Carolynn's Bookshelf

2011-09-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

“Two Little Girls in Blue”

By Mary Higgins Clark

2011 Book Review #123

Publishers Weekly Review

Bestseller Clark is at her best when writing of crimes against children, as shown in this chilling tale of kidnapping, murder and telepathy.

Before leaving for a black-tie affair in New York City, Margaret and Steve Frawley celebrate the third birthday of their twin girls, Kathy and Kelly, with a party at their new home in Ridgefield, Conn.

Later that night, when Margaret can't reach the babysitter, she contacts the Ridgefield police. The frantic couple return home to find the children missing and a ransom note demanding $8 million.

Though the Frawleys meet all the conditions, only Kelly turns up in a car along with a dead driver and a suicide note saying that Kathy has died. But Kelly's telepathic messages from her sister keep telling her differently, and Margaret won't give up hope.

Even the most skeptical law enforcement officers and the FBI, who pursue suspects from New York to Cape Cod, begin to believe Kelly is on to something. Clues from ordinary people lead to a riveting conclusion. Rivaling Clark's debut-Where Are the Children?-this suspense thriller is certain to send terror into the heart of any parent.

My Thoughts: Clark’s books are always action packed with interesting plots and characters. This book is no different. I couldn’t put it down!

2011-09-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

“The Tail of the Tip-Off”

By Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie

A Corgi and Felines Mystery

2011 Book Review #122

BookList Review

Brown's eleventh Mrs. Murphy mystery finds Mary Minor ("Harry") Haristeen... who is postmistress in the small town of Crozet, Virginia, and also runs a farm... insinuating herself into a murder investigation...again!

When H. H. Donaldson, head of a local construction firm, is murdered in the parking lot of a sports arena, Harry and her fellow four-footed amateur detectives--tiger cat Mrs. Murphy; the fat gray Pewter; and corgi, Tee Tucker--try to figure out how and why he was murdered.

Suddenly, Harry is looking at her longtime friends and neighbors with an uneasy suspicion and getting an inkling of the level of corruption in the construction industry. Meanwhile, the animals have their own agendas, as they amuse themselves by raiding the supply closet of the local Lutheran church and offer wry running commentary (set off in italics) on the foibles of humans.

The politics of small-town life and the building trade are seamlessly woven into this lighthearted, facile tale that will appeal to loyal fans of the series. Others may find the anthropomorphic aspects of the story difficult to take, but it's hard to dislike Harry's giggle-prone, furry brood.

My Thoughts: Whenever I want something light and fun to read, I read this series. The plots are very mysterious and the antics of the animals are fun!

2011-09-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

“Irish Love” By Andrew M. Greeley

A Nuala Anne McGrail and Dermot Michael Coyne Novel

2011 Book Review #121

Book List Review

In yet another work of fiction from the prolific priest, Greeley revisits his popular mystery series featuring Nuala Anne McGrail and her husband, Dermot Coyne, continuing the exploits of the crime-solving duo.

This time, we find them back in

Ireland

on vacation, where they are drawn into a complex murder mystery. Nuala, who, as faithful readers will recall, has the ability to see both the past and the future, divines that these modern crimes are somehow related to a mass murder that took place in the area, back in the 1880s.

That crime (based on an actual event, in which an entire family was murdered and an innocent local peasant was arrested, tried, and executed for the crime) provides clues for solving the contemporary crime. Despite several attempts on their lives, the plucky two-some piece together the answers to both mysteries and save the day in the nick of time.

Greeley has hordes of fans who devour his books as fast as he can write them; librarians should stock up.

My Thoughts: I love Nuala Anne and Dermot Michael Coyne stories. This one is no exception!!! I'm Irish and love reading about Ireland too!

2011-09-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

“MYSTERY” By Jonathan Kellerman

An Alex Delaware Novel (New 2011)

2011 Book Review #121

Publisher’s Journal Review

When Lt. Milo Sturgis of LAPD homicide asks psychologist Alex Delaware to view the faceless corpse of a young woman, Alex is shocked to recognize the gunshot victim as someone he and wife, Robin, saw the night before in a restaurant bar.

A link turns out to exist between the dead woman and a sinister-looking man Alex and Robin observed outside the bar that night.

An anonymous tip leads to an online service that matches "sugar daddies" with "star-quality sweeties." The victim, who called herself "Mystery," had a "daddy," Markham McReynolds, whose wealthy, anything-goes family offers plenty of suspects, including McReynolds's wife, two sons, and two daughters-in-law.

Kellerman's bantering detectives make it look almost too easy as they put together the clues and possible scenarios, despite the unusual solution to the crime.

My Thoughts: I am a huge fan of Jonathan Kellerman and his wife, Faye. This is his 26th Alex Delware/Milo Sturgis Novel. It was just as good as all the others!

2011-09-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

“Devil’s Food Cake Murder”

By Joanne Fluke

A Hannah Swensen Mystery With Recipes!!

2011 Book Review #120

Book List Review

When Matthew Walters returns to Lake Eden, Minnesota, to fill in for the Reverend Bob Knudson, who will soon be leaving on his honeymoon, Grandma Knudson suspects that Walters is not the same person who summered with her as a teen while his parents were doing missionary work.

She asks Hannah Swensen, owner of the Cookie Jar bakery, to verify Walters' identity. Hannah determines Walters is who he says he is, but shortly thereafter, he's murdered and another Matthew Walters shows up in town! Hannah and her family, along with her dentist boyfriend, Norman, work to solve the crime. But Hannah's life is further complicated by Norman's former fiancee relocating to Lake Eden to join his dental practice.

Series readers will enjoy plot twists, the small-town winter setting, and the bakery backdrop, but the main pleasure here remains the opportunity to get reacquainted with Hannah, her family, and the other Lake Eden residents.

Fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment, thanks especially to a bombshell Norman drops at the end of the story. As always, delicious, easy-to-follow recipes are sprinkled throughout the text.

My Thoughts: I like the plot and the characters but, the recipes make me hungry!

2011-09-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

“Moonlight Becomes You”

By Mary Higgins Clark

2011 Book Review #119

Book List Review

Professional photographer, Maggie Holloway, revisits the best part of her childhood after she runs into her former stepmother, Nuala Moore, at a Manhattan party. Nuala seems edgy, but Maggie never finds out why, for only days into their reunion, she finds her beloved Nuala murdered.

Maggie is the unexpected inheritor of Nuala's Newport home, for which Maggie receives curiously generous, even overpriced, offers from several parties. Nuala had, at one time, planned on selling the property in order to move into a ritzy retirement home but, had suddenly and without explanation changed her mind only days before her death.

When Maggie also decides not to sell the property, she becomes the one squeaky cog in an otherwise well-oiled machine of fraud, murder, and deception. At Maggie's side are two suitors: the wealthy Liam, who suddenly begins paying more attention to her after Nuala's death, and the seemingly indifferent Neil, a kindhearted investment banker.

Clark has written a clever story with interesting characters, particularly Liam's macabre, death-obsessed cousin, Earl.

My Thoughts: Another action packed plot with interesting characters! Loved it!

2011-09-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

“Society” By Michael Palmer

Written in 2004....

2011 Book Review #118

Book List Review

Moral outrage over how managed-care companies make medical decisions based on the bottom line rather than on patient need is the central issue in the latest medical thriller from popular physician-author Palmer.

No one knows the restraints managed care has put on the medical industry better than Dr. Will Grant. An extremely gifted doctor, Will is also an extremely vocal advocate for patients' rights; though admirable, this trait has caused him endless friction with the doctors with whom he works.

His dedication to medicine has also led to divorce and countless other personal woes. Worse, zealots who take extreme measures to keep the HMOs in line seek Will out as an ally. Should he align himself with these self-righteous activists? Probably not. Especially when highly paid executives from some of the wealthiest HMOs begin to turn up dead.

On the case is rookie detective Patty Moriarty (well, she's second chair after almost screwing up the investigation completely), who reluctantly gets Will on her side. His knowledge of the issues is unsurpassed, but she fears her working relationship with him may put her in the killer's sites.

Relevant, gripping reading with a provocative moral dilemma at its center.

My Thought: I liked this book! It is fictionally based on a potentially serious subject!

2011-09-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

“Split Image” By Robert B. Parker

A Jesse Stone Novel

2011 Book Review #117

Book List Review

Petrov Ognowski is dead. A bullet bounced around inside his skull for about six hours before Suit Simpson, a patrol officer in the small Massachusetts town of Paradise, found the body. Petrov worked for Reggie Galen, one of two crime bosses who call Paradise home. The other, Knocko Moynihan, lives across the street from Galen.

Suit's boss, chief of police, Jesse Stone, finally has occasion to find out why two onetime rivals choose to be neighbors. (Seems they married identical twin sisters, Rebecca and Roberta, known as the Bang Bang Twins in high school.) Reggie and Knocko are shocked about Petrov's fate but, give Jesse no help with the case.

In the meantime, Jesse, still hurting from the latest breakup with his ex-wife, is helping old friend, private detective, Sunny Randall, star of her own series, track down a teenager who has moved in with a New Age commune.

The three non-converging plotlines are linked tenuously by one theme: the two mobsters with their Bang Bang twins; the teenager, denied affection from her rigidly aristocratic parents, with her commune cohorts; and Jesse and Sunny with each other.

And the crimes? The commune is more creepy than comfy, and the Bang Bang Twins may have set in motion a series of events that will lead to violence.

Parker's ninth Jesse Stone novel finds the series in slight decline. The plotlines are thin hence the need for three, but, the dialogue is sharp, and the Jesse-Sunny romance has possibilities.

My Thoughts: I heard this book on audiotape and became irritated at all the, “he said, she said” dialog. The plot was okay, but, the characters were not very interesting!

2011-09-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

“Days of Gold” By Jude Deveraux

2011 Book Review #116

Publishers Weekly Review

The inevitable prequel to “Lavender Morning” places Deveraux on familiar historical romance ground as she traces the journey to America of the namesake of the fictional town of Edilean, Va. English-born Edilean Talbot is very out of place when she arrives in 1766 Scotland to live with her uncle.

A pressing problem presents itself when her uncle plans to marry off the rich, beautiful and well-educated Edilean to one of his unsavory friends the moment she turns 18. Reluctantly, Angus McTern, the highland hunk who laughs at Edilean even as he falls for her, helps her escape and accompanies her on a transatlantic voyage acting the role of her husband.

Once in Boston, they go their separate ways, later reuniting when old friends help Edilean dispense with an enemy.

After dozens of novels, Deveraux has a sure hand evoking plucky heroines, dastardly villains and irresistible heroes, as well as a well-rounded supporting cast. If the plot seems familiar and occasionally contrived (how convenient laudanum is available when someone needs to be knocked out), the pace moves quickly and the romance sparks with enough voltage to keep readers turning pages.

My Thoughts: The story was interesting and the characters lively. The end was predictable and a happy one! But, I found the book too long.

2011-09-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

“FIRE SALE” By Sara Paretsky

A V.I. Warshawski Novel

2011 Book Review #115

Publisher’s Journal Review

Private eye V.I. Warshawski takes a break from tony Lakeview to fill in for her old high school basketball coach on Chicago's South Side in her 12th adventure. Vic starts her volunteer stint looking for a team sponsor at mega-discount store By-Smart, whose founder, Buffalo Bill Bysen, is a fellow alum.

Of all Bysen's cutthroat, cost-cutting family, only idealist 19-year-old Billy shows any interest in helping the team. When he disappears, his frustrated father hires Vic to find him. The mother of a high school basketball player also hires Vic to investigate sabotage at the flag factory where she works-an investigation cut short when the factory blows up before Vic's eyes.

Things go no better at school or at home, and clues pile on but they don't add up. Vic takes her lumps as she makes her way from a fundamentalist church, where the pastor goes to extremes for his flock, to the city dump, where villains try to bury their secrets.

Paretsky has recently tackled the Holocaust (Total Recall) and globalization (Hard Time); here she explores the struggles of the working poor and the schemes of the rich and infamous. Packed with social themes and moral energy, held together by humor, compassion and sheer feistiness, this novel shows why Paretsky and her heroine are such enduring figures in American detective fiction.

My Thoughts: V.I. Warshawski always gives us a good story! Wish they would make a TV series starring her! This is Paretsky’s 12^th Warshawski novel. Each one just as good as the last!

2011-09-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

“The Summerhouse”

By Jude Deveraux

2011 Book Review # 114

Book List Review

Serendipity brings three career women together at the DMV in New York City on their twenty-first birthdays. Ellie, cute and perky, is a hopeful artist. Leslie is an aspiring dancer, and Madison is in New York to pursue a modeling career.

Nineteen years later, Ellie, a successful popular fiction writer who hasn't written for three years, asks the other two to meet at a summerhouse in Maine to find out if their lives went as wrong as hers.

Beautiful Madison tells the group about giving up modeling to nurse an ungrateful husband and Leslie talks about leaving the dance world to marry the boy back home, who now may be cheating on her. But neither is as bitter about men as Ellie, whose ex-husband has taken all her money and her self-confidence.

The catharsis achieved by their confessions is helpful, but what really changes their lives is the mysterious Madame Zoya, who promises to let them relive any three weeks of their lives and to choose a new path or remain with the old.

Deveraux is at the top of her game here as she uses the time-travel motif that was so popular in A Knight in Shining Armor (1996), successfully updating it with a female buddy twist that will make fans smile.

My Thoughts: A different kind of book for me, but I liked it. No blood or gore, but plenty of human feelings and a little magic. It’s interesting to see what choices are made in these women’s lives when they are given a "second chance".

2011-09-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

“No Place Like Home”

By Mary Higgins Clark

2011 Book Review #113

Publishers Weekly Review

At One Old Mill Lane, in Mendham, N.J., 10-year-old Liza Barton wakes to find her stepfather, Ted Cartwright, attacking her mother, Audrey. Liza grabs a gun in defense, but in the ensuing melee Audrey is killed and Ted is wounded.

Dubbed "Little Lizzie Borden," Liza is taken away and almost convicted of murdering her mother and attempting to kill the lying, scheming Ted. Twenty-four years later, Liza, now known as Celia Foster Nolan, has just been presented with a surprise birthday present from her new husband, Alex: the house at One Old Mill Lane.

Alex doesn't know Celia is really Liza, and he doesn't know the house's grim past-but thanks to a real estate code obligating agents to notify prospective buyers if a house could be considered "stigmatized property," he's about to find out about the latter at least.

As Celia fights to keep her dark secret hidden, their real estate agent turns up dead. More folks are killed and Celia comes under suspicion. But in typical Clark style, most of the characters look a little guilty.

My Thoughts: There are a lot of surprises in this offering. I am a fan of Clark’s work and liked this book very much. I finished it at 4:00 this morning! Couldn't put it down!

2011-09-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

“Prior Bad Acts” By Tami Hoag

2011 Book Review #112

Book List Review

Law-enforcement officials throughout Hennepin County thought they'd have an advocate on the bench when one of their own--former state prosecutor Carey Moore--became a criminal-court judge. Her Honor, however, knows that she will be scrutinized for favoring the prosecution, so she makes sure to rule evenly.

But even is not the way the D.A.'s office would describe her handling of the case against defendant, Karl Dahl. The cops and prosecutors are sure that Dahl is the one who brutally raped and murdered a mother and her two children, but they recognize that the evidence is highly circumstantial. Admitting Dahl's prior bad acts into evidence, they argue, would establish a pattern of behavior, whereas Dahl's attorney maintains that the evidence would be prejudicial.

When Carey sides with the defense, her decision ignites a series of events that begins with her being brutally attacked. Then Dahl escapes, and homicide detectives Sam Kovak and Nikki Liska give chase. A first-rate thriller with an ending that will knock your socks off.

My Thoughts: Scary Book. Interesting plot. Surprise ending…unless you are really paying attention!

2011-09-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

“A Time To Kill” By John Grisham

2011 Book Review #111

Library Journal Review

In this lively novel, Grisham explores the uneasy relationship of blacks and whites in the rural South. His treatment is balanced and humane, if not particularly profound, slighting neither blacks nor whites.

Life becomes complicated in the backwoods town of Clanton, Mississippi, when a black worker is brought to trial for the murder of the two whites who raped and tortured his young daughter. Everyone gets involved, from Klan to NAACP.

Grisham's pleasure in relating the Byzantine complexities of Clanton politics is contagious, and he tells a good story. There are touches of humor in the dialogue; the characters are salty and down-to-earth. An enjoyable book, which displays a respect for Mississippi ways and for the contrary people who live there.

My Thoughts: It is a well written and honest book. I found it depressing which, I suppose, is the goal of a book written about depressing times! It was made into a movie which I didn’t see and I think I’m glad!

2011-09-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

“Blacklist” By Sara Paretsky

A V.I Warshawski Novel

2011 Book Review #110

Library Journal Review

A dead reporter, a missing Egyptian boy wanted in connection with terrorist activities, and an elderly woman convinced that an intruder is in her family’s ex-manse, are all elements of Paretsky's 12th novel featuring Chicago private investigator V.I. Warshawski.

As V.I. looks into these peoples' lives, she discovers connections among them. She uncovers a story of betrayal and secrets that span several generations and involves Chicago's wealthiest families, the Red Scare, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings of the 1950s.

As always, V.I.'s determined pursuit of the truth ensures, at least, a few heart-stopping moments. This may be Paretsky's most complex novel to date. It will have particular resonance post-9/11, as readers recognize more easily what it was like for past generations to live in fear.

Partial Booklist Review

In her essay, ‘Writing, Speech, and Silence ‘, Paretsky speaks frankly about free speech, including the devastation caused by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the implications of the Patriot Act on individual freedoms. The topic is central to her latest V. I. Warshawski mystery, a stellar entry in a celebrated series, which offers a provocative history lesson along with very contemporary commentary on loyalty and betrayal and how the past shapes the present.

My Thoughts: The second half of this book is very thought-provoking. 'Blacklist' was written 2 years after 9/11 and touches on issues we are still dealing with today. This book follows and is an extension of Paretski’s book “Total Recall” written in 2001. (I read this book long before I started my Bookshelf Blog, so, it is not reviewed here.) I think that even though it is a fictional mystery, it's worth reading just for the lessons it teaches! It's also a good mystery!!!

2011-09-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

“The Blessing” By Jude Deveraux

2011 Book Review #109

Summary

A hard-driving businessman sees love with new eyes when a sweet young widow and her son change his life… and his heart… forever. Wealthy corporate genius Jason Wilding reluctantly takes a break from his high-powered world to visit his hometown of Abernathy, Kentucky.

As a favor to his physician brother David, he finds himself spending one week as a live-in baby-sitter in the ramshackle home of Amy Thompkins, who has captured David's heart. Courting the whimsical, artistic Amy has been difficult with her adorable but demanding baby, Max, in tow, and Jason's help is just what David needs.

But stepping into Amy's patched-together world has the most remarkable effect… on Jason. Amy's joy for life, her love for her son, and her sparkling humor are irresistible and… tiny Max adores Jason beyond reason. Soon, the enigmatic CEO is thawing. And his newfound smile reminds Amy of a Mount Rushmore monument finally cracking up…in the best possible way.

Their mutual attraction is glowing bright, but what to do about David? In this heart-warming and unforgettable bestseller, Jude Deveraux celebrates the unexpected paths on the heart's journey toward love, and the eternal bond between mother and child.

My Thoughts: This is not my usual choice of reading but, I liked this book! Man meets woman with baby…Man falls for woman and baby…Woman takes baby and runs away…2 years later she returns. What’s not to like? That’s a simplistic view because it is much more complicated than that, but, if you like a good romance, this is the book for you!

2011-09-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

“The Great Taos Bank Robbery and Other Indian Country Affairs”

By Tony Hillerman

2011 Book Review #108

Summary from back cover

The two inept bandits who staged the Great Taos Bank Robbery got away, though empty-handed -- and ended up panhandling downtown, somehow overlooked by the police hunting them everywhere else. They thus entered the annals of local lore -- along with the Great Flood of 1935, a three-day drizzle that caused an epidemic of leaky adobe roofs in the usually arid Taos.

These stranger-than-fiction true stories are from master storyteller Tony Hillerman's own collection of favorite anecdotes. Reading the stories himself, he captures the quirky character of Taos and other areas of New Mexico as only a loving resident… and great writer… could, skillfully using regional tales to comment wryly on the most universal of human foibles.

My Thoughts: Hillerman tells short stories about the area of Taos and the Navaho with humor and affection. I listened to the audiobook which is only 90 minutes long. Love Hillerman and his tales!

2011-09-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

“Blood Sport” By Dick Francis

2011 Book Review #107

Mixed Reviewers

Gene Hawkins is a "screener" for the British Government...essentially a "mole" hunter. He is also suicidal-his previous relationship has shattered and left the man a psychological mess. He has sublimated his troubles into his work-until now.

Hawkins takes a mandatory 3 week vacation. When his boss asks him to help find Dave Teller's missing Thoroughbred stallion, Chrysalis, he agrees because he has nothing better to do than sit around and be depressed.

Hawkins finds out quickly that things are a lot more complicated than he thought. There's not one missing horse, but three, and there's a family of crooks trying to cover up their theft at all costs. This even includes murder. Hawkins tracks the thieves from England to Kentucky, the Western United States and back again. Hawkins does his job but, there is a sad ending to this story.

My Thoughts: I like Francis’ books, but this one was a little slow moving. The plot was unusual and it was hard to keep all the player separated. That could have just been me…I don’t know. If you are a Dick Francis fan, by all means read this book!

2011-09-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

“The Alibi Man” By Tami Hoag

2011 Book Review #106

BookList Review

Elena Estes, former policewoman, former member of the elite of Palm Beach, Florida, is thrust back into both aspects of her former life when she discovers a woman's body in a canal.

Physically healed from the wounds she sustained while working on a meth-lab bust, she has yet to recover emotionally from causing another officer's death and has been living and working at her best friend's horse farm. When she realizes that the victim is the farm's beautiful, vibrant young groom Irina, Elena is determined to bring her justice no matter what.

Her search leads to the creme de la creme of Palm Beach society and the powerbrokers who hang out at the tony polo fields, including her ex-fiance (from 20 years ago), who, Elena knows, is capable of committing the crime.

Hoag revisits her tragically flawed and reluctant protagonist from Dark Horse 0 (2002) in a superbly taut thriller. Written in a staccato style that will have readers racing through the pages, Hoag conducts a whirlwind tour of the high-flying world of the superrich and its tawdry underbelly that will leave readers breathless and satisfied.

My Thoughts: I couldn’t put it down. Plot is excellent! Characters are true to life! And…it has a surprise ending!

2011-09-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

“The Stones Cry Out”

By Sibella Giorello

A Raleigh Harmon Mystery

2011 Book Review #105

Summary from back book cover

When nobody talks... the stones cry out.

During a rally in the searing heat of a Virginia summer, two men plummet from a building into the crowd below. The victims are a white police officer and a young black man with a troubled past. And though hundreds of people stood at the scene, nobody saw what happened…Or are they just not talking? FBI agent Raleigh Harmon, one of Richmond's own, has to solve the case—fast.

The Bureau wants a quick verdict, with or without the truth. But with tight-lipped witnesses, Raleigh must rely on her instincts and her training in forensic geology to uncover the facts. Working her connections with the city's powerful families and its seedy underbelly, Raleigh is determined to see justice prevail. Will she solve the case before the growing racial unrest rages out of control? Or will her choices ultimately bring down everyone involved…including Raleigh herself?

"With a riveting story line, fascinating forensic science, and a pungent portrayal of the grimy side of Richmond, Virginia, “The Stones Cry Out” holds the reader in its powerful grip until the very last word. Sibella Giorello writes like a seasoned pro. No mystery lover should pass up this novel."

My Thoughts: This is the first of three books in the Raleigh Harmon series (I have already reviewed the other 2). I hope Giorello continues to write about Raleigh Harmon and her adventures. Loved it.

2011-09-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

“In The Frame” By Dick Francis

2011 Book Review #104

Summary From Book Cover

Artist Charles Todd, whose paintings of horses earn him a comfortable living, expects the landscape to be restful when he visits the country home of his cousin, Donald. But, he arrives on a scene of devastation: Donald’s house has been ransacked, and the missing valuables include several recently acquired paintings by famous artists.

Much worse, the thieving intruders have murdered Donald’s wife, leaving Donald himself as the chief suspect, according to local police, seemingly, determined to frame him.

Racing to clear his cousin’s name, Charles travels to

Australia

and

New Zealand

in pursuit of a gallery of rogues who specialize in forging horsey works of art.

Charles gradually pieces together a lurid picture of their activities, a masterpiece of arson, larceny…and murder.

My Thoughts: This book is different from Francis' normal genre in that it’s not about a jockey! I liked it! It is a short book that takes about 3 hours to read and holds your interest throughout.

2011-09-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

“Talking God” By Tony Hillerman

A Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee Mystery

2011 Book Review #103

Library Journal Review

There are three things one can expect from a Hillerman mystery: a story that would make no sense without its rock-solid base of Navaho culture; a tale that moves within the rhythms of real time; and an intricate plot that calls for the particular skills of his two detectives, Jim Chee, shaman and officer of the Navaho Tribal Police, and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, older, slower, and wiser.

Talking God has all of these things in a plot that absolutely defies summary. Leaphorn and Chee track different paths for different crimes and both end up in the wilds of Washington, D.C., ostensibly on vacation.

Instead of the sweet scent of the Southwest, Hillerman has a good time pitting his detectives against the ``City of Navy Blue Suits.'' Welcome as a returning presence is winsome Navaho attorney Janet Pete, who contributes both to the structure of the mystery and to Chee's emotional disharmony.

In 1970, Library Journal 's reviewer described Hillerman's “The Blessing Way” as ``a mystery with literary value; one you can recommend to people who don't like mysteries.'' Indeed; enjoy.

My Thoughts: I love Hillerman’s books, I love his Navaho characters and I love the Navaho influence!

2011-08-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

“Murder, She Wrote…

A Vote For Murder”

A Jessica Fletcher Mystery

By Donald Bain

2011 Book Review #102

Summary

Jessica's in Washington, D.C., to support a senator's new literacy initiative. The weeklong literacy event includes a visit to the White House to meet the president and a lavish party or two.

But during one affair at the senator's home in Virginia, Jessica discovers the dark side of politics. At the foot of a rickety staircase, she finds the body of the senator's chief of staff...and she has taken a permanent recess. Jessica's search for culprits leads her from the shady halls of the Library of Congress to the D.C. social scene, and even the FBI.

My Thoughts: I would rather see “Murder, She Wrote” reruns on TV, but, since I can find none of those, I will read the books. Interesting plot.

2011-08-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

“Ten Big Ones” By Janet Evanovich

A Stephanie Plum Mystery

2011 Book Review #101

BookList Review

Although, the strain of keeping her formula fresh and funny, shows a bit in this latest adventure of New Jersey's most unusual bond enforcement agent, Stephanie Plum, there's still enough to entertain readers hooked on the wacky, wildly popular series.

Plenty of familiar characters and running gags are here: Lula and Grandma Mazur are as comical as ever, and Stephanie still can't hang on to handcuffs and cars or decide between the two men in her life--sexy cop Joe Morelli and scary Ranger, who is hot, hot, hot.

This time, though, the tale starts quickly (Stephanie pegs a convenience-store robber as a member of a vicious Trenton gang, then becomes a target on a hit list) but, seems swamped by more than the usual absurdities.

Fortunately, a dynamite finish…unexpected and very funny…saves the day for both Stef and her fans. Also on the plus side this time are some extraordinary new, hope-to-see-again additions to the roster, particularly the cross-dressing rocker Sweet Sally. Not the high mark of an outstanding series, then, but still good fun for the legions of devotees.

My Thoughts: Comic Relief! I love the Stephanie Plum mysteries because of the characters! They never fail to entertain!

2011-08-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

“Cat of the Century” By Rita Mae Brown

A Mary Minor “Harry” Harristeen Mystery

with Harry's pets…cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter,

and corgi, Tee Tucker

2011 Book Review #101

Publishers Weekly Review

Aunt Talley Urquhart is looking forward to celebrating her 100th birthday at her Fulton, Mo., alma mater, real-life William Woods University, but all is not well at WWU.

As usual, Stockbroker Flo Langston, class of '74, is sure her hated classmate, Mariah D'Angelo, who heads the WWU Alumnae Association, has mishandled university funds. Mariah misses Aunt Talley's party and vanishes. Then someone shoots Flo dead at home in St. Louis after Flo reveals that Mariah has been selling fake high-end watches.

Taunting messages (e.g., "Catch me if you can") begin arriving in computer in-boxes of various WWU alumnae, including Inez Carpenter, Aunt Talley's 98-year-old best friend.

Faithful fans already familiar with the characters will enjoy the cozy antics, but others may struggle to pay attention until people start dying.

My Thoughts: Brown has always been one of my favorite authors. Harry and her pets have always been fun mystery solvers for me in my need for lighter reading. However, this one is far from the best of the series. I got bored about half way through it.

2011-08-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

“Mr. Monk And The Blue Flu” By Lee Goldberg

(Based on the Television Series “Monk” created by Andy Breckman)

2011 Book Review #100

Book Cover Summary

Monk is horrified when he learns there's going to be a blue flu in San Francisco…until Capt. Stottlemeyer explains that it just means the police plan to call in "sick" until they get a better contract.

The good news is the labor dispute will give Monk a chance to get back on the force. The bad news is it means he'll be a "scab"…and he doesn't like the sound of that either. But before he knows it, Monk has his badge back, and his own squad to command.

Unfortunately, some of the squad members make Monk look like a paragon of mental health. But despite the challenges, they'll have to pull together to catch an astrologer's killer, solve a series of mysterious fatal assaults, and most importantly, clean up their desks.

My Thoughts: Funny, Funny, Funny. I love this series. You feel sorry for anyone who has to work with phobia-ridden Monk, but you can’t help laughing at his antics!

2011-08-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

"Haunted In Death" By J.D Robb
A Lt. Eve Dallas and Roarke Novella

2011 Book Review #99

Book Cover Summary

Number Twelve is an urban legend in 2060 New York City. The hot club in the 1960s, it is now reported to be haunted...and cursed. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called there to investigate the apparent murder of Radcliff Hopkins, its new owner and the grandson of the man who made Number Twelve a cultural icon.

Several bullets from a banned gun end his dream of returning the building to its former glory. With everyone around her talking about the supernatural, pragmatic Eve won't let rumors of ghosts distract her from hard evidence.

The case becomes even more bizarre when it appears to be linked to the suspicious disappearance of a rock star…eighty-five years ago. As Eve searches for the connection, logic clashes with the unexplainable. She may be forced to face the threat of something more dangerous than a flesh-and-blood killer.

My Thoughts: I love all the characters and plots of this series. This is a short novella, but, the action remains the same! Be warned that the language is harsh and there are explicit sex scene. I tune them out because the mystery is worth reading.

2011-08-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

"An Unmentionable Murder"
By Kate Kingsbury
A Manor House Mystery

2011 Book Review #97
Summary on the Back Cover

In World War II

England

, the quiet village of Sitting Marsh is faced with food rations and fear for loved ones. But Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton, the house-rich, money-poor lady of the Manor House, stubbornly insists that life must go on.

Sitting Marsh residents depend on Elizabeth to make sure things go smoothly which means everything from sorting out gossip to solving the occasional murder. In the thick of the Allied invasion, Elizabeth is sick with worry for Major Earl Monroe. To make matters worse, people and things keep going missing from the manor namely Martin, the elderly butler, and ladies knickers from the washing line.

Before Elizabeth can track either down, Clyde Morgan is found shot dead. Though few will miss bad-tempered Clyde, Elizabeth isn’t so sure when the police call it a suicide . . .

My Thoughts: This is only the second book of Kingsbury’s that I have read. I like the characters of this small village in

England

. I like that the crime isn’t gory or spectacular! It is a light mystery that lets the reader feel as though he or she is a part of this small town and the people who live there during the war. I found it hard to put down and read it all in one day!

2011-08-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

"10th Anniversary"
By James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
A Women's Murder Club Mystery
2011 Book Review #97

BookList Review

The tenth entry in Patterson's Women's Murder Club series opens with the wedding of Sergeant Lindsay Boxer to her longtime love, Joe Molinari. Soon after exchanging vows with Joe, Lindsay is on the trail of a missing baby whose 15-year-old mother was found wandering the streets in the rain, dazed and disoriented.

ADA Yuki Castellano is trying an important case that could make or break her career; it involves a wealthy doctor accused of fatally shooting her unfaithful husband in cold blood. Yuki is none too pleased when Lindsay looks into the case at the behest of the woman's attorney, but Yuki has a secret of her own: she's started dating Lindsay's boss.

Reporter Cindy Thomas is working on a story about several women who have been drugged and raped in the San Francisco area, but the big lead she uncovers threatens to make her a target.

My Thoughts: The Women's Murder Club series is my favorite of James Patterson’s books. Some have been made into movies and I hope this one is too! Loved it!

2011-08-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

"Body of Evidence" By Patricia Cornwell
A Forensic Dr. Kay Scarpetta Mystery

2011 Book Review #96

Publishers Weekly Review

Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the spunky and thoughtful chief medical examiner introduced in Cornwell's first novel, Postmortem , makes her second commanding appearance here.

Beryl Madison, a writer of historical romances, is grotesquely slashed to death in her Richmond, Va., home after returning from Key West, where she had fled, terrified by threats to her life.

Why Madison let the killer into her home is Scarpetta's first question; pursuing its answer involves her in the murder of another writer, reclusive Cary Harper, who was Madison's jealous mentor; the suicide of Harper's sister; the FBI investigation of Madison's crooked lawyer; and, along with bewildering threats to her own life, plenty of complex, satisfying forensic sleuthing.

Finding clues under a microscope, in the records of a psychiatric hospital, at a Key West restaurant and in a terrorist skyjacking, Scarpetta follows a trail of evidence…clues that would lead nowhere without her intelligence, compassion and imagination…to a powerful conclusion.

Cornwell handles her heroine's interactions with the local police and a former lover with authority to equal her technological expertise.

My Thoughts: I love Cornwell’s books. I love the characters and the plots. This one is her second in the Scarpetta Series and an excellent read.

2011-08-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

"JUDGMENT IN DEATH"
By J.D. Robb

2011 Book Review #95
Publishers Weekly Review

The story opens in the upscale nightclub Purgatory, where Dallas discovers the brutally slain body of a fellow officer; another cop is murdered soon thereafter. Both men, it appears, were on the take, and both were connected to elusive criminal, Max Ricker.

Dallas's investigation, which exposes crime and police corruption, puts both her reputation and life in danger. To make matters worse, Purgatory is owned by her own millionaire husband, Roarke. He was a business associate of Ricker's before turning legitimate and the overlap of professional and personal lives adds extra fireworks to an already tempestuous marriage.

Robb's plotting is precise and fast paced, creating a satisfying mystery full of lively, credible twists. Secondary characters, a troubled female police captain, an Internal Affairs cop with a leftover crush on Dallas are as well-drawn as Dallas herself, a tough but endearing 21st-century woman.

Sexy, surprising and often funny power struggles between Dallas and Roarke are the tasty icing on this extremely well-made fictional "cake," which is just the right confection for lazy late-summer reading.

My Thoughts: I love Robb’s books but, must warn you. The language is raw and there are sexual scenes involved. If you don’t care for either of these, as I don’t, you can skip over them and never miss any of the mystery action!

2011-08-22T05:36:00.000-07:00

"I HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE"
By Mary Higgins Clark

2011 Book Review #94
Publishers Weekly Review

At the start of bestseller Clark's riveting new novel of suspense, Kay Lansing recalls her first visit as a six-year-old to the Carrington estate in Englewood, N.J., where her father worked as a landscaper. Twenty-two years later, she returns to ask the present owner, Peter Carrington, if she can use the mansion for a fund-raiser.

The two fall madly in love, and after a whirlwind courtship, they marry despite the shadow of suspicion that hangs over Peter regarding the death of a neighbor's daughter two decades earlier and the drowning of his first wife four years before.

After an idyllic honeymoon, the couple return to New Jersey, where a magazine article has caused the police to reopen the cases. The subsequent discovery of two bodies buried on the estate causes even Kay to doubt her husband's innocence.

Clark deftly keeps the finger of guilt pointed in many directions until the surprising conclusion.

My Thoughts: This review doesn’t mention that Kay’s father is also missing . Interesting concept. I like Clark’s books, including this one.

2011-08-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

“Carry On, Jeeves” by P.G. Wodehouse

(8 Complete Stories with Jeeves' Solutions)

2011 Book Review #93

Eight stories, in which Jeeves protects his hapless master from a slew of scandals and steers his bumbling boss through a thicket of American eccentrics in 1920s New York.

Whenever a problem arises in his own relationships or in the lives of his friends, Bertie Wooster is certain to have an ingeniously complex solution.

Luckily for Bertie and his friends, he also has his gentleman's gentleman, Jeeves, to straighten out the resulting chaos!

My Thought: HILARIOUS! I suggest getting the audiobook. It’s even funnier when someone else reads it to you! If you need a laugh or 8…get this book! It's in the library!

2011-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

“KILLING FLOOR” By Lee Child

The First Jack Reacher Novel

2011 Book Review #92

Publishers Weekly Review

Although the tale is built around a coincidence as big as the author's talent, beautifully detailed action scenes and fascinating story about currency and counterfeiting enliven this taut and tough-minded first novel by British TV writer Child.

Out of sheer restlessness and ruthlessness, 36-year-old ex-military policeman Jack Reacher persuades a Greyhound bus driver to make an unscheduled stop in Margrave, the small

Georgia

town where Reacher's brother, a

U.S.

Treasury official, just happens to have been murdered a few hours earlier. Reacher doesn't know about his brother's death or suspect his presence in the town.

Indeed, when he's arrested in a local diner for being a conspicuously mysterious stranger, Reacher tells the detective who interviews him that he dropped off the bus to investigate the death of Blind Blake, a guitar player murdered in Margrave 60 years ago.

Downsized out of the military, Reacher has cutting-edge investigative and killing skills that come in handy the moment he learns of his brother's murder. This combination of events is so unbelievably convenient that it almost overwhelms the book's solid writing. The reader expects the other shoe to drop…for Reacher to be revealed as an undercover agent, or some such; but it never does.

Otherwise, Child writes with a hand as strong and steady as steel. Margrave is a wonderful creation, a seemingly picture- perfect community under the care of a mysterious foundation where the streets are always swept and the people who run the tiny local businesses get grants of $1000 a week to stay open.

Two scenes of brutal violence in a nearby prison are rendered with exquisite precision, as is a stalking murder inside the baggage area of the Atlanta airport, and the vast counterfeiting conspiracy that Reacher's brother was probing is wholly credible.

My Thoughts: I agree with the review. A lot of coincidence here, but I love Reacher’s character and since this was the first of that series, I’ll go with it!

2011-08-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

"Shrouds of Holly" By Kate Kingsbury
A Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery set in pre-World War I rural

England

2011 Book Review #89

Publishers Weekly Review

In Kingsbury's charming third holiday-themed Pennyfoot Hotel mystery, hotel proprietor Cecily Sinclair Baxter is supervising the final details of the decorations in the ballroom while her husband and the stable master head into the woods to gather holly. All too quickly, the horse-and-carriage return driverless, bearing only the corpse of a stranger.

Frantic and dissatisfied with the Badger's End constabulary, Cecily takes it upon herself to find the missing men and identify a murderer.

The Edwardian

England

setting is emphasized by the romances and adventures of numerous stereotypical characters, from Colonel Fortescue with his brandy-soaked tales of exploits in the Boer War to the downstairs crew of stout housekeeper, high-strung French cook and several gossipy maids.

Bright, engaging Cecily doggedly seeks the truth in this fast-paced cozy that will provide warm holiday entertainment for Kingsbury's many fans.

My Thoughts: This is a delightful book filled with real “characters”. It is well written and keeps your interest throughout the adventure. It is a light mystery without the blood and gore of the usual murder plot. I loved it!

2011-08-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

“Reunion in Death”

By J.D. Robb

An Eve Dallas Mystery Set in the year 2059

2011 Book Review # 91

Book List Review

Shortly after wealthy older men with no known enemies start being poisoned, Detective Eve Dallas determines that Julianna Dunne, a wily ex-con, is the perpetrator. The beautiful but chameleonlike murderess is using the killings to get to Eve, who had put her behind bars nearly a decade earlier.

Eve's pursuit takes her back to her own traumatic roots, thus providing fans of the series with a more detailed description of her horrendous childhood.

In addition, Eve mentors her protege, Peabody, with gritty advice: "And when you step down there, you remember you're one bad b..ch cop, and you drink blood for breakfast."

Fourteenth in the futuristic romantic suspense series, this novel takes place as the lusty marriage of Eve and her husband, the fabulously wealthy Rourke, approaches the one-year mark.

My Thoughts: J.D. Robb is one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, the language and sex scenes put me off some. I still read them because the characters and the plots still appeal to me! I try to ignore the rest!

Warning: Bad Language and sexual scenes abound.

2011-08-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

“A Midwinter’s Tale”

by Andrew M. Greeley

A Fictional Memoir from the O'Malley Family Series

2011 Book Review #90

While pulling occupation duty with the First Constabulary Regiment in post-WWII Bamberg,

Germany

, brave, "dangerously smart" Sergeant Charles "Chuck" O'Malley is assigned to help an FBI agent locate a family of Nazis wanted by the Russians as war criminals. Told the Russians will shoot the father and rape the mother and two daughters to death, O'Malley determines to save them despite the fact that it will mean violating his oath of trust to his country.

In this deft addition to his shelf of novels (after White Smoke), Father Greeley once again shows his knack for combining solid characterization, folksy prose, a bantamweight sense of history and understated Catholic morality to make highly entertaining fiction.

The novel covers Chuck's youth in Depression-ravaged Chicago as part of a large, close-knit family, his love for his sister's best friend, his decision to join the Army in order to acquire money for college and the growth of his moral conscience, especially as he sees the defeated Germans suffering from official corruption, black marketeering and other postwar evils

My Thoughts: I was born a couple of months before WWII started. Although this is a fictional account of the aftermath of war, I know some of the things told about in this book were real! The action is not intense, but some of it is maddening! Not my usual kind of book, but interesting.

2011-08-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

"the mountains bow down"
By Sibella Giorello
A Raleigh Harmon Novel
2011 Book Review #88
Book List Review

When newly engaged forensic geologist and FBI Special Agent, Raleigh Harmon, joins her mother, Nadine, Aunt Charlotte, owner of a New Age boutique and Charlotte's bizarre friend, self-declared psychic Claire the Clairvoyant, for an Alaskan cruise, Raleigh knows it won't be smooth sailing, especially since her mother's mental illness seems to be getting worse.

But what Raleigh doesn't expect is to be involved in a murder investigation during her vacation, or that her old nemesis, FBI Special Agent Jack Stephanson, would be flown in to help her find out who killed Judy, wife of movie star Milo Carpenter, who's filming a movie onboard ship.

Against her will, Raleigh forms a bond with Jack as their investigation twists and turns through a maze of not-so-usual suspects.

Giorello has won the Christy Award and has received two Pulitzer Prize nominations.

My Thoughts: This is the third book in this series that I have read. I really like the characters! I usually like books with less description and more action, but, in this book, the descriptions of Alaska really were wonderful! Made me want to go there! And… the action was at a believable pace. Loved the book!

2011-08-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

"the clouds roll away"
By Sibella Giorello
A Raleigh Harmon Novel

2011 Book Review #87
BookList Review

Someone in Richmond, Virginia's elite historical neighborhood wants rap star, RPM, to leave their little slice of paradise, and they let him know by burning a cross in his yard.

FBI agent Raleigh Harmon, a forensic geologist transferred back home from the Pacific Northwest, is tapped to investigate what seems to be a hate crime, but soon discovers it's more than that. As Raleigh dedicates herself to solving this case, (going undercover for a dangerous sting), she finds her former boyfriend, DeMott Fielding, wants to rekindle their relationship.

Pulled in too many ways by ostracism at work, DeMott's renewed need for her (and her time), and her widowed mother's increasingly worse mental condition, Raleigh is on the edge.

Beautifully written with exquisite descriptions, Giorello's mystery also features well-developed characters, such as a rapper who plays classical music on a cello to relax. The themes of redemption and faith rediscovered are subtly integrated into the story.

My Thought: I liked this book! The setting, the characters, the premise and the action! This is the third title in journalist Giorello's excellent Raleigh Harmon series and the second review I have posted here.

2011-08-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

“Smokin’ Seventeen”

By Janet Evanovich

2011 Book Review #86

Book Cover Summary

Where there’s smoke there’s fire and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is or why the victims have been offed, but, what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger.

Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir bake-off. And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts the eye on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

My Thoughts: Evanovish’s books are always fun! This one is no different. Loved it!

2011-08-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

“LACED” By Carol Higgins Clark

A Regan and Jack Reilly Mystery

2011 Book Review #84

Publishers Weekly Review

Newlyweds Regan, a PI, and Jack Reilly, head of the Major Case Squad in New York City, are anticipating an idyllic honeymoon in western

Ireland

. But their hopes of tranquility are soon dashed.

Early the first morning at their hotel, Hennessy Castle, Regan wakes up and thinks she sees a ghost out their window; the next moment a fire alarm sends her and Jack and the hotel's other guests to the lobby. Later, a rare lace tablecloth on display at the castle disappears. Legend says it was made by May Reilly in the early 19th century, but because May was never paid for her work, her ghost haunts the castle.

Jack's receiving a note signed by two thieves he's been trying to track down in New York complicates matters, as do the efforts of an American couple to cheat a talented local artist.

In an atmospheric mystery loaded with quaint characters, Clark gives the reader a unique tour of

Ireland

from narrow country roads to the city of Galway.

My Thoughts: Another fun mystery with Regan and her new husband, Jack!

2011-08-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

“THE OTHER SIDE”

By Multiple Authors:

J. D. Robb…Mary Blayney…Patricia Gaffney…

Ruth Ryan Langan…Mary Kay McComas

2011 Book Review #84

Library Journal Review

Once again J. D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) heads up a list of top-notch writers in another exemplary anthology of romantic novellas-all with a paranormal slant and all providing intriguing views from the "other side."

No-nonsense Eve Dallas inadvertently takes in the spirit of a gypsy who wants her to find her missing granddaughter in Robb's macabre

"Possession in Death";…..

.....a bickering pair of aristocrats get a reality check when they are zapped into each other's bodies as a magic coin grants their thoughtless wishes in Mary Blayney's Regency gem,

"The Other Side of the Coin";…..

.....a pragmatic woman who wants to stop the sale of her family home falls for the charlatan spirit investigator she hires to prove the house is haunted in Patricia Gaffney's artful

"The Dancing Ghost";…..

.....a couple killed in a car crash refuse to head for Heaven until they save their daughter from a disastrous marriage (and find her another man) in Ruth Ryan Langan's satisfying

"Almost Heaven".....

.....and a woman estranged from her mother must help the ghosts of her mom and two aunts find what each has lost so they all can move on in Mary Kay McComas's touching

"Never Too Late To Love."…..

VERDICT Spine-tingling, funny, whimsical, or poignant, this superb anthology has something for everyone; a winner for paranormal/short story collections.

My Thoughts: When I ordered this book from the Library, I didn’t pay attention to what it was about…only that J.D. Robb had written one of the stories. I love her characters and, although, it was a little different from her usual writings, I enjoyed this one too. The book’s subject is not of particular interest to me, but for those of you who like light stories about the Paranormal…you’ll like all the stories in this one.

2011-08-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

"Witness In Death" By J.D. Robb
An Eve Dallas Mystery

2011 Book Review #83
BookList Review
It is 2059, and New York City homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas's husband, Roarke, is producing a revival of Agatha Christie's thriller ‘Witness for the Prosecution’. On opening night, when the villainous character Leonard Vole gets his just desserts, someone substitutes a kitchen knife for the prop knife, and the actor, Richard Draco, is stabbed through the heart.

Trouble is, in time-tested British mystery fashion, everyone in the cast had good reason to despise Richard, a misogynist who seduced and discarded beautiful young women, including one whom he knew to be his daughter. It's up to Eve to solve the case, an emotionally difficult task as she is no stranger to incest herself: she was beaten and raped by her father before she managed to escape him.

As Eve fights to keep her head above water, she tries to bond at a deeper level with Roarke, so that her future will heal the pain of her past. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) serves up a welcome mix of edgy, sexy lovers, new fangled gadgets, classic whodunit and noir.

My Thoughts: Eve Dallas is one of my favorite characters…and…her husband Roarke who owns the world, practically, and just about everything ‘off planet’ too! There is never a dull moment in J.D. Robb’s books!

WARNING: There is much bad language and some sex scenes in this book!

2011-08-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

“O” Is For Outlaw” By Sue Grafton

A P.I. Kinsey Millhone Mystery

2011 Book Review #82

Library Journal Review

An unopened letter discovered in an abandoned storage locker is delivered, 15 years late, to P.I. Kinsey Millhone. It provides a possible alibi for Kinsey's first husband, Mickey Magruder, a cop who was accused of beating a man to death.

The accusation ended Kinsey's marriage, and now guilt pangs lead her to reexamine her judgment of Mickey. When Mickey is shot with Kinsey's gun, Kinsey is only one step ahead of the police as she tries to solve the shooting and the crime attributed to Mickey.

Kinsey's search for the killers takes her back to the 1960s and the Vietnam era as she unearths secrets that may exonerate Mickey but, cost her life. In Grafton's latest of the series (after N Is for Noose), Kinsey is sassier than ever, the supporting characters are amusingly eccentric, and the mysteries, both past and present, are intriguing. Grafton's fans will love this one.

My Thoughts: I love this series of books by Sue Grafton. In this one there is a special reference for me and anyone else from Louisville, KY.

Kinsey lives and works in California, but…in this book…clues cause her to travel to Louisville. She contacts the Librarian at Louisville Male High School, (my alma mater), and asks to see a copy of the 1961 ‘Bulldog’. (My copy is from 1960 and is the Senior Year Book!) Loved it!

2011-08-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

“TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN”

By Donna Fletcher Crow

A Lord Danvers Mystery

2011 Book Review #81

BOOK COVER

It is January 1855. Three years have passed since her marriage to Lord Charles Danvers, and still there is no heir to the earldom. Antonia fears Charles will soon be asking a lot of questions…questions she’s afraid to answer. For it seems the only heir she is raising is the oppressive, dreadful feeling growing within her.

With this secret weighing heavily on her mind, she and Charles stumble upon a mystery. Frail, elderly Catherine Bacon has been murdered. Though the slaying is blamed on traveling “dustmen”, Charles begins to track clues to the mysterious death through the streets of Victorian

Scotland

Meanwhile, Antonia, trying to shake the irrepressible helplessness within her, absorbs herself with a favorite hobby…antique shopping. What she discovers in one of the shops stops her in her tracks! There, in a window, is a figurine that belonged to the late Catherine Bacon. This mystery suddenly has a new twist.

Antonia continues to track clues to the crime, clues that lead to a shocking discovery. All the while hoping nobody discovers the truth she’s been hiding.

My Thoughts: This is a new author for me and I liked the book very much. It paints a portrait of

Scotland

in the mid-1800s which is vivid and honest. If you like books reflecting historical periods, you will like this one.

2011-08-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

“Rebel Island” By Rick Riordan

A Tres Navarre Mystery

2011 Book Review #80

From both

the Publishers Weekly Review

and the Booklist Review.

San Antonio’s PI Tres Navarre has just retired and married his longtime girlfriend, Maia, who's eight-plus-months pregnant. Tres' wheelchair-bound older brother, Garret, has persuaded the couple to honeymoon together with him and other old friends on the Texas Gulf's Rebel Island. This is the same island where Tres and Garret spent vacations with their dysfunctional parents.

The fly in the ointment is when the hotel's owner, (Garrett's old chum and Tres' nemesis), Alex Huff, and the desk clerk go missing. Actually, there are two flies in the ointment. The second is a series of mysterious goings-on that Garrett thinks Tres may be able to unravel. To complicate matters, as the bodies begin piling up, a lethal hurricane approaches.

Fans will enjoy the update on Tres' life as he prowls through secret passageways hunting down the ghostlike killer while the roof of the island's old hotel begins to shred and the seas begin to rise.

My Thoughts: I found it hard to put this book down! This is only the second book of Riordan’s I have read and I am ordering more from the library!

2011-08-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

“I Beat the Odds

From Homelessness to

THE BLIND SIDE and Beyond”

.....By Michael Oher, with Don Yaeger.....

2011 Book Review #79

Book Cover

An offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, Michael Oher is the young man at the center of the true story depicted in The Blind Side movie (and book) that swept up awards and accolades. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Michael had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto and into a world of opportunity.

While many people are now familiar with Oher's amazing journey, this is the first time he shares his account of his story in his own words, revealing his thoughts and feelings with details that only he knows, and offering his point of view on how anyone can achieve a better life.

Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had for himself in order to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family for so long. He recounts poignant stories growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity.

Eventually, he grasped onto football as his ticket out of the madness and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. But Oher also knew he would not be successful alone. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams.

My Thoughts: It is the part of the story not told by the ‘The Blind Side’ movie and book. Oher tries to inspire and give direction to those in need of assistance getting their lives on track. He gives hope to those who have not had hope in the past! There is a lot of repetition in the chapters of this book, but, I think it is because Oher wants, so earnestly, to get his point across.

Suggestion: Get this book to anyone you know who might be inspired by it! If you have not read the book, ‘The Blind Side’ or seen the movie…you might want to check it out!

2011-07-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

“A Prisoner of Birth”

By Jeffrey Archer

2011 Book Review #77

Danny Cartwright proposes to his beloved Beth Wilson who accepts. The pair and her brother Bernie, who is also his best friend, celebrate. Four drunks (Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer), who call themselves the Musketeers, insult the trio. A fight occurs and one of the quartet stabs Bernie killing him.

The four Musketeers swear they witnessed Danny kill the man though he claims otherwise. Since they are elite Cambridge University graduates and successful professionals who speak and dress like aristocratic gentlemen, while he is an illiterate slum scum, he is charged with the homicide as “clothing” makes the man. His attorney the best one he can obtain with little money is slaughtered by the prosecutor. Danny is convicted to serve twenty-two years at maximum-security Belmarsh Prison.

In prison Danny shares a cell with Nicholas Moncrieff, who teaches him to read Dumas. When someone kills Moncrieff, look-alike, Danny pretends to be Nicholas and escapes his incarceration. His goals are to destroy the Musketeers and prove his innocence.

The fun in this crime thriller is finding the numerous references to The Count of Monte Cristo as Jeffrey Archer pays homage to Alexander Dumas. The story line is fast-paced from the moment of the first confrontation and never slows down as Danny works his revenge. Although the key players including the hero are never fully developed beyond their link to the original novel, readers will enjoy this entertaining modernization of the Dumas classic. Review by Harriet Klausner

My Thoughts: I never read “The Count of Monte Cristo” so….I didn’t make the connection! But, I loved this book! It is my favorite of Archer's books so far! I couldn't put it down! (Maybe I should have read the Dumas book???)

2011-07-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

“Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program to

REVERSE DIABETES NOW: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs."

By Neal D. Barnard, MD

2011 Book Review #76

FROM THE

BACK COVER OF THE BOOK:

If you have diabetes, you likely have been told that it’s a chronic, incurable condition. As Dr. Neal Barnard shows in his groundbreaking book, this is simply not true.

Through a series of studies, Dr. Barnard has found that it is possible to repair insulin function and reverse type 2 diabetes. By closely following his scientifically proven program, you will be able to control your blood sugar three times more effectively than with the standard dietary regimen for people with diabetes. What’s more, you:

1. Cut back on diabetes medications…if not eliminate them completely.

2. Reduce your risk of diabetes complications

3. Realize bonus health benefits as you take off unwanted pounds, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, and boost your energy.

4. Enjoy delicious foods in generous portions.

Diabetes need not slowly and inevitably get worse. Now is the time to take control of the disease…and take back your life.

My Thoughts: This is not my usual book review. I bought this book many months ago and, at my daughter’s urging, I finally read it. I became interested and decided to start the diet following Dr. Barnard’s instructions. I gave it 3 weeks to either work or not.
So far it is working....I have gone from a fasting blood sugar count of 288 to 152...and a blood pressure reading of 138/74 to a reading of 110/63...in 11 days! I think it is working so I wanted to share with you now!

2011-07-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

“ICED” By Carol Higgins Clark

A Regan Reilly Mystery

2011 Book Review #75

Booklist Review

Thirty-something private investigator Reilly is headed for the ski slopes of Aspen for the Christmas holidays, parents in tow. Mom and Dad are to be houseguests of television actress, Kendra Wood, while Regan visits with an old friend who's opening a new restaurant.

But the Reillys walk into more than just a cheery holiday ski party. Kendra Wood's valuable art collection has been stolen, and her trusted housekeeper, Eben Bean, is missing. That's all Regan needs to know to send her off in pursuit of Eben and the sneaky thieves.

After assorted hi-jinks, adventures, false alarms, and--yes--plain old silliness, the plot finally gets all tied up in a nice, neat, mostly happy ending that will no doubt charm even the most Scrooge-like reader.

Solidly entertaining, mostly clever, occasionally funny, and always fun, this one is sure to please the author's growing audience.

My Thoughts: Clark’s books are always fun to read. Regan Reilly is an intelligent and fun character.

2011-07-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

“THE RIVERS RUN DRY”

by Sibella Giorello

A Raleigh Harmon, Forensic Geologist Mystery

2011 Book Review # 74

Booklist Review

Raleigh Harmon, the Virginia forensic geologist and FBI special agent, is not having an easy time. Abruptly transferred to the Seattle office, she's finding that they do things differently here than in her native South and that her new boss seems hell-bent on seeing Raleigh fail.

But Raleigh doesn't have time to worry about personal squabbling: a woman is missing, and only Raleigh, with her unique investigative gifts, can find her before it's too late.

Giorello, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist, has made the transition from journalism to fiction writing smoothly: the novel reads as though it were written by a veteran of the genre. Raleigh is a strong, assertive series lead, and, if these first two novels are any indication, she should be around for quite a while.

My Thoughts: This is my first time reading this author…it won’t be the last! I loved the characters and the writing. Even male readers will enjoy this one. It has a fresh approach to the mystery genre and a more believable one.

2011-07-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

"SNAGGED"

By Carol Higgins Clark

A Regan Reilly Mystery

2011 Book Review #73

Publishers Weekly Review

In Miami for a friend's wedding, PI Regan Reilly acquires a new friend in the bride's uncle, Richie Blossom, who has invented ``run-proof, snag-proof'' pantyhose. If Richie can sell his patent to a manufacturer, he'll have the funds to buy the retirement home where he and his friends live.

A year earlier, the residents acquired an option on the home from Dolly Twiggs before she died under suspicious circumstances; now the option is about to expire, and if Richie's endeavor fails, the extremely valuable property goes on the open market.

Meanwhile, Ruth Craddock of Calla-Lilly Hosiery, who has her hands on a pair of the prototype pantyhose, realizes that Richie's invention could put her out of business.

When an aggressive driver nearly mows Richie down, Regan appoints herself his protector and determines to learn more about what happened to Dolly. Although Regan gets the job done and is generally pleasant company, her gripes about such trivial matters such as hotel-room hangers and health-food aficionados occasionally make her seem a whiny sort of lass.

My Thoughts: This is what I call a "fun" mystery! This is Clark's second Regan Reilly novel, (she has written about 10 of them), and it is fun to read, but I think I prefer her later novels after Regan meets Det. Jack Reilly (no kin). They become much more interesting!!! If you want a light mystery, this is one!

2011-07-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

“The Confession” By John Grisham

2011 Book Review #72

Summary from the Hardcover Edition of the Book

An innocent man is about to be executed. Only a guilty man can save him. For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn't understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn't care. He just can't believe his good luck.

Time passes and he realizes that the mistake will not be corrected: the authorities believe in their case and are determined to get a conviction. He may even watch the trial of the person wrongly accused of his crime. He is relieved when the verdict is guilty. He laughs when the police and prosecutors congratulate themselves. He is content to allow an innocent person to go to prison, to serve hard time, even to be executed.

Travis Boyette is such a man. In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, he abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donte Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.

Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donte is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what's right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they're about to execute an innocent man?

My Thoughts: Not Grisham’s best book, but…an exciting action packed read anyway!

2011-07-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

“MOBBED” By Carol Higgins Clark

A PI Regan Reilly Mystery

2011 Book Review #71

Publishers Weekly Review

In Clark's 14th mystery featuring New York City PI Regan Reilly (after 2010's 'Wrecked'), Reilly's mother, "well-known suspense writer" Nora Regan Reilly, asks Regan to join her in Bay Head, N.J.

Nora is concerned about eccentric 78-year-old Edna Frawley, who's sold her house on the Jersey shore and is about to hold a big garage sale. The sale's prize items are personal possessions of movie actress, Cleo Paradise, who recently rented the house, then left suddenly with a note to Edna authorizing her to do whatever she wanted with whatever was left behind.

Life imitates art as a stalker begins leaving Cleo dead flowers, just as in her latest film, ‘You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Alive or Dead’. The action shifts perspectives to introduce a legion of people who wish the star dead. Cleo is so underdeveloped that few will be waiting with bated breath for the identification of the creep threatening her.

My Thoughts: I’ve read most of Carol Clark’s books and this one was not as well developed as most of the others. I listened to it on audio book and probably would not have finished it if I had been reading it. I kept waiting for the action to pick up.

2011-07-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

“The Sixth Man” By David Baldacci

2011 Book Review #70

Library Journal Review

Something is rotten in the state of

U.S.

intelligence. Baldacci's fifth Sean King and Michelle Maxwell novel opens with the investigative duo headed to a federal prison for the criminally insane. Jailed there is Edgar Roy, an IRS employee, accused of killing six men and burying their bodies in his barn.

Called in by Ted Bergin, King's old professor and Roy's lawyer, the two find their case quickly becoming personal when they discover Bergin shot to death in his car. Was Bergin killed because he was defending Roy? Did Roy murder those six men? The more questions King and Maxwell ask, the more lethal obstacles they face. Their questions begin to lead them into the most deadly places of all-the highest echelons of

U.S.

intelligence organizations.

Baldacci builds a suspenseful story with appealing characters that will have the reader guessing their loyalties right to the very end.

Verdict: Highly recommended for all fans of Baldacci and similar authors like James Patterson and John Grisham.

My Thoughts: Just as I was becoming impatient with the author’s slow pace, the book started to move along much faster and I couldn't put it down. Never for one moment did I suspect the surprise ending!

2011-07-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

“Murder On Waverly Place”

By Victoria Thompson

A Gaslight Mystery

2011 Book Review #69

Booklist Review

Sarah Brandt makes an intriguing sleuth, and her Gaslight series is a consistent winner. Daughter of a prominent family, she has become a midwife, helping those in need in late-nineteenth-century New York.

The reasons for some of her choices become crystal clear in this installment. Her sister (and her baby) died in childbirth after being disowned by her father for choosing the man she loved. Sarah's mother, Mrs. Decker, has never forgiven herself for her part in this fiasco and longs for her dead daughter's forgiveness. When she has the opportunity to visit a spiritualist, Madame Serafina, Mrs. Decker feels she has found her way back to her daughter.

Then, during a séance, one of the participants is murdered, and both Sarah and Mrs. Decker, along with Sarah's good friend Detective Malloy, want to find out the whos and whys.

This is a well-put-together traditional mystery, one that isn't solved until the final pages. Strong characters, clever plotting, and the hint of the supernatural that comes with a story centered around spiritualism make this page-turner a must for both fans and readers new to the series.

My Thoughts: I always enjoy the Gaslight Mysteries. This one is no different. It is set in the 1800’s, with the values of the 1800’s which makes the reading even more interesting.

2011-07-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

“Naked Heat” by Richard Castle

2011 Book Review #68

Book List Review

‘Castle’ is the title of a television cop show in which a mystery novelist, Richard Castle, teams up with a female NYPD detective (under the pretense of conducting research). In the show, Castle writes novels about a female New York cop, Nikki Heat, who reluctantly pairs up with a writer, Jameson Rook, who's a fictionalized version of Castle himself.

Got all that? Anyway, ‘Naked Heat’ is the second Nikki Heat novel, credited, like the first (Heat Wave, 2009) to Richard Castle. Leaving aside the fiction-within-another-fiction concept, it's a pretty fair mystery.

Heat and Rook are written in the familiar contempt-breeds-familiarity style: they start out antagonists and wind up partners (and more). We've seen them before, with other names in other stories, and we like them because they're comfortable. The story, which begins with a pair of murders that appear to be connected only by their MO, is slick and enjoyable without being too taxing on the reader's imagination. The book is exactly what it's supposed to be: an entertaining but undemanding mystery that should draw attention to the TV series from which it's spun off.

HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The TV series Castle is a big hit, and many of its fans will be curious to read a real book by their favorite fictional mystery writer.

My Thoughts: I agree with the reviewer. I have read both Nikki Heat books and enjoyed both. It’s not as complicated as the review would make it seem. It’s a spin off of the TV show, ‘Castle’. Just as simple as that!

2011-07-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

“OBSESSION” by Jonathan Kellerman

An Alex Delaware Novel

2011 Book Review #67

Publishers Weekly Review

The 21st Alex Delaware novel from bestseller, Jonathan Kellerman, contains fewer twists than usual for this contemporary thriller series. Once again, Delaware, an accomplished psychologist, teams with his friend Milo Sturgis, an LAPD detective, to probe a mystery, though this time there's considerable doubt as to the nature of the puzzle.

Teenager, Tanya Bigelow, whom Delaware treated as a child for obsessive-compulsive disorder, consults him because her aunt Patty, who raised her, conveyed a cryptic message just before she died, apparently confessing to a crime.

Shortly after Delaware and Sturgis start investigating, one of Patty's former neighbors turns up dead, the first in a series of corpses that appear, possibly as a result of the duo's turning over old rocks. Since the identity of the killer is revealed relatively early on, the final sections are short on suspense.

My Thoughts: Jonathan Kellerman is one of my favorite authors. This is not one of my favorite Kellerman books, but a good one anyway and worth reading!

2011-07-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

“Prayers for the Dead”

By Faye Kellerman

2011 Book Review #66

Book List Review

The ninth Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus mystery, an investigation into the murder of a heart surgeon, is "powerful, assured and absorbing".

It begins when L.A. cop Pete Decker is called to the scene of a grisly crime where the mutilated body of renowned heart surgeon, Azor Sparks, has been found. The nonsmoking, churchgoing, family-man doctor, it turns out, wasn't nearly as perfect as he would have had his adoring public believe.

He had plenty of enemies, even among his own family members. The case gets personal when Decker finds, to his dismay, that his own wife has had a long and--to Decker--oddly unsettling association with the Sparks family that may impact the case. With his usual painstaking persistence, Decker follows all the leads and finally arrives at the bizarre and shocking truth.

Skilled writing, an intriguing plot, and Kellerman's deft and oh-so-subtle exploration of family dynamics make this a winner all round.

My Thoughts: I agree with the reviewer. I love the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus characters in Faye Kellerman’s books!

2011-07-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

“Teacher Man: A Memoir”

By Frank McCourt

2011 Book Review #65

Publishers Weekly Review

This final memoir in the trilogy that started with “Angela's Ashes” and continued in “ 'Tis”, focuses almost exclusively on McCourt's 30-year teaching career in New York City's public high schools, which began at McKee Vocational and Technical in 1958.

His first day in class, a fight broke out and a sandwich was hurled in anger. McCourt immediately picked it up and ate it. On the second day of class, McCourt's retort about the Irish and their sheep brought the wrath of the principal down on him. All McCourt wanted to do was teach, which wasn't easy in the jumbled bureaucracy of the New York City school system.

Pretty soon he realized the system wasn't run by teachers but by sterile functionaries. "I was uncomfortable with the bureaucrats, the higher-ups, who had escaped classrooms only to turn and bother the occupants of those classrooms… teachers and students. I never wanted to fill out their forms, follow their guidelines, administer their examinations, tolerate their snooping, and adjust myself to their programs and courses of study."

As McCourt matured in his job, he found ingenious ways to motivate the kids: have them write "excuse notes" from Adam and Eve to God; use parts of a pen to define parts of a sentence; use cookbook recipes to get the students to think creatively. A particularly warming and enlightening lesson concerns a class of black girls at Seward Park High School who felt slighted when they were not invited to see a performance of Hamlet, and how they taught McCourt never to have diminished expectations about any of his students.

McCourt throws down the gauntlet on education, asserting that teaching is more than achieving high test scores. It's about educating, about forming intellects, about getting people to think. McCourt's many fans will of course love this book, but it also should be mandatory reading for every teacher in

America

. And it wouldn't hurt some politicians to read it, too.

My Thoughts: I couldn’t wait to read this book! Loved it!

2011-07-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

“ 'Tis: A Memoir”

By Frank McCourt

2011 Book Review #64

Booklist Review

The second installment in McCourt's fluent and bewitchingly candid memoir will be eagerly embraced by a reading public madly in love with the first, the award-winning and best-selling Angela's Ashes (1996).

Here McCourt, still simultaneously voluble and precise, chronicles his return to New York, the city of his birth. A high-school dropout with a thick brogue, terrible teeth and skin, and red and infected eyes, he is easy pickings for a priest who helps him get settled, then attempts to molest him.

This distressing introduction to the perversity of life in

America

kicks off an almost unbelievable series of humiliations and hardships as McCourt works soul-crushingly menial jobs for pittance and is confronted both with vicious anti-Irish prejudice and tedious Irish pride…nearly everyone he meets recounts their Irish genealogy and tells him to stick to his own kind.

McCourt stubbornly dreams of becoming a teacher and writer but often retreats from the demands of college and work into the comforting haze of alcohol, the bane of his family. Finally, after a stint in the army and years of being mocked for his bookish ways, he succeeds in becoming a teacher, and his riveting accounts of his crazy classroom experiences in a Staten Island vocational high school at the height of McCarthyism are not to be missed.

His family is present, too, of course. His mother, Angela, remains depressed even under her sons' solicitous care. His father is impossible right up to the day he dies, and McCourt's brothers, Malachy (who has also written a memoir) and Mike, live "bright carefree" lives, while he does everything the hard way, the only way he knows how, and, frankly, the only approach to life he fully respects.

My Thoughts: Again, I read this book last year and somehow did not review it.

I loved this book! McCourt’s writing style makes this book easy to read and the story of his life enthralls!

2011-07-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

“Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir”

By Frank McCourt

2011 Book Review #63

Booklist Review

It is a wonder that McCourt survived his childhood in the slums of Depression-era Limerick,

Ireland

: three of his siblings did not, dying of minor illnesses complicated by near starvation.

Even more astonishing is how generous of spirit he became and remains. His family lived…barely…in a flat so miserable that every year they had to cram themselves into an upstairs room when winter floods made the place only half-habitable. That upstairs room was "

Italy

"…warm and dry. Downstairs was

Ireland

…wet and cold.

Father sat up there drinking tea, while mother Angela often could not rise from bed, so depressed was she. Or mother sat by the fire, waiting for father to return; when he did, frequently drunk on their little money, he would line up the boys and extract promises that they would die for Ireland. Dying was what everyone seemed to do best: the little sister, the twins, the girl with whom Frank first had sex, the old man Frank read to, too many boys from school, too many neighbors, too many relatives.

McCourt spares us no details: the stench of the one toilet shared by an entire street, the insults of the charity officers, the marauding rats, the street fights, the infected eyes, the fleas in the mattress . . . Yet he found a way to love in that miserable Limerick, and it is love one remembers as the dominant flavor in this Irish stew.

My Thoughts: I loved this book! It is a beautifully written life story of a very sensitive nature. Please don’t miss it! Actually, I read this book last year and just discovered I hadn’t reviewed it.

2011-07-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

"Without Fail" By Lee Child
A Jack Reacher Adventure

2011 Book Review #62
Booklist Review

Jack Reacher, former military police, is in Atlantic City running a little pro bono interference for an elderly husband-wife lounge act worried they might be cheated by the local Mob.

Then he's contacted by M. E. Froelich, a Secret Service agent in charge of protecting vice-president-elect Brook Armstrong, the one-time amour of Reacher's late brother, Joe. Froelich hires an initially reluctant Reacher to test the security coverage around Armstrong, and Jack compromises the system with ease, prompting Froelich to hire him to develop a better system.

Armstrong, it turns out, has been threatened, and it may be an inside job. Reacher and an old military police crony run up one blind alley after another until Jack finds a single clue in the vice president's background that leads him to believe the threat may be personal rather than political.

This sixth Reacher novel is a stunner, packed with extraordinary detail regarding executive protection and overlaid with a genuine mystery that will baffle even the most astute armchair crime buffs. The suspense becomes nearly unbearable as Reacher closes in on his prey, leading to a brutal conclusion.

Mix in a touching romance between Reacher and Froelich, based mostly on their shared affection for the late Joe Reacher, and one has a thriller of unequaled emotional depth.

My Thoughts: I love Jack Reacher mysteries! No exception here!

2011-06-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

“Pandora’s Daughter” By Iris Johansen

2011 Book Review #61

Booklist Review

"Dr. Megan Blair has been living a lie. She heard voices up until her mother died in an accident. Raised by her mother's half-brother, Megan managed to live a normal life, became a doctor, and now works in an Atlanta hospital. But, once her car is run off the road and Neal Grady enters the picture, nothing is the same.

Neal helps her realize that her mother's death was no accident. In fact, she was murdered because of her psychic ability, the very talent Megan inherited. Molino, an underworld kingpin, wants to see Megan, and everyone else he calls freaks, dead because he blames her mother for his son's death. Supposedly Megan's mother's mere touch caused Molino's son to kill himself. She may have possessed the rare gift, just like the mythological Pandora, that magnifies a person's psychic ability, power that can either open someone's mind or cause madness.

The hunt for Molino takes Megan and Neal through Europe in search of a ledger that traces a family of powerful psychics from the time of the inquisition to the present, keeping one step ahead of their enemy while trying to destroy him.

Johansen delivers an exhilarating thriller, filled with her trademark paranormal elements, truly heinous villains, and intriguing, multidimensional heroes. This is romantic suspense that will keep the author's fans on the edge of their seats."

My Thoughts: This is very different from the Iris Johansen books I normally read. (The Eve Duncan Mysteries) I don't usually read science fiction, but, I found this book well written, very interesting and entertaining to read.

2011-06-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

“Gone Tomorrow” By Lee Child

A Jack Reacher Mystery

2011 Book Review #60

Publishers Weekly Review

All good thriller writers know how to build suspense and keep the pages turning, but only better ones deliver tight plots as well, and only the best allow the reader to match wits with both the hero and the author. Bestseller Child does all of that in spades in his 13th Jack Reacher adventure.

Early one morning on a nearly empty Manhattan subway car, the former army MP notices a woman passenger he suspects is a suicide bomber. The deadly result of his confronting her puts him on a trail leading back to the Soviet war in

Afghanistan

in the 1980s and forward to the war on terrorism.

Reacher finds a bit of help among the authorities demanding answers from him, like the NYPD and the FBI, as well as threats and intimidation. And then there are the real bad guys that the old pro must track down and eliminate. Child sets things up subtly and ingeniously, then lets Reacher use both strength and guile to find his way to the exciting climax.

My Thoughts: There is no better suspense writer than Lee Child. I love the Jack Reacher character and though this book has a complicated plot, I loved it!

2011-06-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

“Milk and Honey”

by Faye Kellerman

A Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Mystery

2011 Book Review #59

Booklist Review

L.A. cop Peter Decker gets a lot of ribbing. He's tough yet laconic, over six feet tall, and well over two hundred pounds. He carries a gun and an attitude, but he also wears a yarmulke because the woman he loves is an orthodox Jew and he's willing to do anything to win her.

The problem is that the lovely Rina is having doubts of her own--perhaps because her pious brother-in-law tried to stick his tongue down her throat. Decker and Rina are a lively and unusual detecting duo, and Kellerman, wife of best-selling author, Jonathan, is a gutsy, forceful writer.

Her cop talk in the station house fairly crackles, and her plotting style is agreeably perverse. The latter is well in evidence here: witness the 2 year old girl found abandoned with blood smeared all over her PJs and bee stings on her arm. The blood belongs to an entire family, murdered in what appears to be an industrial dispute run well amok.

Add several local bikers, throw in the bees themselves, and things get decidedly sticky. With Decker alternately cracking skulls and praying over a plate of kosher food, it's all a delight.

My Thoughts: I couldn’t put the book down. Love these characters!

2011-06-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

“CURSED” by Carol Higgins Clark

A Private Eye Regan Reilly Mystery

2011 Bood Review #58

Summary…

PI Regan Reilly moved from Los Angeles to New York City when she married Jack "no relation" Reilly, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad. To help a friend, Regan takes on a case that takes her back to her old stomping grounds.

On a snowy day in New York City, PI Regan Reilly gets an urgent call from her former neighbor, Abigail Feeney. A Hollywood hairdresser, Abigail believes her life has been cursed since the day she was born…Friday the 13th. Always unlucky in love, Abigail now needs Regan's help in tracking down an ex-boyfriend who was just spotted in downtown Los Angeles…a "no good bum" who borrowed $100,000 from her three months ago, then promptly disappeared.

Abigail desperately needs to get that money back, money given to her by her grandmother who is heading to L.A. Grandma Feeney, no shrinking violet, has plans to buy an old friend's condo for Abigail and will need that hard-earned money to make the deal.

With hubby Jack away, the weather in New York miserable, and the guilt provoking memory that Abigail had brought her chicken soup when she was sick, Regan agrees to hop a plane. Before long, the hunt for Abigail's ex takes some dangerous turns. . . . But when Abigail becomes a suspect in a murder investigation, Regan begins to wonder if the curse is real--and possibly contagious!

My Thoughts: Clark’s books are always fun Mysteries! This is no exception!

2011-06-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

“Quicksand” by Iris Johansen

An Eve Duncan Forensic Mystery

2011 Book Review #57

Booklist Review

Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan is consumed with the prolonged search for the body of her daughter, Bonnie. The man in her life, Atlanta detective and former navy SEAL Joe Quinn, questions whether or not he can continue his relationship with Eve as the specter of Bonnie continues to haunt them.

At one of their most trying times, Joe pursues a lead that may either solve the mystery or destroy their relationship. Add the pressure of child killer Henry Kistle focusing on Eve and drug lord Montalvo, whose desire to help is fueled by his desire for Eve, and things get complicated.

Kistle taunts Eve with phone calls and written statements as he uses his military training to lead Joe, Montalvo, and the FBI on a chase from remote Bloomberg, Illinois, to alligator-infested swamps. Eve needs more help, so Johansen reaches back to Pandora's Daughter (2007) and brings in psychic Megan Blair.

Keeping the tension high and the pace relentless, prolific and compelling Johansen adds depth to her popular characters as she continues this suspenseful series.

My Thoughts: Eve Duncan is one of my favorite characters. Good Book!

2011-06-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

"HITCHED" by Carol Higgins Clark
A PI Regan Reilly Mystery

2011 Book Review #56

Publishers Weekly Review

Nervous brides may want to wait until after the wedding to read this one!

With her wedding to Jack "no relation" Reilly, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, only a week away, Regan thinks she has everything under control. But when she arrives to pick up her wedding dress at Alfred and Charisse's Coutures in Little Italy, she finds the young husband-and-wife designers bound and gagged, a wedding dress shredded on the floor and four others missing, including her own.

In spite of all she must do before the wedding, Regan agrees to investigate. Jack, hoping to solve a big bank robbery case before their nuptials, is more than supportive. To Regan's surprise, not all the brides-to-be who've lost their gowns are that distraught.

Regan's and Jack's cases convincingly intertwine as the sleuthing trail leads them from the streets of New York to Las Vegas. With her usual cast of quirky characters, Clark's lighthearted romp will keep readers guessing who will and who won't make it to the altar.

My thoughts: It’s a mystery and fun to read!

2011-06-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

“The Scarpetta Factor”

by Patricia Cornwell

2011 Book Review #55

Library Journal Review

The 17th entry in the popular Scarpetta series finds the Massachusetts medical examiner investigating the death of jogger Toni Darien in Central Park and finding suspicious similarities to a case of a missing financier.

She also, must contend with a suspicious package delivered to her apartment, the possible theft of her BlackBerry, menacing communications from a former psychiatric patient of husband Benton, and the reemergence of notorious characters from past cases.

Never-before-seen glimpses into the innermost thoughts of key characters Pete Marino, Benton and niece Lucy Farinelli, intensify the plot.

Verdict… A finely crafted, pulse-racing thriller that readers won't want to put down. Scarpetta fans will notice more pages devoted to character development and less to the autopsy room.

My Thoughts: I think the complexities of the plot were confusing. I prefer the original Scarpetta books when Scarpetta was in the autopsy room solving mysteries with forensics.

2011-06-07T05:12:00.000-07:00

“The Midnight Club”

by James Patterson

2011 Book Review #54

Booklist Review

Organized crime gets a new, more sinister face as a psychotic killer seizes control of a drug ring called the Midnight Club. The killer is Germain, wealthy and powerful, fond of kinky sex, and never happier than when he is wiping people out (``wet work'').

Stefanovitch is the detective Germaine leaves crippled and widowed, Parker is the Harlem cop left brotherless, and Sarah McGinniss is the journalist whose son was kidnapped by the club and who falls in love with Stefanovitch.

All three are intent on revenge. Although the novel is uneven, it boasts a compellingly kinetic narrative that combines nonstop violence with glittery sexual goings-on. The characterization isn't always particularly realistic, but Stefanovitch is extremely likable.

Unfortunately, when the author allows him to walk again in the final few pages, much credibility is needlessly lost. A flawed yet spirited thriller.

My Thoughts: Good book but, not the easiest story line to keep straight. Not James Patterson’s best, in my opinion

2011-06-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

"ZAPPED" By Carol Higgins Clark
A P.I. Regan Reilly Mystery

2011 Book Review #53
Publishers Weekly Review

Soon after Regan and her husband, Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, return home to Manhattan from a weekend on the Cape, the lights go out across the city. In the darkness, Regan is dismayed to discover an intruder has left behind a stun gun in their apartment, which is undergoing renovations.

Hours later, Jack looks into the theft of some unusual glass sculptures from a SoHo art gallery. In addition, the pair become involved in the frantic search for Georgina Mathieson, a psychotic with a track record for branding blond men, before she can claim her next victim.

The number of coincidences, including one that allows the heroes to save the day in the nick of time, may be on the high side, but fans of lighter crime fare will be satisfied

My Thoughts: Jack and Regan Reilly mysteries are always fun to read!

2011-06-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

“EVE” by Iris Johansen

The first of a new Trilogy about Lt. Eve Duncan

2011 Book Review #52

Library Journal Review

Shedding light on forensic sculptor Eve Duncan's past, Johansen's latest thriller brings to the forefront the father of Eve's missing daughter.

When Eve tries to find out if John Gallo had anything to do with Bonnie's disappearance, she ends up as bait in a perilous game between Gallo and dangerous ex-military men. Helped by her boyfriend, Joe Quinn, and CIA agent friend, Catherine Ling, Eve escapes with her life, but the answers she seeks are elusive.

Whereas earlier works danced around the details of Eve's personal history, much is revealed in this satisfying first entry in a forthcoming trilogy. If Quinn ( due out Jul. 2011) and Bonnie (due out in Oct. 2011) provide as much background and pieces of the puzzle as this one does, fans are sure to be pleased.

The suspense and action will entertain all, even those new to the series.

My Thoughts: I love the Eve Duncan books but, I was unaware this new one was part of a trilogy which left me with a “cliff-hanger” ending. I can’t wait until “Quinn” and “Bonnie” come out!

2011-06-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

“Straight Into Darkness” By Faye Kellerman

2011 Book Review #51

Book List Review

Kellerman, perhaps best known for her Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels, takes a hiatus from things contemporary in this ambitious historical mystery, in which politics, prejudice, and revenge form the backdrop for murder.

The time is 1929, the place is Munich, and Hitler and his thugs and sycophants are gathering momentum for the horrors to come. Kommunisten, Social Democrats, gays, and, especially, Jews are the targets of Brown Shirts, who are increasing in number and viciousness.

Even Munich's Homicide Unit has its Nazi sympathizers. Inspektor Axel Berg, however, isn't one of them. He hopes to steer clear of politics, especially on the job. But when the murders of three women and a young child spawn rumors of a serial killer, the pressure to find a scapegoat (the Jewish husband of one of the victims will do as a start) intensifies, and Berg finds himself fighting not only for fairness for the accused but also for his own career.

This is a complicated novel, and its mystery occasionally flounders under the weighty political backdrop. But suspense gradually mounts, and the ironic ending is worth the wait. As for Berg, he is one of Kellerman's richest creations--an intriguing protagonist, flawed yet compassionate and heroic, forced to confront enormous odds in brutal times. --Stephanie Zvirin

My Thoughts: If you like mysteries and you like history, this book is for you. This is very different from what Kellerman usually writes. It is frightening because the horrible history is real even if the story is fiction and Kellerman takes you directly into that history. The surprise ending is extraordinary. It is a well written story and I’m glad I read it. BUT…I prefer Kellerman’s Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels. History can be very cruel and hard to read about!

2011-06-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

" Hostage" by Robert Crais

2011 Book Review # 50

Jeff Talley is a burned-out former LAPD SWAT team hostage negotiator trying unsuccessfully to hide from his demons in the tiny community of Bristo Camino. When three toughs rob a convenience store, kill the owner, and take refuge in the home of an accountant, Talley quickly finds himself in the middle of a double hostage situation.

The toughs are threatening to kill Smith and his children, but what they don't know is that the accountant works for the Mob and happens to have in his possession what amounts to an annual report on Mob activity.

The Mob bosses kidnap Talley's wife and daughter and make it clear to him that they will kill his loved ones if he doesn't get his hands on the damning computer discs before the cops do. Talley finds himself in the unenviable position of helping to free Smith while executing a clandestine plan to save his own family.

My Thoughts: I found this book to be complicated but, interesting! Crais is becoming a favorite author.