Review: MIAMI REQUIEM by J.B. Turner

Miami Herald reporter, Deborah Jones is a rookie, new to journalism yet brimming with single minded determination to pursue the truth and provide it to the newspapers readership. Her first ‘real’ assignment, one more of her own violation than an order from her superiors, sees her traverse to a correctional facility to visit William Craig, a death-row inmate waiting out his last days in a cramped cell for the murder of a Senators son of which he accused of raping his granddaughter eleven years ago.

As she investigates the allegation, the wounds of Deborah’s past are reopened , splashed across her workplace serving as a nightmarish reminder that what’s done can never be undone regardless of time.

Senator O’Neil’s son may be dead but the ramifications of his actions live long. Craig’s granddaughter, Deborah Jones, and others are directly impacted by that horrific event eleven years ago. Only this time round, it’s the Senator’s questionable relationship with a mob boss and his unlawful friend’s desire to keep a lid on their secret deals and murderous intentions.  

I’ve read other reviews which liken J.B. Turner’s work to James Patterson. Whilst it has the same mainstream allure, it doesn’t encapsulate the McBook rush-to-print, two dimensional feel of Patterson’s newer works. MIAMI REQUIEM is character centric, well plotted and paced, with an engaging cast thrust into believable circumstances. I’m surprised this book isn’t published by one of the major crime imprints as I see it appealing to the well seasoned and occasional reader alike.

• J.B. Turner is also the author of the Jon Reznick thriller HARD ROAD (Exhibit A, 2013), reviewed HERE.  
• J.B. was kind enough to stop by the blog for an interview in 2013. You can read it HERE.
• Buy MIAMI REQUIM from Amazon.com

Review: A1 THE WORLD'S GREATEST COMICS Volume 1

A hardcover collection of short, strong, and sharp factoids and fiction focusing on coffee and the comic book medium. Some of the world’s greatest and imaginative comic artists/storytellers appear in this anthology that gives true meaning to A1 moniker of the coffee table book.

Opening with ISLAND IN THE SKY, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby’s glimpse at space exploration shows the early development of the formative alien superhero and sci-fi centric storytelling within the comic medium. It’s one of the best stories in this collection and leaves the reader craving more.

TALES OF OLD FENNARIO by Sandy Plunkett is another of the standouts. This tale of a Victorian era criminally inclined town shines a spotlight on police corruption and a gritty local government. Plunkett’s writing it top shelf, as is evident by the following passage:

Fennario is a warren of back alleys and narrow streets; a byzantine maze not built by so much as grown from the blood and fevered sweat of each succeeding wave of immigrants. It’s a labyrinth as dark and as cryptic as the minds of the people who constructed it.

WIERD’S FINEST, a satire taking aim at Batman and Superman tells a condensed heart-to-heart tale between Zuberman and Batguy as Zuberman battles with his image while Batguy complains of his perceived public demeanour – largely due to the colours of his costume. Author illustrator Bambos Georgiou captures the essence of send up humour without going over the top. One of my favourites.

Others that stand out from A1 volume 1 include the violent blood thirsty world of the MELTING POT by Kevin Eastman and Simon Bisley (the dark splatter feel art really worked for me in this one), EMILY ALMOST by Bill Sienkiewicz (poetic, depressing, beautiful), and FROG – a complex yet simplistic idea that moves the reader in a way few pieces of fiction do; it’s a still frame pictorial that can be read anyway conceivable and still deliver an interesting, thought provoking read. The follow-up essay was icing on the cake.  

However, it was MR MONSTER by Alan Moore and Michael T Gilbert that was the most fun to read. Mr Monster is a protagonist that screams pulply D-grade horror. His cheesy dialogue is great and fits the character perfectly. The art was complementary giving Mr. Monster the look and feel of a superhero with the chiselled angels of a dime store pulp. I’ve got to track down more of this character.

Interspersed amongst superheroes, space travel, death, murder, and crime are interesting facts of that alluring and addictive coffee bean to break things up and remind the reader to fill their cup before continuing with the stories in the collection (it worked for me).

Overall A1 THE WORLD’S GREATEST COMICS Volume 1 was a great way to read some diverse fiction presented in comic form by some of the best that ever did it. Fingers crossed for a volume 2.  

Review: THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Expanding upon the literary universe set within the fictional landscape of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN focuses on one of my favourite characters, Fermin, and his seemingly unjust imprisonment prior to forming the bond he now shares with bookstore owners Sempere Snr and son Daniel.

Author Carlos Ruiz Zafon has once again written a book for book lovers. Like the previous instalments in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books universe, THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN envelopes the reader in the velvety mist of Barcelona circa 1930’s and 1940’s whilst the narrative waxes poetic the allure and intimacy a cherished/sought after book has on a reader.

There’s secrecy, mystery upon mystery, and multi faceted storytelling yet the glue that holds it all together is the rich and vibrant characters Carlos Ruiz Zafon has steadily built into his Barcelona. Whilst Fermin’s back-story and involvement with a mysterious visitor to the bookstore is the highlight, there are also delicious revelations about Daniel and co that are sure to satisfy fans of this series of books.

As the third book, THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN reads well as a standalone yet, having read THE SHADOW OF THE WIND (twice) and THE ANGEL’S GAME, THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN is that much more enjoyable. If you like books – irrespective of genre, this is a must read series.