Jan 13-19, 2013

Storm Track by Margaret Maron - I had forgotten about this series and somehow read the latest while missing quite a few previous books. Deborah Knott is a judge and the youngest and only daughter in a family of 11 sons. She usually finds herself involved in a murder but she doesn't try to actively solve them. This one takes place right before a hurricane hits.

3 stars
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The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie - the first Hercules Poirot story. I'm sure I've read this before, but it may have been as long ago as 6th grade. So I didn't remember it. Hercules is my favorite detective of Agatha's. A couple of good twists at the end.

3 stars
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Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie - the second Hercules Poirot. Almost too convoluted, I got a little confused at the end. Another surprise murderer.

3 stars
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The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie - the first Tommy and Tuppence book. Takes place after WWI and I had to overlook all the slang and bright chatter. I don't have any idea if that's how young people talked then or if that's how Agatha thought they talked. It really kept me interested, though, and I couldn't know who the mysterious, evil Mr. Brown was until the end.

4 stars
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Star Wolf by Kathryn Lasky - the sixth book in the Wolves of the Beyond series and I think maybe the last. This is a children's book but I've really enjoyed the whole series. I got hooked on the Owls of Ga'hoole when the movie came out and then moved on to this series.

3 stars
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The Bookseller by Mark Pryor - this is called the first Hugo Marston novel but I don't know how the author knows that until he sells the second. Anyway, someone is killing the keepers of the bookstalls along the Seine in Paris. Hugo Marston is head of security for the American Embassy and he's not satisfied with the answers when his friend disappears. Quite exciting at the end.

4 stars
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The Solitary House by Lynn Shepherd - a novel set in Dickens time. A disgraced detective is hired to find the author of two letters and of course it develops into so much more. The only thing I didn't like was that it was written in present tense and with us knowing much more than the detective. Also, I've not read any Dickens so missed those references.

4 stars
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Voices by Arnaldur Indridason - set in Iceland and very dark in tone. A hotel doorman/Santa is found murdered in his squalid room in the basement. But it's also as much about the main detective and something that happened in his childhood.

4.5 stars
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The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - I loved everything about this book. It had such a fairy-tale, dreamy quality to it. An older couple homesteading in Alaska make a snowgirl that seemingly turns into a real girl. Delves into grieving and communication.

5 stars