Unsavory Tragedies...Russell Brooks

About the Book:
Format: Kindle Edition
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services
Lending: Enabled
File Size: 112KB


For fans of Barry Eisler and Robert Ludlum. A three-course story collection with a side-order of revenge.

Crème Brûlée

Rogue operative, Monique Beauvais, cons a software genius into selling her a coveted technology that would allow its user to control CIA drones while they're in flight. And she will go as far as killing him in public in order to have it.

To the Last Bite

A renowned food critic-whose scathing reviews have closed down restaurants-gets a savoury surprise.

Shashlyk and Morezhenoe

CIA operative, Ridley Fox, leads a team against one of Russia's most powerful crime families. He discovers secrets, but not one that he was expecting to find.

Three stories with three consequences. All containing three Unsavory Delicacies.

***Caution*** Readers are strongly advised NOT to eat while reading To The Last Bite.


My Thoughts: 

Unsavory Delicacies, an anthology by Russell Brooks, included style, smarts, suspense, revenge and of course food. Although the book was short, the three stories told of well planned revenge. The first story Creme Brulee, included Ridley Fox, the CIA operative from Brooks' novel Pandora's Succession. This story showed the measures Fox took in trying to gain revenge on the people who murdered his fiancee.  The second story, The Last Bite, showed us the revenge a head chef took on a food critic. After reading this story, I wasn't sure if I was happy I had already eaten lunch or not. The story was captivating but all I could say at the time was, I was warned not to eat while reading. I never usually get queasy, but this story had me a bit queasy. The third story, Shashlyk and Morozhenoe, also included Fox and a Russian mob boss. Again, we see Fox going through any measure, including risking his life, to get back at the murderers of his fiancee.  Although I didn't find tis story as suspenseful as the first two, the dialog was great.

For me, Unsavory Delicacies is a great introduction to Brooks' writing. He is able to paint a great picture with great imagery.

You can find Unsavory Delicacies at the following links:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Pandoras-Succession-ebook/dp/B004XD66VW  

Amazon UK  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pandoras-Succession/dp/B004XD66VW/

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54675

B&N http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Pandoras-Succession/Russell-Brooks/e/9780986751325/

XinXii  http://www.xinxii.com/en/unsavory-delicacies-p-327295.html

DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book in which I asked to review by the author.

While The Savage Sleeps by Andrew E. Kaufman

About the book: Strange things are happening in Faith, New Mexico. People are disappearing and for others it's far worse. The body count is rising, the pressure is mounting, and the clock is ticking as they rush to uncover a dangerous secret hiding just below the surface of this all-American town one that's threatening to destroy Faith and everyone in it. One they must hunt down quickly. 

About the author: Andrew E. Kaufman is a freelance writer and author living in Southern California, along with his Labrador Retrievers, a horse, and a very bossy Jack Russell Terrier (who, incidentally, thinks she owns the place). His new novel, While the Savage Sleeps, a forensic paranormal mystery, takes place in the fictional town of Faith, New Mexico. It is currently available on Kindle, where it has remained in the top ten of Amazon's Bestseller's List.After receiving his journalism and political science degrees at San Diego State University, Andrew began his writing career as an Emmy-nominated writer/producer, working at KFMB-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Diego, then at KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. For more than ten years, he produced special series and covered many nationally known cases, including the O.J. Simpson Trial. He also has written stories for the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, the most recent of which is due out later this year.
For more information about Andrew and his work, please visit: andrewekaufman.com 

My Thoughts: It's been a while since I've actually shed a tear in a book. This book isn't one of those tear jerkers but the ending was so complete and emotional, I had to cry a little. I really enjoyed reading While the Savage Sleeps. It was suspenseful, thrilling and I was glad that the love interest wasn't over the top. The story had a very interesting plot and from the first chapter you are pulled in. It also didn't give any time to predict and speculate how the ending would be because it moved so fast. There were times where I went over and over in my mind how I thought the book would end and the cause of all the murders, but by the end of the book I Knew I would have never guessed it right. The author made me want to do some research because the cause of the murders seemed so believable. I really liked this book and would encourage readers to take a stab at it.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book in which I purchased on my own.

Last To Die - Kate Brady

About the book: A ruthless killer hides in plain sight, someone no one believes is capable of murder. Within a week, six women will be murdered, all punished for their dark pasts. Detective Dani Cole is determined to track down this serial killer whose victims include a young woman she pulled out of a life of crime. Her investigation leads her to a photography foundation and the renowned photographer Mitch Sheridan, a man she fell in love with years ago but has tried to forget. Dani and Mitch are instantly attracted to each other again, though their troubled pasts keep them from getting too close. Together, through the course of the investigation, they unearth a dark chain of deception that leads to a killer who is closer than they think.

About the Author: Kate Brady has won or been a finalist in many writing contests, including the Golden Heart, the Maggies, and the Suzannah.

My Thoughts: Last to Die was a good mix of suspense, mystery and romance. Although Dani seemed like such an independent, stone-faced cop, seeming to not "need" anyone, she was very quick to lend a helping hand to others. The book was a fast and easy read. While reading the story, I felt like I was a fly on the wall in each scene and could visually experience what was happening. This is the first time I'm reading a book by Kate Brady. I was very impressed with the writing and the story. The flow was very smooth, even with the memories the characters had, it didn't feel like I was ever lost between past memories, conversations people had in their heads or the present. Kate Brady will be a new author added to my list.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book given to me by Hachette Group. These opinions are my own without any influences.