Reviews by Marianne D. (Crofton, MD)

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The Secret Keeper
The Secret Keeper
by Kate Morton
More than one secret (5/19/2023)
Intriguing book with an ending you might not guess. Characters well drawn out—some are likable, some maybe not so much. Not sure I’ll read more Kate Morton, but I enjoyed this one.
The Secret Keeper
The Secret Keeper
by Kate Morton
Historical fiction with a twist (4/11/2023)
It took me awhile to get into this book, but the second half flew. I enjoyed the intertwined stories and the surprise ending.
The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Good book, intriguing backstory (2/3/2021)
I definitely enjoyed this book. While it is an easy read, there is much to ponder in the story and the history behind this fictionalized account. The authors' comments at the end of the book are critical.

While I'd probably give the book itself a 4.5, the story behind the …more
The Prophets
The Prophets
by Robert Jones Jr.
This is a book meant to be read more than once... (11/3/2020)
Thank you, Robert Jones, for sharing your brilliant story-telling in a skillfully woven and written tale. Back in June, I helped form a racial justice task force at our church. Over the past many months, I have read books and articles, listened to podcasts and watched …more
With or Without You
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
Wandering... (5/13/2020)
I was generous in giving this book three stars. While the characters were for me one-dimensional as portrayed, any of them could have been a credible main character. It seemed to me like the author was trying to decide whom she wanted to take that role. I certainly couldn't …more
The Last Train to Key West
The Last Train to Key West
by Chanel Cleeton
Last Train to Key West (3/26/2020)
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The literary style is fairly simplistic, and the conclusion is reached through a series of coincidences. It will appeal to many fans of romantic historical fiction and will be a decent choice for book clubs, It might be interesting, …more
American Dirt
American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins
Do Not Pass This One By! (12/11/2019)
"American Dirt" grabbed me from the very first sentence. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to rush through the book or savor every word. Author Jeanine Cummins' goal is to encourage us—maybe even force us—to see migrants as human beings, not statistics or problems. Even …more
The Last Year of the War
The Last Year of the War
by Susan Meissner
Not Just Another WWII Book (11/16/2018)
I'm not sure what I expected from "The Last Year of the War," but author Susan Meissner surprised me. For at least the first 100 pages, I was unimpressed. I found the writing flat and rarely above the fourth grade level. The central fact around which the story is spun, that …more
Red, White, Blue
Red, White, Blue
by Lea Carpenter
Nesting dolls (7/10/2018)
“Espionage is not a math problem...It’s a painting.” And nesting dolls don’t always fit neatly into each other. That is an accurate description of the covert side of the CIA and other parts of the intelligence community, based on my knowledge of both. Official relationships …more
News of the World
News of the World
by Paulette Jiles
Read it as soon as you can! (8/31/2016)
I just loved this book. Paulette Jiles certainly brings the characters and their surroundings to life. I knew nothing about circuit riders after the Civil War who delivered readings of exotic news to eager audiences on the frontier. This is how Captain Kidd makes his living. …more
The Summer Before the War
The Summer Before the War
by Helen Simonson
Not "Major Pettigrew"! (5/6/2016)
Helen Simonson writes beautifully about subjects I am interested in. Her first novel, "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand," was an understated tour de force. "The Summer Before the War" is not, in my opinion. Although the characters are described so that you can see them and hear …more
A Certain Age
A Certain Age: A Novel
by Beatriz Williams
"A Certain Age," or "The (Rose) Cavalier" (3/30/2016)
Loved this book! It's not a deep, demanding read, but the romantic intrigues worked for me and the mystery line added just the right degree of complexity. Is it "the perfect summer beach read," which is the way it was described before I decided to read it? Maybe, but that …more
Fallen Land
Fallen Land
by Taylor Brown
Civil War Dystopia (12/31/2015)
The Advent and Christmas seasons were the wrong time for me to read Fallen Land. The book is beautifully written - I could visualize almost every scene clearly, but few, if any, of them are pretty. War is war, and this could be any war: ugly, dark, anxiety-ridden. In fact, …more
Fishbowl
Fishbowl: A Novel
by Bradley Somer
A quirky delight! (5/6/2015)
Ian, an adventuresome goldfish, is the leitmotif in Bradley Somer's snapshot of life in an apartment building. Every one of Somer's many characters comes to life through his vivid, detailed descriptions of their physical features and actions. Imagine several short stories, …more
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