more is revealed about the assassin, and we learn why Oliver is being so aggressively targeted.  Will Harry prove to be the better assassin and eliminate Oliver, or can they work together and prove that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

In addition to Oliver’s never ending problems, Annabelle is being hunted by Jerry Bagger.  Bagger has started tracking down the other members from her con, and is getting close to getting Annabelle.  To help out their new honorary member, half of the Camel Club is tracking Bagger’s investigation.  Soon a key member from Annabelle’s past reveals themselves and becomes an unlikely ally to Annabelle.  But can the Camel Club protect her from the powerful clutches of Bagger as he seeks to get revenge.

This book was another great example of what Baldacci does best.  Once again, he drives the story by slowly revealing key aspects and relations between the characters.  Baldacci typically baits his readers with the action and an introduction to the antagonist of the story.  We can assume that Oliver Stone will ultimately become involved, but don’t quite know how.  By the end of the book , he has once again established a very convincing relationship and motive for the characters in the book.  Coupled with a sufficient amount of action, this was another great Baldacci book.  However, I find myself continuing to wait for some ancillary character development, and a reason to care about them.  Perhaps in the next book.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Divine Justice by David Baldacci

Marley & Me

by John Grogan

      Marley is the world's worst dog.  At least that's what his family believes when he eats new necklaces, runs away with a cafe table attached to his leash, and jumps on just about everyone that comes to their house.  To the owners, he is a nuisance, but as most dog owners understand, he quickly becomes a member of the family.  This book follows Marley as he grows and also the author's life.

      John and his wife decide to buy a puppy on impulse because it would be great practice for the responsibility of raising kids.  John loves the idea, especially after thinking fondly of his childhood dog he loved so much.  Despite them both having jobs, they took this responsibility head on.  After getting their puppy John finally researches the Labrador Retriever breed and finds out that their high strung personalities, need for constant companionship with their humans, and stubborn personalities with training may be hard to manage.  John reads that a good indicator of the puppy's personality is the temperament of the parents.  John thinks back to his day at the breeder remembers that while the mother was calm; the only glimpse he had of the father was a frothing, charging, covered in mud lunatic.  Needless to say, the Grogans soon learn they might have bitten off more than they can chew! Marley is hyper, untrained, and chews just about everything he can get his paws on.  The Grogan's try to work out his energy with scheduled walks, times to play, and games.  Marley has a particular fear of thunderstorms, and will break through walls, chew doors, etc. at the sounds of a storm approaching.  For all of the moments that Marley is wild and uncontrollable, the family also finds that he is protective of the humans he loves, and can comfort them when they are in need of a shoulder to cry on.  While they struggle with Marley, they also have moments of emotional hilarious situations that make this book so enjoyable.

       This book was an intimate look into the relationship between an owner and his beloved canine.  It depicts the ups and downs, serious moment in their lives, and overall joys of owning a dog.  While this book is mostly about Marley's experiences and stories, it also follows the Grogans' lives.  John Grogan does not hold back on the details of his life, happy or sad, he tells everything.  It makes this book very personal and unforgettable.    

      .  Marley, over the course of the story becomes a member of their family and beloved friend to their children.  This book did not take long to finish at all and I loved each chapter.  If you have a soft spot for dogs or have one as a member of your family, this book should be on your reading list.  Enjoy!

Rating: 5 out of 5    

Up Next: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

The Collectors

By David Baldacci
Rejoining the camel club after their last adventure, a whole new set of problems has emerged. The Speaker of the House has been assassinated, and the camel club has connected this murder with the death of the director of the Library of Congress’s Rare Books division. The director just so happens to be the boss of camel club member, Caleb Shaw. The Camel Club utilizes their inside man to directly “work against” a powerful and dangerous espionage ring. 

While we catch up with the Camel Club, we are also introduced to the con artist Annabelle Conroy. Annabelle is arranging a team for a con to settle a personal vendetta. Her target is Jerry Bagger, Atlantic City casino tycoon. After a series of short cons, they have built up enough capital to pull the big con against Jerry Bagger. After the con, the team parts ways, and Annabelle ends up in Washington. It just so happens that her ex-husband is Jonathan DeHaven, the former Director of the Rare Books Division. While attending his funeral, she runs into Oliver, Caleb, and the rest of the camel club. She agrees to meet with the camel club to discuss Jonathan’s private collection of rare books, to assist Caleb who was named his literary executor. The Camel Club begins to realize that the murder of the Speaker of the House and the death of Jonathan DeHaven are connected. Soon they are tracking down leads, and investigating suspicious characters trying to uncover major players in an espionage ring.

Baldacci once again does a wonderful job spinning an elaborate web of interconnected plotlines and interrelated characters. He slowly builds on the major theme, and creates additional tension with side plots. The two, related plotlines work well together. Baldacci effectively alternates between villains Roger Seagraves and Jerry Bagger. He makes good use of his opportunities to create tension and drive the story, often putting the Bagger story on the back burner and bringing you back to it when appropriate. I still feel that many of the characters in this book are underdeveloped. The majority of the Camel Club are practically faceless and placeholders for activity. In addition, some of the more technical (science-related) details in this book bothered me due to inaccuracy. As a reader, one thing that irritates me is when an author over-extends himself into an area in which he is unfamiliar. Baldacci should stick to government ops, and avoid science (for me). Despite these few faults, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing the series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 bunsen burners

Up Next: Stone Cold by David Baldacci

The Camel Club

By David Baldacci

The first novel of a five book series, we follow ex-covert operative Oliver Stone. Oliver used to be a part of a black-ops assassination squad for the US government. Long since dissociated from the Triple Six, he now spends his time in a tent adjacent to the White House. In protest, he displays a sign on this tent that summarizes his new attitude, “I Want the Truth.”

The camel club is a group of friends who meet to discuss political events and other conspiracies. During one of their secret meetings, they witness the murder of a CIA agent. This murder is staged to look like a suicide, for reasons yet unknown to the reader. The camel club is seen trying to escape on their boat, and soon they are drawn into a governmental conspiracy which pits Oliver against adversaries from his former life. They struggle to save the lives of government officials and untangle the web of conspiracy. We race towards the conclusion of a nasty terrorist plot, centered around an elaborate assault on a public official. The action is fast paced, and weaves a complex story which tethers Oliver’s past to current events and major figures. It’s up to Oliver and the rest of the camel club to avoid the treasonous agents, while trying to solve and prevent crimes. The Camel Club even gains a friend in Secret service agent Alex Ford, whose affiliation is crucial to the development of the story.

Baldacci excels with plotlines revolving around conspiracy and government ops. He shines in is his description of weapons and tactical coordination. Baldacci’s writing makes the process of infiltration and attack very believable and understandable. With the characters of the Camel Club, he has woven a complex web of relationships. Seemingly unrelated characters or events are quickly integrated into the plot and used to build up Oliver’s backstory. He also feeds us pieces of Oliver’s former personal and professional life. By the end of the book, we have a great understanding of the emotional and professional motives of Oliver. Tying the plot together in a satisfying way also exemplifies his work, and by the end of the book you understand all the key relationships (except for the ones he leaves for later books).

My complaints with this book detract little from the novel itself, but were still somewhat distracting. I felt that the supporting characters were very weak. The novel is called “The Camel Club,” yet I cared little about the other members. Their personalities and traits were somewhat weak, and their involvement in the story often seemed to be integrated just so that the action was happening to someone else instead of Oliver all the time. They were forgettable, and I can only hope they are further developed in the other books of the series. Having read some other reviews of the book, many readers felt the book was a bit preachy about the “evils of America” and where we have gone wrong. While I definitely recognize the passages where this occurred, it did not distract me from the story. Given the publication date (2005) I can also understand the political climate at the time this was written, so it is excusable.

 Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners
 Up Next: The Collectors (book 2) by David Baldacci

A Lion Called Christian

by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall

       Most of us saw the YouTube video montage of the lion cub reuniting with his human owners after a couple of years in the wild of Africa.  It was amazing, unique, and unfathomable how this male lion, king of the jungle, could be so warm and gentle to these men.  Like many, I viewed the video and wanted to know more.  I found this book at a used bookstore and took it home.  The story was a rare event of a wonderful bond between a lion named "Christian" and his two owners.

       Christian, a male lion cub, was purchased at the famous department store in London, England, called "Harrods" in the 1970s.  Anthony and John decided to buy the lion cub as a pet and keep him in the basement of the furniture store that they worked in.  They describe the playfulness of the cub and how they could see moments of his wild instincts show as he swiped his claws at their legs walking by.  The three became wonderful companions with humorous stories to share.  The love between owners and animal is heartwarming and touching.

        After a few months, it is obvious to Anthony and John that Christian is getting too large for his surroundings and was frequently becoming bored from lack of stimulation.  They would take him to a church lawn and allow him to run freely.  This was short lived due to the growing concern of people in the area. Christian was never a "danger" but he would often bring fear to those passing by.  Anthony and John knew immediately that their love for Christian would force them to have to find an alternative environment for him.  That turned out to be an adventure of a lifetime for them and Christian as they began planning to release their "cub" into the African wilderness.  The rest of their journey is incredible (which includes their reunion).  It is a feel good story from beginning to end.

       I absolutely adored this book. I thought it was well written, organized, and the topic was fantastic. Obviously you will fall in love with the characters and be able to just imagine their bond with Christian.  I liked this story because Anthony and John are very truthful and candid about what they experienced.  The men did not have many unrealistic ideas about the decision to own a wild animal and they do not pretend they knew what they were getting into by purchasing him.  They admit many times they thought it was a risky and dangerous idea.  They admitted when the space became too small and the animal too big to handle.  I appreciated this about their story. 


Rating: 4 out of 5


Up Next: Marley & Me by John Grogan