Michael draper's Posts - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T14:58:21Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraperhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/60997702?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=36k5oqmc1tz0u&xn_auth=noIt's not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath." Aeschylustag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-02-19:537324:BlogPost:3318232012-02-19T18:27:08.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760066?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760066?profile=original" width="313"></img></a> Dr. Lou Welcome is blamed when one of the doctors he was counseling at Physicians Wellness, goes on a shooting spree and kills a number of people.<br></br><br></br>Physicians Wellness counsels doctors who have anger problems or have difficulty with drugs or alcohol.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When a number of other people in the area also let their anger get the best of them and sometimes end in…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760066?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760066?profile=original" width="313"/></a>Dr. Lou Welcome is blamed when one of the doctors he was counseling at Physicians Wellness, goes on a shooting spree and kills a number of people.<br/><br/>Physicians Wellness counsels doctors who have anger problems or have difficulty with drugs or alcohol.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When a number of other people in the area also let their anger get the best of them and sometimes end in fatalities, Lou investigates.<br/><br/>He meets Dr. Darlene Mallory, the First Lady. She is interested in finding what is making this happen so they work together.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Is there something in the food? The suspenseful search for answers was very well done by Michael Palmer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This book is currently being offered in a giveaway at:<br/><a href="http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com/">http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Please stop by, it's nice to see new and old friends at my giveaways.</p>"A person is a fool to become a writer. His only recourse is absolute freedom." Dahltag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-02-11:537324:BlogPost:3311672012-02-11T19:10:25.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760025?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760025?profile=original" width="307"></img></a> Luther Whitney is a thief with a conscience. He's breaking into a home of a wealthy family in Washington D.C. when the woman of the house returns with her lover.<br></br><br></br>Luther hides in the closet and the lovers proceed with their interlude. The sex gets rough and when the man is unable to perform due to his alcholoic state, there is an argument and the woman grabs a knife and…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760025?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70760025?profile=original" width="307"/></a>Luther Whitney is a thief with a conscience. He's breaking into a home of a wealthy family in Washington D.C. when the woman of the house returns with her lover.<br/><br/>Luther hides in the closet and the lovers proceed with their interlude. The sex gets rough and when the man is unable to perform due to his alcholoic state, there is an argument and the woman grabs a knife and moves toward the man. Just then two men enter the room and see that the woman is about to harm the President and kill her.<br/><br/>The Secret Service sanatize the room but overlook the knife. Luther knows that the President's prints are on the knife and takes it and escapes.</p>
<p><br/>The Secret Service rush back to the room to get the knife but realize it's been taken.</p>
<p><br/>Baldacci shows that the Secret Service tries to cover their tracks while Luther sets something in motion that will uncover the President's hand in the killing.<br/><br/>An excellent read where characters collide as some try to unearth the truth and others to hide it.</p>Defending the truth is done for various purposes and sometimes as an end itself.tag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-02-09:537324:BlogPost:3305412012-02-09T00:32:07.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759853?profile=original" width="298"></img> Andy Barber is an assistant district attorney outside Boston Mass. <br></br>He accepts the case when a child at his son Jacob's school is murdered.</p>
<p><br></br>Soon Andy's life begins to explode. Jacob is accused of murder and Andy is accused of failure to give the case to another attorney because of conflict of interest.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>An ambitious assistant D.A. in Andy's office says enough so Andy is placed on administrative leave and the other attorney gets the…</p>
<p><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759853?profile=original" width="298"/>Andy Barber is an assistant district attorney outside Boston Mass. <br/>He accepts the case when a child at his son Jacob's school is murdered.</p>
<p><br/>Soon Andy's life begins to explode. Jacob is accused of murder and Andy is accused of failure to give the case to another attorney because of conflict of interest.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>An ambitious assistant D.A. in Andy's office says enough so Andy is placed on administrative leave and the other attorney gets the case.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>How far will a father go to defend his son? This is the question and the reader wonders what they would do in the same situation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The concluding moments of this novel are a total knock out. The reader will have to catch their breath from the astonishing conclusion.<br/><br/>This is a novel that shouldn't be missed.</p>One man's poison is another's spinach. = Geogre Adetag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-02-05:537324:BlogPost:3303242012-02-05T18:30:59.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>Jane Whitefield helps people disappear.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>James Shelby was in prison for the murder of his wife. Now, the people who framed him want him dead. He's called to court to testify on another matter when Jane stages his escape.</p>
<p><br></br>Unfortunately, Jane is captured by the people who want Shelby dead. She's shot in the leg trying to escape and they bring her to a secluded spot to torture her to force her to talk.</p>
<p><br></br>She reaches back to her Seneca Indian heritage to bear…</p>
<p>Jane Whitefield helps people disappear.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>James Shelby was in prison for the murder of his wife. Now, the people who framed him want him dead. He's called to court to testify on another matter when Jane stages his escape.</p>
<p><br/>Unfortunately, Jane is captured by the people who want Shelby dead. She's shot in the leg trying to escape and they bring her to a secluded spot to torture her to force her to talk.</p>
<p><br/>She reaches back to her Seneca Indian heritage to bear the torture and learns that other people are after Jane for the work she did in rescuing people from them. There will be an auction and Jane will go to the highest bidder so they can take their revenge.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author sets the table well. We sympathise for the people Jane is trying to save and feel that Jane is doing a very worthy thing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The pacing is fast and filled with action as Jane does her best to save herself and the people she's helping.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is a very enjoyable story that shows the strength on one person and how they can do a good thing for others - a lesson for us all.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759812?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759812?profile=original" width="140"/></a></p>"A truth that's told with bad intent beats all the lies...you can invent." Blaketag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-02-02:537324:BlogPost:3302462012-02-02T00:30:00.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759798?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759798?profile=original" width="296"></img></a> In 1892, in Portland, Maine, Maggie Keene's body is found. It appears to be a ritual killing. Her body is severely mutilated.</p>
<p><br></br>Deputy Sheriff Archie Lean is the primary investigator. He's assisted by Percival Grey, a brilliant criminalist who is half Indian and a Pinkerton.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author does a good job in describing the characters but still they don't…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759798?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759798?profile=original" width="296"/></a>In 1892, in Portland, Maine, Maggie Keene's body is found. It appears to be a ritual killing. Her body is severely mutilated.</p>
<p><br/>Deputy Sheriff Archie Lean is the primary investigator. He's assisted by Percival Grey, a brilliant criminalist who is half Indian and a Pinkerton.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author does a good job in describing the characters but still they don't come across as very sympathetic. Arichie is the exception. He's a family man who's about to have his next child and worries about the size of his home and the economics of a larger family.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Helen Prescott assists in the investigation. She's a historian and expert in the Salem witch trials. As more deaths are discovered, there is a direct tie-in with the Salem witch trials and that is what sets this story apart.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The novel moves slowly as new deaths are discovered and evidence is taken but it all comes together nicely with a dramatic conclusion.</p>our love affair is a wonderous thing.tag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-29:537324:BlogPost:3298912012-01-29T21:34:17.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759814?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759814?profile=original" width="154"></img></a> Lee Child returns to Jack Reacher's time while a member of the military to tell this story.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reacher is a major in the military police and assigned to observe a murder investigation outside of a U.S. Ranger base in rural Mississippi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He meets the sheriff, Elizabeth Devereaux. She tells him she's investigating the death of that woman but also two…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759814?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759814?profile=original" width="154"/></a>Lee Child returns to Jack Reacher's time while a member of the military to tell this story.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reacher is a major in the military police and assigned to observe a murder investigation outside of a U.S. Ranger base in rural Mississippi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He meets the sheriff, Elizabeth Devereaux. She tells him she's investigating the death of that woman but also two others. All three women were attractive but the other two women were black. Only the white woman's death stirred up any concern in Mississippi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Devereaux is prevented from her investigation in that her authority stops at the military base, gate. Reacher sympathises with her. He learns she was a member of the military police and they decide to work the case together. Eventually they have a romantic relationship.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The pacing is well done and the plot moves rapidly with some built in humor as Reacher deals with a group of hillbillies.</p>
<p><br/>A well told story that will keep the reader's attention.</p>The Shadow Knowstag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-24:537324:BlogPost:3294972012-01-24T14:23:11.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759795?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759795?profile=original" width="197"></img></a> Kabul CIA station is a mess, a man thought to be a recruit to spy on the Arabs, double crosses the Americans. He sets off a suicide bomb killing many CIA officers. There is also evidence of American soldiers dealing drugs with the Taliban and there is question of a mole inside the CIA.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>John Wells, CIA problem solver is asked to travel to Kabul to get…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759795?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759795?profile=original" width="197"/></a>Kabul CIA station is a mess, a man thought to be a recruit to spy on the Arabs, double crosses the Americans. He sets off a suicide bomb killing many CIA officers. There is also evidence of American soldiers dealing drugs with the Taliban and there is question of a mole inside the CIA.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>John Wells, CIA problem solver is asked to travel to Kabul to get answers.</p>
<p><br/>He knows the language and territory. He poses as a Saudi and goes to a Taliban tribe active in the area. His goal is to meet with the leader and see if there is a mole.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author has written a suspenseful novel as we follow Wells, wondering if he will succeed and stop the mole before that person can do any more damage. He also works on finding if there are Americans dealing drugs and tries to get honest American soldiers to help him.</p>If you face the sunshine, the shadows will always be behind you.tag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-21:537324:BlogPost:3291892012-01-21T15:16:32.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>In the near future, cloning is legal. Dr. Davis Moore is a fertility doctor specializing in reproductive cloning. <br></br><br></br>When his daughter AK is raped and murdered the police investigation stalls. Moore picks up his daughter's belongings from the police and gets a DNA sample. He uses it to clone a child that will grow up to be the replica of his father.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mickey the Gerund is a religious fanatic who feels he's on God's mission to destroy fertility clinics and kill the…</p>
<p>In the near future, cloning is legal. Dr. Davis Moore is a fertility doctor specializing in reproductive cloning. <br/><br/>When his daughter AK is raped and murdered the police investigation stalls. Moore picks up his daughter's belongings from the police and gets a DNA sample. He uses it to clone a child that will grow up to be the replica of his father.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mickey the Gerund is a religious fanatic who feels he's on God's mission to destroy fertility clinics and kill the doctors who run them. He's dubbed Byron Bonavarti by the press.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The boy Davis cloned, Justin Finn, grows older and begins to have a strong interest in serial killers in general and Byron Bonavarti in particular and we wonder if he will turn out to be another mass murderer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author provides information about the moral and ethical considerations of cloning and the novel is an interesting, if complicated read.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759793?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759793?profile=original" width="338"/></a></p>"If I ever needed you, I need you now." Song lyricstag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-17:537324:BlogPost:3286082012-01-17T14:28:06.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>This novel is influenced by the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. In this case, Abe Cushman, a former chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, commits suicide when his Ponzi scheme is unvelied. He takes all of his secrets to the grave.</p>
<p><br></br>Patrick Lloyd, a young Wall St. advisor to one of the largest Swiss banks is called to the corporate office and ordered to find Lilly Scanlon and the money she manipulated from the bank when she was a corporate officer - this was in relation to the Cushman…</p>
<p>This novel is influenced by the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. In this case, Abe Cushman, a former chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, commits suicide when his Ponzi scheme is unvelied. He takes all of his secrets to the grave.</p>
<p><br/>Patrick Lloyd, a young Wall St. advisor to one of the largest Swiss banks is called to the corporate office and ordered to find Lilly Scanlon and the money she manipulated from the bank when she was a corporate officer - this was in relation to the Cushman Ponzi scheme.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lilly is Patrick's girlfriend and she tells him she's being set up. The money involved is from some of Cushman's clients who are criminals and will stop at nothing to get their money back.</p>
<p><br/>She and Patrick agree to work together and are soon threatened by criminals. Then something from Patrick's background comes to light.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is not only a financial thriller but deals with other important issues. There is a powerful message about a father's love for his children and about the failures in the witness protection program. It is also a social commentary about the desire of some to obtain money and not care how it's done.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author has captured the naivete of his two protagonists and shown how that innocence can be destroyed in a world of governmental ignorance and corruption.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759401?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759401?profile=original" width="312"/></a></p>If his pistol missfires, he hits you with the but end.tag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-12:537324:BlogPost:3282752012-01-12T16:04:11.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759399?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759399?profile=original" width="240"></img></a> Jack Reilly is a ex-cop who is trying to make a living as a P.I.</p>
<p>He's hired by a friend of his brother, Marty, who is in prison.</p>
<p>The man who hires Jack is gunned down shortly thereafter and Jack wants to know why.</p>
<p><br></br>As he begins his investigation, we cannot help but remember another Boston, P.I., Robert Parker's wonderful character, Spencer. The author…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759399?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759399?profile=original" width="240"/></a>Jack Reilly is a ex-cop who is trying to make a living as a P.I.</p>
<p>He's hired by a friend of his brother, Marty, who is in prison.</p>
<p>The man who hires Jack is gunned down shortly thereafter and Jack wants to know why.</p>
<p><br/>As he begins his investigation, we cannot help but remember another Boston, P.I., Robert Parker's wonderful character, Spencer. The author also seems influenced by Mickey Spillane and in Reilly we have a new and improved, Mike Hammer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The author has given the reader a view of the mean streets in South Boston adn a modern P.I. who knows how to survive in those mean streets.</p>'Tilt your head back and laugh at the sky." Buddahtag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-08:537324:BlogPost:3268302012-01-08T18:43:48.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>Danny Boyle is a 24 year old, part-time police officer at the Sea Haven PD. He enjoys hanging out on the beach with his friends and doesn't carry a weapon. He narrates this bizzare story.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>John Ceepak is a former MP who served in Iraq. He and Danny are having coffee when a young girl screams that her father has been shot. The event occurred at the Tilt-A-Whirl ride at an amusement park in Sea Haven, New Jersey.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ceepak only took the job for the summer and being…</p>
<p>Danny Boyle is a 24 year old, part-time police officer at the Sea Haven PD. He enjoys hanging out on the beach with his friends and doesn't carry a weapon. He narrates this bizzare story.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>John Ceepak is a former MP who served in Iraq. He and Danny are having coffee when a young girl screams that her father has been shot. The event occurred at the Tilt-A-Whirl ride at an amusement park in Sea Haven, New Jersey.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ceepak only took the job for the summer and being a former MP knows more about investigations than his superiors but he's not brought intot he investigation and his ideas are ignored.</p>
<p><br/>He decides to run his own investigation with Danny. He learns that the man who was killed was real estate tycoon, Reginald Hart.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ceepak is in the image of the straight faced dectective, Joe Friday from TV and the movie, Dragnet. He's always one step ahead of the people he's interviewing and I expect to hear him say, "just the facts, mam."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The characters are interesting and purposely stereotypical in this witty crime spoof, from the muscle bound, undeucated criminal to the inept investigator who drops a wrapper from McDonald's at the crime scene.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The writing style is reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen and as the reader realizes that this is a spoof, they can see how creative the author is.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Overall, "Tilt-A-Whirl" is a comic story that is easy to read and very entertaining.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759470?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759470?profile=original" width="128"/></a></p>Splattered Bloodtag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-04:537324:BlogPost:3258352012-01-04T03:15:57.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>Happy to announce that my debut novel, "Splattered Blood' has its release date of tomorrow, Jan4th.</p>
<p>Please check this mystery out.</p>
<p>Thanks,<br/>Mike<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759507?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759507?profile=original" width="300"/></a></p>
<p>Happy to announce that my debut novel, "Splattered Blood' has its release date of tomorrow, Jan4th.</p>
<p>Please check this mystery out.</p>
<p>Thanks,<br/>Mike<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759507?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759507?profile=original" width="300"/></a></p>Don't drop thistag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-04:537324:BlogPost:3258192012-01-04T03:11:18.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>Good ole Harry Bosch is getting close to retiring, hope he has a good retirment plan.<br/>He takes on a couple of cases, one about DNA and the other with political ties.<br/>He does a good job of investigation and juggling the both cases while spending time with his fifteen-year-old daughter who shows signs she wants to go into buz with dad.</p>
<p>Enjoyable and some nice plot twist.</p>
<p>Good ole Harry Bosch is getting close to retiring, hope he has a good retirment plan.<br/>He takes on a couple of cases, one about DNA and the other with political ties.<br/>He does a good job of investigation and juggling the both cases while spending time with his fifteen-year-old daughter who shows signs she wants to go into buz with dad.</p>
<p>Enjoyable and some nice plot twist.</p>"Welcome to my world"tag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-01-01:537324:BlogPost:3256142012-01-01T15:24:24.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>Pat Nolan is summoned to Paris to claim his estranged daughter's body.</p>
<p>When he sees the body, it's not his daughter, Megan. He realizes that she has staged her death and must be in trouble and need him.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Catherine Laurence is a police detective in Paris. She's told that Saudi government officials are looking for Megan for suspected terrorist activity. They are suspicious when Pat has his daughter's body cremated. They want Catherine to befriend him and learn…</p>
<p>Pat Nolan is summoned to Paris to claim his estranged daughter's body.</p>
<p>When he sees the body, it's not his daughter, Megan. He realizes that she has staged her death and must be in trouble and need him.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Catherine Laurence is a police detective in Paris. She's told that Saudi government officials are looking for Megan for suspected terrorist activity. They are suspicious when Pat has his daughter's body cremated. They want Catherine to befriend him and learn more.</p>
<p>Catherine and Pat become romantically attached and she sees that her superiors weren't giving her the full story.</p>
<p>The novel also tells what Megan had been doing to get in such trouble. She was a research journanist looking for a story in Morocco.</p>
<p>LoPore has written an interesting story that mixes in historical facts to make the novel believable and unique.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759509?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759509?profile=original" width="120"/></a></p>Life seems longer when men are innocenttag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-28:537324:BlogPost:3252222011-12-28T14:22:49.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759511?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759511?profile=original" width="296"></img></a> Vanessa Michael Munroe is an assassin who has nightmares about her past. He understands her killing capability and when her best friend, Logan, asks for help, she can't refuse.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Logan explains that eight years ago, his friend, Charity's daughter, Hannah, was abducted from her school and carried over the border to Mexico to a religious cult known as The…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759511?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759511?profile=original" width="296"/></a>Vanessa Michael Munroe is an assassin who has nightmares about her past. He understands her killing capability and when her best friend, Logan, asks for help, she can't refuse.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Logan explains that eight years ago, his friend, Charity's daughter, Hannah, was abducted from her school and carried over the border to Mexico to a religious cult known as The Chosen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Cult has hidden Hanna but now, some members of the group who have escaped The Chosen, know where Hannah is being held.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>These people were childhood members of The Chosen. They tell Munroe some of the things that go on there which makes Munroe even more anxious to help.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Munroe poses as a donor and gains entry to a group home. When she sees the children, she understands how difficult it may be to resuce Hannah if she has been brainwashed and doesn't want to leave.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The reader underestands the level that the children have been instructed in The Cult religion. They are told that the outside world is corrupt and will say bad things about The Cult. Unfortunately, it one more example of young people being taken advantage and abused by people in power.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The book is disquieting at times, as we see the vulnerability of children but it is still a wonderfully evocative novel that will remain in the readers thoughts and brings to life the plight of some missing and lost children.</p>"The most wonderful time of the year."tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-22:537324:BlogPost:3249722011-12-22T18:40:52.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>In the Dickeyville, Maryland area, five young friends meet and bond. They consider themselves like the five arms of a starfish. They are, Gwen, the Halloran brothers, Tim, Sean and Go Go, and the other girl, Mickey Wyckoff.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Their middle class area didn't require a lot of parental supervision on the children's playtime activities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The novel moves between actions in the late 1970s and today.</p>
<p>In the current time, Gwen returned to care for her father who…</p>
<p>In the Dickeyville, Maryland area, five young friends meet and bond. They consider themselves like the five arms of a starfish. They are, Gwen, the Halloran brothers, Tim, Sean and Go Go, and the other girl, Mickey Wyckoff.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Their middle class area didn't require a lot of parental supervision on the children's playtime activities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The novel moves between actions in the late 1970s and today.</p>
<p>In the current time, Gwen returned to care for her father who had fallen and broken his hip. She sees Sean Halloran who tells her that his brother, Go Go, has died from suicide.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In 1978 the five friends often played in Leaken Park and while exloring came upon an abandoned cabin that was now the dwelling place of a homeless man they referred to as Chicken George. He was often gone for long periods but the children became casual friends with him.</p>
<p><br/>In the next summer, Gwen and Sean were dating and Go Go and Mickey traveled to the cabin. They become involved in an incident with Chicken George.<br/><br/>There are various versions of this incident and thinking about it has a major effect on the children and their parents.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The story is described on a leisurely pace to fit the life stlye of the children and leaves the reader saddened about the innocence of children and how quickly that disappears.</p>Mike Draper's noveltag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-17:537324:BlogPost:3245542011-12-17T16:28:43.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p>In "Splattered Blood" a woman's husband was in charge of security for a basketball team in New England. <br></br>A number of injuries and deaths occur to the main players and when he checks it out, he's killed and made to look like suicide.</p>
<p>His widow calls her financial advisor stating that she knows he wouldn't do that and deprive the family of the $500,000 of life insurance which wouldn't be paid if suicide.</p>
<p>When he looks into it, he gets proof that it was murder.</p>
<p>The…</p>
<p>In "Splattered Blood" a woman's husband was in charge of security for a basketball team in New England. <br/>A number of injuries and deaths occur to the main players and when he checks it out, he's killed and made to look like suicide.</p>
<p>His widow calls her financial advisor stating that she knows he wouldn't do that and deprive the family of the $500,000 of life insurance which wouldn't be paid if suicide.</p>
<p>When he looks into it, he gets proof that it was murder.</p>
<p>The widow takes some of the insurance money and hires the financial advisor and her brother to find the killer.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759098?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759098?profile=original" width="500"/></p>"lots of people are dead and they're just not clever enough to fall over and decompose." Mary Burnstag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-12:537324:BlogPost:3241852011-12-12T14:07:56.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759124?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759124?profile=original" width="298"></img></a> A Blue Line train in Chicago goes faster than it should. The vibrations from its passing causes a light bulb to fall and shatter. Soon, people become sick and die.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>P.I. Michael Kelly is asked to provide security when it is determined that there could be a threat of a biological weapon on the Chicago railway system.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As more and more people die,…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759124?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759124?profile=original" width="298"/></a>A Blue Line train in Chicago goes faster than it should. The vibrations from its passing causes a light bulb to fall and shatter. Soon, people become sick and die.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>P.I. Michael Kelly is asked to provide security when it is determined that there could be a threat of a biological weapon on the Chicago railway system.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As more and more people die, the Dept. of Homeland Security quarantines part of the city. This enables some criminals to rid themselves of rivals. Burning and looting begin.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is easy for the reader to immerse themselves into this fearful setting. The action is realistically portrayed and the story flows dramatically.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. Ellen Brazile leads the charge to identify the pathogen and find a vaccine. Kelly searches for the person responsible for setting this killer into motion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This story is enjoyable and shows the author has the talent to weave a tense, well-plotted thriller.</p>'Lots of people are dead and they're just not clever enough to decompose." Mayr Burnstag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-11:537324:BlogPost:3241542011-12-11T18:13:02.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759089?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759089?profile=original" width="298"></img></a> A biological pathogen is set loose on the Chicago railway system.</p>
<p><br></br>P.I. Michael Kelly is brought in to help with security.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>People begin to die and Homeland Security quarantines a part of Chicago. This enables some criminals to have the opportunity to rid themselves of rivals. Looting and burning of buildings begins.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. Ellen Brazile…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759089?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759089?profile=original" width="298"/></a>A biological pathogen is set loose on the Chicago railway system.</p>
<p><br/>P.I. Michael Kelly is brought in to help with security.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>People begin to die and Homeland Security quarantines a part of Chicago. This enables some criminals to have the opportunity to rid themselves of rivals. Looting and burning of buildings begins.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. Ellen Brazile heads the charge in attempting to identify the pathogen and find a vaccine. Mike Kelly searches for the person responsible for unleasing this deadly killer on Chicago.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>An enjoyable novel that shows the author's ability to put together a tense well-plotted novel.</p>Talking without thinking is like shooting without taking aim. Proverbtag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-07:537324:BlogPost:3238812011-12-07T20:00:00.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759108?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759108?profile=original" width="300"></img></a> The action begins in the Four Corners section of Chicago, a place that is gang dominated. Two brothers, Bobby and Ruben Vargas join the Chicago PD.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Coleen Brennan was Bobby's childhood girlfriend but was murdered when she was age thirteen. Now "The Chicago Herald" is about to run an expose stating that Bobby and Rubin were the two boys who murdered…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759108?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759108?profile=original" width="300"/></a>The action begins in the Four Corners section of Chicago, a place that is gang dominated. Two brothers, Bobby and Ruben Vargas join the Chicago PD.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Coleen Brennan was Bobby's childhood girlfriend but was murdered when she was age thirteen. Now "The Chicago Herald" is about to run an expose stating that Bobby and Rubin were the two boys who murdered her</p>
<p>Anton Dupree was arrested, found guilty and executed for the murder. Now his mother is suing threee city claiming that he was of low intelligence so easy to manipulate into confessing. She's suing the city and Bobby fears that the city will settle and he and his brother will be fired and face civil action.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are a number of levels to the story which is told in a darkly realistic manner that has a momentum of its own. There was certain activity by Japan during WWII that should have ended with criminal persecution. Now, a member of the company responsible for the wrongdoing is influential in financing the Chicago Olympics in 2016. In addition, Coleen's twin sister, Arlene returns to the city and begins a romantic attachment with Bobby.</p>
<p>This is an excellent story with good dialogue and characters who jump out of the pages with their realistic manner. Bobby is the kind of character we enjoy reading about. He's loyal, brave, honorable and the center of an excellent novel.</p>I took a trip on a sailing ship and when I reached Jamaica, I made a stop. Song lyricstag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-12-04:537324:BlogPost:3236302011-12-04T18:23:38.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759036?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759036?profile=original" width="322"></img></a> Eric is an American who owns a bar and damaged hotel in Jamaica. A hurricane damaged his hotel and the water surge separated the land where the hotel is, from the mainland.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>One day, Shad, Eric's bartender and right hand man, sees what he thinks is a goat on Eric's island. It turns out to be a girl and Eric rows out to see what she's doing. The woman, Simone,…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759036?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70759036?profile=original" width="322"/></a>Eric is an American who owns a bar and damaged hotel in Jamaica. A hurricane damaged his hotel and the water surge separated the land where the hotel is, from the mainland.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>One day, Shad, Eric's bartender and right hand man, sees what he thinks is a goat on Eric's island. It turns out to be a girl and Eric rows out to see what she's doing. The woman, Simone, states that she needs a place of peace and quiet and will pay if Eric will let her stay on the land and get someone to supply groceries.</p>
<p><br/>Simone becomes the talk of the town and two men come to the island with evil intent. Shots are fired and the men scurry home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Life goes on and Simone's brother arrives to attempt to convince her to return to America. Then, two outsiders arrive and begin asking about the politics of the village.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The setting is well described and we see Eric become enamored with Simone but nothing really happens in the novel and only by a reach could it be considered a detective novel. I would classify it more as gossib.\</p>
<p>However, the author has talent and provides good dialogue and an entertaining novel</p>"Dawn, stay away, I'm no good for you." song lyricstag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-19:537324:BlogPost:3225742011-11-19T18:48:44.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758614?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758614?profile=original" width="333"></img></a> The story opens as a man comes downstaris and gets his morning paper. He's shocked at the headline stating that he and his wife are dead.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After attending a social event the prior night, the man, District Attorney, Jack Keeler and his wife, FBI agent, Mia, are heading home when they're stopped on a bridge. They are ordered from their car and when Jack resists,…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758614?profile=original"><img width="333" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758614?profile=original" class="align-left"/></a>The story opens as a man comes downstaris and gets his morning paper. He's shocked at the headline stating that he and his wife are dead.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After attending a social event the prior night, the man, District Attorney, Jack Keeler and his wife, FBI agent, Mia, are heading home when they're stopped on a bridge. They are ordered from their car and when Jack resists, he's shot in the shoulder, placed back in his car and pushed off the bridge. Mia is kidnapped.</p>
<p>After seeing the story about his death, he examines himself and sees that his shoulder has been stitched and there is a tattoo in a foreign language on his arm. He doesn't remember getting out of the water or the other events.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He gets together with his old partner from his days on homicide in the police force. A man tries to sneak into his home, Jack and his friend stop him but he gets away before he can be questioned.</p>
<p><br/>This is a book with many mysteries. Who kidnapped Mia and how did they arrange it so successfully?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The pacing is excellent and the characters very realistic.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I enjoyed the twists and surprises that the author provided and recommend this book.<br/><br/>Mike</p>"There are no winners, only survivors" Frank Giffordtag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-09:537324:BlogPost:3216602011-11-09T14:30:00.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758707?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758707?profile=original" width="333"></img></a> In John Wesley, Rawles survivalist novel, "Survivors," the author is asking who will be prepared to survive after the stock market takes a complete crash, inflation skyrockets and paper money becomes useless.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After these events occur, rioting and looting begin and only those who have prepared are able to survive. The infrastructure of society is disolved, gas…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758707?profile=original"><img width="333" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758707?profile=original" class="align-right"/></a>In John Wesley, Rawles survivalist novel, "Survivors," the author is asking who will be prepared to survive after the stock market takes a complete crash, inflation skyrockets and paper money becomes useless.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After these events occur, rioting and looting begin and only those who have prepared are able to survive. The infrastructure of society is disolved, gas stations close and high tech gadgets that are so important to the reader become useless without electricity.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The honorable families who are in the survivor group includes many people with a military background and having a strong Faith. With the dregs of society like paroled convicts and gang members joining the looters, I was reminded of Stephen King's "The Stand," which plotted a force of good against those who preyed on the less fortunate in the battle for the world.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The story is packed with suspense but I was never drawn to the characters and felt that some of the concepts were too extreme to accept. Nevertheless, I was interested in the story and wanted to see how it would develop.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This book will be available as part of a giveaway at:<br/><a href="http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com">http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com</a></p>
<p>Please join in.</p>Books are the ever burning lamps of accumulated wisdomtag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-07:537324:BlogPost:3214972011-11-07T14:58:11.000Zmichael draperhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/michaeldraper
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758702?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758702?profile=original" width="325"></img></a> John Connolly eligantly describes life in a small town in Maine and how it changes when a teenage girl goes missing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Randall Haight lives in the town and served eighteen years for murdering a girl when he was age fourteen. He was given a new identity after his release from prison and now is getting pictures showing the barn door where the murder he was involved…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758702?profile=original"><img width="325" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70758702?profile=original" class="align-right"/></a>John Connolly eligantly describes life in a small town in Maine and how it changes when a teenage girl goes missing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Randall Haight lives in the town and served eighteen years for murdering a girl when he was age fourteen. He was given a new identity after his release from prison and now is getting pictures showing the barn door where the murder he was involved with, took place.<br/><br/>He doesn't want to go to the authorities because he feels he'll be the scapegoat for the girl who is missing now so he hires PI Charlie Parker to make the harassing go away.</p>
<p><br/>Since Charlie had lost a child himself, he doesn't want to take the case but does when he considers that the person harassing Haight might be the real kidnapper.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Connolly writes in a fine literary style that is delicious to read. "...there are other places that speak of the ferocity of the sea, of communities sheltering behind butresses of black rock and shingle beaches against which the waves throw themselves like beseiging armies..."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are a number of parallel story lines that merge together to create a tidy conclusion with some interesting plot twists and surprises that add to the reader's interest.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Although not one of Connolly's best, it is still a fine read and Connolly is Connolly, hard to beat.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A giveaway of this novel is presently being offered at</p>
<p><a href="http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com">http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com</a></p>