Whispering Shadows is a multifaceted murder mystery. It is a character driven novel that explores the human psyche to advance the story. It takes place in contemporary China. The crime and its outcome are intricately tied to the country's leadership and history. Sendker deftly weaves episodes from China's past to trigger the characters' motivations and actions. The tension mounts as the reader is left to wonder how each character will confront the past in order to survive the future.

Kelly Corrigan has an amazing ability to tap into the human psyche and articulate the findings in a way that is both astute and humorous. Her words resonate with mothers, daughters, and women who are trying to figure out family relationships. It's the kind of book you want to share with your best friend, and if you are lucky, your mother.

Laura Lippman’s intricately plotted crime stories delve into the psychological motivations of the characters. My favorite is What the Dead Know, but And When She Was Good is right up there with a menacing storyline that presents such flawed characters that you sometimes want to shake them to make them understand how foolishly they are behaving. This is another page-turner that will keep you up way past your bedtime.

Amy Ephron is an expert at articulating everyday life of the rich and privileged. I grew up in a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles and the essays brought back many memories of a different era. Although well written and enjoyable, overall it lacked substance and was somewhat disappointing.

I am ambivalent about this book. The author has created a story that is both charming and annoying. Pony Jones, the dead rodeo star, is feisty, unique character that sparked my interest. But I found it difficult to stay involved with a story that just did not make sense. Magical elements appear and disappear signaling the birth and death of members of a Native American family. I could handle the wolves, but it seemed comical rather than spiritual to imagine thick stems of roses instantly growing right before your eyes. Why not settle on something a little more subtle and realistic such as a strong scent of roses rather than the whole bush coming to life? The writing is filled with fanciful imagery and metaphors. It's beautiful some of the time, but the author over does it and it loses its impact. Despite the flaws, the writer does show promise and I would give her another chance.

I loved Shadow of the Wind and when I had the opportunity to request an advance copy of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s latest novel, I jumped at the chance. The language is beautiful -- I was hooked from the first paragraph. The power of the written word and love of literature are key components of this prequel. The Sempere and Sons bookstore and Cemetery of Forgotten Books are once again part of the framework. The plot is complicated and the story is much darker than Shadow of the Wind, but the diabolical characters, obsessive love interest, and supernatural events are woven into the story in such a masterful way that despite the unlikely chain of events, the book is impossible to put down. I would read anything by this author.

I was fascinated by the mystery, magic and cosmic inevitability that pervades this family saga. The toss of a lemon hurled at the exact moment of her son’s birth clinches Sivakami’s destiny to become a young Brahman widow and has repercussions that reverberate through future generations.

The elaborate descriptions of everyday life immerses the reader in Brahman culture – the food, rituals, superstitions and religious observances are all presented in painstaking detail. The pace of novel, while sometimes a bit tedious, results in well-developed characters that provide a keen insight into human nature. The family dynamics that evolve during a time when India’s social values are changing offers a variety of topics for book club members to ponder.