I just loved reading this book! Let me tell you why. (Full disclosure: I am a fervent Anglophile.)

Most of all, and to the best of my knowledge, this book appears to be built on historical accuracy. I have read many of the books cited as used by the author and her distillation of content is masterful. This is crucial to me. I am often wary of historical fiction generally because liberties are taken with the historical record...not here, my friend. I am impressed because:
First, Bryn Turnbull paints a vivid picture of the power and pathos of the rich elite on both sides of the ocean. Her rendition adequately reflects the culture of the 20's and 30's in the American and English world of fame and privilege.
Second, Turnbull plays very fairly with portraits of specific players: the Vanderbilts, Mom, Thelma and sibling Morgans, Marmaduke Furness, Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. She plays no favorites.
Third, the book transitions very effectively back and forth between the times and these people's stories. The reader is led to various kinds of information that steadily build the dramatic effect.
Fourth, my long held question of just who Thelma Morgan Furness was in the Wallis Simpson/David Windsor drama was given a totally fleshed out answer. I now understand the various perspectives of the needs and wants of the main characters. Mission accomplished!

The questions for book clubs provided at the end should create a lively discussion among readers of like minds.

At 418 pages, I finished this book in 3 days. So fun! I now have the Thelma Furness puzzle piece in place and can go on to read a further cited book about Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper to further my knowledge of these people and these times. A book that gives direction to other books. How great is that?

Have you ever submitted a request for a First Impressions book, waited a week or two for its arrival....and read it ALL in 2 sittings? Such was the case with me and my copy of MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing. I read half of the book one night and got up early the next morning to finish the other half because... I JUST HAD TO KNOW! This twisted, roller coaster ride/read has just got to be one of the best choices you could make in the thriller category. The couple seems normal on the surface and the family seems beset by all the usual aspects of family life. Beware: this parent/family dynamic is in a class of its own, my friend! The unraveling starts on page 1 (hang on!) and leaves the reader truly gasping as you skid head first into the last sentence on page 371. Action is non stop, main characters are dark and the whole thing is one twisted endeavor... and so much fun. To say anymore would be to say too much. Get it as soon as you can! This author is now on my "Do Not Miss" list!

The reader of this review needs to understand two things upfront: the reviewer is a longtime reader of British history (both fiction and non) and a loyal fan of MASTERPIECE television.

VICTORIA by Daisy Goodwin covers the relatively short time between the 18 year old Victoria becoming Queen of the British Isles and her meeting with her future husband, Prince Albert. That is a strength of this book-providing the reader with a narrower set place in time of plot and characters. Historical fiction can sometimes work against itself in terms of the heft of details to be understood. This narrowing allows the author Goodwin to do a more than credible job in presenting both plot and character in such a way as to enable the reader to easily follow the narrative as well as to gain insight into the motivations of supporting and lead characters. That is not to say that Victoria's strict and strident early years are ignored; they are dealt with in such a way that the reader comes away with a clear understanding of both the social/political complexities of that time as well as the complexities of character of the young queen who will lead her Britain into the 20th century. Goodwin provides a valuable service in showing both the romantic / passionate young girl as well as the naive/ isolated / insecure context from which she springs. This rendering compares starkly with the only visual that some readers will have of the dour and reclusive final years of her lengthy reign. The reviewer was especially interested to experience the "fleshing out" of the characters of Prime Minister Melbourne, Victoria's mother and Princes Albert and Ernst. Goodwin takes much of her content from the diaries of Victoria who began writing voluminously when she was but 12. I happily anticipate the screen adaptation which is to appear in the US in January of 2017.

I recently finished reading Since She Went Away by David Bell. I have read this author twice before. On the plus side for this novel, I did enjoy: the construct of how media can significantly affect crime procedure, the author's use of alternating chapters involving Jenna and Jared, chapters of 3-4 pages in length and the simple but effective storyline. It is another play on how our perceptions often are more important to us than existing reality. On the minus side, I felt that some of the happenings where not totally believable, that the characters were not totally as fleshed out as I would like and that I never did feel "the thrill of the chase" as I like to do when I am reading a mystery or thriller. For those reasons, I think that Since She Went Away would make a decent beach read. Certainly not one of David Bell's more engaging reads.

The thrillers that I rate highly are those that keep me tuned in and focused. They must get me from Point A (beginning) to Point B (ending) in a captivating manner. I must not be able to easily predict the ending . Characters must be varied and of some depth, setting must be detailed and plot must be within the realm of possibility.
THE WIDOW by Fiona Martin honestly has me stymied. It has some stylistic high points but also involves an equal number of low points as well, in my opinion. It involves a common enough subject and I felt that the addressing of this subject in this book was handled in a novel manner which was initially captivating. However, I wanted to quit reading about the middle of this book. The story seemed to lose its allure for me.I simply lost interest. Perhaps the frequent changing of narrators and time periods had me confused. Perhaps I could not find investment in any one character. Perhaps the ending was too predictable. However, I kept on, first because I had agreed to review it but also because there WAS a thread of curiosity that pulled me forward on the path. The settings WERE detailed and the plot WAS more than possible. I thought the ending was really superbly handled and finally, well worth the "slog."
I am glad I finished THE WIDOW but I am not sure I would have if I was not fulfilling a review promise. On the one hand, I can't rate THE WIDOW highly for the reasons I have stated. I can't rate THE WIDOW lower than average for the reasons I have stated. Is it worth your time or isn't it? Mine is only one review. Read the others and then I guess you will just have to judge for yourself.

Most of us are familiar with this book scenario: Teen girl is persuaded to come to a house party by her desired boyfriend. Boyfriend ignores her at the party. Girl is upset, drinks too much, runs out of the house to be alone...and... Well, I bet most of us could write the rest of the story ourselves. However, when this scenario involves ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN by Wendy Walker, you would be SO WRONG to assume that! Told by the girl's psychiatrist, you certainly get the "what" and the "where" but hang on to your bookmark for the "why" because you won't be needing it. This book is a major mystery ride, my friend, that you will be hard pressed to put down. If you haven't been surprised by an ending lately, and if you love stories that involve successive character and family member ripples after a given event, put this book on your "To Read" list and Run (don't walk!) to claim a copy when it is published. What's that you say? Why, you're welcome!

TRUST NO ONE by Paul Cleave is an apt title, indeed. Jerry Grey, crime fiction writer, is gradually succumbing to early onset Alzheimers. In the meantime, killings are occurring around him that bear eerie similarities to the plots of some of his thrillers. Is Jerry guilty or isn't he? The narrative jumps time constantly from"now" to "then" in rapid succession until the reader herself begins to doubt what she has read previously! This author does a craftily successful job in "showing" the reader the confusion of dementia by the narrative pattern rather than "telling" about it. Great story, exquisitely written, entirely engaging. I would strongly recommend you set aside large blocks of time for your reading to as to safely arrive at the end! What a ride!

When does it behoove us to lay bare the truth? When does it serve us and others best to hide our truths from the light of day? Does truth telling diminish and destroy or can it provide valuable closure? Do we ever REALLY know another person? LITTLE BLACK LIES by Sharon Bolton confronts us with those questions and dares us to explore the answers. Through 3 narrators who are allotted some 100 pages in sequence each, we are drawn into the intertwined lives of Catrin, Callum and Rachel. Through cleverly designed perspectives, the strategic "dropping" of clues and a mystery that starts ever so slowly then virtually gallops to the end, I found myself second guessing all I had come to know of and from these narrators. The ending was one I never saw coming. This book is an act of reader discovery that you owe yourself to experience. What are you waiting for?

THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND by Colette McBeth has just about everything on my 'Get it!' book checklist. Its setting is my travel destination of choice ( anywhere in England), it has multiple narrators (Eve, Melody and DI Rutter) and the story line ping pongs effectively in time ( between past and present). I especially like the technique used in this book of present time narration (trying to solve the mystery) and past time narrations (what actually happened.) The reader is given bit by bit details as each section unfolds and you will be racing through to the end to see the who and why solution and so finally, it must ALWAYS be a captivating thriller/mystery. BINGO! McBeth is 4 for 4 and has now been placed on my "read this author for sure" list. If those 4 characteristics are deal breakers for you, don't even think about leaving THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND unread!

In this age of social media with seemingly constant self-disclosure, it is wise to remember that families DO hold fast to life altering secrets, often with toxic family fallout. Nowhere is this more evident than in PRECIOUS THING by Collette McBeth. In this debut novel, nothing is exactly as it seems and every character has his/her own definition of what constitutes "the truth" of their individual lives. While the novel's early place moves slower than most readers might be accustomed to, the mystery, midway, begins to gallop toward a totally satisfying ending. I am looking forward to the next McBeth book. This debut author definitely has the makings of a skilled mystery writer. See for yourself!

Those of you who wait impatiently in anticipation of the next intricate mystery will want to locate a copy of Brekke's international bestseller, Where Monsters Dwell. This challenging novel asks the reader to 'operate' in two time periods (1528 and 2010) and three locales (Bergen, Norway/Trondheim, Norway/Richmond, Virginia), all in pursuit of solutions to a perplexing set of crimes. I must admit, as a reader, that the first 100 pages prompted me to keep a current listing of character name and locale within easy reach. However, after that point, this story took off like a rocket.

All in all, the mystery is compelling, the characters are effectively fleshed out and the conclusion, intriguing. Block out some solid time in your reading schedule to try this one on for size. As for me, Brekke joins my lengthening list of solid international mystery writers along with Mankell, Lackberg and Nesbo.

Carla Norton's THE EDGE OF NORMAL is an uncomfortable book to read. This is not because this debut author's publication is stale of plot or devoid of writing craft, quite the contrary. My reading discomfort was directly due to the timeliness of the abhorrent evil portrayed and the roaring success of Norton's writing in creating character and action for the reader. Author Carla Norton is THAT accomplished.
Reeve LeClaire, age 22, is a survivor. She is a survivor of a 4-year kidnapping/sexual abuse existence and 6 years of ongoing therapy. Through the efforts of her more than capable therapist, Dr. Ezra Lerner, Reeve has come to understand the dynamics of captivity syndrome: both the long term angst of the victim and the continual cruelty and cunning manipulation of the predator. Together with Dr. Lerner, Reeve is asked by the Cavanaugh family to mentor their daughter Tilly, a recently rescued victim of an ongoing serial predator case. In so doing, Reeve becomes embroiled in the case itself and ultimately, plays a pivotal role in its conclusion.
With the reporting of the recent years-laden Cleveland, Ohio abduction of 3 girls, none of us lacks for elementary background in kidnapping for sexual purpose. What I find so compelling about this fictionalized story,though, is the wealth of detail concerning the horrors inflicted on the victims, the pathological mind set of the predator and the various legal, media and police perspectives attendant on such a case. With the listing of resources consulted (and phone numbers provided for victim support), it is readily apparent that this author made a considerable and lengthy study of her subject matter. She writes not just to entertain but to instruct as well. Norton's framework of 80 chapters of 2-6 pages each, allows the reader to keep this cast of many characters in clear focus while following the many developing threads of the case. While Reeve LeClaire's solitary goal is simply to approach feeling "normal"after her own horrendous captivity, it is a different Reeve altogether to whom the reader bids goodbye at the end.
Yes, I was uncomfortable reading THE EDGE OF NORMAL...just as we all should be. Perhaps that is the point.

The first 100 pages of CLOSE MY EYES started very s-l-o-w-l-y for me. I must admit to a few times when I momentarily thought about stopping. My advice to you, dear reader? DON'T. Once this story gets going, it absolutely gallops. As the chapters progress, many characters weave in and out and the reader acquires one bit and then another bit and then another bit as the plot unfolds. I, for one, never saw THAT ending coming! I have to say that I even halved my daily walk routine to read a few more chapters in between sessions ... something I have never done before.
While some have compared CLOSE MY EYES to GONE GIRL and BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, I do believe it falls short of those marks but once this book takes off, it is a run away train until the very last page. My second piece of advice, dear reader? Find a comfortable chair for the last 250 pages of this book and clear your calendar for you are "in it to finish it.!"

I have just finished reading A MURDER AT ROSAMUNDS GATE by Susanna Calkins and overall, I find it to be a VERY respected debut novel. Though representative of 1665-1666, there is much of 2013 about it. Religious hypocrisy, forensics crime solving, the dictates of one's rank in society and relegated gender divisions are all represented here in wondrous historical fashion. Since English history is my passion, I was fascinated by the information of both the Plague year and the Great Fire presented here in story form. Such information, presented often in dry textbookese, was successfully brought to life by Calkins' excellent narrative skills. For example, I now have a much better handle on that abyss known as Newgate Prison and the plight of the Quakers thanks to the author's marvelously atmospheric writing.Since mystery is my preferred choice of reading, I finished this book in record time and am faithfully (eagerly!) awaiting the next. The only issue I have with this book involves the romantic story line. I found it to be somewhat predictable and therefore, not as interesting. Overall, I loved this book and have listed the name "Susanna Calkins" on my preferred author list...and you will too!

Disguises,female spies, assassination ballots,fake identities... SUBTERFUGE! On the heels of Obama vs. Romney comes THE HOUR OF PERIL by Daniel Stashower.Coming off a 2012 election that was at points ridiculous and riveting, THE HOUR OF PERIL knocks this telling of the conspiracy to kill Abraham Lincoln pre-inauguration, right out of the park. With quotes from the newspapers of the day, this historical saga, ostensibly about Lincoln, is actually more a panorama of US history, circa 1861. Peopled by John Brown, Frederick Douglas, John Hay, Abe Lincoln and most markedly, Allan Pinkerton, this is political REALITY at its most horrifying. This is the REAL DEAL. If you like American history and have always wondered about the early "Secret Service", you'll be sorry if you miss this one!

"They should be home"...what mother or caregiver has not had that selfsame thought when the time is late and loved ones are unaccounted for? Moments later, baby Millie is mysteriously found safe and sound on the front step in her carriage, Adam is nowhere in sight, and the reader is instantly launched into Grace's journey to find answers to this appearance/disappearance conundrum. BENEATH THE SHADOWS by Sara Foster is an impressive first offering by an author who shows tremendous promise in this debut novel. With the English moor as character in its own right, we are moved along in and among those people who populate Grace's world as layers of the mystery are gradually peeled away. I read this novel in two days because... I JUST HAD TO KNOW! I hope we will be hearing more from Sara Foster...SOON!

I completed A LAND MORE KIND THAN HOME a few weeks ago and have thought about it extensively EVER SINCE. This novel is full of metaphors which I love. I also find the strategy of different character chapter narrators to be especially effective in this particular book considering all the parallel story lines. I was most intrigued by the subject matter, some of which concerned the place of organized religion in our lives. John Meachem, on CHARLIE ROSE recently, addressed the issue of whether religion should be in the hands of the religious. How timely an answer is A LAND MORE KIND THAN HOME! This is an absolutely worthwhile read. Please highly consider it.

Welcome to London, circa 1649. Smell the squalor of Newgate prison. Investigate the relationship between hangman and accused on the way to Tyburn hanging tree. Look over YOUR shoulder in the midst of religious intolerance in the time of Oliver Cromwell. Stacia Brown (Accidents of Providence) weaves a darn good tale involving a romance/mystery plot but most importantly, her descriptive ability is wonderfully evocative of this time in British history. After finishing reading (and wanting to take a shower?) pose to yourself the question asked of you by the author, "What is it that love requires of each of us?" My only disappointment with the book was that there was no attempt to replicate the vernacular of the 17th century British citizens in this novel. Surely this is a shame considering how admirably Brown succeeds on every other level. No matter...Read it!

Did he...or didn't he? Did she...or didn't she? This legal mystery will keep you up LONG after your bedtime and you will be glad of it. A murder involving bullying is j-u-s-t t-h-e s-t-a-r-t to this well-paced family study. The part narrative and part court transcript style is a delicious way to tease the reader. William Landay's DEFENDING JACOB will knock your socks off!

Mary Chapin Carpenter sings a song that includes the lines, "our future begins with our past" and "step out of the shadow you cast." These lines relate perfectly to IN SEARCH OF THE ROSE NOTES by Emily Arsenault. This is a book , narrated in an alternating present/ past format that addresses the question of the mysterious disappearance of a babysitter years ago. Nora returns years later, to visit her home town where it all happened and, to re-visit the person she once was by connecting with former friends. While the premise was promising, I felt that the style did not truly deliver for me. While it lacked that "glued to the page" factor I treasure, it was interesting enough for a casual take-along to the beach. Those who enjoy a look back as well as a revisiting of those years of early teen angst may wish to take a peek at this book. All in all, not compelling but interesting enough.