Halina Shore is a forensic dentist who was born in Poland and moved to Australia when she was nine. After the death of her aloof mother, she accepts aHalina Shore is a forensic dentist who was born in Poland and moved to Australia when she was nine. After the death of her aloof mother, she accepts an invitation to help exhume a mass grave in Poland. One of her motivations is that her mother has died without revealing anything substantial of Halina’s Polish history, and at this stage of her life, she wants to know more. In 1941, the Jews of the town were burned to death in a barn. The town's residents believe the Nazis did it, but rumors persist that it was the Polish people who committed the crime. The investigation is supposed to find out the truth but it only serves to bring out how deep seated the racial and religious history of Nowa Kalwaria has been.
I found this to be a very emotional story. It's based on a true incident and probed some important questions about humanity and religiously-based atrocities committed during WW2. It's an intricately plotted book that reads almost like a suspense novel with Halina trying to piece together the past and what it means for the present. There is both personal and social tragedy and triumph in this narrative that explores the twin faces of goodness and evil. ...more
This is the first book in a series that introduces some interesting characters and an intriguing plot. Carmel Hennessey begins a new job in Eborby, NoThis is the first book in a series that introduces some interesting characters and an intriguing plot. Carmel Hennessey begins a new job in Eborby, North Yorkshire, a town where a killer is on the loose, tying up and asphyxiating victims before leaving their bodies in churchyards. When she begins to receive threats, she contacts DI Joe Plantagenet, former partner of her father and the man in charge of the new case. He and his boss, DCI Emily Thwaite are having problems seeing the connection between the victims who seem to have nothing in common. As Plantagenet continues to investigate, he begins to wonder if there isn't an occult connection.
The author adds a bit of paranormal to a straightforward mystery but not so much that it becomes a paranormal themed book. Although I had a hunch as to the identity of the killer, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book at all. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in series....more
I read this book for a challenge and though it's not a genre or series I've ever read before I found it quite entertaining. The story revolves around I read this book for a challenge and though it's not a genre or series I've ever read before I found it quite entertaining. The story revolves around Ian Kabra who is in charge of the Cahill family empire. With his second-in-command Cara Pierce, they have it all under control until someone calling himself the Outcast, hacks into the mainframe Cahill computer and arranges a coup. After being thrown out of the mansion, the Outcast challenges Ian. He has recreated four of history’s worst tragedies, and Ian must stop them before innocent people get killed.
Apparently this is a new 39 Clues series and is very popular for children in the 9-12 age group. I don't know anyone in that age group but if I did I would recommend this book. ...more
The Snow Child is based on the Russian fairy tale “Snegurochka’’(The Snow Maiden), about an elderly couple who yearn for a child. This magical story, The Snow Child is based on the Russian fairy tale “Snegurochka’’(The Snow Maiden), about an elderly couple who yearn for a child. This magical story, set in the Alaskan wilderness in the early 20th century, revolves around Jack and Mabel, a married couple who are unable to have children. They are now in their forties and have decided to start their life over in the remote wilderness. When we first meet the couple we discover that Mabel is depressed enough to contemplate suicide, and it is only by luck that her plan to drown herself in the frozen river doesn't work out. Meanwhile, Jack is working day and night to try and farm the land, but with limited success. The pair are barely communicating and its clear their marriage is on the rocks.
Then something truly magical happens. In an unexpectedly carefree moment, they build a snowman designed to look like a little girl. They give her grass for hair, cranberry juice for lips, and a red scarf and mittens for the cold. The next day the snow child is gone, but signs of a real girl appear around their homestead. Since she only appears in winter and no one else has ever seen her, is she just a product of Jack and Mabel's imagination? Or does she really exist but only makes herself known to the people she trusts? When the snow child, whose name is Faina, enters their world, life does get better. They make friends with another family in the desolate valley, and with their help they survive the winter and plant a successful crop.
The first half of the novel is very magical. I loved the characters, though the women were definitely more detailed than the men. The author's depiction of the Alaskan wilderness is so vivid and strong, particularly during the winter, that it becomes a character in its own right. I thought the second half of the book began to slow down and take a turn that didn't seem to fit with the first half of the book. That didn't keep from from enjoying every page though. The writing was beautiful and I was completely captivated by the magic of the story....more
This is the tenth book in the Amelia Peabody historical mystery series. The entire family, including Amelia, her husband Professor Emerson, their son This is the tenth book in the Amelia Peabody historical mystery series. The entire family, including Amelia, her husband Professor Emerson, their son Ramses, and adopted daughter Nefret, are preparing to return to Egypt. They have had some bad luck trying to secure a choice excavation site in the Valley of the Kings, primarily due to Emerson's combative nature. Nevertheless, Amelia is determined to be back in her beloved Egypt.
Once they arrive, the three youngest members of the team, Ramses, Nefret, and Ramses best friend, David, disguise themselves and head into one of the most dangerous parts of Cairo. They purchase a copy of The Book of the Dead, an ancient collection of prayers and spells that will help guide the deceased through the underworld. The mystery surrounding this book will soon find Amelia dealing with the usual assortment of criminals and grave robbers.
I found this book to be enjoyable, but not quite as good as the previous books in the series. Most of the action was done by the three younger characters, but I did enjoy seeing Ramses, Nefret and David becoming more important parts of the story. I particularly found the parts dealing with the Emerson's realization of their prejudice to be quite interesting and well done. I enjoyed the audio version of the series, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, and will continue to check in periodically on the Emerson clan....more
In the sixteenth book of the Gaslight Mystery series, a young woman is missing and her father comes to Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy for help. It's In the sixteenth book of the Gaslight Mystery series, a young woman is missing and her father comes to Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy for help. It's Malloy's last day working as a police detective in 19th century New York City. When he discovers she's disappeared after responding to a personal ad in the newspaper he decides to take a look for her. Soon he finds out that many other women who answered the ads are missing. With fiancee Sarah Brandt’s help, they search for the women while trying to plan their future.
This has become one of my favorite historical mystery series. I love the atmosphere of turn of the century New York and the fictional incorporation of some of the most famous real life people. The author has done a great job of developing her characters over the course of the series. This book can be read as a standalone but I feel like this is a series best read in order. I would recommend reading the first book, Murder on Astor Place, to get a feel for where the characters started. ...more
This novel takes place during World War II in the Pacific. When the hospital ship Benevolence is torpedoed by the Japanese near the Solomon Islands, oThis novel takes place during World War II in the Pacific. When the hospital ship Benevolence is torpedoed by the Japanese near the Solomon Islands, only nine people survive by swimming to a nearby uninhabited island. The captain of the ship, Joshua, is devastated over the loss of so many. Isabelle is married to the captain and she and her sister, Annie, also survive. Annie is recovering from a bout of malaria and is saved and brought to shore by Akira, a Japanese prisoner. Akira is haunted by his failure to prevent a young girl from being raped and killed by Japanese soldiers earlier in the war. Over the next few days, he and Annie are drawn to each other and begin to fall in love. The story takes place over an 18 day period where they are waiting to be rescued.
The book focuses on three main relationships: the changing marital dynamics of Isabelle and Joshua, the growing relationship between Annie and Akira, and the friendship between Big Jake and Ratu, an African American engineer and a young Fijian stowaway. There's secondary drama with the three remaining characters as well. One of the nine will turn out to be a traitor who intends to kill everyone once the Japanese land on the island.
This book seems to get diverse reviews but I really liked it. Many of the conversations were boring and there was a lack of character development but I couldn't wait to find out what as going to happen. One of my favorite parts of the book was that each chapter begins with a beautiful haiku written by Akira. I plan to read John Shors debut novel, Beneath a Marble Sky, very soon....more
Life As We Knew It begins with the diary entries of sixteen year old, Miranda Day. The whole country is watching TV the night an asteroid hits the mooLife As We Knew It begins with the diary entries of sixteen year old, Miranda Day. The whole country is watching TV the night an asteroid hits the moon, knocking it off its orbit and pushing it closer to Earth. Everything in Miranda’s normal life changes. Tidal waves destroy the coastlines while earthquakes destroy the cities. Inactive volcanoes erupt simultaneously worldwide, covering the sky with ash that blocks out the sun. The crops begin to die and starvation is a real problem. Winter comes early and there is no longer any fuel for heaters.
There are a lot of flaws in this book. There's no way astrophysicists would miscalculate the impact of an asteroid hitting the moon. There would be a lot more violence and food stealing than what goes on in this book. The political sniping in the book was annoying. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading it. It had a thought provoking plot that didn't incorporate the usual “fight and run” school of worldwide apocalypse. I think that it would certainly be of interest to a lot of teenage readers....more
Single mother and new Realtor, Violet Parker, is really worried. She's spent most of her savings and she only has three weeks to sell her first house Single mother and new Realtor, Violet Parker, is really worried. She's spent most of her savings and she only has three weeks to sell her first house or lose her job. She's also frightened to discover that several little girls have disappeared and they are all the same age as her daughter. When a single, attractive jeweler hires her to sell his hundred year old Victorian home, she thinks she might be able to hang on to her job. Unfortunately, everyone thinks the house is haunted. Meanwhile, she's confronted with a host of indecisive clients.
I thought Violet was an interesting character but not quite as interesting as her two children. Layne and Addy, her husband-hunting daughter who wants to be a veterinarian, are twins. Addy is always working on some sort of scheme to get her mother a husband. I thought the secondary characters were really colorful. My favorite was definitely Harvey, an old man who accompanies Violet around town, along with his shotgun.
This book has many elements of the typical cozy mystery but any crime dealing with missing children can be pretty dark. There's a romance subplot that turned out to be funny. I thought the mystery was solid and the characters were quirky enough to hold my interest. ...more
I really enjoy the Constable Molly Smith series by Vicki Delany so when I saw she had a Christmas themed cozy mystery series I decided to give it a trI really enjoy the Constable Molly Smith series by Vicki Delany so when I saw she had a Christmas themed cozy mystery series I decided to give it a try. Rudolph, New York is a town that is all about Christmas. As the owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, Merry Wilkinson is just one of many shop owners who look forward to their Christmas rush. This year Merry is certain her float in the Santa Claus parade is going to win. When she finds out her float has been sabotaged she suspects someone is out to ruin Christmas.
Later that night, a well known magazine writer shows up in Rudolph to publish a story about all the wonders of the Christmas village. Once he dies after eating a poisoned gingerbread cookie at a local restaurant, the town starts to lose business and get a bad reputation. Who was responsible? Was it the neighboring town who has always resented the attention Rudolph gets or is it focused on someone in particular?
I thought this was a fast and easy read with just the right combination of mystery and holiday theme. I thought Merry was a good main character and there were lots of back stories that will likely be explored in future books. I'm not a huge fan of cozy mysteries but I will probably try the next book in the series, We Wish You a Murderous Christmas.
This action styled mystery starts out in 323 B.C.E, with Alexander the Great dying from a mysterious fever. Fast forward to present day and the CentraThis action styled mystery starts out in 323 B.C.E, with Alexander the Great dying from a mysterious fever. Fast forward to present day and the Central Asian Federation, ruled by it's ambitious Supreme Minister, Irina Zovastina. She rules with a totalitarian twist and plans to release a deadly virus in surrounding countries that only she will be able to cure. Cotton Malone, a former U.S. Justice Department agent is contacted by Cassiopeia Vitt and Henrik Thorvaldson, and becomes drawn into the plan to keep Zovastina from releasing her poison. Of course, this will involve solving a riddle found on eight legendary medallions commemorating Alexander's conquest and finding the lost Tomb of Alexander the Great.
The characters are interesting and often trade witticisms back and forth during the battles they engage in. I did like the way each book, and I've only read three, start to fill out each character with some backstory. In the last book, the Alexandria Link, it concentrated on Cotton and in this book we get some additional layers to Cassiopeia Vitt. Vitt is an especially compelling female character who embodies that mysterious woman who is intelligent and can be counted on in a tight spot. The twists and turns in this book were amazing. If you like action and international thrillers, give him a try. ...more
This is a beautiful collection of the poems that encompass the work of W. B. Yeats and span his entire career. Everyone will find something they enjoyThis is a beautiful collection of the poems that encompass the work of W. B. Yeats and span his entire career. Everyone will find something they enjoy in this collection. Revised and corrected, this edition includes Yeats's own notes on his poetry, complemented by explanatory notes from Yeats scholar Richard J. Finneran. The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats is the most comprehensive edition of one of the world's most respected poets....more
I'm not going to say much about this book. If you've read the series you know what you get when you read any of the books. Stephanie Plum is a bounty I'm not going to say much about this book. If you've read the series you know what you get when you read any of the books. Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter who tracks down some of the most bizarre characters in fiction. In between capturing them, she reflects on her relationship with Joe Morelli, lusts after her sometime boss, Ranger, and eats her way through Trenton, New Jersey, with her sidekick, former “ho”, Lula. There are always some dinners over at her parents, where Grandma Mazur usually convinces Stephanie to take her to a funeral viewing, and her pit stops back home where the nicest character makes a cameo appearance, Rex the Hamster.
I picked this book up at the library because I needed to read a book by an author that started with an “E”. It was fast, easy and it did make me laugh in spots. Nothing about any of the characters has changed in 23 books and why should it? It's a successful franchise and I can't see why anyone would change that....more
Sins of the Fathers introduces the series character of Matthew Scudder, a former New York City police officer. He's left the force and is now working Sins of the Fathers introduces the series character of Matthew Scudder, a former New York City police officer. He's left the force and is now working as a private detective. Scudder fits right into the detective genre, wrestling with chronic alcoholism and leaving no stone unturned as he pursues the answers to his questions. This series is considered among mystery's most popular private eye novels.
Scudder is hired by the stepfather of Wendy Hanniford, a woman who has died under strange circumstances. He doesn't want Matt to solve it, because the apparent killer has already been arrested and subsequently hung himself in his jail cell. They were estranged and the father wants to know how Wendy got to the point where she was murdered by her roommate.
This book was originally written in 1976, so some of the details seem a little funny, like Matt Scudder carrying dimes to use at the payphone. I though Scudder was an interesting character, a tough ex-cop who pays a tithe to one of the local churches. His unconventional methods of investigation set him apart from most of the other private detective novels I've read. I really liked the ending which was unexpected. I love noir mysteries and I loved the pulp fiction style of this series. I'm definitely going to read the next book, In the Midst of Death....more
The Killer Angels is a first rate fictional novel on the battle of the Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The book covers the span from the iniThe Killer Angels is a first rate fictional novel on the battle of the Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The book covers the span from the initial days leading up to the battle to just after Pickett's charge at the end of the battle. Shaara tells the story of the battle through the eyes of the major figures of the battle, General John Buford and Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain for the Union, along with Generals Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet and Lewis Armistead for the Confederacy, so the story is mostly told in first person from multiple points of view. This offers a very unique perspective of the battle.
This Pulitzer prize-winning novel puts the reader right in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg, the four bloodiest days of our nation's history and a place where more Americans were killed that were lost in the entire Vietnam War. Through the eyes of the major characters we are taken through the crucial points of the battle, including one of the most famous assaults, Pickett's Charge on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Even though the narrators are battlefield commanders, they still manage to personalize the battle in a way that most readers will understand. This is historical novel at its finest and anyone with an interest in Civil War history who has not read this excellent book should find a copy immediately. ...more
What should have been a routine international airline flight turns into a media event when it's revealed that the passengers of Quantum Flight 66 may What should have been a routine international airline flight turns into a media event when it's revealed that the passengers of Quantum Flight 66 may have been exposed to a deadly omega virus, similar to Ebola. Professor Helms boards Flight 66 coughing and generally feeling ill. When he suffers an apparent heart attack mid-flight, Captain James Holland, requests an emergency landing in London. To his alarm and confusion, his request is denied. The captain and his copilot soon realize that no country will let them land. Before long, the CIA gets involved, and the director believes the best way out of the situation is to have the plane destroyed by an infamous terrorist group.
I thought the possibility of a doomsday virus being carried on a commercial airline flight was an interesting premise. The book moved along fairly quickly and built up tension until the CIA characters started getting involved. The book feels a bit dated since it was originally written in 1995 and so many things have changed, especially in airline travel. Still, it was enjoyable enough and I will definitely check out other books by this author. ...more
This is the third book in Karin Slaughter’s Grant County series. The main characters are Sara Linton, pediatrician and part time medical examiner and This is the third book in Karin Slaughter’s Grant County series. The main characters are Sara Linton, pediatrician and part time medical examiner and her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, who cheated on her five years ago, resulting in their divorce. They are currently dating and trying to work out their issues. Sara is having lunch with her sister, Tessa, when she is called to what appears to be a student suicide. Tessa decides to go with her and while Sara and Jeffrey are examining the dead college student, Tess, who is pregnant, is stabbed. Soon another student is found dead. Although she also appears to have killed herself, further investigation reveals that hers was a staged murder, casting doubt on the first suicide as well.
This book also focuses on one of the most fascinating female characters in suspense, Lena Adams. Her life has been falling apart since incidents that occurred in Blindsighted. We also have a bully of a campus security guard, and a white supremacist who is trying to clean up his act.
This is definitely not a series for the faint of heart though. The subject is dark and many of the characters are unlikable. I've been rereading the series in audio and really enjoy them. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, Indelible....more
Kelsey Donovan's grandfather, recluse Cutter Merlin, has died in his Key West home. Merlin was known for being a recluse and Kelsey hasn't seen him foKelsey Donovan's grandfather, recluse Cutter Merlin, has died in his Key West home. Merlin was known for being a recluse and Kelsey hasn't seen him for years. When her mother died mysteriously, she and her father moved away. Now she's back, ready to take care of the numerous artifacts that belonged to her grandfather, including a mysterious mummy.
Detective Liam Beckett has never forgotten about Kelsey Donovan. Liam had a huge crush on Kelsey years ago, but never confessed his feelings. Now she's back and people around her are being killed. It looks like someone is determined to end Kelsey's life. Can Liam protect Kelsey from the psychopath that is after her?
My favorite character of the trilogy, Bartholomew, the ghost of a long dead privateer, is back. This time he's involving himself with Liam and his world. I thought this was a fast and enjoyable read with plenty of twists and turns. This was a good ending to the Bone Island trilogy and I felt like it was actually more of a suspense novel that a romance. If you enjoyed the first two books, Ghost Shadow and Ghost Night, I think you will enjoy the final book as well. ...more
Olivermagnus
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2016
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