Fifth Column by Mike Hollow (Book Review!)

Fifth Column (The Blitz Detective, Book 2)

By Mike Hollow

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Suspense

Published by- Lion Fiction

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 336

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-78264-186-5

We are taken back to the time of the London Blitz during WW II in Fifth Column, by Mike Hollow.

D.I. Jago is back to solver another mystery.  After a night raid, the body of a young woman is found.  She has no identity and can’t be tied to the area, so D.I. Jago is called in.  He quickly learns that her name was Mary Watkins and was strangled.  She worked for an engineering company which is now missing chemicals.

Is she to blame for the theft?  Who killed her?  And will the romance between D.I. Jago and the American reporter, Miss Dorothy Appleton. 

About the Author-

Mike Hollow currently lives in Hampshire with his wife.  He has worked for the BBC and Tearfund.  He is a freelance writer and editor.

My thoughts-

One of my favorite genres to read is mysteries, so I was excited when I was given the chance to read Fifth Column, the second book in the series.

While I enjoyed trying to figure out who killed Mary Watkins, my favorite part of the book was learning all the little interesting tidbits about the London area in 1940.  It helped me to know and feel what it was like for those in the area at the time.  I didn’t know that they had Dig for Victory gardens (vegetable gardens), similar to our Victory gardens in the States.  I didn’t know that there were people who liked Hitler in England and wanted to be a part of his world.  It was interesting that there were the superstitions like “knock and wood” and that a magpie by itself means bad luck.  Those superstitions came from a lady from Scotland. 

I liked the map of the area in the front of the book, but I would like to see a list of characters in future books.  I kept getting the characters mixed up.  The acknowledgements were interesting, because I learned that this mystery was based on a 1939 trial about a man who tried to extort money by threatening to accuse someone of spying for Germany. 

I enjoyed learning more about Detective Inspector John Jago and meeting new characters in this book.  Fifth Column stands alone, but it is still a good idea to read Direct Hit first.  I look forward to reading more books by Mike Hollow.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Fifth Column, by Mike Hollow, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Methuselah Project by Rick Barry (Book Review!)

The Methuselah Project

by Rick Barry

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Historical / Christian / Suspense

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2015

Number of pages- 312

Age Group- Adult (men)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4387-9

Roger Green was shot down in Germany in 1943.  He was taken prisoner and was an unwilling participant of an experiment.  He has lived for seventy years as a prisoner, and the scientist who has taken care of him for all these years has passed away.  He hasn’t aged a bit and has no knowledge of what has really been happening in the world.  He has read lots of historical books.  He has also read the Bible, which has helped him all these years.  He wants to escape, but when he does the world is unrecognizable.  It is 2015.

Katherine Mueller has always lived in the modern world, so when they meet, she questions what he believes.  He is running from the group who has kept him hidden for all these years.  Katherine is part of the group who has hidden him and is now looking for him.

Will they be able to work together?  Will Katherine turn him in to her organization?  Will Roger be able to adjust to his new world?

About the Author-

Rick Barry currently lives in Indiana.  He is the director of church planting ministries at BIEM.  He speaks Russian and has written Gunner’s Run and Kiriath’s Quest.  He is on Facebook and Twitter.

My thoughts-

World War II is a subject that interests me, and this book was very interesting.  I think The Methuselah Project would make a perfect movie.  When I finished reading this book, I had to go find my husband and tell him all about it.  I could not believe how much I could remember and how I wished I could read more.

Dr. Kossler, the man who took care of Roger Green (POW), for all those years was intriguing.  I thought that he was intriguing, because although he did not tell Roger the truth about the end of World War II, (Roger thought WW II was still being fought) Dr. Kossler treated him very well.  Dr. Kossler brought him books to read, kept him company, and made sure Roger had what he needed.  He believed in the project.  Dr. Kossler’s new assistants did not believe in the Methuselah Project and did not treat Roger respectfully.

Katherine, even though she was a part of the group who was trying to capture him, had great integrity and knew when to stand up to the people in her organization, who were trying to kill Roger.

My favorite part of the book took place after Roger escaped from the house in Germany, made it to the United States, and was with Katherine.  It was fun going with them on their journey as they learned more about Roger’s past.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I recommend it to everyone, but especially men.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Methuselah Project, by Rick Barry, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Direct Hit by Mike Hollow (Book Review!)

Direct Hit (The Blitz Detective)

By Mike Hollow

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction

Published by- Lion Fiction

Copyrighted- 2015

Number of pages- 318

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-78264-127-8

We are taken back to the beginning of the London Blitz during WW II in Direct Hit, by Mike Hollow.

Detective Inspector John Jago and his associate know who the victim is, but the body is obliterated by a bomb.  Now they have to build their case without it.  It will be even more difficult, because the victim, Charles Villiers, was disliked by many people and had many secrets.

About the Author-

Mike Hollow currently lives in Basingstoke with his wife.  He has worked for the BBC and Tearfund.  He is a freelance writer and editor.

My thoughts-

One of my favorite genres to read is mysteries, so I was excited when I was given the chance to read this book.

I enjoy reading historical fiction.  I thought it was great how this book included the thoughts and feelings about the people who were in the direct paths of the bombings.  It also included the differences between the upper class and working class.

At some points in this book I kept getting the different characters confused.  Sometimes they were called by their last name and sometimes their first.  They were also so similar that I wasn’t sure what part they played.  A list of characters at the beginning of the book would have been helpful.

I liked the map in the front.  I was able to know what side of London was being hit.  I do wish the acknowledgements were in the front of the book.  It would have tied the information together.

I enjoyed meeting Detective Inspector John Jago and the other people in this book.  I look forward to reading more books by Mike Hollow.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Direct Hit, by Mike Hollow, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Defy the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn (Review)

Defy the Night

By Heather Munn and Lydia Munn

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Historical

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 312

Age Group- Older Teen and Adult 

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4321-3

The photos are courtesy of Heather Munn!

In Defy the Night, by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn, fifteen-year-old Magali lives in France’s “free zone.”  Life is still free for her, but food is rationed and there are many refugees in her town.  The free zone is run by the Vichy government.  The Vichy government runs their own internment camps and they allow aid workers into the camps to help the children.  They also release the children to aid workers. 

Paquerette is one of those aid workers.  She asks Magali and some of the other girls in the village to help her.  The work is very hard and Magali is not sure that she will be able to do it or keep doing it once she begins. 

How many children will she be able to save and how will others in the village accept what she does?

Excerpt from the book!

About the Authors-

Heather Munn grew up in France with her missionary parents and now lives with her husband and son in Illinois.  She went to Wheaton College where she has earned a BA in literature.  Heather wanted to be a writer since she was five-years-old.

Lydia Munn and her husband have two children, Heather, and a son, Robin.  Lydia has been church planting and Bible teaching in France since 1983.  She has a BA in literature from Wheaton and has always enjoy reading books.

My thoughts-

Heather Munn and Lydia Munn have written another wonderful book in the Refuge in the Night series (unofficial name, courtesy of Heather Munn).  I learned a lot about 1941 France and World War II when I read their latest book, Defy the Night.

What I know about World War II is basically what I learned in my grammar school textbooks, Pearl Harbor and the London Blitz.  I never knew about France with the Vichy government and their internment camps.  I now know a lot more about France and what its citizens went through during part of World War II.

The Munn’s descriptions of the interment camps and Magali’s train rides were so well written that I felt as if I were there with her, Paquerette, and the children.  I could feel their pain and I could understand their fear when the Nazis were on the train with them. 

It was certainly a time of growth for fifteen-year-old Magali.  She grew from a teenager who thought she could do no wrong to a confident, but cautious young woman.  It was also a time of growth with God.  All of the rescues that Magali, Paquerette, and the others did, would not have been possible without God’s grace.

I homeschool my children and this is definitely a book I will be having them read when they are in high school.  It was a perfect living book for the Charlotte Mason Method of teaching.  I wish I had known more about the France, the Vichy government, and the internment camps when I was taking world history.

I would highly recommend Defy the Night to anyone who is interested in World War II.  I would also recommend it to everyone else.  It is an excellent book.

Here is a link to my review from the first book, How Huge the Night.  It is also an excellent book. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Defy the Night, by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

How Huge the Night by Heather and Lydia Munn

Genre- Teen Fiction
How Huge the Night by Heather and Lydia Munn
Published by- Kregel Publications
Copyrighted- 2011
Number of pages- 304 pages
Age Group- Teen
Description of book- paperback, list price $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-3310-8
Extra- "Historical Note" at the end by Heather Munn.
From the back of the book:
For fifteen-year-old Julien Losier, life will never be the same.  His family has relocated to southern France to outrun Hitler’s menace.  But Julien doesn’t want to run.  He doesn’t want to huddle around the radio at night, waiting to hear news through the buzzing static.  Julien doesn’t want to wait.
Angry, frustrated, and itching to do something, Julien finds a battle everywhere he turns.
Soon after his family opens their house to a Jewish boy needing refuge, Julien meets Nina, a young Austrian who has fled her home by her dying father’s command.  Nina’s situation is grave and Julien suddenly realizes the enormity of having someone’s life or death depend on…him.
Here is an expert to the book!

About the authors- Go here for an interview with the authors

Heather Munn has grown up in France with her missionary parents and now lives with her husband in Illinois in a Christian intentional community.  She went to Wheaton College where she has earned a BA in literature.  Heather was wanted to be a writer since she was five-years-old.











Lydia Munn and her husband have two children.  Lydia has been church planting and Bible teaching in France since 1983.  She has a BA in literature from Wheaton and has always enjoy reading books.










My thoughts-

Wow!  What a powerful book.  I couldn’t put it down.  I have studied World War II from textbooks when I was in high school, but all I can remember is facts about Germany, England and the invasion at Pearl Harbor.  Heather and Lydia Munn brought Southern France and Julien’s life as well as Nina’s to me so I was able to live vicariously through them.

It must have been very difficult to live in their time, being on the edge of adulthood, but not quite being there yet.  I remember being a teen and it was hard enough without a war, so I can’t imagine what it would be like with the threat of war and everybody choosing sides.    

God plays such an important role in a young adult’s life, especially during wartime.  I was glad to see the role that Julien’s grandfather played in introducing a just and forgiving God to Julien.  A young adult needs to know that God forgive us our sins and we need to make sure we forgive others, so we can help lead them to God.    

I would recommend this book to all teens as well as adults who wish to learn more about what life was like in southern France during World War II.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received How Huge the Night by Heather and Lydia Munn for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.