Roll The Dice by Wayne Avrashow

Tyler Sloan is a career rocker. Started out in a garage band, moved up to become the front man for an established touring rock band, then as a legendary singer. Legendary enough to become the focal point of a resident Vegas show. Went through rehab early, but stayed clean since. Married, now divorced from his pill popping ex, a preteen daughter living with mom in LA. Multiple platinum records with memories of not hundreds, but thousands of women, including a sex tape of a threesome.

And don’t forget his family. Wonderful mom who died too young, the favored brother, J.R. who was being groomed to follow dad in the family business who also died too young in a single car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway.

The family biz you ask? Politics. Dad began as a state legislator and moved up to become a popular governor of California before narrowly losing his party’s nomination to run for President.  Yes, the Sloan’s ran in some high cotton.

Tyler is amid a long run in Vegas when the Nevada Senator dies, so the state has to hold a special election to fill the seat. The two parties are putting up the usual suspects. One is a guy with lots of experience in government, but is a bit of a nutcase. The other is an attractive  woman who really is a re-tread of the recently departed Senator. So Tyler decides to trade in his notoriety from the entertainment field and make his first run at politics for the US Senate. As an independent. He’s wealthy enough he needs no corporate money and only accepts donations of $100 or less. Seeks no endorsements or PAC money.

An outsider threatening to upset the Senate because there is currently an even split between the parties. If Tyler wins, he could seriously upset the balance of power in the Senate. And everyone in DC knows making some quite nervous.

Oh, yeah. And his female opponent? She was one of the two women in Tyler’s videoed threesome. Can you spell Awkward?

Roll The Dice is then a behind the curtain look at the politics of running for office. The ass-kissing. The stumps. How to dress, how to speak, how to shake hands, how to stand, how to hold the lectern, the ins and out of wielding power, yadda, yadda, yadda all the while, Tyler is trying to reconcile with his mostly estranged Governor Father.

Avrashow takes us on a bit of a roller coaster ride as Sloan tries to feel his way around the various landmines that populate politics. Avrashow is especially hard on the media as it tries to chip away at Sloan’s background and family history to find anything spicy about Sloan and maybe maneuver for a Pulitizer.

Nice easy read. While it won’t ever be confused with All The President’s Men, it is certainly not bad. Might make an interesting limited series on TV. 

East Coast Don

Origin

Origin is Dan Brown’s latest novel, and this one is far different from The Da Vinci Code. In this book, he novelizes the concepts of Ray Kurzweil, a futurist who wrote The Singularity is Near, but Brown took it further in thinking about the implications for our societal institutions, especially the religious institutions. Kurweil predicted that the literal fusion of human beings and computers was close at hand as we humans lean on computers to do some functions that they can do so much more efficiently than we can. I thought I had reviewed Kurzweil’s book in this blog, but it’s not here. Oh, well.

Rather than looking into the past, discovering the secret behind ancient art works, in this novel, Brown looks to the future. He starts by introducing his new antagonist, Edmond Kirsch, a brilliant man who has made billions of dollars through his technical knowledge. Kirsch was an avowed atheist who attacked the myths of religion with undying and unyielding vigor. Kirsch claimed that he had discovered the answers to the most important questions about human existence: Where did we come from? Where are we going? Kirsch was friends with Brown’s best protagonist, Robert Langdon, who had been Kirsch’s professor and mentor at Harvard. Kirsch invited Langdon to a gathering at the museum in Bilbao, Spain, where he planned to reveal his discoveries to the world. Only days before his presentation, Kirsch chose to meet with the three most important and powerful religious leaders in the world to tell them about his findings which, once revealed would threaten the existence of their institutions.

I don’t want to be plot spoiler, so you’ll have to read the book. I found the first 1/3 of the book to be excellent for introducing characters and setting up the plot. The middle 1/3 was a bit draggy, but the final 1/3 was a hold-onto-your-pants, can’t-put-it-down, roller coaster ride. This one gets a five star rating, and you’ll just have to read it to learn more. I see some other reviewers were disappointed with the novel, but I don't get that unless Brown was effectively challenging their own religious beliefs. I loved it.

The Midnight Line by Lee Child

We all know about Jack Reacher. Ex-MP who wanders the country with just the clothes on his back and a toothbrush in his pocket. Gets on and off the buses as he pleases. Gets off a bus somewhere in Wisconsin to stretch his legs. Glances in the window of a pawnshop and sees a West Point class ring. Not something one would pawn. Pointers went through too much to earn the ring. He’d know.

Goes in, talks with the shop owner. Gets a close look. It’s engraved: S.R.S. 2005. Not right for the ring to be left in a pawnshop so he buys it and decides to return it to the owner. Pawnshop owner (not so willingly) gives up some info on how it came to him. Which (also not so willingly) eventually leads Reacher a scumbag named Arthur Scorpio in Rapid City, SD.

Scorpio is one of those guys with no visible means of support. Owns a laundromat that has few customers, but requires a guard at the front and back doors plus a old boxy Lincoln Town Car driven by more muscle. Occasionally, a guy on a Harley drops in for a few minutes, then leaves. No other notable traffic. Then goes home.

Scorpio is also under the watchful eye of Detective Nakamura, Rapid City PD. His phones are tapped and the police techy squad tries to track his cellphone calls. Plus, a retired FBI agent turned PI has the laundromat under surveillance. Reacher catches Scorpio’s attention and in the ensuing ‘conversation’, Scorpio give up Sy Porterfield of Mules Crossing, Wyoming.

After a few talks with the West Point Superintendent, Reacher learns that S.R.S 2005 is Serena Rose Sanderson, Class of 2005, medically discharged as an infantry Major with five tours of Afghanistan. Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Status: lost to follow-up. Off the grid.

Reacher hitches a couple rides and finds Mule's Crossing, a wide spot on a highway outside of Laramie. Thing is, so does PI Bramall, he of the expense account, Toyota Land Cruiser, coat and tie. All which sort of stand out in this pick-up and boots corner of Wyoming. But they form a bit of a respectful alliance. Bramall was hired by S.R.S. 2005’s sister. Make that Rose’s identical twin sister, Mackenzie. Both were born and raised in Wyoming, children of a state judge. Mackenzie is a stunning redhead whose image would be more suited for the cover of a magazine instead of on Roses’ military ID and desert camo. Once Bramall and Reacher start reasoning out which stones to kick over, Mackenzie shows up.

According to the local sheriff, Sy Portefield was the victim of a bear attack about 1.5 years ago. Of course, Scorpio was lying. This makeshift investigative team roots around the SE corner of Wyoming. No one shows any recognition of Rose by seeing Mackenzie. That itself is a clue Reacher can’t shake leading to several assumptions, some that play out and others that don’t. Questions still surface about if Rose is alive, if so, where, and most importantly, why did she go to ground.

This is Child’s 21^st Jack Reacher novel. Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Child has a good thing going and no doubt that he delivers the goods repeatedly. 21 New York Times best sellers. 12 #1s. All have been optioned for movies. Two of which have been made. I’ve read them all and while all are terrific, Child’s readers will have their own rankings. I’d put this in the Top 5 definitely and maybe even the top 2 or 3. Thought this was one of Child’s most realistic situations, investigations, and outcomes. Child is resolute in showing Reacher’s loyalty to his Army roots.

Waited two months for my name to work its way up the library’s list. A two-day read. Worth the wait. Absolutely a winner.

ECD

The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning

The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham is a remarkable book about, as the title suggests, coming to terms with the imperfections of the human species. The authors draw from a vast array of scholars and philosophers from the most ancient to the very recent. Curiously, the authors particular focus on the writing of Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, and they note the wisdom of Wilson’s prolific writing in alignment with more highly regarded thinkers. If you’re interested in Bill Wilson as an important positive force on modern day society, then you’ll find this book to be an important compliment to Wilson’s writings. Unlike most of the rest of the book, I think the authors botched the penultimate chapter entitled “Forgiveness.” As is typical of some other authors, they also give lip service to the psychoanalytic writings of Freud, and then are critical of it without really understanding the concepts they criticize. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful effort. Kurtz and Ketcham have helped me with some better language and concepts to address the many less-than-perfect aspects of human lives we lead.

The Force

The Force is the 7^th Don Winslow book reviewed in the blog, and in this one, he’s changed venues from Southern California to New York City. Winslow’s character and plot development have only gotten better, and if it’s possible, even more gripping. Detective First Grade Dennis John Malone was a veteran sergeant of NYPD’s most elite unit, The Manhattan North Special Task Force. He had graduated from the police academy with all the necessary idealism, but then he faced the real world of police action and the erosion that happened to his idealism. This is a story about corruption, guns, drugs, and sex. After decades on “Da Force” when Denny finally got arrested and placed in the MCC (Metropolitan Correction Center), he thought to himself, “At least, at last, tell yourself the truth. You know exactly how you got here. Step by motherfucking step.” This novel is about Denny’s steps of degradation, the environment in which that occurred, and the myriad of people who were most impacted by his decisions. This is not a book with good guys – just bad guys. Great writing – if you start this book, be prepared to put the rest of your life on hold until you’ve turned the last page.

Presidential Intentions

Presidential Intentions is the first book in a trilogy about Samantha Harrison, who was the first woman Republican candidate for president. The set up is that she will run against a woman on the Democratic ticket. The book sets up the next two novels, so this one is an introduction to Harrison’s character, her family, and those important people around her. Although I’ve not gotten to the second and third books yet, I will certainly do so. It looks like the author is appropriately setting up this conservative candidate to have some very real personal struggles, such as when her right-to-life position is challenged by her daughter’s decision to go through with an abortion. Also, although not personally in favor of the death penalty, as the Governor of Virginia, she must decide whether to allowed a psychopath, Peter Vasquez, to be executed, the very man she had been successful prosecuting some years earlier. I’m eager to read more of the story, so the second book, Presidential Declarations is near the top of my ready queue.

The Wanted by Robert Crais

Devon Connor is a single mom who is worried about her teenage son.  Tyson has never been a good student but he has always been a good kid.  However, his latest transfer to an alternative high school has resulted in new friends, Alec and Amber, who appear to be leading Tyson astray.  Tyson suddenly has new expensive clothes and electronics plus rolls of cash.  Devon is concerned Tyson is dealing drugs but doesn’t want to call the police until she’s positive Tyson is breaking the law.  So, she hires Elvis Cole to investigate.  Elvis quickly learns that Tyson is involved with the two other wayward souls, robbing rich people’s homes.  Foolishly, they keep the merchandise they want and fence the rest.  Elvis gets a list of the victims and their reported stolen merchandise from his cop friends who also tell him they have a video of the perps and expect to soon make an arrest.

Devon hires a lawyer and strikes a deal with the ADA for Tyson if he confesses and turns himself in.  After much coercion Tyson agrees but then disappears before his intended surrender.  Turns out he is infatuated with Amber and wants to warn her of her impending arrest.

Meanwhile, Elvis learns that the police aren’t the only ones looking for the teenage burglars.  Harvey and Stemms are two ruthless hitmen who have been hired by one of the victims to retrieve a stolen laptop computer apparently containing incriminating information about the owner.  Harvey and Stemms know no bounds when it comes to getting what they want.  They also have the video of the crooks and discover their identity before the cops.  They kill one witness and arrange a fatal accident for Alec before he can warn his partners.  Elvis enlists the help of Joe Pike.  Now they are in a race to find Tyson and Amber before either the hitmen or the police make their move.

Crais comes through with another hit in his Elvis Cole/ Joe Pike series.  The contrasting personalities of the two detectives hold your interest to the end.  Elvis with his smart-ass remarks alienates some but endears others.  Pike’s stoic, ‘just the facts mam’ style comes off as just cool.  Together they keep you in anticipation of their direct and decisive response to unwarranted violence.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance look.