http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/kfrkuhne Wed, 21 May 2008 04:18:47 GMT Reviews by kfrkuhne http://www.viewpoints.com/Silver-Pigs-review-972d3 I've said in other reviews that I'm not a huge fan of crime drama, but the sheer number of reviews I've made within the genre seems to suggest otherwise. But I really do prefer non-fiction for the most part. Instead of just reviewing this one novel, I'm going to use this opportunity to review all 16 of Davis's Marcus Didius Falco novels. I enjoy these less for the mystery element than I do for Davis's stunning ability to draw a reader into Imperial Rome at both its best and worst. (What can I say, I'm bored tonight and these books deserve mention) — M Didius Falco is a private informer (aka, ancient Roman PI). In each book, he solves a mystery (sometimes a missing person, sometimes a murder, sometimes a plot against the throne of the Emperor Vespasian). Each book is written from the POV of M Didius Falco. He is a Republican (opposed to Imperial rule), a cynic, and (at heart) a romantic who writes poetry in his spare time. He shares his life, his love, and his adventures... Wed, 21 May 2008 04:18:47 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Silver-Pigs-review-972d3 kfrkuhne 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/No-One-Left-to-Tell-review-c5e66  I have to start this review by saying that, an avid paintbal player, I have never seen paintballs used in a more insidious fashion, lol —  In Dane's second offering, she displays every hallmark of becoming one of the great authors of our time. Her characters are believable in thier strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and quirks. Friendships, romances, and adverserial relationships are portrayed in a realistic fashion that makes you like the good guys and love to hate the baddies. Protagonist cop Raven MacKenzie and her partner Tony have an especially nice relationship, a teasing friendship without a hint of sexual tension, so true of best friends of the opposite sex. —  As Raven investigates a murder (where paintballs play a pivital role), she is forced to team up with Christian Delecorte, a good guy who hates the cops with good reason (or are his reasons good?). As in her first novel, Dane throws many twists and curveballs our way, presents a budding... Wed, 21 May 2008 02:51:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/No-One-Left-to-Tell-review-c5e66 kfrkuhne 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/No-One-Heard-Her-Scream-review-c6636 Now, I'm going to be 100% straight-forward and start with the fact that I'm not a huge fan of this genre (crime fiction and romance could both be described as my turn-offs) and would probably never have picked the book up if not for a recommendation from a friend. But this was a novel WELL worth the time I spent reading it. The characters are realistic and easy to like, the plot twists and turns are many. I admit to having been blindsided by what was REALLY going on with the disappearance of all those young girls. The big baddie is sinister enough to send chills down your spine and his lackeys are thuggish enough that you want to shower off after reading about them. — Not a straight police procedural, it focuses just as much on the characters as it does on the crimes they investigate, and it does so to good effect. A burgeoning relationship is put to the test when the protagonist can not quite figure out the motives of the bad guy's left hand. And while his... Thu, 15 May 2008 17:43:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/No-One-Heard-Her-Scream-review-c6636 kfrkuhne 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows--19386-review-39054 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows seems to have a little something for every fan who's ever opened the pages of a Harry Potter novel. Favorite characters, major and minor, get to show off their grit and resolve in new ways and some established characters just surprise us. It was at times clever (Herbology students defending the castle with plants), at times poignent (the "war memorial" and Ron's feelings for Hermione), sometimes amusing, almost always a page-turner. That said, Miss Rowling seemed to be trying to pack far too much into the series conclusion. Few are likely to be disappointed that their favorite character or characters are shortchanged, but the sheer volume of things going on rather detracts from, for instant, Neville's moments of heroic defiance (it just gets lost in the chaos going on at the moment). For my money, the book felt somehow "cluttered" with all the character development (which I'm usually a great fan of -- but even a good thing can be... Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:51:36 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows--19386-review-39054 kfrkuhne 3