Make Me by Lee Child - the town of Mother's Rest has secrets to keep. Jack Reacher rarely turns down a challenge. The two clash with lots of bone crunching violence. And some shootouts. Almost at the very end of the book you find out what the secret is.
4 stars
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The Drowned Boy by Karin Fossum - a toddler is found drowned in a pond near his home and the police suspect the story the mother tells. Not really a mystery as such, although it features Norwegian policeman Conrad Sejer. I kept reading only to learn what really happened. I thought the ending was an impossible coincidence.
2 stars
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The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness - the indie kids are brave, smart, clever teenagers who periodically have to save the world from attacks from other worlds. But this book isn't about them, it's about the ordinary kids who are just trying to get through the last few weeks of school, graduate and have a nice summer before they go off to college. All while trying to not get caught up in whatever the indie kids are dealing with. A YA book about friendship and true bravery. I especially enjoyed the beginning of each chapter as it told what was going on with the indie kids.
"Chapter the Second, in which indie kid Satchel writes a poem, and her mom and dad give her the loving space to do just feel what she needs to; then an indie kid called Dylan arrives at her house, terrified, to say a mysterious glowing girl has informed him of the death of indie kid Finn; Satchel and Dylan comfort each other, platonically."
PG-13
4 stars
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Oct 11 - 17, 2015
A book I didn't finish
My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh - I got 3/4's through this book and decided it was just too much. Too much teenage angst, way too much sex talk and the narrator was not relatable. Possibly because he was a teenage boy extremely focused on himself. I thought this was more of a mystery but it was a coming of age story.
My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh - I got 3/4's through this book and decided it was just too much. Too much teenage angst, way too much sex talk and the narrator was not relatable. Possibly because he was a teenage boy extremely focused on himself. I thought this was more of a mystery but it was a coming of age story.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Oct 4 - 10, 2015
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs - the 3rd book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. This picks up immediately after the 2nd book and I had a little trouble remembering what happened. Jacob has discovered a new gift and it may help him rescue the kidnapped peculiar children and Miss Peregrine. He travels to a time loop in a slum part of Victorian England. I found the descriptions of the place and inhabitants disturbing. A trilogy that does seem to end nicely.
4 stars
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Smoked by Elaine Macko - the vegan wife of a butcher dies under mysterious circumstances and soon the police suspect murder. Alex Harris, co-owner of a temp agency, is asked by the butcher's daughter to help clear her father. This is the 5th in a series so I'm not sure how Alex has gotten her reputation, I think she's naturally snoopy. Filled with lots of talk about family, pets, and drinking lots and lots of tea. I had it figured out long before Alex and thought I would scream if she mentioned one more time that everyone had an alibi because of the murder method. This was a free Kindle book.
2 stars
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The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman - Grace Blades was 5 when her parents committed murder/suicide. Now she's a renowned psychologist specializing in people traumatized by violence and grief. But she also has a secret side. A new patient she met in a different context is found murdered and her life takes a scary turn. About every other chapter is a flashback to Grace's previous life. I found her not an entirely sympathetic character but I sure wanted to know what was going to happen. A couple of graphic sex scenes made me unable to give this more than
4 stars
4 stars
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Smoked by Elaine Macko - the vegan wife of a butcher dies under mysterious circumstances and soon the police suspect murder. Alex Harris, co-owner of a temp agency, is asked by the butcher's daughter to help clear her father. This is the 5th in a series so I'm not sure how Alex has gotten her reputation, I think she's naturally snoopy. Filled with lots of talk about family, pets, and drinking lots and lots of tea. I had it figured out long before Alex and thought I would scream if she mentioned one more time that everyone had an alibi because of the murder method. This was a free Kindle book.
2 stars
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The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman - Grace Blades was 5 when her parents committed murder/suicide. Now she's a renowned psychologist specializing in people traumatized by violence and grief. But she also has a secret side. A new patient she met in a different context is found murdered and her life takes a scary turn. About every other chapter is a flashback to Grace's previous life. I found her not an entirely sympathetic character but I sure wanted to know what was going to happen. A couple of graphic sex scenes made me unable to give this more than
4 stars
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2015
The Green Ember by S.D. Smith - two young rabbits find themselves suddenly embroiled in war, treachery, and heroism. Heather and Picket return from berry picking to find their home in flames and are set upon by wolves. Taken to safety in the hills, they learn about their family, themselves, bravery, and friendship. I didn't know this was about rabbits when I started. Somewhat reminiscent of the Redwall series. Aimed at middle graders. I'll be reading the prequel and look forward to a sequel.
3.5 stars
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Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo - Kate Burkholder is the police chief of Painter's Mill, a small community of Amish and "English" families. When a murder appears to be linked to a murder from sixteen years ago, Kate is convinced it can't be the same perpetrator. She doesn't take the proper steps and pays for her mistake. The narrative switches from first person present tense to second character past tense which I found irritating. Graphic with language, a strong PG-13. The first in a series of seven books so far, not sure I'll continue since the second seems to have the same sexual violence theme.
3 stars
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The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon - a story of sisters and secrets. Piper and Margot, along with their friend Amy, discover something one summer that ruins their friendship. Years later, Amy does something horrific and the sisters try to find out what happened. What does it have to do with two other sisters, one of them Amy's mother? Told from multiple viewpoints and time periods. I was sucked right in before I realized this was more horror/fantasy than straight mystery. Really kept me guessing until the end.
4 stars
3.5 stars
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Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo - Kate Burkholder is the police chief of Painter's Mill, a small community of Amish and "English" families. When a murder appears to be linked to a murder from sixteen years ago, Kate is convinced it can't be the same perpetrator. She doesn't take the proper steps and pays for her mistake. The narrative switches from first person present tense to second character past tense which I found irritating. Graphic with language, a strong PG-13. The first in a series of seven books so far, not sure I'll continue since the second seems to have the same sexual violence theme.
3 stars
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The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon - a story of sisters and secrets. Piper and Margot, along with their friend Amy, discover something one summer that ruins their friendship. Years later, Amy does something horrific and the sisters try to find out what happened. What does it have to do with two other sisters, one of them Amy's mother? Told from multiple viewpoints and time periods. I was sucked right in before I realized this was more horror/fantasy than straight mystery. Really kept me guessing until the end.
4 stars
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