The Black Path

The Black Path is the third book in the series by Asa Larson involving Rebecka Martinsson.

Rebecca Martinsson has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital after having had a shocking experience involving the deaths of several people.  She had been a successful financial lawyer, and now Chief Prosecutor, Alf Bjornfot wants to put her back to work.  He is granted the opportunity to offer her a short term position.

On a lake nearby a body of a woman has been discovered frozen inside a fishing shack in the midst of a winter storm.  Inspector Anna-Maria Mella and Sven-Erik Stalnacke are tasked with the investigation.  Thee victim is identified as a person who was at a meeting held by a mining company at their lodge on the same lake.

Author Asa Larson spends time allowing the reader to get to know the victim, her brother and her employer.  Apparently they have been close for some time, however Inspector Mella isn't so sure that everything is a bed of roses.  She asks Martinsson to investigate the victim.

A coat found in the water beneath the fishing shack points to a foreigner who could be connected to the murder.  Mella is surprised when a reporter approaches her to tell her that a fellow reporter had been investigating the mining company, then suddenly committed suicide.  After speaking to the widow, Mella and Stalnacke are convinced it wasn't suicide after all.  The pathologist confirms it was murder.

The investigation expands as Larson takes the reader in a tale of international intrigue and murder.  This is a book that you will not want to put down.

The Field of Swords

Caesar is now in Spain in this third volume in the Emperor Series by Conn Iggulden.  Servilia, Brutus' mother has also arrived, creating complications for the young general.

Upon returning to Rome, Julius puts his name forward for Consul.  Unexpectedly he comes away as a member of a triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus.  He also gains the opportunity to take his legions to untamed Gaul.  Julius' new power and a conflict with Servilia creates tension between him and Brutus.  However, Caesar finds a new friend on the border with Gaul, Mark Anthony.

As Caesar conquers Gaul, the battle for the control of Rome continues in the senate and amongst the people.  After riots break out in Rome between various factions, Pompey is forced to take on the role of Dictator.  Meantime Caesar has invaded Britain, leaving a small force behind to hold Gaul.  A rebel leader by the name of Vercingetorix feels it is time to take Gaul back.

Caesar has Vercingetorix surrounded in the hill forts at Alesia when Vercingetorix's brother brings a huge army to relieve him.  Is this to be the end of Rome's dominance of Gaul?

Author Conn Iggulden has written an excellent history of Caesar's career in Gaul, up to his decision to cross The Rubicon.  It is an enjoyable read for someone who likes historical novels.

Paris

Alex Rutherfurd's story of Paris jumps through a variety of years, following a number of families and their relationships to one another.  Rutherfurd's method of telling the story would have been much better if he had sequenced the stories by generations rather than jumping back and forth.

Despite the jumping back and forth, Rutherfurd's novel is an excellent historical read

Dying of the Light

DS Alice Rice in her work comes across an old school friend, who used to work as a prostitute.  Now she no longer does that, but is an advocate for women's and especially prostitute's rights.  Later that night the body of a woman is found.  A murder investigation is now underway.  Is the death somehow connected to Rice's friend's organisation?

While examining the contents of the pockets of the deceased, Rice is stabbed by a small hypodermic needle.  She fears the worst.   Unfortunately another prostitute is found murdered, in much the same circumstances as the first.  DNA is found on each of the bodies and it points to one man; a priest in a nearby parish.  He denies knowledge of either woman.  Rice harbours doubts that he is their man.

Her doubts come to fruition when another prostitute is attacked.  Fortunately for her a nearby man scares the attacker off.   However, that scare doesn't prevent another death.

Author Gillian Galbraith provides a surprising twist to conclude this murder mystery. A good, quick read.

VooDoo Doll

Sergeant Jill Jackson has just been transferred to Liverpool to work with a task force investigating a group involved in home invasions.  The leader of the invaders likes to use a knife on his victims to get his demands.  At one invasion, he is recognised despite his wearing of a balaclava.

Arriving at her new posting, Jill finds out that the latest home invasion has ended in murder and the acquisition of guns.  The violence of the attacks is escalating, too.  One of the gang is a definite sadist.  For the investigation, Jill is partnered up with am member of the Federal Police, Gabriel Delahunt.

Their investigation makes sudden progress when an anonymous call names the leader of the gang.  DNA taken at one of the scenes implicates the person named.  Now the police just need to find him.

Author Leah Giarratano has written an extremely exciting thriller, that is hard to put down.  Well worth the read.

The Janus Stone

Ruth Galloway, head of forensic archeology at University of North Norfolk, has been called in to examine bones where a new building is going up.  She is confident that they are those of a child, and that the burial is recent.  She calls DCI Harry Nelson to make him aware of what has been found.

The burial site is within the area of an old Catholic orphanage.  Nelson and his team question those associated with the former orphanage while Ruth delicately retrieves the bones of the child that is headless.  At another point in the excavation, the body of a headless cat is found.  As the result of discussions with colleagues and a former orphan, Ruth comes to the realisation where the heads can be found.

Ruth is shocked when she discovers her name written upside down at an archeological dig.  Is someone trying to scare her away from the investigation?  A forensic dentist tells Ruth that the child had a particular type of fluoride in her teeth, so it places the child's death earlier than expected.

One morning Ruth wakes up to find a dead two-headed calf on her doorstep.  Author Elly Griffiths builds the tension through the remaining pages of this sequel to "The Crossing Places".  A very good read.