BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Rebecca J. (Knoxville, TN)

If you'd like to be able to easily share your reviews with others, please join BookBrowse.

A Bitter Truth: A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd (8/12/2011)

I was interested to read a book in this Todd series about Bess Crawford as I had enjoyed one of his Ian Rutledge books. A Bitter Truth had good historical detail, a likeable main character in Bess and a fun romance. The mystery part was a bit contrived and I think Todd's …more

Sister: A Novel
by Rosamund Lupton

Sister by Lupton (6/6/2011)

I looked forward to reading this book as I am a big fan of psychological thrillers. This is the story of Beatrice who cannot believe her sister Tess has committed suicide even though that is the police finding. Beatrice decides to investigate. The story kept you guessing " …more

The Devotion of Suspect X
by Keigo Higashino

The devotion of suspect X (1/1/2011)

I love foreign mysteries and have read several Japanese ones so I was anxious to review this one. It did not disappoint. Very Hitchcockian in the way you saw what was coming and slowly but surely your worst fears were realized. The book was a great example of unwavering …more

A Lonely Death: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
by Charles Todd

A lonely death (11/18/2010)

As a mystery reader and history major, I enjoyed this book, especially the references to WWI which had ended shortly before the story takes place. A series of men are murdered and the question is whether their murders have to do with the war in which they all served. This …more

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel
by Lola Shoneyin

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's wives (6/10/2010)

This was a delightful book set in Nigeria during present time. However, the story was one that could take place any time in any polygamous culture which had me reminding myself when and where it was set. The story is told from the viewpoint of Baba Segi (the man) and each …more

The Scent of Rain and Lightning: A Novel
by Nancy Pickard

The scent of rain and lightning by Nancy Pickard (2/3/2010)

The book begins with Jody discovering that her parents' murderer is being released after 27 years from prison to receive a new trial because of the police withholding crucial evidence at the trial. The book immediately goes back to the past and relates the story up to the …more

Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash

Serena by Ron Rash (9/17/2009)

I was interested in the setting and subject of this book being North Carolina and part of the Great Smoky Mountains where I live. I learned a bunch about logging and the problems that came with the development of national parks. That said, the characterization part of the …more

Green Monster: A Sam Skarda Mystery
by Rick Shefchik

Green Monster by Rick shefchik (7/15/2008)

I was excited about reviewing this book because, being a baseball mystery, I thought boys in the high school where I teach might enjoy it. The mystery had lots of baseball information especially about the Boston Red Sox and the Green Monster which is a big green wall in the …more

How to Build a House
by Dana Reinhardt

how to build a house (3/30/2008)

How To Build a House is a great book. Though I haven't gone through everything the main character, Harper, has I still found myself relating to her in so many aspects of of life. I'm 15 and I can definitely relate to this book. Just the way Harper regards everything around …more

Resistance
by Owen Sheers

Resistance (2/26/2008)

Resistance was a beautifully written book which, while correctly called a historical novel, was also a novel of great suspense as enormous tension builds throughout the story. Set in a remote Welsh valley during WWII, Resistance is the story of five women left on their own …more

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket — Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by *Parade* and *The New York Times Book Review*, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

About Discuss

Members Recommend

Serial Killer Games
by Kate Posey

A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).

Read the Reviews
Ginseng Roots
by Craig Thompson

A new graphic memoir from the author of Blankets and Habibi about class, childhood labor, and Wisconsin’s ginseng industry.

Read the Reviews
One Death at a Time
by Abbi Waxman

A cranky ex-actress and her Gen Z sobriety sponsor team up to solve a murder that could send her back to prison in this dazzling mystery.

Read the Reviews
The Seven O'Clock Club
by Amelia Ireland

Four strangers join an experimental treatment to heal broken hearts in Amelia Ireland's heartfelt debut novel.

Read the Reviews
The Fairbanks Four
by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue

One murder, four guilty convictions, and a community determined to find justice.

Read the Reviews