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Reviews by Barbara E. (Rockville, MD)

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I Am Livia
I Am Livia
by Phyllis T. Smith
I am Livia (1/3/2014)
I really enjoyed this historical fiction. It was well researched and well-written and provided a very interesting woman's view of life and politics in Ancient Rome. It is a good rebuttal to the portrayal of Livia in I, Claudius, though I must admit the completely malignant …more
The Venetian Bargain
The Venetian Bargain
by Marina Fiorato
The Venetian Bargain (12/8/2013)
I thoroughly enjoyed this work of historical fiction. The characters are well developed and the plot is thrilling. Fiorato deftly weaves historical characters into her fiction and her descriptions of Venice and the Plague were fascinating. I would highly recommend this book …more
The Last Girl
The Last Girl: A Maeve Kerrigan Novel
by Jane Casey
The Last Girl (4/15/2013)
When Vita Kennford and her 15-year-old daughter, Laura are found dead, Maeve Kerrigan and her colleagues have to decide whether they were the real targets or whether someone had been out to get revenge on Philip Kennford, amoral barrister and serial adulterer.

The book is …more
The Hour of Peril
The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War
by Daniel Stashower
The Hour of Peril (12/4/2012)
This book was a fascinating and compelling read. Although I know that Lincoln made it safely to Washington for his first inauguration, this book kept me on the edge of my seat with the unfolding details of the Baltimore assassination plot and the attempts to insure the …more
The Light Between Oceans
The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
by Margot L. Stedman
The Light Between Oceans (7/17/2012)
This is a wonderful debut novel. The book is a morally complex tale, filled with flawed characters whom you nevertheless end up routing for. From its opening pages to its final ones, I was enthralled. This is a wonderful exploration of life, love and responsibility. I would …more
A Simple Murder
A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns
A Simple Murder (4/4/2012)
I found this book disappointing and rather superficial. I found the book slow going in the beginning and I didn't really get much of a feeling for the characters, the time or the place. The mystery itself is somewhat interesting, but the setting of a Shaker community in 18 …more
The Darkening Field
The Darkening Field: A Novel
by William Ryan
The Darkening Field (11/27/2011)
I would highly recommend this mystery. Set in 1937 in Stalinist Russia, the plot revolves around the murder of a young woman working on a film set. The murder quickly turns into a much more complicated affair with the revelation of old crimes and many dark secrets. The …more
A Bitter Truth
A Bitter Truth: A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd
A Bitter Truth (8/2/2011)
A Bitter Truth is another wonderful entry in the Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd. This mother-son writing team is strong on character development and have given the reader some fantastic characters to watch grow and change throughout this satisfying mystery. Some of …more
Ever By My Side
Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight Acts Pets
by Dr. Nick Trout
Ever By My Side (12/17/2010)
I'll adored this book. From it's opening paragraphs, I was hooked. Nicholas Trout is a wonderful storyteller and writes in an engaging and captivating way. His characters, both human and animal, come vividly alive on the pages of this enchanting book. The portrait of his …more
A Lonely Death
A Lonely Death: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery
by Charles Todd
Another outstanding book in the series (11/23/2010)
I always look forward to the release of a new Charles Todd mystery, and "A Lonely Death" did not disappoint. The plot is carefully crafted and held my attention throughout. I especially enjoyed how all the characters in this small English village really came alive on the …more
Alice I Have Been
Alice I Have Been
by Melanie Benjamin
Not so innocent Alice? (10/26/2009)
I really loved this book. The author grabbed my attention from page 1 and held it until the end. Her writing is lyrical and evocative, especially in the sections dealing with the very young Alice. The author is so perceptive about a young girl on cusp of adolescence and the …more
Blacklight Blue
Blacklight Blue: The Third Enzo Files
by Peter May
Blacklight Blue (8/26/2008)
I read this mystery in one sitting and found it very entertaining and well-written. The action is virtually non-stop and the hunt for the killer is quite heart-stopping. The plot itself is complex, covering more than 20 years, but May's writing is good enough that it all …more
The White Mary
The White Mary: A Novel
by Kira Salak
The White Mary (7/31/2008)
I enjoyed this book a great deal. The writing and the story are engaging and the author's knowledge of Papua New Guinea is insightful. The main character's journey, both physically and emotionally, through unchartered territory is compelling. The author's descriptions of …more
Green Monster
Green Monster: A Sam Skarda Mystery
by Rick Shefchik
The Green Monster (6/26/2008)
Although this was a quick read, I found the mystery to be too predictable and the characters too shallow. The beautiful blond, who is intelligent, in a high-powered job, sexually promiscuous, and every man's dream is such a shop-worn cliché. I saw the twist to the plot and …more
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