Outside of a Dog

Jonathan Trott reviewed Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #4)

"Martha Wells's Hugo, Nebula, Alex, and Locus Award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling …

Another fantastic Murderbot morsel

5 stars

It's always tough finishing one of these as I know there is one less morsel to read of this fantastic series. In this episode, Murderbot finally gets back to the original crew and resolves (hopefully) the GreyCris problem. As always there is witty writing, good character development, and an engaging storyline.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #3)

Martha Wells: Rogue Protocol (EBook, 2018, Tordotcom)

Sci-fi’s favorite antisocial A.I. is back on a mission. The case against the too-big-to-fail GrayCris …

Tasty morsel

5 stars

Action packed episode of the diaries. Some more character development and the overarching story moves along nicely. Really punches you in the feels with that ending though…

Jonathan Trott reviewed Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #2)

Martha Wells: Artificial Condition (EBook, 2018, Tordotcom)

It has a dark past—one in which a number of humans were killed. A past …

Another excellent adventure

5 stars

More characters added to the universe, more character development, some juicy backstory filling in, and the usual good writing!

Jonathan Trott reviewed All Systems Red by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries, #1)

Martha Wells: All Systems Red (EBook, 2017, Tor.com)

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring …

Sooooooo goooooood!

5 stars

If you haven’t got into the murderbot universe you are in for a treat. Great characters, sharp humour, great plots, and bite sized morsels to snack on.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Compulsory by Martha Wells

No cover — Martha Wells: Compulsory (2023, Subterranean Press)

Tasty tasty morsel

5 stars

Love this series. Going to love re-reading them all for a third time before I watch the new TV show.

Jonathan Trott reviewed The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey (The Captive's War #1)

James S.A. Corey: The Mercy of Gods (2024, Orbit)

Tough to get into

4 stars

So much world building to get into this book. Didn’t really get grabbed by any of the major characters either. By the end I can see where the series might be heading, will probably read the next book when it comes out.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Picks and Shovels by Cory Doctorow (Martin Hench, #3)

Cory Doctorow: Picks and Shovels (Hardcover, 2025, Tor Books)

*New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow returns to the world of Red Team Blues …

Lovely origin story

5 stars

Nice to get the background of what made Marty Marty. Good twisty tale of the origins of Silicon Valley.

Jonathan Trott reviewed The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow (Martin Hench, #2)

Cory Doctorow: The Bezzle (EBook, 2024, Tor Books)

The year is 2006. Martin Hench is at the top of his game as a …

Another great Marty Hench book

5 stars

This book goes back into Marty’s past a bit and takes a good long hard look at private prison systems and how terrible they really are.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Red Team Blues by Cory Doctorow (Martin Hench, #1)

Cory Doctorow: Red Team Blues (Hardcover, 2023, Tor Books)

A grabby next-Tuesday thriller about cryptocurrency shenanigans that will awaken you to how the world …

Excellent first novel

5 stars

You wouldn’t think a novel about an accountant could be interesting but you would be very very wrong. Cory spins a fabulous tale grounded in the grittiness of modern day San Francisco and surrounds.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Battle Mountain by C. J. Box

Another excellent tale

5 stars

I love how Box weaves the threads all together in the end as the tension keeps on racking up. Weird bit of woo woo in there from Nate though!

Jonathan Trott reviewed Three-Inch Teeth by C. J. Box

Another great Joe Picket novel

5 stars

If you haven’t started this series yet you are in for a treat. Another great entry in the series.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Ricochet by Taylor Moore

Taylor Moore: Ricochet (2023, HarperCollins Publishers)

Not a great read

3 stars

Characters were one dimensional, plot was linear and lazy in its resolutions.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter: Pieces of Her (Paperback, 2019, William Morrow Paperbacks)

Better than the TV show

5 stars

And I thought the TV show was good. It’s usually the case that the book is better than the tv/movie that derives from it. Much prefer the ending in the book to the TV show, much better way to wrap everything up and more realistic I think.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Dexter is dead by Jeffry P. Lindsay

Jeffry P. Lindsay: Dexter is dead (2015)

"After seven national bestsellers and eight seasons as one of the most successful shows on …

Fitting end of the series and of Dexter

5 stars

Nice to see everything wrapped up with a bow. Some good twists but Dexter not as his best for most of the book.

Jonathan Trott reviewed Dexter's Final Cut by Jeff Lindsay

Jeff Lindsay: Dexter's Final Cut (Paperback, 2014, Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)

Nice and twisty

5 stars

I thought I had worked out the killer early but I was completely wrong. Not sure if it was ironic that Dexter was brought down by a chump or silly though?