Asides

Cory Doctorow’s Picks & Shovels is a charming coming-of-age story set against the chaotic birth of the San Francisco tech scene in the 1980s. It follows Martin Hench, an MIT dropout turned forensic accountant, as he navigates the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley before it became the empire we know today. The novel is part cyber-thriller, part noir, and part historical fiction—blending them all into a propulsive, thought-provoking ride.

Doctorow brings to life an era when computing was the Wild West, where idealism and cutthroat capitalism clashed in equal measure. The tech moguls here aren’t just greedy businessmen—they’re gangsters, priests, and rabbis, wielding both power and morality in ways that blur the lines between right and wrong. The novel doesn’t just paint a nostalgic picture of the past but also hints at the forces that shaped today’s tech industry.

Martin’s journey from hired gun to true believer is compelling to follow, especially as he falls in with the rebellious women of Computing Freedom, a scrappy startup trying to take on an entrenched, corrupt system. The tension escalates beautifully, with Doctorow layering in corporate espionage, betrayal, and a genuine sense of danger. The stakes feel real, and the pacing never drags.

For me it was a bonus that the book occasionally delved into explanations of early computing and financial sleight-of-hand.

Picks & Shovels is a must for anyone who loves tech history, anti-establishment thrillers, or simply a well-told tale of underdogs fighting against impossible odds. Doctorow has delivered a story that’s as smart as it is entertaining.

The Seven is a pacy legal drama that had me hooked from the very first page. Robyn Delvey crafts a high-stakes courtroom battle with a compelling lead, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing.

Eve Wren is determined, intelligent, and under immense pressure as she takes on the biggest case of her career. The trial of Patrick Nye and his cult is fascinating, with Delvey balancing legal intricacies with a sense of urgency and suspense.

The pacing is relentless, making it nearly impossible to put down. Just when you think you have a handle on the case, another layer is revealed, pulling you deeper into the mystery. The blend of legal drama and psychological tension is spot-on.

My only minor critique is the ending—it didn’t quite tie everything together as seamlessly as I’d hoped. Some of the clues laid out earlier in the book didn’t fully connect with the resolution, making the conclusion feel slightly disjointed. That said, it was still satisfying overall, and it didn’t take away from how gripping the rest of the novel was.

If you love legal thrillers that combine courtroom drama with real danger and high stakes, The Seven is a must-read. I’ll definitely be looking out for Robyn Delvey’s next book!

---

I wanted to enjoy Between the Devil and the Dusk, but it felt more like a travelogue of Japan than a gripping mystery. The novel is excessively descriptive, and the author’s knowledge of Japan is evident, but the pacing is painfully slow. Instead of diving into an intriguing plot, the book spends an excessive amount of time detailing landscapes, cultural experiences, and daily life in Japan. While this might appeal to readers who enjoy immersive settings, it often feels like a travel guide rather than a mystery novel.

It takes nearly a quarter of the book before anything resembling a mystery even begins to emerge, and by then, I struggled to stay engaged. The protagonist, Michael, is somewhat aimless, and while his interactions with Johnny and Chihiro add some interest, the characters lack the depth needed to make their journey truly compelling. The stakes never feel particularly high, and the plot meanders rather than builds tension.

Even when the mystery finally starts to take shape, the execution is underwhelming. The narrative continues to be bogged down by excessive detail, making the journey feel tedious rather than suspenseful. There are a few moments of intrigue, but they are fleeting, and the overall momentum is weak. By the time the novel reaches its climax, the resolution feels rushed and unsatisfying, failing to deliver the payoff that a good mystery should.

Ultimately, Between the Devil and the Dusk might appeal to those looking for a richly detailed exploration of Japan, but as a mystery, it falls flat. If you enjoy slow-burn narratives with an emphasis on setting over story, you may appreciate it more than I did. However, if you’re looking for a tightly woven plot with strong suspense and well-developed twists, this book is likely to disappoint.

A Gripping, Intelligent Thriller

Dirty Money is a great thriller that pulls back the curtain on the dark underbelly of London’s elite—where power, corruption, and oligarch money intertwine with disturbing ease. Charlotte Philby crafts a razor-sharp, timely narrative that feels both utterly gripping and frighteningly plausible.

The dual perspectives of Ramona Chang, a former journalist-turned-private investigator, and Madeleine Farrow, a determined government agent, make for a dynamic and compelling read. Both women are strong, complex, and refreshingly believable, navigating a web of deception, danger, and institutional resistance. Their intersecting investigations—one into a high-end escort service, the other into global financial corruption—are brilliantly woven together, building to a tense and rewarding conclusion.

Philby’s writing is crisp and immersive, painting a vivid picture of a London tainted by dirty money and those who enable it. The pacing is excellent, balancing intrigue, action, and character depth in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The ending lands with impact, leaving enough threads open to make readers hungry for more.

For fans of intelligent, fast-paced thrillers with a social conscience, Dirty Money is a must-read. I hope there is a follow up!

Tony Wirt’s Pike Island offers a blend of political drama and buried secrets, but it doesn’t fully deliver on its promise. The dual-timeline structure, jumping between Harry Leonard’s meteoric rise in politics and the haunting events of his youth, provides a framework for suspense.

The premise—a postcard dredging up a mysterious past—is intersting, and the tension surrounding Harry’s carefully crafted image keeps the pages turning. Krista Walsh, Harry’s ambitious and sharp chief of staff, adds an interesting dynamic as she grapples with her loyalty versus the unraveling truth.

Where the book stumbles is in pacing and depth. The historical storyline is the stronger of the two, with a sense of danger and mystery that feels tangible. The present-day narrative, by contrast, leans heavily on political maneuvering and Krista’s investigation, which can feel repetitive and overly focused on career implications rather than emotional stakes. The final reveal offers some payoff but lacks the punch to leave a lasting impression.

Overall, Pike Island is a decent read for fans of political intrigue and past-meets-present thrillers, but it doesn’t quite elevate itself to greatness. An enjoyable story, but not one that lingers after the final page.