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 meeting. Shortly after Mason agrees to act as Julia's personal assistant, the cops come calling. It turns out Julia is the prime suspect in the murder of a longtime enemy. Unfortunately for Julia, she has no recollection of what happened the night of the murder because she was blackout drunk.
Since the cops don't seem to be looking for any other suspects, Julia, Mason, and an assorted cast of characters have to do their own detective work to clear Julia's name.
It was a lot of fun to follow along as Julia and her gang leapt from one improbable situation to another. A very enjoyable plot together with well-drawn and interesting characters made for a great read. I wish Abbi would write more sequels, because I always want to spend more time with her characters!
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 this one, but for those who have, the callbacks definitely add to the reading experience.
Exiles centers around the disappearance (and presumed death) of Kim Gillespie who apparently abandoned her infant daughter at an outdoor festival.
As always, Harper does an incredible job of evoking rural Australia--not only the scenery but the ins and outs of life in a small town where everyone's lives seem to be intertwined.
Although Aaron Falk is the main character, the book also looks at events from the perspective of other characters both in the present and in the past. I wouldn't characterize the book as a page-turner, with cliffhangers at the end of every chapter, but the writing and story are so compelling that I found it very difficult to put down. If you're a fan of Louise Penny or Ann Cleeves, you'll love this book!
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 find this book interesting, because it offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the life of Churchill and those around him. You really feel like you are right there with them, and even though we all know how things turned out, it is very suspenseful! Recommended for history buffs and biography fans in particular, but anyone who loves a good story will enjoy it.
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--terrain as well as its impact on the people who live there. While I felt the book was a little slow to get started, and I wouldn't characterize it as a page turner, I would definitely recommend this to fans of family drama, with the added bonus of exploring a fascinating, but unforgiving, environment from the comfort of your own home.
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 characters. Force of Nature tells the story of an unexplained disappearance during a corporate team-building exercise in the wilderness, moving back and forth in time, which heightens the tension and makes the book a real page-turner. It's a quick read, and very enjoyable. Highly recommend!
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 that has suffered from this disease for generations.
The author does a wonderful job of telling the stories of various family members at risk of or suffering from the disease. She also delves into the research that helped identify the disease and the gene that causes it. The book is both fascinating and heartbreaking to read.
This would be a great book for book clubs. The family members who have the option of genetic testing reach different decisions about whether to undergo that testing, and the reasons underlying these decisions provide really interesting topics for discussion. Plus, the book is very readable; I had a hard time putting it down!
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 Caroline, and it was really interesting to watch her journey from total wimp to a woman who finally stood up for herself. The book raises a lot of good issues for discussion, including bullying, the nature of guilt, and redemption, making it a great selection for book clubs. I wish that some of the characters had been explored in more depth--at times they seem to be representations of ideas rather than actual people. But overall, I liked the book--it's an easy read that still managed to make me think.
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 developing her characters--they are real and imperfect people who grow and change, not just cardboard cutouts as is often the case in other mysteries. I also love her descriptions of Three Pines--she makes it sound so idyllic that I wish it were a real place so that I could move there!
How the Light Gets In ties up some loose ends from previous books, so I would not recommend starting with it. This is not a fast-paced mystery with lots of action, but anyone who enjoys good writing and fascinating characters will love this book.
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. Crombie painted such a wonderful picture that I wanted to hop on the next plane to England!
Although you don't have to have read previous books in the series, it is fascinating to watch the evolution of Gemma and her family from the first book until now. I was reminded of Louise Penny, another favorite author, who writes mysteries that do much more than tell "whodunit."
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 characters, none of whom were especially likable, I never really became attached to any of the characters or particularly cared what happened to them.
As always, however, Lippman paints a wonderful picture of life in Baltimore--reading her books always makes me want to visit the city!
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 to the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, which I felt to be a much better book. Here, the main character, Ginny, was well-developed, but that wasn't the case with the rest of the characters. The book was an enjoyable read, though, and I think it would be a good book for book clubs because it raises a lot of interesting issues, including whether Asperger's is a "disability" and the different ways people deal with loss. I guess I was just a little frustrated because the ideas raised in the book were really interesting but the execution was somewhat lacking.
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 easily skip over those parts and enjoy a story that spans several decades and continents. Aside from the plot, my favorite parts of the book were the descriptions of Ethiopia, where most of the story takes place--you almost feel like you are there. Probably not a good book for book clubs because it's so long, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in a book for a while!
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 - a rural area in Florida that has a lot of history behind it. I would recommend this to people looking for a well-written mystery who also might be interested in learning a little something about archeology and American history.
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