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Reviews by Betty B. (Irving, TX)

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Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Intrigue in China (12/31/2014)
The prologue to Whispering Shadows immediately drew me in and I wanted to know more about Paul Leibowitz and how he would cope with the loss of his son. The writing at times is lyrical, and I felt like I was with Paul on his quiet little island outside Hong Kong. As the story leads Paul into China where he joins an old friend in trying to solve a mysterious death, at times I felt the story bogged down a little. But I am so glad I continued reading, as the last part of the book completely engaged me. Any reader who enjoys mysteries and intrigue, particularly if that reader is also interested in Chinese culture from the Cultural Revolution until the early 2000's, should enjoy this book.
The Life I Left Behind
by Colette McBeth
Great New Mystery (11/3/2014)
The Life I Left Behind grabbed me very quickly and I found it hard to put down until the final page. The story is narrated alternately by Melody Pieterson and by Eve Elliot's ghost, two young women who are attacked in much the same way, one surviving and one losing her life six years later. Much to my surprise, this was an excellent way to tell this story and move it along. The characterizations were very strong and I found myself caring for both women and for the detective who works hard to find the killer. I would recommend this book to almost anyone who likes mysteries which keep you guessing. But once you start reading, you won't want to stop until the final page.
The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson
1909 Paris and It's Cold (7/5/2014)
This is an interesting historical novel set in 1909 Paris. Women are coming to Paris for art lessons...some rich and just filling time, and some, like our heroine, very talented and serious. Maud finds herself almost destitute in Paris, spending all she has to pay for her lessons. So begins a page-turner as Maud is drawn into a world of intrigue. I think this book will please anyone who enjoys historical fiction with interesting characters and twists and turns, but is a special treat for anyone interested in art and women painters.
That Summer
by Lauren Willig
Good Read for Summer (4/9/2014)
I really liked the themes of That Summer - the inheritance an old English mansion full of antiques and family secrets, and the Pre-Raphaelite art movement. (A quick search on Wikipedia helps to understand the movement and to visualize the paintings of this group of artists.) The main characters are likeable and the story interesting. I think it's a good choice for a summer vacation.
Precious Thing
by Colette McBeth
Friendship is a Precious Thing Or Is It (1/6/2014)
I liked that Precious Thing kept me turning pages wanting to know what happened next. And while there are a few clues along the way, the ending was a surprise to me. So I think the book is well written from that standpoint. However, I never felt as connected to either of the two friends as I would have liked so for me it was an average book.
The Spirit Keeper
by K. B. Laugheed
A Good Read (8/29/2013)
I enjoyed reading The Spirit Keeper...it kept me interested and it was also a very quick read. The three main characters are well developed, and easy to like. It was especially interesting to watch Katie become the Spirit Keeper as she made the arduous journey across our country. As I realized that the book was ending sooner than I would have wished, I remembered there were two journals and so I am hopeful we will meet Katie again as she fills up the second journal, and shares the rest of her journey with us.
The Sisterhood
by Helen Bryan
Sisterhood Through The Ages (5/2/2013)
The Sisterhood tells a beautiful story of women caring for the abused and neglected through the ages. If you can accept that artifacts from an ancient convent in the mountains of Spain find their way to a convent in South America in the 1500's, then to a 19 year old Southern Baptist college student in Georgia in 2000, you will enjoy this book. It may take a leap of imagination (or faith) at times, but you will enjoy the journey. I thought both the writing and characterizations in the 1500's stronger than the contemporary events or this would have earned 5 stars from me.
The Last Girl: A Maeve Kerrigan Novel
by Jane Casey
Satisfying English Mystery (4/10/2013)
This was my first introduction to Jane Casey's DC Maeve Kerrigan. I enjoy British mysteries, and this book did not disappoint. Even though I found Maeve a little irritating at times, I still wanted to know more about her case and her personal life. And I was never bored along the way. I recommend for anyone who enjoys British "detecting". I'll certainly be looking for other Maeve Kerrigan books.
The Jericho Deception
by Jeffrey Small
Jeffrey's Small's Latest Book (3/13/2013)
I wanted to read this book, even though I do not normally read thrillers, because one of its themes relates to the common ground of all religions. I did enjoy that aspect of the book, and would have liked more. I also would have liked more development of the characters. I think this book would appeal to readers of thrillers like the Dan Brown books. Although it did not have the depth I would have liked, nevertheless I quickly read to the end, and I plan to read Small's prize-winning book, The Breath of God.
Bone River
by Megan Chance
One of My Favorite Books This Year (11/11/2012)
Once I began the prologue, I was hooked. I read page after page, and hated when I had to put it down. And then as I neared the end I felt like I didn't want it to end. In my opinion, that's a really good book. The characters are compelling, especially Leonie. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric. Throughout the book I felt as though I was there on the Querquelin River. I found the native American culture interesting and I was sad at how their culture was treated by ethnologists. And I was reminded how hard the life of a woman during this period was.

There are many wonderful themes for discussion, and I can't wait to recommend to my Book Club.
Beneath the Shadows
by Sara Foster
Mystery in the Yorkshire Moors (5/9/2012)
I was hooked immediately by the story, the setting and the characters in Beneath the Shadows, and I finished it two days later. This is the author's debut novel, and I think for a first book it is very good. However, I would have liked some "fleshing out" of the characters and the setting, and I imagine that will come as the author writes more books. For instance, when they found the old Christmas ornaments in the basement I expected to read about those old ornaments and more about decorating the tree and Millie's reaction. But overall the book kept me reading to find out just what happened to Adam. I recommend it to readers who like English settings and mysteries that keep you guessing until the end.
Until the Next Time: A Novel
by Kevin Fox
Until the Next Time (2/28/2012)
After reading about a third of Next Time, I was so lost I returned to the beginning and read with a pen in hand. I made notes of all the various relationships and that did help me follow the story in both time periods. This book has all the elements that I usually like. I just had difficulty connecting it all. Had it been told more straight-forwardly, I would have enjoyed it more.
Before the Poison
by Peter Robinson
Before The Poison (12/5/2011)
Over the years I have read a number of Robinson's Inspector Banks' mysteries and have always enjoyed them. However, this book exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the setting and the historical background. I liked the structure of the novel, and the weaving back and forth between The Famous Trials and Grace's journal and the present. Grace's journal was especially touching. Robinson brought everything together at the end and this is one of those books that I really hated to finish. Maybe there might be a sequel telling us more about Chris' Yorkshire adventures in Kilnsgate?
Before Ever After: A Novel
by Samantha Sotto
Before Ever After (6/15/2011)
I was a little disappointed with this book. I found the story quite interesting, expecially the historic periods. Unfortunately I felt the writing was weak, particularly the dialogue of the characters. The story intrigued me enough that I kept reading to see how it would all be resolved. I think it is an ok book which could have been a great book with better writing.
A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
by Jacqueline Winspear
A Lesson in Secrets (3/14/2011)
It's 1932 and the British Secret Service enlists Maisie Dobbs for her first undercover assignment. She is sent to a small university in Cambridge to teach psychology. And she soon encounters a murder. This is the 8th in a series featuring Maisie Dobbs as she struggles to establish herself as a professional woman in the period between the two world wars. This book can stand alone and will appeal to all readers of English mysteries of this period. But after an introduction to Maisie you will want to learn more about her and will probably seek out the first book in the series. Along the way you will also learn a great deal about the history of the period.
A Lonely Death: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
by Charles Todd
Another Great English Mystery (11/6/2010)
The mother and son writing team, Charles Todd, have produced another great mystery in their Ian Rutledge series. Lonely Death is the 13th book which features a young Scotland Yard Inspector, recently returned from the Great War, shell-shocked with mental war wounds which are always present. Set in 1920 the series is an atmospheric depiction of the post-war era in England. Never far from his war memories, Inspector Rutledge uses his intellect and his experience from the war to investigate step-by-step until he solves his cases. He's a character you will respect, enjoy and root for. This book stands alone if you have not read the series, but once you read it, you will probably want to read the first book in the series, A Test of Wills.
Bad Boy: An Inspector Banks Novel
by Peter Robinson
A great addition to this series (7/17/2010)
Bad Boy is Peter Robinson's 19th book in his series about Yorkshire's Inspector Banks. Fans of this series will not be disappointed in Bad Boy, which begins with Banks vacationing in Arizona and California, trying to put his life -- his job and his relationships--in better perspective. When he returns, jet-lagged, he is immediately thrown into a case involving his former partner and sometime lover, Annie Cabot, who has been shot and is in critical condition. To complicate matters more, he learns his daughter is somehow involved and is missing. Banks jumps in to find the man who shot Annie and to bring his daughter safely home. I've read most of the books in this series and enjoyed meeting the characters once again. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy British police procedurals...this series is one of the best. I think the book also works well as a stand-alone, but the reader would miss the rich background that has been established in the earlier books.
The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery
by Elly Griffiths
A New Mystery Series (11/6/2009)
I am a frequent reader of British mysteries and am always on the lookout for a series new to me. I'm so glad to be introduced to Elly Griffiths and The Crossing Places. I was hooked 20 pages in by the main characters... and the locale. And now I am looking forward to seeing the relationships develop and to learn more about the history of this section of England. I would have liked to have had a second map locating Norfolk and the Saltmarsh on a map of England. But all in all a very good read.
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