July Books

Birdman by Mo Hayder - This was the debut novel (2000) by Hayder and it became a bestseller.  Since then she has been cranking out best selling novel after best selling novel.  This year the British author snagged an Edgar Allen Poe award for best mystery novel.  So yeah she can write.  Fans of forensic police action will love this one.  Set in London hero Jack Caffery must track down a twisted serial killer whose clues are both shocking and challenging.  If you're looking for a book that will keep you reading and just might keep you up at night as well you'd be well advised to grab this one.
Rating - **** Recommended Read

Brand Like a Rock Star by Steve Jones - Steve Jones spent 3 decades working in the world of rock and roll.  He brings that experience and behind the scenes knowledge to what may be the most fun marketing book of all time.  You'll not only learn basic marketing concepts illustrated by some of the greatest musicians of the last 50 years you also get a great playlist of their music.  The marketing ideas are solid and easy to digest.  I ripped through this book, making notes the whole way.  If you're interested in marketing your business or product and find most marketing books to be tedious grab Brand Like a Rock Star.
Rating **** Recommended Read


The Ice Owl by Carolyn Ives Gilman - This novella is both a Hugo and Nebula nominee which says plenty right up front.  Gilman uses her 20 Planets universe for this story.  I had never ready anything by her before but the double award nominations lured me in.  Glad I went.  It's a story of the end of  childhood and the less than perfect worlds we can end up in.  Really enjoyed it.
Rating - **** Recommended Read

Not sure if I've mentioned them here before but the publisher Phoenix Pick (an imprint of Arc Manor) should be a bookmark for any science fiction fan.  They are re-publishing some very worthy but overlooked older stuff plus bringing in some new pieces too.  PLUS you get a freebie every month.  And these are top quality freebie novels and other works.  Sign up for their e-mail newsletter and you'll get the monthly note of a new title headed your way.

State of Confusion by Paul Jury  - Started it, stopped, have no interest in picking it back up.
Rating - * Forget About It

Death is a Lonely Business  by Ray Bradbury -  Part of my ongoing tribute this year to one of the greatest American authors IMO.  I'm going to read as much of his stuff as I can lay hands on.  Sadly my local library has a very small collection of titles.  Had not read this one before so I was pleasantly surprised to discover it uses the same characters as A Graveyard for Lunatics which I've noted is a favorite.  This is the book that introduces us to the Crazy, Elmo Crumley, Henry the blind man and the astounding Constance Rattigan.  The main character is a young writer trying to make a living through his craft while living in the decaying Venice California of the early '50's.  A frightening encounter on a trolley with a man who smells of death sends him on the trail of devious murderer who puts all his friends in danger.  The book has all the trademark Bradbury touches plus a nice dose of  Dashiell Hammett.
Rating - **** Recommended Read

Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - This is a short story with an excerpt from one of Zafon's books (The Prisoner of Heaven).  It tells of the origins of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books a central device in his other novels (The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game, The Prisoner of Heaven).  I'd never even heard of Zafon before grabbing this as a Barnes & Noble freebie.  He will definitely be on my radar going forward.  The series is intended to be 4 books long and span centuries of time in Spain.  The cemetery bears a slight resemblance to the characters at the end of Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" who are protecting endangered books.  The method is different but the intent is the same.  The books are worldwide best sellers so they will be on my list to find.
Rating - **** Recommended Read

The Entitled - Frank DeFord - Here's the short version - Frank DeFord can write.  Period.  Full stop.  What more do you really need to know?  


OK fine.


This is the story of a journeyman major league baseball manager and his star player who is accused of rape.  The manager sees something that might just reinforce that charge but doesn't prove anything one way or the other.  The story takes you through the process of working out what is right and wrong along the way.  At the same time DeFord brings his formidable vocabulary and voluminous knowledge of sports (writer for Sports Illustrated, sports commentator for NPR, 6 time National Sport Writer of the Year, member of Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters and has won an Emmy and a Peabody) to create a compelling behind the scenes look at big time sports.  Nothing quite like the intersection of a great story and a great writer.
Rating - **** Recommended Read.