Review: Zeus, Inc. by Robin Burks

Zeus, Inc. by Robin Burks

Description:
50 years ago, Zeus, Inc., and its CEO, the mysterious Joseph Brentwood, saved the world from a major energy crisis by discovering a new unlimited energy resource. Now, in 2069, Mr. Brentwood has gone missing and private eye Alex Grosjean has been hired to find him by his daughter (and Alex's best friend), Aleisha.

Black-outs begin to occur all over the world and somehow Alex believes it's tied to Mr. Brentwood's disappearance. Her search leads her through her own murky past and into the fantastical depths of Hell itself, where she discovers that Mr. Brentwood is not who or what he seems to be.

With the help of an otherworldly man named Pip, Alex must save both Mr. Brentwood and the world. But will she be able to face her own guilty past in order to do it?

My Thoughts:
Zeus, Inc. starts off as a futuristic private investigator story. As Alex investigates the disappearance of her best friend's father, she finds herself in over her head. I thought the supernatural twist was fantastic. There was one detail that was nagging at me at the end of the story, but maybe it will be clearer in the next book. I like Alex and I look forward to reading her further adventures.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!
*Notes: Strong language.

Where to get it:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iTunes

Where to find the author:
Robin Burks
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Review: A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn

A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn

Description:

Hoping to bring some Tinseltown money to the Valley, the mayor lures a movie studio to town to shoot their next production, a big-budget Western in the classic tradition. The star is none other than ruggedly handsome—and notoriously badly behaved—Thad Perry. When the mayor decides that someone needs to keep an eye on Thad so that he doesn’t get into too much trouble, Bernie and Chet are handpicked for the job. The money is good but something smells fishy, and what should have been a simple matter of babysitting soon gets more complicated—especially when they discover that Thad has a mysterious connection to the Valley that nobody wants to talk about. What kind of secret could Thad have left behind when he went to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune? The only people who might know the answer have a bad habit of turning up dead before they can talk.

As Bernie’s relationship with his longtime girlfriend Suzie goes long-distance, and Chet’s late-night assignations appear to have resulted in an unexpected dividend, it’s all our two sleuths can do to keep Thad and his motley entourage of yes-men, handlers, and hangers-on in their sights. Worst of all, Thad is a self-proclaimed cat person, and his feline friend Brando has taken an instant dislike to Chet.

My Thoughts:
I received this book in an ARC giveaway from Shelf Awareness. I thought it sounded interesting and I like mysteries. The book was entertaining and the mystery was good, but my favorite part is that the narrator is a dog. If you could hear a dog's thoughts, I think this is exactly what it would sound like. This was my first Chet and Bernie mystery, although this is the fifth in the series.  I will be checking out more because I love Chet and now I want a dog. If you like private detective mysteries with humor, check this out.

My Rating: ****
*Notes: Some strong language.

Publication: September 11, 2012

Where to get it: 
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Indie Bound

Where to find the author:
Chet the Dog
Simon & Schuster
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Review: Angel Dance by M.D. Grayson

Angel Dance by M.D. Grayson




Description:
Beautiful Seattle business heiress Gina Fiore has vanished. Desperate, her family turns to Gina's old boyfriend, Danny Logan to find her and bring her home safely. Logan soon finds that he's not the only one looking for Gina. He's not only going to need all the skill and luck he can gather, he's going to need to confront his unresolved feelings for Gina-feelings that might just get him killed.

My Thoughts:
I love detective novels, mysteries, and stories with suspense. Angel Dance has all of that and more. The mystery has plenty of unexpected twists and kept me guessing all the way through. I didn't want to put it down. All of the characters at Logan P.I. are well-developed and likeable. I love the dialogue and banter between them. I am looking forward to reading more. I especially want to see what happens with Danny and Toni, but I would like to find out more about the others as well. The second book in the series, No Way to Die, is available now and on my TBR list.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !
*Notes: Strong language, some violence.

Where to get it:
Amazon (ebook and paperback)

About the author:
M.D. Grayson is the author of Angel Dance - the first of the Danny Logan mystery series. He lives on an island near Seattle with his wife Michelle and their three German Shepherds.Before becoming a full-time writer, Mr. Grayson worked in the construction industry, as an accountant for six l-o-n-g weeks (square peg - round hole), and as a piano player on the Las Vegas strip. When he's not writing, he loves zooming about on two wheels - bicycles and motorcycles alike. In addition, he's a pilot, a boater, and an accomplished musician - always ready for a jam session!


Where to find the author:

M.D. Grayson

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