Reviews by Hilary H. (Tucson, AZ)

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Song of the Spirits
Song of the Spirits: In the Land of the Long White Cloud saga
by Sarah Lark
Song of the Spirits (8/12/2013)
Song of the Spirits is a large (600 pages) novel about 1890s New Zealand. This was more of a romance novel than historical fiction that I was hoping for but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I am going to New Zealand in December so have been eagerly reading books that take …more
The Jericho Deception
The Jericho Deception
by Jeffrey Small
The Jericho Deception (4/6/2013)
I hadn't read anything by Jeffrey Small and I was a bit leery of anything too religiously based but I did enjoy the thriller aspects of this book. I did have to go back and forth after the first few chapters to make sure I knew who was who and where I was. The book does …more
The Forgetting Tree
The Forgetting Tree: A Novel
by Tatjana Soli
The Forgetting Tree (8/20/2012)
I enjoyed parts of The Forgetting Tree but struggled through other parts. I was attracted to the book having lived in Southern California and liked the ranch descriptions, the characters like Octavio, and the back story of the characters in the family. I did not enjoy the …more
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar: A Novel
by Suzanne Joinson
Lady Cyclist's Guide (5/20/2012)
Overall, I enjoyed this book though I would not put it into the same category as Major Pettigrew's Last Stand which I loved. Suzanne Joinson has created two interestingly interconnected stories stretching from 1923 in Kashgar to present day London. Both tales were engaging …more
Before the Poison
Before the Poison
by Peter Robinson
Before the Poison (12/9/2011)
I've been a fan of Peter Robinson for sometime having read almost all of the Inspector Banks novels. The setting was familiar - Yorkshire, but the main character (Chris Lowndes) is quite different from Insp. Banks though charming, thoughtful and a musician. The alternating …more
A Trick of the Light
A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny
Louise Penny has done it again (7/16/2011)
The Armand Gamache series has been consistently strong - writing, characters, sense of place whether Montreal, Quebec City or Three Pines. These books have delightful people whose lives you care about. I found that I was a couple of books behind in the series so I read #5 & …more
The Trinity Six
The Trinity Six
by Charles Cumming
The Trinity Six (2/20/2011)
Trinity Six is the 3rd Charles Cumming that I've read and each one has been enjoyable and well done. I loved the premise of a possible 6th spy at Cambridge. I started with the book slowly but mostly due to short periods of time in which to read. Once I sat down with it, I …more
The Girl in the Green Raincoat
The Girl in the Green Raincoat: A Novel
by Laura Lippman
Girl in the Green Raincoat (11/20/2010)
I've enjoyed many Tess Monaghan books and this lived up to Laura Lippman's usual success. My only complaint was that it was so short. The premise of having Tess confined to bed and linked only via window (rear or not) and electronic devices was cleverly done. Now I need to …more
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
by Mackenzie Ford
The Clouds Beneath the Sun (7/25/2010)
I was anticipating liking this book as I've enjoyed a number of books set in various parts of Africa. Though I've not been to Kenya, I have been to other countries in southern Africa. The topic and setting were appealing. I found the first half of the book to be slow - a …more
Beautiful Assassin
Beautiful Assassin: A Novel
by Michael C. White
The Beautiful Assassin (3/5/2010)
I really enjoyed this book. Michael White is a new author for me but I will definitely try another one of his books. "The Beautiful Assassin" had an interesting premise though I wasn't sure how it would work. It starts slowly but very quickly becomes an intriguing war/spy …more
Savage Lands
Savage Lands
by Clare Clark
Savage Lands (12/23/2009)
I was initially intrigued by the subject matter since I knew nothing about the "casket girls" but it took awhile for me to get into the book. There are interesting historical descriptions that create a vivid background for the story but the story itself seemed slow for the …more
Dragon House
Dragon House
by John Shors
Dragon House - mixed reviews (7/18/2009)
Though I enjoyed this book, I had mixed feelings as I read it. The writing seemed uneven - it was slow at the beginning though the end of the story tears along. It made it hard to pick between good and average when rating this one.

The topic was appealing - a daughter of a …more
The Secret Keeper
The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris
Many Secrets to keep (3/9/2009)
This book captured my attention immediately. I've read books taking place in other African countries but not Sierra Leone - the author has done an excellent job of making you feel as if you are there - the heat, destructive forces of many types, the people - both powerful …more
Palace Circle
Palace Circle
by Rebecca Dean
Fun and easy read but.. (1/18/2009)
Palace Circle was a quick, enjoyable read but I had expected greater characters and more depth. The story could be told in a much longer version to take advantage of the settings and times. The first half went a bit more slowly for me. I enjoyed the latter part in Egypt …more
Murder in Mykonos
Murder in Mykonos
by Jeffrey Siger
Murder in Mykonos (11/10/2008)
Though the book started a bit slowly, it engaged me with a decent mystery and a very good feel for Mykonos. Jeffrey Signer obviously knows the people and terrain and it makes a great setting for this novel. I got a better feel for the male characters than the women who were …more
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