Who Killed the Fonz by James Boice

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced copy. 

A campy look at the Happy Days gang, if the timeline continued into the 1980's. Richard Cunningham is a movie director, Ralph and Potsie are still a single unit of cheesy one-liners, and the Fonz is dead. Arnold's is struggling for business with the Bennigan's across the street.

I grew up watching Happy Days, so there is a fun nostalgic element to this. The book's main theme, of finding out what happened to the Fonz, is as campy as a Saved the the Bell episode, or Scooby Doo who-done-it. But then again, so was Happy Days, do it does fit the old feel of the show. Richie tries hitting the jukebox to get it to play. Oops, sorry--Richard, not Richie. He demands to be taken seriously. A fun and quick read.

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for this advanced copy.  Having just finished Hellbent, I ran seamlessly right into this book.

Out of the Dark is a fantastic cat-and-mouse game.  It follows Evan Smoak (aka The Nowhere Man, aka Orphan X) where Hellbent left off.  The President has interest in Orphan X, specifically the entire Orphan program.  Without spoiling the book, Evan is in his usual scenarios.  Despite his running, shooting, plotting, and hiding, he still likes his chilled vodka.  He still is in a will they/won't they relationship with Mia and her son, Peter.

Familiar faces re-appear in this book.  Hurwitz does a great job of creating these characters, having them show up in each book, as though no time has passed since we saw them last.  He builds suspense in his writing, and has the reader trying to solve what's coming next.  I hope to come back to this review once the book has been published.  A must-read for any Hurwitz fans!

Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz

Ah, Hellbent. Hurwitz has done it again!

The third book in the Orphan X series did not disappoint.  Our hero Evan Smoak is saving Joey, an Orphan program outcast, is on the hunt for Van Sciver, who apparently is the number 2 man giving orders, rescuing an initiate from a gang, and all while trying to keep his friendship alive with Mia in his apartment complex.  The Nowhere Man is constantly busy, and this book didn't slow down.  We are left with a wonderful little conversation with Evan and the number 1 man giving orders. 

These books are full of action, suspense, and really great relationships.  Oh, and he loves Vodka.  Really expensive vodka.  He also loves his plant Vera II.  I love that although this guy is constantly battling, scheming, and running, he's not some cartoon or superhero.  There are human emotions and gentle characteristics to him.  He kind of takes on a father figure role for Joey, just as Jack Johns had done for him.  This was a great read, and I am awaiting Out of the Dark to be released.

Let's get started

I usually post reviews of books on Goodreads and Instagram, but I felt I want to start a blog to further evaluate what I am reading.  I set a goal of 60 books for 2019, but we are having a baby in March, and realistically I will not be reading as much.  I will use this blog to further discuss what I think of my reads for the year.  Cheers!