Reviews by Brenda D. (Lincoln, CA)

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The Mystery Writer
The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill
The Mystery Writer (1/9/2024)
Conspiracy theories and an unscrupulous literary agency make for a fast-paced mystery thriller. The plot involves a murdered writer, a young woman aspiring writer and her brother as it takes them down a long, twisting path to clear their names. Thematically it points out …more
The Wager
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
by David Grann
The Wager (2/23/2023)
An unbelievable story, but true, of hardship, fortitude, betrayal, human folly, and survival. It's also a look at the pervasiveness of England's 18th century societal class structure, its government, and its imperialistic ambitions.

Author makes even 18th century maritime …more
So Much Life Left Over
So Much Life Left Over
by Louis de Bernieres
So Much Life Left Over (7/3/2018)
This book might take a little effort, but it is so worth it. To me, it started a little slowly and it is quite British, so some elements are unfamiliar. The characters are just incredible and the story unfolds as you read about Daniel Pitt, the main character, and the …more
The House of Broken Angels
The House of Broken Angels
by Luis Alberto Urrea
The House of Broken Angels (2/7/2018)
A rich, engrossing family saga - it could be a family anywhere, but it happens to be a Mexican-American family. This comes at a very opportune moment, the immigration issues are all over the media. Even though they came to this country as illegals, they have lived the …more
Force of Nature
Force of Nature: Aaron Falk Mystery #2
by Jane Harper
Force of Nature (10/19/2017)
A team-building exercise for a corporate group -- extreme camping in the Australian wilderness -- goes so wrong. "It wasn't one thing that went wrong. It was a hundred little things." And it's Aaron Falk, the wonderful Federal Police Agent from "The Dry" who is involved in …more
Love and Other Consolation Prizes
Love and Other Consolation Prizes: A Novel
by Jamie Ford
Love and Other Consolation Prizes (7/7/2017)
History and place seem to always be a part of Jamie Ford's stories. In this one, Ford takes us back once again to his familiar setting of Seattle, WA and a young boy. He has taken a rather horrifying event - the raffling off of a young child - and turned it into an …more
Manderley Forever
Manderley Forever
by Tatiana de Rosnay
Manderley Forever (12/14/2016)
It is evident that the author has done a great deal of research on her subject -- Daphne DuMaurier. Readers will find within these pages all of the background information about her life and loves that were the foundation of her work, including her obsession with places and …more
Circling the Sun
Circling the Sun: A Novel
by Paula McLain
Circling the Sun (5/7/2015)
In descriptive, almost lyrical language, the story of Beryl Markham's early years are told in the first person. As you are reading, you must keep reminding yourself that she's such a young woman in this story. The experiences of her life in a relatively short period of time …more
Blue Stars
Blue Stars
by Emily Gray Tedrowe
Blue Stars (12/9/2014)
Told from two points of view about two very different women and families, the story definitely depicted the difficult life of a military wife and/or mother -- physical, financial, sexual and emotional. But I couldn't get involved with the main characters -- one seemed smug …more
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
by Nancy Horan
Under the Wide and Starry Sky (11/18/2013)
Another success for author, Nancy Horan, in creating this wonderful "historical fictional" account of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, Fanny. She fully fleshed out the characters -- their strengths and weaknesses -- and led us on a journey from Europe to California, and …more
The Aviator's Wife
The Aviator's Wife
by Melanie Benjamin
The Aviator's Wife (12/5/2012)
It is difficult to put fictionalized words into such public and iconic figures as the Lindberghs. I realize a lot of research went into the writing, but I did have to remind myself quite often that this is "historical fiction."

There is an old saying about all our idols …more
The Roots of the Olive Tree
The Roots of the Olive Tree: A Novel
by Courtney Miller Santo
The Roots of the Olive Tree (7/8/2012)
A well written, imaginative story about a family of five generations of women. As with all families, there are secrets and those secrets, like the roots of trees, tend to spread out and tangle and have an effect on everyone. I was especially drawn to this book because I …more
The Leftovers
The Leftovers: A Novel
by Tom Perrotta
The Leftovers (7/7/2011)
How would you react after a Rapture-like event took place and you remained? How would you rebuild your life? Would you be filled with despair or hope? These are just a few of the questions posed in this intriguing, imaginative and intelligent new book. The story is told …more
The Trinity Six
The Trinity Six
by Charles Cumming
The Trinity Six (1/31/2011)
The introductory quote pretty much sums up this great spy thriller -- "...never catch a spy. Discover him and then control him ... A spy causes far more trouble when he's caught." I found the narrative a little confusing sometimes because of some of the background of the …more
Savage Lands
Savage Lands
by Clare Clark
Savage Lands (11/29/2009)
Clare Cook's novel, Savage Lands, depicts a time and setting that is certainly aptly titled. She brings a fascinating picture of a part of U.S. history that is probably little known to most of us outside of the Louisiana area. During the early 1700's, it was a very …more
The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (7/6/2009)
If you were a fan of Zafon’s first book “The Shadow of the Wind,” then pull up a comfortable chair, turn off the phone, and get the popcorn and snacks ready because you’re in for another treat. He brings us a mesmerizing Gothic tale of lost love, good and evil, and the …more
To Siberia
To Siberia: A Novel
by Per Petterson
In Siberia (10/18/2008)
In "To Siberia," Petterson creates a mood of a pervasive cold and barren landscape and tightly held emotions. The narrator is a young girl from the pre-teen years through early adulthood during and immediately after World War II in Denmark. You never learn her name, which …more
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