Other genres (non-romance) ||Book reviews and recommendations|| - Page 2

Book Title: Not a penny more, not a penny less

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Year Published: 1976

Genre/s: Thriller, Heist, Comedy

Narrative style: Third-person omniscient

Personal Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: What do a Harvard-educated Oxford college Math Professor, an English peer, a French art gallery owner and a Harley Street doctor have in common? Nothing, except that they have all been victims of an ingenious swindle, having lost a million dollars between them. The swindler is even more ingenious and hard to catch - Harvey Metcalfe. So when Stephen Bradley, the Math Prof suggests that they swindle him right back, his suggestion is met with a lot of skepticism. After all, how could 4 people with little or no knowledge of stock markets or trading hope to get the better of the American big-whiz?

Review: I love this book! I'd read it several times when in school and college but re-read it recently after I recommended it to a high-school student for her independent novel study. Spoiler: She loved it too! 😆

It's an easy read for the most part, though Archer does get into a lot of nitty-gritties which can seem boring to a layperson. As someone who doesn't understand financial trading either, I found all that stuff goes way over my head. But the revenge? Oh my God --- so good! Archer keeps it light throughout, infuses it with humour, & the tense situations where their reverse swindle schemes could have gone terribly wrong or they could get caught out, are also handled with humour (& a lot of cussing 😆). The 4 main characters all have their own areas of expertise that they bring into each of the schemes that are supposed to divest Harvey of some part of the million. They mean to win it all back - Not a penny more, not a penny less! The dynamic between the 4 is soo fun and they each have a part to play. Jean-Pierre is the comedian, Stephen is the planner, James is the handsome and stylish ladies man. Robin was the only one I couldn't quite put a finger on and consequently, he's the one I enjoyed least. The end, of course, comes with a surprising twist, but again - it's all very fun and light-hearted. This is an easy read compared to most other Archer books that tend to be heavy-handed.

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

This among the few early Archer books I haven't yet read. I wasn't going to - but now this be in TBR. (Just like Prison Diaries) 😆

Originally posted by: EuphoricDamsel

This among the few early Archer books I haven't yet read. I wasn't going to - but now this be in TBR. (Just like Prison Diaries) 😆

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

This is one Archer book I keep going back to. I'm helping the HS student do her analysis and critique too, and I find getting into these characters' heads so much fun! Do read - it's absolutely worth it. And it's not long-winded at all. It's a breezy read - at least it was for me!

Archer is home to me. That's how it is! He is home.

PS : Have you read Clifton Chronicles?

Originally posted by: EuphoricDamsel

Archer is home to me. That's how it is! He is home.

PS : Have you read Clifton Chronicles?

Here for mystery/thriller recs😎

Book Title: The Bone Collector

Author: Jeffery Deaver

Year Published: 1997

Genre: Crime / Mystery Thriller / Suspense

Maturity Rating: Teens

Book Rating (out of 5): 4/5

Synopsis: Lincoln Rhyme was once a brilliant criminologist, a genius in the field of forensics -- until an accident left him physically and emotionally shattered. But now a diabolical killer is challenging Rhyme to a terrifying and ingenious duel of wits. With police detective Amelia Sachs by his side, Rhyme must follow a labyrinth of clues that reaches back to a dark chapter in New York City's past -- and reach further into the darkness of the mind of a madman who won't stop until he has stripped life down to the bone.

Review: Really loved this book from start to finish. If you are into crime-fiction with a dash of forensic police procedural, this book is for you. Scenes in the collection and analysis of crime scene evidence rarely become dull and it gets less technical and more enjoyable as you read.

One of the bonus points is that we also get to see the perpetrator's POV (the author uses italics when referring to him) and dive into the killer's devouring mentality.

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of physician-assisted suicide, blood, flaying and cannibalistic rats.

Originally posted by: Leenaaa

Originally posted by: LizzieBennet

Thanks for the review, Lee. I’ve watched the movie and Denzel Washington was brilliant in it, Angelina Jolie was good too and their chemistry actually took me by surprise. I should read this.

I highly recommend reading it!! I recently watched the movie after reading the book and I loved it. The movie missed out a plot from the book, but overall it’s fine.

Just a little head up, if you do read it, detach a little from the movie. Lincoln in the book is not African American and Amelia is a redhead😬

Anybody here read

1984 or Animal Farm by George Orwell

11.22.63 by Stephen King

?

Planning on reading them.