Brooklyn On Fire ..… The Deliveryman

BROOKLYN ON FIRE by Lawrence H. Levy

When an author skillfully combines history and fiction, a reader/listener can easily get lost in that plausible reality. Such is the case of BROOKLYN ON FIRE by Lawrence H. Levy.

Each character has their own unique voice and distinction thanks to the wonderful vocals of narrator Cassandra Campbell. She brings the characters to life with her cadence and accents. Her rich interruption enhances this delightful tale.

Working at Lazlo’s Books, Mary Handley is ready for her next job after helping the Brooklyn Police Department close a case earlier. Advertising herself as a Consulting Detective, Mary is hired by Emily Worsham to investigate the death of her uncle, John Worsham. The problem is Worsham died 21 years earlier and close family members said it was natural causes.

As Mary begins to investigate, she finds more questions than answers. The case involves the now wife of a prominent New Yorker, political corruption, several new murders that begin to connect and an unexpected romance that puts Mary in the spotlight of New York’s elite.

As the body count goes up, Mary becomes more determined than ever to get to the bottom of Worsham’s death, figure out who’s framing her cop brother for murder and decide if she’s ready to settle down.

The author takes a suspenseful murder mystery and blends it with historical figures such as the Vanderbilt family and John D. Rockefeller for an intriguing tale. With detailed descriptions, the author takes readers/listeners from setting to setting with New York in 1890 being the vocal point.

The characters are well-developed and likable. The story moves at a steady pace with numerous twists, turns and unexpected surprises. The events will hold your attention from beginning to end. Mary is independent and a bit daring for her time making her a fun and spunky protagonist.

BROOKLYN ON FIRE is the second installment in the Mary Handley Mystery series, but is a standalone book. References to her first case are detailed enough new readers/listeners won’t be left in the dark. This is an entertaining story that will have you wondering where the history leaves off and the fiction begins.

Brooklyn on Fire by Lawrence H. Levy, A Mary Handley Mystery (Book #2), Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Random House Audio, @2016, ASIN: BO198O1OG2, Unabridged, Audible Audio Edition, Run Time: 10 Hours and 14 Minutes 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

THE DELIVERY MAN by Jeffery Deaver

If you’re a fan of the Lincoln Rhyme’s series by Jeffery Deaver, be warned that while THE DELIVERYMAN is an enjoyable story, it is a short story and not as lengthy as you may be accustomed to.

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini does a wonderful job giving distinct voices to the various characters. He breathes life into the characters with his cadence and mannerisms.

When a deliveryman is murdered in a trash-filled alley, renowned forensic detective Lincoln Rhyme and his partner, Amelia Sachs, have lots of evidence collected from the scene to go through. Their best hope however, is what the man’s eight-year-old son, who was riding along when the murder happened, knows.

As Lincoln and Amelia sift through the evidence, the deliveryman’s acquaintances are also searching for the cargo he was supposed to have. Turns out, the deliveryman was delivering illegal contraband in between his legitimate stops.

As both sides uncover more clues, the closer they all get to who has the key to unlocking the truth. It’s a dangerous game to see who gets to the truth first.

The author keeps the story short and sweet, but suspenseful and action packed. The twists and unexpected surprises will keep you on your toes in determining who the good guys are from the bad guys.

THE DELIVERYMAN is filled with drama and bits of humor. The story flows smoothly and at a steady pace. The characters are well-balanced and likable.

An enthralling tale that will delight returning fans of the Lincoln Rhyme’s series, but not put new readers/listeners of the series in the dark. Once you begin this tantalizing short story, you won’t be able to stop until you know the outcome.

The Deliveryman by Jeffery Deaver, A Lincoln Rhyme Short Story (Book #11.5), Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Hachette Audio, @2016, ASIN: BO1B1SAWHK, Unabridged, Audible Audio Edition, Run Time: 1 Hour and 46 Minutes 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to check out one or both of this delightful audios. If you’re not into listening to audios, you can find both of these in print or eBook formats. Are you a fan of the Lincoln Rhyme series or have you only seen the movie version of the books?

NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Sometimes coming in even a little late to a series, you can’t follow along with the current story line. That’s not the case with NYPD RED 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp.

The narration by Edoardo Ballerini and Jay Snyder holds listeners spellbound. Their cadence and mannerisms bring the characters to life. The back and forth narration from cops to villains adds depth to the story and enhances the action. 

New listeners/readers to the series won’t be left in the dark not having enjoyed NYPD RED. While there are some references to cases from the first story, they have little bearing on the events in NYPD RED 2. The references will only make you want to go back and catch up before the next case is assigned.

Detective Zach Jordan and his partner Kylie MacDonald are members of NYPD Red, an elite police unit. Their job is protecting New York’s famous, rich and productive. They handle only high-profile cases.

When Evelyn Parker-Steele, campaign manager for the challenging opponent in the New York mayoral race, is found dead on a carousel in Central Park, Zack and Kylie are called in. Since it appears Evelyn was the fourth victim of the Hazmat Killer, they are also given the task of closing that case too. The Hazmat Killer kidnaps his victims, tortures them, video tapes them confessing to a serious crime, and then displays their dead body dressed in Tyvek coveralls in a public place.

When Evelyn’s confession of murdering a fellow colleague hits the airways, Zach and Kylie get extra pressure from the incumbent mayor to solve the case before election day to save his job and reputation. To add to their problems, when the Hazmat Killer takes his fifth victim – a woman many believe killed her child and got away with it – no one seems to want to help. 

Meanwhile, a murder more than a decade ago resurfaces adding more urgency to finding the Hazmat Killer than Zach and Kylie realize. Blended throughout the story is the personal and romantic relationships of all involved.

NYPD RED 2 is a roller coaster ride of emotions with emphasis on the adrenaline fueled race to find a killer. The various aspects of the story – the Hazmat Killer, the mayoral race riddled with problems, the decade old murder, the detectives’ personal problems – are like four cars speeding to an intersection. You hold your breath wondering who will get there first and what will happen when they all collide into an explosive finish.

Authors James Patterson and Marshall Karp have created a tantalizing mystery to keep you on your toes. The characters are well developed and likable, even the bad guys have moments you feel for them. The story is action-packed with surprising twists. The setting is outstanding and well described. 

NYPD RED 2 is a well-developed story full of exploits, suspense, humor and a touch of romance. The suspense doesn’t stop until the very end.

NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, A NYPD Red Novel, Performed by Edoardo Ballerini and Jay Snyder, Hachette Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1611130522, Unabridged, 7 Discs, Listening Time: Approximately 8 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. What’s on your reading list for this coming week?