Standing in the Shadows - Peter Robinson

Standing in the Shadows is the 28th entry in Peter Robinson's wonderful DCI Banks series. 

Settling in with the latest in this series feels like catching up with old friends. I have grown very fond of all the characters over the years. Robinson has given them rich personal lives. I've especially enjoyed Banks' music choices, often chasing down a title he listens to.

In addition to wonderful characters Robinson always comes up with a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the last pages. This latest is no exception. The narrative from 1980 where Nick's ex girlfriend Alice has gone missing. Her body is not found until 2019. I always enjoy a then and now narrative. As readers, we are privy to what's gone before even as Banks and the team chase down any and every clue. Standing in the Shadows was as always, well plotted.

See for yourself - read an excerpt of Standing in the Shadows.

I very much enjoyed this latest - and sadly, this last book. Peter Robinson passed away in October of 2022. If you've never read Peter Robison's books, you've got a treat waiting. Start with the first and enjoy.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club - Lucy Gilmore

It's no secret - I love to read mysteries and thrillers. But the books that stay with me long past the last page are those that tug at the heart strings. If that speaks to you, I encourage you to add The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore to your must listen (or) read list.

Why? Well, first off is the lead character Sloane. She's a character that is so easy to like. Oh, and she's a librarian who truly loves books. She cares about her library peeps as well - patrons and staff. There's one patron who is the absolute epitome of the word 'curmudgeon'. And in a series of events, Sloane and Arthur McLachlan end up in a two person book club. (I have to say the discussions of the books that are read are excellent) And then another member is added - and another. The supporting players are wonderfully drawn as well. Each of the members add something to the club. And needs something as well. 

There's much more to this tale, but I don't want add spoilers. This is a book that should unfold with no prior warning for the listener or reader. Suffice to say, have a tissue handy for the heartstring moments that you just know are there. I loved the premise, the plotting and how things played out. 

I've said it before - but I often feel more immersed in a story when I listen to it. That's definitely the case for The Lonely Hearts Book Club. The reader was Angie Kane and she did a fabulous job. Her chosen voices suit the players well. The Sloane voice is calm and measured and the voice for Arthur is lower, gruff and yes cantankerous. The other players all have their own voices, making it very easy to know who is speaking. Kane's voice is clear, well enunciated, and easy on the ears. Her speed of speaking was just right. She embraces the plot and fills her reading with movement, capturing the tone, action and emotions of Gilmore's book. 

A wonderful book and an excellent listen. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt. 

Length - 11 hours 6 minutes

We Love to Entertain - Sarah Strohmeyer

Hands up if you like to watch House reno shows. I've got both hands waving!

Well, house renovations and contests are the vehicle for Sarah Strohmeyer’s latest book. We Love to Entertain. But it’s not all fun and games - there’s murder in the mix. 

Is this a cozy mystery you ask? I would say yes, to a degree it is. But, instead of a retired librarian who loves tea and scones, we have we have Kim the town clerk and her (not so often helpful) assistant Doreen. Kim’s daughter Erika is working on the set of the reno. We Love to Entertain is told through alternating chapters from Kim and Erika. Kim sees things as they and worries about her daughter who comes up with excuses time and time again for what's happening. There’s definitely trouble on the set. Strohmeyer plants a number of red herrings along the path to the final whodunit. And what is happening you ask? Well, I'm not going to spoil the book for you, so I'll leave it for you to find that out. Suffice to say, it's a clever plot that I think takes inspiration from Strohmeyer's own life. She too is an elected town clerk in a small Vermont town. 

I really enjoyed the skewering of the whole house reno/decorate thing.  The reno couple, Holly and Robert, have the funniest (and spot on) newsletters and blog post.  We also get a behind the curtain look at what it takes to achieve that final reveal. And I bet Strohmyers depiction isn’t that far from the truth! 

We Love to Entertain was a fun read with lots of humor, a good plot - and a few bodies. 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of We Love to Entertain. 

Deep Tide by Laura Griffin - Release Week!

It's Release Week for Deep Tide by Laura Griffin!

What's the book about? From the publisher, Berkley:

"An undercover FBI agent and an independent coffee shop owner must team up when a local barista is found dead and danger circles their coastal Texas town in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark. 

Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn."

"Sound like a book you'd enjoy? Check out the excerpt below.

"Sean Moran slipped away from the party. The bride and groom had left under a shower of rice, but people were still milling around beneath swags of white lights, drinking the couple’s booze and enjoying the breeze off the water. Sean would have liked another drink, but he needed to get back to his condo. As he crossed the wooden bridge spanning the sand dunes, he spied a woman on the beach with a champagne flute in hand.

Leyla Breda.

Her formfitting dress looked silver in the moonlight, and it shimmered against her body as she strolled toward the surf. Nearing a piece of driftwood, she dropped her shoes to the sand and sat down. She nestled the flute at her feet, then lifted her arms and twisted her dark hair into a knot at the top of her head.

Sean stopped at the end of the bridge. He had about a hundred things left to do tonight, including contacting his boss.

Instead, he walked over to Leyla.

"How's the champagne?"

She jumped and turned around. Recognition flickered across her face, and her shoulders relaxed.

"It's good." She held up her glass. "You didn't have any?"

"Nope. Can I get you a refill?"

She smiled. "What, are you a waiter now, too?"

He stepped closer. "I'm Sean Moran, by the way." He held out his hand. "We never actually met."

"Leyla Breda." Her handshake was brisk and businesslike, but the warm look in her eyes gave him hope.

"Joel's little sister," he said.

"That's me."

He turned toward the water so he wouldn't be tempted to stare down the front of her dress.

"I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier," she said. "Things got really hectic."

"Looked like you had your hands full."

"So, are you here for Joel or Miranda?"

He looked at her. "Joel."

She tipped her head to the side as she gazed up at him. "And you know him from . . . ?"

"Work."

She frowned. "Here?"

"No. We go way back. We were in the same academy class in Houston, spent some time at HPD together."

"Oh. That was a while ago."

"Yeah."

"So . . . the vice squad, then?"

"Yeah. Mind if I sit down?"

"Not at all."

Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn't like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her.

"So, how long have you been a caterer?" he asked.

"Hmm . . . let's see. I guess it's been about three weeks now." She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. "Why? Can you tell?"

"Not at all."

"Right."

"Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy."

"Just a little." She rolled her eyes. "We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flaky. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed."

Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. He'd discovered it was a turn-on.

Excerpted from Deep Tide by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2023 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved

How to Kill Men and Get Away With It - Katy Brent

How to Kill Men and Get Away With It is Katy Brent's debut novel. 

The title of the book gives you a pretty good idea of what the plot might entail. And this short quote from the publisher says it all...

"He was following me. That guy from the nightclub who wouldn’t leave me alone. I hadn’t intended to kill him of course. But I wasn’t displeased when I did and, despite the mess I made, I appeared to get away with it.

That’s where my addiction started…I’ve got a taste for revenge and quite frankly, I’m killing it.”  Uh huh, this isn't a one time thing.

 

Kitty is our  protagonist. She’s an influencer with a wealth of followers. Her inner dialogue is sharp and biting and darkly humorous at times. Her cadre consists of other wealthy influencers - with fewer followers, of course. 

Kitty forms her own sense of justice and revenge, making herself judge and jury. Until she makes a mistake. But it’s hard to not see why she’s doing what she does. Lots of food for thought.

I think I went into this book expecting more of a lighter Finley Donovan vibe. This one instead got a little bit too dark for me. Closer to Dexter instead. Kitty delights in killing and her disposal methods. Kitty has some issues herself beyond her penchant for killing. 

I'm not sure if the author was going for dark humour, satire or a blend? I finished the book, but felt it was too much in a number of ways for me. 

I am in the minority for this title - I encourage you to check out the five star reviews on Goodreads.  

See for yourself - read an excerpt of How To Kill Men and Get Away With It.  There will be some triggers for gentle readers.

If We're Being Honest - Cat Shook

If We're Being Honest is Cat Shook’s debut novel.

The opening chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book. At a family gathering an attendee makes an announcement that is quite unexpected. From that revelation, there are numerous repercussions, conversations, hurt feelings, a sense of betrayal, questioning what you thought you knew and more. This is all explored through the members of the Williams family.

Now, there are a lot of members of the Williams family in this book -generations to be accurate. Even more when you count in the cousins, friends and acquaintances. I admit, I found keeping them all straight a bit of a chore. I do think readers or listeners will find at least one character that resonates with them. 

Shook explores many, many situations and themes - all all of them seen through the eyes and lives of this large group of players. Fidelity, sexual orientation, marriage, friendship, expectations, parenthood, disappointments, grief, family dynamics, loss, love, hope, fears and so much more. 

The book takes place over the course of one week. Shook packs in a lot for a one week timeframe. 

I liked Shook’s premise- the idea of exploring the aftermath of such an announcement. But I think having so many players and now so so many themes to explore was way too busy. I believe the book would’ve been more effective with less going on and fewer characters. As it is, it feels like it’s just jumping from situation to situation, without letting me embrace the characters or savour the moments.

I chose to listen to If We’re Being Honest. The reader was Kathleen McInerney. She’s a narrator I’ve listened to before and I’ve quite enjoyed her work. She has a nice clear voice, enunciates well, and is pleasant to listen to. She did a very good job of trying to provide identifiable voices for all of the characters, but I think, having another reader, perhaps a male, to play some other parts would have been a good idea. McInerney did a good job of bringing the author's book to life. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of I've We're Being Honest.

Someone is Always Watching - Kelley Armstrong

Teen fiction is often my go to, curl up in a comfy chair, getaway and read the day away choice. 

Someone is Always Watching is Kelley Armstrong's new YA book. And my latest teen read.

Blythe is our protagonist in this book. She’s part of a tightknit friends circle, that all attend a small prep school.  

All’s good with them - okay, mostly good. Blythe and Tucker are taking a bit of a break. There’s an event alluded to between them, but it’s not spelled out until much later. And then Gabriella has a bit of a meltdown. Ok, it’s much more than a bit. The group is seriously worried - what the heck is going on? 

I really liked the characters in this book. They’re all intriguing and all are very different. The interactions between the friends are really well written. There’s a lot of caring amongst the group. That caring is shown in the respectful dialogue that they have, and their actions. But then again, they’re all teenagers so we do see the flipside of that as well. The adults in the book are hard to gauge - within them who is telling the truth?

And of course the teens are  going to investigate, right? I was pretty sure I knew how the plot was going to play out but Armstrong plants lots of red herrings along the way to the final who and why that kept me guessing.

And being a teen novel, we’ve got to have a romantic thread, right!? There’s lots of yes, no, maybe so, but it’s done well.

I've been a bit obtuse, as I don't want to provide any spoilers Teen flicks are also on my watch list. So, if you've enjoyed Outer Banks and Riverdale and the like, you'll enjoy Someone is Always Watching. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Someone is Always Watching.

I'm so glad Kelley Armstrong loves writing - because I really enjoy reading her books!

Homecoming - Kate Morton

I’m a big fan of Kate Morton’s writing. I’ve been eagerly awaiting her newest book Homecoming. It’s another fabulous book from a gifted author. Before you turn that first page, stop and look at the cover. Isn’t it just gorgeous? 

Morton tells her story in a now and then narrative, which is one of my favorite ways to tell a story. The opening chapter of Homecoming starts with a crime on Christmas Eve in 1959. We then flip to 2018. Nora is the commonality between the past and present. She was there, in the small town of Tambilla, South Australia, when the unsolved crime was committed. In 2018 her granddaughter Jess returns to Sydney as Nora is not well. She’s staying in Nora’s home and comes across a true crime book detailing the Turner Tragedy of 1959. Jess has never heard her grandmother speak of it – until now.

Morton's writing is so rich and atmospheric, with a bit of a gothic feel. Two houses are an integral part of the book. One beloved and one with a horrible history, and I could easily picture them.

The characters are so wonderfully drawn - both leading characters and supporting characters. It’s not just their actions. It’s their mindsets, the questioning of what’s going on, and the reasons behind those actions. Nora, in particular, was an especially intricate character. My thoughts and feelings about her changed as the book progressed. I liked Jess as well, but again, my feelings for her changed number of times as well. And there is more than one character who had me close to tears. 

The story builds slowly and deliciously, with layer upon layer peeled away, as secrets are revealed over the course of 560 pages. (And I loved every last page). 

The crime itself? I was so sure that I had figured out whodunit long before the final pages. I had figured out a little bit of the why, but was happily proven wrong by the final reveal. I truly didn’t see it coming.

Morton’s writing is very easy to get lost in and should be savored. Such as this thought one of the characters has...

"This was the magic of books, the curious alchemy hat allowed a human mind to turn black ink on white pages into a whole other world." 

I think that's an apt description of any and all of Kate Morton's books. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Homecoming. An easy five stars for this reader. 

Dark Angel - John Sandford

Dark Angel is John Sandford's latest novel and is the second tale in the new Letty Davenport series. 

I’m a longtime fan of John Sandford’s writing and have read everything he’s written. Letty Davenport was introduced quite a few books back. I wasn’t sure about her in the beginning but she’s grown on me, and I’m happy to see that she is going to be permanent with her own series.

Letty proved herself with her last assignment for Homeland Security, and they think she’s the perfect fit for a new undercover assignment. It starts with infiltrating the shady world of hackers, ransomware but travels to other unforeseen places and people. And along the way, Letty wonders about the response she’s getting from the government folks. She feels like they’re lying to her and her partners…

Letty really is a chip off the old block. You can recognize many of Lucas‘s personality traits, and thinking in Letty’s actions, behaviour, and dialogue. 

The action starts in the first page and it really never stops until you hit the end pages. It would make a great action film.

The dialogue is quick, snappy, and sharp. But it’s also humorous in a dark fashion, quite like Lucas and Virgil. Every lead character needs a side kick in that’s found in two characters. In this book one is Baxter, who is going undercover with Letty. And the other is Cartwright, an agent in an unnamed alphabet government agency. I think we’ll be seeing her in the next book.

The plotting of Dark Angel is intricate, detailed and brings many newspaper headlines to mind. Keeping everything straight in this plot will take a little bit of effort. And I admit, I did have a bit of trouble with keeping up with who’s who and what their connection is, etc. But that's on me.

Overall, another great book from Sandford. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Dark Angel.

Going Zero - Anthony McCarten

OK here’s something neat - Anthony McCarten’s new novel, Going Zero, has already been snatched up for the small screen - and it only releases today!

What’s it about  you ask?  Fusion, a tech giant, has created a sophisticated piece of spyware - with the blessing of the CIA. They want to test it out on real folks, and ten Americans have taken up the challenge. They have thirty days to hide and not be found. And the carrot? $3 million dollars if you make it to thirty days.

Oh boy, this was a scary one to read. Why? McCarten’s imagining of the levels of scrutiny, the information available in our tech laden world, the backing of the government, and more is probably not that far from the truth. 

The narrative switches between Fusion and the ten ‘Zeroes’. The antagonist is so well drawn - a billionaire megalomaniac, with no scruples, that you’ll just love to hate. And I have to say I was somewhat reminded of an actual figure from our newspaper headlines.

The zeros are a mixed bunch, with each having strategies planned to avoid being captured for the month of beta testing. I had been mentally thinking of ways to go off grid and hide as I read. McCarten’s ideas were brilliant. But, one by one, the Zeros are being found. But not all of them… and that’s our protagonist, Kaitlyn Day. She’s a librarian with her own plan of evading Cy Butcher’s capture teams. And she has her own reasons for wanting to beat him. Again, another unexpected twist in a already fresh story from McCarten. 

Going Zero is a non-stop, stay up late read that I couldn’t put down. Fans of Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay would really enjoy Going Zero. See for yourself – read an excerpt of  Going Zero. 

The Only Survivors - Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda is one of those authors that I automatically pick up. Her latest book is The Only Survivors.

The premise is an oft used vehicle, but Miranda puts her stamp on the plotting. Ten years ago, a group of high schoolers on a field trip crashed. Some of them made it out - and some of them didn’t. For the last ten years, a group of those who did survive get together at a cottage.

But there’s more to the reunion story than just a get to together. Something happened the night of the crash. They never speak of it and the reunion is always a reminder that no one else should know what really happened that night. But this year’s get together is different. One of their group has died. Keeping the secret has taken a toll on all of their lives. Accusations and suspicions abound.

The story unfolds in a past and present narrative, which I always enjoy. As readers, we are privy to more than one piece of information. I had my suspicions which were proven only partially right by the final pages.

Like I said, I've always enjoyed Miranda’s books, but I did find the pacing a bit slow in this latest. The reveal of that secret from the past is never fully explained until the end. I did get a bit frustrated with the drawing it out for so long.

Cassidy is the main character and is her point of view that drives the bus. Some of the supporting players are given a point of view as well, but we really only come to know them through Cassidy‘s eyes.

The book is set in the Outer Banks, and Miranda has done a really good job of bringing the setting to life, especially the storm.

I chose to listen to The Only Survivors. The narrators were: Alex Allwine, Erin Moon, Andre Bellido, Inés del Castillo, Michael Crouch, Priya Ayyar and Greg Chun. I like having a cast and I thought they all did a good job. Each voice suited the character they were playing. There's lots of emotion in the book, and that too, is transmitted very well with their voices. Everyone spoke clearly, enunciated well and spoke at a good pace. I have often said that I become more immersed in a story when I listen. That's certainly the case with The Only Survivors. Here for yourself -  listen to an audio excerpt.

The Only Survivors - Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda is one of those authors that I automatically pick up. The Only Survivors is her newest release.

The premise is an oft used vehicle, but Miranda puts her stamp on the plotting. Ten years ago, a group of high schoolers on a field trip crashed. Some of them made it out - and some of them didn’t. For the last ten years, a group of those who did survive get together at a cottage.

But there’s more to the reunion story than just a get to together. Something happened the night of the crash. They never speak of it and the reunion is always a reminder that no one else should know what really happened that night. But this year’s get together is different. One of their group has died. Keeping the secret has taken a toll on all of their lives. Accusations and suspicions abound.

The story unfolds in a past and present narrative, which I always enjoy. As readers, we are privy to more than one piece of information. I had my suspicions which were proven only partially right by the final pages.

Like I said, I've always enjoyed Miranda’s books, but I did find the pacing a bit slow in this latest. The reveal of that secret from the past is never fully explained until the end. I did get a bit frustrated with the drawing it out for so long.

Cassidy is the main character and is her point of view that drives the bus. Some of the supporting players are given a point of view as well, but we really only come to know them through Cassidy‘s eyes.

The book is set in the Outer Banks, and Miranda has done a really good job of bringing the setting to life, especially the storm.

I enjoyed this latest, but am hoping for a faster paced tale in the next book.

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library - Hester Fox

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is Hester Fox's debut novel. 

I loved the cover and the title promised a good read. (Isn't that true of all books with 'library in the title?)

1929 England. Twenty three year old Ivy Ratcliffe inherits Blackwood Abbey and becomes Lady Haywood overnight. She is a very distant relative of the last Haywood and had never known the man. But she's excited about the move...

Oh, all the pieces are here for a read with lots of Gothic influence. A young woman alone in the world, staff that are standoffish and secretive, a handsome jack of all trades, a smarmy antagonist, secrets and a manor with a dark history. Also - a library to rival those of any university. Ivy loves books and is thrilled to be the new mistress of the library.

So, up to a certain point, the book was following a script that I had excited and was enjoying. Then Fox threw in a spanner and changed the direction things were going. I now understood how the prologue would tie in. I'm going to be a bit obtuse here as I don't want to provide spoilers. The initial bit of the new direction was quite good and I was on board for it. I did question Ivy's ignoring of some 'episodes'. But that was part of the Gothic feel as well. But as it progressed, I had a little bit of doubt. I wasn't completely sold on the catalyst for what transpires. Another thing that annoyed me a bit was the amnesia that Ivy develops. She becomes the quintessential unreliable narrator. I felt like some of the interactions (yes, no, maybe so) played out one time too many perhaps. 

But that aside, I think this is a good debut and I would pick up Fox's next book. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Last Heir to Blackwood Library. 

Tell Me What Really Happened - Chelsea Sedoti

A recent rainy Sunday activated my 'sloth mode'. Which is comprised of  lazy day, a comfy couch, sweat pants and a YA novel. 

I've been looking forward to Chelsea Sedoti's new book - Tell Me What Really Happened. One of my favorite styles of storytelling is epistolary. In this case it's a series of police interviews with each member of a group of teens. 

Five teens who went camping:

- on a rainy night

- in an area where young women have died or gone missing

- one of the group does go missing

- and every police interview with the remaining four points the finger of blame on someone else

Who is telling the truth? Can you ferret out the whodunit before the last chapters? I have to say that I  didn't see Sedoti's ending coming -  it's nice to be surprised.

The cast of campers are well defined, giving us six very different personalities. Sedoti captures the joys of high school angst. She also throw in a number of horror movie tropes that add to the overall feel of the book. Seriously- what's the first rule? Uh huh, don't go into the woods 

Tell Me What Really Happened is just plain fun to read. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Tell Me What Really Happened.

Funeral Songs for Dying Girls - Cherie Dimaline

I was thrilled to see that Cherie Dimaline had two books coming out in 2023. The second is the newly released Funeral Songs for Dying Girls. It's labeled as YA fiction. 

Winifriend lives with her widowed father on the grounds of a cemetery. She’s awkward and has few friends, except for Jack. But as they grow older, Jack is moving on and leaving Winnie behind. And then Phil arrives. Is she a figment of Winifred’s imagination? Or could she be real? Or...

Dimaline’s prose are simply wonderful. I stopped more than once to savour Winnie’s words before carrying on. Her descriptions and inner dialogue conjure up vivid mental images and thought provoking ideas.

The setting is just as well drawn - the mossy paths, the headstones, the mausoleums and more. I've always found cemeteries to be peaceful and calming. And so did Winifred - until now. 

The supporting characters are just right. My faves were Floyd, the cemetery's handy man and Auntie Roberta - everyone needs an Auntie like this. And all of us probably have an annoying relative like Penny. 

There are many themes - life, loss, love, coming of age, friendship, family and identity. Dimaline addresses them all with a fresh, unique and thoughtful eye.

I really like Dimaline's writing, messages and storytelling. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Funeral Songs for Dying Girls.

Camp Zero - Michelle Min Sterling

Camp Zero is Michelle Min Sterling's debut novel. It's a unique, unsettling and addictive read that I just couldn't put down. 

It's 2050 and climate change has decimated much of the world. A group of American investors are secretly planning to build far up in the Canadian North. That's the basic premise - but there's so much more. 

The cast of characters is very different and gives us varying points of view. The investor, the architect, his foreman, the diggers, the six sex workers that were flown in, an English teacher, the 'locals' and women soldiers living in a nearby Cold War-era climate research station. I thought to myself, how in the world will all these players be tied together? They are though - in a devilishly clever plot.

Sterling examines the reasons of each player, what they want, what they need and how they're going to get it. I have to say that I found White Alice's 'whys' and 'hows' were the ones that intrigued me the most.  

There's loads of social commentary in Camp Zero. The stakes are high with the rich building enclaves for themselves, staffed by the lower classes. The blithe idea that they are entitled to the land and it's natural resources. Their own comfort and needs trumps all. Even as the planet is dying. 

Camp Zero's storyline kept me eagerly turning pages as the action and danger is ramped up on the way to the final pages. The ending was not what I had hoped for - but seems to fit the narrative better. 

Camp Zero checked a lot of boxes for this reader - a believable dystopian setting (loved the abandoned mall), interesting characters, a plausible plot and great writing. I look forward to Sterling's next book. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Camp Zero.