I have read two books since last week’s Roundup post. Yes, I am hooked on watching Battlestar Gallactica on my iPad! I love a good science fiction series as I need the escapism.

Three Minutes by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström

The first book was Three Minutes by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström, #07 in their Grens and Sundkvist series. Here is the blurb:

Presumed dead by the Stockholm police, master criminal and undercover informant Piet Hoffmann is now on the run from the Swedish authorities, living with his wife and two young sons under an assumed name in Cali, Colombia. Only Hoffmann’s former police handler, Erik Wilson, knows where he is–and that he has accepted two dangerous new jobs: one as a high-level enforcer for a Colombian cocaine cartel and one as an infiltrator for the DEA, working to bring the cartel down. The FBI even lends credence to his cover story by adding Hoffmann’s alias to the Most Wanted list.

But when the Speaker of the House is kidnapped by the cartel during an official visit to Colombia, everything changes–fast. Hoffmann is party to the highest-profile political kidnapping in years and therefore directly in the firing line in what is quickly dubbed the “Final War on Drugs.” Suddenly, the Most Wanted list becomes a kill list and the DEA cuts off all contact on orders from the top, leaving Hoffmann and his family stranded.

Hoffmann must walk a delicate line as he tries to protect his young family and keep up his dual role as a cartel enforcer and a deniable intelligence asset for the US government. It soon becomes clear that his only chance at getting out alive is to rescue the Speaker of the House and bring him back to the States–but to do it he’ll need the help of Ewert Grens, the stubborn, dogged Stockholm detective who hasn’t forgotten Hoffmann since the explosive showdown in Aspsas prison years ago.

It quickly became apparent that the story was continuing on from the previous book in the series, however, there were enough signposts along the way that this did not cause any issues to me, as the reader. This is my Goodreads review for four stars:

This was an excellent thriller. Although I have put it into my “Scandi” folder, it took place mainly in Colombia and was heavily related to the drugs trade. Very well written, totally gripping and with great characters. I will definitely read more books by this pair as the two I have read so far have been wonderful to read. Highly recommended.

Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge

My second book book was a lot less successful: Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge, #01 in her DI Helen Grace series. Here is the blurb:

The girl emerged from the woods, barely alive. Her story was beyond belief. But it was true. Every dreadful word of it.

Days later, another desperate escapee is found – and a pattern is emerging. Pairs of victims are being abducted, imprisoned then faced with a terrible choice: kill or be killed.

Would you rather lose your life or lose your mind?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has faced down her own demons on her rise to the top. As she leads the investigation to hunt down this unseen monster, she learns that it may be the survivors – living calling cards – who hold the key to the case.

And unless she succeeds, more innocents will die . . .

I gave this book three stars and wrote the following short review:

I enjoyed most of this book: the plot was gripping and exciting and the characters were well drawn. However, it suffered from the horrible short chapter syndrome and the writing was very poor at times. Some parts didn’t flow well and there seemed to be leaps and jumps in the investigation that simply didn’t work for me. I may read more in the series as, perhaps, the author improves as she writes more?

I am not sure which book I am going to read next. There are still a couple in my pile of library borrowings and I also have some ebooks queueing. Decisions!

Well, you can find out what I finally decide in next week’s Roundup!

Best wishes and happy reading,

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