Category: Books

Monday Musings for July 13, 2020

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Worked hard all weekend cleaning a storage room at my job, and I am beat!

Episode 30 of my wrestling podcast

Episode 30

The latest episode of The Joey Harris Show

https://anchor.fm/thejoeyharrisshow/embed/episodes/1–Just-some-real-life-egdagv

Some books:

Antiques Ravin’ by Barbara Allan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Writers Barbara and Max Allan Collins have teamed up again for another Trash ‘N’ Treasure novel. From Amazon: When a series of creepy crimes plagues an ill-fated Edgar Allan Poe festival, newly elected county sheriff Vivian Borne, along with her reluctant deputy daughter Brandy and spunky shih tzu Sushi, springs into action. A purloined tome, a black cat, a musty mausoleum, and mysterious disappearances—these tell the tale of a heartless murderer. But Vivian and Brandy Borne are determined to decipher the cryptic clues to make sure a ravin’-mad killer strikes “nevermore”!
“Barbara Allan” has another hit. Brandy and Vivian are a hoot, and the mystery was well played. A perfect beach read!



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In the Heart of the Fire by Dean Koontz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


From Amazon: A bloodthirsty sheriff is terrorizing a small Texas town where justice has been buried with his victims. Until Nameless arrives—a vigilante whose past is a mystery and whose future is written in blood.

Anyone who crosses Sheriff Russell Soakes is dead, missing, or warned. One of them is a single mother trying to protect her children but bracing herself for the worst. Nameless fears the outcome. He’s seen it in his visions. Now it’s time to teach the depraved Soakes a lesson in fear. But in turning predators into prey, will Nameless unearth a few secrets of his own?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz comes In the Heart of the Fire, part of Nameless, a riveting collection of short stories about a vigilante nomad, stripped of his memories and commissioned to kill. Follow him in each story, which can be read or listened to in a single sitting.
Intriguing concept. I like the character Nameless, and the story entertained me for 90 minutes.



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Have a great week!

Monday Musings for July 6, 2020

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I was on vacation all last week with very spotty Wifi and cell service, but I did do some things:

Episode 29

Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I enjoyed this third Mycroft Holmes mystery by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse. From the Amazon book description:
It is 1873, and as the economies of Europe threaten to crumble, Mycroft Holmes finds himself in service to the Crown once again. A distant relative of Queen Victoria has been slain by the Fire Four Eleven killer, a serial murderer who leaves no mark upon his victims, only a mysterious calling card. Meanwhile, Sherlock has already taken it upon himself to solve the case, as his interest in the criminal mind grows into an obsession.

Mycroft begrudgingly allows Sherlock to investigate, as Ai Lin–the woman he is still in love with–needs his aid. Her fiancé has been kidnapped, and the only man who might know his fate is a ruthless arms dealer with a reputation for killing those who cross him. Mycroft persuades his friend Cyrus Douglas to help find the young man, but Douglas himself is put in harm’s way.

As Sherlock travels the country on the hunt for the Fire Four Eleven murderer, both he and Mycroft will discover that the greed of others is at the root of the evil they are trying to unearth…

I wish Mycroft and Sherlock would work together more or that the cases overlapped in some way. I did enjoy Sherlock’s pairing with and interactions with Huan. Highly recommended.



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Have a great week!

Monday Musings June 22, 2020

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It was a hectic week, although I did have some much needed time away this past weekend. I went camping.

I’m currently watching Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl for my movie poster movie.

I am finally on Season 5 of Wings. Alex has joined the cast as a regular this season.

http://<iframe src=”https://fireside.fm/player/v2/NT5cr7Mf+ou1bRluF?theme=dark&#8221; width=”740″ height=”200″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>
The latest episode of my podcast

The Baby Blue Rip-Off by Max Allan Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Great novel! I’m a huge fan of Max Allan Collins, but this is the first Mallory novel of his that I have read. Mallory is a mystery writer and all around good guy. He delivers hot meals to the elderly and shut ins once a week. When one of his clients is murdered, he investigates. Along the way he deals with thieves, cops, former girlfriends, and a piece of his past. I’m not going to spoil it, but there is a scene near the end that genuinely shocked me. It worked itself out before the end though. Another good one from Collins.



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That’s it for now. Have a great week!

Monday Musings

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My Books of the week:

Cop Hater by Ed McBain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Great start to the legendary series. Detective Carella investigates when three cops are killed. And the rest is history…


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3389025901?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

The Magic Of Believing by Claude M. Bristol

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Very good advice here. No secret to it, just how believing in yourself and a few tips and tricks can help you get what you really want out of life.



Arrowood and the Thames Corpses by Mick Finlay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mick Finley seems to have been slowly affecting Arrowood and Norman’s life before now, but with Arrowood and the Thames Corpses, he turned things up about three notches. Everything seems to be in an upheaval and the surprises don’t stop until the final page. Highly recommended.



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Monday Musings for June 8, 2020

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I had a pretty good week.

Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson by Lyndsay Faye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Lyndsay Faye has written a wonderful pastiche about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson’s investigation into the Ripper Killing. The solution is satisfying, and I became quite attached to the character of Miss Monk. Worth the time of any Holmes fan.



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Treasure Island by Marty Ross

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is my first experience with Treasure Island, and the adaptation was superb. The actors did wonderfully and I was drawn into the story. Highly recommend.



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The Dark City by Max Allan Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fascinating look into Eliot Ness and his start as Safety Director of Cleveland. Ness has just gotten hired and there is a ticking clock to get some results so that his budget can be passed. Without it, he’s a lame duck before he even starts. Highly recommended.



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I finally finished Season 8 of Unsolved Mysteries on Amazon Prime. It’s on to Season 9!

Continuing my watchthrough of Wings on DVD.

Still on Season 4.

The latest episode of my wrestling podcast:

That’s it for now.
Have a great week!

-Joey

Monday Musings for June 1, 2020

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I had a talk with my longtime friend Big TJ about life:

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/squaredcircletheater/2020/05/31/the-end-of-may

My week was hectic. I reread one of my favorite personal development books:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24740776-the-strangest-secret

Still working on Wings, Unsolved Mysteries, and have started this classic, which I have never seen before:

www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/v22vodart/15227/p15227...

Stay safe, stay healthy, and remain optimistic.

-Joey

Monday Musings for May 25, 2020

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My week wasn’t as productive as the previous week, although I still got some things done:

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Okay way to spend 90 minutes or so. Gives some context behind the final Harry Potter book.



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I continue to watch Season 8 of Unsolved Mysteries on Amazon Prime

Unsolved Mysteries Season 8.

Continuing my watchthrough of Wings on DVD

I have made it to season 4.

I continue to work on my Podcast. A new episode drops every Thursday at midnight.

Episode 23. Now with More Grit: Starrcade ’88

I forgot to add last week that my family gave me the Enno Vatti 100 great movie poster for Christmas and I have been making my way through that. Last weeks movie was Se7en:

Se7en Poster

That’s it for now.
Have a great week!

-Joey

Oliver Clock

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The Likely Resolutions of Oliver ClockThe Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock by Jane Riley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I did not think that I was going to like this book as much as I did. It was one of the free selections for Prime members and I picked it up. It struck a chord in me though. I see a lot of myself in Oliver Clock, and was glad to see him make some positive changes in his life. I was sorry to see him go.

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More Books

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I’m continuing with my Million Page March this month. My job is always busy in August and, as a result, I don’t get much time for reading. I do however have a few books for you this time.

Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula by Loren D. Estleman: The very first book I recorded back in May 2005 when I started this challenge. It is a look at how Holmes would deal with Dracula if inserted into the classic tale by Bram Stoker. I liked it and it is an interesting read for any fan of Holmes or Dracula.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane: Recently made into a movie, this is the story of Marshall Teddy Daniels investigating the disappearance of a patient at an insane hospital on an island. This was a good novel with many twists and turns and an ending that surprised and saddened me.

Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles: The story of Bennie Ford, a man who has made a mess of his life but is trying to make amends by attending his estranged daughters wedding. However, on the way, he is stranded in Chicago and all flights out have been cancelled. Taking out his frustrations in a letter requesting a refund, Bennie instead writes down his life story. This was a fun little book that took me about a day to read. I liked it but felt that the parts of the book that show the latest novel that Bennie is working on, (he is a translator of foreign novels) slows the book down some.

Thanks for reading.