No foolin’: Here’s some action fiction for the eclectic reader

The Orphan Choir

By Sophie Hannah
Picador. $25 (Rating: Interesting)

There is no question that Sophie Hannah is a talented writer. That being said, though, this latest novel by the British novelist may not be for all readers. Louise Beeston, the narrator of this tale, is becoming totally unglued and you are given a ringside seat for the creepy proceedings.

It all begins with her talented son being sent off to a boarding school so he can be part of an award winning boys choir. Shortly after this traumatic event for Louise, she engages in a neighborhood war with her neighbor over loud music.

The conflict escalates. Sophie and her husband purchase a second home out in the countryside away from their townhouse, but the music problem continues. But now, rather than rock music, Sophie is haunted by choral singing and she eventually sees the source of the music – the orphan choir!

Frankly, this chilling story is rather unnerving and its ending is perhaps not unexpected, but it still packs a wallop. What’s odd about this insane narrative is that as much as I was tempted to stop reading, I didn’t! It exercised a strange hold on me that, in essence, demanded I finish what I had started.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, then give “The Orphan Choir” a try, but you can’t say that you weren’t warned.

Apocalypse

By Dean Crawford
Touchstone. $24.99 (Rating: Fair)

The two previous books in series featuring Ethan Warner received a mixed response from readers and critics alike. This one is no different. Imagine if you could control time and see into the future. Would you use that ability for good or evil? In the case of the gentleman who fulfills the role of consummate villain in this science fiction thriller, “evil” would be the response.

After a plane carrying scientists disappears in the infamous Bermuda Triangle and then the wife and daughter of an accomplished physicist are gunned down, Warner and his partner, Nicola Lopez, are assigned the investigation by the Defense Intelligence Agency.

The key is to find the missing scientist who is on the run after his family tragedy. The search will range from Cape Canaveral and the Florida Everglades to the Dominican Republic and a secret, underwater research facility.

Although there’s plenty of action, a willing suspension of disbelief is a necessary prerequisite for reading this novel. Also, a grasp of physics will make this experience all the more enjoyable.

It is a bit of a stretch to accept some of the situations that Crawford creates, but if you aren’t too critical, this can be an entertaining read. There are more than a few real bad guys out there creating mayhem so why not a few fictional ones as well?

The Chase

By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Bantam. $28 (Rating: Very Good)

They were an instant hit when introduced last year in “The Heist” and now this investigative odd couple returns for another assignment. Nicolas Fox is a very talented con artist. FBI agent Kate O’Hare is the only person to ever catch the wily Fox. Now the two have joined forces to bring to justice some of the most accomplished denizens of the underworld.

Carter Grove, a well-connected and ruthless security wonk, has run off the rails and snatched a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian. It is up to Fox and O’Hare to retrieve the priceless object before the Chinese realize it has gone missing.

Grove’s elite team of miscreants will be pitted against a rag-tag group assembled by Grove and O’Hare that include a computer geek, an actor and an over-the-hill group of mercenaries under the control of O’Hare’s father. Although this appears, on paper, to be quite a mismatch, the resulting struggle for the priceless heirloom becomes a fascinating odyssey that stretches from the nation’s capital to Shanghai, the Scottish highlands and the more seamy neighborhoods of Montreal.

Lee Goldberg was involved in the “Monk” TV series and the writing that made that show so much fun is in evidence here. This is a collaboration that not only has “legs” but is definitely in for a long and successful run!

Children of the Revolution: An Inspector Banks Novel

By Peter Robinson
William Morrow. $25.99 (Rating: Entertaining)

The Inspector Banks novels just keep coming, but this latest mystery is, in many respects, one of the most intriguing to come along in a long time. Gavin Miller is a disgraced college lecturer whose has seemingly lived in poverty for years. When the recluse is found dead, it appears Miller wasn’t as poor as most people thought.

Investigating the death of the former staff member of Eastvale College, Detective Chief Inspector Banks realizes that to understand what has happened to Miller he’ll have to dig far back into the man’s past.

What emerges is a list of suspects as long as your arm and one very high-profile individual who nearly forces Banks to jettison the whole case.

Refusing to back off, even when he is told he is jeopardizing his career, Banks uncovers some secrets that are as unexpected as they are sensational.

The backstory here is a good one and that makes for a fascinating and fast paced read. If you feel the inspector’s previous outings have been a bit “ho-hum,” give this one a try. It will rekindle your interest in this long running series.

Templar’s Acre

By Michael Jecks
Simon & Schuster. $19.95 (Rating: Exciting)

After a long war with the Muslims and many defeats, the Crusaders are down to their last city. This final stronghold, Acre, must be held no matter the cost. And if it means a fight to the death – so be it!

Into this dangerous situation comes Baldwin de Furnshill. A young boy who has traveled from England to defend the Holy Land, Baldwin is fleeing a dark past but the future doesn’t look much better. The youth is about to become embroiled in one of the most brutal sieges in history and there’s no guarantee he’ll ever see his homeland again.

Over 500 pages, this is a compelling novel if you haven’t yet tired of Knights of the Templar yarns. British author Michael Jecks has written numerous novels about this time period and the famous Knights of the Templar. He puts his encyclopedic knowledge to good use in all of them, but this is one of the writer’s best efforts to date.