Alex Kava - Damaged

Alex Kava writes psychological suspense novels.  She published her first book A Perfect Evil in 2000. FBI profiler, Maggie O’Dell hunts down a child serial killer in Platte City, Nebraska. Nick Morrelli, local lawman on the scene assists Maggie in many ways despite local family complications.

Ten years and eight O’Dell novels later, Maggie’s a seasoned veteran. She’s been exposed to biological hazards and majorly twisted serial killers. In the beginning of Damaged, we find Maggie washing off cerebellum spatter from her latest case. No sooner does she get out of the shower, and the FBI sends her to Pensacola, Florida to investigate miscellaneous body parts packaged like deli meat and packed in an ice cooler floating in the ocean.

For good measure Kava adds Homeland Security, FEMA, Coast Guard and military to the government soup to keep the plot interesting. However in a rare literary occurrence the various departments actually play well together. Wounded veterans from Afghanistan in the military hospital suffer from an unknown disease that is proving fatal, and a category 5 hurricane bears down on Pensacola. O’Dell must determine if a serial killer stalks the beach, and if so solve the case before the evidence washes away.

Kava’s next book, Hotwire, is scheduled for release in July 2011. Maggie O’Dell gets called back to Nebraska to investigate the mysterious death of a group of high school students. Meanwhile on the East Coast a deadly mysterious disease infects an elementary school. Could the two incidents be related? Probably.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Just a couple of days from fall, but the weather in Florida remains hot and humid. Perfect weather for enjoying the air conditioning and reading a good book about pirates. Reading a semi-historical book about life in the Caribbean before air conditioning, bug repellant, and running water makes life seem so much better.

Michael Crichton's, Pirate Latitudes, tells the story of privateer Captain Charles Hunter, who has a severe dislike of the Spanish Navy. However, he does like their gold and silver. He sails out of Port Royal, Jamaica under the English flag in search of treasure and adventure. He encounters a hurricane, damsels in distress, nasty Spanish officers, sea monsters and native cannibals. The adventure begins early and continues throughout the book.

Dream Works purchased the rights to the movie. About six months ago, a considerable amount of chatter on the Internet stated that Stephen Spielberg hoped to make it into a movie. If they do decide to make the movie, it will be interesting to see how they manage to top Pirates of the Caribbean.