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Ghost Station

This book was a crazy ride of knowing there was more to the story, but learning about it feels natural for the characters as well as the readers. With a crescendo of action, this book does a great job of pulling you in and encouraging you to continue

The Last Viking

The Last Viking

This book was nowhere near as interesting as I thought it was going to be. There is a heavy reliance on dates and people that override the narrative that I think was meant to be told. While Harold led an intriguing life, it is lost in the multitudes of historical details.

Star Wars The Fallen Star

Star Wars The Fallen Star

I am honestly not sure if this series is written for young adults, but it feels like it. The plot is set before you and the book never deviates from it. No real surprises, but there is some decent character growth. It might be forced, but it isn't bad.

Lay Them to Rest

Lay Them to Rest

This was an outstanding book and I applaud Laurah Norton for her ability to bring a lay mans understanding to an extremely technical process. Follow her as she works with her friend to solve a cold case from 30 years ago where the only item they have of the decedent is a head.

Bind, Torture, Kill

Bind, Torture, Kill

This story is so much more than the history of serial killer and his victims. In fact, it is more about the police who investigated and the city the suffered under his terror. You do learn more than enough about his acts of evil, it focuses on those that put in the work to capture him.

Red Notice

Bill Browder tells an excellent story about how his passion for Eastern Europe lead him to learn about exceptional opportunities in the newly independent Russia. However, his money making leads to corrupt government individuals working to take him down which includes the death of Sergei Magnitsky.

The Art of War

The Art of War was on the Commandant's reading list, when it still existed when I was in the Marine Corps, however I never read it. Figured I should, and I finished another book while on my run within the first half hour, I needed a short book.

Assassin's Apprentice

Assassin's Apprentice

My "Book in 1 Sentence" is dead on. I have never been so looking forward to something to happen, and it never did. This kid grows up in a keep where half the family hates him, the other half is ok with him or loved his dad, and so he is given a modicum of freedom and support.

Die Trying

I read this and honestly was more surprised by how plausible it could be with some notable exceptions as compared to others. There are a lot of things that would stop someone like Jack from helping with an investigation like in the first book, but not much would stop someone from trying to escape.

What You Missed!

What You Missed!

We recently transitioned from Boyd's Bar to Epic Screen Time for our reviews. During that time, anything that was set to be published after the new year as been updated and published here. Here is that list.

Code Talker

Without these brave men, these champions of their cause and way of life, the Marines would never have taken Guadalcanal, Peleliu, or Iwo Jima. You will get the same information from the quotes used in the book from Marine and Army leadership who served with them.

The Bone Orchard

The Bone Orchard

It took me so long to figure out how the character structures were as far as the main characters that you follow that I almost put it down. I am glad that I didn't as it was an interesting read, but it could have been so much more.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I remember this book being my least favorite as a kid and after going through it this time, it isn't as bad as I remember it. I think as an adult I can see the growth and the importance of the character interactions. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ...

The Devil in the White City

The Devil in the White City

"The Devil in the White City" claims to link the Chicago World's Fair and H.H. Holmes, but it's mostly about the fair's architects and history. I expected more on Holmes, but got 70% fair details and only 30% on him. It was disappointing, too focused on biographies and not enough on the crime aspect

Shadow of Doubt

Shadow of Doubt

The action is high, the tradecraft is high, and you get scenes of heart thumping suspense. There are some issues of Deus Ex Machina (plot armor), but that might be the worst part of the book.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The continuation of a solid story that shows the growth of J. K. Rowling. You will see the cementing of characters personalities. This cementing also is what allows this to continue. Knowing how it ends, you can see the groundwork of where the book story is going.

Haunting Adeline

Haunting Adeline

It's a terrible book. Rape, sexual assault, and degrading material are outrageous and the author should be ashamed at an attempt to make it ok because the stalker is in "love" with the victim. This feel of crap is also added by the overwhelming amount of juvenile writing

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

This is a really great start to a very good series. Even as a kid I was so excited about the next book and that feeling still sits with me even today. I know the story and still find things that I have forgotten or Easter Eggs to future books/additional storylines we get in the future.

The Evil That Men Do

The Evil That Men Do

This book was interesting without the gruesomeness that you get from other books about serial criminals. This is also a little more informative and clinical then other books as it is talking about what investigators should look for, the pitfalls of certain investigations.

A Dance of Dragons

A Dance of Dragons

This book has to be the longest book that serves no purpose other than to be long. Characters are introduced that die, others are given a more prominent story section than in previous books, but play no big part. 900/1000 pages of nothing.

The Main Enemy

I wish I had started with this book for my spy history series that I have stumbled into. It covers so much information with such clarity. The writing of the book is so well presented that you get to feel the headaches and frustrations as well as the triumphs of each team, both the CIA and KGB.

The Terminal List

The Terminal List

This book is such a well written piece of fiction that I am really surprised it took so long to become a TV Show. What I think slowed it down and in turn brings the book down is how depressing and callus the bad guys and friends are.

American Predator

American Predator

What a crazy book that tells a story I have never heard of. The name doesn't sound familiar, his actions don't sound familiar, and the tales of corruption don't ring a bell. The fact that this dude was hunting for over 2 decades is crazy and for him to get caught like Al Capone is even better.

Batman and Psychology

Batman and Psychology

Travis Langley does a fantastic job of describing Batman through the ages, from Adam West to Christian Bale. Both dispelling myths about homoeroticism and Batman's psyche then enshrining and elevating the relationships and responsibilities of both the Bat Family and the most popular enemies.

Ikigai

I am really not sure how to review this since it was so superficial. Most of the entry point of the book, we will say the first half, are very surface level items have been said in other places.