Right here, in my own home state of Minnesota, I open the pages to meet James Becker, recently retired government official, who has made his way back to his home town of Red Wing, Minnesota with his wife Beth.  While James “Beck” may be ready for retirement – he soon finds out retirement is not ready for him.  In short time he finds himself helping out a friend and Chief Sheriff Deputy on a crime of a missing woman.

Seems Katherine Whitson, a Minneapolis computer whiz, has disappeared under mysterious circumstances and Beck offers his help to see what he can find out.  What follows within the pages of this book is a masterful read of intelligence, intrigue, and enough humor mixed in to keep things Minnesota nice, and this Minnesotan laughing out loud.

I have to admit this book was not a hard sell for me to review.  First of all it is set in my home state and I do love to be able to picture the areas described, the roads traveled, and the sites seen.  Secondly, I do love a good mystery and it didn’t take me very many pages to realize that was exactly what I held in my hands.

John Betcher has created a character I found to be fully rounded – a retired Government Agent, a good guy, incredibly wise and good at what he does and fully in love with his wife.

Ok – stating that he is fully in love with his wife might seem like an odd statement, but I have to mention this because this is one of the thee in the book that really impressed me.  So often our detective/ crime fighter characters are either single, divorced, or married but you never actually get to see the wife as a fully developed character.  In John Betcher’s book, not only is Beth fully present – she is fully active in this book.  Beth is smart and completely in love with her husband and I loved how they had each others back.  Maybe this is just me seeing this, but I felt having such a wonderfully functioning couple was – well… refreshing.

I was impressed all the way around with the writing, the plot, the whole story.  As I finished the last pages I closed the book very satisfied that all the loose ends had been tied and hopeful that I could follow the roads that Beck travels again…

(Oh – and I was not disappointed to discover that Beck, does make an appearance in John Betcher’s newest release:  The 19th Element )

Amazon Rating

Book Journey has updated the 2010 read map to include The Missing Element

When in Red Wing Minnesota, stop in at Best Of Times Book Store for a wonderful experience and a complimentary cup of coffee!

288  Pages

Cover Story:  This is a cover that would not cause me to pick up this book.  I hate to say that, because it is truly a wonderful read – but this cover does not sell the book for me.  I had to hear about the book from other sources, and still wondered about it once I seen this very plain cover.  I am here to tell you friends – do not judge this one by its cover – this is a wonderful read!

I received my copy of this book for review from Author John Betcher

So here’s the story…. in the midst of the Twilight series, Eclipse to be exact,  Bree is one of very few newborn vampires introduced by name.   Ten pages later she is killed off during the war between the evil vamps and the Cullen/Werewolf battle.  In this book, the short second life of bree tanner, Bree is already a newborn when the pages open and this is told from her point of view up until where she meets Bella and well… you know…. dies…. again.

I’m not giving anything away, seriously…. it’s in the title!

Honesty time.  I did not remember Bree Tanner from the  book.   I had to go back and find her.  Bree was a back ground character at most, and I never imagined I would see or hear from her again, obviously – because I forgot she ever existed.  ;D

When I heard about this book coming out I was really excited.  I thought it was brilliant of Stephenie Meyer to bring in another book that could add to the already phenomenon that is all things Twilight.  (I could only dream that J K Rowling would try such a book!) Once the book was out I snatched it up from the closest B & N and brought it home waiting for the right time to read it and this week with the opening of Eclipse, I knew the time to read was now.

Honestly time again.  I didn’t love it.  And… here is why:  I am not really a vampire reading fan.  Yes, I read the Twilight books and yes, I enjoyed them… but to me that was not a vampire read.  The Twilight series to me is  a YA love story.  It involves a High School, a new girl who is attractive, a hot guy, and a second hot guy – that are both interested in the new girl. The fact that ones a vampire and one is a werewolf, that is just a new twist on an old story.  One I really feel is an incredible idea.   They don’t really go into any detail of killing, in fact the Cullen’s hunt animals – not humans.  Yes – there are “baddies” but you don’t really see too much of what they are doing, as this is Bella’s story, told from Bella’s perspective.  If Bella doesn’t see it – it may as well have not have happened.

I personally have a tough time with the whole blood sucking thing and no offensive to Bree, after all that is the way that her and her kind roll.

I think this book is going to be loved by many that enjoy the true vampire reads.  Stephenie Meyer made a smart move by publishing the book and from what I have heard the book has done well, and I am very pleased to add that the book sales that donate $1 of the purchase price to the Red Cross (which is also such a brilliant idea), has raised over 1 Million dollars for the Red Cross International Response Fund.

Amazon Rating

I have updated my Book Journey map to include the short second life of bree tanner

When in Forks, Washington – I am told by a coffee connoisseur, that Espresso Vivace Roasteria is the place to go for a great atmosphere and an awesome cup of coffee.

192 Pages

Cover Story:  If a cover can be perfect – this would be one that is.  Seriously, an hour-glass filled with red sand, representing how quickly time is passing and running out?  Once again – brilliant.

I bought by copy of this book from Barnes & Noble