Murder 101 by Faye Kellerman - this is the 22nd Peter Decker book and imo it really shows. Decker has retired from the LAPD and is working in a small town in upstate New York. What starts out as a theft from a mausoleum turns into murder and missing art. Many cliches: the snotty, upstart young detective, blowhard extremely wealthy men, amoral art students, ex-CIA turned professor, and let's throw in some Russians too.
2 stars
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Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little - Jane is released on a technicality after 10 years in prison for the murder of her mother. She immediately goes incognito to a small town hoping to find the truth. I'm somewhat ambivalent about this book, parts of it were very good. But parts of it read like an entry in the Edward Bulwer-Lyyton contest. And the heroine is unlikeable. Hated the ending. Lots of cussing.
3 stars
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Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal - the author's brief thoughts on random things organized like an encyclopedia. If I could write, this is how I would want to do it.
4.5 stars
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The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - it's 1686 in Amsterdam and 18 yo Nellie has just arrived at the home of her new husband. He gives her a replica of their home as a wedding present and when Nellie arranges for a miniaturist to furnish it strange things begin to happen. While I really enjoyed the writing, the story itself was frustrating. Too many modern day concepts introduced and I didn't really understand what the role of the miniaturist was.
3 stars
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The Lewis Man by Peter May - a body is found in a peat bog on the Isle of Lewis. What follows is a story told in the past and present of love and revenge. This is the second in a trilogy. While it's not necessary to read the first, The Blackhouse, it might make this book more enjoyable.
4 stars
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The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - a collection of short stories, most written very early in her career, and the last short story written by her.
3 stars
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Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too: A Guidebook for Men and Their Cats by Michael Showalter - a semi-tongue in cheek look at how guys can become cat lovers. Includes chapters on choosing the right cat and how to understand your cat.
3 stars
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One Plus One by Jojo Moyes - Jess is a single mom with two kids barely keeping it together. Ed has just made a mistake at work that may cost him everything. Somehow they and a very large dog end up making a trip to Scotland in Ed's car. Funny and sad. A couple of sex scenes.
4 stars
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