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Reviews by Deborah C. (Seattle, WA)

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Making Friends Can Be Murder
Making Friends Can Be Murder
by Kathleen West
A fun read! (2/2/2025)
I loved the premise of this book--women with the same name (Sarah Jones) but very different backgrounds form a group. I loved getting to know the different characters, and it was fun to see how they interacted with each other.

When another Sarah Jones meets an untimely …more
One Death at a Time
One Death at a Time
by Abbi Waxman
Another great read from Abbi Waxman! (11/30/2024)
Abbi Waxman's books are all different, but each one is funny and heartwarming, with wonderful, quirky characters. One Death at a Time is no exception. Natasha Mason (who goes by her last name) is a recovering alcoholic who meets crotchety former actress Julia Mann at an AA …more
The Mystery Writer
The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill
Farfetched plot and undeveloped characters (1/7/2024)
It looks like I'm in the minority, but this book really did not work for me. A mystery involving books and writers is right in my wheelhouse, so I was really looking forward to The Mystery Writer. The premise was intriguing--a young Australian writer with a somewhat …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
A fun, heartwarming read! (10/2/2022)
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise has been aptly compared to Thelma and Louise and Midnight Run. It tells the story of an unlikely duo--21-year-old Tanner and 84-year-old Louise on the run from Florida to California. As the trip unfolds, we learn more about what …more
Exiles
Exiles: Aaron Falk Mystery #3
by Jane Harper
Another winner from Jane Harper (8/8/2022)
I eagerly await each new book from Jane Harper, and Exiles did not disappoint! She returns to following the story of Aaron Falk, the lead character in her first two novels, The Dry and Force of Nature. You don't need to have read these books to enjoy or follow along with …more
Metropolis
Metropolis: A Novel
by B. A. Shapiro
Interesting twist on the suspense genre (3/31/2022)
The best thing about this book was its setting--a self-storage warehouse in an old building in Cambridge, MA. The story centers around an accident (or was it?) at the warehouse and is told from the perspectives of a varied cast of characters connected with the warehouse. …more
The Splendid and the Vile
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
by Erik Larson
A different perspective on WWII (1/5/2020)
Erik Larson is a master of narrative nonfiction, and this book does not disappoint! He portrays one year in the life of Winston Churchill, beginning with when he was named Prime Minister in 1940. Even if you are already very familiar with the events of WWII, I think you'll …more
The Lost Man
The Lost Man
by Jane Harper
A Book About Place (11/14/2018)
Another great book by Jane Harper! To me, the most important "character" in the book was the isolated Australian outback where the story takes place. The location informs every aspect of the story, and the author did an amazing job of describing the rugged--almost alien-- …more
Force of Nature
Force of Nature: Aaron Falk Mystery #2
by Jane Harper
Force of Nature (10/16/2017)
Having read Jane Harper's first novel, The Dry, I was really looking forward to Force of Nature, and I was not disappointed! In both novels, location plays a central role in the story, and the author does an excellent job of making you feel like you are right there with the …more
The Almost Sisters
The Almost Sisters
by Joshilyn Jackson
This book has it all! (5/20/2017)
I am a huge Joshilyn Jackson fan and was prepared to love this book--I was not disappointed. As usual, the author does a wonderful job of creating believable and relatable characters who are faced with everyday situations. Because she is such a good storyteller, these …more
Mercies in Disguise
Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family's Genetic Destiny, and the Science That Rescued Them
by Gina Kolata
Would You Want to Know? (11/15/2016)
What if you carried a gene that meant that, when you reached middle age, you would develop a degenerative disease for which there is no cure. Would you want to find out whether you carried that gene? This book explores that question through the eyes of one extended family …more
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
by Matthew Dicks
The (Not Quite) Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs (6/9/2015)
I absolutely loved Matthew Dicks' last novel, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, and was very much looking forward to reading his latest book. Although I didn't enjoy The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs as much, there was a lot to like. As an introvert, I could relate to …more
How the Light Gets In
How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, #9
by Louise Penny
Another Winner From Louise Penny! (7/23/2013)
I am a huge Louise Penny fan but was really disappointed with her last book, The Beautiful Mystery, which I thought was boring and slow. I am happy to report that she is back on track!

One of the main reasons I like Louise Penny is that she does such a good job of …more
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
by Rachel Joyce
Charming and Delightful (7/16/2012)
If you liked Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, this is the book for you! The story is heartwarming, and just when I thought things might be getting a little too sentimental, the author interjected a welcome dose of dry British humor.

I would recommend this for book clubs, as …more
No Mark Upon Her
No Mark Upon Her: A Novel
by Deborah Crombie
Five stars aren't enough! (1/3/2012)
I am a big fan of Deborah Crombie, and I think this book, the latest in the Gemma James series, is the best yet. The book combines richly-drawn characters with a compelling mystery that takes place in the world of rowing, with the action centered in Henley-on-Thames. …more
The Most Dangerous Thing
The Most Dangerous Thing
by Laura Lippman
Not Laura Lippman's Best (8/28/2011)
Although I am a huge fan of Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan books, I did not really enjoy this stand alone. The plot was fairly interesting, but I found the repeated shifts of perspective distracting. Because the story was told from the standpoints of so many different …more
The Kitchen Daughter
The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry
The Kitchen Daughter (4/4/2011)
The premise for this book is really interesting--it's told from the perspective of a young woman with autism spectrum disorder who can bring people back to life (temporarily) by cooking their recipes. Because the main character has Asperger's Syndrome, I kept comparing it …more
The Nobodies Album
The Nobodies Album
by Carolyn Parkhurst
A most unusual book! (6/29/2010)
The book alternates between (1) telling the story of author Octavia Frost and (2) excerpts from her books with alternate endings to those books. I really enjoyed the dual tracks of the story and thought the premise was interesting--what if authors could rewrite the endings …more
Cutting For Stone
Cutting For Stone
by Abraham Verghese
Cutting for Stone (1/22/2009)
Although this book is over 500 pages long, it's definitely worth the time it takes to read. It helps if you're interested in medicine, as the author and most of the main characters are doctors, and there are a number of descriptions of medical procedures. If not, you can …more
Findings
Findings: Faye Longchamp Mysteries, No. 4
by Mary Anna Evans
Good book, if a little slow-paced (5/21/2008)
If you're looking for a fast-paced story with lots of action, this book is not for you. I'm not sure I would have finished the book if I hadn't been reviewing it, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The characters were interesting and unusual, as was the location for the novel - …more
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