What Are We Reading and Reviewing in November?

One thing this group is really good at is reading...so tell us what you plan to read...what you've finished reading and how you liked it or didn't like it. A sentence or two will be fine for those that don't like to write reviews.

Carol's November Reading Plan
✔ ★

Group Reads
✔What Angels Fear by C.S, Harris - 11/2/17 - 5★
✔The Jungle by Clive Cussler - 11/14/17 - 4.5★
✔The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter - 11/23/17 - 4.5★
✔Proof by Dick Francis - ★ (Will carry over into December)

Blind Date With A Book
✔Random Harvest by Jim Hilton - 11//17 - 4★

Challenges

Around the World Group
✔What She Knew by Gilly MacMillian -11/3/17 - 3★
✔Red Lily by Nora Roberts - 11/16/17 - 3★
✔The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks -11/22/17 - 4.5★
✔Second Time around by Mary Higgins Clark - 11/18/17 - 3.5★
✔The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau - 11/1/17 - 2.5★
✔Darkness Rising by Lis Wiehl - 11/4/17 - 3★
✔Sophie: The Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog by Emma Pearse - 11/23/17 - 3★

The Treasure Trove Group
✔Blood Brothers by J.A. (Jack) Kerley - 11/5/17 - 4.5★

Mystery & Suspense Plus
✔And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat - veteran's Day - 11/13/17 - 4★

Others
✔The Supernaturals II: In The Still of The Night by David L. Golemon -11/26/17 - 4.5★
✔Paranormal Intruder by Caroline Mitchell - 11//17 - 3.5★
✔All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker - 11//17 - 2★
✔Cold Light by Jenn Ashworth - 11/8/17 - 3★
✔Watching Edie by Camilla Way 11/20/17 - 4★
✔Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt - 11/3/17 - 3★
✔Quick & Dirty by Stuart Woods - 11/4/17 - 3★
✔Deep Freeze by John Sandford - 11/7/17 - 5★
✔The Midnight Line by Lee Child -11/18/17- 5★
✔End Game by David Baldacci - 11/29/17 - 5★

November 2017 Reads
✔ ☊ ☞

Finished Reading
✔Mystery/Suspense Winner What Angels Fear by C S Harris - 341 pgs. - ★★★★.5 - 11/2/2017
✔Still Missing by Chevy Stevens - 342 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/4/2017
✔Sunday Silence: A Freida Klein Novel by Nicci French - 416 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/5/2017
✔Watching The Dark by Peter Robinson - 354 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/7/2017
✔The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary - Yemem - 353 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/8/2017
✔Too Good To Be True by Ann Cleeves - 94 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/9/2017
✔Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay - 464 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/11/2017
✔☊ Children of the Revolution by Peter Robinson - 392 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/11/2017
✔The Jungle by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul - 496 pg. - ★★★★ - 11/14/2017
✔In The Dark Places by Peter Robinson - 375 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/16/2017
✔The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/16/2017
✔Shallow Graves by Maureen Boyle - 282 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/17/2017
✔The Bungalow by Sarah Jio - Bora-Bora - 290 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/18/2017
✔Blood Harvest by Brant Randall - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/19/2017
✔☊ The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/20/2017
✔The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter - 496 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/23/2017
✔The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote - 60 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/24/2017
✔The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths - 372 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/24/2017
✔.☊The Breakdown by B.A. Paris - 336 pgs. -★★★★ - 11/25/2017
✔Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben - 351 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 11/27/2017
✔☊ The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney - 368 pgs. - ★ - 11/30/2017

Gayle's November List

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino - in progress
The Cyanide Canary by Robert Dugoni
Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George – sub-genre: Aristocratic detective
Proof by DickFrancis – group read

Sushicat's November Options

M&S sub genres - Gentleman Detective - Cover Her Face by PD James
M&S group reads - The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter (19.11.) / Proof by Dick Francis (29.11.)

PBT:
✅ Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - 4.4 Stars
The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
✅ The Cat Who Talked Turkey by Lilian Jackson Braun - 3 stars
➡ Doc by Mary Doria Russell
✅ Kindred by Octavia E Butler - 4.4 Stars

Kitties:
✅ ☊ Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik - 4 stars
➡ 🎨 Safe Area Gorazde by Joe Sacco
✅ 🎨 Fun Home by Alison Bechdel - 4 stars
Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris
Die Mauer by Max Annas

1001
Humboldt's Gift by Saul Bellow
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
Cette aveuglante absence de lumiere by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Library
✅ ☊ The Hypnotist by Lars Keppler - 3.6 stars
✅ ☊ Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman - 4 Stars
✅ 🎨 Roughneck by Jeff Lemire - 5 stars
✅ ☊ Milano Criminale by Paoplo Roversi - 3.6 stars
➡ Missoula by John Krakauer
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau
Book of Ember series Book#3
by Jeanne DuPrau
2.5★

It’s 50 years before the settlement of the city of Ember, and the world is in crisis. War looms on the horizon as 11-year-old Nickie and her aunt travel to the small town of Yonwood, North Carolina. There, one of the town’s respected citizens has had a terrible vision of fire and destruction. Her garbled words are taken as prophetic instruction on how to avoid the coming disaster. If only they can be interpreted correctly.

The story just fell flat. It was okay for awhile, but quickly devolved into a small-town dystopian nightmare. My complaint about this book is the fact the some of the most interesting aspects of the story are not fully developed. It worked well for the challenge that I was doing but I don;t believe I want to explore anymore of this series.

I didn't do a list last month, choosing books as I went - might try a list again this month.

Group Reads
✔️What Angels Fear by C S Harris
✔️The Jungle by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul : Start Date Friday 10th November
👉The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter : Start Date Sunday 19th November
Proof by Dick Francis : Start Date Wednesday 29th November

Other Reads
✔️Death of a Scriptwriter by M C Beaton
✔️Insidious Intent by Val McDermid
The Poet by Michael Connelly
✔️The Babylon Idol by Scott Mariani
✔️The Royal Succession by Maurice Druon
✔️Holes by Louis Sachar
The Olive Tree by Lucinda Riley
👉Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
✔️Agatha Raisin and the Blood of an Englishman by M C Beaton
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger
✔️As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark
✔️What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau
The Book of Ember Book #3
2.5

It’s 50 years before the settlement of the city of Ember, and the world is in crisis. War looms on the horizon as 11-year-old Nickie and her aunt travel to the small town of Yonwood, North Carolina. There, one of the town’s respected citizens has had a terrible vision of fire and destruction. Her garbled words are taken as prophetic instruction on how to avoid the coming disaster. If only they can be interpreted correctly.

I needed a book of a challenge and my reading buddy, Brian, needed a book for a school book report so we decided to read this one together. Brian loved it but I found the story started well but fell flat before I even got to the middle. One of the biggest faults I found with the book was the lack of character development. I can't be too critical though. It gave me my challenge book and gave Brian a great adventure.

>2 Carol420: I'm waiting to see what you think of Blood Brother.

What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris - 4.5 stars
Book Description:
The prime suspect in the brutal rape and murder of a young woman whose body is left on the altar steps of an ancient church, Sebastian St. Cyr, a young aristocrat haunted by his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars, becomes a fugitive, joining forces with an unlikely group of allies as he flees a ruthless powerbroker with ties to the Prince Regent.

My Review:
This is a well-written, action-packed, historical mystery set in 1811 Regency England. I found the characters fascinating. I especially liked Sebastian and can't wait to find out more about him and his background. Loved Kat Boleyn and Tom too and hope to see them in the future books. There were lots of clues and suspects and the killer was hard to determine. Since it was pre-scientific methods, I missed the forensics of the modern day mystery novels. I found the book to be a page-turner and can't wait to read the next installment. I would highly recommend this series to lovers of historical mysteries with a bit of romance.

What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris
Sebastian St.Cyr series Book #1
5

It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. A dueling pistol found at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man-Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experience in the Napoleonic Wars.

It's wonderful to be truly surprised. This book surprised me in that I not only liked it...I loved it. Although I am a huge fan of history as a subject...I am not and never have been a historical mystery fan. I took up this book because of a group that I do group reads with each month...approaching it cautiously. The more I read the more I liked it. You'll need to be on your toes and possibly have a spreadsheet for this one. We are introduced to a wide group of characters who...I'm sure...will figure into the next twelve books in the series. The plot is well done . I found myself struggling to find the killer among all the possible suspects that we had to choose from and working against the fact that 1811 had no forensic science available as we do today that would have almost immediately eliminated most of them. Bottom line is it was well written, good character envelopment and I am so looking forward to more of Sebastian St. Cyr.

Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt
Afton Tangler series Book #1
3★

On a frozen night in an affluent Minneapolis neighborhood, a baby is abducted from her home after her teenage babysitter is violently assaulted. The parents are frantic, the police are baffled, and, with the perpetrator already in the wind, the trail is getting colder by the second. As family liaison officer with the Minneapolis P.D., it’s Afton Tangler’s job to deal with the emotional aftermath of terrible crimes—but she’s never faced a case quite as brutal as this. Each development is more heartbreaking than the last and the only lead is a collection of seemingly unrelated clues.
But, most disturbing of all, Afton begins to suspect that this case is not isolated. Whoever did this has taken babies before—and if Afton doesn’t solve this crime soon, more children are sure to go missing.

I thought the writing style seemed more than just familiar and then I learned that Gerry Schmitt also writes as Laura Childs. Family liaison officer, Afton Tangler is assisting Susan and her husband with their trauma of their missing 3 month old baby girl, Elizabeth Anne. It was a small thing... but it bothered me that as the search for the child continues...Afton...the key character in this sad and sometimes depressing story...finds that she needs to inset the comment that the lead FBI agent in the case is “tall and lanky with steel gray hair and warm brown eyes the color of precious amber.” This, and other pronouncements by Afton concerning the agent takes the story from a well told mystery and crime novel, to a romance in almost the blink of an eye. I wish the author had kept to the this tale that she had started so well. I guess readers who don’t mind gratuitous injections of romance into a grim and disturbing plot line will just overlook it and read on.

Insidious Intent by Val McDermid
#10 in the Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was good to be back with Carol and Tony and to see them once again hunting for a murderer, who is very clever at covering his steps. This book builds to quite a crescendo and if you are a fan of Tony and Carol you need to read the book. Quite some ending to the book. Certainly need to read the others in the series to put this book into context.

What She Knew by Gilly MacMillian
3★

In a heartbeat, everything changes…Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes. Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.

As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most. Where is Ben? The clock is ticking.

This is a realistic page-turner...almost too realistic. You feel as though you are in the middle of the investigation...complete with blogs and Facebook posts. I gained a great deal of sympathy for the family to which this unimaginable crime has happened. It had a good story line and excellent characters but was just a little too long and became bogged down at times with all the transcripts. While there was little new ground broken with the missing child scenario... when it is done reasonably well...as this one is...you have a very reliable book.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens - 5 stars
Book Description:
On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old realtor, had three goals―sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever-patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.

"Will have you glued to the page."―People magazine

Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabin―which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist―is the second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from over…in Still Missing.

My Review:
This is a heart-stopping debut about a woman realtor's abduction from an open house. It pulls you in from page 1 and does not let you go until the very surprising ending. It's a definite hard-to-put-down emotional ride with unexpected twists and turns. The book is very well-written and I look forward to reading more of Chevy Stevens' books in the near future. I would highly recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers.

>15 EadieB: I think this was my first Chevy Stevens' book, and I loved it! Glad to know you did, too!

>16 Hope_H: Yes, it was very good. Gotta read another one by her!

Quick & Dirty by Stuart Woods
Stone Barrington series Book #43
3★

When a slam-bang of a crime brings a beautiful new client into Stone Barrington’s office, little does he know his association with her will pull him into a far more serpentine mystery in the exclusive world of art. It’s a business where a rare find could make a career—and a collection—and mistakes in judgment are costly. And under its genteel and high-minded veneer lurks an assortment of grifters and malfeasants eager to cash in on the game. In the upscale world of New York City’s luxury penthouses and grand Hamptons estates, it will take a man of Stone Barrington’s careful discernment and well-honed instincts to get to the truth without ruffling the wrong feathers...because when it comes to priceless and irreplaceable works of art, the money and reputations at stake are worth killing for.

Everyone in this series is richer than God, more beautiful and sexy than anyone that Hollywood ever dreamed of...and always right. Just once I'd like to see one of the main characters have to go to the bank and beg and offer their first born to get a loan. I didn't particularly care for this one as I'm not really interested in the art world but I did rather enjoy watching Stone and the cops chasing after the fake Van Gogh that was always one step ahead of them throughout the entire book. It was a quick read and not a waste of time by any means.

Sunday Silence by Nicci French - 5 stars

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Book Description:
Lover of London, gifted psychologist, frequent police consultant — Frieda Klein is many things. And now she's a person of interest in a murder case. A body has been discovered in the most unlikely and horrifying of places: beneath the floorboards of Frieda's house.

The corpse is only months old, but the chief suspect appears to have died more than seven years ago. Except as Frieda knows all too well, he's alive and well and living in secret. And it seems he's inspired a copycat...

As the days pass and the body count rises, Frieda finds herself caught in a fatal tug-of-war between two killers: one who won't let her go, and another who can't let her live.

My Review:
Is this the finale for the Frieda Klein series? Can we expect some more as there are many loose ends left in this Sunday, the last day of the week book? I have loved the series and suggest they are read in order starting with the Monday book. The characters are well-developed and the plot is very suspenseful. Most of the books start out slow but are whipped into action towards the middle of the book. They are fast-moving and the pages fly by towards the end of the book. Here's hoping there will be more Frieda Klein books. I highly recommend this series to those who love psychological thrillers. This book will be published on January 9, 2018. I actually read Sunday Morning Coming Down published in the UK earlier but it is the same book as Sunday Silence.

>19 EadieB: I still haven't got past Monday despite owning a few of them.

>20 Andrew-theQM: I like it better to read a series after they are all published because if you have to wait for the books you forget a lot of what happened in the beginning.

>21 EadieB: I agree, I actually read book 9 of the Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Series again before reading book 10. It definitely improved the reading of book 10 with it being fresh in your memory.

>22 Andrew-theQM: You should try to read them one right after the other or soon after you read the last one.

>22 Andrew-theQM: Found this on Nicci French FB page:

**ANNOUNCEMENT**
We’re delighted to announce Day of the Dead, Book 8 in the bestselling Frieda Klein series.
Day of the Dead is the eighth and final day of Frieda Klein’s dark and dangerous week. For eight years she has been haunted and pursued by the kidnapper and killer, Dean Reeve. Knowing that the end is approaching, Frieda Klein goes into hiding, away from the police and the media. But suddenly and unexpectedly she becomes responsible for Lola, a young student, who has been targeted by Reeve. Together, they move across a London of abandoned houses, hidden rivers and canals, not knowing who to trust, not knowing if they are the hunters or the hunted.
Day of the Dead will arrive July 2018. Pre-order your copy now at http://amzn.to/2ywh7Al

>24 EadieB: Intersting, obviously eight days in her week. 😂

>25 Andrew-theQM: Well, at least they will tie up the loose ends.

>26 EadieB: That is definitely good.

Blood Brother by Jack (J.A.) Kerley
Carson Ryder series Book #4
4.5★

the homicide detective with a hidden secret that could destroy his career.These brothers have murder in their veins.Detective Carson Ryder's sworn duty is to track killers down.Hes never revealed the fact that his brother. Jeremy. is one of Americas most notorious killers - now imprisoned.Secretly. Ryder has used Jeremy's homicidal insight to solve cases.Hes made a career out of it.Now his brother has escaped and is at large in New York.With Jeremy the chief suspect in a series of horrifying mutilation-murders. a mysterious video demands Ryder be brought into help.It looks like a straightforward manhunt.It couldn't be more different - or more terrifying.A dangerous cat-and-mouse game develops between Jeremy and the NYPD.

If you like gritty, sometimes gruesome murder novels this entire series will satisfy the "blood lust". This one explored more the love/hate relationship between Carson the detective... and Jeremy...his killer, formally imprisoned, brother. The entire Carson family has secrets that they are more than happy to have stay hidden but were bound to come to light. In many ways it was a lot like Silence of the Lambs. It's twisted tale...for lack of a better word...but you must read on to discover all the surprising revelations which this reader hopes will be built on in the next book.

>28 Carol420: Tgiscis a series I've recommended the first book of a couple of times but as yet not come top of the vote. This book was the first one I read in the series and definitely very keen to read more.

Reading:
Silent Mercy by Linda Fairstein
The Tombs By Clive Cussler
Sandstorm by James Rollins
Full Black by Brad Thor
Spiral by Paul McEuen

Completed Velocity by Dean Koontz
Very interesting and very Koontz. Really like that the ending was exactly clean or moral and left you feeling ambiguous about the outcome. A solid 4 star rating. The middle sagged a bit which kept me from giving it a higher rating but all in all an enjoyable read.

>30 ColinMichaelFelix: Nice list!

Watching The Dark by Peter Robinson - 5 stars
Book Description:
A decorated detective inspector is murdered on the tranquil grounds of the St. Peter's Police Treatment Centre, shot through the heart with a crossbow arrow, and compromising photographs are discovered in his room. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is well aware that he must handle the highly sensitive—and dangerously explosive—investigation with the utmost discretion.

Because the case may involve police corruption, an officer from Professional Standards, Inspector Joanna Passero, has arrived to work with Banks and his team. Though he tries to keep an open mind and offer his full cooperation, the dedicated Banks and his practical investigative style clash with Passero's cool demeanor and by-the- book professionalism. All too soon, the seasoned detective finds himself under uncomfortable scrutiny, his methods second-guessed.

As Banks digs deeper into the life and career of the victim, a decorated cop and recent widower named Bill Quinn, he comes to believe that Quinn's murder may be linked to an unsolved missing persons case. Six years earlier, a pretty nineteen-year-old English girl named Rachel Hewitt made national headlines when she disappeared without a trace in Tallinn, Estonia. Convinced that finding the truth about Rachel will lead to Quinn's killer, Banks follows a twisting trail of clues that lead from England to the dark, cobbled alleys of Tallinn's Old Town. But the closer he seems to solving the complicated cold case, the more it becomes clear that someone doesn't want the past stirred up.

While Banks prowls the streets of Tallinn, DI Annie Cabbot, recovered from her near-fatal shooting and back at the station in Eastvale, is investigating a migrant labor scam involving corrupt bureaucrats and a loan shark who feeds on the poor. As evidence in each investigation mounts, Banks realizes the two are linked—and that solving them may put even more lives, including his own, in jeopardy.

My Review:
This book is another winner from Peter Robinson in the DCI Banks series. It's about the murder of a local policeman, Bill Quinn, who may have been a dirty cop and the human trafficking of Rachel Hewitt in Estonia. Robinson did a great job merging the two storylines and his research of Estonia was very well done even down to the music of Estonia. I love that he always includes his love of music into his books. His characters are always well-drawn and his plots always keep the pages turning. Robinson is by far the best writer of British police procedurals and you can never go wrong reading one of his books. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and I highly recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.

>32 EadieB: I enjoyed his visit to Estonia.

>33 Andrew-theQM: Me too! And it was another country that you added!

>34 EadieB: Can't remember which book it was, but I loved his trip to Canada too.

Deep Freeze by John Sandford
Virgil Flowers Series Book #10
5★'s

Virgil knows the town of Trippton, Minnesota, a little too well. A few years back, he investigated the corrupt—and as it turned out, homicidal—local school board, and now the town’s back in view with more alarming news: A woman’s been found dead, frozen in a block of ice. There’s a possibility that it might be connected to a high school class of twenty years ago that has a mid-winter reunion coming up, and so, wrapping his coat a little tighter, Virgil begins to dig into twenty years’ worth of traumas, feuds, and bad blood. In the process, one thing becomes increasingly clear to him. It’s true what they say: High school is murder.

The character of Virgil Flowers began his "career" in the Davenport series and has taken on a persona all his own. He's smarter than he wants people to believe he is...he's methodical in his investigations...hanging on like a dog with it's favorite bone until he gets his suspect...and he takes the reader right along with him page after page. I have never been disappointed with anything that John Sandford produced in either of these series.

Cold Light by Jenn Ashworth
3★'s

A hauntingly beautiful and shocking psychological thriller in the vein of the bestselling novels of Tana French—a darkly compelling story of secrets between two teenage friends in a small English town. Ashworth already has created great buzz in the U.K. thanks to her stunning debut novel, A Kind of Intimacy, winner of the prestigious Betty Trask Award, and now Cold Light places her in elite literary company—alongside Laura Lippman, Kate Atkinson, and other acclaimed masters of intelligent, emotionally powerful mystery and suspense. An unforgettable tale of friendship and memory—and the shattering truth behind a forgotten dead body newly unearthed.

What can I say about this story? I guess the best description is that it's the sad story of teenage friendship gone wrong in the most devastating way. How well can we really know a person? Annie convinces herself that her neighbor is in love with her. Annie...like the majority of the characters... live largely within their own heads. Following the death of a teenager, a reconstruction process is under way to work out exactly what happened. The search for the truth peels back so many layers that the reader finds themselves asking "is there a real person inside?" I believe the biggest problem I had with the book is that I just didn’t like Annie or feel much compassion for what she and the others were going through as a consequence of their own making.

>36 Carol420: I've never read anything by Sandford although I've heard about him. Your review makes me think I'd like him so I'm going to put him on my TBR list.

@38--you won't be disappointed--however it's best to read in order--Sandford has been known to have an occasional mind fart😀

The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary - 4 stars
Book Description:
History, mystery, murder and magic accompany Nellie Bly – Victorian Age detective, reporter, and feminist – as she takes up a challenge by Jules Verne to beat the eighty days it took his fictional hero Phileas Fogg to race around the world. Nellie tackles the journey--alone, with a single change of clothes--against the wishes of her publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, who felt it was “too dangerous for a woman to attempt.”

In her official account of the journey, Seventy-Two Days Around the World, Nellie leaves out one riveting event: a mysterious death. In the bustling harbor city of Port Said, she witnesses an event that makes her a target for a killer and involves her in international intrigue with the fate of nations at stake.

On board the ships that take Nellie from the Land of the Pharaohs to the exotic Orient and across the Pacific are the most famous magicians in the world... but a killer also stalks the decks. As magicians conjure the fantasy and a spiritualist raises the dead, Nellie wonders if Mr. Pulitzer had underestimated the danger.

My Review:
I enjoyed reading about Nellie Bly's trip around the world which she did in 72 days in 1889 to beat the record of Jules Verne's fictional hero Phileas Fogg in the novel Around the World in 80 days. The book has lots of history, mystery, murder and magic which makes for a fun thrilling adventure. I found all the characters to be well-drawn and the murder plot kept the pages turning all the way to the surprise ending. I look forward to reading the 3rd book in the saeries and I highly recommend this series to those who like historical mysteries.

>38 gaylebutz: If you are going to read the Lucas Davenport series...or as they are also known as The Prey series...you will diffidently want to read those in order. Since Virgil Flowers is a character in that series that got himself "promoted" into his very own series...I believe that the Virgil Flower books could probably stand on their own...unless you are a reader that would rather cut off their arm than read out of order:) >39 debavp: is right...you have to overlook poor John Sandford sometimes. I think you would like either or both series. There are 28 of the Prey books counting the one coming out in 2018 and only 10 of the Virgil Flower's books. You will be entertained for some time:)

Too Good To Be True by Ann Cleeves - 4 stars
Book Description:
Too Good To Be True is a gripping Quick Read from Ann Cleeves, featuring Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez from the bestselling Shetland series.

When young teacher Anna Blackwell is found dead in her home, the police think her death was suicide or a tragic accident. After all, Stonebridge is a quiet country village in the Scottish Borders, where murders just don't happen.

My Review:
This is a short novella featuring Shetland Detective Jimmy Perez. Even though it was a short story, it was packed with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. All the things that come in a regular-sized novel from Ann Cleeves. I found it very entertaining as Perez is asked by his ex-wife to solve a murder. Perez needs to travel to where his ex-wife lives and within 2 days has the mystery solved. The murderer, as in all of Ann Cleeves' novels, is very hard to solve and the least expected person and of course, the twist at the end gets you all the time! If you are a lover of the Shetland Island mysteries, you will enjoy this one too.

Schedule for the Group Read of The Jungle by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul

Friday 10th November : Prologue and Chapters 1 to 4
Saturday 11th November : 5 to 9
Sunday 12th November : 10 to 13
Monday 13th November : 14 to 19
Tuesday 14th November : 20 to 27 and Epilogue

The Cyanide Canary by Joesph Hilldorfer and Robert Dugoni
3.5 stars

Description
On a crisp summer morning in Soda Springs, Idaho, twenty-year-old Scott Dominguez went to work for Allan Elias, the owner of Evergreen Resources, an enterprise Dominguez thought was in the business of producing fertilizer from mining waste. By eleven o'clock that morning he was fighting for his life, pulled unconscious from a cyanide-laced storage tank and not expected to live through the night. In Seattle, Special Agent Joseph Hilldorfer of the Environmental Protection Agency was given the job of finding out what happened to Dominguez and why. A former New York whiz kid and Arizona real estate and business mogul, Elias owned businesses that had polluted Idaho with hazardous waste for nearly a decade. Yet Elias never spent a single day in jail. Hilldorfer, his partner and the government trial team embarked on an epic courtroom battle that would stretch them to the limits.

What happened to Scott was horrible and sad. The owner deliberately would not provide safety equipment or training to his employees and had a history of his employees getting hurt. He was very smart and knew what to lie about, how to cover things up and how to bribe people to help him. Because he was so despicable, it made me keep reading to see if he would be found guilty. The ending dragged on a bit too long because of numerous legal proceedings that Elias initiated to delay a decision. Overall, an interesting and well-written story.

Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay - 5 stars
Book Description:
If you made a mistake that took someone's life, you'd remember it . . . wouldn't you?
After a tragedy rocks the community of Promise Falls, Cal Weaver is asked to investigate the threats being made to the accused's family. He's heard all about it on the news: the young man who drank too much, stole a Porsche and killed a girl, and who claimed afterwards not to remember a single thing. The whole town is outraged that he got off lightly, but for reasons Cal can't explain, he accepts the job. Then Cal finds himself caught up in a vicious revenge plot, chasing someone set on delivering retribution. In Cal's experience, it's only ever a matter of time before threats turn into action. . . .
A gripping thriller packed with scandal, from the master of the twist you never saw coming.

My Review:
It seems that the Promise Falls trilogy is not really over as this book is considered the 4th book in the series and also a standalone. I would read the trilogy first before reading this one though, as there are lots of references to the trilogy. I found this book to be very entertaining and crazy, as most of Barclay's books are, but I enjoyed it very much. The characters are unique and fascinating. The plot has two storylines that end up coming together making this book a real page turner towards the end. The last page was a complete unexpected surprise but a brilliant ending to a good book. This book makes me want to pull off my shelf all the Barclay books that I have not read yet as I think I need to read him again and again. I would highly recommend this book to those who love mystery thrillers with humor.

Random Harvest by James Hilton
4 ★

Random Harvest is a novel written by James Hilton, first published in 1941. The novel was immensely popular, placing second on The New York Times list of bestselling novels for the year. The novel was successfully adapted into a film of the same name in 1942 and nominated for the Academy Award.

This is a very good story.... it's completely readable and well constructed. It is a tale of lost identity due to shell shock in the last world war, The main character has become a successful industrialist but has a two year gap in his memory. His personal life has remained detached and almost unnaturally unemotional but he continually seeks clues to those missing years. The reader gets his story in a series of flashbacks as one phase after another is revealed. There is an element of suspense...of mystery...of romance...which when all combined makes for memorable story.

Paranormal Intruder by Caroline Mitchell
3.5 ★

An innocent family finds itself completely helpless against the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home. A knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-chilling growls emit from thin air. Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers as they try to protect their family from the unseen entity that seems determined to rip them apart. The biggest question looms over them like a dark cloud ... who is going to help us? There are emergency services for many things, but not of this nature. It might be easier to believe temporary insanity, if not for the vast amount of witnesses. Police, fire services, mediums, priests and investigators all become embroiled in the mystery. The family struggles to cope, and Caroline grows concerned for her husband's failing health as he withdraws from the world. However, the entity has only just begun.

The book certainly gets you attention. It's an entertaining story rather you are a believer...a totally absolutely no way disbeliever....or a maybe it could happen, individual. I love haunted house stories...so I was just wanting to be entertained, but since Caroline Mitchell wrote and published the book as a real life experience for her family...I had to ask some questions about the events. Okay... all of a sudden they had this uninvited guest raising hell in their home...didn't they for one minute consider this "thing" to be dangerous? Instead they tried to communicate with it in a variety of ways. It knocked, growled, threw things, constantly rang their cell phones, followed them around, and set fires... and generally made life truly unbearable. They left the house, BUT... they kept returning. They even invited it to the local pub where it knocked, raised tables and followed them home. Didn't DEMON ever enter their minds? No one would really help them try to get rid of it...not the church...not the investigators...everyone just wanted to see the activity and be entertained by it. It got to where they were playing games with whatever this was. This just didn't seem plausible to how anyone with this thing hanging out in their home would react. Never throughout the entire book did any one come close to telling them what it was...where it came from...or what it wanted. IF it was a true story, as was claimed, there remained too many questions and not enough answers.

And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat
4★'s

In July 1942, Farley Mowat was an eager young infantryman bound for Europe and impatient for combat. This powerful, true account of the action he saw, fighting desperately to push the Nazis out of Italy, evokes the terrible reality of war with an honesty and clarity fiction can only imitate. In scene after unforgettable scene, he describes the agony and antic humor of the soldier's existence: the tedium of camp life, the savagery of the front, and the camaraderie shared by those who have been bloodied in battle. The title paraphrases a line from a John Keats poem in which Farley quotes:

"O what can ail thee, Knight at arms,
Alone and palely loitering,
The sedge has withered from the lake,
And no birds sing!"

I have always had great admiration for that generation who went to war and survived its horrors. This is a brutally honest account of what the author, Farley Mowat, witnessed and felt as his company went through Sicily and Italy in the allied invasions of 1943 and 1944. The book starts on a light and often humerus note with stories of his attempt to get into the army and the war, and some of the stories of his training in England. He finally goes into battle his mood and the mood of the book darkens as we witness the change that takes place within him and others he knew as they fought battle after battle ... after battle. The book is so well-written and even the letters that he sent home have such eloquence to them. May we never forget those dark days and may we have sense enough to never repeat them.

Darkness Rising by Lis Wiehl
East Salem Trilogy Book #2
3★

Dani Harris thought there wasn’t much left that could surprise her after serving as a forensic psychiatrist in East Salem. And Tommy Gunderson has faced few challenges in his life that he couldn’t overcome by either physical strength or his celebrity status. But as they race to uncover what’s really happening behind the high walls of St. Adrian’s Academy, it becomes clear that supernatural forces have been at work here for generations. And now their focus is on making sure Dani and Tommy don’t interfere. When the unseen becomes seen, faith is the only weapon strong enough to fight in a battle involving not just murder and betrayal—but angels and demons.

I love stories of the paranormal...horror...demons but somehow this story just didn't present that eerie feeling that a good paranormal book delivers. I've read a lot of forensic science books and my degree involved a lot of biology...but even I found myself skimming over some of the medical/forensic terms. It could have been presented in terms that most readers would understand. I did like the story...I just wished the plot had come together better.

The Children of the Revolution by Peter Robinson - 4 stars
Book Description:
Multiple award-winning New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Peter Robinson returns with Children of the Revolution, a superb tale of mystery and murder that takes acclaimed British Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks back to the early 1970s—a turbulent time of politics, change, and radical student activism.

The body of a disgraced college lecturer is found on an abandoned railway line. In the four years since his dismissal for sexual misconduct, he’d been living like a hermit. So where did he get the 5,000 pounds found in his pocket?

Leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks begins to suspect that the victim's past may be connected to his death. Forty years ago the dead man attended a university that was a hotbed of militant protest and divisive, bitter politics. And as the seasoned detective well knows, some grudges are never forgotten—or forgiven.

Just as he’s about to break the case open, his superior warns him to back off. Yet Banks isn’t about to stop, even if it means risking his career. He's certain there’s more to the mystery than meets the eye . . . and more skeletons to uncover before the case can finally be closed.

My Review:
I found this book to be an interesting look at the turbulent 70's. It isn't one of my favorites but still a good story. I like the chemistry between and Annie and Banks in this book and look forward to seeing where this relationship is going. Lots of twists and turns kept the story moving and the pages turning. The characters are well-developed and the plot was fascinating. Looking forward to the next book in the series and I would recommend this installment to those who love this series.

Midnight Line by Lee Child - 5 Stars

Jack Reacher sees a tiny West Point class ring in the window of a local pawn shop. A West Point graduate himself, he knows just how hard it was to earn and wonders why the owner had to pawn this precious item. He becomes even more intrigued when he examines it and finds it belongs to a female cadet. There are no clues other than her initials – SRS. Reacher buys the ring and then back traces it to “find out the story”. Of course, there will be mischief and mayhem across several states as Reacher polishes up the skills he used as an Army investigator.

I was not a fan of the last Reacher novel, Night School. I hoped this new book would return Reacher to the formula that has worked so well for over twenty novels and has now moved into the movie realm. Well, he's back baby! Long time fans will welcome the Jack Reacher they've come to know and love over the last twenty years.

The plot is very timely and there are several unexpected surprises. Child pays tribute to wounded vets and the problems they encounter after they return from multiple tours of duty, but he never becomes preachy or vectors into political criticisms. Midnight Line is a great story with interesting characters. My one complaint might be that the secondary characters are not fully developed but, let's face it, we read the book for the only character that matters.....Reacher himself. If you are already a fan, don't hesitate to pick up a book that returns to the old formula, a classic hero who lives his solitary life on his own terms and views life through his own sense of morality.

Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly
5 Stars and a favorite

Thirty years ago, former LAPD Detective Harry Bosch was sure that Preston Borders had raped and murdered three young women. Harry is told by the District Attorney that Borders may soon be released. A new analysis of the evidence has identified the DNA on one of the victim's pajama bottoms as that of Lucas John Olmer, who died in a different prison and never met Preston Borders. To make matters worse, Border’s attorney has filed a petition claiming that Bosch planted evidence during the original investigation that ultimately led to his client’s guilty verdict.

In the meantime, Harry is still working cold cases as a volunteer with the San Fernando Police Department. When a local pharmacist and his son are brutally killed, he's asked to help on the murder investigation because of his past experience. This draws him into a web of prescription drug abuse and an undercover assignment posing as an addict. The two plots are handled in a flawless manner. Many times in multiple story lines, one is either more interesting than the other, but Connelly didn't shortchange either of the story lines at the expense of the other.

Connelly is a masterful writer and this was one of the most tension filled books I've read in quite a while. It's always fun when Harry teams up with his half-brother, Mickey Haller. I listened to the audio version narrated by Titus Welliver, who plays Harry in the Amazon Original series, Bosch. He looks, talks, and acts just like the Bosch of my imagination. I can't find a single criticism to voice about this book. It's perfect and I'm sure it will remain one of my 2017 favorites.

The Force by Don Winslow
4 Stars

This book follows the Manhattan North Special Task Force, headed up by Denny Malone, New York’s number one cop. The books opens with Malone in a federal prison. Is he guilty or is he innocent? This will be revealed through flashbacks that document Denny's story, along with his best friends and workmates, Bill Montague, Phil Russo and Billy O'Neil. I won't say much more about the story line because the author does an excellent job of transporting the reader right into the seedy underbelly of the cops and criminals of New York.

I thought the book was excellently written and Denny a compelling narrator. You will recognize many of the stereotypical characters that populate this style book, as well as the corruption and hypocrisy. If you were a fan of HBO's The Wire, there is much here that is similar. In fact, the whole time I was reading it, I was envisioning it as a new movie or TV series. I haven't read any other books by Don Winslow but would definitely consider trying out another, especially The Cartel, which looks very interesting.

>51 Olivermagnus: I'm reading Midnight Line now. I'm almost done with The Jungle so I'll get further along with it soon.

The Jungle by Clive Cussler & Jack Du Brul
Oregon File Series Book #8
4.5★'s

Jungles come in many forms. There are the steamy rain forests of the Burmese highlands. There are the lies and betrayals of the world of covert operations. And there are the dark and twisted thoughts of a man bent on near-global domination. To pull off their latest mission, Cabrillo and his remarkable men and women must survive them all. A devastating new weapon unleashed in thirteenth-century China . . . a daring rescue in the snowbound mountains along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border . . . a woman gone missing in the jungles of northern Thailand and Myanmar . . . for Cabrillo and company, all of these events will come together—leading to the greatest threat against U.S. security that the country has ever known.

The story is drawn with colorful word pictures of the surroundings...the jungle... the water travel... and the cast of characters. There are bizarre and unlikely puzzles that keep the reader on the edge until the very last word...and the last word is uttered by a surprising guest. Overall a perfect addition to this amazing series.

Red Lily by Nora Roberts
In The Garden series Book #3
3★

A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night…

Hayley Phillips came to Memphis hoping for a new start, for herself and her unborn child. She wasn’t looking for a handout from her distant cousin Roz, just a job at her thriving In the Garden nursery. What she found was a home surrounded by beauty and the best friends she’s ever had—including Roz’s son Harper. To Hayley’s chagrin, she has begun to dream about Harper—as much more than a friend. If Hayley gives in to her desire, she’s afraid the foundation she’s built with Harper will come tumbling down. And that wouldn’t be the only consequence, since her dreams are tangled up with Roz and the nursery. Hayley will have to put the past behind her to know her own heart again—and to decide whether she’s willing to risk it

Romances are not my favorite or even second favorite genre but my mother had the book and she said I should try it. You know you should do what your mother says...right? It wasn't a terrible book or even a bad book...it just wasn't my type of book. I did find parts of it that caught and held my interest. The last part of the book seemed to ramble a bit...or in all fairness it could have just been me. Overall it was an entertaining read but if I hadn't needed a book that fit a category for a challenge I probably wouldn't have pick this up..but isn't that the whole point of a challenge?

The Jungle by Clive Cussler - 4 stars
Book Description:
Jungles come in many forms. There are the steamy rain forests of the Burmese highlands. There are the lies and betrayals of the world of covert operations. And there are the dark and twisted thoughts of a man bent on near-global domination. To pull off their latest mission, Cabrillo and his remarkable men and women must survive them all.

A devastating new weapon unleashed in thirteenth-century China . . . a daring rescue in the snowbound mountains along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border . . . a woman gone missing in the jungles of northern Thailand and Myanmar . . . for Cabrillo and company, all of these events will come together—leading to the greatest threat against U.S. security that the country has ever known.

My Review:
Every book of the Oregon Files is a thrilling adventure and The Jungle was no different. it is a fast paced plot with plenty of action which makes for a page turner until the end. I really enjoy all the characters in this series and the addition of Lawless with his military capabilities will be a great reward to the crew. It was exciting to visit China again and I enjoyed the story of the crystals and their use in 1281 A.D. I look forward to the next book in the series and I would highly recommend this series to those who love adventure thrillers.

In The Dark Places by Peter Robinson - 4 stars
Book Description:
It's a double mystery: Two young men have vanished, and the investigation leads to two troubling clues in two different locations.

As Banks and his team scramble for answers, the inquiry takes an even darker turn when a truck careens off an icy road in a freak hailstorm. In the wreckage, rescuers find the driver, who was killed on impact, as well as another body—a body that was dead well before the crash.

Snow falls. The body count rises. And Banks, perceptive and curious as ever, feels himself being drawn deeper into a web of crime, and at its center something—or someone—dark and dangerous lying in wait.

My Review:
Peter Robinson is an excellent storyteller and I found this one to be well-written. It is smartly plotted with lots of interesting characters. Winston is featured in this book along with her new boyfriend Terry. Annie is recovering from her gunshot wound and is coming along nicely. Banks seems to be thinking about retirement but is still masterful at solving this dark and dangerous crime. I find it's a good idea to read this series in order as the storylines build one upon the other. I look forward to the next installment and would highly recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers and police procedurals.

The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle - 4 stars
Book Description:
Iris and Will have been married for seven years, and life is as close to perfect as it can be. But on the morning Will flies out for a business trip to Florida, Iris's happy world comes to an abrupt halt: another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board and, according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers.

Grief stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. Why did Will lie about where he was going? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to uncover what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she finds shock her to her very core.

My Review:
This is a fast-paced quick read that will keep you guessing if Iris' husband, Will, is dead or alive. It's a nightmare none of us would like to live and the reader must have sympathy for Iris as her world comes crushing down. It was not too hard to figure out what was happening but the book did have a few surprises that I did not see. I found the plot to be unique and the characters were interesting. I would definitely read another book by Kimberly Belle and would highly recommend this book to those who like stories that are a definite nightmare.

Shallow Graves by Maureen Boyle - 5 stars
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Book Description:
Eleven women went missing over the spring and summer of 1988 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, an old fishing port known as the Whaling City, where Moby Dick, Frederick Douglass, textile mills, and heroin-dealing represent just a few of the many threads in the community’s diverse fabric. In Shallow Graves, investigative reporter Maureen Boyle tells the story of a case that has haunted New England for thirty years.

The Crimes: The skeletal remains of nine of the women, aged nineteen to thirty-six, were discovered near highways around New Bedford. Some had clearly been strangled, others were so badly decomposed that police were left to guess how they had died.

The Victims: All the missing women had led troubled lives of drug addiction, prostitution, and domestic violence, including Nancy Paiva, whose sister was a hard-working employee of the City of New Bedford, and Debra Greenlaw DeMello, who came from a solidly middle-class family but fell into drugs and abusive relationships. In a bizarre twist, Paiva’s clothes were found near DeMello’s body.

The Investigators: Massachusetts state troopers Maryann Dill and Jose Gonsalves were the two constants in a complex cast of city, county, and state cops and prosecutors. They knew the victims, the suspects, and the drug-and-crime-riddled streets of New Bedford. They were present at the beginning of the case and they stayed to the bitter end.

The Suspects: Kenneth Ponte, a New Bedford attorney and deputy sheriff with an appetite for drugs and prostitutes, landed in the investigative crosshairs from the start. He was indicted by a grand jury in the murder of one of the victims, but those charges were later dropped. Anthony DeGrazia was a loner who appeared to fit the classic serial-killer profile: horrific childhood abuse, charming, charismatic, but prone to bursts of violence. He hunted prostitutes in the city by night and served at a Catholic church by day. Which of these two was the real killer? Or was it someone else entirely?

Maureen Boyle first broke the story in 1988 and stayed with it for decades. In Shallow Graves she spins a riveting narrative about the crimes, the victims, the hunt for the killers, and the search for justice, all played out against the backdrop of an increasingly impoverished community beset by drugs and crime. Drawing on more than one hundred interviews, along with police reports, first-person accounts, and field reporting both during the killings and more recently, Shallow Graves brings the reader behind the scenes of the investigation, onto the streets of the city, and into the homes of the families still hoping for answers.

My Review:
I found this book to be quite fascinating. Maureen Boyle did an excellent job interviewing over 100 people who were involved in this case and have first-hand knowledge of what transpired. We get an unique perspective of what went on and can form our own opinion of who the serial murderer may have been. It is heartbreaking what the families endured and you can really sympathize with them not getting a definitive answer of exactly who did murder their love ones. With all the twists and turns that the investigation took makes for a real page-turner as the story grips you and doesn't let go. I would highly recommend this book to those who like to read true crime about cold cases that have never been resolved.
I won this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Line by Lee Child
Jack Reacher series Book #23
5 Stars

Jack Reacher just wants to return a ring that he found in a pawn shop in a small town in South Dakota. The owner had been a West Point graduate and Jack knows she wouldn't have just given it up without a good reason. Little does he know that following the ring's trail was going to involve him in a bigger more deadly scheme.

I am a big fan of the Jack Reacher series in spite of the 'Tom Cruise is not Reacher" debate. The character of Jack Reacher has always been a loner and because of that most of the time becomes suspect where ever he goes. This time he not only was accepted by the local law but he manages to not upset the apple cart too much, He shows a lot of compassion and understaning for this wounded 5 time Iraq veteran and even bent some of his most basic rules for her. Long time Reacher fans will find this an outstanding addition to the series and new readers will diffidently want more.

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio - 5 stars
Book Description:
In the summer of 1942, newly engaged Anne Calloway sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses--of life, and of love--that have haunted her for seventy years.

My Review:
This is the 3rd book that I have read by this author. It is definitely my favorite so far. It is a quick, easy read from the WWII era on the tiny island of Bora-Bora. It is an interesting read about romance and friendship with a touch of mystery. The characters were unique and well developed. The story has twists and turns that held my interest to the end. I look forward to read more of Sarah Jio's books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love romantic "feel good" stories.

Schedule for Group Read of The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter, #4 in the Robert Hunter Series

Sunday 19th November : 1 - 21
Monday 20th November : 22 - 44
Tuesday 21st November : 45 - 67
Wednesday 22nd November : 68 - 92
Thursday 23rd November : 93 - 119

Blood Harvest by Brant Randall - 4 stars
Book Description:
What drives a small town in New England in the late 1920s to lynch a man? Immigrant Nick DeCosta's skill as a wine grower makes him a fortune as a moonshiner and puts him at odds with the 'shine sales of the MacKay clan, even though he's wed to their wild youngest daughter. Is this the real reason he is lynched? And who is the second corpse in the woods?

My Review:
This is a book about wicked relationships, blatant betrayal and treacherous deceit. The novel grew from an incident related to the author by his grandmother when she was in her nineties. It's written with the dialect and local jargon of the times in New England in 1929. It's a dark mystery with characters that feel very real about the anti-immigrant sentiment of the 1920's. I look forward to reading more from this author and I would recommend this book to those who love dark mysteries from the 1920's era of prohibition and Ku-Klux-Klan lynchings.

>64 EadieB: I've never heard of this author.

>65 Andrew-theQM: Found this book at the library. He wrote another book with some of the characters from the first book but I don't think he wrote anymore.

Tommy Gun Tango Paperback – June 1, 2009 by Brant Randall (Author)

REVIEW: - 5 stars
A continuation of some of the characters from Blood Harvest as they progress into the Great Depression. Same style and setup as Blood Harvest where time line is seen from different points of view in the first person of the different characters. Style of writing is also "in character." A great read delving into the life and morality of the times.

All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
2★

It begins in the small, affluent town of Fairview, Connecticut, where everything seems picture perfect. Until one night when young Jenny Kramer is attacked at a local party. In the hours immediately after, she is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. But, in the weeks and months that follow, as she heals from her physical wounds, and with no factual recall of the attack, Jenny struggles with her raging emotional memory. Her father, Tom, becomes obsessed with his inability to find her attacker and seek justice while her mother, Charlotte, struggles to pretend this horrific event did not touch her carefully constructed world. As Tom and Charlotte seek help for their daughter, the fault lines within their marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows where they have been hidden for years, and the relentless quest to find the monster who invaded their town - or perhaps lives among them

I read a lot of real crime books as well as really gritty non-fiction books so I know it wasn't the violent rape that earned this book a 2 star rating. Actually that was the most interesting part of the entire book. The parents were so divided on the "treatment" that their young daughter received...a drug that would make her forget that the rape ever happened. I strongly believe it was more for the mother's benefit but the father didn't have enough backbone to say "no". Then most of the remainder of the book was an account by the psychiatrist that went on and on. I lost any interest in the book before the half way mark.

Watching Edie by Camilla Way
4★'s

Edie was the kind of girl who caused a stir when she walked into your life. And she had dreams back then—but she soon learned that things don’t always turn out the way you want them to. Now, at thirty-three, Edie is working as a waitress, pregnant and alone. And when she becomes overwhelmed by the needs of her new baby and sinks into a bleak despair, she thinks that there’s no one to turn to

But someone’s been watching Edie, waiting for the chance to prove once again what a perfect friend she can be. And Edie’s about to learn a new lesson: those who have hurt us deeply—or who we have hurt—never let us go, not entirely.

An interesting psychological portrait of two girls who become very complicated women. Their relationship has already unraveled when they were teens, but years later it had a forced reconstruction when their individual needs emerge. Both characters took turns telling their story from their own perspective. I began to like one more and one less as the story progressed. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt too afraid to stand up to a bully or to defend a friend.

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain - 5 stars
Book Description:
In The Silent Sister, Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality, in this engrossing mystery from international bestselling author Diane Chamberlain.

My Review:
This book hooked me from the start and kept me twisting and turning until the very end. Riley MacPherson's life is not what she thought it was. After her father's death, Riley comes to understand that her whole life has been a lie. Deep family secrets come to light and she is desperately trying to uncover the truth. I found the characters to be intriguing but most of them were hard to like. The plot was very engrossing and it was hard to breakaway from this book until you found out all the secrets and followed Riley until she found her sister. The book is full of surprise after surprise and Diane Chamberlain did an excellent job pacing them throughout. I look forward to reading another book of hers and highly recommend this book to those who love books about family secrets.

#1 Set in Scotland or by a Scottish author This one meets both criteria.

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
4.5★

The Wasp Factory is the bizarre, imaginative, disturbing, and darkly comic look into the mind of a child psychopath. Meet Frank Cauldhame. Just sixteen, and unconventional to say the least.
"Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different and more fundamental reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a year after that I did for my young cousin Esmerelda, more or less on a whim. That's my score to date. Three. I haven't killed anybody for years, and don't intend to ever again. It was just a stage I was going through."

"I had been making the rounds of the Sacrifice Poles the day we heard my brother had escaped. I already knew something was going to happen; the Factory told me."
Those lines begin one of the creepiest Scottish characters and novels that I have read in some time. Frank Cauldhame, is a weird and scary 16 year old who lives on a tiny island connected to mainland Scotland by a bridge. He maintains grisly "Sacrifice Poles" to serve as his early warning system and deterrent against anyone who might invade his territory. Those that choose to push their luck soon find that any luck they had had run out. If the author was going for shock value he achieved it with flying colors creating characters carrying out some really sick and violent acts... the ultimate dysfunctional family. This book is NOT for the faint of heart or stomach.

>70 Carol420: That book is on the list. I read another of his books that was on the list too: Complicity. He is a gritty author but he's good.

>71 EadieB: You know that I don't mind gritty. I'll have to check Complicity out. I saw that he had died in 2013...so I guess the list will be short.

>72 Carol420: Here's my review of Complicity:
This was my first Iain Banks book. I thought his writing was excellent but if this was suppose to be a murder mystery, I would have to say that it is lacking in that department. I would classify this book as a good character study as the characters were well-drawn but the murderer was quite obvious. I also found the descriptions of the murder and sex scenes a bit over the top. Now you may be asking why I gave him 4 stars. Well, it's his memorable language, great one-liners and his ability to go from past to present so effectively. All in all, a very enjoyable book if you like great writing.

>70 Carol420: >71 EadieB: This is an author I have yet to read and yet I love books set in Scotland (in the main) and by Scottish authors.

The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter
Robert Hunter series Book #4
4.5 ★

A student nurse has the shock of her life when she discovers her patient, prosecutor Derek Nicholson, brutally murdered in his bed. The act seems senseless - Nicholson was terminally ill with only weeks to live. But what most shocks Detective Robert Hunter is the calling card the killer left behind.

This is the 4th book in the Robert Hunter series which follows the investigations of a unique squad of the Los Angeles Police Dept. Just as I thought Chris Carter couldn’t get any more twisted and gruesome along comes this addition to the series...The Death Sculptor. The serial killer is the stuff of nightmares which challenges all of Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia's skills. An added plus for the book is that the reader uncovers a little bit more about Robert’s past...and we are introduced to Alice who is brought in to assist the team in tracking down this killer. The plot line was a little unbelievable, although I'm sure there is some evil piece of humanity out there that probably could accomplish this. At any rate it makes for a disturbing but entertaining police procedural with a total surprise at the end. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

The Death Sculptor by Chris Carter - 5 stars
Book Description:
A student nurse has the shock of her life when she discovers her patient, prosecutor Derek Nicholson, brutally murdered in his bed. The act seems senseless - Nicholson was terminally ill with only weeks to live. But what most shocks Detective Robert Hunter is the calling card the killer left behind.

My Review:
This is another "scare you out of your wits" read and not for the faint of heart. It grabs you and doesn't let go until the very surprise ending. I liked the short chapters that makes for a fast read with lots of twists and turns. I also liked the clever storyline and the puzzle that needed solving. The character of Alice as a love interest for Robert was a pleasant addition. I look forward to the next installment and many more to come. I would highly recommend this series to those who like gritty trillers.

A Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote - 4 stars
Book Description:
Illustrated in full color. Another masterpiece by the great American writer Truman Capote is brought to an audience of all ages. Buddy and his closest friend, his eccentric, elderly cousin, Miss Sook - the memorable characters from Capote's A Christmas Memory--love preparing their old country house for Thanksgiving. But there's trouble in the air. Odd Henderson, a scrawny, freckled, red-headed bully makes Buddy the target of his relentless torment. But Miss Sook only counsels patience and understanding, "He can't help acting ugly; he doesn't know any different," she says. Filled with emotions that are universal to both young readers and adults, this poignant story brings to life what we all should cherish and be thankful for--the gifts of friendship and love. Enchanting illustrations by Beth Peck make The Thanksgiving Visitor a perfect companion for the holiday bookshelf.

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this short, easy to read, heartwarming tale of the joys of friendship and love. It is sure to be a Thanksgiving classic that is written with a beautiful message. I look forward to reading A Christmas Memory and One Christmas by Truman Capote in December. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy holiday message books.

A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George
3 stars

Description
The suicide of William Goldacre is devastating to those left behind. But what was the cause of his tragedy and how far might the consequences reach? Is there a link between the young man's leap from a Dorset cliff and a horrific poisoning in Cambridge? Following various career-threatening misdemeanours, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is desperate to redeem herself. So when a past encounter with bestselling feminist writer Clare Abbott and her pushy personal assistant Caroline Goldacre gives her a connection to the Cambridge murder, Barbara begs DI Thomas Lynley to let her pursue the crime.

This was a long story with lots of character development and activity. The main suspect, Caroline, played a major part in the story, was very manipulative, talked a lot and was very annoying. Later, she went in a weird direction that I didn’t think fit the character. Although Elizabeth George did a good job with character development and tying up the loose ends of each character, there was too much of the Caroline character for me to enjoy the story.

>77 EadieB: One of my favorites!

>79 Hope_H: It was a nice warm read!

I just completed Too Close for Comfort by Ellen Feldman; (4*)

This novel reminded of the Gwyneth Paltrow / Michael Douglas movie entitled A Perfect Murder. Not in the sense that the two stories were alike but in the sense of how the suspense played into the story.
In this the protagonist, Isobel, has just married her long time fiancee, Peter. He's a psychiatrist and she's director of a non-profit. They reside in New York City and she & Peter, since marrying, have shared his opulent apartment, thus creating the first piece of the puzzle as Peter's practice is located just off the foyer with the foyer itself acting as his waiting room. The kitchen is also off the foyer and without a lock on that door it would be possible for incoming patients to access that part of the house.
The mystery begins with the disappearance of a pair of pumps belonging to Isobel and taken from the bedroom closet. Next it is an umbrella with a personalizing portrait of her painted on it taken from the stand in the foyer. As she begins to get uncomfortable with the situation she begins to receive hand delivered anonymous notes/letters telling her that Peter is not hers, that he loves someone else. And over time the notes become more and more threatening and still things keep disappearing, moving, appearing in other places.........
(As I write this, I am realizing how trite and unoriginal this story line seems but reading it I found it to actually be good. My appreciation for Ms Feldman grows.)
At any rate the incidents compound upon one another and the mystery builds, becoming quite threatening and sinister, working toward a deliciously frightening conclusion.

#2 - Word second in the title

The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark
3.5★

In spite of some short comings...the book makes for an entertaining read. One thing that I especially liked about it was how plot focused it was. The protagonist is likable, and has a mind of her own.

As we all know, for every plus there could be a negative. The biggest negative that I saw was that the author for some reason thought that it was necessary produce a recap of the story in nearly every chapter. I also got rather tired of the main character's "gut instinct" always being right no matter what. These however are small, easily overlooked things that the reader can live with.

#8 Features a politician

Sophie: The Incredible True Story of The Castaway Dog
3★

Sophie, the Australian cattle dog who was lost at sea and swam six miles through shark-infested waters to a remote island where she survived in the wild for five months.


The fact that it was a true story was enough to make me want to read the book and find out what had happened to Sophie. Unfortunately most of the book is about Sophie's owners. The fairy tale lives of the family was told over and over and over again as well as the "what ifs" concerning the dog's horrible experience. These back stories of insignificant characters was not necessary nor was the repeated daily schedule of the characters. I just wanted to find out what happened to Sophie. Eventually I just skipped over the repetitive descriptions. The parts about Sophie and her ordeal and her amazing rescue were worth the time to read the book.

Supernaturals II: In The Still of The Night by David L. Golemon
Supernatural series Book #2
4.5★

Five years ago, the ghost-hunting Supernaturals disbanded after being accused of faking their footage of the haunting at Summer Place. Now, the eccentric, but brilliant, team of scientists and paranormal experts are being asked to join forces once again― this time to save the President.

I read the first book in the series...The Supernaturals...and found it to be one of the best haunted house stories that I had ever read. The way the book ended though I wasn't sure that it was meant to be a series so when Supernaturals II: In the Still of the Night came out I was overjoyed to say the least. All the team with all their "ghost hunting talents" were back together...but they didn't have quiet the same pizzazz that the first book had. This one is sometimes a little hard to follow but the story in itself in intriguing. Anyone that craves haunted house and ghost stories as I do will be thrilled with this offering. I do sincerely hope there will be a third one.

The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths - 5 stars
Book Description:
Elizabeth II’s coronation is looming, but DI Edgar Stephens is busy investigating the death of a local fortuneteller. Meanwhile, his old pal, the magician Max Mephisto, is rehearsing for his television debut, a Coronation Day variety show. But upon hearing that their wartime commander, Colonel Cartwright, has been found dead in his flat, the two men join forces to find out what happened.

While Max is stuck in rehearsals, Edgar finds himself heading to New York, hot on the trail of a mesmerist he’s sure has valuable information for them—and his trusty sergeant, Emma, investigates some important leads at home. As the clock ticks down to Coronation Day, the team must scramble to keep Max’s small-screen debut from ending in a dangerously explosive finale.

My Review:
I am a huge fan of the Ruth Galloway series but the Magic Men series is really starting to grow on me. With each book, the series gets better and better. I love the post WWII setting of Brighton Beach. This book shows the advent of TV and the coronation of Elizabeth from the 1950's. All the characters are interesting and the anarchists plot to blow up the coronation magic show is very exciting. I like the team of the DI, Edgar Stephens, and the magician, Max Mephisto, working together to solve the mystery. I'm looking forward to Ruby and Edgar's marriage in the future installment and I would highly recommend this series to those who love historical mysteries.

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris - 4 stars
Book Description:
If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting insideâthe woman who was killed. She's been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It's a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she'd broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she'd stopped.

But since then, she's been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn't have a baby.

The only thing she can't forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

Or the silent calls she's receiving, or the feeling that someone's watching herâ¦

My Review:
This book drew me in from the very beginning. It was a fast-paced and intriguing story which held my attention throughout the whole book. The narrator did an excellent job and made the story interesting to listen to. There were some really good twists in the story but I found the ending was a bit predictable. All in all, I enjoyed the book very much and look forward to the next book from this author. I would highly recommend this novel to those who love psychological thrillers.

Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben - 5 stars
Book Description:
Suburban New Jersey Detective Napoleon “Nap” Dumas hasn't been the same since senior year of high school, when his twin brother Leo and Leo’s girlfriend Diana were found dead on the railroad tracks—and Maura, the girl Nap considered the love of his life, broke up with him and disappeared without explanation. For fifteen years, Nap has been searching, both for Maura and for the real reason behind his brother's death. And now, it looks as though he may finally find what he's been looking for.

When Maura's fingerprints turn up in the rental car of a suspected murderer, Nap embarks on a quest for answers that only leads to more questions—about the woman he loved, about the childhood friends he thought he knew, about the abandoned military base near where he grew up, and mostly about Leo and Diana—whose deaths are darker and far more sinister than Nap ever dared imagine.

My Review:
Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors. I simply loved his Myron Bolitar series and was glad for the Myron guest appearance in this story. I found this book to be a thrilling page turner with lots of twists and turns. The characters are well-drawn and I especially loved Nap, the investigator. I found the book to be well-written and the plot was very exciting and believable. I didn't guess the killer until the surprise ending when it was revealed. I look forward to Harlan's next book and I would highly recommend this novel to those who love mystery thrillers.

Schedule for the Group Read of Proof by Dick Francis, a standalone.

Wednesday 29th November : Chapter 1 to 5
Thursday 30th November : Chapter 6 to 10
Friday 1st December 🎄: Chapter 11 to 13
Saturday 2nd December 🔔: Chapter 14 to 17
Sunday 3rd December 🎁: Chapter 18 to 22

End Game by David Baldacci
Will Robie series Book #5
5★

Will Robie and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They're the ones the government calls in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot violence and mass destruction against the United States. And through every mission, one man has always had their backs: their handler, code-named Blue Man. But now, Blue Man is missing.

Last seen in rural Colorado, Blue Man had taken a rare vacation to go fly fishing in his hometown when he disappeared off the grid. With no communications since, the team can't help but fear the worst. Sent to investigate, Robie and Reel arrive in the small town of Grand to discover that it has its own share of problems. A stagnant local economy and a woefully understaffed police force have made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe groups. Robie and Reel find themselves up against an adversary with superior firepower and a home-court advantage, they'll be lucky if they make it out alive, with or without Blue Man .

Assassins Will Robie and Jessica Reel are forced to become detectives to solve a baffling disappearance. They are clearly out of their element but know that the country depends on the return of the man known as "Blue Man". The citizens of the small town of Grand, Colorado have issues with strangers asking questions. Both Robie and Reel have stumbled into a vast conspiracy that will probably get them killed. To make matters all the worse they are having personal issues. Robie has fallen in love with Reel. Never a good idea in their line of work. As always, an excellent book from a truly talented author. David Baldacci has been one of my very favorites from his first book on and that has certainly not changed. Another excellent series.

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney - 1 star
Book Description:
Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

EMMA
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.

JANE
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before.

My Review:
I listened to this book on audio and found it to be very annoying. The characters weren't very likable and the plot was easy to figure out. Add a lot of horrible, bad language, over the top explicit sex and stupid women and you have a story that is a disaster. This book is a waste of time and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

>90 EadieB: Can’t rem member the last time you gave a book 1 star!

>91 Andrew-theQM: I've given a few but not too many. Ron Howard is making a movie out of this book. He'll probably have to re-write it. I hope!

>92 EadieB: I believe I will take it back to the library...UNOPENED.

>93 Carol420: You may like but I didn't.

>93 Carol420: >94 EadieB: And i’m going to avoid it as we have similar tastes. There is no need for the sex!

>95 Andrew-theQM: Right you are!