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Reviews by Marta T. (Lafayette, CA)

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Bone River
by Megan Chance

Storyline not quite as satisfying as its promise (12/10/2012)

Part historical romance set in the second half of the 1800s, part supernatural mystery, Bone River brings to life an isolated, starkly beautiful area of Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory from the viewpoint of a woman who loves the area and its dying-out native traditions. …more

The House of Velvet and Glass: A Novel
by Katherine Howe

A period piece with an evocative atmosphere rich in sorrow (3/29/2012)

After the death of her mother and younger sister on the Titanic, Sybil turns to her mother's medium for solace. The medium gives her a scrying ball, through which Sybil glimpses ever more detailed visions of an endangered ship. Are they the imaginings of a susceptible mind, …more

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Katherine Boo

Research brought to life, with important universal insights (1/25/2012)

Set in one of the grimmest urban areas of India, this beautifully written book examines three years in the daily lives of people struggling to survive in a slum near the Mumbai airport. It's not a work of fiction, though it's reminiscent of Slum Dog Millionaire and A Fine …more

Sister: A Novel
by Rosamund Lupton

Poignant mystery in unusual style (6/5/2011)

This story is a letter to a beloved sister. The narrator, Bea, describes her search for the truth behind her sister's disappearance, which becomes linked with a pregnancy and apparent suicide. The immediacy of the telling is subtly layered, focusing on the history of the …more

The Devotion of Suspect X
by Keigo Higashino

well-crafted plot (1/6/2011)

The writer of this mystery, unlike many modern works written for an English-speaking audience, takes a leisurely approach with many layers. The story begins by establishing the relationship between two Japanese neighbors before a murder occurs and continues with a game of …more

Bury Your Dead: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, #6
by Louise Penny

Mystery set in Quebec City in winter (9/18/2010)

Fans of a good mystery that keeps the reader engaged without resorting to gratuitous bloodshed will appreciate this story of a local historian's murder. The story is rich in characterization and setting, bringing to life tension between French and English interests in …more

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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.

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