Turn of Mind is an amazing book. Jennifer White is a doctor who's best friend is dead and Dr. White is the prime suspect. Dr. White has alzheimers and so doesn't know if she killed her friend. Alice LaPlant goes into the mind of someone with alzheimers and shows us the confusion and sadness that goes along with the disease. LaPlant is an excellent author and gives you great insight into the mind of an alzheimers sufferer.

Outside Wonderland is the story of 3 siblings, who lose their parents while they're growing up. They've become adults and are struggling with relationships. I didn't see a real connection between their struggle and their loss of parents. I think the author could have spent more time expanding the characters. I enjoyed the book, but wanted to know more about the sisters and brother.
As a second story line, we find the parents watching over them from wherever they've gone after death. I found this annoying. Since it was part of what makes the book unique, it was needed, but I tended to skip these parts after the first few. I didn't feel they added much insight.
The author holds your attention and I look forward to reading more of her work.

This was one of those books, you want to know how it ends, but you don't want it to end.

A book of fiction based on fact, about the prison drug trade in Sweden. It really pulls you in, telling the story of a man who started as a bad guy and then became a husband and father. He must hide what he does, but regrets the lies he must tell his family. He's torn between finishing what he started and love for his wife and sons.
The detective, trying to solve the mystery, isn't much of a hero. As the character evolves, you want him to succeed in his search for the truth.

The author makes his characters come to life. A really good book for lovers of crime fiction.

Man in the Woods was a great suspense novel. I thought I had it figured out and then was surprised at the end.

When the book started, I wasn't sure I liked the main character, Paul. I became more invested in the character and wanted the best outcome. As in real life, all stories have two sides. Everything isn't black and white, making it hard to decide what should happen. Scott Spencer kept you wondering until the last page.

This is the story of how one lapse in judgment can change your whole life. When Gwen Raine indulges in a quick marijuana smoke, she almost loses everything dear to her. It seems as if every choice she makes is the wrong one even though she means well.

The story was somewhat predictable, but the author holds your attention, and you keep turning pages.

Every parent's worst nightmare, the death of a child, no matter what age. Roger Rosenblatt takes us through the first year after his daughter's death. He and his wife are there for his son-in-law and grandchildren. Rosenblatt is an excellent story teller and softens the pain he must have been going through with tales of his grandchildren as he helps them with their loss. A story of love and lessons we can all learn from.

What a wonderful book. The characters really drew me into the story. The author was able to portray the problems drugs create between parent and child, no matter what their ages. I think we often assume only teens have drug problems, we don't often read accounts of adult children and their parents. The struggle can go on for years and this book provided insight into that problem.

I enjoyed the writing and the story and look forward to other books by this author.

The "Music Teacher" by Barbara Hall is a wonderful exploration of mid-life. The ideas from our youth and how we not only change but prioritize events differently as we age. Pearl thinks she has her life laid out before her and is surprised to find she has to reevaluate and rethink where she is headed.

The book was very readable and I enjoyed it. I'd definitely recommend it my book friends.

I'm usually anxious to read new books by Chris Bohjalian, but was disappointed by this one. I felt his war scenes were too graphic and the story line wasn't as interesting as his other books. I don't think I'd recommend the book, but will look forward to his future books.