Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci

David Baldacci's newest book, Long Road to Mercy, introduces us to a new protagonist - Atlee Pine. (love the name!)

Pine is a kick butt female FBI agent - the sole operative in the remote Shattered Rock office near the Grand Canyon. The past is what has driven Atlee to the career she has today. Pine had a twin sister. When they were six years old, Mercy was kidnapped from their bedroom. She's never been found and no one has been arrested. Atlee is determined to find answers. But, right now she has a crime at the Canyon to attend to. A slaughtered mule and a missing rider. But what seems to be one thing is quite different from what Atlee finds as she investigates.

I like this new character a lot! Baldacci has crafted strong female characters in other series, but I like that this time she's the lead. The sidekick in this series is also female, but older. She too is appealing.

Baldacci is an inventive plotter. I did find some of the developments to be a bit over the top. But, hey, whose to say this isn't or couldn't happen. I'm being a bit obtuse so as not to provide spoilers, but national security often figures into the series that he writes. The other thing that you can count on is that justice will prevail. Good and evil are clearly defined and you'll find yourself rooting for Atlee Pine. This and more are wrapped up in a healthy dose of action making for an entertaining read. The search for Mercy is going to be an ongoing thread in this series, woven through the main plot. I am quite intrigued by this plot line.

Baldacci has found a formula that works for him and he's good at it. Read an excerpt of Long Road to Mercy.

Lola - Melissa Scrivner Love

I've not really tried reading urban fiction before, but I liked the description of Melissa Scrivner Love's debut novel, Lola.

Lola is the girlfriend of Garcia - one of the members of the Crenshaw Six - a small gang in South Central LA. The gang works in 'distribution' - of drugs. But, what no one outside the gang realizes is that Lola is the leader. She's hidden behind people's assumptions and misconceptions. When she sees the opportunity for growth for her group, she decides to take it. But things don't go as planned. Can Lola save her people - and herself? And at what cost? Love's plot unfolds swiftly, with action and suspense carrying it forward quickly.

Lola is a great female protagonist. She's kick butt tough, not afraid of violence (and is in fact quite violent herself) and very, very smart. Love introduces a secondary plot line that threatens to be her Achilles heel - as sentimentality can get you killed in her world. This development also reveals that although she is street smart, she realizes that outside of her own world, she is out of step.

Love has worked as a writer on shows such as Miami CSI and Person of Interest. That background has translated well to the written page. Her lead character is easily imagined from her description, thoughts and actions. I did find some of the supporting cast to be somewhat cliched. But they serve their purpose well. The plotting is also detailed. I have no idea how close to the truth it might be - it does read a bit like a television or movie plot. Gang warfare, drugs, violence, sex and more populate the pages of Lola. Probably not recommended for gentle readers.

I liked the lead character and can see another book featuring her. Lola was a decidedly different read for me and it was good to step outside of my usual tastes. But, I'm heading back to known territory now.  Read an excerpt of Lola.