Book Thread number ?

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads

The Race by Richard North Patterson The Race details Senator Corey Hart’s primary race to win the republican nomination. As the maverick underdog he is pitted against an evangelical and a career politician backed by the establishment. A good novel revealing dirty tricks, hidden secrets and the behind the scenes maneuvering in political races and conventions.

Under and Alone by Williamm Queen This book details Queen’s two year journey undercover with the Mongols motorcycle club. An in depth look into the outlaw motorcycle culture. Good read and a behind the scenes look into one of the most violent Outlaw Motorcycle gangs.

Alex Cross Run by James Patterson This latest Cross book finds him chasing 3 killers across Washington DC two of whom appear to be working together,, similar to The Gentlemen Caller and Casanova. In addition he has to deal with a rogue blogger who appears to have a vendetta against him. Like most of Patterson’s books this is a quick fast paced thriller. One of the better recent Cross books.

Cosa Nostra by John Dickie This book tells the origin, growth and fall of the Sicilian Mafia. The 1st part of the book drags along a bit basically because the source material is not nearly as good or accurate as the second half of the book. The part covering the rise and fall of the Corleonesi and the domination of the international heroin trade by the Sicilian Mafia along with their cooperation with the US Mafia is much better and readable.

Sir Francis Drake The Queens Pirate by Harry Kelsey This book follows the life of Sir Francis Drake and tries to separate the reality from the myth and the legend. His early life and trip around the world contains a lot of supposition because a lot of his exploits were exaggerated or made up by the English in order to flaunt their naval prowess to the rest of Europe particularly the Spanish. His later journey’s including his role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada are a little more definitive. The last chapter covers the rise of his legend as founder of the English Navy. Okay book the second half was much more interesting than the first.

In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson This book by Patterson follows the trial of a Army soldier who is on trial for killing his company commander after coming back home from Iraq. A nice courtroom drama with sexual affairs PTSD and surprise twists and turns. Okay read

Die Trying by Lee Child This second Jack Reacher book finds Reacher caught up in a kidnapping plot. Stopping to innocently stop a woman pick up her crutch he finds himself kidnapped along with her by a psychotic militia leader aiming to secede from the U.S. Reacher struggles to keep them alive and escape as the politicians in Washington waffle over what to do. Good read.

Tripwire by Lee Child The Third Jack Reacher book finds him in NYC trying to find out why a private eye who was trying to find him was murdered. Tracking down the mysterious Ms. Jacobs who was trying to find him he finds out it is the daughter of his former commander General Garber who has just passed away and asked her to find him. Reacher and Jodie take on the case her father was working on trying to track down an old couple’s son who was mia in Vietnam. With several goons trying to kill or kidnap them at every turn there is non stop action as they struggle to find out what happened to the couple’s son and why everyone is being so secretive about what happened to him.

Mafia Summit: J. Edgar Hoover, the Kennedy Brothers, and the Meeting That Unmasked the Mob by Gil Reavill A short book on how the Apalachin mafia conference broken up by the State Policy in 1957 helped shape how the mafia is portrayed in American Society. The author covers how some events prior to the conference helped lead to the events that happened and how what happened their helped shape future responses by politicians and law enforcement to the mafia. Good read.

Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service by Michael Bar-Zohar, Nissim Mishal An in depth study of Israel’s secret service tales of some of their greatest successes along with some of their biggest failures. Some great real life spy tales, the book tells of the various Mossad agents who were able to penetrate the governments of Egypt, Iran and Syria to obtain the information to help the Jewish state. It tells stories of how their hit teams were able to get close to and assassinate opponents like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. A well told and laid out book.

[MattS]

Re: Book Thread number ?

I finally got through The Passage by Justin Cronin. Pretty much a typical post-apocalyptic tale about a few survivors and their struggle against infected (vampirized) humans. It was a fairly good story but way too long. It is in the mode of The Stand or Swan Song. If the author had cut out about 250 pages or so it would have been a much better book. I am not sure I would recommend it unless one has lots of time for reading. It took me three weeks to get through and I usually can get through a book in about a week.

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads, as you can tell from this and my last few posts I am working my way through Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch novels and Lee Child's Jack Reacher series.

Black Ice by Michael Connelly This Harry Bosch novel finds him investigating several murders related to the sale of Black Ice in Los Angeles a deadly mixture of heroin, meth and angel dust. He also is on the periphery of the suicide of a cop in his department. The further he investigates the more he comes to believe that the cop was murdered and drawn into the investigation. Going against the department he travels to Mexico to see if he can piece together the mystery of how and why the officer was killed. Good cop story.

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly This book opens with Harry Bosch on trial for violating the civil rights of the Dollmaker a serial killer he shot to death 4 years ago. As the trial opens another victim appears who matches the dollmakers m.o. Plus a mysterious note appears similar to those that the dollmaker mocked Bosch with during the initial manhunt. Bosch attempts to find out if the initial suspect was not the dollmaker or was there a follower who was using the dollmakers crimes to mask some of his own. Good courtroom action and police investigation.

Fall From Grace by Richard North Patterson This book find CIA operative Adam Blaine returning to Martha’s Vineyard for his father’s funeral for the first time since they had a falling out 10 years ago. At the funeral he finds out that his father disinherited his mother and older brother in favor of his mistress. The police are also sniffing around because they believed he may have had help getting to the bottom of the cliff where he died. Adam starts a journey to get to the truth of the matter complete with flashbacks of his own problems with his father. An ok read.

The Last Refuge by Ben Coes This Dewey Andreas novel finds him on a rogue mission to rescue Kohl Meir the Israeli commando who saved him at the end of the last novel. Meir is kidnapped in New York by Iranian operative and sent back to Tehran. When informed of this Andreas investigates and finds that Meir wanted to talk to him about Iran having a nuclear bomb. Armed with these facts and little else to go on Andreas rounds up help to try and save his friend. Similar to Coup d’état this book is action packed with twists, turns, bombs, explosions, and commando raids. Excellent read

The Inner Sanctum by Stephen Frey This book follows a high level cabal of money managers and politicians seeking to make money from insider deals. David Mitchell a money manager and Jesse Hayes a young IRS agent are caught up in it. Can they escape with their lives and break up the cabal. Very similar to The Takeover Ok read

Whitey Bulger: America's Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice by Kevin Cullen, Shelley Murphy This book tells the tale of James Whitey Bulger the Irish mob boss from Boston who used the FBI and spent 17 years on the run on the FBI’s most wanted list. His rise to power his early imprisonment including a stint at Alcatraz and his rise to become the most powerful and feared boss in Boston, very similar to Black Mass though this book which is newer covered Bulger time on the run and the trial of FBI agent John Connolly who covered for Bulger and the other members of Whitey’s gang many who turned State’s evidence and will testify against him.

Pirate Alley by Stephen Coonts This Jake Grafton Tommy Carmellini novel by Coonts finds a cruise ship hijacked near Somali and held for ransom. The naval commander on the scene is Grafton old aide de camp Toad Tarkington. After a blunder by political hacks gets some of the hostages killed Grafton is placed in command. Weaving a intricate plot involving marines, seals and the Cia he comes up with an ingenious plan involving the Pirates and the local Al Queda cell. Good read nonstop action.

Desperate Sons: The Secret Band of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War (Hardcover) by Les Standiford Didn’t like that fact that this author attempted to bring his personal political bias into a book about the Revolutionary War, he refers to the Patriots as liberals and the Tories as Conservative’s. He also doesn’t weave that great of a storyline, the Sons of Liberty storyline in Boston which makes up the bulk of the book is much better covered in many books on the Adams’s, Sam and John. It does have some interesting points about Albany and some other not as well covered part of the Sons of Liberty story but they were few and far between. Stuff by David Mcollough and Joseph Ellis cover the period better.

Running Blind by Lee Child This Jack Reacher book finds Reacher being blackmailed by the FBI. They need someone to help them track down a serial killer who is killing former women in the Army who filed sexual harassment claims. They believe that it is a current or ex-military person like Reacher. It was okay but I thought a little unbelievable.

Echo Burning by Lee Child This Jack Reacher book finds Reacher picked up hitchhiking in Texas by a woman who is looking for someone to help save her from her abusive husband who is due to be released from prison any day. Reacher agrees to try and help her but refuses to murder the husband. Shortly after the husband is released he ends up dead with the wife arrested for the crime. Can Reacher help the woman stay out of jail. Some nice twists and turns, good read.

The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly Another good Bosch novel from Connelly. This book opens with Bosch on administrative leave after a confrontation with his Lieutenant. Forced to speak to the department shrink he starts to think about his mother's murder and starts to investigate. When bodies start to drop he realizes that this cold case from the 60's may not be so cold after all. The his Lieutenant ends up dead and he is the prime suspect can he find his mother's killer and clear his name. Good investigative novel with some good twists and turns.

[SJHovey]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Looking to maybe buy a couple books on gambling (cards)/related (not instructional/strategy).

Probably am going to buy a biography I found on Stu Unger, the one on the MIT blackjack team, and have a couple good leads on the history of Hold 'Em. The latter, I am looking for any suggestions/recommendations. I really would like to find a good one that covers the origins of the game, and covers the history to as current of a point as possible. If there's a separate book that can be a companion piece, covering the more noted players over the years, those recommendations would also be welcomed.

Finally, if there's a good book on the origins of Las Vegas and their casinos, that would be good, too. Looking for more a general history, not something specific like Nicholas Pileggi's book (which was made into the movie "Casino").

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier. I have an extensive library of poker and Las Vegas books and can probably give you some good suggestions.

1. The Biggest Game in Town, by A. Alvarez. This is a classic. It details the development of the World Series of Poker, set during the 1981 event. A must read.

2. Big Deal, by Anthony Holden. Holden is an author, and amateur poker player from Britain, who happens to be friends with Alvarez. In 1990 he got the idea that he wanted to try to be a professional poker player for a year, and this book is his "diary", so to speak. He is a very funny writer.

3. Bigger Deal, by Anthony Holden. Holden comes back in about 2006 or 2007, in the midst of the poker boom, to try his hand again. Every bit as good as the first book.

4. Positively Fifth Street, by James McManus. McManus was an author/teacher, as I recall, from Chicago. He was hired, and given an advance/expense money, to go out to Las Vegas and cover a story of a murder trial that related to the murder of Ted Binion, son of the famous Benny Binion who started the WSOP. Instead, he took his advance money, played a bunch of satellite tournaments, and managed to win his way into the main event of the World Series, all while covering the trial. He managed to make it all the way to the final table that year as a complete nobody.

5. Cowboys Full, by James McManus. This is McManus' tome on the history of poker. It's not bad, but a bit of a slog in the beginning. He has also gotten some criticism from poker historians who claim he played a little fast and loose with some historical facts. But in terms of the overall history of the game, probably none better.

6. The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King, by Michael Craig. This is one of my favorites. It tells the story of Andy Beal, a self made billionaire from Dallas. He develops an interest in poker, and in particular, heads up limit poker. While in Las Vegas, playing in the regular high stakes game, he talks a number of famous pros into a heads up match in which the betting limits (depending upon the session), get as high as $20,000/$40,000 per bet. $5, 10, 15 million are exchanged each session. The pros form a group and designate one to play Beal each session. Taking on literally the greatest poker players in the game, there are points during these sessions (which last a number of years) in which Beal has basically broken them by winning $15-20 million, before ultimately losing it all and more.

If you're interested in sports betting books, Michael Konik's book Smart Money is a good start. It tells the true story of Billy Walters, reputed to be the most dangerous sports bettor alive, and his use of Konik as a runner to place bets for him.

The Odds, by Chad Millman is another great book on sports betting. He follows the story of 3 people involved in betting sports in Las Vegas, including a college drop out and the head of a sports book, and the toll it takes on everyone involved.

I also have a really good book on the history of Las Vegas. As I recall, it was written in about 2005 for the one hundred year anniversary of the City. If I can find it I'll put the name here.

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Thanks much!

And remember folks, "Beautiful Unique Sparkleponies" by Chris Kluwe comes out in a couple weeks!

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Just finished 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult - about the family of a school shooter and the aftermath. Relatively quick read, and interesting to consider it from a different point of view.

Now reading "I am Half-Sick of Shadows" by Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce series).

I also picked up "Bushville Wins!" about the 1957 World Series between the Milwaukee Braves and the Yankees - looking forward to it.

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My new book order (with thanks to SJ):

Cowboys Full, by James McManus
One Of A Kind: The Rise And Fall Of Stuey "The Kid" Unger, by Nolan Dalla
The Biggest Game In Town, by Al Alvarez
Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, And The Lawless Years Of Prohibition, by Karen Blumenthal


Previously ordered, waiting arrival:

American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth by Bill Hayes
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, And Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My new book order (with thanks to SJ):

Cowboys Full, by James McManus

One Of A Kind: The Rise And Fall Of Stuey "The Kid" Unger, by Nolan Dalla Amazing. I really don't know if I should have read Alvarez's book first or not, as this book quotes that one in a few places, but man. I knew the basic story, this really fleshes it out. Tragic story. What coulda been.

The Biggest Game In Town, by Al Alvarez Although a very short read, it captures the feel and the style of high rollers and leaves you with wanting juuuust a bit more. It's like having a very satisfying meal, but you can't have dessert.

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, And The Lawless Years Of Prohibition, by Karen Blumenthal This is a nice outline to what I really want to read about, as to the Prohibition Era. I'd really like a book about the moonshiners themselves. How they operated, the tricks they used, how they dealt with the law (at least, more in depth than this book provided). Worth reading if you want some highlights and such, but I'd rather read something much more in depth.


Previously ordered, waiting arrival:

American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth by Bill Hayes
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, And Assorted Absurdities by Chris Kluwe

Notes bolded.

[SJHovey]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Notes bolded.

The thing to remember about Alvarez' book is that it really was groundbreaking. No one wrote books about poker, or the people who played the game professionally back when he wrote that book.

I really think you'd like the The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King, as well as Anthony Holden's books.

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

The thing to remember about Alvarez' book is that it really was groundbreaking. No one wrote books about poker, or the people who played the game professionally back when he wrote that book.

I really think you'd like the The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King, as well as Anthony Holden's books.

I agree. Just the novelty of reading about someone's first experience with poker, and he's writing about the high-rollers...and nailed the attitude (? for lack of a better word) of them. I may branch out into those other books you suggested, but have to get through the remaining books I ordered first.

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Finished "Bushville Wins!" Interesting, but enough with the beer puns already. I thought it was a nice balance between game descriptions and back stories.

Also, they referred to the Sentinel as the afternoon paper, and the Journal as the morning paper. It was the other way around. I can't find any record of it switching. This error kind of bothered me.

Finally picked up Girl with the Dragon Tattoo from the library - haven't started it yet.

[The Rube]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Chris Kluwe's book is pretty entertaining. Doesn't take long to read, either, maybe a couple hours.

[Probert]

Re: Book Thread number ?

My recent reads

Trunk Music by Michael Connelly This Bosch novel finds Bosch back on his first murder case after his suspension and a working back period in burglary. This case finds a B movie producer stuffed in the trunk of his car with a bullet to the head. As Bosch investigates he finds out that this case is connected to the Mafia in Vegas where he runs into his old friend Eleanor Wish whose been released from jail. As is the norm for these novels Bosch ****es of the brass and the FBI but manages to solve the case.

Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick A good tale of the events leading up to Lexington and Concord, the Battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill and the subsequent siege and evacuation of Boston by the British. A lot of emphasis is placed on Dr. Joseph Warren’s involvement in the affairs and his death during the battle. But there is a nice timeline of events of the various events which lead to the first major engagement in the American Revolution.

Enemy of Mine by Brad Taylor This latest Pike Logan book by Taylor finds Logan and Jennifer attempting to break up a plot to assassinate a Middle East envoy. Problem with this plot is that there are two assassins, a Palestinian nicknamed the ghost and their old friend Lucas Kane. Non stop action from Tunisia to Lebanon, to Dubai to Qatar as they attempt to break up the plot and bring the former Navy Seal Kane to justice, good read.

The Midnight House by Alex Berenson This John Wells novel by Berenson finds Wells on the hunt for a serial killer. One by one the team members of a rendition house are being murdered. Who is doing this? Is it one of the detainees who was release Al Queda some other force? Wells goes to the Middle East and back trying to unravel the tangled web that this murder plot weaves. Good story. Not quite as much action as the past Wells’ novels.

Pride of Carthage by David Anthony Durham This book written similar to Jeff Shaara’s novels follows the journey’s and battles of Hannibal from Iberia to Rome and back to Carthage and his defeat by Scipio at Zama. It tells the story from the point of view of Hannibal, his brothers, some of the soldiers and camp followers and the various Romans who battled against him, a good read.

Drink with the Devil by Jack Higgins This Sean Dillon novel starts with a mysterious man named Martin Keough helping a Protestant Loyalist hijack a shipment of gold. Threatened with IRA gunman when escaping they dump the gold in the sea and retreat. Fast forward 10 years that Loyalist man is in prison in the US and the Mafia hears about the gold. Partnering with the IRA they help break him from prison to lead them to the gold. The problem Martin Keough is really former IRA gunmen Sean Dillon who now works for the British Prime Minister’s secret army as they try to take down the criminals and recover the gold.

The Legacy by Stephen Frey This book starts with Cole Egan getting notified at work that his father is dead and he needs to go to a safety deposit box to pick up his inheritance. When he goes to the box all it contains is a video tape when watching it he sees a video of another angle of the JFK assassination. This opens a can of worms as people are now trying to kill Egan to get the tape and the bodies start dropping. Okay read.

Supreme Justice by Philip Margolin This book brings back Brad Miller and Dana Cutler from Executive Justice. Miller is clerking for a Supreme Court Justice and an attempt is made on her life. It appears to be connected to a case pending review by the court that involves the CIA and a bunch of mysterious murders. Miller hires Cutler to investigate, once again plunging them into a nationwide conspiracy of mayhem and murder. Good read

Wild Bill Donovan by Douglas Waller This is a biography of OSS founder Wild Bill Donovan, a native of Buffalo NY he was a Republican politician who was tapped by FDR to run the Office of Strategic Services during WWII. This details the trials and tribulations what he had to go through to set up the OSS. The bureaucratic infighting with both the Department of Defense and the FBI. It details the great successes and failures and gives both the positives and negatives of Donovan. A good look at the founder of Central Intelligence in the US, though he never headed the CIA it is based on what he outlined to FDR and many of his protégé’s; Allen Dulles, William Casey, Bill Colby and others headed or played major roles in the CIA.

[MadTownSioux]

Re: Book Thread number ?

without backstroking through 300 posts, has anybody read 'Gone Girl'? Great book. Author is Gillian Flynn. Woman goes missing on her 5th anniversary, husband tells lie after lie about her and her disappearance. Very good story; both of the main characters are people you would love to hate.

[jen]

Re: Book Thread number ?

Finished Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Wow. Looking forward to the next one.

Gone Girl is on my list of books to get to... sometime. Heard lots of good things.