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Reviews by Margaret R. (Atlanta, GA)

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The Look of Love: A Piper Donovan Mystery
by Mary Jane Clark
The Look of Love (11/9/2011)
This is my first Mary Jane Clark book and I was disappointed in it. The format was quite choppy with short chapters (some only a half a page long. There was no character development. The plot was boring and predictable. I found myself hurrying through the last part just to get to the end. It would probably make a fairly good summer beach read, but that's all.
Before Ever After: A Novel
by Samantha Sotto
Good Summer Read (6/13/2011)
Before Ever After is a good summer read. I found the structure a little distracting - too much quick shifting between time frames. The historical stories were the best part of the book. It almost seemed as though two different authors were writing the book, because the quality of the writing was so good in the stories of the historical adventures and somewhat stilted in the present times. Still it was an enjoyable and different historical romance novel.
A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
by Jacqueline Winspear
A Lesson in Secrets (3/9/2011)
I am a great fan of Jacqueline Winspear having read all of her previous books. They present a picture of British life and thought during and after World War I along with an intriguing mystery. Her characters are all interesting and well developed, but this particular book had a few too many subplots and participants in them with changing names. Still it was a good read and a pleasant change from your run of the mill mystery.
The Girl in the Green Raincoat: A Novel
by Laura Lippman
the girl with the Green Raincoat (10/29/2010)
This is a thoroughly enjoyable novella with a "RearWindow" twist. The character development in Tess Monaghan from a reluctant expectant mother to a loving caring one is an interesting addition to the "Bluebeard" mystery. I am looking forward to reading more of Tess, Crow and their daughter and how their lives have changed. Here's hoping she keeps on detecting!
Bad Boy: An Inspector Banks Novel
by Peter Robinson
Bad Boy (7/5/2010)
Another great Inspector Banks book! In this book Inspector Banks' complex character is made even more so by the involvement of his daughter as one of the victims. This book is a real page turner and one of Robinson's best. Highly recommended for all mystery/thriller lovers.
The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery
by Elly Griffiths
The Crossing Places (10/30/2009)
This book was a very good read.I found it to be an engrossing mystery. The main characters were well drawn and so diverse - from a police detective to scholarly archeologists to new age followers. Also, the landscape of the Saltmarshes around Norfolk was so well depicted. Ruth Galloway, who is the amateur detective in this book, is one I am looking forward to reading more about in future books.
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