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Reviews by Vivian H. (Winchester, VA)

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Trust No One: A Thriller
by Paul Cleave

DancingWith Captain A (6/17/2015)

Trust No One by Paul Cleave is a fascinating journey into the disintegrating mind of mystery writer Jerry Gray aka Henry Cutter who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at 49. He decides to keep a journal of his mental deterioration so he can read about who he was as …more

Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir
by Jamie Brickhouse

Engaging Journey of Recovery (4/3/2015)

I felt conflicted by the narrative. Having friends who have gone through similar journeys during the same time period caused me to remember their highs and lows, their battles to live in mainstream society and their struggles with addiction. The writing is engaging. The …more

He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him
by Mimi Baird with Eve Claxton

Fascinating & Disturbing (2/8/2015)

This book is a bald, brutal, deeply disturbing look at mental illness from the perspective of the ultimate insider – Harvard educated physician Perry Baird who suffered from bi-polar disorder and wrote about his experiences in mental institutions during the 1930's through …more

Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Thought Provoking & Well Researched (1/4/2015)

"Whispering Shadows" is a novel of modern China, how the legacy of the Cultural Revolution continues to affect those who survived its cruelty, an investigation into the disappearance of an American businessman involved in a joint venture with a Chinese partner, a love story …more

The Life I Left Behind
by Colette McBeth

A Compelling Story (11/9/2014)

It has been a long time since I've picked up a book by a new author that I couldn't put down. But this story was so intriguing, the characters well developed, and the narrative engaging that I wanted to stay buried in the story and then felt sadness when I reached the last …more

The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson

Intriguing Historical Mystery (7/9/2014)

I love historical fiction and really looked forward to reading this book and was initially a bit disappointed that the initial chapters of The Paris Winter felt ponderous without much promise. However, I slogged on and ultimately found this delightfully crafted mystery set …more

The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin

The Story Had Potential But Was Not Engaging (4/18/2014)

I love historical fiction and this book had so much potential to be engaging; but it was not what it could have been.

Many of the book's characters including Elizabeth of Austria and Bay Middleton actually did exist and after reading this novel was compelled to read a bit …more

I Am Livia
by Phyllis T. Smith

A Refreshing Perspective on Livia Drusilla (1/25/2014)

I Am Livia is a "must read" for anybody who loves well-researched historical fiction about fascinatingly strong women of history who lived in challenging times, achieved power and/or influence and deserved to be remembered for her own contributions and not just her …more

The Venetian Bargain
by Marina Fiorato

Another Delightful Read by Marina Fiorato (12/1/2013)

I love historical fiction and stories that are set in Italy. Venice is a city that brings to mind glorious visions of Renaissance art and architecture, gondolas slipping effortlessly through the canals, the beauty of hand blown Murano glass, the power of the Doges, the …more

Henry and Rachel
by Laurel Saville

Beautiful Writing ~ Not So Beautiful Story (9/13/2013)

If the entire book were as beautifully written and engaging as the first few chapters, this would have rated among the best books I have ever read; but, the story did not hold up for me. And ultimately, I ended up flipping through the pages of the second half of the book …more

Bitter River: A Bell Elkins Novel
by Julia Keller

Bitter River~Inconsistent but enjoyable (7/20/2013)

Bitter River is a murder mystery involving the death of Lucinda Trimble, a talented 16-year-old girl, who is found dead in the Bitter River. The story is set in the West Virginia mountain town of Ackers Gap, a place peopled with pragmatic folks dealing with economic …more

A Nearly Perfect Copy
by Allison Amend

An Interesting Study of the Human Condition (3/14/2013)

"A Nearly Perfect Copy" kept me interested from the first page. I read it in two days and felt a bit of loss when I finished. That is the sign of a very readable book.
This novel involves two overlapping stories. One revolves around the torment of a New York City art expert, …more

Gone Girl: A Novel
by Gillian Flynn

Mind Candy (2/8/2013)

Gone Girl is the break out novel by Gillian Flynn that has received a significant amount of press and adulation since it was published last summer. Gone Girl is what I term “mind candy”, a novel of suspense that also causes one to suspend all concept of reality. +

Gone Girl …more

Ghostman
by Roger Hobbs

A Tour de Force of a Thriller by a New Author (12/24/2012)

Wow! What a rollercoaster ride! Ghostman is an A1 thriller by newcomer Roger Hobbs, a recent graduate of Reed College in Portland Oregon. This is a book I did not want to put down from the moment I read the first sentence. The protagonist, who hasn't used his real name …more

The Dark Winter
by David Mark

Dark Winter - Murders in the North of England (12/22/2012)

First time novelist David Mark hits a bull’s eye with his first effort, the intriguing police procedural, The Dark Winter, which introduces readers to Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy. The action takes place in and around Hull in the north of England.
McAvoy is a gentle …more

A Study in Revenge
by Kieran Shields

Convoluted Victorian Gothic (12/22/2012)

This is a sequel to a book titled The Truth of All Things, which I have not read. It is a detective novel set in Portland, Maine during the 1890’s and features a police investigator named Archie Lean and a private investigator that is half Native American named Perceval …more

The Forgetting Tree: A Novel
by Tatjana Soli

Slow Moving Modern Gothic (8/12/2012)

This book was difficult for me to read. I found the story slow going, disjointed and the characters unappealing. While I liked the concept of the novel – damaged people dealing with tragedy, critical illness and loss, a dysfunctional family, and fighting for a lost cause – …more

The Woman at the Light: A Novel
by Joanna Brady

Loved "The Woman at the Light" (7/6/2012)

This book drew me into the drama, intrigue and ambiance of ante-bellam New Orleans, Key West, the lighthouses that gave safety to mariners off the Florida coast, Havana, and the Seminole wars. I love historical fiction that encompasses this time period which predates the …more

The Age of Desire: A Novel
by Jennie Fields

From Innocence to Desire (7/1/2012)

Fans of Edith Wharton will truly appreciate this novel based upon a few of Wharton's years in Paris beginning in 1907. From the salons of Paris, to the Wharton's estate (The Mount) in Lennox, MA, to the Vanderbilt's apartment on the Rue de Varenne, to the English …more

Defending Jacob: A Novel
by William Landay

Is There a Murder Gene? (3/18/2012)

This book was far more fascinating than I'd expected with a focus on family dynamics and what happens to a seemingly normal middle class family when an only child is charged with murder. I can't imagine anybody reading this story and not wondering if this could happen in …more

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Dream Count
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A searing new novel from the bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists, exploring four women's desires.

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The Jackal's Mistress
by Chris Bohjalian

From the New York Times bestselling author of Hour of the Witch, a Civil War love story of a Confederate wife and a wounded Yankee.

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