Recently finished - "The Information Officer"

[Nyssa]

I've gotten through a few Kindle mysteries as well, including
the solid third in the Hunter Rayne Highway Mystery series and a
disappointing thriller "Credible Threat" that wasn't much of
a threat or credible.

But to the topic...

"The Information Officer" by Mark Mills is a combination
wartime historical novel and a serial murderer mystery.
Set in 1942 Malta, British officer Max Chadwick is in charge
of the massaging of the war news for the official news
releases and the local newspapers during the worst of the
Axis bombings of the islands.

Max's friend, a medical officer, clues him into the body of
a local woman who has been murdered and apparently raped and
tortured. A bit of research shows that other local women
working in various clubs and taverns have also been murdered
over the past two years, but Max becomes convinced that these
cases are all related and sets out to gather proof that leads
to the murderer. His superiors are not thrilled and order him
to drop it, but he continues despite the roadblocks set before
him by both the military and the Axis bombers.

The chapters following Max's detective work are alternated with
chapters written by the serial killer outlining how he became
a murderer and why.

The book was interesting from the wartime angle as well. I didn't
know much about Malta's history during WWII, and there was
plenty of descriptions of the bombings, lack of food and other
supplies, and the position the islands held strategically.

It's a challenging mystery and an unsettling look into the mind
of an sociopath. I did NOT figure out who the murderer was, although
I had a few close guesses. Good stuff.

I did manage to find time to get three book reviews written
and posted to Amazon, including "The Information Officer" and
"Credible Threat." Overall, I'm still falling behind in the
reviewing department since I tend to prefer reading to
writing.

Nyssa, who will throw in that she doesn't have a birth
certificate but still managed to get both a security clearance
and a passport

[Francis A. Miniter]

Post by Nyssa
I've gotten through a few Kindle mysteries as well, including
the solid third in the Hunter Rayne Highway Mystery series and a
disappointing thriller "Credible Threat" that wasn't much of
a threat or credible.
But to the topic...
"The Information Officer" by Mark Mills is a combination
wartime historical novel and a serial murderer mystery.
Set in 1942 Malta, British officer Max Chadwick is in charge
of the massaging of the war news for the official news
releases and the local newspapers during the worst of the
Axis bombings of the islands.
Max's friend, a medical officer, clues him into the body of
a local woman who has been murdered and apparently raped and
tortured. A bit of research shows that other local women
working in various clubs and taverns have also been murdered
over the past two years, but Max becomes convinced that these
cases are all related and sets out to gather proof that leads
to the murderer. His superiors are not thrilled and order him
to drop it, but he continues despite the roadblocks set before
him by both the military and the Axis bombers.
The chapters following Max's detective work are alternated with
chapters written by the serial killer outlining how he became
a murderer and why.
The book was interesting from the wartime angle as well. I didn't
know much about Malta's history during WWII, and there was
plenty of descriptions of the bombings, lack of food and other
supplies, and the position the islands held strategically.
It's a challenging mystery and an unsettling look into the mind
of an sociopath. I did NOT figure out who the murderer was, although
I had a few close guesses. Good stuff.
I did manage to find time to get three book reviews written
and posted to Amazon, including "The Information Officer" and
"Credible Threat." Overall, I'm still falling behind in the
reviewing department since I tend to prefer reading to
writing.
Nyssa, who will throw in that she doesn't have a birth
certificate but still managed to get both a security clearance
and a passport

I have read Mills's first three novels: Amagansett, The Savage Garden
and The Information Officer. When preparing this post, I checked and
found that he now has three more out there that I did not know about:
House of the Hanged; The Long Shadow and Waiting for Doggo.

Amagansett is a powerful and sad mystery novel involving a lost secret
love. It is set on the south shore of Long Island some time after World
War 2, and is written in a haunting manner. I loved it.

The Savage Garden is set in Italy in more contemporary times. Its style
is more like that of John Mortimer's _Summer's Lease_ (also set in
Italy), in which a mystery gradually emerges in the text. Again, a
great read, and I loved it.

The Information Officer was a very good read, but it did not grab me the
way the first two did. I liked it, but its place in memory is not as
clear as that of the two earlier novels, even though I read all of them
as they were published.


Francis A. Miniter

[Mike Burke]

Post by Francis A. Miniter

Post by Nyssa
I've gotten through a few Kindle mysteries as well, including
the solid third in the Hunter Rayne Highway Mystery series and a
disappointing thriller "Credible Threat" that wasn't much of
a threat or credible.
But to the topic...
"The Information Officer" by Mark Mills is a combination
wartime historical novel and a serial murderer mystery.
Set in 1942 Malta, British officer Max Chadwick is in charge
of the massaging of the war news for the official news
releases and the local newspapers during the worst of the
Axis bombings of the islands.
Max's friend, a medical officer, clues him into the body of
a local woman who has been murdered and apparently raped and
tortured. A bit of research shows that other local women
working in various clubs and taverns have also been murdered
over the past two years, but Max becomes convinced that these
cases are all related and sets out to gather proof that leads
to the murderer. His superiors are not thrilled and order him
to drop it, but he continues despite the roadblocks set before
him by both the military and the Axis bombers.
The chapters following Max's detective work are alternated with
chapters written by the serial killer outlining how he became
a murderer and why.
The book was interesting from the wartime angle as well. I didn't
know much about Malta's history during WWII, and there was
plenty of descriptions of the bombings, lack of food and other
supplies, and the position the islands held strategically.
It's a challenging mystery and an unsettling look into the mind
of an sociopath. I did NOT figure out who the murderer was, although
I had a few close guesses. Good stuff.
I did manage to find time to get three book reviews written
and posted to Amazon, including "The Information Officer" and
"Credible Threat." Overall, I'm still falling behind in the
reviewing department since I tend to prefer reading to
writing.
Nyssa, who will throw in that she doesn't have a birth
certificate but still managed to get both a security clearance
and a passport

I have read Mills's first three novels: Amagansett, The Savage Garden
and The Information Officer. When preparing this post, I checked and
House of the Hanged; The Long Shadow and Waiting for Doggo.
Amagansett is a powerful and sad mystery novel involving a lost secret
love. It is set on the south shore of Long Island some time after World
War 2, and is written in a haunting manner. I loved it.
The Savage Garden is set in Italy in more contemporary times. Its style
is more like that of John Mortimer's _Summer's Lease_ (also set in
Italy), in which a mystery gradually emerges in the text. Again, a
great read, and I loved it.
The Information Officer was a very good read, but it did not grab me the
way the first two did. I liked it, but its place in memory is not as
clear as that of the two earlier novels, even though I read all of them
as they were published.
Francis A. Miniter

Amagansett (The Whalebone House) was brilliant. Couldn't put it down.
Note to self, check out his others. Thanks to you and Nyssa for the
heads-up.

[Titus G]

snip

Post by Mike Burke

Post by Francis A. Miniter
I have read Mills's first three novels: Amagansett, The Savage Garden
and The Information Officer. When preparing this post, I checked and
House of the Hanged; The Long Shadow and Waiting for Doggo.
Amagansett is a powerful and sad mystery novel involving a lost secret
love. It is set on the south shore of Long Island some time after World
War 2, and is written in a haunting manner. I loved it.
The Savage Garden is set in Italy in more contemporary times. Its style
is more like that of John Mortimer's _Summer's Lease_ (also set in
Italy), in which a mystery gradually emerges in the text. Again, a
great read, and I loved it.
The Information Officer was a very good read, but it did not grab me the
way the first two did. I liked it, but its place in memory is not as
clear as that of the two earlier novels, even though I read all of them
as they were published.

Amagansett (The Whalebone House) was brilliant. Couldn't put it down.

Ditto. But when I finished it there were no other books by Mills in the
library.

Post by Mike Burke
Note to self, check out his others.

I kept this post from last September as a reminder and have now
privately borrowed The Savage Garden and House of the Hunted but will
not start them yet. Have you read any others, Mike?

Thanks to you and Nyssa for the

Post by Mike Burke
heads-up.

Ditto. Many of my favourite reads have been recommendations from Francis
A. Miniter.

[Nyssa]

Post by Francis A. Miniter

Post by Nyssa
I've gotten through a few Kindle mysteries as well,
including the solid third in the Hunter Rayne Highway
Mystery series and a disappointing thriller "Credible
Threat" that wasn't much of a threat or credible.
But to the topic...
"The Information Officer" by Mark Mills is a combination
wartime historical novel and a serial murderer mystery.
Set in 1942 Malta, British officer Max Chadwick is in
charge of the massaging of the war news for the official
news releases and the local newspapers during the worst
of the Axis bombings of the islands.
Max's friend, a medical officer, clues him into the body
of a local woman who has been murdered and apparently
raped and tortured. A bit of research shows that other
local women working in various clubs and taverns have
also been murdered over the past two years, but Max
becomes convinced that these cases are all related and
sets out to gather proof that leads to the murderer. His
superiors are not thrilled and order him to drop it, but
he continues despite the roadblocks set before him by
both the military and the Axis bombers.
The chapters following Max's detective work are
alternated with chapters written by the serial killer
outlining how he became a murderer and why.
The book was interesting from the wartime angle as well.
I didn't know much about Malta's history during WWII, and
there was plenty of descriptions of the bombings, lack of
food and other supplies, and the position the islands
held strategically.
It's a challenging mystery and an unsettling look into
the mind of an sociopath. I did NOT figure out who the
murderer was, although I had a few close guesses. Good
stuff.
I did manage to find time to get three book reviews
written and posted to Amazon, including "The Information
Officer" and "Credible Threat." Overall, I'm still
falling behind in the reviewing department since I tend
to prefer reading to writing.
Nyssa, who will throw in that she doesn't have a birth
certificate but still managed to get both a security
clearance and a passport

I have read Mills's first three novels: Amagansett, The
Savage Garden
and The Information Officer. When preparing this post, I
checked and found that he now has three more out there
that I did not know about: House of the Hanged; The Long
Shadow and Waiting for Doggo.
Amagansett is a powerful and sad mystery novel involving a
lost secret
love. It is set on the south shore of Long Island some
time after World
War 2, and is written in a haunting manner. I loved it.
The Savage Garden is set in Italy in more contemporary
times. Its style
is more like that of John Mortimer's _Summer's Lease_
(also set in
Italy), in which a mystery gradually emerges in the text.
Again, a great read, and I loved it.
The Information Officer was a very good read, but it did
not grab me the
way the first two did. I liked it, but its place in
memory is not as clear as that of the two earlier novels,
even though I read all of them as they were published.
Francis A. Miniter

This was the first Mills book I've read. I probably gave
it a better rating and review than I might have otherwise
except that the previously read book was "Credible Threat"
that was not very good.

Oddly enough whenever I review one of these three star not-
well-plotted books such as "Credible Threat," soon after
posting them I get "not helpful" votes by Amazon customers who
think disagreeing with a review means it's not helpful.
Either that, or the author's friends and family pile onto
anyone daring to point out the book's failings. Sure enough,
I've already got one down vote on my "Credible Threat" review.

I'll really get punished when I finally finish and write
a review for my current read, "Failed Succession." It's got
a good plot basis (A presidential election with all voting
done via machines, then evidence comes out that the results
were tampered with by bad guys. An odd set of circumstances
would have the House Speaker ineligible to succeed since
he's not native born and the Senate Pres ProTem not available
due to his choosing not to run for reelection since he was one
of the presidential candidates.)

Unfortunately the author didn't bother to run his manuscript
by a anyone who know more than the bare basics of computers.
Since my background IS computers, I'm constantly having to
put the Kindle aside to avoid throwing it against the wall
when terminology and other pieces of the story are misused
or simply wrong. Like referring to client computers or
workstations as servers, misunderstanding how computer
encryption works (confusing it with basic cryptography
that substitutes word and sentence order) and much more.

Add to that some mistakes in other areas such as a character
stating that only 1/3rd of the House members run for office
every election cycle instead of only the Senate, and it's
clear no one really proofed or edited this thing with an
eye towards fact checking. Too bad, because it's a good
plot idea and really ruins the book for me.

I may have to switch to a non-fiction book or two after
this one just to put some space between me and these
poorly done efforts in the thriller and mystery genres.

Meanwhile I'll make a note to myself to be on the lookout
for more of Mark Mills's work. Oddly enough, "The Information
Officer" was one of my dollar store finds. Better deal
than many of the "free" Kindle books lately.

Nyssa, who is always on the lookout for bargains and new
books

[Carol Dickinson]

and it's

Post by Nyssa
clear no one really proofed or edited this thing with an
eye towards fact checking. Too bad, because it's a good
plot idea and really ruins the book for me.
I may have to switch to a non-fiction book or two after
this one just to put some space between me and these
poorly done efforts in the thriller and mystery genres.

Well everybody knows how I feel about these new cozy mysteries,
we've used several labels for but I like best the "cookie cutter"
description someone recently used.

I'm wondering if maybe the whole publishing world has stopped
editing and fact checking. It seems the virus has spread
everywhere.

Carol

[Francis A. Miniter]

Post by Nyssa
and it's

Post by Nyssa
clear no one really proofed or edited this thing with an
eye towards fact checking. Too bad, because it's a good
plot idea and really ruins the book for me.
I may have to switch to a non-fiction book or two after
this one just to put some space between me and these
poorly done efforts in the thriller and mystery genres.

Well everybody knows how I feel about these new cozy mysteries,
we've used several labels for but I like best the "cookie cutter"
description someone recently used.
I'm wondering if maybe the whole publishing world has stopped
editing and fact checking. It seems the virus has spread
everywhere.
Carol

I am finding all too many typos, as well. Most of the typos are words,
so I am guessing that there is an over-reliance upon spell checking
programs. But no spell checker is going to tell you you wrote the wrong
correctly spelled word.


Francis A. Miniter

[Nyssa]

Post by Francis A. Miniter

Post by Nyssa
and it's

Post by Nyssa
clear no one really proofed or edited this thing with an
eye towards fact checking. Too bad, because it's a good
plot idea and really ruins the book for me.
I may have to switch to a non-fiction book or two after
this one just to put some space between me and these
poorly done efforts in the thriller and mystery genres.

Well everybody knows how I feel about these new cozy
mysteries, we've used several labels for but I like best
the "cookie cutter" description someone recently used.
I'm wondering if maybe the whole publishing world has
stopped
editing and fact checking. It seems the virus has spread
everywhere.
Carol

I am finding all too many typos, as well. Most of the
typos are words, so I am guessing that there is an
over-reliance upon spell checking
programs. But no spell checker is going to tell you you
wrote the wrong correctly spelled word.
Francis A. Miniter

You can add grammar errors to that too, such as subject/verb
agreement and verb tense. I cringe went I read "he had went"
and similar misuse of the past perfect tense. The same goes
for misuse of pronouns with prepositions.

Not only am I reading too many of these types of errors,
I'm hearing them on commercial radio as well. It seems
an entire generation has skipped elementary school grammar
classes.

Nyssa, who was the one who coined "cookie cutter" to describe
the repetitive and similar plots in the current deluge of
cozy mysteries