DeltaQueen's Author Alphabet Challenge

I was so pleased to hear about this challenge.

My ground rules:

- 26 books by alphabet - author
- 26 books by alphabet - title
- No time limit
- Disregard "The, A and An"




Total 52 books

A Sarah Addison Allen - The Sugar Queen

A And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander

B Bartle Bull - Shanghai Station

B The Bastard Boy by James Wilson

C Julia Child with Paul Prud'homme - My Life In France

C The Coffin Trail by Martin Edwards

D Ivan Doig - The Sea Runners

D The Dogs of Riga by Hanning Mankell

E Tony Earley - The Blue Star

E East of the Sun by Julia Gregson

F Nicci French - Until It's Over

F Falling Off Air by Catherine Sampson

G Jo Graham - Hand Of Isis

G Ghosts And Grisly Things by Ramsey Campbell

H Georgette Heyer - Frederica

H Heartsick - Chelsea Cain

I Eva Ibbotson - Journey To The River Sea

I In Distant Fields by Charlotte Bingham

J Peter James - Not Dead Enough

J Jim The Boy by Tony Earley

K Jim Kelly - The Coldest Blood

K The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd

L Judith Lennox - A Step In The Dark

L Little Face by Sophie Hannah

M Juliet Marillier - Wildwood Dancing

M The Moonlit Cage by Linda Holeman

N Alyson Noel - Evermore: The Immortals

N Night Frost by R.D. Wingfield

O Carol O'Connell - Bone By Bone

O Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

P Carol Plum-Ucci - The Night My Sister Went Missing

P People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Q Kwei Quartey - Wife Of The Gods

Q Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre

R Laura Joh Rowland - Bundori

R Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

S Gerald Seymour - Traitor's Kiss

S The Searchers by Alan Le May

T Flora Thompson - Lark Rise to Candleford

T Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

U Louise Ure - Forcing Amaryllis

U Unseen: A Mystery by Mari Jungstedt

V Fred Vargas - The Chalk Circle Man

V The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

W Lauren Willig - The Deception of the Emerald Ring

W The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella

X Qiu Xiaolong - Death Of A Red Heroine

X The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton

Y Hong Ying - The Concubine of Shanghai

Y The Year Of Fog by Michelle Richmond

Z Ye Zhaoyan - Nanjing 1937, A Love Story

Z Zulu Hart by Saul David

And now to start reading!

LT Challenges are like Jaffa Cakes. You can't stop at just one. Welcome to the group, good luck and happy reading.

Hola Judith, or do you prefer Judy? Love seeing your enthusiasm for the challenge. This is my first year doing challenges on LT and I (still) feel the same way. Dave - the Wolfster in the post above mine - is right. Challenges are highly addictive. This is my third. Looking forward to reading your reviews of British mysteries. I have been loving the BBC versions of them on Masterpiece this summer.

chrine, I'm now up to participating in 5 challenges (not including the 1010 Category one). Started with the 999 as a way to expand my reading horizons and for the same reason I joined in on the Reading Globally. From there it wasn't too big a step to add the European and 50 US States (though my version of those two have a slight twist). Started on this one just because.

Like a number of us I am really hoping that this challenge helps me with my TBR shelves - after all LT certainly helped to fill them up, it's only fair LT should help me whittle the pile down.

Of course like Belva, I probably spend too much time here and not enough actually reading!

Thanks AHS-Wolfy (Dave) and Chrine for the welcome. Looking forward to seeing how everybody does, and please call me Judy.

Hi Judith, I really hope to clear off my bookshelves with this challenge too. Good luck to you.

Hi Judy.
Are you old enough that you remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLBv7dNkl3A

Love it!~!

And I love this challenge. It is going to be of such a help to me. As I read them, I am booting the books out the door somehow, someway and making room for the ones in piles and boxes. What a wonderful idea this was.
I have seen you around on the threads but this will be the first time I have actually had an opportunity to get to know you so that will definitely be a bonus.
We will have fun with this one DeltaQueen50.
later,
belva

-->11 AHS-Wolfy: Hola Dave. Wow, five challenges is a lot! I'm impressed.

#14 - Belva - Oh I am definitely old enough to remember Leon Russell.'s music. In fact I will be celebrating my 59th birthday next month. Boy I find that hard to write - I never imagined being so close to 60! Of course mentally I haven't reached much beyond 30.

1. Bartle Bull - Shanghai Station - 4 Stars

An exotic adventure of romance, vengence and intrigue. From escaping across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Train to bringing post World War I Shanghai to vivid life, this book delivered a great story peopled with larger-than-life characters.

Well-written, interesting details, lots of action, a nice blend of history and story - what more could you ask for? I loved it.

>#16:
Delta;

"Of course mentally I haven't reached much beyond 30."

Why, of course you have not; nor physically either I am sure. Just chronologically, right?
Yeah, baby.
See ya on the threads my dear.
belva

P.S. So we have Dave, who technically takes on 6 challenges and then we have billiejean, who is doing like 7 group reads at once. Some people are just gluttons for punishment or thrive under stress. Me------they put on One South for that.

2. Jo Graham - Hand Of Isis - 3 1/2 Stars

One of Cleopatra's handmaidens, her half-sister, tells her life story. Filled with perfect period details of arts and learning, fashion, and food, I learned much about ancient Egypt. Cleopatra's story is well known but Jo Graham certainly gives it a fresh spin with believeable characters that I grew to care about. The result was an engaging story that I would recommend.

3. And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander - 3 1/2 Stars

There was plenty to like about this book. I liked the heroine, I liked the varied locations (London, Paris and Greece), I liked the time period and most of the plot details and twists. But, for me, the author did a better job on the history than on the mystery (that I found pretty weak).

I think the author used the book to set the tone for the series. Giving this women the ability to be independant and self-sufficent, yet still very much a member of Victorian society will pay off in future books. I will definitely follow up with the sequals as I really do want to know how Emily's life will work out.

4. The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard - 5 stars

The Virgin of Small Plains revolves around the unsolved murder of a young woman in Small Plains, a rural town in Kansas. As the years go by the grave of this young woman becomes a religious site that people visit and pray for miracles and she becomes known as "The Virgin".

The story jumps back and forth from 1986, the year of her death, to seventeen years later as old secrets are slowing being revealed and we, along with the main characters, are able to piece the threads together and find out what actually happened.

I loved this book and gave it 5 stars even though I had a small problem with why the original sherriff kept his silence over the years. The many turns of the plot keep you guessing and suspecting one person after another until the final resolution.

Oh I like your ground rules. I'm going for the x2 version as well :)

5. In Distant Fields by Charlotte Bingham - 3 Stars

I chose this book for my "I" read as it was one of the books I have had on my TBR shelves the longest. It's a familiar story, the British Gentry in the year preceeding World War I, and then the actual war years with its aftermath. I enjoyed the story well enough, but I kept thinking of it as a gentle fantasy, the kind aristocrats, the honest and humble servants, the noble eldest son (who was too good to make it through alive), the fiesty daughter and her oh-so understanding friend. The only tears this book brought me to was the emotional return of a well-loved horse that the government conscripted. I have read other books by this author that I liked better and would certainly give her a another chance.

Congrats for getting through one of your longest unread TBR's. I know that if I did not do this challenge there would be some books that I would ignore forever. This leaves me with no excuses.

I can sure see how this challenge is really going to help reduce those TBR piles - of course, I did go out today and buy three new books!!!

6. My Life In France by Julia Child with Paul Prud'homme - 5 stars

I don't read alot of non-fiction but after this book I may have to rethink that. I absolutely couldn't put it down. It appealed to me in many different ways. I love to cook so, of course, was interested in that aspect. I remember Julia Child on PBS in the seventies and I also enjoyed her so I was eager to read about her life. I knew this book was about her time living in France so was looking forward to a bit of a travelogue. What I wasn't expecting was such a time capsule of life in the 1950's. Even though she spent much of it in Europe, I found many of the things she said and did reminding me of my life and my family growing up in the fifties. She truly was a remarkable woman and an American treasure.

This is not what I'm here for ;) but I'm going to add My life in France to my Tipping Tower of Tomes anyway.

I know Carmenere - so many books, so little time!!

7. The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd - 3 stars

This book was a fast and easy read. Taking the viewpoint of the serial killers wife was an interesting twist, but I thought overall the book fell short. I really wanted a more in depth study on the mind-focus of a women caught up in this kind of nightmare. Instead the author took (to me) a easy out by simply falling back on the all to familiar story of a woman and her family in danger with all the pieces tied up neatly in the end. Real life is messy and I would have liked a little more reality in this tale.

Yeah, I found The Killer's Wife a disappointment, too. There was so little about how on earth she met, fell in love, married and had a child with a serial killer, very little on their relationship (he seemed more like the average tool than dangerous). And the vast majority of the book was the standard "woman in danger" with a bit of a twist.

Exactly, I really think the author could have gone in such a better direction. I would love to read a book that really takes us down the same path as a women who finds herself married to a monster and what her day to day life consisted of, how she came to realize (if she did) what was happening. Maybe I should look for a non-fiction on this subject.

8. Frederica by Georgette Heyer - 4 stars

For me, reading Georgette Heyer is always a delight. Her light touch of comedy, her witty and period correct dialogue, her eye to historical details all blend together for a rich and rewarding read. Many people list Frederica as their favorite by this author, I found it a big slow, but once engaged by the story I was hooked. I still have many Georgette Heyer novels to discover so I can't possibly name a favorite yet.

Hi DeltaQueen50 - I see you are making excellent progress on your Alphabet challenge. I love Georgette Heyer books, it has been a few years (well, maybe more than a few years!) since I read her books but I do remember them being like favorite candy... you can never stop with just one!

Happy reading!

9. Ivan Doig - The Sea Runners - 4 stars

This novel takes place in 1853 and tells the story of four men, indentured servants, who escape their Russian masters in Sitka, Alaska and paddle a native canoe over a thousand miles south to Astoria, Oregon. Based on an actual event, I found Doig's abrupt writing style difficult at first, but as I settled into the spare yet descriptive rhythm of his words I was swept away. I live in the Pacific Northwest and have sailed the Inside Passage, his details are accruate and really show the rugged beauty of this coastline. The characters, well not the most likeable of men, are certainly believeable and I was able to sympathize with them and be in awe at the actual scope of this adventure. I highly recommend this book.

#34 This sounds like a great book - I've added it to the wishlist.

10. Carol O'Connell - Bone By Bone - 2 1/2 stars

I was looking forward to reading Bone By Bone by Carol O'Connell as I have heard so many good things about this author. Unfortunatedly I was left feeling disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high but I found this book to be peopled with unbelieveable characters, caught up in a confusing and weak storyline. The basic plot-line of two brothers going into the woods one day and only one brother ever coming home sounded so intriguing, but I thought she got off track by trying to make everyone in the book look suspicious and secretive with the result of too many storylines and no characters you could have any sympathy for. Perhaps if you are already a fan of this author you would enjoy this book, but I am now wishing I had started with one of her other books. I still plan on giving her "Mallory" series a try.

Hoping your next read is at least 2 stars better than this one.

Thanks Carmenere.

You are doing so well on this challenge! Isn't it great to find a challenge that suits your reading style.

My husband and I took a few days away to enjoy the wonderful fall weather we've been having. Did some hiking and spent a few hours out on a Zodiak Boat sightseeing. We were lucky enough to see 2 Grizzlies down by the shore. Also saw eagles, seals basking on some rocks, a small herd of elks and tons of shore and water birds. A great few days and I also had time to read a couple of excellent books!

11. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell - 4 stars

The Dogs of Riga by Swedish author, Henning Mankell, is an excellent crime story that features Inspector Kurt Wallander. Following up on the discovery of two bodies washed ashore in a life raft, Wallander gets involved in political intrigue in Latvia. Set in the 1990's as the Soviet Union is crumbling, he becomes swept up in a situation where surveillance, threats and blackmail are being used to control the population of this satellite state.

Wallander like many great fictional detectives is a flawed character. Each book seems to unveil another layer. His self-doubts and anxiety attacks only serve to make him all the more believeable and human.

This writer is especially good at creating mood through the use of descriptive writing and he delivers plots that make you think. I can hardly wait to read the next of the "Wallander" books.

12. The Searchers by Alan Le May - 4 1/2 stars

A classic western novel, richly told. Comanches attack a homestead, kill the family except two daughters who are carried away as captives. An uncle and a adopted son, who were away from the ranch at the time of the attack, set out to bring the girls home. This search takes many years and we come to see that the two searchers are very different. One is motivated by hate and revenge. The other by love and guilt.

A powerful story told with acccurate historical details and very descriptive prose, Alan Le May was certainly a master of his craft. You can't read this book without thinking of the great movie that was made from it. "The Searchers" by John Ford was a classic western movie. My problem is that although very much alike there are key differences and although the book came first, I have to admit that I liked the movie ending better than the books'. But don't get me wrong, this is a great book and I highly recommend it.

Both these books sound really good, and even though I'm going to tell you that I'm just considering adding them to my wishlist - you and I both know that they'll be added just as soon as I can get over there! Have you read many of the Wallander books? I'm excited to learn about a new (for me) series!

I'm going to consider adding both these to my wishlist. ;-)

Judy, glad you had an enjoyable break and I envy you your encounters with nature. I still remember my trip to Alaska in '97 as the best holiday I've had. Seeing the wildlife (inc. grizzlies, bald eagles, moose) in their natural habitat was a real thrill.

I enjoyed your reviews as well. I've only read one of the Wallander books before, Firewall, and didn't much care for it. Perhaps if I started at the beginning I could sympathise with the main character a bit more and then appreciate the stories a bit more.

First let me say that your few days away sounds like you were worlds away! What an amazing experience!
Thanks alot..(a bit sarcastically) Now I'm going to add both The Searchers AND The Dogs of Riga to my wish list. I'll also look at my library for the movie version. More happy reading wishes.

I just got a great idea! After I clear my TBR shelves I'll do the Wish List Challenge. That's where, of course, I clean off my wish list. Ya think?!

Your stay in the wilderness sounds wonderful. Not sure I'd want to see a grizzlie bear though.

I really enjoy the Wallander series. I read them only sporadically and I don't read them in any particular order, because I don't usually like reading series.

Thanks everyone for the pat-on-the-back for my reviews. This Alphabet Challenge is really good for me, these are also the first reviews I have ever put down in black and white, another first for me.

Arubabookwoman - I felt very safe viewing the bears from the boat. I would never consider getting that close on foot - as my husband says, he would feel safe cause he knows he could outrun me! Believe me, if those bears had even dipped a paw in the water, I would have been screaming for the captain to get us out of there!

Carmenere - that is a good idea - I went to my wish list this morning and ordered seven books, I just can't control myself. Oh well, it was birthday money so I don't feel too guilty. But if your wish list is as long as mine, I think we'd would be bankrupt before we completed our Wish List Challenge!

AHS-Wolfy - I do know that the Wallander books can be quite dark and moody, if fact I find that true of all the Swedish crime novels that I have read, except for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo perhaps, but I do find Wallander quite sympathetic and I read on hoping his life becomes a little happier.

Bears in their natural habitat are always best viewed with a barrier of some sort - water is a very good barrier :-)

It sounds like a great trip you went on, including the Zodiac boats.... My favorite pastime when we decide to play tourist 'in our own backyard' is to go on a whale watching tour... so relaxing and exhilarating at the same time! Humm... I think we are overdue for another go at 'playing tourist'.

I know Ikernagh, we were only gone for four days but I feel like I just had a two week vacation. We usually go over to your neck of the woods and unwind at Point No Point, but this time just to be different we went up to the Sunshine Coast and stayed at a Lodge in Egmont. The zodiak trip took us up Jervis Inlet and into Princess Louisa Inlet. Really felt like we were in the wilderness!

Can't bears swim?

Yep they sure can. The boat stays a good distance off shore and we watched the bears through binoculars. I think there may be a law about how close you can get cause they shouldn't be disturbed in their natural habitat. As it was they seemed to ignore us and carried on with their daily effort of food finding, I guess this is a time of plenty for them right now with the salmon starting to head up the rivers.

13. Zulu Hart by Saul David - 3 1/2 stars

I started to read this book with very low expectations. It isn't rated very highly here on LT. Perhaps because of these low expectations, I quite enjoyed it. The author is a historian and this is his first novel. The history is (as far as I know) accurate, his footnotes at the end of the book gives lots of references and he provided a glossary for the African terms. The story was good, I just had one big problem. The main character is only 18 and he was just too knowledgeable about situations. He argued with just about all his superior officers, he always seemed to know what should have been done instead of the blunders and plain stupidity that did occur. I believe the author is planning to make this a series, as a few of the main story lines were not wrapped up at the end of the book. As a viewpoint on the Zulu War it was fascinating. I would definitely read a sequel if one is in the future.

14. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain - 3 1/2 stars

I wasn't expecting much from this book, another "serial killer thriller". So here I am rather surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It has all the standard ingredients, a troubled lead dective with dark secrets, a young reporter with secrets of her own, and not just one, but two serial killers.

The story is a little complicated, but for me, the 10 year history between the beautiful female serial killer and the policeman who tracks her was the main attraction. She is truly an evil psycopath yet they have created a bond based on torture, dependancy and pills that seems to be unbreakable. This relationship is revealed to us by the use of flashbacks as she sits in prison and he hunts Portland's newest serial killer.

This is not a book for the squemish, but if you are looking for a new twist in this format, this book could be for you. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series, as I want to see how this contorted relationship evolves.

#55 I'm not sure I want to admit this, but I love stories about serial killers - it is one of my most frequently occurring tags! This book is going on the wishlist - thanks!

The Chelsea Cain series is highly addictive. As long as you have a strong stomach, you will love them, as they only get better as they go. Beware the jellied eye sockets!

#56 I know what you mean, my husband looks at what I am reading, and if it's about a serial murder he accuses me of being "a sick puppy". But I too am a closet fan of the genre.

#57 - I am definitely going to be picking up the second one as soon as I can. I see she has a third out as well.

15. Eva Ibbotson - Journey To The River Sea - 3 1/2 stars

If I was a 12 year old girl, I would probably be giving this book at least 4 stars. This YA read is an appealing tale of an orphaned girl who is given into the charge of a governess and transported over a thousand miles up the Amazon River to live on a rubber plantation with distant relatives.

These relatives are a strange and unwelcoming lot, who it turns out, take the girl in because she is wealthy and they will be paid for having her live with them. Luckily the girl has the governess who is a wonderful, caring person who does her best to shelter her from some of the mistreatment.

There are an assortment of characters who are all in their own way seeking a family and a place to belong. After a few adventures the story wraps up with a happy, feel-good ending and I found this book to be simply delightful.

16. Hong Ying - The Concubine of Shanghai - 3 stars

In 1907 China a young orphaned girl is sold into prostitution by her aunt. At first a servant, she catches the eye of a powerful Triad Leader. He sets her up in luxury and even offers her marriage. She falls in love with him but her happiness is cut short as he is shot down in the streets.

She then spends a few years as a common prostitute eventually deciding to control her own destiny she becomes and actress/singer, gathers a troupe and rises to become the toast of Shanghai.

Along the way, her life is never easy. She falls under the protection of another Crime Boss, is attracted to and eventually falls in love with a man who has been near her and her protectors.

This is an interesting book with accurate historical details about the triads, chinese theatre, and life in general in China at that time. What I found this book was lacking was passion. This should have been a passionate story, but either the writing or the translation was lacking. I found it a bit of a slog to get through, the language was very wooden, even the sex scenes, although quite detailed were very unreal and just plain silly. I was never able to become involved in the characters or the story.

17. Louise Ure - Forcing Amaryllis - 4 stars

I found this to be a strong and captivating debut novel.

For the last seven years Calla Gentry has lacked self-confidence and has lived in fear. She is a trial consultant who prefers to only work civil cases, criminal cases only serve to remind her of the brutal rape and knifing that her sister , Amaryllis, endured. Amaryllis subsequently tried to commit suicide and has been in a coma ever since.

Needing to earn money for her sister’s care, she is forced to take on a criminal case. She is horrified to find many similarities between this case and her sisters. The story of how Calla gains her self-confidence and takes back her life by investigating what happened seven years ago becomes a great story of vengeance and healing that I found very satisfying.

I've enjoyed Louise Ure's two other novels, The Fault Tree and Liar's Anonymous. They don't follow the usual "woman in peril solves mystery" patterns and the pictures she gives us of Tucson, AZ are vivid.

Thanks, RidgewayGirl, I didn't know she had written more books, I'll have to get my hands on them!

18. Night Frost by R.D. Wingfield - 5 stars

In this, the third of the series, we find Denton Division understaffed due to the flu and, as usual, Inspector Frost is in the thick of the murder and mayhem that is running them ragged.

From poisoned-pen letters, suicides, a missing child and a serial killer called "The Granny Ripper", the police are reeling from too much crime and too little sleep.

A gritty police procedural where the truly horrific scenes are peppered with bawdy and crude humor, a lead character who is politically-incorrect, brash and filthy-minded yet gets the job done in spite of himself and his inept superiors.

I love this series!

#64 I love the sound of this book. As I was reading your comments, I was thinking to myself how good it sounded. But as you kept going on and on about all the awful things that are in it, I was expecting you to conclude with a statement about how worthless the book was. I was going to be embarrassed because I was becoming more and more interested. I'm so glad that you loved it. I'm going to add the series to my wishlist - what is the first book?

The first book is called Frost At Christmas, it was written to be a stand alone but the publishers convinced the author to write more. There are five in the completed series. I may have a twisted mind, but these are really laugh out loud funny (in a very sick way)!

#66 They sound right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation.

At first glance, I took the above review to be about a cozy, but reading further, I am intrigued...It sounds right up my alley.

So I'm guessing at this point that the TV series for Frost, starring David Jason in the title role, didn't actually make it across the pond then?

I think it was on here (in Canada) on our Knowledge Network or maybe on PBS, a few years ago, unfortunately I hadn't discovered the series yet so didn't watch them. I would love to see them now. I will have to check the library and see if they have them.

The Brits have all the good shows. (BBC-America is one of my son's favorite channels.) It looks like it was on in the US on A&E several years ago. I'm going to read the books, then look for the videos after.

ETA - just checked the library catalog - they have 13 seasons of the show on DVD :-)

I'm jealous! I just checked my library and they don't have it. I'll just have to keep watch in case it somehow gets rerun on TV somewhere.

19. The Bastard Boy by James Wilson - 2 stars

I don’t even know where to begin on this book. The one word that comes to mind is muddle. The book starts with the main character waking up in a locked cell without knowing how or why he was locked up. He eventually discovers a supply of paper and pen , and as he starts to write about himself and his adventures, he is rewarded with better meals and written requests for more information . He then proceeds to write a chapter a day.

The story is intriguing, he was asked by his brother to track down said-brother’s bastard son who was born in the American Colonies. The brother has a short time to live, and as his legitimate son died, would like to finally acknowledge this bastard boy as his heir.

This story takes us from the English port city of Bristol to the colonies on the eve of the American Revolution. As our hero embarks on his travels, he manages to set two slaves free in Carolina , visit George Washington at his plantation in Virginia, and travel to the Ohio wilderness, all the while searching for the lost heir who may or may not even be alive.

Sounds good on paper, but I found the book to be a complete mishmash and really had to force myself to slog through. I did finish because I wanted to know the answer to the mystery - who is the Bastard Boy? Now that I have found out, I don't think it was worth the bother.

20. Ghosts And Grisly Things by Ramsey Campbell - 3 stars

I was looking for a collection of short stories meant to be read by the fireside on a chilly October night and Ghosts and Grisly Things just about got the job done. Some of the stories made my spine tingle, some just made me shrug and say "I don't get it", and, a couple really disturbed me.

This isn't 'in your face' horror but a slow, creepy internal discovery of fear and insecurities that ring familiar and make you think twice before you turn out the lights at night.

#74 that sounds good, I prefer the 'quiet' horror to the in your face gore and mayhem.

I really did have mixed feelings about this book. I have to admit I am not always a big fan of short stories. I just get engaged by the characters and wham, it's over. I am interested enough though to try one of Ramsey Campbells novels and see what I think then.

#75 - just to warn you, there is a little gore ...

21. Nicci French - Until It's Over - 3 1/2 Stars

This is one of my 'go to' authors. I can always depend on Nicci French to deliver a good story. The first half of Until It's Over is in the perspective of Astrid, a young woman living with a group of other young people in London. Suddenly people around her are being murdered and she is the first one at the scene. By the time of the third murder, the police feel this is more than coincidence. The second half of the book is from the murderer's perspective, taking us through each murder and what led up to it.

I found this an absorbing psychological tale with a satisfactory ending, and as usual, I would recommend Nicci French as an author that knows how to deliver the goods.

Hey DQ, I plan on looking for Nicci French at the library although probably not Until it's Over, not my cup of tea. However, I have heard many good comments regarding French. So, I'm finally adding her name to the list.

Carmenere, I hope you enjoy Nicci French as much as I do. Nicci French is actually a writing pair, I think they are a husband and wife team. I find they are excellent at thrillers.

22. East of the Sun by Julia Gregson - 4 stars

In 1928 three young women are on their way to India, each with a new life in mind. Rose, a naive bride-to-be going to a strange land to be with a man she hardly knows, Victoria, her best friend eager to get away from her overbearing mother and have adventures and romance, and Viva, returning to her land of birth in search of her roots and ultimately herself.

Forging a friendship that will help them endure, we follow these three women as they experience life and India, from the British enclaves to the streets of povertry ridden Bombay.

A well written, engaging story with characters that are never picture-perfect but flawed, altogether real humans that I found myself caring about. I had my fingers crossed for a happy ending but life usually isn't tidy and East of the Sun, like real life, didn't have a tidy ending with everything done up in a fancy bow. Instead I was left with a satisfactory feeling that things ended as they should have.

#80 very nice review - I went out to give you a thumbs-up, but you didn't post it yet!

Sjmccreary - I never post reviews, these here on this challenge are the first I've ever done, maybe when I get enough practise, I will post some as actual reviews! Thanks for the thumbs-up, I really enjoy writing my thoughts about the book after I finish reading it.

I would encourage you to go ahead and post your review of East of the Sun. It's a good review and I promise that we're not going to be graded on our work. I'd like to give it a thumbs up.

OK guys, you talked me into it. I posted my review of East Of The Sun. Let's just hope I won't turn into a review-crazy monster!

I've recently started posting reviews on almost every book I read - I've been posting comments on the challenge threads all year when someone told me the same thing that RidgewayGirl and I just told you - it's a review, go ahead and post it - so I've been posting them. They're not as polished or insightful as many that are out there, but they are my honest opinions and maybe they'll be helpful to someone else someday. Plus, it gives me a place to go back and refresh my memory on the books I read without having to remember where I posted that particular book.

I'm glad you posted East of the Sun - thumbs up from me!

23. Little Face by Sophie Hannah - 3 stars

I am mad at myself for liking this book. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, I thought the plot was rather contrived, parts of the book really disturbed me and even though the ending had quite a twist, I was kind of let down by the whole thing. Yet I found the story both gripping and chilling and, like a bad accident, I couldn’t stop looking. I had to find out how this was going to end.

24. Kwei Quartey - Wife Of The Gods - 4 stars

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey is both unique and engrossing. With the exotic setting of Ghana in West Africa, a young, beautiful women murdered, strong family passions, and a main character who is both clever and compassionate yet has issues of his own.

Inspector Darko Dawson is sent to a rural town to investigate the murder of a young medical student who perhaps ran afoul of the local fetish priest. He speaks the language of the district as he has family there, it is also the town from which his mother disappeared 20 years ago. Working at cross purposes the local police seem to be railroading a young man into confessing to the murder.

Contrasting the old ways of Africa with the emergence of the new and modern, this novel tells us a lot about Africa and it’s culture today, while still delivering a very good mystery story.

25. Juliet Marillier - Wildwood Dancing - 5 stars

An excellent and original fantasy novel, based on the Twelve Dancing Princesses and the Princess and the Frog with a little vampire lore thrown in. Set in medieval Transylvania , five sisters are able to pass through a portal on the night of the every full moon to the kingdom of the fey, where they dance the night away with a variety of magical beings. The eldest sister, the beauty of the family, falls in love with a creature who appears to belong to the Night World, the dark side of the fey.

The main character, Jenica is the second eldest sister, the practical one. She has a pet frog that she found years ago in the forest and keeps him with her always. Of course this frog is more than he seems. The sisters are left on their own one winter as their merchant father falls ill and leaves for a milder climate. Their cousin, Cezar wastes no time in taking over their lives and they come to realize they are under the thumb of a overbearing, power-hungry man.

With her cousin in control of her life and home, and her beautiful elder sister under the sway of a Night Creature, Jenica stuggles to find a way to free herself and her sisters and find the right balance between the two worlds.

Wildwood Dancing has adventure, romance and mystery. The author was able to make these fairy tales new and fresh. Like all good fairy tales there is definitely a moral involved, this one is about making the right choices in life.

Fantasy is a newer genre for me, but after reading this book I will be looking for more, expecially by this author.

26. Jim The Boy by Tony Earley - 4 stars

This coming of age story is a simple tale set in North Carolina in 1934, brought to life by extraordinary writing. I found myself reading many parts of the book over again to savour the descriptive prose.

Jim Glass comes across as a real boy, his thoughts and actions were spirited at times and gentle and thoughtful at other times. He reminded me so much of my 10 year old grandson, that I absolutely lost my heart to him. Tony Earley was able to convey a child’s natural innocence without the book becoming too sweet or contrived.

I found this a perfect book to curl up with and I am definitely going to be reading the sequel soon.

Jim the Boy has received some pretty laudatory reviews. I've seen it at the library--I'll have to check it out.

#89 I've already got this book on my wishlist - based on other comments I've seen about it. I've also heard that the sequel is much better - so you've got something to look forward to!

27. The Moonlit Cage by Linda Holeman - 41/2 stars

This epic story starting in Afghanistan and moving on to India and England tells the story of Darya, a Afghani girl emerging into womanhood in the 1840‘s. A woman’s life is worth little in those times and she is completely in the power of the men in her life. Believing her to be cursed by his second wife, her father sells her into a nightmare of marriage with a nomadic tribesman . After enduring some years of being mistreated and beaten on a regular basis, she finds herself fleeing into the desert, after she is told that her husband has found out about the curse and plans on killing her (something that is perfectly within his right to do).

She is found by David, an Englishman who takes her into his care and tries to find a place for her to have a life of her own. She is rejected by both natives and whites alike. All suspect that a woman who has run from her husband does not deserve to be helped. The Englishman plans on returning to England and believes he has placed her in safety not realizing they plan on turning her out on the streets after he leaves. Another white man takes her under his wing, tells her he will take her to England and keep her safe. She agrees to go with him, not realizing this is a man to be afraid of.

She finds herself a virtual prisoner , a possession and plaything of a man who will eventually grow tired of her and when he discards his women, they often never turn up again.

Through all her travails she remains a woman of strong character and dignity, believing that somewhere there is a place for her to belong. I found this story of a wilful muslim girl who dreams of a life of freedom for herself well worth the time invested. Every time I picked up this book I entered into a different world, wonderful portrayed and richly detailed. This is a story that stays with you long after you have read the final page.

#92 Judy, this is a great review. I hope you'll post it - it's much better than the 2 that are already there. Onto the wishlist it goes.

You have intrigued me Delta. This book sounds amazing and I as well am adding it to my wishlist. Thank you!

#93 - Thanks Sandy, I did just post the review. I have had a hectic weekend of babysitting the grandchildren so got very little done in the way of reading or reviewing. They have been returned to their parents and now my house is so quiet I don't know what to do with myself.

#94 - Jess, I think you will enjoy this book, she has written some other pretty good books as well, in particular, In A Far Country which I think is my favorite of hers.

28. Lauren Willig - The Deception of the Emerald Ring - 3 stars

This is the third helping of this light and frothy adventure series. Jumping back and forth from a modern day graduate student to her research subjects, English spies from the Napoleonic Wars, we are treated to romance, intrigue, humour and lots of misadventure.

Unfortunately I felt this one was a little forced and flat compared to the earlier two, but overall, still a entertaining read and I look forward to the next book in this series.

29. Falling Off Air by Catherine Sampson - 3 1/2 stars

Robin Ballantine, a single mother, is planning on returning to work after a long maternity leave. She has given birth to twins and her life for the last year has been totally wrapped up in them. As she looks out her window, she sees a neighbour fall to her death . Starting as a witness to this event, we slowly are shown the connections between the deceased and our heroine. Suddenly another death occurs, this one definitely murder and Robin as the number one suspect. Overwhelmed by the attention from both the media and police, she realizes the only way back to her own life is for these deaths to be solved.

The book started slowly for me, but with the second death the pace picked up and became quite an engrossing story with some good plot twists. I found Robin Ballantine to be likeable and I was glad to see the book address the problem of “crime solving” and babysitting, along with career points and money issues, all of which I am sure a single mother would have to deal with. So all in all, a good read.

30. Gerald Seymour - Traitor's Kiss - 3 1/2 stars

A Russian naval officer has been passing information along to the British and is now in danger of being caught. In this day of mid-east crisis, Russia does not seem to be relevant and in order to avoid any scandal, it is almost decided to leave this Russian to his fate. A retired agent is finally allowed to put together a team to try and extract him.

Gerald Seymour writes good literate thrillers. He gives such detailed information it's hard to believe his stories are fiction. I found this book bogged down a few times, perhaps too many details, but still an enjoyable read.

31. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik - 3 1/2 stars

This is the second book of a fantasy series set in the Napoleonic era about battles being fought with dragons. In the first book the British capture a French ship that is carrying a dragon's egg to Napoleon. The dragon bonds with Laurence, a British captain and they enter the dragon corps and fight together. The second book opens with the Chinese being upset that their gift was taken by the British. They demand their dragon be returned to China. As the British interests in the east are being threatened, there is political pressure to appease China. Laurence and Temeraire (the dragon) travel to China and experience many dangers along the way and are able to expose a power hungry prince's plot to grab the throne.

A very good follow-up to the original book. The author gives great historical detail from the politics of the day to the clothing and food. Both the people and the dragons have distinct personalities that are interesting to read about. I'm looking forward to reading the third book soon.

32. People of the Book byGeraldine Brooks - 4 stars

This was a group read book for November. There has been so much written about this book that I will just say here that I enjoyed it, especially the historical stories. Geraldine Brooks is an author I can rely on to deliver a good story with accurate historical details.

33. Ye Zhaoyan - Nanjing 1937, A Love Story - 3 stars

A womanizing professor goes to a friend’s wedding and falls in love with the bride. He relentlessly woos her and at first she is put off but as her husband neglects her and is eventually listed as MIA, she gives in to the passion. The author cleverly shows the seduction unfolding at the same time as the Japanese are advancing and the two become entwined. When she finally succumbs, we realize this affair is doomed as the Japanese are about to commence the horrifying conquest of their town of Nanjing.

I had this book on my wish list for a long time, unfortunately the actual reading wasn’t what I had hoped for. I found the writing extremely stiff and wooden, perhaps because of a poor translation. There are great details about day to day life in China at that time but overall this wasn’t a book to hold my attention or draw me into it’s love story.

My goodness, you've been a busy lady! Sorry to hear about Nanjing 1937. It's always a real downer when a book you've so looked forward to lets you down. Hope you next read is far better.

#101, 102 I agree that it's disappointing when a book does not live up to you expectations of it. It sounds like it should be very good - do you know if there is another translation available?

I must get People of the Book. You and others have whetted my appetite. Thank you.

I have been travelling for the last couple of weeks and had plenty of time to read. I stayed with my Mom for the first week and even though she's ninety, and I'm a grandmother myself, she practically waits on me, and then I spent a long weekend with my daughter and grandchildren at their cottage, again pretty much waited on. I guess my Mom thinks I'm too young and my daughter thinks I'm too old! So I managed to get lots of reading time. :)

#103 - I haven't seen or heard of another translation. I find that whenever I find a foreign language book hard to read, I tend to blame it on the translation. It could just be the author's style that I don't like. I haven't read anything else by him so really shouldn't judge.

#104 - People of the Book is really worth the read. Hope you enjoy!

In addition to the translation, books written in foreign languages often have cultural and linguistic differences that unavoidably make their way into any translation. It makes them more interesting, but often puts a barrier between the reader and the book.

That's it exactly Ridgeway Girl! I am glad I read the book, certainly learned from it, yet I definitely ran up against this barrier you mention. It probably is more based on culture and linguistics than in the translation.

34. Jim Kelly - The Coldest Blood - 4 stars

This is the fourth entry in his mystery series featuring Phillip Dryden who lives and works as a local reporter in the town of Ely located in the Cambridgeshire Fens. The location of these books is important as the author weaves his plots in and around the Fens which enables them to become essential to the story.

This one is set over the Christmas/New Year holiday season during a period of extreme cold weather. Following up on a story about taking the proper cold weather precautions, the discovery of first one and then a second frozen body alerts Dryden to a possible series of murders disguised to look like suicide or accidents. As these victims happen to also be involved in an investigation regarding abuse by a Catholic orphanage, Dryden is drawn into a search that will eventually lead him to the past and a half remembered mystery from his own childhood.

We also are following the ongoing story of Phillip Dryden’s wife, who is in the process of emerging from a coma and his guilt and anxiety about her. They were in a car accident a few years ago where the vehicle sank into a marsh. He was rescued but she was trapped in the car, under water for three hours. In this book, we discover that his wife has concerns of own regarding the future.

I enjoyed this book, the story was interesting and not exactly what I expected, which is always a pleasant surprise in a mystery. A well written story enhanced by his use of the setting to create great atmosphere.

35. The Coffin Trail by Martin Edwards - 3 1/2 stars

Daniel Kind a well-known Oxford historian and his girlfriend Miranda impulsively buy a cottage in a remote valley located in the Lake District. Vowing to start a new life together they give up their jobs and homes to settle down at Tarn Cottage.

Daniel has a history with the area having spent time there as a child. In fact Daniel befriended Barrie Gilpin, an autistic youth that lived in Tarn Cottage. When a young and beautiful tourist was found murdered, the natural suspect was Barrie. Unfortunately he fell to his death before being questioned. For years it was assumed that Barrie committed the murder, but Daniel just couldn’t believe this.

At the same time DCI Hannah Scarlett is put in charge of the Cold Case Files for the area and an anonymous phone call opens this case up again. She had worked on this case when it was fresh, and never felt they had the proper resolution. Neither did her supervisor who it turns out was Daniel Kinds’ father.

This is a first book in a series of three (so far) and, as such, much of the book was dedicated to introducing characters and setting the back story. The mystery was a little thin but had a good twist, and I have great expectation for this series as I found it to be an absorbing read and I want to see what happens next.

#109 This one sounds great - I'm adding it to the wishlist

36. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - 3 1/2 stars

Looking for something a little lighter than my last few reads I picked up Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella.

This book is about a young women whose life, in her words, is crap. Crappy job, lousy boyfriend, crooked teeth, always needing to lose 5 to 10 pounds. After a night out and slightly intoxicated, she falls down a flight of stairs and wakes up in hospital to find it’s three years later. After recovering from the shock of not being 25 any longer, she finds out she hasn’t been lying in a bed for 3 years either. She discovers that she has become a director of the company she works at, she can afford top quality clothing and accessories, she’s thin, tanned and her teeth are straight! She finds she is the owner of a gigantic diamond engagement ring, but the biggest surprise is the plain gold wedding band and a husband called Eric.

Light and fun, not great literature but a good chick-lit book with a heroine that you can't help but root for.

edited to try and fix touchstones - couldn't - will try again later

37. Judith Lennox - A Step In the Dark - 4 stars

Widowed, alone , and penniless Bess Ravenhart makes a fatal mistake when she entrusts her baby son to her mother-in-law while she returns to England from India. She is persuaded that she needs time to establish herself in England and make a home for her son, Frazer. Of course her mother-in-law Cora, has no intention of giving up the baby who has replaced her dead son in her heart.

Bess travels to England hoping, to find shelter with her father, only to discover he is in financial straits and dying. She eventually realizes that her son is not going to be returned to her and vows to get him back somehow. By this time, World War I has broken out and all travel plans must be shelved for the duration.

In order to survive and have the money she knows she will need someday to fight Cora, she manipulates a young man into marrying her. By the time the war ends, she has realized her marriage is a mistake and moves on to raise her daughter alone. After experiencing many difficulties, she finally discovers a love that will last through her life.

When her son finally comes to find her, instead of a feeling of completion and happiness, things just get more complicated. By this time she has become the mother of three more daughters and the story goes on following the lives of all five of her children.

Judith Lennox is an expert story-teller which makes for compulsive reading. This is a book I would truly label “ epic”, as we span decades of this family’s life, filled with passion, betrayal, love, and tragedy from the year 1915 through to the 1960’s. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and look forward to reading my next Judith Lennox book.

Good review, Judy. I love large books and family sagas so I've add it to my unending TBR.

38. Flora Thompson - Lark Rise to Candleford - 5 stars

This memoir was a real treat to read. Originally written as three books and published together as one volume in 1945. We follow the life of Laura, a young girl living in rural England in the 1880’s. Her descriptions of daily life, flora and fauna, schooling, games and songs of the times are so detailed that this book gives us a clear picture of a way of life that has long vanished. I have read a lot of books set in this time period, but what I found most fascinating about Lark Rise to Candleford was that this book was like a time capsule that chronicles the daily lives of farm workers, craftsmen and servants who were the backbone of England.

Laura spends her childhood in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and then is sent to a larger village called Candleford to live with the postmistress and train under her. She goes on carefully giving us details of village life and the characters that live there.

I would highly recommend this memorial to Victorian rural England to anyone with an interest in history, or who has an appreciation of the simple things in life. For me this book rated 5 stars.

39. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - 5 stars

This was a re-read for me. I first read the book in January, 1994 and I gave it four stars then but now, I am upping that to 5 stars. In hindsight, this book is still a great story, a real page-turner and, to me, the start of one of the greatest romances of all time, but the extra star has more to do with the influence this book has had on future historical novels, novels that are being written today. The Outlander combines a rich and romantic story with accurate details of eighteenth century Scottish history. It’s a wonderful book, and I am planning on revisiting the whole series.

#115 I remember when I first read Outlander - probably '96 or '97. I couldn't put it down, and when I'd finished it I wished it had lasted longer. As you mentioned, a whole new kind of romance novel, different from anything I'd ever read before. It IS a wonderful book.

40. Fred Vargas - The Chalk Circle Man - 4 stars

Although the sixth of the Adamsberg books to be translated into English, The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas is, in fact, the debut novel of the series.

The storyline, although very good, is almost secondary to the introduction of the main characters that will appear throughout the series. The 45 year old Commissaire Adamsberg has been recently promoted and moved to Paris. He has already earned quite a reputation for solving crimes. His manner is strange, to say the least, and he works mostly by instinct. In contrast, his assistant, Inspector Danglard believes in logic and following the evidence. These two men make a formidable pair.

This case needs a formidable team, blue chalk circles are appearing all over Paris, in each circle is found a random item - a empty can, a piece of wire, and old hat, etc. Eventually a body is found inside one of the blue chalk circles with her throat slashed and the hunt is on. More bodies are presented in chalk circles before the case is resolved.

The city of Paris has a starring role in this book, and I truly felt immersed in French culture while reading it. I would recommend The Chalk Circle Man for any mystery fan especially one who enjoys reading “globally”.

41. The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella - 4 stars

The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella is a wonderfully romantic tale set in war-torn Italy. Captain James Gould arrives in Naples in 1943 to become the Wedding Officer, whose main duty is to prevent marriages between British soldiers and their Italian girlfriends. As a stickler for the rules, the young Captain is determined to stamp out the black market and restore order.

He eventually meets and hires Livia Pertini, a beautiful widow whose cooking talent sets her far apart from other women. Captain Gould can’t seem to stay away from the kitchen and it’s not just for the lovely Livia’s cooking. He soon realizes he is falling in love with this earthy and sensuous woman. She in turn, has her own issues with the Allies as the occupation has not always gone smoothly for the locals or for her family. Her take on the young British captain with his stiff and polite ways, is at first disdainful, then she mistakenly thinks he is gay. In a delectable picnic scene, she finds out James Gould definitely prefers the fairer sex.

This is not a book to be read when hungry. The deliciously described recipes are so detailed you can practically smell them cooking, they are guaranteed to give you a craving for Italian food and perhaps even make you blush, as Livia teases James with sexual innuendos thinly disguised as food preparation or eating. At times a comedy-of-errors, at other times a compelling tale of war, love and food, I was entranced with this book and highly recommend it.

The Wedding Officer sounds delicious. I'll add it to the wish list.

Carmenere, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I found it a perfect, light read for this time of the year.

42. Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre - 5 stars

When a neighbour of Jack Parlabane is gruesomely murdered and he is found wandering through the murder site by the police, the investigative reporter explains that he’s a dedicatedly, professional noisy bastard. With the help of DC Jenny Dalziel and the victim’s ex-wife Dr. Sarah Slaughter, he is soon on the trail of the killer of Dr. Jeremy Ponsonby and eventually exposes a much deeper plot to enrich a slimy businessman at the expense of the public’s health and taxes.

Jack himself is in Edinburgh as he is running from trouble he got into in Los Angeles, and he was in LA hiding out from trouble he got into in London. When a story catches his interest, he loses track of everything else in order to follow the scent, even if he has to break a few rules or laws to do it.

Quite Ugly One Morning is the first book in the series by Christopher Brookmyre and it’s a humdinger. I found myself laughing out loud and being grossed out at the same time. The first chapter set the tone for this wildly entertaining ride. I found the fast paced plot to be both witty and irreverent. Perhaps not for the weak-stomached, but I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next Jack Parlabane book.

I have a Brookmyre book, A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil on my TBR pile. He does have a way with titles.

I'll say he does! I think Snowball in Hell and Boiling A Frog are my two favorities.

Thankfully, in most cases, the books are as good as the titles portend.

43. Sarah Addison Allen - The Sugar Queen - 4 stars

This was the perfect read for this busy time approaching Christmas. A light, magical, feel-good read.

Josey Cirrini is a 27 year old woman who hides from life by living at home, caring for her over-bearing mother, and using the candy and romance books that she hides in her closet to replace her emotions. She wakes up one day to find the local bad girl, Della Lee has taken up residence in her closet and she is bound and determined to force Josey to make drastic changes and improve her life.

One of the first things Della Lee does is arrange for Josie to meet Chloe, another young woman with problems of her own, the main one being the love of her life has just confessed to sleeping with another woman. Josey and Chloe bond immediately and their budding friendship is the first step for both these women toward a better life.

Sarah Addison Allen has a unique perspective on life, and this book is very much a modern day fairy tale. You must suspend belief and allow yourself to fall into the sweetness and innocence. The touches of magic she sprinkles through the story, books appearing exactly when you need them, and water coming to a boil when a couple kiss, are part of the delightful surprises, and like any fairy tale you have a pretty good idea that a happy ending is on the way. The Sugar Queen is a delicious escape from reality.

I'm so glad you enjoyed The Sugar Queen. It was the first book I read this year and I loved it. I liked the water boiling too. It reminded me of Claire in Garden Spells where she singes a word into the ground in the garden.

I really loved Garden Spells as well. I am looking forward to her next book.

44. Unseen: A Mystery by Mari Jungstedt - 3 !/2 Stars

One of the best things I have been introduced to here on LT is the concept of reading globally, especially crime novels. Unseen is a great mystery by Swedish author Mari Jungstedt. The story is about a series of murders on the quiet tourist island of Gotland. As three women fall victim one by one, the police are desperately working to find some connection that would explain why this happened to them. By the time the pieces are put together, a fourth woman’s life is in jeopardy.

Along with the steps the police are taking, led by Inspector Anders Knutas, we also are introduced to Johan Berg a journalist who is following the story for a national TV station in Stockholm. The hunt for the killer’s identity unravels slowly, the suspense builds and all the while the killer is nearby, “Unseen”.

In common with all Swedish crime novels, this book is very atmospheric, her descriptions of the island were so real I could practically feel the fog.. The author doesn’t sugar-coat the murders but describes them very graphically so that we experience the true horror of such violence. Characters are well developed and interesting and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

45. Carol Plum-Ucci - The Night My Sister Went Missing - 2 stars

Teenagers partying on a deserted pier, a sudden noise, a girl turns and falls into the ocean below. Was she shot? Did she dive into the water or fall? These are some of the questions that the girl’s brother wants answers to as much as the police. Kurt Carmody spends a long tortuous night at the police station trying to put the pieces together as various eyewitnesses give their testimony. Each story is different, but all fingers seem to point to one person, but in truth that person may only be guilty of hiding herself behind a façade.

The author of this Young Adult novel explores the subjects of loyalty, gossip, incest and preconceived notions. Unfortunately I found the plot to be rather contrived and the characterization to be a little thin. I could see where she was taking me, but the trip there was not particularly enjoyable . I was surprised by the ending, but not in a good way, I felt a vital element to the story was not explained or resolved. Altogether I found The Night My Sister Went Missing to be rather mediocre.

Well I'm getting down to the last seven books I need to complete this challenge. We are leaving shortly to spend Christmas with my Mother and I have packed a few books for this Challenge that I will report on when we return sometime in the first week of January.

Merry Christmas.

46. Laura Joh Rowland - Bundori - 3 1/2 stars

This is the second book in this mystery series by Laura Joh Rowland. Set in 17th century feudal Japan, we follow along with Sano Ichiro as he, at the shogun’s request, investigates a series of beheadings . After the killer decapitates his victims, he mounts the heads and leaves them on display as a “Bundori” or war trophy. The young samurai has pledged to follow the way of “Bushido”, a samurai code of honour, and he is determined to solve these murders. He is very much the outsider at the Shogun’s court and unfortunately the petty jealousies and court intrigues that swirl around him makes honour difficult to hold onto.

This is an excellent historical mystery series. Laura Joh Rowland gives us both a good, suspenseful read and an added bonus of lots of historical details about Japan in the 17th century. I enjoyed Bundori and look forward to the next book in this series

47. Peter James - Not Dead Enough - 3 1/2 stars

I always feel like I need to strap myself down when I start a Peter James book. His stories are like riding a roller coaster, a series of one thrill after another. However Not Dead Enough was more like a baby roller coaster, the thrills were a lot milder than what I have come to expect from his stories.

This is the third in his DI Roy Grace series and although not my favorite, still a pretty good mystery, peopled with interesting characters and an intriguing and sympathetic hero. I found it a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed the ride.

48. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton - 1 star

I found the best thing about this book was that it was short. My mother always told me if I couldn't say anything nice then I shouldn't say anything at all.

@133 :: This is what I chose for my "X" title as well. At least it will be a quick read!

I hate to sound so negative about a book, I have seen where others enjoyed this it. Perhaps I should have just said that it wasn't the book for me at the time I read it.

49. Qiu Xiaolong - Death Of A Red Heroine - 4 stars

This was an interesting book, the first in a series of police procedurals set in Shanghai during the 1990‘s. We are introduced to Chief Inspector Chen Cao, a poet and literary translator who was assigned to the police bureau and has fallen under the wing of a party official’s sponsorship which has allowed him to rise to his current position.

A young woman is found in a canal, strangled and discarded in a garbage bag. She is Guan Hongying, a minor political celebrity, being a national role-model worker for the Communist Party. Chen and his underling Yu are placed on the case which comes together slowly as they have to overcome a system of bureaucracy designed more for political consideration than modern day crime-fighting.

More than the actual mystery, I found this book intriguing due to the glimpses of modern day China that we are given, its slow emergence to western ideas and world markets while trying to cling to its political ideals of the past. Instead of many dry lectures on the position of today’s China, we are instead treated to portraits of how people conduct their daily lives in this communist country.

At first I found the mystery aspect rather slow moving, but during the second half of the book the story picked up both speed and interest, but as this is the first book in a series, the author was obliged to introduce characters and set the scene for future volumes. I would recommend Death Of A Red Heroine to anyone who enjoys reading globally and wants to see what living in post Tiananmen Square China is like.

Judy, I just added Death of a Red Heroine and the first Laura Joh Rowland books to my wishlist. Thanks mostly to you, I'm beginning to accumulate several Asian-based books. I may consider a mini-challenge later and read 5 or 6 of them close together. Thanks for the recommendations.

You're welcome Sandy. Just in case you are in the mood for one (or two) more I would recommend The Twentieth Wife and it's sequel The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan. I read them both last year and was enthralled. These are still in Asia but India instead of China.

Well, an Asian mini-challenge will be more interesting if the books are all from different places. I've added The Twentieth Wife to the wishlist. My library doesn't have it, but they do have Feast of Roses - should they be read in order?

I would definitely read them in order. The two books follow one girl's life, with The Twentieth Wife being the first. I actually liked the first one a little better than the second one, I think it's because the books are based on a historical figure but little is known of her early life so it reads more like a novel. The second book deals more with actual events and historical fact, so was a little dryer.

Good - I prefer reading books in order anyway. I'll check to see if I can get it on an ILL when I'm ready for it. I've been using that service more and more as I'm finding out about so many great books here!

50. The Year Of Fog by Michelle Richmond - 5 stars

One of the worst nightmares that could possibly happen, while walking along a foggy beach, Abby lets go of the little hand and allows her future step-daughter to run ahead. She only looks away a few moments to take a photograph, but that’s all it takes to change things forever.

This is a book that was both very hard to read and very hard to put down. The heartbreaking and compelling story of how people cope with the tragedy of a missing child. From the first desperate search, Abby is convinced the little girl has been kidnapped and wracks her brains to remember a detail that could lead to finding Emma. Emma’s father and the police come to believe that the child was taken by a sneaker wave, a drowning victim. A memorial service is held, but Abby cannot let go, even at the cost of her relationship.

She comes to believe that she holds the key to finding Emma and following up on her memories leads her to Costa Rica where she is finally faced with the answer of what happened to Emma.

Michelle Richmond handles this story deftly, just laying it out simply and letting us feel the emotion without jamming it down our throats. Her insight and sensitivity make this beautifully written book linger in the memory.

If you think you could handle the difficult subject matter, I would highly recommend A Year of Fog.

51. Tony Earley - The Blue Star - 5 stars

The Blue Star is the continuing of the story of Jim Glass who was introduced in Jim The Boy, Jim is now a high school senior, the year is 1941. He has recently broken up with his steady girlfriend as she was quite religious and he just didn’t find her much fun. Now he has fallen under the spell of the dark-eyed beauty, Chrissie. Chrissie appears to be equally attracted to Jim, but she warns him to steer clear of her as she is considered to be Bucky Bucklaw’s girlfriend and he is away serving in the Navy. Chrissie and her mother live on the Bucklaw property with her grandparents who work for Mr. Bucklaw. As Chrissie sees it, if she drops Bucky, she and her family may be thrown off the property.

Jim spends his time brooding over his unrequited love and thinking up ways to “get” Bucky . Then comes Pearl Harbor and suddenly Bucky is coming home, but not the way anyone imagined.

Jim and his family, consisting of three bachelor uncles and his mother live in the tiny community of Aliceville, North Carolina. His uncles are always there for Jim, giving him simple advice and steering him gently towards manhood. Jim Glass is just one of many of the delightful characters that fill this book. This is a deceptively simple tale that manages to tackle many adult themes such as racism, teen pregnancy and war issues. I would highly recommend this bittersweet story, I know The Blue Star will linger on in my memory for some time to come.

52. Alyson Noel - Evermore: The Immortals - 3 1/2 stars

This is a story of teen angst and the paranormal, blended together in a creative mix that, I am sure, is pleasing to most teen readers. Unfortunately I am no teen and I found the book a little flawed. I thought the characters were a little one dimensional, especially the hero, Damien. Too heroic, too perfect, too annoying. Ever’s guardian, her aunt, is a little too dim-witted especially since she is supposed to be a top lawyer. But I did think the author nailed the main character, Ever came across as the grieving, disturbed teenager that she is supposed to be.

The story was interesting. Ever, is the sole survivor of her family after a terrible car accident. She is visited regularly by her dead younger sister (who was one character that I did enjoy). Since the accident she has developed the ability to see peoples’ aura and read their thoughts. The oh, too perfect Damien comes into her life, and as the story unrolls we come to realize he has been searching for her through several lifetimes.

Evermore: The Immortals is the first book of this series that is aimed at the teen market and so I should not let my “old lady” prejudices get in way. The story kept my attention and I did want to read on and find out what was going to become of these characters. I would recommend Evermore: The Immortals to anyone who enjoys books like Twilight or Wicked Lovely.

This concludes my Alphabet Challenge. My first challenge on LT. I enjoyed it immensely and I will probably be back to do another round at a later date. For now I am going to concentrate on my 1010 Challenge.

I loved reading all the threads here and believe me, I got some very good reading advice. Thanks to everyone who read my thread, hope you enjoyed it.

And, just like that, you're done? That was pretty fast! Congratulations on finishing the challenge. I'll miss seeing you here, but will be sure to read you comments on the 1010 challenge.

Wow congrats on completing on the challenge.

Congrats! See ya over at 101010 :)