Dec 20 - 26, 2015

No books this week. I'm in the process of reading S by J.J. Abrams. It's an interactive book with lots of writing in the margins and I have to keep two story lines straight. I might not finish it this year.

Dec 13 - 19, 2015

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J.K. Rowling) - Cormoran Strike is back and he and his assistant, Robin, become intimately involved with a serial killer when a package is sent to Robin containing a human limb. Cormoran is certain the killer is one of four men from his past. I absolutely had no clue until it was revealed at the very end. This is probably the darkest of the series.

5 stars - but that may be partly because I was thrilled to read a good book.

Dec 6 - 12, 2015

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly - Jo Montfort has it all: a comfortable life in a wealthy home, a loving family, and soon a fiance from a prominent family. But then her father is killed while cleaning his gun (or is he?) and her life rapidly changes. Set in the 1890's, this is full of the contrasts between affluent women and poor women all yearning for the same thing: freedom. I somehow missed that this is a YA book. The young heroine torn between heretofore unknown passion for an unsuitable man and the sensible choice should have been my clue. The mystery part is pretty good but I had most of it figured out long before our heroine.

2.5 stars

Nov 29 - Dec 5, 2015

I didn't read any books this week!

Nov 22 - 28, 2015

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

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

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