In 2007, Rigler published Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, the story of Courtney Stone, a present-day Los Angeles single woman who one day wakes u...moreIn 2007, Rigler published Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, the story of Courtney Stone, a present-day Los Angeles single woman who one day wakes up transported to Edwardian England, in the body of a young woman named Jane Mansfield.
This book is the story of how Jane fares when she wakes up in Courtney's body in 21st Century Los Angeles. Like Courtney, Jane is very unhappy in her own life, and wishes she could be someone else. She shares this wish with a fortune-teller at a country fair, and wakes up in Courtney's body, having just suffered a concussion after hitting her head in a swimming pool.
She is understandably confused by this new world of cell phones and DVD players, but her friends attribute this to her head injury. As she becomes accustomed to the techonology, she discovers that she really enjoys her new-found independence: the clothing, going out in public without a chaperone, living alone.
But as she begins to appreciate the new life, she learns that her old life may not have been as bad as she believed. Which life will she end up with? Will she even be able to choose?
I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than Confessions, but I'm not sure why. I may have to go back and reread the earlier book to find out.(less)
Kinsey Millhone is back. It seems a long time since I've last seen her. I looked up the pub date of S is for Silence, and found it was released in Dec...moreKinsey Millhone is back. It seems a long time since I've last seen her. I looked up the pub date of S is for Silence, and found it was released in December 2005, so I guess I was right.
It's 1987, and Kinsey's elderly neighbour Gus Vronsky has had a fall and been hospitalized. Kinsey manages to track down his great-great-niece who lives in New York. She flies out to Santa Teresa and hires a home-aide, charging Kinsey with the responsibility of checking her references, telling her that only a basic check is necessary.
Busy with other cases, Kinsey does as she's asked. But Solana, the woman they've hired, turns out not to be as expected.
Great characterization here. Kinsey's life, while never boring, is particularly action-packed in this installment. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but that may just have been because I read the whole book in one day, and it was so enjoyable that having to stop was a let-down. (less)
Our heroine, Bree Winston-Beaufort inherits a law practice in Savannah from her uncle. Her first night in town, as she is unpacking, she receives a ca...moreOur heroine, Bree Winston-Beaufort inherits a law practice in Savannah from her uncle. Her first night in town, as she is unpacking, she receives a call from billionaire Benjamin Skinner, who just happens to have died earlier that day. She is as confused by this as she is by the fact that most people are unable to find her office, until she talks to one of her old law professors, who informs her that she is to try this case in the Celestial Courts, where Skinner has been charged with greed. This is somewhat of a departure for Stanton, who has written several childrens' fantasies (and as Claudia Bishop writes traditional mysteries) but I think she's done a splendid job. I stayed up waaaay too late finishing it, and started the next book in the morning.(less)
**spoiler alert** In the third volume of the Spellmans series, our intrepid heronine Isabel is in court-ordered therapy after ignoring a restraining o...more**spoiler alert** In the third volume of the Spellmans series, our intrepid heronine Isabel is in court-ordered therapy after ignoring a restraining order filed by her neighbour. Isabel is also taking a self-inflicted break from the family detective agency and working in her friend Milo's bar. Her brother David asks her to house-sit for him, and she discovers that he has an empty apartment in his basement, which comes in handy when she loses her job at the bar. She secretly moves into the apartment, whilst working on a case for a friend of Milo's, attending therapy sessions, and trying to decide what she wants to do with her life. The Spellmans are an interesting, if unusual family. Isabel's generation all grew up in the family firm, and while her older brother David decided not to continue in the business, Isabel did. However, she has a great deal of difficulty differentiating the business of a private detective from regular life, and treats most of her daily activities and contacts as if they were investigations. I loved this book, but I do have a problem with the footnotes, which I find terribly distracting.(less)
Journalist Skeeter Hughes is the quintessential single working mom. She has two daughters aged nine and 14 and is separated from her husband, Michael....moreJournalist Skeeter Hughes is the quintessential single working mom. She has two daughters aged nine and 14 and is separated from her husband, Michael. One might even call her typical, if her job didn't include dumpster-diving and being threatened by criminals.
Skeeter works for the Minneapolis Citizen, and as this book begins, she is meeting with a retired veteran called BJ, who claimed to have caught a human hand while fishing in Lake Harriet the previous October. At first Skeeter is skeptical; this is February, and the man shows all the signs of being a drinker. But after listening to his entire story, her instincts tell her to believe him.
When she returns to her office, she learns that has just been appointed the paper's first Missing Persons reporter. On her first assignment, she is given the names of three missing people: Pace Palmer, a nurse who hadn't returned from vacation; Yuri Yudeshenka, a retired furrier; and Amber Thomas, an eighteen-year-old girl. Perhaps the hand belonged to one of them?
Skeeter is dedicated and persistent, and though she's uncertain of the veracity of BJ's story, and has very little to go on in the missing persons cases, she knows how to dig. Knowing the precariousness of being a journalist these days, she is determined not to provide any reason to be considered expendable.
Borger has created a strong, likeable, and very believable protagonist in Skeeter. She has an amazing hand with descriptions:
I studied the crags in the old man's wind-burned face. His gold and silver hair was pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, leaving his bald head open to the elements. The ragged collar of a black T-shirt peeked through the v-neck of a dirty blue-green sweater with a run in the left sleeve. Nicotine had stained the dirty fingernails on the left thumb and forefinger he used to grip his ceramic coffee mug.
This is not the only Skeeter Hughes novel; it's the sequel to Where's Billie? (2009). Hopefully, there will be a third volume in the series soon.
This is the Gourmet Girl mystery series co-written byJessica Conant-Park and her mother, Susan Conant. Our heroine Chloe Carter tags along with her bo...moreThis is the Gourmet Girl mystery series co-written byJessica Conant-Park and her mother, Susan Conant. Our heroine Chloe Carter tags along with her boyfriend chef Josh Driscoll as he films an episode of a "battle of the chefs"-style television series. They choose a random shopper at an upscale market to be the recipient of a home-cooked gourmet dinner, but the fun is spoiled when the shopper's wife dies a painful death during the meal. Josh is not a suspect, but having been the only person to witness the death, Chloe feels that she must discover whodunnit.(less)
I received this ARC through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. The subtitle says it all, really. The book begins with an introduction to knitting...moreI received this ARC through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. The subtitle says it all, really. The book begins with an introduction to knitting (and by inference, other needle and fibre crafts) and it's re-emergence as a popular craft. The concept of knitting (etc.) as a link to one's ancestors is an important concept here. Personally, I believe that knitting as an activity is inherently good: one is making warm garments or even toys to provide love and warmth to oneself or someone else. And then there is the psychological benefit to the knitter. Knitting is a proven stress reliever (my screams and curses when attempting to follow a difficult pattern notwithstanding). Greer deals with this to some extent in the first section of the book, also citing the satisfaction of creating a tangible item, and the possibilities of earning a living through this creation. In subsequent chapters, the focus is on knitting as a communal activity, which is evidenced by the number of recently formed knitting groups all over the world. The idea of knitting as a feminist craft rather than as old-fashioned "women's work" is dominant here. The last section of the book focusses on knitting as an instrument of good on a global basis: knitting for charities outside one's immediate circle, such as those that send knitted toys to children in third-world countries. Knitting is, without exaggeration, a respite from grief, war, and cold, as Greer makes clear in this book. There are patterns included that are suitable for giving or sending to charities, as well as a list of knitting groups and knitting charities.
As this is an Advanced Reader's Copy, I'm hoping that the publisher chose not to print the personal narratives that appear throughout the book in white letters on gray background. It's just too difficult to read!
I didn't sit down with this book and become absorbed in it to the exclusion of everything around me, but that doesn't mean it's not valuable. It's chock-full of ideas and inspirations; perfect for dipping into when you're feeling purposeless or unmotivated. (less)
In the fourth title of the Bear Collectors' Mysteries, Brad and Ashleigh Lyon return to California. The impetus for their visit is the annual teddy be...moreIn the fourth title of the Bear Collectors' Mysteries, Brad and Ashleigh Lyon return to California. The impetus for their visit is the annual teddy bear festival in Sonoma, but they also plan to work in a visit with family and friends. Of course, nothing goes as simply as planned. On the first day of the festival, Brad witnesses a person dressed in a bear costume steal the cashbox from one of the other exhibitors. While they are having dinner with Brad's former partner and his wife in San Francisco, his partner is called out, and invites Brad to tag along. What a surprise when Brad stumbles over a robotic teddy bear in the parking lot at the scene of the crime! Despite the cuddly subject matter, much of the narrative leans towards the gritty. The relationship between the Lyons is charming; it's so refreshing to see the hero of an action novel so smitten with his wife! I really appreciate reading a combination of my two favourite mystery genres: cozies and police procedurals.(less)
Twist Phelan is one of the authors who will be at Left Coast Crime next week. (Aside: squeee, I can't believe it's next week!!)In the second of the Pi...moreTwist Phelan is one of the authors who will be at Left Coast Crime next week. (Aside: squeee, I can't believe it's next week!!)In the second of the Pinnacle Peak mysteries, attorney Hannah Dain has joined the family law firm, Dain & Dain, in hopes of repairing the troubled relationship she has with her father and her sister (two of the firm's partners). (Another aside: I read this thinking it was the first in the series, and now I'm disappointed, as I'm one of those anal people who must read series in order.) Her father Richard, has always been cold and distant, while her sister Shelby has always been openly hostile and antagonistic. Hannah isn't sure why they are this way, or why she needs to try to fix things, but she does. She mitigates her distress with long bicycle rides in the desert outside the fictional Arizona town of Pinnacle Peak, which at the time of this story is in the middle of a searingly hot, dry summer. When a seemingly routite IPO she is working on goes awry and she is blamed for it, she feels the need to find out what went wrong, and at the same time, exonerate herself. Shelby is an appealing, if tortured protagonist, and the story is interesting and gripping. I look forward to reading more of the series. (less)
**spoiler alert** I received this book as a contest prize.I'm going toLeft Coast Crime 2009, and they've been giving away books by some of the authors...more**spoiler alert** I received this book as a contest prize.I'm going toLeft Coast Crime 2009, and they've been giving away books by some of the authors who will be attending.
I'd never read a book by Louise Ure before, and I was absolutely mesmerized. This is actually her second novel (the first was Forcing Amaryllis). Both are stand-alones, not part of a series.
The protagonist of The Fault Tree is Cadence Moran, an auto mechanic who has been blind since she was in a car accident eight years earlier. Her 3-year-old niece was killed in the accident, and Cadence has been unable to forgive herself.
Walking home from work late one evening, Cadence is clipped by a car. Although not seriously hurt, she is bruised and shaken, and her hand-carved cane is broken. Assuming it was just an accident, she doesn't report the incident, and goes on with her routine.
The next day, she is visited by homicide detectives who are investigating the murder of one of her elderly neighbours in a presumed robbery about the same time as she was hit. Initially reluctant to get involved, Cadence changes her mind when she is attacked again, presumably by the robbers who think she was a witness to the crime.
Cadence is a strong, self-sufficient woman, and her refusal to give in to whoever is stalking her is inspiring and riveting. This is one of those books that I could have read straight through without putting it down if my eyes hadn't kept trying to close. I'm definitely going to look for Forcing Amaryllis as well as Ure's third book Liars Anonymous, to be released April 14. (less)
A new Dalziel and Pascoe novel is always a cause of happiness for me. This one did not disappoint.
After a severe injury that left him in a coma, Andy...moreA new Dalziel and Pascoe novel is always a cause of happiness for me. This one did not disappoint.
After a severe injury that left him in a coma, Andy Dalziel has decided to return to work sooner than advised. He's sure that everyone will be judging him to see if he's really ready, and thinking that he should just give up and retire. He gets a call from an old colleague, Mick Purdy, asking him to take an unofficial look into the case of a policeman who disappeared seven years earlier.
Dalziel bumbles a bit at first, and when one of his officers is injured, it seems that he should really have taken more time to rest. Pascoe and Wield begin to wonder if they'll continually have to mop up his messes, as is the reader.
This is a complicated tale of greed, mistaken (or maybe not?) identity, and possible police corruption.
Hill's prose is a treat to read, and as usual, I was torn between wanting to find out how the book ended and prolonging my enjoyment. I managed a happy medium, and although I thought the ending was too coincidental, it was nonetheless satisfying.(less)
As one of many readers waiting anxiously for the continuation of the story begun in The Language of Bees, I was absolutely thrilled when I learned I w...moreAs one of many readers waiting anxiously for the continuation of the story begun in The Language of Bees, I was absolutely thrilled when I learned I was getting one of the coveted ARCs of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
When we last saw Sherlock Holmes, he was spiriting his injured son, Damian Adler away from the "altar" where religious maniac Thomas Brothers had attempted a human sacrifice. At the same time, Holmes' wife Mary Russell is trying to keep Damian's daughter Estelle hidden from Brothers. Mary and Holmes, who work together incredibly well, are separated geographically for much of this book, yet still seem to work in concert.
Meanwhile, Sherlock's brother Mycroft, recovering from a heart attack, has disappeared, and a young, unnamed bureaucrat is orchestrating obscure political processes. (The details of these political machinations is unimportant; it's sufficient to know that they are a bid for power.)
As usual, King's incidental characters are amazingly constructed, particularly the hermit who calls himself Robert Goodman, and the young female doctor who is abducted to care for Damian.
It's difficult to describe the story without giving too much away, but the all the threads described above do end up connecting into a single story, which though it has a more satisfactory conclusion than The Language of Bees, still leaves a few openings for future adventures. And, as usual, King's prose is exquisite and a real pleasure to read.(less)
Leo Desroches is a reporter for an Edmonton newspaper. When we first meet him, at a crime scene in a field just outside the city, we are told little e...moreLeo Desroches is a reporter for an Edmonton newspaper. When we first meet him, at a crime scene in a field just outside the city, we are told little else, except that he has A Past. We learn more about him slowly, as the story develops. Since the narrative is in the first-person from Leo's viewpoint, he controls when and what information we receive.
One of the first things he shares is that he is a descendant of the people who settled the area, not just those who came from Europe to hunt and trap, but those who crossed the Bering Strait, the aboriginals. We soon learn that he knows little of the native side of his heritage, his mother having only recently acquired treaty status.
The book opens as he is invited by the ranking detective (in a move atypical for most law enforcement personnel) to view a murder scene in which the victim is a young native woman named Grace Cardinal. When his editor learns of this, he assigns Leo to write a story that shows the humanity of the victim.
Completely coincidentally, the newspaper (which is never named) appoints Leo as their Aboriginal Issues reporter, and he meets people who had known Grace before she became a prostitute. As he delves into Grace's background, he realizes that there might be much more to the story than he'd first imagined.
At the same time as he's investigating Grace's murder, he is attempting to rebuild his own life. Exactly why this rebuilding is necessary is also shared with us a little at a time, but it's not a spoiler to reveal that Leo once had a gambling problem, which caused his wife to divorce him and distance herself and their children from him. One of the reasons that Leo is working so hard to succeed at the newspaper is the possibility of rebuilding a relationship with his son and daughter.
As well as being a well-constructed mystery and an extremely well-written story, Leo's story rings true to someone who grew up in the Edmonton area. Although Leo's editor would fire me for drifting into personal territory, I have experienced the bitterly cold winters and have seen the inner-city homeless (both native and non) huddling in the foyers of buildings to keep from freezing to death.
It is very true that aboriginals who have visibly native features are treated very differently from others, and Arthurson handles the delicate subject matter with tact and grace. The continuing adventures of Leo Desroches are eagerly anticipated.
**spoiler alert** In this, the fourth Simon Serailler mystery, Simon's sister Cat, along with her husband Chris and their three kids, have just return...more**spoiler alert** In this, the fourth Simon Serailler mystery, Simon's sister Cat, along with her husband Chris and their three kids, have just returned from a 9-month sabbatical in Australia. Chris thinks he is having a very difficult time recovering from jet lag, but it's something much, much worse.
Simon's mother Meriel and his sister Martha have recently passed away. Having been extremely close to his mother, Simon is somewhat disturbed when he realizes that his father is seeing someone.
Their old family friend Karin has come out of remission from cancer, and is very ill in hospice.
Amidst all these family issues, young women in Lafferton are being killed, and Simon's squad is in charge of the investigation. The biggest problem is that the victims don't appear to have any common characteristics, and the police are flummoxed. They consider the idea that there may be more than one killer, but that seems very far-fetched in the small community.
Ms. Hill combines these disparate threads and weaves in several others into a wonderfully well-constructed novel. The characters are all well-described and even the small glimpses we have of the murder victims show us a human being with a personality.
Simon Serailler is an angst-ridden, solitary police detective, a cliched character in a dark genre, yet this story still grips the reader and wants to be read in a single sitting.
A fifth book in the series, Shadows in the Street, is due in April 2010.
For the first time, Sophie's family is celebrating Christmas at the home of her brother George, his wife Laci, and their daughter Jen. But when Sophie...moreFor the first time, Sophie's family is celebrating Christmas at the home of her brother George, his wife Laci, and their daughter Jen. But when Sophie, Wolf and Hannah arrive at the suburban home on Christmas Eve, there are police cruisers with flashing lights on the street and people milling about on the lawns.
It turns out that somebody has stolen all the Christmas presents out from underneath the Christmas trees in the neighbourhood homes. Since it's obvious that the thief won't be found overnight, Sophie and her family organize a toy drive so the kids can have something to open on Christmas morning.
The next day, Laci's father Forrest (who has been separated from his wife for only a few months) arrives at the party with a woman named Bonnie, who happens to be a professional acquaintance of Sophie's and the mother of Shawna's (Laci's sister) boyfriend.
At a Boxing Day dinner hosted by Bonnie, ostensibly to announce Shawna and Beau's engagement, Bonnie instead announces a surprise of her own. That evening, when Sophie goes to Bonnie's home for a scheduled meeting, she finds Bonnie's body.
Certain that someone in Laci's family will be accused of the crime, and with Wolf away visiting family, Sophie is forced to investigate on her own.
A fantastic stay-up-all-night read. This series just keeps getting better! (less)
Kate Conway's husband left her for an older woman and filed for divorce. Home alone one night and feeling sorry for herself, she gets a call from Vera...moreKate Conway's husband left her for an older woman and filed for divorce. Home alone one night and feeling sorry for herself, she gets a call from Vera, the new girlfriend, telling her that she's had to call an ambulance for Frank. Soon after Kate gets to the hospital, the doctor informs them that Frank has died.
When the doctor asks for an autopsy, and the police come to visit her, Kate is certain that there was something fishy about her the death, and tries to find out what happenedKate also accepts a new gig from Crime TV, producing a series about real missing persons cases. The first episode will be about a young woman named Theresa Moretti, an apparently flawless young woman who disappeared a year earlier.
Suddenly, Chicago begins to seem like a very small town, with many of the people involved in her husband's death also turning up in the Moretti case, and it appears that Kate has a stalker.
Also the author of the Someday Quilts mystery series, much cozier than this first book of the Kate Conway series, O'Donohue writes from experience as a television producer of several programs for several networks, including truTV, TLC and The History Channel. Writing in the first person from Kate's point of view, the author somehow manages to allow the reader to draw her/his own conclusions rather than accepting what the character believes.
No indication of when the next Kate Conway novel might appear, though there is a new book in the Someday Quilts series (The Devil's Puzzle) due in September.(less)
Meredith Cole's second novel again stars photographer Lydia McKenzie. She's been doing a series of portraits of photographs featuring the prostitutes...moreMeredith Cole's second novel again stars photographer Lydia McKenzie. She's been doing a series of portraits of photographs featuring the prostitutes that frequent New York City's waterfront. When one of them is found dead, shortly after Lydia has ignored a phone call from her, Lydia feels guilty and responsible, and vows to do the best she can to help find Glenda's killer.
Meanwhile, she has to find time for her day job as administrative assistant for the D'Angelo brothers' detective agency, and a social life with her new significant other, Jack. They don't want her to get involved, and neither does Lydia's old "friend", police detective Daniel Romero.
Lydia begins to volunteer with organization that tries to help women get off the streets, which she hopes will aid in her quest for the killer. At the same time, she is tasked with following the D'Angelo's cousin Al, who is patronizing the waterfront ladies. It dawns on her that the two cases might be linked, and her attempts to prove her theory get her in real trouble.
Lydia is a well-rounded, thoughtful character, and this reviewer looks forward to more of her adventures. (less)
This is the fourth in the Inspector Armand Gamache/Three Pines mystery series. Inspector Gamache and his wife Reine Marie to a country inn not far fro...moreThis is the fourth in the Inspector Armand Gamache/Three Pines mystery series. Inspector Gamache and his wife Reine Marie to a country inn not far from Three Pines to celebrate their anniversary, which falls on Canada Day.
They are sharing the Manoir Bellechasse with Irene Morrow Finney and her family of adult children, who are having their annual reunion. This year is very special, as Irene is honoring her late husband by erecting a huge statue of him. When the statue falls on Irene's daughter Julia, killing her, Inspector Gamache is ideally placed to investigate.
One of Mrs. Finney's children is our old friend Peter Morrow from Three Pines, unwillingly in attendance. He and his siblings, equally unhappy, all come under suspicion for killing Julia.
In this wonderful example of the classic country house mystery, we not only learn more about some of the residents of Three Pines, we discover some of M. Gamache's history.
Louise Penny is an amazing writer, and her books just beg to be read in one sitting, which is extremely difficult to do when one must get up and go to work in the morning.(less)
Thanks to LibraryThing for this free review copy of the fourth in the Trash 'n' Treasures mystery series.
Our heroines are Brandy Borne and her mother...moreThanks to LibraryThing for this free review copy of the fourth in the Trash 'n' Treasures mystery series.
Our heroines are Brandy Borne and her mother Vivian, who share a house in the small mid-western town of Serenity. They own a stall in an antiques mall, although Brandy seems to spend most of her time keeping her mother out of trouble, a practice which is made slightly more difficult than usual because Brandy is pregnant with a child she is carrying as a surrogate for her best friend and husband.
The story begins when Brandy and Vivian set out to visit reclusive Nastasya Petrova to ask her to donate her Faberge egg for a church antiques auction. Madame Petrova agrees, though the egg must first be appraised.
The auction is marred by the sudden illness of much of the audience, the death of the winning bidder and the theft of the egg. Vivian decides that she must find the killer and the thief, because the whole thing was her idea. Brandy, accustomed to her mother's amateur sleuthing, tries to rein her in and keep peace between Vivian and the police chief, with whom Brandy is involved.
The story is written very realistically from Vivian's first-person point of view. (I know it's realistic because it accurately mimics a digressive thought process very much my own, filled with parenthetical asides and associative changes of subject.)
Barbara Allan is the pseudonym for the writing team of Barbara and Max Allan Collins. (Yes, the same Max Allan Collins who wrote Road to Perdition.) This is about as different from Perdition as can be, but it's done well and is a light, enjoyable read.
The third book in this series, Antiques Flee Market, won the 2008 Romantic Times award for most humorous mystery, a definite reason to read it and the two previous entries.(less)
Prime Time introduces us to Charlotte "Charlie" McNally, an award-winning investigative reporter for Boston's (fictitious) Channel 3 news. In her mid-...morePrime Time introduces us to Charlotte "Charlie" McNally, an award-winning investigative reporter for Boston's (fictitious) Channel 3 news. In her mid-forties, Charlie worries that she's too old to be on camera and expects to be replaced by the Latest Young Thing at any moment, and goes to the office early to try to come up with a big story.
However, when the LYT doesn't appear to read a morning newsbreak, Charlie is asked to fill in, and one of the stories she teases captures her attention. The story is about a man named Bradley Foreman who was killed an a car accident. Foreman worked for a company called Aztratech, which is what alerts Charlie, and she considers it good luck when she is required to interview Foreman's widow in place of the missing LYT.
The widow, Melanie Foreman, tells Charlie about an email that her late husband had supposedly sent the reporter before his death. Charlie's pretty sure she didn't receive it, but checks again when she gets back to her desk, and finds one that was sent anonymously but had to be from Foreman.
Digging into the questions raised by the email provides Charlie with the Big Story she's been looking for, and her investigation leads her to an attractive professor named Josh Gelston, who immediately invites her to one of his drama class productions. At first Charlie is smitten, but some incidents occur that her suspicious self thinks are curious, and she backs off, while still hoping that he is genuine.(less)
It's hard to believe that City of Whispers is Marcia Mullers 29th Sharon McCone novel. It seems like just yesterday I was reading the wonderfully enti...moreIt's hard to believe that City of Whispers is Marcia Mullers 29th Sharon McCone novel. It seems like just yesterday I was reading the wonderfully entitled Edwin of the Iron Shoes, the first in the series, published in 1977.
Generally considered to be the first modern female private investigator, Sharon has (unlike some other long-running series characters) grown and changed with time. She has a successful marriage, a successful business, and an ever-growing family. Having learned that she was adopted as an infant, Sharon found her birth parents, both of whom are Native Americans.
In City of Whispers, Sharon receives an email from her half-brother Darcy from an internet cafe in San Francisco. Informed by her mother that Darcy, who has continuing drug and mental issues, has never been in SF before, Sharon mounts a search with the help of her nephew, tech-wizard Mick. The pursuit of Darcy becomes much more complicated than Sharon expects, involving some of the city's wealthiest families.
At the beginning of the series, the story was told in the first person, from Sharon's point of view. Here, Muller includes some chapters written from Mick's and Darcy's viewpoint (though not in the first person) allowing the reader to view the same incidents through several pairs of eyes, as well as to experience things that Sharon does not.
Of course, opinions are divided as to whether or not Sharon's gorwth has been positive or negative. Some readers complain that too much of the action now takes place inside Sharon's head, that too much of the action is external, that it's wonderful to see Sharon happy in a stable relationship, that her husband is a cloying character. She might as well be a real person.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me an e-book to review.(less)
In this Austen spin-off (very loosely based on Pride and Prejudice) for young adults, high school sophomore Callie goes on the class summer trip to Lo...moreIn this Austen spin-off (very loosely based on Pride and Prejudice) for young adults, high school sophomore Callie goes on the class summer trip to London, partially to try to change her D-list image, and partially to avoid visiting her father and his new family.
In an effort to impress the Popular Girls, Callie purchases a pair of red Prada shoes. Unused to wearing such high heels, she trips as she leaves the store. She hits her head and wakes up in 1815.
Not sure where she is or what to do, she is scooped up by Emily, who is expecting a visit from her American friend Rebecca (whom she hasn't seen in years) and mistakes Callie for her. Callie becomes fond of Emily, her 19-year-old cousin Alex, the Duke of Harksbury and his mother, Victoria. When she discovers that Emily is betrothed to a man 20 years her senior, she is horrified and vows to break the engagement so that Emily can marry the wealthy merchant she loves.
LOTS of holes in this plot, but they don't detract from the pleasantly amusing tale, which will be enjoyed by lovers of Meg Cabot and might encourage them to try Jane Austen.(less)
You've heard of hoarders? You know those people who obsessively gather STUFF until their homes are hazardous mazes of clutter? According to the Mayo C...moreYou've heard of hoarders? You know those people who obsessively gather STUFF until their homes are hazardous mazes of clutter? According to the Mayo Clinic, "[s]ome people also collect animals, keeping dozens or hundreds of pets often in unsanitary conditions".
This is what Lauren Vancouver, manager of a private, no-kill animal shelter discovers when she visits her old friend and mentor Mamie Spelling after receiving a panicked call from her. Mamie is afraid of Bethany Urber, the ambitious and aggressive CEO of a shelter network, who threatened the older woman when she refused to join the network.
Lauren feels that the only thing she can do is contact Animal Services, who move the animals to their own shelters, and arrange for psychological evaluation for Mamie.
Shortly after Mamie is released, Bethany is found in her office, shot. Unfortunately, Mamie finds the body, and having vocally castigated her in public, she becomes the main suspect.
Lauren is aware that Mamie is unstable, but still certain that her friend is incapable of murder, and takes it upon herself to prove it.
With the Pet Rescue series, Johnston has found a palatable way of conveying information about issues that are unpleasant but very real. (The first installment of the series was about another serious problem, puppy mills.)
Linda O. Johnston also writes the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries. She volunteers at no-kill shelters in Southern California, and become a dog adoption counselor.
*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes. (less)
In which we meet Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, known to her friends as "Georgie". Thirty-fourth in line to the throne, Georgie became vir...moreIn which we meet Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, known to her friends as "Georgie". Thirty-fourth in line to the throne, Georgie became virtually penniless when she turned 21, as her allowance was cut off. Frustrated living with her older half-brother "Binky" and his wife at the family's estate, Castle Rannoch, Georgie decides to strike out on her own, and removes herself to the family's London home, Rannoch House. After an unsuccessful few hours as a cosmetics salesgirl at Harrods, she decides to start her own housekeeping business. The only problem is that the only housekeeper she employs is herself. Binky joins her at Rannoch House when an unscrupulous Frenchman claims to have proof that their father gambled away the family lands. But when Georgie returns home to find the Frenchman drowned in the bath, with Binky the obvious suspect, she is certain that Binky is not smart enough to have committed the crime and sets out to clear his name. In the process, she encounters some hilarious and harrowing situations, including several attempts on her life. The book is written as a series of Georgie's diary entries, seems to me to detail the life of a young woman in 1930s London quite well. The sequel, A Royal Pain, is already available in paperback, and Royal Flush, the third in the series, has just been released in hardcover. They will be added to my toppling TBR pile soon!(less)
The last time we saw the Ghost Hunters crew, they were in Ireland removing a phantom from a castle. There is a possible basis for a show in Dunkird, b...moreThe last time we saw the Ghost Hunters crew, they were in Ireland removing a phantom from a castle. There is a possible basis for a show in Dunkird, but they have to put aside these plans and head to New Mexico to deal with the death of Heath's Uncle Milton.
M.J.'s spirit guide Sam Whitefeather (who happens to be Heath's grandfather) appears in a dream to warn her of this just before Heath is notified by his cousin. Sam informs M.J. that Milton has been unable to cross over because of the traumatic nature of his death, which was caused by a demon whose mission is to destroy the Whitefeather clan. M.J.'s job is to locate the person possessed by the demon and kill him or her.
Although M.J. is not thrilled about the idea of killing someone, she's prepared to do it if it's the only way to dispose of the demon. While Gopher and the rest of the Ghost Hunter crew return to L.A. to deal with paperwork, M.J., Heath and Gilley fly to Santa Fe to take care of the evil spirit.
M.J. and her crew fight ghost and demons the same way one would fight any battle, by being mentally prepared and having the proper tools and weapons (which include custom magnetized spikes and "grenades"). Laurie's matter-of-fact narration of these astonishing events is what keeps this series from edging into the horror novel category.
At the end of the book is a preview of the next Ghost Hunter novel What A Ghoul Wants, due in January 2013. (less)
Rory McCain is a police sketch artist. Her beloved Uncle Mac, a private investigator, recently died and left her the bulk of his estate, including his...moreRory McCain is a police sketch artist. Her beloved Uncle Mac, a private investigator, recently died and left her the bulk of his estate, including his Victorian house in Huntington, MA and his business. He also leaves her a letter to be opened in the event of his death.
Rory goes to the house, but just can't bring herself to start going through his things, so she decides to start with his office. While contacting clients about his death, she comes across one who asks her if she would continue working on his case. When she explains that her employer does not permit her to moonlight, he persists, explaining that he just can't believe that his sister's death was an accident. She finally agrees to investigate as "a favor for a friend" at no charge.
With her mother's help, she starts clearing Mac's things out of the house, and decides to try spending the night on the couch, but wakes up in the middle of the night. Thinking there is someone in the chair across from her she turns on the light and sees a tall man dressed like an Old West sheriff. He tells her that his name is Ezekiel Drummond, and that her uncle was supposed to have told her about him. She remembers the letter, which she hasn't yet read, and discovers that Ezekiel Drummond died in 1878, and lived in the house since before Mac bought it. Apparently Mac's investigative business had developed greatly once Drummond began to assist him.
Taken aback by this news, but certain that her uncle wasn't delusional, Rory decides to continue the arrangement, though not formally continuing the business.
I read this engrossing book in an afternoon, and look forward to more in the Portrait of Crime series.(less)
Hayley Snow moved from New Jersey to Key West with Chad Lutz after knowing him for only a few days. But after only a couple of months, she walked into...moreHayley Snow moved from New Jersey to Key West with Chad Lutz after knowing him for only a few days. But after only a couple of months, she walked into their bedroom to find him with another woman.
Luckily, she was able to move in with her college friend Connie and help out with her housecleaning business. But her real dream was to be the food critic for the upcoming lifestyle magazine Key Zest. The main problem with this plan was that one of the owners of the magazine is Chad's new squeeze Kristen. Hayley is certain that she can work around this, until one morning the police knock on her door.
Apparently Kristen was killed, and Hayley (for some reason the police won't share with her) is the chief suspect. With no money for a lawyer and no way to prove she didn't do it, Hayley's only choice is to find out who really murdered Kristen.
Hayley is a likeable protagonist, and although the reader often wants to stop her from yet another impulsive action, her motives are believable. Just like many sitcom characters, her escapades go awry (not in as amusing a fashion as occurs on television) and she ends up in trouble.
This is a quick read, mostly because of the urge to know what's going to happen next, and the conclusion is a satisfying one.
The second, as yet untitled mystery in this series will be released in September of 2012.
*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes.(less)
Brothers Tim, Sean and Gordon Halloran played ball in a field near Gwen Robison's house on the outskirts of Baltimore. When Gwen and her friend Mickey...moreBrothers Tim, Sean and Gordon Halloran played ball in a field near Gwen Robison's house on the outskirts of Baltimore. When Gwen and her friend Mickey see them, Mickey tells them they can't play there unless they let the girls join in. Soon, the five of them are exploring the nearby woods, something that would not be allowed today.
Fast-forward to the present-day. Gordon, the youngest of the five, stumbles out of a bar. Certain that he's not drunk, he gets in the car and heads home. Then he makes a detour to a dead-end stretch of highway where they used to drag race, and drives into the barrier wall at the end.
The remaining four friends, who haven't been close since their early teens, meet for the first time in years at Gordon's funeral. Someone wonders why they stopped hanging around together, and that's when the memories begin to resurface.
Laura Lippman has created another fascinating tale of human nature and its foibles. The narrative alternates between the group's childhood in the late 1970s and the present-day (which requires that the reader pay attention to the chapter headings). As is common in Lippman's novels, the city of Baltimore is almost a character itself.
Lippman uses an unusual technique when chronicling the group's youthful adventures. The narrative is written in first-person plural, referring to the five as "we", but never in the first-person singular. It does provide a feeling of immediacy to events, but unfortunately pulled this reviewer abruptly out of the story. Still, it's a gripping story, and difficult to put down once begun.(less)
Nell Fitzgerald and Oliver White, her grandmother's "beau" are trying to surprise Eleanor by re-landscaping her flower garden. Their plan is stopped s...moreNell Fitzgerald and Oliver White, her grandmother's "beau" are trying to surprise Eleanor by re-landscaping her flower garden. Their plan is stopped short when, while digging a hole for a rose bush, the gardener finds a skeleton, turning the yard into a crime scene.
Because Eleanor has volunteered Nell to plan a quilt show to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Archers Rest, Nell tells police chief Jesse Dewalt (who just happens to be her significant other) that she'll be too busy to "help" with the case.
But despite Nell's intentions, she's drawn into the investigation, first to discover the identity of the skeleton, and then to catch the person responsible for the incidents of vandalism that are occurring throughout the town. Unlike many amateur detectives, Nell is refreshingly realistic about her "nosiness", although she calls it "collecting information".
The introduction of the skeleton allows both Nell and the reader to learn a great deal about the history of Archers Rest and its populace, including Eleanor Cassidy. And, as always, O'Donohue educates us about the development of the art of quilting.
One small quibble: there are so many characters in the book that a cast list would be helpful. Apart from that, Nell and her friends are a delightful group to spend time with.
*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes. (less)
Sixteen-year-old Claire Hart is a huge fan of the Twilight books, and as a result has always wanted to go to Washington State. She's so thrilled when...moreSixteen-year-old Claire Hart is a huge fan of the Twilight books, and as a result has always wanted to go to Washington State. She's so thrilled when friends of her parents invite her to spend the summer with them in Seattle that she doesn't even mind when her mother insists that her older sister Cassidy is included.
Claire is so obsessed with Twilight that she's certain there are actually vampires and werewolves in abundance in Washington. When they meet the Halloways' Seattle friends the Russos, whose twins are about the same age as Claire, she's unimpressed at first. Then she bumps into Tony and feels as though she's hit a wall. When Tony seems to know what she's thinking, she's certain that he's a vampire, even though Cassidy attempts to make her see reason.
As the title suggests, this book is based on Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. The plot of Ms. James' book is quite similar to that of Miss Austen's, with the main exception, of course being the chronological setting. Claire's fascination with the Twilight novels and inability to separate fiction from reality parallels Catherine Morland's character nicely.
The changes in the plot suit the sensibility of the modern teen admirably; Claire's summer experience could possibly be the dream of every sixteen-year-old on the planet, Twilight aficionado or not.
This is a charming, amusing tale that captures today's teens accurately. I don't know if the author intended Alibi to lead young readers to the original Northanger; probably not, but who knows? (less)
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