BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Karen M. (Great Falls, VA)

Home by Nightfall: A Charles Lenox Mystery
by Charles Finch

I love the Charles Lennox Mysteries (10/24/2015)

I am a big fan of the work of Charles Finch. I have been with him since his first novel, "A Beautiful Blue Death." When his seventh book in the series, "Home by Nightfall," arrived, I sat down and absorbed the tale in one sitting. You can start with this book without …more reading the rest, but what I really admire about gentleman detective Charles Lennox, and his fellow characters, is that they evolve through their experiences in each book. If you skipped to the seventh book without reading the other books, you might not appreciate how the author's writing has grown, along with the characters. Many mystery series give you your favorite sleuth, but he or she is always the same familiar character. To me, this book feels like real people living during the Victorian era. The author's development of "place" is spot on.

Mr. Finch knows his Victoriana. I have studied British Victorian novels for decades and I have found a fellow enthusiast through this series. Recently I read a debut novel set in the same period. And the author worked so hard to make sure that we smelled, saw, and experienced all the raw grossness and violence of the time that I could barely find my way to the narrative. Not so with this series. Mr. Finch balances the good and the bad and yet I feel his tale is authentic.

Since Book Six, tragedy has occurred. Charles has left for the country manor to be with his recently widowed brother. We learn a lot about their childhoods and how they were pulled apart as they grew up. There are mysterious, almost supernatural, deaths occurring in the village, and Charles and his brother team up to try to solve them. He calls in his usual cast of characters to help him. And his wife, a very lively heiress herself, and mother of their children, plays a more important role than in the past. She is very well-connected socially and is able to gather all sorts of knowledge.

Charles has also left his political life to open his own detective agency in London with an interesting group of sleuths. He has to dash back and forth between Sussex and London to try and solve a sensitive political death. The constant racing between the two places and against the clock, seemed to follow a trend I find in many recent mystery books by authors writing in the "classic" vein. I disagree with the book blurb that Finch's latest was similar to a Dickens or Austen book. This book was more of a thriller, designed to elevate one's pulse. There's considerable suspense. "Home by Nightfall" is more genre-bending compared to his previous Lennox books. I rated it a 4.5. Only Dickens and Louise Penny receive a 5. (less)

Buying In
by Laura Hemphill

A familiar tale with a twist (11/5/2013)

Laura Hemphill's debut novel, Buying In, does not following in the tradition of the Nanny Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada or Bridget Jones. It is not chick lit. But it does share some of the elements of these books in its character; a bright, ambitious twenty-two year old …more

Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets: A Memoir
by Jessica A. Fox

Captivating (6/25/2013)

I was smitten with this book from the moment I read the prologue until I finished it many hours later. But first, let me warn what the book is not. It's not about working at NASA or rocket ships. It's not about a young woman making documentaries in Hollywood. I don't even …more think it is chick lit. And I got the impression before I read it that it was all of these things.

This is a true story of a twenty-something woman who is bright, successful, driven, well-educated, independent and prone to not stay in one place. She goes to brunch with friends in LA, she rides her bike, she is impeccably organized, and meditates. For over a year, she has seen the same vision in her meditations. It appears to be a quaint second-hand bookstore in Britain? Possibly Scotland? She's never been there. But, she is a fan of Joseph Campbell's many works on mythology and believes in the Hero's Journey. She wonders if, somehow, this repeating image is a clue for her to follow. When a woman appears in the bookstore window she believes that there is a passing resemblance to her. Is this bookshop her Destiny?

Faster than a speeding bullet, she takes action. She decides to search the internet for the bookstore. Wonderfully, she finds it in a small town in Scotland where an annual literary festival will be starting soon. She emails them and asks to volunteer at the festival in exchange for a room to live in. She takes a long vacation from her job, despite the fact it's not a good time for her to go away, and heads off to follow her intuition. This act alone takes great courage and I could not wait to read how such a leap of faith was answered.

Half way through the book, I lost some of my fascination with Ms. Fox and her journey. She hits rough waters and her impatience and insecurities are revealed. Every Hero hits this challenge, but I found it hard to believe that the brave feisty woman at the beginning of the book could become such a dramatic childish wreck. Of course, in Homer's The Odyssey, we followed the Hero and his shipmates as they floundered and failed repeatedly in their efforts to reach their home. Jason and the Argonauts was a very similar story. Unfortunately, I have to admit, I was ready to give up on Ms. Fox much sooner than I did in the other stories. Perhaps because she was also the monster???

I would recommend this book to those of us who love nothing better than a dusty old bookstore and the people who work there. To those of us who love the mythology we've read from the time we were young. To those of us who enjoy unique unusual eccentric characters in our novels. To those of us who want to believe that if we follow our bliss, our life will be all the better for the risks we have taken. Finally, this book is for readers who would like a true story that proves that despite all forms of mistakes and adversity in our lives, we can still have growth and a happy ever after. (less)

A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns

What an engrossing read! (4/26/2012)

Eleanor Kuhns sent a letter with the Advanced Readers’ Copy of A Simple Life that introduced us not only to the author as a person, but to her life as a professional librarian with her passion for books. She recalls her childhood of disappearing into books so well-written …more and engaging that she’d live for hours in the world the author had created. She wanted to bring that experience to readers in this debut novel, and she absolutely succeeded. Like Alice, I fell down through the rabbit hole and into another world in 1796. After one chapter, I canceled all plans for the day and night, and told my family to feed themselves. I did not want to return from this world of her investigator, William Rees, and the Shaker settlement near Durham, Maine. I knew absolutely nothing about life in 18th century Maine that was not purely focused on the American Revolution. And I had only a weak basic knowledge about the Shaker religion. The pacing is quick, Kuhn’s style is taut, and her choice of wording is perfect for such an engaging “who done it.”I could imagine Ms. Kuhns after she returns from work settling into a night of writing, meticulously reviewing each sentence and word choice and rewriting it until it was perfect. I appreciate that she writes in a direct linear style. Not a lot of passive voice. Her research translates into an authentic sense of being right next to her characters during their time. I truly appreciate that she did not pursue a distracting romance to fuddle up the mystery. This is too good a book to have a lot of bodice- ripping going on. She avoids any salaciousness but still involves the reader in the heartbreak of the lives lost. There is violence but she doesn’t stop the narrative so she can describe every gush and gurgle. Men will love this book. It is written in a masculine style – my preference in a historical mystery. All of the characters are fully developed and captivating. Women will love this book-- the male investigator is heroic yet haunted, and the women are strong and intelligent. Banter usually found in 1940’s classic movies is well-suited to the story. I was absolutely captivated and enchanted by this novel and I cannot say that about the last 50 books that I’ve read this year. I can hardly wait to see where Ms. Kuhns takes us next. (less)

Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art
by Christopher Moore

Very good storyteller (3/1/2012)

I have always wanted to read a Christopher Moore book. His reviews are nearly always positive. His work is considered witty, humorous and a bit of a satire. I thought we might have a current day Oscar Wilde on our hands. So, it was with great enthusiasm I asked for an ARC …more from Bookbrowse in order to read his latest "masterpiece" (says the book jacket), Sacré Bleu.

Christopher Moore can tell a great story. One that you don't want to put down. He can write funny dialogue; in this case, the banter between Henri Toulous-Lautrec and Lucien Lessard is first-rate. The central conceit of the book surrounds a supernatural phenomenon that is causing all the painters of the time -- van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Pissaro and Cezanne to paint their finest work using the color
"sacré bleu." This color comes from a mysterious Colorman and an equally curious but enchanting woman who poses for these artists. These men feverishly create masterworks during months of infatuation with their models accompanied by loss of time, no memory of painting these works, and unbelievable sex. The Roman Catholic Church wants this particular shade of blue to be used exclusively for the painting of the Virgin Mary's clothes. Thus the name, translated from French, as "the sacred blue." Obviously, it's inspiring other unforgettable and racy uses for the painters of Paris who feel compelled to use it.

Of course, Moore can't ignore the joke in the title, for "sacré bleu" is considered a curse or more importantly, a profanity, in french. Loosely translated, it is the exclamation "My God." Wikipedia will tell you it's rarely used in French-speaking countries, but the word was taught to me in my high school French III class in 1970's America. Profanity is a surprise player in this book. I am caught up in the story, and then one of the characters says "shag," or "bugger,"not terms found in late 18th century France, and it derails me. It takes me out of the experience and lands me right back in the present day. Why would Moore do it? It felt as if he is an adolescent saying naughty words just to shock and/or mess with the readers' heads. Perhaps he doesn't want you to take the subject matter and the characters too seriously. I suppose if you love movies or TV shows where there is a lot of burping and farting, then it's funny. But I wonder why would he insert English cuss words into the great French painters' mouths? Maybe I missed the memo that told me that these words are considered funny outside of England.

With the above caveat, I would recommend this book to anyone who would love to read a mystery with a supernatural twist set in the late 1800s in Paris. There is even a bit of time travel, always a plus. Famous artists are creating very recognizable works of art and Moore puts you in the room with the painters. We find out about the masters' sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, lovers, and wives. I have read several books about this time of tremendous creativity combined with perhaps a little debauchery a la Moulin Rouge, and I found Moore's twisted fantasy to still be informative and fun. It's clear that Moore did his research and shares his knowledge in a delightful and engrossing narrative. I finished it in a day, and I intend to immediately check out all of Moore's other work. If the subject matter is of interest, I'll buy and read the book. And now that I know his characters may have a case of Tourette's Syndrome, I'm prepared. (less)

A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny

Excellent Mystery in the Agatha Christie Tradition (7/29/2011)

We have a cozy village tucked away where it cannot be found on any map and where murder is always afoot. We have the Chief Inspector Gamache, a loveable, brilliant, renaissance man, with keen insight into the hearts of people. And we have a village full of eccentrics who …more

The Philosophical Breakfast Club: Four Remarkable Friends Who Transformed Science and Changed the World
by Laura J. Snyder

The Philosophical Breakfast Club (2/12/2011)

Make no mistake about this book, it is a scholarly work, heavily footnoted, and in my opinion reads more like a dissertation than a nonfiction book for the public. The subject matter is the birth of the profession of the "scientist," formerly known as the "philosopher." In …more the early 1800's, four young men, William Whewell, Charles Babbage, John Herschel and Richard Jones, met as students at Cambridge and decided it was time to change the world. They arranged for regular "breakfasts" to address the importance of Blaise Pascal and Francis Bacon's discoveries, to carry out reforms in science and math seen in the last two centuries, and to create a role for both observation and reasoning in science.

The author, Laura Snyder fills the book with the lives and accomplishments of all the key players at the time, including Samuel Coleridge, Ada Lovelace, and Lord Byron, and how their paths continued to intersect. But the story is dry and requires an attention span that I do not possess. I am accustomed to reading dry material (I'm a lawyer), I've studied the society and writings of the 1900's, and I'm fascinated by the history of science. And yet, the writing did not catch fire at any point in the book. As an example of the writing style, under the promising chapter title of "Mechanical Toys," we learn that the "obstacle for Schikard's machine was that the force required to execute a ripple carry tended to be so much as to destroy the gear wheels. If a 1 is added to 999,999, then the force of the initial movement of the rightmost wheel had to be enough to turn all the other wheels up to the last one. Babbage realized that there had to be a way of allowing the carry in a different way, without the transmission of the initial force, in order to enable a calculating device to work on numbers twenty, thirty, forty, or even fifty digits long."

The author, Ms. Snyder, writes in a very detailed, serious, scientific style. There are no highs, no lows, no character development, no pacing, no descriptive phrases, no tension, no resolution, and no narrative voice that carries us through this very slow book. Most important, there is no sufficient levity to brighten the bleak process of plodding through the chapters. If you are hoping for user-friendly writing present in the writings of Brian Greene, Stephen Hawkings, or Dana Sovel, this is not the book for you. (less)

The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean
by Susan Casey

Mythology, Fact, and Great Storytelling (9/7/2010)

This is one of the best books I read this summer. (And I read dozens of books). Susan Casey has created the perfect non-fiction book. Filled with details of the myths of rogue waves, the recent scientific proof of their measurement, Billabong's crazed reward of $500,000 to …more

The Book of God and Physics: A Novel of the Voynich Mystery
by Enrique Joven

The Voynich Manuscript Explored- Possible Spoiler (7/12/2009)

As a lawyer, I love a great mystery about actual ancient documents. The "Rule of Four," "People of the Book," and "The Last Witchfinder" spring to mind as excellent examples. But it takes more than an ancient document to make an excellent mystery. It takes an accomplished …more creative writer to take the nonfiction information and weave it into an exciting tale. This is the author's weakness in this book.

Enrique Joven, the author of this book is an engineer, science and technology writer. The first 200 pages reflect his expertise in the style of his writing. It is filled with facts and details, but not much character development, plot movement or pacing. Until the last third of the book, the reader is just being fed data.

In addition,Joven and his alter ego, the Jesuit priest Hector, are very upset with the American authors Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder for their book, "Heavenly Intrigue." He believes that his beloved Jesuit priest, Johannes Kepler has been slandered by the couple in the book they published in 2005. And Joven takes quite a few opportunities to complain about the couple and their theories and anyone who gave credence to them (like the Washington Post). Using this book to answer the Gilder's charges was a distraction and felt preachy (pun intended). Intelligent Design versus Creationism is also discussed, another didactic diversion unrelated to the plot. The book needs editing. Is it a mystery or the expansion of a blog piece?

But in the last 100 pages, the book starts to hum. The various attempts to decipher the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, held and studied at Yale University today, are fascinating. Joven sets Father Hector, and the two fellow enthusiasts that Hector meets on a Voynich site on the internet, off to decipher the text. Lots of air miles ensue as they travel to great European sites that provide clues for the group to interpret based on the areas of expertise held by each character.

The book also contains an illuminating discussion of Jesuit history and the Order's contribution to science. And even though I am somewhat learned in the history of the interdependence of astronomy and astrology through time, Joven provides more intriguing data. It is the above accomplishments that convinced me to give the book a "Good" rating.

This is not a good "beach" read. But it would be a nice alternative to watching the Discovery Channel. (less)

How to Build a House
by Dana Reinhardt

Great Young Adult Book (3/16/2008)

How To Build A House is the newest novel by critically acclaimed author, Dana Reinhardt. The story follows our heroine, Harper, as she struggles with love, family, loyalty and most of all, her own life. This is the second book by Ms. Reinhardt that I have read recently and …more

Killer Heat
by Linda Fairstein

Killer Heat and Killer Pacing (3/16/2008)

I think this is Linda Fairstein's best book to date. Fascinating history surrounding New York Harbor islands and sand dunes, excellent accurate legal analysis that entertains, great plot twists, and her pacing is superb. I completely forgot I was home with the flu! Plus, I' …more

An Incomplete Revenge: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
by Jacqueline Winspear

An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear (3/3/2008)

I kept humming "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" as I read this very fun, light and satisfying mystery from the Maisie Dobbs series--for these are the suspect groups in murder and theft. In fact, I was reading three books at the same time and was always a bit sad that I had to …more

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Reviews by Karen M. (Great Falls, VA)

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