This is an excellent account of 1960s Mississippi. Yes, it is fiction, but it's well-written and VERY vivid and heartfelt. An excellent book about har...moreThis is an excellent account of 1960s Mississippi. Yes, it is fiction, but it's well-written and VERY vivid and heartfelt. An excellent book about hard times in the South. But, it does allow for some glimmers of hope at the end. Not much, but some. A must read! Oh, and if anyone doubts how seriously blinded these Southerns can be, I have family ties in the South and some oldtimers still talk about "the good ol' days" of 2 water fountains, etc. Sad, but very true! (less)
I LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down...literally. Walker's writing is strong and intense. His story was filled with suspense but not over dramati...moreI LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down...literally. Walker's writing is strong and intense. His story was filled with suspense but not over dramatic. Revolving around a highly flawed main character and set in Chicago, among other locales, this book is a stand-alone thriller, but it has spurred me on to read all of the other book Walker has written, series or not. The relationship between the boy and the main character is highly believable. It never gets too sappy or mushy. And the ending is strong. I was hoping against hope that Walker wouldn't ruin the ending as many authors do by taking the "Hollywood" way out. But, the ending is as strong as the first pages. I've met Mr. Walker on a few occasions and he is, on the surface, a mild, unassuming man. But, he sure writes a WILD, FAST-PACED thriller. A GREAT thriller! (less)
Harper Lee’s classic story concerns a Southern lawyer who, while defending a black man accused of raping a white woman, tries his best to raise his yo...moreHarper Lee’s classic story concerns a Southern lawyer who, while defending a black man accused of raping a white woman, tries his best to raise his young son and daughter as a single parent. Atticus Finch is determined to teach his children, Jem and Scout, the proper ways of life, even though so much of the South is racially divided, both physically and emotionally. Finch is one of literature’s most eloquent, well-regarded figures—as a man who always stands up for what he believes in, and tries his best to influence the minds of others toward the positive and away from the negative.
Like the first book of Schreck's that I read and loved (which was his first novel as well, ON THE ROPES), the humor is what makes these books great. S...moreLike the first book of Schreck's that I read and loved (which was his first novel as well, ON THE ROPES), the humor is what makes these books great. Schreck's humor turns what would be average mysteries into superb comic tales of mayhem and dry wit. At the core of Schreck's humor is his basset hound Al, who has been a feature in all three of the Duffy Dombrowski books (Ropes and TKO being the first two). Al is a, wait for it, Muslim basset. Yes, you read that right. Stop there and this gives enough humor for several good laughs but the story that Schreck weaves social worker Dombrowski and Al into provides both thrills and much more laughs. Maybe not everyone would like these books, but a lot of people I know have no sense of humor. If you're one of those unlucky few, this might not be for you. But, if you need a good belly laugh, check out what Schreck and Duffy are up to this time. (less)
Du Maurier brings a dead woman alive in this one-of-a-kind tale of love, loss, and unrequited passion. Told from the point-of-view of his new wife, Ma...moreDu Maurier brings a dead woman alive in this one-of-a-kind tale of love, loss, and unrequited passion. Told from the point-of-view of his new wife, Maxim de Winter is a cold, dark man with a hidden past. His mysterious history mostly revolves around the life and death of his first wife, Rebecca. The new bride becomes obsessed with the first Mrs. De Winter until the story takes a surprising and unconventional twist. A classic gothic mystery and love story that should not be missed!
An intense mystery featuring Crombie’s English police team of Kincaid and James. This one involves a diamond brooch that was stolen by the Nazis and b...moreAn intense mystery featuring Crombie’s English police team of Kincaid and James. This one involves a diamond brooch that was stolen by the Nazis and belongs to a woman who needs to get to the bottom of why people associated with the brooch are turning up dead. (less)
A strong Chicago-based mystery from Chicago-based writer Walker, who has a knack for capturing both the essence of the city and the suspense that fill...moreA strong Chicago-based mystery from Chicago-based writer Walker, who has a knack for capturing both the essence of the city and the suspense that fills its streets. In this novel, Walker, a former Catholic priest, uses his seminary background as the backdrop for this latest, involving a priest who gets caught up in an international quagmire. One day, out of the blue, Father Paul Clark's friend is killed right in front of him. Barely escaping with own life, Clark soon finds out that his friend was involved in some less than savory dealings with the wrong types of people. Enter a woman who says she is from the government who has a plan to help Clark. Can she be trusted? Clark spends much of the novel trying to answer that question, a search which leads him all the way to South America. In the midst of all of this, a young man enters him life and shakes his beliefs to the core.
As mysteries go, this is quite strong. The character of Paul Clark is a believable, convincing protagonist. All throughout the book, no matter what Clark is going through, we feel his pain and can sympathize with his difficult situations. As a priest, he might appear as unrelatable, but Walker gives Clark such compassion and conscience and even some faith crises that we can understand what Clark is experiencing. And Walker also makes good use out of Chicago. Through the pages, I was able to visualize the gritty and dank streets of Chicago where Clark was desperately trying to run for his life.
This is the second mystery I have read by Walker (Saving Paulo was the other one) and though I liked both, I found myself drawn more this Clark and his set of nerve-wrenching circumstances. (less)
It starts off great. I could tell from page one I would like this book. I like the way Child wrote, how he formed his characters and his general style...moreIt starts off great. I could tell from page one I would like this book. I like the way Child wrote, how he formed his characters and his general style. Sadly, though, I thought the last 50-75 pages were a little too detailed and complicated. Not that I mind complicated, but considering the tone of the beginning, I didn't feel the end matched. All in all, a good thriller, that could have been a great thriller. (less)
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