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.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
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
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Sept 20 - 26, 2015
Last Ragged Breath by Julia Keller - Bell Atkins is prosecuting a reclusive man for the murder of the public relations person of a development company. Woven in with the real story of the Buffalo Creek flood of 1972, the retirement of the sheriff, the end of coal mining, and illegal prescription drugs. Not the best in the series.
3 stars
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The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan - Genevieve Lenard is a high functioning autistic person and an expert in non-verbal cues. She works as an investigator for an insurance company and is drawn into a case of art forgery and murder by her boss. Lots and lots of list making and miscommunication on all sides make for a too long book.
2 stars
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The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - set in France during WWII this isn't so much a story about the war as it is two sisters who are more alike than they realize. Vianne has to make difficult choices as she tries to protect her daughter on the family farm. And Isabelle makes rash choices bringing danger to herself and others when she joins the Resistance.
4 stars
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The Storm Murders by John Farrow - retired police officer Emile Cinq-Mars is asked by the FBI to look into the murder of two policeman along with a couple in a remote farmhouse. There has been a recent snow storm and there are no footprints around the house. Now it looks as if there is a serial killer who only kills after natural disasters. Lots of elusive threads and suspicion among various police forces, Also quite a bit of language. There have been other books featuring Cinq-Mars, which I have not read, and this book is the beginning of a trilogy.
3 stars
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The Blood Pit by Kate Ellis - the 12th Wesley Peterson book. This time, instead of old historical texts beginning each chapter, Wesley's friend Neil is receiving letters that bear a resemblance to the current crime. What does the writer know and are they a threat to Neil? Quite a surprise at the end.
3 stars
3 stars
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The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan - Genevieve Lenard is a high functioning autistic person and an expert in non-verbal cues. She works as an investigator for an insurance company and is drawn into a case of art forgery and murder by her boss. Lots and lots of list making and miscommunication on all sides make for a too long book.
2 stars
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The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - set in France during WWII this isn't so much a story about the war as it is two sisters who are more alike than they realize. Vianne has to make difficult choices as she tries to protect her daughter on the family farm. And Isabelle makes rash choices bringing danger to herself and others when she joins the Resistance.
4 stars
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The Storm Murders by John Farrow - retired police officer Emile Cinq-Mars is asked by the FBI to look into the murder of two policeman along with a couple in a remote farmhouse. There has been a recent snow storm and there are no footprints around the house. Now it looks as if there is a serial killer who only kills after natural disasters. Lots of elusive threads and suspicion among various police forces, Also quite a bit of language. There have been other books featuring Cinq-Mars, which I have not read, and this book is the beginning of a trilogy.
3 stars
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The Blood Pit by Kate Ellis - the 12th Wesley Peterson book. This time, instead of old historical texts beginning each chapter, Wesley's friend Neil is receiving letters that bear a resemblance to the current crime. What does the writer know and are they a threat to Neil? Quite a surprise at the end.
3 stars
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Sept 13 - 19, 2015
Scents and Sensibility by Spencer Quinn - in the 8th book of the series, Chet and Bernie are on the trail of endangered saguaro, Bernie's grandfather's watch, and their elderly neighbor's son. With a 15 year old kidnapping case thrown in. All told from the viewpoint of Chet, a dog. He's easily distracted so the story is somewhat disjointed sometimes. A really abrupt cliffhanger ending.
3 stars
3 stars
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Sept 6 - 12, 2015
Shouldn't You Be in School? by Lemony Snicket - finally, some of the many questions in Stain'd-by-the-Sea are answered in the third book of the series. Someone is setting fires and it all has to do with the mysterious plot of the villain Hangfire. We're still left hanging until the next book, though.
3 stars
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You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day - how playing games on the internet led the author to a fulfilling life. And lots of stress. Humorous, with some language.
3 stars
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Little Black lies by Sharon Bolton - set in the Falkland Islands in 1994. Over two years, two boys have gone missing and now there's a third. The small community wants to believe it's all accidental, but that's becoming more difficult. In the middle of it all is Catrin, who lost her two boys in a tragic accident, ex-military Callum, and Rachel, Catrin's former best friend who was responsible for the accident. Told from those three viewpoints. I have to admit I read the middle pretty fast to get on with the story. Lots of twists at the end.
4.5 stars
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The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler - Simon is a librarian living in a house that is slowly falling into the sea. He receives in the mail a strange book and discovers his grandmother's name in it. It seems almost all the women in his family performed as mermaids in carnivals and drowned at a young age. The story is told in present time and the 1700's. There are Tarot cards and maybe a family curse, but I didn't read the story that way. This is one you'll probably love or hate.
5 stars
3 stars
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You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day - how playing games on the internet led the author to a fulfilling life. And lots of stress. Humorous, with some language.
3 stars
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Little Black lies by Sharon Bolton - set in the Falkland Islands in 1994. Over two years, two boys have gone missing and now there's a third. The small community wants to believe it's all accidental, but that's becoming more difficult. In the middle of it all is Catrin, who lost her two boys in a tragic accident, ex-military Callum, and Rachel, Catrin's former best friend who was responsible for the accident. Told from those three viewpoints. I have to admit I read the middle pretty fast to get on with the story. Lots of twists at the end.
4.5 stars
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The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler - Simon is a librarian living in a house that is slowly falling into the sea. He receives in the mail a strange book and discovers his grandmother's name in it. It seems almost all the women in his family performed as mermaids in carnivals and drowned at a young age. The story is told in present time and the 1700's. There are Tarot cards and maybe a family curse, but I didn't read the story that way. This is one you'll probably love or hate.
5 stars
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Aug 30 - Sept 5, 2015
Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon - a bride is decapitated on her wedding day and retired detective Dave Gurney is asked to assist the investigation by the bride's mother. Lots of twists and turns, lots of thinking and introspection, and lots of meetings. I'm not sure the author actually likes policemen, most are portrayed as belligerent, buffoons, or bombastic. Also, at just over 500 pages, this is about 200 pages too long. Lots of language. Second in a series, don't think I'll continue.
3 stars
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X by Sue Grafton - the 26th in the Kinsey Milhone series and only 2 more letters in the alphabet. This takes place in 1989, so the author is able to use the drought in California at that time to make some comments about the present. This story is a series of unrelated mysteries, including a favor for the widow of an old acquaintance. Lots of following and observing, and then a rather unsatisfactory ending. Still enjoyable just to see what Kinsey is up to.
3 stars
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Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron - a man is found bludgeoned to death on Judge Deborah Knott's father's land. Was the cause of his death a long standing grudge or more recent events? The mystery part is pretty meh, but we go back in time to learn more about Deborah's parents courtship. The 20th in the series.
3 stars
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When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket - the second in the All the Wrong Questions series. Written in the usual Snicket fashion with many allusions and few answers. A clever scientist has disappeared and her parents seem unfazed. And what is the mysterious society Snicket is trying to stop? We won't find the answers until the fourth book, which is soon to be published. A children's book.
3 stars
3 stars
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X by Sue Grafton - the 26th in the Kinsey Milhone series and only 2 more letters in the alphabet. This takes place in 1989, so the author is able to use the drought in California at that time to make some comments about the present. This story is a series of unrelated mysteries, including a favor for the widow of an old acquaintance. Lots of following and observing, and then a rather unsatisfactory ending. Still enjoyable just to see what Kinsey is up to.
3 stars
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Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron - a man is found bludgeoned to death on Judge Deborah Knott's father's land. Was the cause of his death a long standing grudge or more recent events? The mystery part is pretty meh, but we go back in time to learn more about Deborah's parents courtship. The 20th in the series.
3 stars
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When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket - the second in the All the Wrong Questions series. Written in the usual Snicket fashion with many allusions and few answers. A clever scientist has disappeared and her parents seem unfazed. And what is the mysterious society Snicket is trying to stop? We won't find the answers until the fourth book, which is soon to be published. A children's book.
3 stars
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