BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

The Continental Affair: A Novel
by Christine Mangan

Enjoyable (7/28/2023)

I had trouble getting into this story at the beginning, but after reflection I realized that Christine Mangan did such a good job conveying the ennui of the first narrator, Henri -- that it transferred to me while reading the first chapter. I enjoyed this novel. It was interesting to follow Henri and Louise, learn their stories and watch as their relationship develops. An entertaining read.

The Montevideo Brief: A Thomas Grey Novel
by J. H. Gelernter

A Lackluster Adventure (4/18/2023)

To begin with I should confess that I have not read the first two books in the series. I do like a good seafaring adventure, but "The Montevideo Brief" fell short. The plot was slow to develop, the prose was stilted, and the characters were shallow and uninteresting.

Some of It Was Real
by Nan Fischer

Compelling Plot and Intriguing characters (3/31/2022)

This book was hard to put down! Nan Fischer's book "Some of It Was Real" is an interesting combination of a mystery adventure and complex character development. Days later I still find myself thinking about this story. The two main characters set off traveling together, both with bad intent, filled with animosity and hate. As they delve into the past, they each end up sharing their basic humanity and vulnerability with each other even though their cross-purposes continue. An intriguing, engaging read.

The Fields: A Novel
by Erin Young

Great procedural with an unexpected twist (11/8/2021)

The Fields is a really good mystery. I was drawn in at the very beginning. The characters are well-developed, and the writing makes you feel like you are part of the small farming community. Engaging and suspenseful with kind of a crazy twist.

Palace of the Drowned
by Christine Mangan

Not compelling (5/3/2021)

Palace of the Drowned was not a compelling read for me. I was never able to develop any sympathy for the characters. I found them shallow and uninteresting which made me lose interest in the plot about halfway through the novel. The author did make an effort to set the scene with interesting descriptions of Venice. But that alone could not save this book. This was not my favorite read.

Raft of Stars
by Andrew J. Graff

Raft of Stars - not much depth (11/23/2020)

Raft of Stars was an interesting story, but the characters lacked depth. As a result I never got invested in the story, and although I was curious how things would end -- I found that I really didn't care what happened to any of them. This book was OK -- I wish that it had more substance.

The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull

Interesting story, not much depth (7/29/2020)

I enjoyed following the story of Thelma and her sister. The subject was new to me, I didn't know much about the Morgans, Vanderbilts and Windsors. I felt that switching the time line in alternating chapters did not add anything to the progression of the plot. I was disappointed that there wasn't much character development. At the end, I still don't feel like I know Thelma (or any of the characters very well)

The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James

Crazy finish a little hard to take. (12/10/2019)

This book is a fun, spooky read. I enjoyed the plot development as Carly's investigation and Viv's story unroll simultaneously. The twist at the end was a little far-fetched, but in general the novel is entertaining. It would be a good option to pick up in the airport bookstore.

The Secrets We Kept: A novel
by Lara Prescott

Well written, interesting story (8/2/2019)

"The Secrets We Kept" is a very enjoyable read. The characters are likable and well developed. There is a change of narrator with every chapter, so I had to pay close attention to the chapter headings to know who was speaking. (It took a little effort at first, but I soon fell into the rhythm). I was not familiar with the history of the novel "Doctor Zhivago," and found the tale fascinating. I highly recommend it. I think this novel would be a good candidate for book clubs -- it is certain to stimulate discussion.

The Chalk Man
by C. J. Tudor

Creepy with a twisting plot (1/18/2018)

CJ. Tudor does a great job building an unsettling and creepy atmosphere in the Chalk Man. Menacing events launch the protagonist, Eddie, into a remembrance of unsolved crimes of the past. I had a hard time getting invested in the characters, however, and found some of the plot twists nonsensical. Not my favorite book this year.

The French Girl
by Lexie Elliott

Highly recommended (9/21/2017)

The French Girl is the best book that I have read in quite some time. The voice of the main character, Kate, is very engaging -- I was drawn in by her story from the start. Little by little we learn about the complicated relationships within her circle of friends and see how they change as the threat of a criminal investigation develops. This is an interesting story with compelling characters. I highly recommend it.

I See You
by Clare Mackintosh

I See You - a creepy thriller (11/22/2016)

Although it took me a while to get vested in the story, this is a good read. I See You is well written, with good character development for the two leads, Zoe and Kelly. Besides an interesting thriller, this book starts one thinking about how our daily routines may turn us into easy prey.

The Secret Language of Stones: A Daughters of La Lune Novel
by M. J. Rose

Light summer read (5/9/2016)

"The Secret Language of Stones" is a engaging light read. Opaline is a compelling character, as she struggles to find herself, and accept her gift of lithomancy. Part love story, part thriller, this novel is a fun read.

The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins
by Antonia Hodgson

Thomas Hawkins --Loved it (1/25/2016)

This is an excellent follow-up to Antonia Hodgson's first novel Devil in the Marshalsea. The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins is well written, and transports the reader to London in the early 1700's. It has an interesting cast of characters. Tom has a penchant for running into trouble, and this tale of his exploits is wonderfully entertaining and absorbing. What a great read.

Crazy Blood
by T. Jefferson Parker

Crazy Blood - underwhelming (12/29/2015)

In spite of my interest in skiing, this book fell short, in my opinion. Reminiscent of a bad ski movie, the main character, Wylie returns to his home town and challenges his childhood rival in the upcoming ski competition. I found the characters shallow, and didn't care too much about what would happen to them. About 175 pages in, the plot picks up and gets more interesting. Most readers would not give a book that much of a chance.

Lamp Black, Wolf Grey
by Paula Brackston

Light summer read (7/29/2015)

Lamp Black, Wolf Grey is a fun, light read. The plot is a little formulaic -- maiden moves to the countryside somewhere in Great Britain to escape/work through personal problems and gets embroiled in strange/mysterious happenings. I enjoyed the tale of Merlin and Megan, but the "present day" story line was not quite as engaging.

Still Life Las Vegas
by James Sie

Still Life --Interesting, creative read (5/28/2015)

I really enjoyed this novel. As Walter's story unfolds you are drawn further and further in. I love how Sie uses graphic narrative to convey some of the more emotional sequences of the book, just as Walter would if he were writing his own story. This book is very well done -- I highly recommend it.

The Rabbit Back Literature Society
by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen

Rabbit Back Literature Society - Quirky and mysterious (11/21/2014)

Quirky, dark humor kept me interested in this tale. A mix of whimsy and intrigue keep the plot moving along and make it a fun read. There were a few ebbs in the pace --at times I found it hard to sympathize with the main character but in general the twists and turns of this novel are very engaging.

The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson

Pulls you right in (8/10/2014)

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson is an engaging, well written novel. It gives you a window into the art world as it existed for women painters during the age of Impressionism as you follow the lives of three unlikely friends. Well developed characters help pull you in to this fascinating story about struggle, friendship and revenge.

Ghostman
by Roger Hobbs

Ghostman -- entertaining, quick moving suspense (1/14/2013)

Clever and well written, Ghostman by Roger Hobbs is a great suspense novel, filled with twists and turns. I found it hard to put down. The main character, whose real name is never revealed, is a compelling person who manages to survive even as every step of the way is filled with obstacles. What a wonderful debut.

Reviews by Samantha H. (Golden, CO)

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Reviews by Samantha H. (Golden, CO)

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