No Higher Purpose

This large tome is the Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, 1939 - 1943.  This history tells of the coming of age of the young RCN.  It describes the mobilisation of the naval service during the first half of the war and how it grew in spite of many daunting challenges posed by convoy escort service.

The main focus is on the Battle of the Atlantic, but includes information on the RCN's contribution in the Mediterranean, too.  All-in-all it shows how Canadian naval forces were indispensable to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Portions of the history were dry and dull, however I did find the descriptions of the battles between escorts and u-boats to be very interesting and exciting.  This history is intended for the student of history or someone interested in the history of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Last Seen in Massilia

It is 49, B. C.; Caesar has Massilia under siege and Gordianus the Finder is on his way there with his son-in-law, Davus, when they stumble upon a temple to Artemis.  A soothsayer that comes out of the shadows knowingly states the reason for Gordianus being there is because he is in search of his son Meto.  How could he know this?

By a miracle Gordianus and Davus get inside Massilia, where they find out that Meto was discovered to be a spy, and died as a result.  While waiting for more news, they see a young woman fall, or was she pushed off a cliff into the sea?  Gordianus is asked by the father of the young woman to investigate.  What he finds out comes as a shock to many.

Caesar does indeed take Massilia, but that is not the surprising conclusion that author Steve Saylor has in wait for the reader.  A good historical novel, based on a real event, and a nice quick read.

Birth of the Kingdom

This is the third book in the Crusades Trilogy by Jan Guillou.  Arn Magnuson has returned form his 20 year exile to The Holy Land as a member of the Templars.  He is no longer a Templar knight, and has accumulated great wealth.  However, he is not afraid to us his Templar clothing to gain the things he wants. 

Upon his return home, he finds that his elder brother is in charge of his home and his father has suffered a stroke.  With his crew that he has brought home from The Holy Land he sets to strengthening his brother's home and returning his father to health.

He also finds his love, Cecilia Rosa, is still alive and waiting for him.  They plan to marry, however his uncle is dead set against it, having someone else in mind, which will tie clans together.  Cecilia's good friend, Cecilia Blanca wants to ensure the happiness of her dear friend and schemes to ensure it.  (I found that author Jan Guillou spent too much time on the wedding preparations and the wedding of these two.)

Since his return home, Arn has quietly been building up fortresses in the lands of his family.  He has also been training an army and creating and storing weapons for that army.  His purpose is not for an aggressive war, but rather for the defence of his country, because he knows that a war will come to them. Two major battles against the Danes would happen before the new kingdom of Sweden would come to be.

A great historical novel and a fitting conclusion to the Crusades Trilogy.  I thoroughly enjoyed all three novels.

Cold Comfort

Gunna Gisladottir has been promoted to the Serious Crime Unit in Reykjavik where she finds herself in charge of a murder investigation of a once famous celebrity.  In addition to this case, her right hand man Helgi Svavarsson, is looking for Long Omni Magnusson, an escaped convict.  It would appear that Magnusson has beaten up a couple of men since his release.

The investigation into the death of the celebrity brings up some unexpected dirt and points to prostitution, a syndicate, and conspiracy.  It forces Gunna to dig deeper.  Meantime Helgi discovers where Magnusson is; he wants to watch him to try figure just exactly what the escapee is up to before bringing him in.

When Helgi captures Magnusson, his girlfriend and a drug pusher, things start to point to a conspiracy to cover up a murder for which Magnusson was being paid to serve the time.  As more evidence comes to light, Gunna and her team try to assemble it into something meaningful.  She wonders if the two murders are tied together in some way.

Author Quentin Bates provides some very interesting twists to this murder mystery before drawing it to a conclusion.  This was a great sequel to "Frozen Assets", a book I found hard to put down.  Fans of murder mysteries are sure to enjoy the read.

Good as Dead

Detective Sergeant Helen Weeks and another man have been taken captive at gun point by a newsagent, Javed Ahktar, in his south London shop.  The newsagent asks Helen to call the police and ask for DI Tom Thorne.  The newsagent's, son, Amin, had been jailed for murdering another boy.  Thorne  had been the officer responsible for gathering the evidence, which ensured the conviction.  The boy had then committed suicide while in prison.  When Thorne arrives with DS Holland, they find out that Ahktar wants Thorne to prove his son's death was a murder, not a suicide.  He threatens to kill his hostages.

Thorne proceeds to the prison where Amin died to begin his investigation, while DS Holland and another DS begin to investigate those involved in the original incident.  Throughout, author Mark Billingham, keeps the reader up-to-date on what is going on in the newsagent's shop.

Tensions build within the shop, and outside as the police negotiate with Ahktar.  Thorne's investigation seems to point the fact that Amin was indeed murdered, but can he gather enough evidence in time?  As his investigation progresses he discovers a conspiracy to commit murder and much more.  Author Mark Billingham draws the story to an exciting conclusion.  I thoroughly enjoyed the read and highly recommend it.

A Bespoke Murder

The Lusitania has been sunk by the Germans, and there is a backlash throughout Britain against those with German names, whether they have been in Britain for generations or not.  Jacob Stein owns a bespoke tailor shop in London.  A mob attacks the shop while he and his 18 year old daughter, Ruth are in it.  Ruth manages to escape out the back, but Jacob is caught inside by the looters.

Inspector Harvey Marmion is assigned to investigate.  He takes Sergeant Keedy with him to the burned out shop.  They find out that Jacob has been stabbed in the back, and the safe is open.

When Marmion is told that Ruth had been raped while her father's business was being burned, he adds the task of finding the culprits to his other tasks.  The rapist shipped out to France the day after the incident, and had bragged during the rape of doing just that.  Meantime Sergeant Keedy continues to arrest and interview men who were part of the mob that burned down Stein's tailor shop.

Marmion and Keedy need to travel to Belgium to bring back the rapist.  As they continue their investigation into the fire and murder, they begin to wonder if there isn't an anti-semitism movement afoot.

Author Edward Marston has a couple of other story threads going throughout the main one, neatly tying them all together as an exciting conclusion is made to "A Bespoke Murder". A thoroughly enjoyable read.