BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

The Clockmaker's Daughter: A Novel
by Kate Morton

A Haunting Story (3/20/2023)

I always enjoy a Kate Morton story; an old house with secrets, a mystery from long ago, and a cast of characters and then a twist that you don't see coming. If I had any complaint it would be too many characters with back stories; I did find myself skimming in the later half of the book.

But still always a good story being told.

The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly

Just okay (3/19/2023)

I'm an outlier here and I did not finish this book. It's more me than the book itself; I've read too many with this type of story line so I couldn't really connect with the characters.

The Good Sister
by Sally Hepworth

Deceptive (3/19/2023)

A story that revolves around two twin sisters with very different personalities. The reader gets both sisters's views of their childhood and their current lives. There's something going on here but you just can't quite put your finger on it so you just have to keep reading until the end!

West with Giraffes: A Novel
by Lynda Rutledge

A Journey back in time (3/19/2023)

Overall a really good story. We follow four characters; Woody, the Old Man, Red, and the Giraffes across the country from the east coast to the west coast during the dust bowl era. We get a glimpse of what that trip would have been like if we had taken it ourselves back in the day. Each character has a backstory that the author keeps us just interested enough to keep reading to find out how it all ends.

The God of Endings: A Novel
by Jacqueline Holland

Lost Interest (11/5/2022)

I requested this book because of the storyline but sadly I could not get invested in the main character. I just felt like the character could have been fleshed out more. There we three storylines happening; past, present, and what was going on with main character (hunger). Some things seemed so unrelated that I got frustrated and skipped to the end where I discovered that where I thought the story was going is where it went but I didn't really care at that point. This was just not the book for me.

Good Husbands: A Novel
by Cate Ray

A Letter Arrives (3/20/2022)

A letter arrives that changes the lives of three women. What would you do? It's a moral and heartbreaking decision. Good plot; good character development. Will look for more from this author.

The Gods of Gotham: A Novel
by Lyndsay Faye

History & Mystery (4/4/2021)

The author gives us a look at the beginning of the police force “copper stars” in NYC wrapped up in a mystery. Good character development. Held my interest throughout the story. While Jayne Steele is still my favorite for this author; I enjoyed this one very much and will read the second installment of the series.

Palace of the Drowned
by Christine Mangan

Atmospheric (3/6/2021)

If you like a sense of eeriness and gloomy atmosphere then you might enjoy this story. As a reader it kept me on the edge mostly because I had no idea what was going on with the main character; so many things are "hinted" at and I found myself constantly trying to nail down the storyline. The ending was okay, but it left me feeling that there were so many other ways it could have ended. The author's previous novel, Tangerine, has been on my TBR list for awhile. This book has left me more inclined to read it so that's a good thing!
My 3 stars is because it was good but not great. But I'll be anxious to read the next one.

The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman

A murder mystery but oh so much more! (12/16/2020)

Great characters with witty conversations , touching realities of old age, life’s choices and their consequences, and a murder mystery to wrap it all into a nice little package. Loved it! Will be looking forward to book 2.

Raft of Stars
by Andrew J. Graff

A good YA novel (11/28/2020)

I enjoyed the story of the two boys and their adventure on the river however I felt like this could have been a much deeper story. I know a lot of books these days are 300 pages or less which is a shame. This story had so many character stories going on; Grandpa's past, Fish's Mom, Bread's dad, Cal the sheriff, Tiffany. I would have enjoyed a long visit with all of them. Instead it's a story focused on the boys but with the lives of all the other characters thrown in for good measure. The woods and river were also with us throughout the story and I would say were one of the main characters. But for me it was too jam packed and I found myself skimming it over and just wanting to get to the end. I could see where it would be an enjoyable read for young adults.

The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman

So much more than a mystery. (11/14/2020)

I smiled. I chuckled a little. I cried. I thought this was just going to be a cozy little mystery. But it was so much more. The characters were so well done; I wanted to be in the room with them listening to their conversations, being a part of their group. This is a story of choices made in life that stay with us to the end. It’s about needing people in your life. It’s also got a murder mystery or two to solve. So well done. And the best part is there is a number 2 coming out in 2021. Can’t wait! Listened to this on audio and loved the narrator.

Washington Black
by Esi Edugyan

Different (9/9/2020)

I enjoyed this story. The pace of the book moved along for the most part although there were a couple of sections that I found myself skimming over. Mostly because I wanted more time with the main character. I felt the beginning was better than the end but overall a worthy read and I’ll be interested in what is next for this author.

Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy

One to Share (4/11/2020)

This is definitely a book I would share with my book group. It would bring about really great discussions; whether you agree, disagree, or somewhere in between regarding the earth and the changes mankind has wrought the author has written a story to bring the subject to life. It brought out feelings of anger (not necessarily for who you would think), sadness, but also life affirming. I will add this author to my "one to watch" list.

Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights
by Dovey Johnson Roundtree , Katie McCabe

Worth it! (9/11/2019)

I'm on page 175 of 304 of Mighty Justice: What I have read so far is very interesting and I couldn't imagine having as much courage and perseverance as this lady had. The only downside for me would be all the names being thrown around. Based on my age and where I grew up they don't really mean anything to me and I feel like I need to google all of them. It's starting to feel like a history book you "need" to read not want to read. I will definitely finish because it's a story we should all know; perhaps later when I can focus on it more.

You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley

I Like Dreaming (8/10/2019)

You know when you have a dream and see someone so clearly; their face; their movements; their clothes; their voice. Then you wake up and realize you have never known that person or seen them but yet they were so real.
Well that's just a piece of what this story is about. But there is so much more. Marriage, loss, grieving, the thrill of first falling in love, the laughter you share, the jokes. The author brings all that to the table and makes you feel it and remember it.
Not my usual book read (at least not since I was in my twenties) but will look for more from this author in the future. Read it! You won't regret it.
Thanks BookBrowse.com for the chance to preview this book.

The Blackhouse
by Peter May

The book cover says it all! (7/25/2019)

This story is as eerie as the book cover. A very bleak and dark storyline that centers more on the back story of the main character's childhood growing up on Lewis Island that you sometimes forget a murder is supposed to be solved.
It all comes together in the end with a past revealed that I did not see coming.
Will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy.
Listened to this one versus reading the book.

The Winter Soldier
by Daniel Mason

There is a story here (3/14/2019)

There is a heart wrenching story here but first you need to get underneath all of the history and geography. In the beginning I felt like I need a historical textbook next to time but I hung in there and it was worth it in the end. A story of how choices we make can not only change out lives but also others in ways we can not imagine at the time. Will be waiting to see what this author comes out with next.

The Other Typist: A Novel
by Suzanne Rindell

You think you know, but do you? (2/7/2019)

This was a character driven slow unwrapping of a story with a WTH? ending. We follow the story a two women characters whose lives become entwined so much so that by the last sentence you wondering if you knew what you thought you knew. This is different and that is what made it enjoyable.

Reviews by Lois B. (Eden, VT)

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