Monday Musings for July 27, 2020

My latest podcast.

32. Grabbing, Stomping, and Marla Maples too: WrestleMania V

Red Rain by Dean Koontz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


From the description: In a town where the corrupt are protected, a bereaved mother seeks retribution for an arsonist’s deadly crimes. Only Nameless can help ease the burden of her grief—and satisfy her rage—in part four of this thrilling series.

After a suspicious house fire, Regina Belmont lost her two children, was left disfigured, and was abandoned by her gutless husband. Brokenhearted and bullied into silence by corrupt officials, Regina’s only recourse for truth and justice is Nameless. There’s something about this case that’s breaking Nameless’s heart as well. But can he bear to remember why?
I didn’t like this as well as some of the others, but I am hoping with the small indications in the book, that we are inching closer to something about Nameless’ past and the organization that he works for.



View all my reviews

One Good Deed by David Baldacci

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


‘The #1 New York Times’ bestselling author David Baldacci introduces an unforgettable new character: Archer, a straight-talking former World War II soldier fresh out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

It’s 1949. When war veteran Aloysius Archer is released from Carderock Prison, he is sent to Poca City on parole with a short list of do’s and a much longer list of don’ts: do report regularly to his parole officer, don’t go to bars, certainly don’t drink alcohol, do get a job–and don’t ever associate with loose women.

The small town quickly proves more complicated and dangerous than Archer’s years serving in the war or his time in jail. Within a single night, his search for gainful employment–and a stiff drink–leads him to a local bar, where he is hired for what seems like a simple job: to collect a debt owed to a powerful local businessman, Hank Pittleman.

Soon Archer discovers that recovering the debt won’t be so easy. The indebted man has a furious grudge against Hank and refuses to pay; Hank’s clever mistress has her own designs on Archer; and both Hank and Archer’s stern parole officer, Miss Crabtree, are keeping a sharp eye on him.

When a murder takes place right under Archer’s nose, police suspicions rise against the ex-convict, and Archer realizes that the crime could send him right back to prison . . . if he doesn’t use every skill in his arsenal to track down the real killer.

I liked this book. Archer is a good man to pull for. I didn’t like some characters or their actions, but look forward to another book about Archer.




View all my reviews

The Mercy of Snakes by Dean Koontz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A series of suspicious deaths in a retirement home draws Nameless into the confidence of a terrified former resident—and into the dark heart of a shocking conspiracy. In part five of the Nameless series, it’s time to hunt.

Oakshore Park is Michigan’s most exclusive assisted-living community. Presided over by two killer angels of mercy, it’s also the go-to facility in assisted dying. For a cut, they make impatient heirs happy. Nameless must concoct a scheme just as cunning. But righteous retribution stirs disquiet in the avenger as light starts to shine on the black hole of his past. Should he welcome it or keep running?
The action picked back up with this one. With only one book left, I hope we get some answers to Nameless, his past, and the group behind his quest.



View all my reviews

Monday Musings for July 20, 2020

My latest Wrestling Podcast

31. No promotion, no crowd, and the names are misspelled: Clash VI April 1989

Ric Flair has his name misspelled, Ricky Steamboat has his name misspelled and a son dressed as a cut rate Yoshi, JYD and Butch Reed return to The Superdome, George Scott is lost, Jim Ross and Michael Hayes reunite, and Terry Funk is not retired as Joey takes a look at Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin’ Cajun.

The latest episode of The Joey Harris Show

Photographing the Dead by Dean Koontz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Continuing the mystery

I like these mysteries. I a, intrigued by Nameless and hope we find out more about him, his abilities, and the group he works for.



View all my reviews

The Praying Mantis Bride by Dean Koontz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A deadly black widow has eliminated three husbands and counting. But Nameless knows her one weakness. To bring truth and its consequences to her crimes, the vigilante must spin a web of his own in part three of the Nameless series.

Lucia—current last name, Rickenbah—has made a fortune by marrying rich men who tend to drop dead. But the superstitious blonde believes in more than money and murder. Nameless’s job is to scare a confession out of Lucia, and as the psychological warfare escalates, even he may be in for a shock.
I did not like this one as much as the other one’s, but it held my interest for about an hour. Still hope that we get some clue as to what is going on as well as what happened to Nameless before this started.



View all my reviews

Finally, I have been sidelined in my movie watching, but did watch this classic this weekend:

Have a great week

-Joey

Monday Musings for July 13, 2020

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!



View all my reviews

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.



View all my reviews

Have a great week!

Monday Musings for July 6, 2020

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.



View all my reviews

Have a great week!

Monday Musings June 22, 2020

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.



View all my reviews

That’s it for now. Have a great week!

Monday Musings

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.



View all my reviews

Monday Musings for June 8, 2020

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.



View all my reviews

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.



View all my reviews

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.



View all my reviews

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

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