New York is a vertical city, made possible by the invention of the elevator.  What would happen if those elevators couldn't be used?  An incident involving an elevator killed four people on Monday, but it was thought to be a freak accident.  But then there's another one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday.  Is it terrorism?  No one is safe getting on an elevator, so they are all shut down until they can be inspected.  In the midst of all this, there's a bombing and several murders, including one victim who turns out to be an elevator repairman.  Surely, this i

Lives are forever changed when what should have been an idyllic day in the woods turns into a nightmare for three young people.  All three are now living in New York and, of course, their paths cross.  From multiple points of view, we learn about what led up to that fateful day in the woods and how it affected who they have become.  I found myself on the fence with this book.  It took me awhile to get into it and then suddenly things took off.  But then I felt it lagged again for a bit, kind of a roller coaster read.  I couldn't warm up to any of the characters

An escaped boa constrictor, decapitated bodies and brain-eating zombies add up to business as usual in Trenton, NJ for bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum.  To get a skip to return to jail, Stephanie must promise to find and feed his oversized snake until his release.  Meanwhile, she's trying to locate two other bail jumpers and avoid the "zombies" that are being seen around town.  On top of everything else going on, she's worried about Grandma Mazur running off to Florida to see her new online boyfriend, who looks suspiciously like George Hamilton.  There's never a dull momen

Think "Paper Moon" meets "Sons of Anarchy" meets "Breaking Bad".  Nate McClusky gets released from prison, but not before making enemies with a dangerous gang.  The gang's reach extends outside the prison and Nate's ex-wife is already dead.  Nate grabs his little girl, Polly, who he hasn't seen in years, with the intention of hiding her and keeping her safe while he battles it out with the gang.  But things don't go as planned and soon Nate and Polly are working together to undermine the gang's drug trade.  Polly proves to be an apt pupil and the two forge a powerfu

Ken Follett is a longtime favorite of mine.  I cut my teeth on his spy novels like "Eye of the Needle".  When he turned his attention and his pen to the Middle Ages, I wasn't sure if I'd like it or if it would capture my interest like his previous works.  Turns out, it has proven to be some of his best work.  "A Column of Fire" is the third book about the fictional city of Kingsbridge in merry old England, which was often anything but merry.  It was cold and dank and violent.  There was constant subterfuge surrounding the royal family and the church.  The

Making partner is within the grasp of attorney Robert Worth.  He's already thinking about a bigger office and a bigger paycheck.  But when he's drawn into a case being handled by senior partner, Jack Pierce, he discovers that Jack's methods may be a little unethical.  Or a lot.  Things quickly go from bad to worse when the client makes a claim of sexual assualt and Robert finds himself unemployed and going up against the powerful and influential Pierce.  As Robert tries to exact his revenge, he finds himself awash in double-dealing, deceit and danger.  Robert i

This book is the 6th installment of Potzsch's "Hangman's Daughter" series and he continues to knock it out of the park.  They're about the Kuisl family, who have been executioners for generations, in 17th century Bavara.  They are Potzsch's real life ancestors, as well as the inspiration for the novels.  Executioner was a dishonorable profession but also a necessary one, creating a precarious position in society.  The author does an outstanding job of creating time and place.  Every book has intrigue, adventure, humor and the engaging characters that are the Kuisls,