Summary: In this book, author Ronald Kessler attempts to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into protecting the President of the United States, as well as other high-profile people. The author begins with a brief history of the Secret Service, and then talks about how the agency grew into its current role [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): At some unspecified point in the future, books are banned and firemen, instead of being called to put out fires, are called to ignite them. This is Ray Bradbury’s vision of a dystopic United States in his 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451.
The protagonist in the story is Guy Montag, a fireman [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): The Graveyard Book opens with a frightening murder scene. A shadowy man named Jack has just killed an entire family — except for a two-year-old toddler who had climbed out of his crib, crawled down the stairs, and ambled out the door. This was a huge mistake for Jack. He [...]
Summary: Investigative journalist Eric Schlosser takes readers behind the scenes of some of the nation’s biggest fast food chains to show how the industry has impacted the American way of life. According to Schlosser, the rise of McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, et al. led to massive changes in agriculture, city planning and [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): As the novel opens, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the chief medical examiner for the commonwealth of Virginia, is called to a crime scene in the middle of the night. A woman has been strangled, and while that alone ordinarily wouldn’t warrant the wake-up call, this case is different. It’s thought to [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): George and Mary Ann McCray are hardworking farmers in a small Midwestern town. Three of their four children are grown and have moved out, but 20-year-old Todd still lives at home — and probably always will. Todd has a developmental disability that prevents him from being able to do the [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): The plot centers on two young men who are the best of friends but who are haunted by a murderous history involving their fathers. Only one of the friends knows of this history. Both of the young men are named Allan Armadale, as were both of their fathers. They are [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): Seventeen-year-old Ronnie Miller is not thrilled at the prospect of having to spend the summer in North Carolina with her father and 10-year-old brother. It’s bad enough that she’ll be away from her friends and Manhattan nightlife that she’s become accustomed to; add in the fact that she hasn’t spoken [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): Upscale private investigator Aaron Fox (black) and LAPD detective Moses “Moe” Reed (white) are estranged half-brothers who suddenly find themselves working on the same case. They are both investigating the disappearance of a college student named Caitlin Frostig, who went missing after a night at the swanky Riptide club [...]
Plot summary (with spoilers): Portland homicide detective Archie Sheridan is slowly trying to piece his life back together after 10 horrific days of captivity and torture at the hands of Gretchen Lowell, also known as The Beauty Killer. Archie is back at work, has just captured the so-called After School Strangler a couple months [...]