What Martini’s book does do is draw us into a murder that somehow weaves around racial tensions, a Surpreme Court Justice, the Constitution and a whole lot of other twists and turns. Do all the pieces fit perfectly? No. But I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

If you like John Grisham or Perri O’Shaughnessy, you’ll probably like Steve Martini. Just be aware that you may be required to think a bit, so if you’re looking for something mindless, this may not move swiftly enough for you.

As a bonus, if you hate your in-laws, there are some fantastic one liners that you may want to practice.

It’s not a deep thinking book. The ending is a bit too abrupt and trite, and yet it’s still worth reading. If you’re into suspenseful and steamy books for the beach, this would fit the bill.

Your favorite characters are there, of course: Claire, Jamie, Roger, Brianna, etc. along with plenty of new characters who seem immediately familiar and welcome (such as the Hunter family). Lord John features prominently in this book for those of you who’ve been reading her side series about him.

I’ve NOT read them and yet found it easy enough to follow his story line.

If you haven’t read any of her books before, they’re sweeping action/adventure/romance novels  primarily set in Scotland and America with tons of historical and medical references. These are not light reads and they’re not Harlequin romances. Characters are complex, relationships are sometimes painful and circumstances are often bloody and/or gruesome.

While most of the readers of this series are probably female, I do know men who’ve enjoyed them as well. There are enough battle scenes and talk of honor and revenge that most guys will find something that appeals to them.

Of course, the thing that shines through these novels the strongest is the relationship between Claire and Jamie. Star crossed lovers to be sure, but their love for each other seems to be so rich and deep that you almost eat these books up with a spoon.

She tells this story from a variety of characters’ perspectives, which is something that I enjoy about George RR Martin and Christopher Paolin’s books as well. If you feel like you’re getting bored/weary with one character, just keep reading, odds are good that you’ll soon get to read about someone/something else.

If you haven’t read “The Hunger Games” you should. Yes it’s likely labelled “for teens” and no it is NOT like “Twilight“. “The Hunger Games” is a fantastic book to get pre-teen/teen boys to read.

Read my review to find out the premise of the “Games”. “Catching Fire” picks up neatly where it leaves off, and the same characters are prominent: Katniss, Gale, Peeta and Haymitch.

“Fire” is much more political than “Games” and has more of a love story as well.

But is there more of the thrilling “games” that so caught and kept my attention in the first book? Are people still fighting to the death?

Yes.

And that’s about all I’m going to tell you about that.

Naturally, the book leaves off practically in the middle of a thought, guarenteeing that there’s another book in the works.

It won’t come soon enough for me!

As usual, it’s a fast paced, political thriller with crosses and double crosses abounding. Who knows what? Who’s side is anyone really on? And the CIA, FBI and military all have parts in the drama.

Perhaps the most unusual aspect is the role that a small town ends up taking. If you’ve read a lot of Baldacci, you’re used to DC being a central part of the Camel Club books. This time, you’ll be headed out into small town, rural America.

Baldacci books are great for men (plenty of women like his books too), fans of political intrigue, James Bond fans, well, you get the drift!

While the book got a little strange towards the end, it was a gripping tale with enough twists and turns to keep you going. If you like the old John Grisham books, you’ll probably enjoy “Taken” as well.

And in case you’re wondering, it is NOT related to the Liam Neeson movie.

My first read was “Timeline“, which was also made into a movie (haven’t seen it, so can’t say how good it is).  A professor travels back in time and send a message to his current day students asking for help. They have to travel back to try and save him and quickly end up in over their heads in a medieval world few of them understand.

It is fun to see how Crichton paints academics struggling to translate their book learning into real life. It’s a fun read with plenty of suspense and drama (even a little love). I thought the ending (particularly the “punishment” of the main antagonist) left a bit to be desired.

Then I followed that with “Airframe“, about an executive at a jet company whose asked to investigate a horrific air accident. Is there a problem with the plane? Along the way her life is threatened, company politics explode around her and an investigative reporter tests the limits of the truth.

Perhaps my favorite Crichton novel is “Jurassic Park“. The book is WAY better than the movie (and much scarier, are there Raptors in your closet?).

I enjoyed the characters. I thought the plot fell apart a bit, especially towards the end (why must authors get caught up in the cliche of using a panther/mountain lion as the mysterious and ominious portent of change?). Still it was worth a read, got me crying (as do most books) and made me long for the Carolina coast.

If you like Anne Rivers Siddons, you would probably also like Mary Alice Monroe’s “The Beach House“.

Baldacci writes a masterful political thriller. His books are hard to put down with compelling, multi-dimensional characters. The good guys frequently have flaws. The bad guys often have motives that you can relate to, even if you don’t agree with their methods. 

“The Whole Truth” is no exception. You’ve got the idea of “perception management”, a public that accepts everything on CNN as the absolute truth and a defense contractor out to make the highest profits possible. “Truth” is really not THAT far from plausible. 

Like many other authors who find a formula that works (John Grisham, Dean Koontz and Nicholas Sparks immediately come to mind), they do so well with their usual combination that it’s nearly impossible to break out of the mold. Hey, if it’s a great formula that’s fun/fast to read, I’m okay with that. It’s rare that you find an author like George RR Martin or Jodi Picoult who seem to take the same or similar story lines and warp them every time in ways that you wouldn’t expect.

“Whole Truth” is perfect for guys (though many women are also fans of Baldacci) who love political thrillers. Not as technical as Tom Clancy novels, but as gripping and fast paced. Another oldie, but goodie, by Baldacci is “Absolute Power“.

The basic premise – that there’s a reality TV show called “The Hunger Games” in which 24 teenagers must fight to the death to win food for themselves for life – immediately sounds disturbing. And make no mistake, this is a disturbing book. Unlike “The Twilight Saga“, “Games” takes a hard look at society, what we deem as entertainment and our underestimation of teens.

Parents should know that there is violence in this book, some of it is fairly gruesome (not on a level with Patricia Cornwell, but the kind that causes a shudder up the back). Teen characters die. The very real threat of starvation is discussed as an every day occurance.

All that violence keeps the book moving fast and nothing is dwelt on for very long. If I had to choose between “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games”, “The Hunger Games” would win every time. It’s definitely sure to be better received by most teenage boys (who find all the obsession with “Twilight” to be mildly disgusting).

And if you (or your child) enjoys “Games”, check out Suzanne Collins other books in the “Gregor The Overlander (Underland Chronicles)” series. Those are also good though more fantastical.