Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder (Book 1 in the series) by T. A. Willberg 336 pages

London 1958. The city is still trying to pick up the pieces shattered during World War II. Far below the city streets are a series of secret tunnels and passages, shifting doors and hallways, gadgets of all kinds and the home of Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries. A group of researchers, spies, agents that take on the cases that Scotland Yard cannot solve.

As the story opens, Michelle White is on duty, monitoring the letter boxes. All over London are secret receiver boxes that take letters (tips) from the streets down a six-mile pneumatic system, to land in Miss Brickett’s Filing Department, where they are read and either passed on or filed away. This night, April 11, Michelle received a letter addressed to her with only “a name, a time a place and one simple revelation.” She decides to investigate, grabbing her belongings and heading upstairs, toward the library and the locked room gate. Once inside, Michelle is murdered in a decidedly gory manner. Her body is discovered in a locked room, a la an Agatha Christie murder mystery.

Enter Marion Lane, a resourceful young woman, eager to rise through the ranks. She and her best friend, Bill, are apprentices, spending part of each day in various departments to learn what a successful Inquirer needs to know. I felt like I was on the set of “Get Smart” or a James Bond movie (without the coolness).

Michelle’s murder seems to just fade away until the last third of the novel, but all the efforts Marion and Bill have been putting forth are to solve the mystery. It’s convoluted and not very interesting. Well I will admit that the aluminum (I think) snake had cameras in its eyes and could detect movement was kinda cool in a creepy sort of way.

This is supposed to be the first book in a new series, but I’m done.  The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it was a slow read.  Therefore, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Need to Know

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland   304 pages

Vivian is a dedicated CIA analyst assigned to uncover the leaders of Russian sleeper cells in the U.S. She's hard at work, sifting through data and information to identify agents who appear to be normal people, living in plain sight. One day, she accesses a folder of deep-cover agents in America and then makes a confusing discovery: one of the photos is of her husband, Matt. Confusion turns to horror as Vivian discovers that Matt has been lying to her since they met, and has been working for the Russians the entire time.  Now, their lives and the lives of their children, hang in the balance while Vivian tries to figure out what to do and who to protect.

I thought this book was okay, although I kept reading more out of curiosity than a compulsion to know what was going to happen. I found some elements of the story predictable, although I did like that Vivian kept going through her past, uncovering details that when viewed in the light of the new information about Matt, showed just how much about him she didn't know.  The pacing definitely picks up as the story continues and the author's own background as a CIA analyst definitely comes through, as those parts of the story are written well and are very believable.

Witness

Witness by Whittaker Chambers, 799 pages

In 1948, Whittaker Chambers, then an editor at Time magazine, testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee.  He informed the committee of his long years in the Communist Party, first as a member of the "open" American Communist Party, later as a member of the Soviet Communist underground, assisting in the subversion of the US government, until his break with the Party in the mid-'30s.  Among the names Chambers named was that of Alger Hiss, then a highly placed official in the State Department.  The confrontation between Hiss and Chambers, as Hiss unsuccessfully sued Chambers for libel and then was himself convicted of perjury, polarized the nation.  Some saw Chambers' testimony as evidence of a vast Communist conspiracy, others as dangerous lies that had to be exposed, and still others believed that, even if what he said was true, it still had to be discredited lest it encourage the wrong kind of thinking.

Seventy years later, Witness, Chambers' autobiography written shortly after the conclusion of the Hiss case, can be read as a historical document chronicling a time when much of America's elites, faced with a choice between defending American institutions and providing cover for an aggressive dictatorship bent on subverting them, chose to side with Stalin.  More significantly, it can also be read as the story of the ultimately spiritual struggle of one man, sunk deep in darkness but saved by the light, who found the grace to witness to the truth in that world-historical moment.

The Alice Network

The AliceNetwork by Kate Quinn, 503 pages

“In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women--a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947--are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption. 1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister. 1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose. Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.” I loved the movement between the two stories in this book.  I love historical fiction and I loved that this moved between the two World Wars, instead of between contemporary and historical.  This will appeal to people who like historical fiction, realistic fiction, and adventure.  It was an amazing book.

The Traitor’s Kiss

TheTraitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty, 344 pages

“To escape the threat of being married off by her uncle, orphaned Sage Fowler accepts an apprenticeship with a matchmaker. Intelligent and unruly, she's perfect for gathering information on prospective clients. Protected by a small army contingent, Sage and her mentor escort a group of ladies to be matched with noblemen. Sage spies on soldiers and brides alike as they travel. Amongst rumors of a political uprising, a handsome solider recruits Sage to infiltrate the enemy ranks. The more she discovers, the more uncertain she is of whom to trust. Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom. With secret identities and a tempestuous romance, The Traitor's Kiss is Jane Austen with an espionage twist.”  This was an intriguing story.  I had trouble putting this book down.  A must read for teens who like fantasy type books, although this one has no magic.

The LIKE Switch

The LIKE Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting and Winning People Over by Jack Schafer and Marvin Karlins       Audio Book:  7 hours, 40 mins.     Paperback Book:  288 pages

Great book.   I want to read it again it is that good with so much useful information.   A how to on reading other’s body language.    So many great tells given here in an enjoyable read.    You won’t want to put this one down and you will want to take notes.   I would love to sit in on a lecture or take a class with this author.   I would love to become fluent in reading body language and verbal tells.   Fascinating stuff.   I will never hear or say the well without thinking about what you will learn about it here.    And the ways he influences people to go along with what he wants is definetly worth reading.   He is like the Dale Carnegie of the F.B.I. set.   No wonder he held the positions he has.    And he goes even further – it’s not all about body language and influencing people it is also about telling the lie whether in person or in writing.   I may even go back over this 2 or 3 times just to be sure I learn all the great stuff he has to teach here.      Excellent!   Do yourself a favor and check this one out you will be glad you did.                     

Liberty

Liberty by Andrea Portes, 390 pages

Paige’s parents are missing, presumed dead.  They are journalists, following a story, when they disappeared.  Paige wants to believe that they are still a live but doesn’t know what to think for sure until she is approached by a representative of a secret government agency who wants her to do a job for them.  In return, he will reopen a case to retrieve Paige’s parents, who he knows are still alive.  Paige, who doesn’t see much alternative, agrees.  After some training, she finds herself in Russia, meeting people she isn’t sure she can trust, and possibly falling in love with her target.  This was a wacky, hilarious, adventure romance.  I really liked how it started and I liked it all the way through.  The editing in this was a little annoying.  I hate reading books that pull me out of the story because of misspellings, such that the line I’m reading doesn’t make sense.  This happened at least three times in this book.  Also, the suspension of disbelief got stretched pretty thin for me a couple of times, but overall, I thought that teens would enjoy the humor in this story.

The Alice Network

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn          503 pages

In this historical novel, author Kate Quinn gives us alternating perspectives of two main characters, one of them a female spy recruited to the Alice Network in France during World War I, and the other an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947.

In 1915, Eve Gardiner wants to join in the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly, gets her chance when she's recruited as a spy and is sent into enemy-occupied France.  Trained by Lili, the "Queen of Spies," Eve works right under the enemy's nose, putting herself in greater and greater danger.

Thirty years later, Eve spends her time drunk and secluded in her London house until a brash young American knocks on her door, uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades.  Charlie St. Clair, as it turns out, is on a mission to find her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France. Complicating things are a few facts: Charlie's pregnant (and her mother is determined to take her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of), Eve drinks a lot and has a brusque and difficult temperament, and, let's not forget, Charlie's cousin Rose disappeared a few years ago.  In helping Charlie, Eve discovers she's on the trail, herself, to find someone from her past.

Based on some real people and real events, I found this story entertaining, but it also made me want to know more about the real Alice Network.  The back-and-forth in time and the two narratives made the story really compelling, and the sense of danger that underlies Eve's story just helps to increase the pace.  Both women are well-written characters and Eve's story, in particular, is very believable.  Good story.

Spies in the Vatican

Spies in the Vatican: The Soviet Union's Cold War Against the Catholic Church by John Koehler, 273 pages

Virtually from the moment of its birth, the Soviet Union sought the end of religion amongst its people and throughout the world.  When mass murder failed, the Soviets began a campaign of infiltration and subversion.  Although the Catholic Church was targeted from the outset, when the Second World War left the USSR in control of puppet states throughout Eastern Europe the neutralization of the Church became an even higher priority.  The record of this shadow war waged by the Soviets and their proxies against the Church is the subject of John Koehler's Spies in the Vatican.

Although the book briefly summarizes earlier periods, the bulk concerns the pontificate of St John Paul II and his connection with the Solidarity movement, including, most explosively, possible Soviet involvement in the assassination attempt against the Pope in 1981.  Unfortunately, Spies in the Vatican lacks any kind of cohesion.  The book reads like "random moments in the history of Warsaw Pact espionage" rather than a thorough history of communist subversion of the Catholic Church.  This slipshod approach is aggravated by numerous textual errors - "seize fire", "assassimate", "Let sleeping dogs die".  At the same time, Koehler demonstrates considerable expertise concerning the history, organization, and records of various intelligence agencies, especially the East German Stasi, and he writes with unwavering moral clarity.

Zero World

Zero World by Jason M Hough
578 Pages

"Technologically enhanced superspy Peter Caswell has been dispatched on a top-secret assignment unlike any he's ever faced. A spaceship that vanished years ago has been found, along with the bodies of its murdered crew--save one. Peter's mission is to find the missing crew member, who fled through what appears to be a tear in the fabric of space. Beyond this mysterious doorway lies an even more confounding reality: a world that seems to be Earth's twin. Peter discovers that this mirrored world is indeed different from his home, and far more dangerous. Cut off from all support, and with only days to complete his operation, Peter must track his quarry alone on an alien world. But he's unprepared for what awaits on the planet's surface, where his skills will be put to the ultimate test--and everything he knows about the universe will be challenged in ways he never could have imagined. " 

 I enjoyed parts of this book but was frustrated by some of the twists and turns in the plotting.  There will definitely be a sequel since there are a lot of loose ends to tie up.

Waistcoats & Weaponry

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger, 298 pages

The third book in The Finishing School series has Sophronia helping her friend Sidheag get back to Scotland to help her werewolf pack.  With help from her best friend Dimity, her sooty friend, Soap and even from Lord Felix Mersey, her sometime love interest. They manage to hijack a train until they attract the attention of some flywaymen and Picklemen.  It will take all of their skills to navigate through their predicament but Sophronia and the others are up for the challenge.  I really enjoyed this latest book in the series and teens, especially girls, who like steampunk will enjoy it also.

Monday's Lie

Monday's Lie by Jamie, Mason
287 Pages

"Dee Aldrich rebelled against her off-center upbringing when she married the most conventional man she could imagine: Patrick, her college sweetheart. But now, years later, her marriage is falling apart and she's starting to believe that her husband has his eye on a new life...a life without her, one way or another. Haunted by memories of her late mother Annette, a former covert operations asset, Dee reaches back into her childhood to resurrect her mother's lessons and the "spy games" they played together, in which Dee learned memory tricks and, most importantly, how and when to lie. But just as she begins determining the course of the future, she makes a discovery that will change her life: her mother left her a lot of money and her own husband seems to know more about it than Dee does. Now, before it's too late, she must investigate her suspicions and untangle conspiracy from coincidence, using her mother's advice to steer her through the blind spots. The trick, in the end, will be in deciding if a "normal life" is really what she wants at all."

I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Dee and her mother and felt that the book could have subsisted just on this level but the author also added a mystery to the plot which races to a climatic end. 

Closer To Home

Closer To Home by Mercedes Lackey, 361 pages

This is book one of a new series, The Herald Spy, however, this series picks up at the end of the series, The Collegium Chronicles, so fans of Mags will enjoy this new series a lot.  People who have not read that series would be ok starting with this one also.  Lackey’s books are pretty self-contained, so each story can usually be read as a stand-alone without much trouble.  Mags and Amily have clearly fallen in love and luckily, Nikolas, Amily’s father and the King’s Own, approves.  He asks that they are discrete and wait another year before marriage, since the marriage of the Prince was so recent.  Luckily they both have plenty to keep them occupied.  Two feuding families are arriving in town at nearly the same time and a large part of their jobs will be to keep the families apart if possible and listen for trouble so that it can be stopped if necessary.  Of course, that is easier said than done, and the situation could become even more deadly than they fear.  An excellent fantasy story, Lackey is in top form with this new series.