After reading five books in October I only read three books in December. Reading fewer books over the last three months of the year has typical for most years since I began keeping track of what I read in the late 1980s.
I think it’s a result of all four sports being played during those months. So I’m watching more sports instead of reading. Over the last few weeks my wife and I have been babysitting our grandchildren Zoe and Logan more often. Consequently, that cuts down on the free time I have to read. Anyway, the three books that I did manage to finish this month, brought the total number of books I’ve read this year to 50! While that total is way below the number I challenged myself to read, I think it’s still a respectable total.
Here are the three books I read in November, in reverse order….
50.Providence Rag – Bruce DeSilva
Providence Rag is the third book in the Liam Mulligan series by Bruce DeSilva. I discovered this great series earlier this year. I found The Dread Line at the Dollar Tree took a chance on it and loved it. The Dread Line is the fifth book in the series and after finishing it I immediately went and found book one Rogue Island. I followed that up with Book two Cliff Walk. So now I only have A Scourge of Vipers left and I’ll be eagerly awaiting book six in the series. .
One of the reasons that I like this series is Mulligan is neither a cop or a PI. He is a newspaper reporter working for the struggling (aren’t all newspapers?) Providence Dispatch. As a solid investigative reporter he knows the good the bad and the ugly sides of Rhode Island.
About Providence Rag
The events presented in this story are those that set him on his course to be an investigative reporter. From Goodreads….
Inspired by a true story, Providence Rag finds Mulligan, his pal Mason, and the newspaper they both work for at an ethical crossroad. The youngest serial killer in history butchered five of his neighbors before he was old enough to drive. When he was caught eighteen years ago, Rhode Island’s antiquated criminal statutes—never intended for someone like him—required that all juveniles, no matter their crimes, be released at age twenty-one. The killer is still behind bars, serving time for crimes supposedly committed on the inside. That these charges were fabricated is an open secret; but nearly everyone is fine with it—if the monster ever gets out more people will surely die. But Mason is not fine with it. If officials can get away with framing this killer they could do it to anybody. As Mason sets out to prove officials are perverting the justice system, Mulligan searches frantically for some legal way to keep the monster behind bars. The dueling investigations pit the friends against each other in a high-stakes race against time—and snares them in an ethical dilemma that has no right answer.
Bottom Line:
The book didn’t have the suspense and less of the caustic wit of Mulligan, rather it tackles some series questions.
The first is how far should you go to keep an evil person in prison, when the law is on their side? An the second should the press print a story when that story will lead to the release of that prisoner? Especially if you know the story will lead to a struggling paper lose readers!
So while Providence Rag was not your typical mystery or Mulligan book it was still a terrific read. So check it out! As for me I’m going to see if I can get Mulligan four from the library!
When I found The Dread Line I read this on the cover. Since Steve Hamilton is one of my favorite authors, I thought I’d take a chance and hoped he was right! He was….
The best yet in one of my favorite series ever — fast and funny, yet it packs a serious punch. This is hardboiled crime fiction at its best.”
Ok this post ran longer than I anticipated. Therefore, I will write about the other two books I read in November in another post!.
Links for the Further Exploration of the Books of Bruce DeSilva
Author’s Website
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon