Book Review: Shadow of Doubt (Scot Harvath Series #23)

 

Shadow of Doubt, published in 2024, is the 23rd book in the series of action-thriller/spy novels by Brad Thor centered around the character Scot Harvath. The storyline in this one ties into the storyline of Harvath's revenge against the Russians and its fallout, which has carried over into several novels. In this one, a high-ranking Russian defector goes to Norway, where Harvath's fiancée, Solvi, becomes his handler. The CIA learns of the defection and puts pressure on Harvath to pass them information. Harvath learns that there was another Russian operative responsible for the death of his wife, and the defector is willing to provide the identity of the person, but wants something in return. There are a few side stories as well that tie into the main storyline, including a Russian conspiracy in France and the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 350 pages. Thor manages the storylines fairly well. My only fundamental critique is that he inconsistently jumps between them; sometimes a new chapter is a different storyline, and sometimes one storyline gets multiple chapters before switching to another. That can make things a bit hard to follow, but thankfully, the chapters are relatively short (most are five pages or less), so the storylines are not impossible to follow. The book has a good blend of action and suspense. While many of the books in the series are stand-alone and do not require reading the prior books to know what is going on, it does help to have read the novels from Spymaster onward. Ultimately, if you are a fan of action thrillers, spy novels, and/or the prior books in the series, this one is worth reading.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 23

Day 23 was the quads and calves workout. This one was a Lift workout, with two blocks of quad sets and a burnout block. The only good thing about this workout is that both core exercises were performed lying down on the bench. Everything else was brutal. Of course, there was little to no rest time, the transition time was short, and because it works the lower body, you should be lifting heavy (and using increased weight from the first couple of weeks). The burnout block uses power loops for one of the exercises (side-walking squats), and then you do step-up lunges with a heel lift. So, yeah, it is not fun, but it works. You may or may not swear and/or flip off the TV, however.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 22

Day 22 was chest and biceps, Lift/HIIT. It is another challenging workout, despite the superset format, because, as is the norm with the Lift More workouts, there is almost no rest between sets or blocks. I found myself falling behind on reps, even when drop-setting (and I had to drop-set several of the eight total weighted exercises).  Once you blast your chest, the HIIT portion has you doing that awful push-up mountain climber combination, too, so you will be tired by the end of it.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 21

 On Day 21, I did the lower-body recovery routine from Lift More. This one combines lower-body stretching and foam rolling, and the foam rolling targets some of the same parts of the legs as the Lift 4 roll and recover routine, but swaps rolling the hamstrings for rolling the inner thighs. So, they are good to do back-to-back. Next week, I may do both routines on the same day, then combine the stretching routine from Lift 4 with the upper-body recovery workout from Lift More. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 20

Day 20 was a rest day, so I did the two recovery routines from Lift 4. I did the stretch routine first, then the roll-and-recover routine. Both felt good, but I did not notice a big change in my flexibility from last week. But I definitely had some knots in my legs that felt good to work out with the foam roller. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 19

Day 19 was the shoulders workout, which was a Lift format this week, meaning two blocks of quad sets followed by a burnout block. Then, of course, finishing with core and stretching. I did increase the weight initially for all exercises, but did drop-set some of them in the second and third sets. As with all the workouts, the minimal rest, which sometimes seems non-existent, makes this workout a challenge. Even the exercises that require using very light weights are hard by the third set.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 18

Day 18 was the second leg day of the week, hamstrings and glutes LIFT/HIIT. I was able to increase the amount of weight for the weighted exercises and stick with it for each set. The HIIT was bench mountain climbers and pulsing (or jumping) step lunges. Of course, you end with core and stretching. The lifting portion was not horrible, but the lunges in the HIIT portion, even modifying them, were tough. It was a good Christmas workout, especially since I did not eat well today. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 17

Day 17 was the back and triceps workout for week 3, which was a circuit workout with a burnout at the end. The burnout was probably the easiest part of the workout, and it included three sets of 45 seconds of dips. I was able to increase the amount of weight for the weighted exercises, but I did have to drop set the single arm triceps extensions in the second and third sets. It was challenging, especially because of the limited amount of rest between sets and blocks, but good. 

Book Review: Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers

 

Secrets of the Clone Troopers, published in 2024, is a Star Wars canon book written by Marc Sumerak and illustrated by Alberto Buscicchio. It is more of a "coffee table" book than a novel. It is primarily a picture book (similar to Secrets of the Jedi, Secrets of the Sith, and the Han Solo Icons book). The text details the history of the clone troopers from Captain Rex's point of view, sometime after the Battle of Endor and the Rebels' victory over the Empire. It highlights events from the troopers' creation (mainly focusing on events occurring during the Clone Wars animated series) to their eventual decommissioning after the Empire was formed. The illustrations depict the various characters as live-action versions of themselves (Temura Morrison as the clones, Hayden Christiansen as Anakin, Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine, and Ariana Greenbatt as young Ahsoka), rather than the animated versions from the Clone Wars series.

The hardcover version of the book is short, just about 30 pages long. It has many pictures, so it is a very quick read. It has some fold-out pages and inserts that can be a bit of a pain, which is my only real criticism. If you have watched the Clone Wars and Bad Batch animated series, you know most everything in the book. Ultimately, it is the kind of book that most people, especially casual Star Wars fans, will flip through rather than read it cover to cover. It is not one of the must-read books, but if you enjoyed the Clone Wars and, to some extent, the Bad Batch animated series, it is worth checking out.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 16

Day 16 was the first of two leg days for the week. This was the quads and calves workout. It is the LIFT/HIIT format, so you do four blocks of lifting (two blocks of calves and two blocks of quads). Of course, there is almost no rest between sets or blocks, so by the time you get to the HIIT block, you are already exhausted. HIIT is kind of brutal (even if the Lift part hadn't been as challenging), and then you finish with core (no joy there either) and stretching to cool down. I increased the weight I used for each exercise in weeks 1 and 2. It was a good workout, but it was definitely harder than any of the Lift 4 leg days.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 15

Day 15 was the beginning of week 3, so it was the chest and biceps workout. This one goes back to the circuit format in which you do two blocks of quad sets, and then a burnout block, alternating between push-ups using the bench and variations of bicep curls. I increased the amount of weight that I used in weeks 1 and 2, but I did have to drop-set some of the exercises, as did all three of the people in the video, including Joel. Of course, it ends with core and stretching. It is a good workout. There is still not a lot of rest once you get going, but you do get used to the pace. I did have to pause the video after the first block to get weights set up for block 2, because of the minimal amount of time between the two blocks, which is really my only criticism of the program up to this point.

Book Review: Just Visiting This Planet: Further Scientific Adventures of Merlin from Omniscia

 

Just Visiting This Planet, published in 2025, is the second book by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, reprinting correspondence from the question-and-answer column of Star Date magazine, in which Tyson answers letters from the public as the fictional Merlin, an intergalactic traveler from the Andromeda Galaxy. The chapters are organized topically, covering topics such as black holes, our solar system, other star systems, other galaxies, possible other universes, and more. Some responses are humorous, some are a bit snarky, and some provide a pretty detailed scientific explanation of the given topic. However, the responses are written in such a way that you do not need a science or engineering degree to understand them.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 320 pages. It reads pretty quickly, especially if you have a bit of a science or engineering background, or have read any of Tyson's other books. It is absolutely worth reading, especially if you are interested in Astronomy or Astrophysics.

Book Review: Never Flinch

 

Never Flinch, published in 2025, is a novel by Stephen King, set in Ohio, featuring the character of Holly Gibney. This is one of King's crime dramas/thrillers, rather than one of the supernatural horror stories he is known for. There are two storylines in this novel that mostly remain parallel until the end, when they intersect. In the first, Holly Gibney, the private investigator first introduced in the book Mr. Mercedes, is assisting a detective who is investigating a killer who threatens to kill 14 people, 13 innocents and one guilty, after an innocent man who was tried and convicted for a murder he did not commit is killed in prison. In the second, Gibney is hired to act as a bodyguard for a celebrity women's rights activist who is being stalked during a speaking tour.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 430 pages. It reads pretty quickly, much like King's more recent novels, Holly, Fairy Tale, and Billy Summers. While the two storylines are mostly separate, King does a great job alternating between the two of them, so it is easy to keep track of what is going on in each one. While King does insert his political and social opinions into the book, I did not find it all that preachy (although people who disagree with his viewpoints probably will). As with many of King's books, there are a couple of twists in each storyline that are revealed over the course of the book. Ultimately, it is an entertaining book that is absolutely worth reading, especially if you are a fan of King's more "reality-based" novels or crime thrillers in general.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 14

On day 14, I did the lower-body recovery routine from Lift More. I absolutely had some knots in my legs, so the foam rolling helped a lot. I also found that I had more flexibility and mobility this week than I did last week. So, my flexibility is getting better.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 13

Day 13 was a rest day for Lift More, so I did the stretching routine from Lift 4. I was not able to get to it until later in the day, so I did not do either of the longer Lift More recovery routines.  

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 12

Day 12 was the end of week 2. It was shoulders again, but this time it used the Lift/HIIT format. There are four blocks of lifting, alternating two exercises and then three rounds of HIIT alternating two exercises. Most of the weighted exercises are the same as last week, but you do swap out one of the exercises to do trap openers (the shoulder flys from Lift 4). And, of course, you finish with cardio and stretching. This is another challenging one. You get a bit more rest than in yesterday's workout, but that is not saying much since there was almost no rest in that one. So there is little to no rest in this one. But, it is a good way to end the week.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 11

Day 11 was the hamstrings and glutes workout. You do all the same exercises as in week 1, but the order of the exercises differs, and it follows the quad-set circuit format. Then there is a burnout block using power loops at the end (and of course the core and stretching cooldown to finish).  This is a very challenging workout, both because you do four exercises back-to-back and because there is no rest throughout the workout, and even the transitions between exercises (if you can call them that) are extremely short. Basically, there is no rest except for a short one between the two blocks of weighted exercises. Both core exercises are performed lying on the bench, so that is kind of a break, but that is it. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 10

Day 10 was the Back and Triceps workout, and is a Lift/HIIT combination. It includes a couple of new exercises not in the first week's version of the workout, but most are the same. It is set up with four blocks, each with three sets of 12 reps per exercise. Blocks one and three are the back blocks, and blocks two and four are the triceps blocks. The HIIT portion is tough, as you do plank and jumping-jack variations, then you get more planks in the core component.  So, it is not easy, but it feels good to get through it.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 9

Day 9 was the week 2 version of Quads and Calves. This one is a circuit workout, doing two blocks of quad sets and then a burnout round consisting of three sets of two exercises. This workout includes bench step-ups. The ceiling in my basement is too low to step onto my bench, but I do have one of those aerobic step platforms that I placed on a one-inch-thick mat, and that got the job done. In each block, you do two quad exercises followed by two calf exercises. In the burnout block, you need the resistance loops (the fabric kind used in the 645 program, for those who have done it). If you have the rubber resistance bands, you could use those as well. And, of course, you finish with core and stretching.

The workout was good. I was able to use the same weight for the quad exercises that I used last week, and bumped up the amount of weight I used for the calf exercises by  5 lbs. Doing quad sets is more difficult than supersets, but in this one, not having the HIIT portion is nice.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 8

Day 8 was the start of week 2, so it is chest and triceps again. However, the format is different (this is a Lift-HIIT workout) and the exercise switch up a bit. Some of the exercises are carried over from week 1, but others are swapped out. Even though you are doing super-sets with two moves in each block, they are difficult and you will almost certainly have to drop set in the second and third sets of blocks 2 and/or 3. Both cast members (and Joel) dropped weight in the later sets. The HIIT portion is hard, but not impossible, and then you finish with core and stretching. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 7

On day 7, I did the lower-body recovery routine. Like the upper-body routine, this one is a mix of stretching and foam rolling. Most of what you do in the routine will be familiar if you have done Lift 4 or 25-Minute Speed train. Some of the foam rolling exercises are a bit different than what was in the roll and recover routine in Lift 4, but they add to the foam rolling quite well.  

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 6

Day 6 was the first of two back-to-back rest days in Lift More. So, I tried the upper-body recovery routine, which is a mix of stretching and foam rolling. Even though it primarily stretches or foam rolls the muscles of your upper body, you do some hip stretching in this routine as well as your back, shoulders, and arms. It was a much-needed recovery routine.

DVD/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 1

 

The 24-episode first season of Frasier aired during the 1993/1994 TV season. It stars Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, and Peri Gilpin. It is the second (and most successful) series directly spun off from the long-running sitcom, Cheers. The first series, the Tortellis, was a short-lived spin-off in 1987 set around the characters of Carla's ex-husband Nick and his new wife Loretta (both of whom made several recurring appearances on Cheers). That one bombed and was canceled after a handful of episodes. The series Wings, which was not a direct spin-off of Cheers, but existed in the same universe as several characters from Cheers, made guest appearances. 

Frasier, of course, is set around the character of Frasier Crane, who was originally a secondary recurring character on Cheers and eventually became a series regular, but was still one of the secondary characters. In the pilot, we learn that Frasier's attempted reconciliation with Lilith did not work out, so he moved back to his hometown of Seattle and began hosting a call-in radio show. Gilpin plays Roz, the producer of his show; Pierce plays his brother, Niles, who is an even more nerdy and stuck-up version of Frasier (and also a psychiatrist) and who is married to a woman named Maris, who we never actually see, but hear crazy stories about; Mahoney plays Frasier's dad, Martin, a retired police officer who  (along with his dog Eddie) has to move in with Fraiser after becoming disabled when he is shot in the hip; Leaves plays Daphnie Moon, Martin's live-in caregiver and the object of Niles' obsession. 

The DVD set is a four-disc set. The bonus features include a commentary track on the pilot episode by two of the series creators, Peter Casey and David Lee, a behind-the-scenes featurette featuring cast interviews (filmed near the end of the series' run), a tour of Frasier's apartment, and clips of some of the various celebrity voices who called the radio show. In season one, they included Linda Hamilton, Christopher Reeeve, Joe Mantegna, Jeff Daniels, Eddie Van Halen, Bruno Kirby, Carl Reiner, Jay Leno, Ben Stiller, Mel Brooks, Eric Stoltz, Rosemary Clooney, Henry Mancini, Elijah Wood, Malcolm McDowell, Reba McEntire, Christine Lahti, Tommy Hillfiger, Mary Tyler, Moore, and Piper Laurie.  

The show is set up as a procedural, story-of-the-week sitcom. It has a much different look and feel from Cheers, and the character of Frasier is a bit different than how he was portrayed on Cheers. The writers do a good job separating the show from the parent series, but they do call back to events that happened on Cheers. Bebe Neuwirth is the only character from Cheers to appear during season 1, in a hilarious episode in which she returns to try to get back together with Frasier. It is well-written and very well acted. The writers were not concerned with strict continuity with Cheers. On Cheers, Frasier was portrayed as an only child and stated that his father had passed away. And, Mahoney and Gilpin both appeared in the later seasons of Cheers as entirely different characters. Of course, this is nothing new for TV series (especially sitcoms), as the same actors are often cast in different roles. Grammer, as crazy as he has become in real life (especially when it comes to politics), is excellent as Frasier and picks the role back up with ease. Mahoney and Gilpin do a wonderful job with their respective characters, and Pierce and Leeves compete for stealing every scene they are in. Ultimately, while it is a much different series than Cheers, if you enjoyed Cheers, especially the later years, you will probably like Frasier.

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 5

Day 5 of Lift More is a shoulder circuit workout consisting of two quad blocks of quad sets and three burnout sets. Some of the moves are familiar if you did Lift 4, and some are new. You will very likely have to use much lighter weights for most of the exercises than you are used to because you are doing quad sets, 12 reps in each set, and performing a lot of longer-lever exercises. I had to drop-set many of the exercises because by the second and third sets, I could not use the weight that I started out with. The burnout block is tough. There are only two exercises in the burnout block, but because you do both exercises for 45 seconds and only get 15 seconds between them, it is hard to get through. Then, of course, you finish with core and stretching. 

Workout Update: Lift More: Day 4

Day 4 was another leg workout, this time focused on glutes and hamstrings. It is a Lift and HIIT combo workout and follows the same format as the workout two days ago. There are four blocks of weighted exercises, with two exercises in each block. Then, there are three hit sets in which you alternate two exercises for 45 seconds with 15 seconds between them. Finally, you finish with core and a stretching cooldown. 

I really like having the second leg day in the program. Legs are a big muscle group, so you get a big calorie burn twice a week. Tomorrow is shoulders, so that will be intersting doing twelve reps of all the shoulder exercises.