What Are We Reading And Reviewing in January 2019?

Carol's January Software For the Brain

1//19 -★

Group Reads
I Am Death by Chris Carter - 1/9/19 - 4★
The Restless Dead by Simon Beckett - 1/30/19 - 4.5★ (2017)
A Tap On The Window by Linwood Barclay - 1/21/19 - 4.5★

Blind Date With A Book
The Hoarder's Widow by Allie Cresswell - 1/14/19 -5★

Others
I Am Death by Chris Carter- 1//19 - ★
Pale As Death by Heather Graham - 1/1/19 - 4★
They Won't Be Hurt by Kevin O'Brien - 1/2/19 - 4.5★
White Bodies by Jane Robins - 1/4/19 - 3★
The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay - 1/4/19 - 5★
In The Still of The Night- by David Lynn Golemon 1/12/19 - 4.5★
Fiercombe Manor by Kate Riordan - 1/11/19 - 5★
No one Knows by J. Ellison - 1/12/19 - 5★
A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni - 1/10/19 - 4★
National Security by Marc Cameron - 1/5/19 - 3★
The Stepchild by Joanne Fluke - 1/3/19 - 3.5★
The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey 1//19 - ★ (2014)
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens - 1/16/19 - 4.5★
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - 1/8/19 - 3.5
Blind To The Bones by Stephen Booth - 1/7/19 - 4.5★
Verses For The Dead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child - 1/6/19 - 5★
Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts - 1/15/19 - 4★
Extreme Paranormal Investigations by Marcus F. Griffin- 1/16/19 - 5★
Aftermath by Peter Robinson - 1/19/19 - 4.5★
The Overnight by Ramsey Campbell - 1//19 - ★
Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer - 1/27/19 - 4★
Gathering The Bones by Ramsey Campbell & Jack Dann - 1/22/19 - 3★
A Delicate Touch by Stuart Woods - 1/20/19 - 5★
Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield - 1/23/19 -3.5★
The Boy by Tami Hoag - 1/24/19 - 4.5★
Aftermath by Peter Turnbull - 1/30/19 - 3.5 ★

Dusty's TBR for January
Dusty's TBR for January
SF/F
C J Cherryh - Emergence ✔
Connie Willis - Blackout ✔
Simon R Green - Death Shall Come
Michael Chabon - Yiddish Policemen's Union ✔
Ursula LeGuin - Powers
Ben Aaronovitch - Lies Sleeping ✔
Nalini Singh - Archangel's Viper ✔
Elizabeth Moon - Into the Fire ✔
John Scalzi - Unlocked ✔

other genres
Victoria Sorensen - Miracles on Maple Hill ✔
Laurie R King - Justice Hall ✔
Cyril Hare - Tragedy at Law ✔
Clamp - X ✔
Nora Roberts - Year One ✔

Threadnsong's 2019 Reading List for January

✔ TBR - Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay
TBRR - The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

We'll see how I do on that reading challenge!//I did it! I actually read an entire Guy Gavriel Kay book in one month! Snow days are a wonderful thing.

Also to finish this month:

The House Between the Worlds (weekend reading)
✔The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack (lunchtime reading)
Persuasion (bed-time reading)
✔Great Expectations (F2F book group)
✔Road to Jonestown (because it's been 30 years since I heard about these gruesome details)

And hopefully another chapter in Tolkien's History of Middle Earth series The Book of Lost Tales, Vol. 1 and The Great Shame

Note: I managed to finish "Jonestown" in 2018 so my review is on the December, 2018 thread. And OMG was it an amazing book!

So busy trying to finish off books before the end of 2018(and updating the list of books I read) I haven’t yet pulled together a list of books for January! Most unusual. I will get onto this today.

However I am starting off the year with the first two books in the Gaslight Mystery Series by Victoria Thompson set in early 20th Century New York.

1. Murder on Astor Place (1999)
2. Murder on St. Mark's Place (2000)

This will cover the years 1999 and 2000 for the Century of Books Challenge. Somehow I got these mixed up and started with book 2 😱😱😱🤯 which I am well through now and enjoying it.

Pale As Death by Heather Graham
Krewe of Hunters series Book #25
4★

The crime scene is horrific: the corpse of a young actress, drained of blood and cut in two. LAPD Detective Sophie Manning’s new case is high-profile and difficult—there’s no evidence to work with. And it’s a disturbing echo of the infamous Black Dahlia killing. Sophie is burning the candle at both ends, desperate to catch the murderer before he strikes again, when she starts to experience inexplicable visits…from ghosts. Bruce McFadden has a particular talent that can help Sophie—he can speak with the dead. As a consultant for the FBI’s paranormal team, the Krewe of Hunters, he’s been tasked with Sophie’s case and they’re forced to partner up. But Sophie doesn’t want his help, and she doesn’t want to share his peculiar skill. And she certainly isn’t ready for love, despite Bruce’s attentions. As the killer taunts the police, Sophie and Bruce will discover that the threat is closer to home than they’d ever realized. Working side by side is the only way they’ll stop this deadly sequel.

Gore, graveyards and ghosts...what more could a ghost loving, paranormal fan ask for? Over the years...25 books...new characters come on the Krewe and old favorites remain so we always know the people and their individual abilities. The stories also present some historical information as well as local color. If you love ghost stories that actually are believable as far as ghost can be...this is one great series. It is one that should be read in order.

They Won't Be Hurt by Kevin O'Brien
4.5★


The lights are on at the Singleton vacation home on Lopez Island, Washington, illuminating the horror within. Scott Singleton, former NFL star turned television evangelist, lies dead. The bodies of his wife and four of their five children are found on the second floor, bound, gagged, and stabbed repeatedly. The oldest daughter was shot downstairs. And the police’s main suspect—the property caretaker—has disappeared. In her secluded vineyard home two hours away, Laura Gretchell is on edge. Her husband is out of town on business, and the children are understandably shaken. Laura tries to tell herself there’s no reason to fear. Then the door handle rattles, and the real terror begins. They’re in her house, holding her children hostage, and Laura has only one option: do exactly what the intruders say. But as Laura races to find the information they seek, she realizes that the enemies within her own home are only part of the nightmare. Because someone wants to keep the truth hidden at any cost, no matter how many more must die.

I must admit that I picked up this book because I thought the dark house on the cover looked intriguing. The tittle wasn't particularly interesting...but what the heck? I was captured from the first chapter. I read more than half the book in one setting and the only reason I stopped was because the words were starting to run together. The characters...at first I felt rather sorry for Joe...I soon became frustrated with his follow the leader attitude and wished he's grow a backbone. Vic...was just plain evil from the start and never got any better. I found myself hoping that he would die soon. some wishes are never granted and I soon realized that Vic was part of the reason the book held the appeal for me that it did. Sophie and her children...the real victims here and not so much the murdered family that started this whole mess. The Singleton family that we meet in the beginning...secrets, secrets and more secrets. Overall, a realy good worthwhile read.

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger
4****

From the book jacket: Part Irish, part Anishinaabe Indian, Corcoran “Cork” O’Connor is the former sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota. Embittered by his “former” status, and the marital meltdown that has separated him from his children, Cork gets by on heavy doses of caffeine, nicotine, and guilt. Once a cop on Chicago’s South Side, there’s not much that can shock him. But when the town’s judge is found dead of a gunshot wound and a young Eagle Scout is reported missing, Cork takes on a mind-jolting case of conspiracy, corruption, and scandal.

My reactions:
This is book one in a series that has become immensely popular and catapulted William Kent Krueger onto a list of the best mystery / thriller writers. The plot is satisfyingly complex, with many suspects, unclear motives, uncertain crimes (Accident? Suicide? Murder?), and more twists and turns than the most fiendish roller coaster.

Holding it together is Cork O’Connor. This is a complicated man; generally, a good guy with a strong moral compass and guiding sense of justice, he is not without flaws and makes his share of personal mistakes. Yet he is uniquely able to investigate both in town and on the reservation, giving him clues and information that is often withheld from “outsiders.”

I’ve had this series on my tbr for ages and regret that I waited so long to begin. I’ll be reading more of this series.

The Hypnotist’s Love Story– Liane Moriarty
Audible audio performed by Tamara Lovatt Smith
4****

Ellen O’Farrell works out of her home as a professional hypnotherapist. She likes her life, except for a failed romance. She’s moved on but would welcome another shot at a long-term relationship. Then she meets Patrick. They hit it off and things are going well when he spouts the dreaded “We need to talk.” Turns out Patrick has an ex-girlfriend who is stalking him.

What an interesting and fresh take on relationships and the psychology of love. What makes us attracted to one another? What holds us together? What happens when one partner moves on, but the other hangs on – desperately, crazily, dangerously?

The relationships between these three people – Patrick, Ellen and Saskia (the ex-girlfriend) – are complicated by misinterpretation, jumping to conclusions, and secrets kept from one another. They are all broken in some way, and all trying to come to grips with past and current relationships. And it will take a significant crisis to finally bring some sense of resolution, however tenuous.

Tamara Lovatt Smith does a fine job narrating the audiobook. However, Moriarty switches point of view between the two women. In the text it’s a little easier to tell when she switches. One character’s perspective is always written in first person, the other in third person narrative. However, there is much dialogue in which a character would naturally speak in first person. (e.g. “I went to the store.”) While this is easy to discern on the printed page, it’s less obvious when listening. Not the narrator’s fault at all, but it still adversely affected the audio experience. I would probably have rated this higher if I had read the text rather than listened.

The Constant Princess – Philippa Gregory
Book on CD performed by Jill Tanner
3***

Book six in her Plantagenet and Tudor series focuses on Catalina, Infanta of Spain, daughter of Queen Isabela and King Ferdinand, and known in English history as Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII.

I admit that I knew little about Katherine, other than her end (thrust aside in Henry’s mad affair with Anne Boleyn). I never realized that she was the daughter of Isabela and Ferdinand, that she’d been trained as a warrior queen, and that she’d been betrothed to Henry’s older brother Arthur when she was but four years old. This was one fierce lady; intelligent, mentally and emotionally strong, an astute observer and able to plot and plan with the best of them.

Gregory gives the reader a strong female lead, and I was caught up in the story at the beginning, but I found that the story seemed to bog down in details. I got tired of the “waiting” and can only imagine how Katherine felt enduring those years of “limbo” while she waited for a marriage and an heir.

Jill Tanner does a fine job performing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and really brings Katherine to life. I get the sense of how young they all were at the outset. (Katherine and Arthur were married only five months when he died, leaving her a widow at age seventeen.) And Tanner gives the young Henry a boyish immaturity that really contrasts with Katherine’s steady and superior though process.

Angels At the Table – Debbie Macomber
Digital audiobook read by Kimberly Farr
2.5**

This is a romance set during the holidays, featuring a restaurant chef vs a food critic, with the help/interference of four angels. Angels Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have a new apprentice angel, Will. On New Year’s Eve they make a quick orientation trip to earth, and Will, in his excitement, causes Lucie Farrara and Aren Fairchild to meet. But they weren’t supposed to meet this early in their lives and Angel Gabriel is pretty upset with them for interfering. Fast forward a year later and the angels have to fix the situation.

This is a typical schmaltzy Christmas romance with more than a little humor thrown in. Some of the situations are downright ridiculous, and the angels, for all their good intentions, seem mostly inept. But it’s a fun read and everything turns out okay in the end. (Surely, you’re not surprised to read that.)

Kimberly Farr is a talented voice artist and she does a fine job reading the audiobook. She kept the action moving along and it was easy to follow. I was a little confused a few times about which angel was speaking, but it really didn’t matter all that much.

Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook by Joanna Farrow
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

It is wonderful to have a friend who really gets you - and my friend Linda really gets me! She gave me this book as a Christmas present, and I love it! I may never make anything from it - although Cassandra looks very easy - but I love the concept and the cleverness used in naming the recipes. One section, featuring a Dalek, is called "Eggs-Stir-Mix-Bake" - say it real fast . . .

I appreciate the fact that the early Doctors were not forgotten, and neither was Doctor 9, who is frequently overlooked. I took off 1/2 a star because so many of the recipes require advanced cake decorating skills. I'll probably never try those, but they are fun to look at!

The Stepchild by Joanne Fluke
3.5★

Kathi Ellison is an English literature major at the University of California in Berkeley, living with her boyfriend off-campus. She is also the daughter of a candidate for the U.S. Senate and his wife, a role that could affect her life should her father win the election. But before she can consider her future, Kathi must first come to terms with her past. A car accident when she was four-years-old killed her mother and left her in a coma for several days. The migraines and nightmares that plagued her as a child have recently returned with a vengeance, leaving her mind full of visions that feel more like memories.

Memories that are not her own. Memories of a frightened and traumatized child named Sheri Walker. Memories linked to her mother’s death that her stepmother doesn’t want her to remember.

It was a good book but the solution to the mystery wasn't much of a mystery since it was presented at the very start and ending was very odd. I guess what's important here is what happen in between those two events. Frankly the story left me with an uneasy feeling, but it has some unexpected twists that will leave you wondering and thinking long after finishing the book. I had to stop and remember that the book was written in 1980 and this author has since written books that were much more intriguing. I absolutely love her ghost stories. Overall, this was a quick red that was worth the time.

The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay
Promise Falls Trilogy Book #3
5★

Everything has been leading to this.

It’s the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd, and the small town of Promise Falls, New York, has found itself in the midst of a full-blown catastrophe. Hundreds of people are going to the hospital with similar flu-like symptoms—and dozens have died. Investigators quickly zero in on the water supply. But the question for many, including private investigator Cal Weaver, remains: Who would benefit from a mass poisoning of this town?

Meanwhile, Detective Barry Duckworth is faced with another problem. A college student has been murdered, and he’s seen the killer’s handiwork before—in the unsolved homicides of two other women in town. Suddenly, all the strange things that have happened in the last month start to add up…

Bloody mannequins found in car “23” of an abandoned Ferris wheel…a fiery, out-of-control bus with “23” on the back, that same number on the hoodie of a man accused of assault. The motive for harming the people of Promise Falls points to the number 23—and working out why will bring Duckworth closer to death than he’s ever been before.

It was a great trilogy but I was a just a tad disappointed in the ending. It was such an incredible buildup over the 3 books that it just seemed that the ending should have not been quiet so flat. On spite of this it was an entertaining read with short chapters and plenty of twists and turns. Anyone of the three books could easily have stood well by itself...but you CAN NOT read these out of order.

The Cat Who Saw Red – Lillian Jackson Braun
Book on CD read by George Guidall
3***

This is book four in a delightful cozy mystery series starring newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese - Koko and Yum Yum. As the novel opens, Qwill has started a new diet, which is complicated when he’s assigned to write a new gourmet column for the paper. He starts by attending a gourmet club meeting at Maus Haus, the home of an attorney, where he meets an old flame.

This is an entertaining series with a very likeable main character who is appropriately nosy, given his journalism background. His relationship with his cats is nicely portrayed without being overly saccharine. Of course, Koko, in particular, does seem to have a knack for helping Quill solve the cases – he can even type!

Braun includes a large cast of suspects, acquaintances, and passers by. Maus Haus is a sort of boarding house catering to the arts community, and it seems that everyone is in everyone else’s business. That certainly complicates Qwill’s efforts at finding the truth. Still, for all that, the action is somewhat slow. People go missing, and odd things happen, but no one is concerned but Qwill and the police are never involved.

George Guidall does a satisfactory job of reading the audiobook. I was not a big fan of the quality of his voice, however. I read about a third of it in text as that was faster.

White Bodies by Jane Robins
3★

Felix and Tilda seem like the perfect couple: young and in love, a financier and a beautiful up-and-coming starlet. But behind their flawless façade, not everything is as it seems.

Callie, Tilda’s unassuming twin, has watched her sister visibly shrink under Felix’s domineering love. She has looked on silently as Tilda stopped working, nearly stopped eating, and turned into a neat freak, with mugs wrapped in Saran Wrap and suspicious syringes hidden in the bathroom trash. She knows about Felix’s uncontrollable rages, and has seen the bruises on the white skin of her sister’s arms. Worried about the psychological hold that Felix seems to have over Tilda, Callie joins an internet support group for victims of abuse and their friends. However, things spiral out of control and she starts to doubt her own judgment when one of her new acquaintances is killed by an abusive man. And then suddenly Felix dies...or was he murdered?

The story is told through Callie's point of view...which was really a plus for the book...especially since so many domestic thrillers are told through the perspective of the battered spouse or abusive partner. Callie is worried about her twin enough to go out of her way to try to find a way to help her...even if she didn't want it. The problem was with the characters who were all so unlikable that I had trouble choosing who to hope came out ahead. I know some would say that's easy...Tilda who was the abused spouse...but Tllda seemed to delight in tormenting Felix thus making herself a victim. It was an easy read that flowed very smoothly but hit another bump with an odd, unexpected ending that didn't fit well with the previous events of the story.

National Security by Marc Cameron
Jericho Quinn series Book #1
3★

Warning: The next terrorist attack on American soil is coming . . . sooner than you think.

They can strike anytime, anywhere. A public landmark. A suburban shopping mall. And now, the human body itself. Three Middle Eastern terrorists have been injected with a biological weapon, human time bombs unleashed on American soil. They are prepared to die. To spread their disease. To annihilate millions. If America hopes to fight this enemy from within, we need a new kind of weapon. Meet Special Agent Jericho Quinn. Air Force veteran. Champion boxer. Trained assassin. Hand-picked for a new global task force that, officially, does not exist. Quinn answers only to the Director of National Intelligence and the U.S. President himself.

As often happens with my "new series" reads they are because of a challenge that needs something to fulfill it. This one was not an exception to that rule. I had never read this author so really had no preconceived expectations. Turns out that our hero...Jericho Quinn... is an Air Force captain with very special skills. He has an ex-wife...a five-year-old daughter...and spends his life protecting others. He is described as dark skinned and speaks fluent Arabic. An interesting character but I believe I would very much like him more in a movie than in a book. I found that the book, while being an interesting enough was very descriptive and the good guys come off as super-heroes that can do not wrong. I'm not sure I will ever read book #2...unless I have another challenge....

>4 Andrew-theQM: I usually just post my list on my own thread, but I didn't manage to find time to do that till today!!!

Bird Watching for Dummies / Bill Thompson III
4 stars

Another one of the “For Dummies” books, this one focuses on bird watching. It not only goes through ways to help you learn how to ID birds (what to watch for, listen for, etc.), but also ways to make your yard more bird-friendly (feeders, shelter, water… also gardening – what types of trees, shrubs, flowers, etc), keeping lists, sketching, what to look for in binoculars, field guides, and more.

I always enjoy these books – there is usually some humour thrown in, though this one had maybe less than some of the others I’ve read. This one was published in 1997, though, so a bit outdated, as he mentions organizations with their mailing addresses, rather than a website, for instance; there was one chapter that included Internet and email resources, but CD-ROMs are also mentioned. Other than that, though, I thought there was a lot of good information here. Oh, I’ve seen comments about the colour photos, but my edition didn’t have that (maybe that was just in the 1st edition?).

The Ides Of March – Thornton Wilder
2**

In this work of historical fiction, Wilder uses a combination of letters, diary entries and official documents to tell the story of the last year of Julius Caesar’s life.

Thank heavens I already knew the basic outline of this story. It was simply torture to read. Wilder divides the novel into four “books.” But the time frames overlap. For example, book one begins with a letter dated Sep 1 (45 BC), includes later entries marked “written the previous spring", has a memo dated Sep 30 near the end, followed by two undated notes, and a final document “written some fifteen years after the preceding.” Then we move on to Book Two, which begins with a letter dated Aug 17 (45 BC). S*I*G*H

The second difficulty I had was with the names / relationships. They frequently use nick names or code names when trying to ensure secrecy from prying eyes, should a letter fall into the wrong hands. THEY know who they refer to, but this reader was frequently confused.

And the third reason I found this so challenging are the many asides / footnotes / remarks that the author inserts. For example, in Book I, in the middle of a rather long “historical document” the author writes: Here follows the passage in which Cicero discusses the possibility that Marcus Junius Brutus may be Caesar’s son. It is given in the document which opens Book IV..

Now, I appreciate Wilder’s writing, and there were times in the book that I was completely engaged in the story. I was fascinated to read of the intrigue and espionage, the role of Cleopatra, etc. But on the whole … well I think I had more “fun” translating Cicero’s oration against Cataline when I studied Latin in high school (and I hated that).

Verses For The Dead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Agent Pendergast series Book #18
5 ★

After an overhaul of leadership at the FBI's New York field office, A. X. L. Pendergast is abruptly forced to accept an unthinkable condition of continued employment: the famously rogue agent must now work with a partner. Pendergast and his new colleague, junior agent Coldmoon, are assigned to investigate a rash of killings in Miami Beach, where a bloodthirsty psychopath is cutting out the hearts of his victims and leaving them with cryptic handwritten letters at local gravestones. The graves are unconnected save in one bizarre way: all belong to women who committed suicide. But the seeming lack of connection between the old suicides and the new murders is soon the least of Pendergast's worries. Because as he digs deeper, he realizes the brutal new crimes may be just the tip of the iceberg: a conspiracy of death that reaches back decades.

Those that have followed the Pendergast series know that he is an extraordinary individual with almost supernatural talents for seeing what is hidden in a case. A man who likes to work alone he is forced to accept a partner to aid in his investigation into suicides that may actually be murders in Florida. I really thought that agent Coldmoon...a Locoda Indian...might be the perfect accompaniment to Pendergast. Although an exact opposite...together they are a team to be reckoned with. As the other 17 books were, this one is an equally exciting adventure with the master of investigation.

The Parasite / Ramsey Campbell
3 stars

When Rose is a child, she is taken to a séance where something happens, but she can’t remember it. As an adult, suddenly there are odd things happening to her. She is scared and doesn’t understand what’s going on, until a friend, Diana, tries to help her understand that Rose seems to be able to leave her body and float around. Rose doesn’t believe it at first, but things soon change.

It was ok. A bit odd at times, but I thought the end (probably the last quarter of the book) was much better than the rest of it, as it sped up as things really came to a head.

Jane Doe: A Novel by Victoria Helen Stone
267 pages - ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Stone (romance author Victoria Dahl's name she uses for darker psychological suspense) did it again - an original, dark novel - this time about revenge. Jane is a sociopath. She takes leave from her job as a lawyer, and settles in at a data entry job in Minneapolis so that she can scope out the man she holds responsible for Meg's death. Meg was her college roommate and the only person she really cared about in life. While at this job, the meek, mild, deferential Jane attracts the attention of manager Steven Hepworth. But the real Jane is lurking underneath, waiting for the opportunity to destroy him.

Excellent - drew me in right away. Jane is a memorable character and this is an excellent story.

Blind To The Bones by Stephen Booth
Cooper & Fry series Book #4
4.5★

The villagers of Withens are dying. Emma Renshaw vanished two years ago, her body never found. Now her former housemate has been bludgeoned, his remains discovered near a deserted railway tunnel. Is there a link between the two? While Detective Sergeant Diane Fry focuses on Emma’s possible murder, her colleague Ben Cooper investigates a series of burglaries. Only one family seems exempt: the Oxleys. Descended from workmen who built the ancient tunnels beneath the village, they stick close to their own–and keep their secrets closer. Caught in the tangle of death and deception are Cooper and Fry. Their personal history and professional relationship have blurred before, and will again, as their cases converge in the most unsettling ways.

Cooper and Fry...what interesting characters with insufferable personalities. The author seems to delight in portraying Cooper and Fry.as unlikable...yet they excel in getting the case solved. This one also has a great deal of history and geography of the area blended in beautifully with the storyline. One of the best aspects of this series is that the reader seldom has the murderer correct. So there is always mystery to these mysteries.

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
''Marly's father came back from the war a different man. Something inside him seems as cold and dead as the winter world outside. But when the family moves to Grandma's old house on Maple Hill, miracles begin to happen. The sap in the trees begins to rise, the leaves begin to turn, and Marly's father starts to bloom again, like the world around them.''
This charming little book was the 1956 Newbery Medal winner.Quite unusual in that the father was a POW in WWII for a long time,and is obviously suffering PTSD,though it isnt labelled as such at that time. Its lightly depicted but its clear that the father swings between being depressed and withdrawn, and violently angry,even slapping his son. The mother tries to shield her 2 children,but the tension strain and unhappiness underlies their life. Its a relief to them and us as the quiet hardworking life in the Pennsylvanian hills,surrounded with the beauties of nature and good friends, restores the family to happiness.Delightful

The Search For Joyful– Benedict and Nancy Freedman
4****

A sequel to the popular Mrs Mike, this work of historical fiction is set primarily during World War II, and follows the career of a young Cree woman – Kathy (a/k/a/ Oh-Be-Joyful’s Daughter) – as she becomes an Army nurse and finds love and her place in the world.

I really liked Kathy Forquet as a heroine. Born to Cree parents, she was raised by a white family – Kathy “Mrs Mike” Flanigan is her adoptive mother. Because of her “white upbringing,” she has the advantages of an education that many other First Nation children don’t have, but she is keenly aware that she doesn’t fit in. Still, when WW 2 breaks out, she gathers her courage and heads out on her own to the big city of Montreal and nursing school. Throughout the book she struggles to balance the values she’s been taught, against the temptations she encounters. To find her true identity as a Cree Woman, an Army Nurse, and a Canadian. She remains open to new experiences. She develops a strong friendship with her roommate, a selfish and flighty (if wealthy and well-connected) girl. She finds love – twice; suffers heartbreak; finds courage and tenacity under attack.

In some situations, her status as a First Nation or aboriginal person all but disappears. But in this time period, it is seldom completely set aside. At times she finds herself ill prepared to face the subtle prejudices that are always present. And yet … she has a steel spine, standing up to bullies and insisting on doing the right thing, even if it means losing a friend.

The authors are not First Nation people, and there’s little information about how they came to write this story. I’m skeptical about the truth of what they write, and still I’m drawn into the novel. It’s an inspiring and hopeful story.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
3.5 ★

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben.

Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer.

The book was interesting because it had that true to a certain extent aspect... describing a culture where an outcast could possibly fit in. The plot took an unexpected twist leaving you completely surprised in the end. I usually can figure out "who done it"...but this one was a mystery right to the end. I knew it wasn't Ben...the brother...it would have not made any sense for him to give 28 years of his life in prison not ever saying a word in his defense. I wasn't crazy about Gillian Flynn's portrayal of Libby. She wrote her as coming across way too harsh making her entirely unlikable and not allowing the reader to feel any empathy for this person who was as much a victim as her murdered family.

Christmas Camp– Karen Schaler
3***

From the book jacket: Haley Hanson’s idea of the perfect Christmas is escaping to the Caribbean to work so she can avoid all the traditional Christmas distractions. Over the years, she’s sacrificed her personal life to climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious Boston advertising agency. Now she just needs to land a coveted Christmas toy company account to make partner. But first her boss thinks she needs a holiday attitude adjustment and ships her off to Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to help her find her Christmas spirit.

My reactions:
As I read this, I kept thinking it was remarkably like a Hallmark TV movie I had seen last week. Then I noticed the author’s note at the end, where she states she wrote the script for the movie first. No matter, really. It seems that all those movies have the same plot. They’re still fun to watch, and the schmaltzy Christmas romance books are fun to read. Total escapism.

Now I need some cookies ….

Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War
By Mark Harris
5/5 stars
This is the amazing true life story of some of the greatest Hollywood film directors who were asked to film events during WWII and produce training films for the soldiers while putting aside their careers. John Ford, George Steven, John Huston, William Wyler and Frank Capra were the ones asked to give up their Hollywood jobs to work with the government. A few stayed to make instructional films to train soldiers; others accompanied troops to war torn regions putting their lives in danger while filming. This was a page turner for me from the beginning to the end!

I Am Death by Chris Carter
Robert Hunter Series Book #7
4★

At the Los Angeles International Airport, the body of a twenty-year-old woman is discovered. The autopsy reveals that she had been tortured and murdered in a most bizarre way—but the surprises don’t end there. The killer likes to play, and he left something behind for the cops to find. LAPD Detective Robert Hunter is assigned to the case but almost immediately a second body turns up. Surrounded by new challenges as every day passes, Hunter finds himself chasing a monster—one with a dark past and whose desire to hurt people and thirst for murder can never be quenched.

This entire series is diffidently NOT FOR EVERYONE! I can't emphasis that enough. This one as well as the previous 6 have had horrible, horrendous, graphic, blood drenched crime scenes. This is what Robert Hunter and his partner, Garcia do. They investigate the worse of the worse in a special unit of the Los Angles Police Department. Believe me... with every book you think "okay...it can't get any worse than this"...but then it does. Chris Carter must write down every nightmare that he has and incorporate it into a book. If you can separate fiction from reality you will probably be fine with the series. If not or you have a weak stomach...don't go there. The two detectives are one of the reasons that keep returning to the books. They are magnificent and make the entire series worth reading.

The Christmas Scrapbook – Philip Gulley
3***

This little novella is book 5.5 in the Harmony series featuring Quaker minister Sam Gardner, his wife Barbara, and the Friends of the Harmony meeting house.

I love the gentle stories of one man’s efforts to make a difference in his community. This time his focus is on his wife. He’s determined to give Barbara a better gift than the usual bought-on-Christmas-eve potholder from the local five-and-dime. So, Sam signs up for a scrapbooking class. The results are predictably hilarious. But also impart a lesson about faith, tolerance, love and the spirit of Christmas. As well as a caution about jumping to conclusions and engaging in gossip.

>30 BookConcierge: Thank you for the review. I haven't read this one. I share your love of these books and the man that writes them. My mother loved his stories.

The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey
3★

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius." Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

I'm not really a sci-fi fan...you guessed it.. I read it to meet a challenge....actually 2 challenges. It was an interesting story for about the first 100 pages and then I became bored with it. Everyone was eating everyone except for Melanie...who was the most interesting character in the story... and the 6 people she started out with. They were soon reduced to 4 because everyone else had been eaten by this point. It was rather depressing as there was never any hope that anyone in the world would survive. It would have been better if the author had worked with the idea he had in the beginning to find a vaccine that would save mankind. Anyone that likes sci-fi will find it fascinating. I felt it since it did me a favor providing fodder for the 2 challenges that I owed it the 3 stars.

A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni
Tracy Crosswhite series Book #6
4★

Called in to consult after a young woman disappears, Tracy Crosswhite has the uneasy feeling that this is no ordinary missing-persons case. When the body turns up in an abandoned well, Tracy’s suspicions are confirmed. Estranged from her family, the victim had balked at an arranged marriage and had planned to attend graduate school. But someone cut her dreams short. Solving the mystery behind the murder isn’t Tracy’s only challenge. The detective is keeping a secret of her own: she’s pregnant. And now her biggest fear seems to be coming true when a new detective arrives to replace her. Meanwhile, Tracy’s colleague Vic Fazzio is about to take a fall after his investigation into the murder of a local community activist turns violent and leaves an invaluable witness dead. Two careers are on the line. And when more deadly secrets emerge, jobs might not be the only things at risk.

I love the story telling ability of this author. He can weave several stories together that are seemingly unrelated...and bring it all together beautifully in the end. Tracy Crosswhite is a very believable character that comes across as very human and extremely likable even when she's in one of her "moods". In this book Tracy's life takes a big leap both in her career life and her personal life. Fans of the series will love this one and newbies will want to read all the books from 1-6.

Fiercombe Manor by Kate Riordan
5★

In 1933, naive twenty-two year-old Alice—pregnant and unmarried—is in disgrace. Her mother banishes her from London to secluded Fiercombe Manor in rural Gloucestershire, where she can hide under the watchful eye of her mother’s old friend, the housekeeper Mrs. Jelphs. The manor’s owners, the Stantons, live abroad, and with her cover story of a recently-deceased husband Alice can have her baby there before giving it up for adoption and returning home. But as Alice endures the long, hot summer at Fiercombe awaiting the baby’s birth, she senses that something is amiss with the house and its absentee owners.

Thirty years earlier, pregnant Lady Elizabeth Stanton desperately hopes for the heir her husband desires. Tormented by the memory of what happened after the birth of her first child, a daughter, she grows increasingly terrified that history will repeat itself, with devastating consequences.

After meeting Tom, the young scion of the Stanton family, Alice becomes determined to uncover the clan’s tragic past and exorcise the ghosts of this idyllic, isolated house. But nothing can prepare Alice for what she uncovers. Soon it is her turn to fear

It's 1933 and we meet Alice for the first time. Pregnant, unmarried, and disgraced, she has been exiled to the rural Fiercombe Manor by her furious mother. Alice soon learns that all is not as serene as it seems and that she's not the first young woman to meet a tragic fate here...there is also Elizabeth whose story is 30 years into the past. How many more is anyone's guess. I found Fiercombe Manor to be a very pleasant surprise. It's an easy read and follows the lives of both Alice and Elizabeth by alternating chapters. It's not exactly a ghost story but ti diffidently has a brooding atmosphere. I gave it 5 stars for being well written with well developed characters a good mystery and the fact that I just liked the feel of the book.

The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant / Joanna Wiebe
4 stars

Anne is being sent to a private school across the country from her California home, on an island in New England. It’s a school with mostly rich kids, so Anne isn’t sure how her dad managed to pull some strings to get her in. However he managed it, she’s hoping for a fresh start with other kids who don’t know her. But, when she arrives, there is something very odd about this school… She is heartened to find someone she knew from California is also there, though, and he seems to be the only person interested in being friends.

I really enjoyed this! Yeah, many of the characters were unlikeable, but they’re teenagers. That didn’t bother me. I was interested and curious to find out what the heck was going on at this school! There were a few surprises along the way, though at least one of them I guessed very shortly before it was revealed, anyway. Unfortunately, it’s one of those books that ended on a cliffhanger. I’m not a big fan of that, but I was hoping, as I read, that it would be the first in a series, and it looks like it’s a trilogy. I will definitely pick up the next book.

A Deal to Die For – Josie Belle
2.5**

Book two in the Good Buy Girls cozy mystery series has Maggie opening a new resale shop in her Virginia community. Of course, her high school nemesis, Summer Philips, opens a rival shop directly across the street. They both head to the annual fair, hoping to snag some designer cast-offs from the town’s wealthy widow. But the fair has barely begun when Vera is found dead at Doc Franklin’s office, with Doc kneeling by her side. Who murdered Vera?

This has all the elements of a successful cozy series – a nosy heroine amateur sleuth, romantic tension, a hot police chief, a troop of loyal friends who help our heroine, and a cast of colorful local citizens who fill all the ancillary roles needed.

What lowers the rating for me is the rivalry between Maggie and Summer. It is SOOooo junior high and these are women in their early forties. Get a life, already. I don’t mind the years-long enmity and rivalry itself. After all, such a relationship is a trope of this genre, but the way they’re portrayed in this series is just so juvenile that it sets my teeth on edge.

Well, it won’t (and hasn’t) stopped me reading them. The book is a fast read and satisfies my occasional need for some mind candy.

In The Still of The Night by David L. Golemon
Supernaturals II
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.

Cowboy Charm School (The Haywire Brides)
Margaret Brownley
3/5 stars
Kate Denver is about to be married to long time beau Frank when Texas Ranger Brett Tucker storms the wedding to arrest Frank. Unfortunately, it is all a mistake. Frank is no criminal but it sets into motion in Kate’s mind about whether she and Frank should get married and it doesn’t help that the handsome Brett Tucker is hanging around the town looking for the real criminal Frank Foster. Typical romance novel but sweet.

Two Little Girls in Blue – Mary Higgins Clark
Book on CD narrated by Jan Maxwell.
3***

Three-year-old identical twins Kathy and Kelly are kidnapped while their parents are out for the evening, the babysitter left gagged and unconscious. An excessive ransom is demanded of this young, middle-class couple, and Steve’s employer agrees to put up the $8 million ransom as a gesture of goodwill (and to temper the bad press of some dicey business dealings). But things do not go as planned.

This is a fast-paced thriller with a building sense of suspense. The reader is always in on the crime, knowing the identity of the kidnappers and even the “secretive” Pied Piper long before the characters catch on. But the changing points of view, keeps the novel moving forward and helps maintain that sense of suspense.

My main problem with this book is how the twins are portrayed. I get that they have a sort of “twin telepathy” but I think Clark takes this to extremes. Also, their speech (although stated as advanced) seems just too complicated in both grammar and vocabulary for their age and experience.

Still it kept me interested and entertained, and certainly meets the standards of the genre.

Jan Maxwell does a fine job narrating the audiobook, though I did read the last half in text version. She sets a good pace and has sufficient skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many characters. I particularly liked the way she voiced Angie/Mona …. Really brought out her psychopathology.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius – Dave Eggers
Digital audio read by Dion Graham
1*

Water the Flowers!

I had heard about this memoir when it first came out and had it on my TBR ever since. I was intrigued by a book written by a young man who took on the responsibility for raising his much younger brother after both their parents died within a few weeks of one another. I expected some tragic, emotionally charged scenes and some sense of enlightenment or inspiration. I read another book by Eggers and really enjoyed it, so when the audio finally came in from the library, I was pleased to finally get to this on our long drive to Texas.

It’s clear that Eggers is intelligent. Obviously, the circumstances that resulted in his guardianship of his baby brother were tragic, and every older sibling’s nightmare. I should have read the reviews by Goodreads members before I decided to finally read / listen to the book.

I found Eggers self-absorbed, immature, irresponsible and totally lacking in any insight. I really pity his little brother who might have been better off raised by wolves.

The most entertaining part of the book is the forward/preface/acknowledgments/copyright notice … which on the audiobook are read at the very end. Had this come first, I might have gone into the book expecting something more on the lines of satire, and (while satire is not my favorite genre) had different expectations and a different take on the work. But I went into it expecting a memoir of a tragic and difficult time in a young man’s life, and some reflection / insight / growth in character as a result. Too bad for me. Well, the preface, etc gets him one star.

Dion Graham does a reasonably good job reading the audiobook. Not his fault that the F bomb is used so often or that the writer gives us a manic narrative. (Not helped by my decision to listen at double speed to get through the 13 hours faster.)

No One Knows by j.T. Ellison
5★

Aubrey Hamilton has been mourning her missing husband for five years, despite being even while she was considered the prime suspect in his murder. But when he is officially declared dead, there are still more questions than answers: Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Was he murdered, or did he run away? And who is the new, mysterious and strangely familiar figure suddenly appearing in Aubrey’s life? And has she finally lost her mind after years of loneliness and confusion?

I have found that J.T. Ellison is one of the best mystery writers on the market today. It doesn't matter if it's a book that is part of a series or a standalone...she tells a story with so much feeling of suspense and intrigue. I was hooked from page one. I had to know what had really happened to Aubrey's husband Josh. Was he alive or really dead? What could his mother, Daisy, have had to do with it and why even as a child, did she hate Aubrey so much? A riveting read...until the last chapter. But hey...they can't all be predictable can they? A little confusing but not enough to lose it it's 5 star rating.

Suddenly You by Sarah Mayberry
★ ★ ★ ★ - 281 pages

A cute contemporary romance. Pippa White, single mom to baby Alice, is broke, and the last thing she needs is her car to break down on the freeway. Her ex's best friend (Harry Porter) spots her and comes to her rescue. When he finds out how her ex Steve has been treating her, he steps in, trying to get Steve to step up and provide for Alice. Harry starts stopping by Pippa's crappy rental house to make repairs, which leads to a relationship between Harry and Pippa.

This was a really good romance - believable plot and characters.

The Hoarder's Widow by Allie Cresswell
4.5★

Suddenly-widowed Maisie sets out to clear her late husband’s collection; wonky furniture and balding rugs, bolts of material for upholstery projects he never got round to, gloomy pictures and outmoded electronics, other people’s trash brought home from car boot sales and rescued from the tip. The hoard is endless, stacked into every room in the house, teetering in piles along the landing and forming a scree up the stairs. It is all part of Clifford’s waste-not way of thinking in which everything, no matter how broken or obscure, can be re-cycled or re-purposed into something useful or, if kept long enough, will one day be valuable. He had believed in his vision as ardently as any mystic in his holy revelation but now, without the clear projection of his vision to light it up for her as what it would be, it appears to Maisie more grimly than ever as what it is: junk. As Maisie disassembles his stash she is forced to confront the issues which drove her husband to squirrel away other people’s rubbish; after all, she knows virtually nothing about his life before they met. Finally, in the last bastion of his accumulation, she discovers the key to his hoarding and understands – much too late – the man she married. Then, with empty rooms in a house which is too big for her, she must ask herself: what next?

I've read about, and seen documentaries about hoarders that have died surrounded by the trash piled to the ceilings and beyond in their homes. I had to feel for Maisie but also count her lucky that Clifford wasn't a "messy hoarder"...some might even call him a "collector" whose collections got out of hand. Now Maisie has to deal with not only widowhood but his broken "treasures". The plot is simple and it takes the reader on a delightful journey as Maisie strives to put her house back in order. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a well written, well told tale.

The Book of Negroes / Lawrence Hill.
3.75 stars (3rd read; overall - all 3 reads, 4 stars)

**********POSSIBLE SPOILERS***********
In the mid-1700s, Aminata is only 11-years old when her parents are murdered and she is kidnapped from her village in Africa. She is forced to walk for months to the ocean where she boards a ship to cross. She arrives in South Carolina, where she is sold to an indigo plantation owner and works there until she is then sold to another man and his wife, where she helps keep their home. After a number of years, "Meena" escapes to New York, and after a time, she finds herself in "The Book of Negroes" - a real list of Negroes who want to escape New York and the rebels for Nova Scotia as British Loyalists. All her life, she has really just wanted to go home, back to her village in Africa.
*********END SPOILERS***********

This was very very good, there was so much detail, and it seemed so realistic. The Book of Negroes was a real list - something I had never heard of - and it was interesting (and sad) to read how the mostly former slaves were treated when they arrived in Canada. I waffled for a long time between giving the book 4 or 4.5 stars; unfortunately I lowered it to 4 stars because I was disappointed in the ending, which took away from the book's realism for me.

Reread, 2 years later:
I still really enjoyed this book on a reread. I did remember some parts of the book before I even started rereading it, and a lot of the rest of the book came back to me as I read. My rating remains the same as the first time around.

3rd read, just over 5 years after the last time:
3.75 stars
This is my 3rd time reading this one, and I think rereading is just not for me. I rated it 4 stars the first two times, and 3.5 this time around, but I listened to the audio this time and would give an extra ¼ star for the narrator, so 3.75 this time. Good story; still find the ending unbelievable. I really don’t think I should reread it again, though – not without a long long time in between, at least.

Lies of the Heart / Michelle Boyajian
4 stars

Katie’s husband, Nick, was murdered by Jerry, a man with an intellectual disability… a man that Nick worked with and they both loved like a son. But, Jerry is now on trial, and as the trial goes on, we also go back in time to learn what happened.

I quite liked this. No, Katie may not be terribly likeable, and she certainly made plenty of decisions I didn’t agree with, but it’s a compelling story, I thought. Sure felt bad for Jerry. It was easy to be torn on this. There was a small thing at the end I still didn’t quite understand, but still thought the book as a whole was really good.

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
4.5 ★

Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail and Lindsey started over with a new life. Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her, tracking her every move. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But has he really changed? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?

It's s a tense...chilling...heart-racing story. Changing point of views as well time lines that switch between past and present allows the reader to feel all the emotions that are becoming constant companions to Lindsey and her young daughter. The characters were realistic although there were times that I wanted to reach through the book and shake Sophie although on reflection I saw that she was reacting as most sixteen year old kids would under these circumstances. Overall...a fabulous read.

Jell-O Girls: A Family History
Allie Rowbottom
4/5 stars
Jell-O was invented prior to 1899 and Rowbottom’s great-great-great uncle bought the patent and manufactured it. The book details her family’s lives living in privilege and how the so called “Jell-O” curse affected their lives. The book also details the history of Jell-O over the years and touches on the story of a group of girls from LeRoy, New York, who came down with a Tourette-like syndrome which was blamed on the manufacture of the product in the area. Interesting!

Extreme Paranormal Investigations by Marcus F. Griffin
5★

Okie Pinokie and the Demon Pillar Pigs. The Ghost Children of Munchkinland Cemetery. The Legend of Primrose Road. Join Marcus F. Griffin, founder of Witches in Search of the Paranormal (WISP), as he and his team explore the Midwest's most haunted properties. These true case files of extreme paranormal investigations include the creepiest-of-the-creepy cases WISP has tackled over the years, many of them in locations that have never before been investigated. Readers will get an inside glimpse of these previously inaccessible places-such as the former Jeffrey Dahmer property, as WISP searches for the notorious serial killer's spirit-and the farm that belonged to Belle Gunness, America's first female serial killer and the perpetrator of the Blood Farm Horror.

Most of you know, that read my posts regularly, that I am a big-time ghost story junkie. This is a non-fiction book so I had to decide if I was going to treat it as fiction... in my mind at least. I don't know that I believe or not believe that ghosts exist. There has been evidence both for and against the theory. I decided that I was just going to enjoy these stories as just that..."stories". The author does a great job at telling them. He can make you feel that you are tagging along behind them as they investigate. What I really liked about Marcus Griffin's accounts was that he didn't try to sell his believes to the reader and he admitted that he could have been mistaken about some of the investigation. However you know that he and his team 150% believe they are absolutely true...but he lets the reader believe or disbelieve. So I had a book full of wonderfully, chill producing ghost stories and I am a happy camper.

The Perfect Storm / Sebastian Junger
3.5 stars

In 1991, a storm hit the Atlantic Ocean off the Eastern coast of the US and Canada. There were fishing boats out there: one of them, the “Andrea Gail”, disappeared and others had people aboard who needed to be rescued. In addition, the book includes information about fishing and the fishing industry, and the history of both. It also includes some information about weather and storms.

It was good, but there was a lot of detail that I just ended up skimming over. The author talked to families and loved ones of the missing fishermen, and to some of the rescuers and survivors, as well as others who had a link to the people caught in the storm. There were a lot of people to keep track of, and I was unsuccessful at much of that, often forgetting who was who unless there was a reminder. There is no way to know what happened aboard the Andrea Gail, so that is kept to speculation about what most fishermen were likely to do in similar circumstances. Some of the fishing techniques upset me (trawling), and I’m sure things have gotten worse since 1991 (and 1997 when the book was published), but that also wasn’t news, sadly. Probably the most interesting parts of the book, for me, were the descriptions of the various rescues.

Child of the Wolves / Elizabeth Hall
4 stars

Granite is a Siberian husky, born in Alaska. When he is about to be sold, he runs away into the wilderness where he comes across a wolf, Snowdrift – a mom who has recently lost all her puppies to humans who have stolen them away. Snowdrift takes on Granite, though the other wolves in the pack mostly don’t like him much. As Granite grows, he learns more and more about how to fit in with the pack.

This is told from Granite’s point of view and I really enjoyed it. There is an author’s note at the start that talks about animal intelligence and emotions and she obviously wanted to show that in this book. It did take some time for Granite to learn how to behave as a wolf, as it didn’t come naturally to the dog. I really liked this children’s story.

Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell
Digital audio read by Rebecca Lowman
3.5***

Cath and Wren are identical twins who are trying to establish their own identifies as freshmen in college. Cath, in particular, is obsessed with a fantasy series starring a young wizard, Simon Snow, and she’s been writing fan fiction for several years, getting thousands of hits with her stories. The novel follows the sisters, but primarily Cath, through their tumultuous first year away from home … with many ups and downs, tragedies, triumphs, love and despair.

Oh, the teenage angst of young adulthood! Been there, done that … don’t want to relive it. And yet, I found myself really engaged in this story. There were times when I thought Rowell had thrown too many wrenches into the mix. There’s enough to deal with just having the twins trying to find their own separate identities. Do we really need all the complications? Still, Rowell kept the story moving forward, and gave us a heroine to root for.

I really liked Cath, and she seemed a very believable college freshman. She struggled to find herself at school, including the self-enforced separation from her twin. She tried to rely on (hide behind) her “work” as a premier writer of Simon Snow fanfiction. She managed to maintain her integrity though flummoxed by her professor’s – and her writing partner’s – comments and criticisms. She found love, without falling headlong into sexual activity (YAY!). She seemed truly intent on doing the right thing, the important thing, even if it meant setting her own goals aside. Of course, some of that was fear of success, of moving on, of growing up. But hey, it’s a YA novel.

Rebecca Lowman does a credible job of reading the audiobook. It was sometimes confusing trying to figure out who was speaking, because she doesn’t use distinctive voices for Wren, Cath and Reagan. But I didn’t really have much difficulty.

Delicious!– Ruth Reichl
Digital audiobook performed by Julia Whelan
3.5*** rounded up

Adapted from the book jacket: Billie Breslin has left her California home for New York City and a job at Delicious!, an iconic food magazine. She feels like a fish out of water and writes long letters to her older sister, Genie. But she is welcomed by the colorful staff, and seduced by the vibrant food scene. In the magazine’s library Billie uncovers a secret cache of letters written during WW2. She feels a powerful connection to the girl who wrote those letters, and they help Billie come to terms with her own fears and anxieties.

My reactions
I’ve read several of Reichl’s memoirs and really enjoyed them. Now she’s taken a turn at writing a novel.

This is part romance, part coming-of-age, part mystery. I enjoyed the story and was caught up in the intrigue, but it didn’t bake quite long enough. Though she’s the central characters, Billie seemed a little under-developed; perhaps Reichl was trying too hard to make her interesting. I really liked Sal, Rosie and Mitch, and grew to appreciate Sammy. I loved the letters from the 12-year-old Lulu during WW2, and that part of the story really drew me in. However, Reichl really shines when she is writing about food. I can practically taste the cheeses, smell the spices, and feel the warmth of steam rising from a simmering pot.

All-in-all, I found it enjoyable and entertaining. A great beach read. (And since that’s where I was reading it, I’ll round up to 4 stars.)

The audiobook is narrated by the wonderful Julia Whelan. She is a very talented voice artist and I particularly loved the voices she used for Sal and Lulu. I found her Sammy a bit much, but that really a small quibble.

>9 BookConcierge: I also listened to the audio of The Constant Princess and now listening to The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

>9 BookConcierge: I also listened to The Constant Princess and now listening to The Red Queen.

Love Potion Number 10 – Betsy Woodman
3***

Book two in the Jana Bibi Adventures series begins when Jana is asked to participate in a newspaper interview. Word has gotten out about how she saved her town, Hamara Nagar, with the help of her fortune-telling parrot, Mr Ganguly, and now the Weekly wants to send a reporter to do a feature article. There’s also a gang of animal thieves operating in the district, and Mr Ganguly seems to be their next target. A group of foreign investors has their eyes on the local hotel, looking to refurbish and remodel to make it a luxury tourist destination. And now the local apothecary, Abinath, has created Love Potion Number 10 (LPN10), which has Jana wondering if love is possible again at age fifty-nine.

Woodman lived some ten years in India and she writes about 1960s India in a way that honors its past and makes this reader long to experience Jana Bibi’s home. The culture comes alive, especially as Jana – a Scot by birth – is so very fond of her adopted home, and works so hard to preserve the culture as it is.

The characters are charmingly eccentric, the setting is beautiful and exotic, the plot has a few twists and turns, and there are some genuinely funny moments to entertain and delight.

Aftermath by Peter Robinson
Inspector Banks series Book #12
4.5 ★

One phone call from a concerned neighbor has inadvertently led police to Terence Payne, the elusive serial killer known only as "Chameleon." Now Payne is in custody, perhaps dying, and a long nightmare appears to be over at last. But is it? For Alan Banks – currently head of the local police force – too many questions remain unanswered at the chamber of horrors the press will dub the "House of Payne." Because the darkness has not yet lifted, the casualties are still mounting...and there are still monsters loose in the world.

Peter Robinson has outdone himself with this complex and often brooding, police procedural series. His character of Alan Banks is exceptionally complex but so very human. He is what makes this series so outstanding. As the bodies keep piling up, the mystery keeps the reader guessing right to very end. Robinson has thrown in some very clever twists to help in confusing us but then that is the fun of the entire adventure isn't it?

A Delicate Touch
Stone Barrington series Book #48
5★

When an old acquaintance reaches out to Stone Barrington requesting assistance, the job seems easy enough. She needs an expert in an esoteric field, someone with both the knowledge and careful dexterity to solve a puzzle. But the solution to one small problem blows the lid open on a bigger scandal going back decades, and involving numerous prominent New Yorkers who would prefer the past stay buried. With this explosive information in-hand, Stone Barrington is caught between a rock and a hard place, his only options either to play it safe to the detriment of others, or to see justice done and risk fatal exposure. But when it comes to Stone Barrington, danger is usually just around the corner . . . so he may as well throw caution to the wind.

The thing I like most about Stuart Wood's writing, (as if he really cares what I like and don't like), is he doesn't waste words on description of the paint on the walls or how many trees are in the park...he gets right past all that and to the point. He's also, over the years, produced some other really good characters...in addition to Stone Barrington there is Holly Barker...Ed Eagle...The Lee's, and most recently Teddy Faye...and has wisely decided to not let those people wither away and die but has blended them in to mainly his Barrington novels letting these people make occasional appearances. But back to this one. This was one of the best Stone Barrington books that I have read in years. Everyone is still richer than God...Stone is still jumping into bed with women that he's known all of about two seconds, but the storyline itself was build on some very current events and had some fascinating characters and situations...especially the 100 plus year old Sol, the safe expert. If you read most of the reviews people either REALLY liked it or REALLY didn't. I have to say, "thank you Mr. Woods for an enjoyable read...now lets get Holly elected President."

Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Lynne Truss
4****

Subtitle: A Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation.

Well this was the perfect “geek-read” for me. My writing may not always be correctly punctuated, but I do try to adhere to the general rules of grammar and punctuation. There were more than a few moments when I felt Truss was channeling the good Sisters at Ursuline Academy who first tried to drum those rules into my head.

Truss writes with a delightfully irreverent style, and yet still conveys the seriousness of her purpose. Clearly there is a difference between
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
And
A woman: without her, man is nothing.

It was a fast, enjoyable read, and I think I learned a few things.

The Grand Sophy
by Georgette Heyer
4/5 stars
This is the classic 1950 story from the romance writer Georgette Heyer. Set in 1816, Sophy’s father, the diplomat is traveling so she is sent to stay with relatives with whom she barely knows and vice–a-versa. During her time there she manages to upend all of their lives for the better with all her schemes and finds love herself.

Bad Wolf / Nele Neuhaus
4 stars

When a dead girl is found floating in a river, detective Pia ends up on a case with far-reaching consequences. And multiple cases that match up, including a popular tv celebrity who has taken on a new topic for her sometimes-controversial show, but it’s not a topic she is sharing with anyone until she gets everything lined up. Unfortunately for her, someone knows what she’s looking into and she is in danger, as well.

Another really good book in this series. I do wish all the books were translated into English and it would have been nice to read them in order. But, that’s not the case. They are pretty much standalones, with the police the connecting thread between the books, including their personal lives. Previous cases are mentioned, but really just in passing. The book is divided into days and there are snippets from different characters’ points of view during each day, so there are a lot of characters to follow, which can get a bit confusing, but overall, it wasn’t too bad for following and the story was certainly enough for me to really enjoy it.

Enchanting Lily / Anjali Banerjee
3.5 stars

When Lily’s husband dies, Lily drives away from the big city in California and finds herself on a small island on the Pacific Coast. She falls in love with a cottage that she buys and decides to turn into a business: she sells vintage clothing. A white cat happens by and makes herself at home with Lily and Lily decides to keep her as a shop cat while she tries to make a go of her new business.

This was good. Simple and quick to read, but enjoyable. No surprise that I loved the cat! Chapters alternated between Lily’s point of view and the cat’s. I have to comment on the well-chosen cover with a cat that actually matches the description of the cat in the book, right down to the two different-coloured eyes: green and blue.

Gathering The Bones by Jack Dann & Ramsey Campbell
3★

The anthology market these days is awash with small, themed works focused on very specific markets, like vampire erotica and tales of werewolves, or it features best of the year reprints. It has been years since anyone has dared to bring out a broad-reaching anthology that seeks to define the current state of the genre with all original tales from both masters and hot new writers.

I didn't enjoy these tales as much as I had thought I would. There is too many vampire stories and not enough of the other members of the horror genre. I would say that unless you are a big fan of vampire horror you are also going t be disappointed with this collection. The only reason I'm giving this book a 3 is because I did find one or two stories that were interesting and made the reading worthwhile.

The Dog Who Knew Too Much – Spencer Quinn
3.5***

Book four in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Bernie is hired to be a “bodyguard” for a woman who fears her ex-husband, as she goes to Parents’ Weekend to visit her son at a remote mountain camp. But when they arrive, her ex is no where to be found, and neither is her son, who’s gone missing on an overnight hiking trip. Luckily, they brought Chet along, a great tracking dog (and the narrator of this series).

I love Chet the Jet! Quinn has managed to give him a personality that befits a dog. He’s easily distracted by food or squirrels, given to taking things too literally (still looking for that wild goose that never seems to be present despite Bernie’s commenting on the wild goose chase they’re on), loyal to a fault, and courageous. I find looking at the mystery and the events that unfold through Chet’s eyes simply delightful and fun.

A Tap On The Window by Linwood Barclay
4.5★

Since private investigator Cal Weaver’s teenage son died in a tragic accident, Cal and his wife have drifted apart. Cal is mired in a grief he can’t move past. And maybe his grief has clouded his judgment. Driving home one night, a rain-drenched girl taps on his car window and asks for a ride. He knows a grown man picking up a teenage hitchhiker is foolish—but he lets her in. Cal soon senses that something’s not right with the girl or the situation. But it’s too late. He’s already involved. Drawn into a nightmare of secrets, lies, and cover-ups in his small, upstate New York town, Cal knows that the only thing that can save him is the truth. And he’s about to expose the town’s secrets one by one—if he lives long enough.

This book...like all of Linwood Barclay's books...had a complicated, many faceted storyline that had multiple characters that if they were not guilty of murder, they were without a doubt guilty of something. His main character of Cal presented a mixed bag of emotions. He certainly was a decent guy as well as an intelligent observer..but since the death of his son Scott he had a short fuse and a "fly by his pants" attitude that made him slightly unlikable. However, the book had so many surprises and such an explosive ending that you just had to overlook the character flaws.

Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield
3.5★

On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the river Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the lifeless body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation? These questions have many answers, some of them quite dark indeed.
Those who dwell on the river bank apply all their ingenuity to solving the puzzle of the girl who died and lived again, yet as the days pass the mystery only deepens. The child herself is mute and unable to answer the essential questions: Who is she? Where did she come from? And to whom does she belong? But answers proliferate nonetheless. Three families are keen to claim her. A wealthy young mother knows the girl is her kidnapped daughter, missing for two years. A farming family reeling from the discovery of their son’s secret liaison, stand ready to welcome their granddaughter. The parson’s housekeeper, humble and isolated, sees in the child the image of her younger sister. But the return of a lost child is not without complications and no matter how heartbreaking the past losses, no matter how precious the child herself, this girl cannot be everyone’s. Each family has mysteries of its own, and many secrets must be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known.

I found the book wondered a lot and there was a great deal of information that really didn't add anything to the story. There were also a lot of characters which also made the story drag for me. The story itself is very unique with the flavor of a dark fairy-tale. The authors's writing style is beautiful and so descriptive... but so much of the other elements that I mentioned made it a difficult read. Still it deserves 3.5 stars.

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery – Jenny Cogan
Digital audiobook read by Anne-Marie Piazza
3***

Book three in the Little Beach Street Bakery series, featuring Polly Waterford, master baker, her boyfriend Huckle, their friends Reuben and Kerensa, and the residents of Mount Polbearne, the Cornish coastal village in which Polly lives.

This is a fun chick-lit romance with some over-the-top coincidences and new-adult drama. Not much of a spoiler to say that it all works out with a fairytale HEA ending. I didn’t realize it was a series when I picked it up, and I don’t really feel that I was missing all that much for not having begun with book one.

I rather like Polly, though her indecisiveness and hesitancy drove me a little crazy. (I would probably understand her better if I’d read the previous books.) Her friend Kerensa is a mess, though. Polly certainly seemed to have enough on her plate without having to deal with Kerensa’s drama.

Have to say I really appreciated the recipes at the end – especially the hot chocolate!

Anne-Marie Piazza does a find job narrating the audiobook. She has quite a few characters to handle and managed to give them distinct voices. Huckle and Reuben being Americans required some stretch in providing authentic accents, and Piazza did make them sound rather stereotypical. But it was still a fun listen.

The Boy by Tami Hoag

When Detective Nick Fourcade enters the home of Genevieve Gauthier outside the sleepy town of Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, the bloody crime scene that awaits him is both the most brutal and the most confusing he's ever seen. Genevieve's seven-year-old son, KJ, has been murdered by an alleged intruder, yet Genevieve is alive and well, a witness inexplicably left behind to tell the tale. There is no evidence of forced entry, not a clue that points to a motive. Meanwhile, Nick's wife, Detective Annie Broussard, sits in the emergency room with the grieving Genevieve. A mother herself, Annie understands the emotional devastation this woman is going through, but as a detective she's troubled by a story that makes little sense. Who would murder a child and leave the only witness behind?

I have read Tami Hoag's work for many years and always enjoyed them. Her latest...The Boy was no exception. This author has the ability to take the reader out of their favorite armchair and place them right into the story. Her two lead characters of Nick and Annie are very strong and extremely likable as well as excellent at their careers as detectives. it was a real "whodoneit" but I was a little disappointed...not because it was a let down but because I also liked that person. Great book...wonderful, readable author.

I always like to read children's books- here a couple that were so sweet.
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Juana Martinez-Neal
5/5 stars
Sweet picture book with wonderful drawings about a young girl who’s name will be a reminder of her family and their stories.

Elmore
Holly Hobbie
4/5 stars
This is a wonderful picture book about making friends when it is hard to make friends. Great drawings!

The Overnight by Ramsey Campbell
3★

A bookstore can be a wonderful, welcoming place of both commerce and curiosity. That's the goal for Woody, an American recently transferred to England to run a branch of Texts. He wants a clean, orderly store and lots of sales to show his bosses when they arrive from the States for a pre-Christmas inspection. Not easy given the shop's location in a foggy strip mall. And things keep going wrong. No matter how often the shelves are put in order before the doors are locked at night, when the staff returns in the morning, books are lying all over the floor, many damp and damaged beyond repair. The store's computers keep acting up-errors appear in brochures and ads and orders disappear completely. And even when the machines are turned off, they seem to glow with a spectral gray light. This bookstore is no haven. It is the doorway to a hell unlike any other.

Ramsey Campbell is an extremely talented writer of the horror genre. I have over the years enjoyed so many of the books he has produced. This one though was just "okay". Not a bad plot for a haunted story...the problem was mostly with the characters. Too much time was spent developing them which made parts of the story drag. I didn't like any of them and found myself just wishing that what was in the shop would just get them all. 3 stars because I loved the idea behind the story and there were some really chilling moments in the shop.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel / Heather O'Neill.
2.5 stars

Rose and Pierrot grew up at the same orphanage in Montreal, where they performed for rich people to raise money, once Pierrot’s piano-playing talent and Rose’s dancing talent was discovered. While at the orphanage, despite abuse at the hands of the nuns, they fall in love. As they grow older, however, they are separated and spend their lives trying to dig their way out of poverty and pining for each other.

Not a fan. I listened to the audio and the narrator was good, but it wasn’t enough. I thought, at the start, I was going to like it, but it didn’t turn out that way. I didn’t like any of the characters, and I didn’t care about what happened to them (except when they were young and still at the orphanage). Disappointing, especially since I really liked “Lullabies for Little Criminals” by this author.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
4****

Young Pip lives with his sister and her husband the blacksmith, with few prospects for advancement until a mysterious benefaction takes him from the Kent marshes to London. Pip is haunted by figures from his past--the escaped convict Magwitch, the time-withered Miss Havisham, and her proud and beautiful ward, Estella--and in time uncovers not just the origins of his great expectations but the mystery of his own heart.

I'm quite impressed with this book. By this point in Dickens' writing career, he is less intrigued with cartoonish, humorous caricatures of people and more involved in the depth of their personalities. Joe, the simple but loving blacksmith who is unhappily married to Pip's sister, the ward Estelle, and Miss Havisham have all finally received reasons and intrigue and a backstory to explain themselves. Strangely, though, Pip's good friend Herbert does not have as much intrigue in his backstory as the other more quirky characters.

What gives this book its depth is that Pip has "great expectations" about where his new-found fortune originates, how much more richly he can live, and yet nothing becomes as it seems. The odd Herbert and he become fast friends when they are older; Herbert relates the backstory for Miss Havisham and it is a tragic one; Pip's finds that his personal lawyer, Mr. Wemmick, is a different person at home and at the office; and finally Pip's personal benefactor becomes a central character. There were sections where I just kept reading because there was a bit of a mystery to the plot and I wanted to find out what was happening.

The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder
5*****

London, 1861. Sir Richard Francis Burton, Algernon Charles Swinburne. When one man changes history, history changes everyone! They stand at a crossroads in their live and are caught in the epicenter of an empire torn by conflicting forces: Engineers transform the landscape with bigger, faster, noisier, and dirtier technological wonders; Eugenicists develop specialist animals to provide unpaid labor; Libertines oppose repressive laws and demand a society based on beauty and creativity; while the Rakes push the boundaries of human behavior to the limits with magic drugs and anarchy. The two men are sucked into the perilous depths of this moral and ethical vacuum when Lord Palmerston commissions Burton to investigate assaults on young women committed by a weird apparition known as Spring Heeled Jack, and to find out why werewolves are terrorizing London's East End.

What a fantastic book! I was not sure if I would like it or if it would be one of these gadget-driven steampunk books, but holy cow! It's part detective fiction, part time travel, all steampunk, and all while keeping the germ of the story ticking away. With goggles :)

In the mid-1800's, it is not Victorian England. Edward Oxford has a whole different role. As do the above-mentioned famous architects of British history who at this time have different pasts. And different futures.

And then the strange adventure of Spring-Heeled Jack comes to life as an overheard story, told by one Henry de la Poer Beresford, to the ears of Sir Richard Francis Burton, investigator of His Majesty, when Burton tries to find where this mysterious creature comes from. And is he at all connected with the "loup-garous" who are taking young chimney-sweeps away? Algernon Charles Swinburne is his Second in this endeavor, which begins shortly after John Hanning Speke has accidentally (?) shot himself. And the ending? Not quite what you'd expect!

I am sure my friends on the other side of the pond in this group would have a whole lot more cultural and historical knowledge of the famous people mentioned in this novel, though Hodder does provide bits at the back to explain for us less fortunates on the true histories of these individuals.

Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future
Elizabeth Esther
4/5 stars
This is the true story of Elizabeth Esther who grew up in a very physically and mentally punishing religious cult and the efforts she took to try and remove herself from their influence. Very compelling!

The Alienist / Caleb Carr
3 stars

It’s the late 19th century. A psychologist (aka “alienist”), a reporter, a secretary for the police (who wants to be an officer herself), and two detectives interested in pursuing new methods of solving crimes work together to find a serial killer – someone who’s been murdering young boy prostitutes. The psychologist is interested in profiling, something that’s not really been done before.

Overall, I’m rating this ok. It was slow moving, though it picked up somewhat in the last third to quarter of the book. There were times I found it a bit hard to follow, as sometimes a character’s first name, and sometimes their last name was used. I didn’t like the end, but I did enjoy reading about the beginning of profiling and “new” techniques of solving crimes – things like fingerprinting, photographing the imprint of last seen image on the victim’s eye, etc.

The Queen's Lady / Barbara Kyle
3 stars

Honor is taken in, as a ward, by Sir Thomas More during Henry VIII’s reign in the 16th century. At this time, Henry is trying to find a way to get rid of his first wife Catherine, so he can marry Anne Boleyn. When Honor is old enough, she goes to Catherine and serves her. But, she gets caught up in the religious conflicts going on at the time, and things become dangerous.

It was ok, but I just lost interest at times (this was not an audio!). Some of it held my interest, but there were too many dry patches for my liking. The historical note at the end was nice. Obviously, Honor was fictional, as were her close friends, etc.

Aftermath by Peter Turnbull
Hennessey & Yellich series Book #21
3.5★

When five corpses in various states of decomposition are found chained to the walls of a kitchen garden, Hennessey and Yellich quickly begin their investigation. The recently deceased owner of the house was housebound for the last twenty-five years, and so would have had no idea of the appalling crimes taking place yards away. At first, there doesn’t seem to be much to go on – the victims appear to have little in common – but Hennessey and Yellich know that the dead must hold the clues they need.

I really expected to like this story a little more than I did judging from previous books in the series and the book description. There were just too many characters thatcould have done it and way too much time spent on the interviews of people that really knew nothing.

The Restless Dead by Simon Beckett
Dr. David Hunter Series Book #5
5★

Top forensics expert Dr David Hunter is facing an uncertain future - his career hangs in the balance and his personal life has taken a turn for the worse. So when he gets a call from Essex police, it comes at the perfect time. A badly decomposed body has been found in the mudflats and salt marshes of the Backwaters. Could it be linked to two unsolved missing-person cases? But then more remains are discovered. And as these desolate wetlands begin to give up their grisly secrets, Hunter is reminded that it’s not the dead we need to fear.

My library has had a very hard time obtaining this book for some reason. it's been...and remains...on order since the first of December. Since this is one of my favorite series I thought I was never going to get to join Dr. David Hunter on his latest adventure... but thanks to a very good LT friend...I got the electronic version. I read like a maniac to catch up with the group that was reading the book together. Believe me it was not a problem as I became immersed in the story after the first chapter. Even though this is a series I believe that it's fair to say that the story works just as well as a standalone and will definitely leave you wanting to more. You will see right away that Dr. Hunter is more comfortable with the dead than the living and he usually finds himself in awkward situations without even trying. His deduction skills are as good as any detective and is always a key part in the resolution of any case. There are plenty of clues to the killer's identity along the way...the problem is about the time you think you have it...you don't...but you can bet that it was fun to try. A really great series that I highly recommend for any one that likes forensic mysteries.

The Pact / Carol Coffey
3.75 stars

When there is an attempted murder (a hanging) of a “slow” boy (well, actually 21-years old) in a Mennonite community, a police officer from outside the community, Locklear, is brought in to help solve it. He has to work with Carter, a local police officer, who knows the people and might be able to bring some insight, though Locklear would prefer to be working on his own. The case seems to have something to do with a family feud that has gone back as far as the Civil War, 150 years previous.

It was good, though not edge-of-your-seat, through most of it, and I thought it picked up in the last 1/3 or so. With some Mennonite heritage in my family, I was interested in the setting. I’m not sure I completely “bought” Locklear’s character, though. He mostly seemed to be a tough guy with a soft side, but I’m not sure it quite worked for me; I think the soft seemed a bit too soft. Overall, though, I quite enjoyed the story.

Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay
5***** and a big ol' heart

In Sailing to Sarantium, the first volume in the Sarantine Mosaic, renowned mosaicist Crispin--beckoned by an imperial summons of the Emperor Valerius--made his way to the fabled city of Sarantium. A man who lives only for his craft, who cares little for ambition, less for money, and nothing for intrigue, Crispin now wants only to confront the challenges of his art high upon a dome that will become the emperor's magnificent sanctuary and legacy. But Crispin's desire for solitude will not be fulfilled. Beneath him the city swirls with rumors of war and conspiracy, while otherworldly fires mysteriously flicker and disappear in the streets at night. Valerius is looking west to Crispin's homeland of Varena to assert his power--a plan that may have dire consequences for the family and friends Crispin left behind.

I think this is the fastest I've ever read a book by Guy Gavriel Kay, and I'm very glad that I did. I become so enamored of his language and his turns of phrase that when I pick up and put down one of his books over a span of several months, the half sentences he adds can sometimes get lost over time.

A continuation to his earlier book, "Sailing to Sarantium," this book explores the Byzantine Empire from its center, from its Eastern edge, and from its Western beginnings in an alternative Rome. The fact that it is an alternate history means that Kay can play with paths and characters that are composites of historical personae. The Bassanid Doctor, for example, sent from his King of Kings to study in Sarantium after saving his ruler's life, may not have existed but his life's details are well-drawn. The medicine and the rituals of the time are close to those of the desert tribes in what will become Arabia. It is also through his eyes that most of the action takes place.

Chariot racers, Senators and their spoiled sons, military leaders, eunuchs, and rigid secretaries are all beautifully drawn and their lives are explored in this remarkable, intense volume. And there is a surprise twist at the last third that brings great tragedy, both of the body and of the heart. And spirit.

Something Fierce / Carmen Aguirre
3.5 stars

Carmen was raised in Canada, where her parents had arrived as refugees after being exiled from their native Chile because they were revolutionaries. When Carmen was 11, she, her mother, her stepfather, and her sister all moved to Bolivia (beside Chile) so they could help with the revolution from there. The book follows Carmen’s life as she grows up to help in the revolution herself, until it comes to an end in 1989 when she’s in her early 20s.

It was shorter and there wasn’t as much politics in it as I was expecting (which, for me, was a good thing!). There was still some; of course, more when Carmen was older. I was surprised that her parents brought Carmen and her sister with them, as it was very dangerous, though Carmen seemed quite happy to be there, so close to her grandparents, as she and her sister were able to travel across the border to visit (though her mother and stepfather were unable to). Certainly, when Carmen was younger, there is not as much mention of the danger, as Carmen herself was not thinking about it at the time.