A Fatal Twist of Lemon by Patrice Greenwood - a cozy mystery in every sense, this is set in a tea room in Santa Fe. Right before opening day, one of Ellen's patrons is murdered at a thank-you tea. And the arrogant cop thinks she did it. A pleasant read and I'll probably continue the series when I need a light book.
3 stars
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An Eye for Murder by Libby Fischer Hellmann - this story begins in Prague during WWII and then fast forwards to present day. Ellie Foreman, a documentary filmmaker, finds herself caught up in murder, politics, and secrets. Some things fit together too easily but the end was pretty good. Published in 2002, this is the first in a series of 15 books. The editing of the Kindle version was pretty bad, making conversations difficult to follow. This and the previous book were part of a bundle, not sure if I'll continue this series.
2.5 stars
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Nov 15 - 21, 2015
The Golem of Paris by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman - this is the 2nd Jacob Lev book involving the mystic Jewish story of golems. Since the end of the first book, Jacob has been working on old case files. He comes across a case that eventually takes him to Paris. The story also goes back in time to tell us what happened to Jacob's mother to make her have a mental breakdown. The previous book is summed up concisely and quickly, which I always appreciate. A mystery with fantasy elements.
4 stars
4 stars
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Nov 8 - 14, 2015
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate - Jackson is about to go into fourth grade when suddenly his imaginary friend appears. Who happens to be a giant cat that can talk. Crenshaw first appeared when Jackson and his family were homeless and living in their minivan. It looks like that might happen again but Jackson doesn't need Crenshaw's help this time. Or so he thinks. This is a middle school/grade school book.
3 stars
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Dance of the Bones by J.A. Jance - a mishmash of a story that's billed as a J.P. Beaumont novel but he doesn't appear very much. And when he does, it's suddenly in the middle of a chapter in first person. Very jarring. A man serving 30 years for a murder he may not have committed, an unsolved murder in Seattle, blood diamonds, and Indian lore all mixed together very badly. Another of my favorite authors has lost her way.
2 stars
3 stars
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Dance of the Bones by J.A. Jance - a mishmash of a story that's billed as a J.P. Beaumont novel but he doesn't appear very much. And when he does, it's suddenly in the middle of a chapter in first person. Very jarring. A man serving 30 years for a murder he may not have committed, an unsolved murder in Seattle, blood diamonds, and Indian lore all mixed together very badly. Another of my favorite authors has lost her way.
2 stars
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Nov 1 - 7, 2015
Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb - the 41st Eve Dallas mystery. This author is very prolific, this is the pseudonym of Nora Roberts, and I'm beginning to think she has a team of ghost writers. Lots of the same ground was gone over and over in this story and the plot was icky. Two lovers leave a trail of tortured bodies on their way to New York where they make the mistake of falling into Eve's territory. Too graphic, too much sex, and too much language. I used to like these for the character development but I might be just about done with this series.
2 stars
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The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley - Thaniel Steepleton is a telegraphist for the government in London in 1883. He finds himself in possession of a watch that ends up saving him from a bomb at Scotland Yard. When he searches for the watchmaker, he finds himself caught up in impossible things. This was billed as a fantasy and I guess I just didn't understand it. Also, an element that I find very annoying was introduced late in the story.
1 star
2 stars
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The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley - Thaniel Steepleton is a telegraphist for the government in London in 1883. He finds himself in possession of a watch that ends up saving him from a bomb at Scotland Yard. When he searches for the watchmaker, he finds himself caught up in impossible things. This was billed as a fantasy and I guess I just didn't understand it. Also, an element that I find very annoying was introduced late in the story.
1 star
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Oct 25 - 31, 2015
In the Dark Places by Peter Robinson - the 22nd Inspector Banks novel starts with a stolen tractor. Then there's suspected murder, actual murder, and missing persons mixed up with lots of stolen property in the countryside of England. Banks is getting a little mopey as he gets older but one of my favorite detectives gets a romantic interest so that evened things out a little. Fairly exciting ending as things finally fall into place.
4 stars
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The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne - Angus and Sarah move to a small Scottish island after the death of one of their twin daughters. Things are already fragile and then their surviving daughter claims she's really Lydia, not Kirstie, the daughter who died. Told from both parents viewpoints, I didn't find either of them very likeable. Rather an eerie book.
3 stars
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Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience compiled by Shaun Usher - just what it says, letters from the famous and the unknown. Some funny, some sad. The letter from the woman who had a mastectomy without anesthesia is probably the one I will most remember.
3 stars
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Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt - 12 year old Jack gets a foster brother who is very much unlike him. Joseph is 14, tried to kill a teacher, and has a daughter. I liked Jack a lot, he's a great little boy. This is a short YA book that was very easy to read, I liked the writing very much.
4.5 stars
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The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck - the author becomes obsessed with the idea that portions of the Oregon Trail still exist and begins replicating the journey with his own wagon and mules. He's joined by his brother and they make the trip without any support vehicles. Lots of history about the trail and the people who traveled it. A few too many asides about his relationship with his father, religion, and politics. The history of mules was interesting to me. Quite a bit of language.
3 stars
4 stars
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The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne - Angus and Sarah move to a small Scottish island after the death of one of their twin daughters. Things are already fragile and then their surviving daughter claims she's really Lydia, not Kirstie, the daughter who died. Told from both parents viewpoints, I didn't find either of them very likeable. Rather an eerie book.
3 stars
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Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience compiled by Shaun Usher - just what it says, letters from the famous and the unknown. Some funny, some sad. The letter from the woman who had a mastectomy without anesthesia is probably the one I will most remember.
3 stars
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Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt - 12 year old Jack gets a foster brother who is very much unlike him. Joseph is 14, tried to kill a teacher, and has a daughter. I liked Jack a lot, he's a great little boy. This is a short YA book that was very easy to read, I liked the writing very much.
4.5 stars
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The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck - the author becomes obsessed with the idea that portions of the Oregon Trail still exist and begins replicating the journey with his own wagon and mules. He's joined by his brother and they make the trip without any support vehicles. Lots of history about the trail and the people who traveled it. A few too many asides about his relationship with his father, religion, and politics. The history of mules was interesting to me. Quite a bit of language.
3 stars
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