I like Watkins' style, reminding me somewhat of Hemingway. His prose seems very laid-back, almost lethargic, yet his action sequences of fighting in the war take your breath away.I love the set up...the father dying because what would seem to be a straightforward blood transfusion fails because B...
It is the tenth century, the Viking era is waning and Christianity beginning to supersede the old Norse beliefs. Hakon is a young boy brought up on the Norwegian coast, and, having survived being struck by lightning, he is chosen to be the priest of the old religion and keeper of its secrets. But...
He was wearing a Panama hat. “Hello, Thurkettle. What can I do for you?” After Willoughby left, I had fallen asleep with my head on the table. Now the wood grain was printed on my cheek. Thurkettle tried to smile, but only bared his teeth. He worked for the Maxwell family. Harley Maxwell, the fam...
At his feet was a basket of food, some of which he had unpacked and was eating. He gnawed at a piece of sausage and held a bottle of champagne in his other hand. He rolled his head to face me, groggy with pleasure. “Mr. Halifax,” he drawled. “So good of you to come.” “Explain this,” I said. I was...
At least I thought it did if my opinion counts for anything. It was mostly a showbiz group consisting of approximately two hundred of A.J.’s closest friends and a few acquaintances. Included were most of the local glitterati. Probably holdouts, waiting for some fantastic happening that never mate...
She kept the key on a string around her neck, along with a crucifix with tiny rubies in the eyes of the Jesus. She ran her finger along the rank of polished gunstocks until she found what she was looking for. “You said the twelve-gauge, right?” “Yes, ma’am,” said Dodge. He had always been formal ...
At the graduation ceremony, the headmaster gave his usual brave speech about prosperity and duty to one’s country. The fact that there was very little prosperity going around, a conflict in Korea, and fears of a third world war meant that the only duty on people’s minds was staying alive rather t...