Xpress Reviews-First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 09/18/2009
The week ending September 18, 2009
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Brown, Dan. The Lost Symbol. Doubleday. Sept. 2009. c.509p. ISBN 978-0-385-50422-5. $29.95. F
Brown’s long-awaited blockbuster (after The Da Vinci Code) does not disappoint. Robert Langdon receives an invitation to give a lecture in Washington, DC, but discovers an empty chamber when he arrives at the venue. He quickly learns that he’s been summoned for his knowledge rather than his oratory skills and that his friend Peter Solomon has been abducted. To save his life, Langdon must follow a set of clues and uncover a treasure hidden somewhere in the nation’s capitol. Brown follows the template that worked in his earlier Langdon novels and proves he is the undisputable master of the genre. He even takes time to poke fun both at his popularity and the six-year gap between books.
Verdict Not playing it safe, Brown crafts a compelling thriller with a rather odd yet intriguing nemesis; the final revelation is guaranteed to stir up more controversy and offshoots examining the themes explored. Buying this book is a no-brainer, but reading it will activate the brain cells in a way few suspense novels achieve. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
Collins, Max Allan. Quarry in the Middle. Hard Case Crime: Dorchester. Oct. 2009. c. 208 p. ISBN 978-0-8439-6124-9. pap. $7.99. M
Collins’s eclectic hit man returns. With his "Broker" (the guy who arranges his kills) dead and Quarry in possession of the man’s records, he begins turning the tables on his fellow assassins by warning their soon-to-be victims and offering to save their skins by cleaning the cleaners—for a hefty fee. Looking to make one last juicy score so he can retire and get out of the life before his own ticket inevitably is punched, business takes him to Haydee’s Port, IL, a backwater sleaze pit that’s "all sex and murder and money." There he approaches Richard Cornell, a casino owner who’s about to have a fatal accident courtesy of rival gambling boss Jerry Giovanni. As usual, things don’t go quite according to plan, and Quarry finds himself between the two when his cover is blown and Giovanni’s crew comes gunning for him instead.
Verdict Collins masterfully balances the standard sex and violence with humor and style, and like the series’ previous installments, this one is a lightning-fast, can’t-put-it-down read. As soon as you finish it, you’ll be aching for the next one. Let’s hope Quarry never retires. Highly recommended for mystery fans.—Mike Rogers, LJX/LJ
Connelly, Michael. Nine Dragons. Little, Brown. Oct. 2009. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-316-16631-7. $27.99. F
LAPD Detective Harry Bosch returns to solve the murder of an owner of a liquor store in Connelly’s latest. Evidence leads to a suspect with ties to a powerful Asian gang. Undaunted by this dangerous connection, Bosch apprehends the perpetrator but then hears that his daughter, who is living in Hong Kong with his ex-wife, has been kidnapped. Without the help of his fellow officers, Bosch travels to Hong Kong to rescue his little girl. There he realizes he’s running of out time if he’s going to save her before his suspect gets released in L.A.
Verdict Connelly (The Closers) unveils his most personal Bosch story yet with this fish-out-of-water story. The pages fly, and although the last chapter feels a bit rushed, it doesn’t distract from another Connelly masterpiece. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/09; ten-city author tour.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
Mofina, Rick. Vengeance Road. Mira: Harlequin. Sept. 2009. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-7783-2638-0. pap. $7.99. F
A body found in a public park starts newspaper reporter Jack Gannon on a quest to solve the murder. When a young woman disappears, he realizes that the missing girl knew the victim. The evidence appears to implicate a police officer working on the case. As he digs deeper, Gannon learns that the officer is untouchable—and friends with his boss at the newspaper.
Verdict With this new series launch Mofina (Six Seconds) continues to write provocative and twisty thrillers that resonate long after the final page is turned. Like Michael Connelly, Mofina creates compelling characters and takes readers into the newspaper industry. Great value for the price.—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
Nichol, James W. Transgression: A Novel of Love and War. Harper: HarperCollins. Oct. 2009. 343p. ISBN 978-0-06-178231-2. pap. $13.99. F
Sixteen-year-old Adele Georges and German functionary Manfred Halder become lovers in 1941 Vichy, France. Pacifist Manfred is shipped to the Russian front, and Adele is brutalized by her neighbors when she is found to be a "horizontal collaborator." In 1946 Canada, Police Chief Jack Cullen, who lost a son in the war, tries to solve a murder and maintain his hold on a tenuous position. Nichol (Midnight Cab) deftly interweaves the story's two threads in a riveting portrait of youth during a time of madness.
Verdict With a perhaps too-blissful ending after such a fraught setup, this novel will still keep fans of wartime drama rapt. For readers who enjoyed Peter Ho Davies’s The Welsh Girl, Michael Wallner’s April in Paris, and Mackenzie Ford’s Gifts of War.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Rendell, Ruth. The Monster in the Box: An Inspector Wexford Novel. Scribner. Oct. 2009. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-4391-5033-7. $26. M
Inspector Reg Wexford first encountered Eric Targo near the scene where Elsie Carroll was found murdered. Wexford’s instincts told him that Targo was Elsie’s killer, but with scant evidence, Targo was never charged. Years later, Wexford sees Targo near the scene of another murder and knows without a doubt that he has struck again. The victims have nothing in common, and nothing seems to connect them in any way. But the tenacious inspector manages to uncover an unusual motive in this 22nd installment in Rendell’s Inspector Wexford series (after Not in the Flesh). The author’s subtle humor shines through Wexford’s coworker, the politically correct Hannah Goldsmith.
Verdict Although not as engaging or suspenseful as many of Rendell’s earlier works, this is still a compelling story that keeps readers coming back for more. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/09.]—Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs
Hanson, Rick & Richard Mendius. Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom. New Harbinger. Oct. 2009. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-57224-695-9. pap. $16.95. PSYCH
Hanson and Mendius successfully answer the question: How can you use your mind to strengthen positive brain states and ultimately change your life? Arguing that our ancestors’ brains, flooded with adrenaline and cortisol, were wired for survival, the authors reveal how this neurological propensity for high arousal contributes to our present-day chronic illness, depression, and anxiety. Using Buddhism’s eightfold path as a model, they illustrate how meditation and relaxation can change our brain’s natural tendencies. Pictures illustrate the brain’s functions and practical meditation exercises are found throughout. The authors also discuss the importance of diet and nutritional supplements.
Verdict An excellent choice for readers wishing to take control of their lives and spiritual well-being. Readers will find practical suggestions along with impressive research about the brain.—Phyllis Goodman, West Chester Lib., OH
Horowitz, Alexandra. Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know. Scribner. Sept. 2009. c.368p. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-8340-0. $26. PETS
Dogs have no sense of time; don’t see in color; don’t learn by observation—or do they? Cognitive scientist Horowitz (psychology, Barnard Coll.) explains that to understand the dog, we must understand his umwelt, his perception of his surroundings based upon anatomy, physiology, experience, and evolution. Debunking long-held misconceptions about the dog’s sensory and emotional life, Horowitz gives dog lovers who have always believed that dogs can learn through example or anticipate an owner’s return a wealth of current scientific information to confirm their perceptions.
Verdict An essential read for pet owners and students of animal behavior who have followed developments in the emerging field of comparative psychology in Stanley Coren’s How Dogs Think, Temple Grandin’s Animals Make Us Human, and Patricia B. McConnell’s Tales of Two Species.—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY
Okun, Michael S. & Fernandez, Hubert H. Ask the Doctor About Parkinson's Disease. Demos. Sept. 2009. c.248p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-932603-81-1. pap. $15.95. HEALTH
Two University of Florida–affiliated Parkinson’s specialists who answer questions on the National Parkinson Foundation web site have compiled a vast collection of those Q&As. They cover the latest research as well as treatments, symptoms, diagnosis, and alternative therapies. Well-written, evidence–based research is cited throughout; each chapter includes references. With such specific questions as, "What about the rotigotine patch? Are its properties similar to the oral dopamine agonists?" the book delves into deeply complicated topics.
Verdict Covering abundant information,this is a great resource for educated and motivated patients and family members who want to know everything about Parkinson’s. The newly diagnosed, however, might find it overwhelming. (Index not seen.)—Elizabeth Williams, Washoe Cty. Lib. Syst., Reno, NV
Streep, Peg. Mean Mothers: Overcoming the Legacy of Hurt. Morrow. Nov. 2009. c.256p. index. ISBN 978-0-06-165136-6. $24.99. PSYCH
Streep often uses personal experiences to shape her books, as evidenced in two Nancy Snyderman books she coauthored, Girl in the Mirror and Necessary Journeys. In her latest, she fuses her own stories with scientific findings and anecdotes from other women to discuss emotionally unavailable—and often cruel—mothers and how unloved daughters can break the cycle of pain. The extensive bibliography provides a wide range of sources for further consultation.
Verdict Some readers may find this book lacking in concrete suggestions for overcoming the negativity associated with their childhoods; however, the personal narratives will surely offer comfort and solidarity. A useful, easy read for anyone who suffered at the hands of a "mean mother" (including husbands, siblings, and children), as well as therapists or social workers. —Melissa Mallon, Univ. of Pittsburgh Johnstown Lib., PA
