“If You REALLY Knew Me.”
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Just reviewed another excellent read – Invasion of Privacy by Ian Sutherland
Invasion of Privacy by Ian Sutherland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The novella – Social Engineer – introducing us to Brody Taylor was excellent, and this full-length novel has done its prequel justice. What an exciting story, I couldn’t put it down! It highlights computer hacking at its best and worst. Murders are being committed and the police are searching for connections. Meanwhile Brody has risen to the challenge to hack into a webcam web site. It is an ego trip for him; he is the best and has to prove it. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of the murder investigation and offers his assistance to DI Jenny Price. He is drawn both to her and to helping her solve the crimes and realises that it isn’t all about his ego. It is a complicated story with lots of technical detail, but explained in such a way that even I could follow the plot. Ian Sutherland obviously has a great deal of knowledge of the cyber world and uses it very successfully. The characters are great and I look forward to more Brody Taylor novels in the future. If I have learnt one thing from this story, it is to never install a webcam in my home!
A Review for Barbara Taylor Bradford’s Novella ‘Hidden’
Hidden by Barbara Taylor Bradford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I always enjoy a Barbara Taylor Bradford book, but didn’t realise this was a Novella, so it finished all too quickly. The story shows how an abusive marriage can take place behind closed doors. The husband, a special advisor to the President of the United States, presenting a perfectly normal persona to the outside world. A dutiful wife who doesn’t want the world to know what an awful bully he really is and doesn’t want her daughter to find out. Luckily Claire, the abused wife, has three very good friends who realise that they must do something drastic before things get any worse. They take matters into their own hands. It’s predictable but still a good read
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Yet another review! This time ‘In the Dark’ by Mark Billingham
In The Dark by Mark Billingham
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
The first book by Mark Billingham that I read was ‘Sleepyhead’, a Tom Thorne novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. For my next read by this author, I deliberately didn’t choose another Tom Thorne but instead chose ‘In the Dark.’ I wish I hadn’t. It wasn’t up to the same standard. The story was hard going, I didn’t like the characters and a heavily pregnant police officer didn’t quite cut it with me. I will read more Mark Billingham books, but will stick to the ones featuring Tom Thorne in future.
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Social Engineer by Ian Sutherland – a pleasure to review!
Social Engineer by Ian Sutherland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If I was flicking through a list of books to pay for and download I probably wouldn’t have chosen this book, but because I had been offered a free copy I read it and I am so glad I did, it was a really good story, had me hooked right from the beginning. The story is about Brody Taylor, a social engineer – or white hacker – a specialist in his field, employed by companies to check whether their systems are safe from ‘black’ hackers. Brody points out all the ways in which hackers can infiltrate the company’s computer systems, and then shows them how to make improvements and safeguard their information. The latest company employing his expertise is researching an Alzheimer’s prevention drug. It is about two years from being released and the company are using monkeys in their research. At the same time, Brody meets Mel, an animal rights activist, who he falls in love with. It is cleverly put together and I thought the way animal cruelty was suggested, without going into graphic detail was good. Too much detail would have put me off the book straight away.
Social Engineer is a prequel to ‘Invasion of Privacy’ – a full-sized novel, which I have already bought. I think Ian Sutherland has hit on a winning formula with Brody Taylor. I wish him every success.
The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown – Another Review – I’m on a roll!
The Ladies Room by Carolyn Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Halfway through the funeral of her Aunt Gert, Trudy just has to go to the ladies’ room. About to leave the cubicle, she hears voices and two women enter – her cousins Marty and Betsy. They are talking about her! What she overhears changes her life forever. Luckily, for Trudy, her aunt has left her the house in her will. It is in a poor state of disrepair, but the neighbour, an old school friend, by the name of Billy Lee is ready and waiting for Trudy to move in so that he can help with the repairs. Aunt Gert certainly had her reasons for leaving the property to Trudy – she knew Trudy’s marriage was a mistake and she knew how Billy Lee felt about Trudy. This was a predictable love story, but I loved all the characters. If you want an easy-to-read book, then look no further. I also think that every woman deserves a Billy Lee in their life at some point!
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I Wouldn’t Want It On TV Because…
Person One: I support gay marriage but I wouldn’t want it on TV because my kids would see it, and I don’t want them to be gay or something.
Person Two: yeah I totally understand, I hate it when black people are on tv because I don’t want my kids to be black
Person One: Ummm… but black people don’t have a choice
Person Two: now you know how fucking stupid you sound
I saw this and had to share it, because it really did make me laugh. ‘Person Two’ is spot on about how stupid ‘Person One’ sounds.
If my son Max turns around one day and says he’s gay, I have no problem with it and will support him one hundred percent. Just like I support his Godfather Ricky. In fact, it really bothers me when I hear people say things like “God made Adam and Eve…
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Wreckage by Emily Bleeker – A great book to review!
Wreckage by Emily Bleeker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don’t usually enjoy books which jump from one character’s story to another and stories which jump backwards and forwards in time, but this time I did, it gave the whole book extra depth. The two main characters, Lillian and David tell in real time what life on a deserted island is like after a plane crash in which they are presumed dead, and then, after they are rescued, tell the story they have fabricated to an unpleasant, pushy TV presenter, who keeps digging to discover what she thinks is the truth. I did guess who the mysterious Paul was, but I didn’t guess the ending. It’s well worth reading.
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Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham- What a great book to review!
Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazon offered this novel as one of a selection of free books. I knew nothing about the author and chose Sleepyhead just because it seemed the best one on offer. I made a good choice, the story was excellent, I didn’t want to put it down. Sleepyhead is the author’s debut novel featuring DI Tom Thorne. A psychopath has murdered several women. One woman, Allison, survives but has locked-in syndrome, so she is mentally aware, but unable to move or speak. What is the killer’s real motive? Tom Thorne believes he knows who has committed these crimes, but is unable to prove it. He clashes with his superiors and colleagues over his fixation with the suspect. It interferes with a budding relationship with the doctor caring for Allison. I particularly liked how the author dealt with locked-in syndrome, very sad, but also amusing in parts. All the way through, you think that Thorne is gradually getting nearer to proving his case and then! A totally unexpected ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more of Mark Billingham’s books.
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The Confession by John Grisham – My Review
The Confession by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I read all John Grisham’s books and most of them are excellent reads, but I found this particular book a bit hard going in places. It is a hard-hitting story of the death penalty and the killing of an innocent man, mainly because the people involved in law enforcement and courts were too eager to pin the crime on a black man and too wrapped up in their own positions to care about the truth. It makes you examine your own thoughts on the death penalty, death row, and what it means for the men held there for years. I can appreciate all the research and hard work that has gone in to writing this novel, but I must admit to skipping paragraphs and I felt the story lost its way a bit towards the end.
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fordsthoughts 