Snog? Marry? Avoid? Crime...
To all who are reading this,
First may I welcome you to this exciting new blog post series, which will run for an entire week, focusing on different book genres'.
The concept of this blog is to do a small three book review, but in the style of the fashion show on BBC3, Snog, Marry, Avoid?
So a very brief explanation of what will happen...
Three books are on the review panel. And depending on my enjoyment of the book, they will get a Snog (a like), a Marriage (love) or an Avoid (a dislike).
Now I do warn you, dear reader, the choices of book are completely my own. So are my opinions. Genres may cross, and I can understand that people may disagree with what I say.
So the genre today is...
Crime!
I decided to start with crime because my mother encourages me to read this genre, and it is Mothering Sunday after all.
Let's get this show on the road!
---
1. The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg.
"Returning to her hometown after the funeral of her parents, writer Erica Falck finds a community on the brink of tragedy. The death of her childhood friend, Alex, is just the beginning. Her wrists slashed, her body frozen in an ice cold bath, it seems that she has taken her own life.
Erica conceives a memoir about the beautiful but remote Alex, one that will answer questions about their lost friendship. While her interest grows to an obsession, local detective Patrik Hedstrom is following his own suspicions about the case. But it is only when they start working together that the truth begins to emerge about the small town with a deeply disturbing past."
The first in the Patrick Hedstrom and Erica Falck series, The Ice Princess, was published in 2003, in Sweden. Läckberg is talented. She paints a vivid and realistic picture with her words. There are no issues with translation either.
She is sharp, witty and incredibly descriptive. The opening chapter is harrowing, and yet beautiful, all in the same breath. The book keeps you guessing about the true identity of the killer and it leaves you thinking about it days after.
I give this: MARRIAGE!
Show More
2. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves.
"A hot summer on the Northumberland coast and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers. This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope intrigued. But then another body is discovered in a rock pool, the corpse again strewn with flowers. Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death. As local residents are forced to share their deepest, darkest secrets, the killer watches, waits and plans to prepare another beautiful, watery grave."
The third in the Vera Stanhope series, Hidden Depths, was first published in 2007, in the United Kingdom. Now, I didn't know that this wasn't the first, as I came into it from the television series, entitled Vera. This was the first episode aired.
Nonetheless, Cleeves has a talent for painting the scene. The crime scenes leave you puzzled, as you can't figure out who the killer is or what the true motives are. Even when you've seen the television episode, you can't remember who's done it! Vera is a loveable character with a tough nature. Joe, her partner, matches her well.
I give this: SNOG!
3. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff.
"The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.
For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life — and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again."
A stand alone book by YA (young adult) author Brenna Yovanoff, Paper Valentine was published early 2013. This book combines crime with the paranormal as Hannah is stalked by the ghost of her best friend, which the plot doesn't really need. The book is not very well planned and is bland. The typical romance of "good little girl meets boy everybody warns against" is a time old classic, but it's boring. The characters aren't well thought out and often behave in ways which aren't true to themselves, or teens of the day. The "master criminal" isn't really a criminal, but a seemingly bored teenage boy. I know its the YA market, but its over simplistic. I could solve this, and I can't normally figure out Scooby Doo!
Show More Show Less I give this: Avoid!Show More Show Less ---Show More Show Less
Watch out for tomorrow's blog post about Vampires, all in celebration of Vampire Month!
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: The Ladies' Paradise by Émile Zola
Show Less
First may I welcome you to this exciting new blog post series, which will run for an entire week, focusing on different book genres'.
The concept of this blog is to do a small three book review, but in the style of the fashion show on BBC3, Snog, Marry, Avoid?
So a very brief explanation of what will happen...
Three books are on the review panel. And depending on my enjoyment of the book, they will get a Snog (a like), a Marriage (love) or an Avoid (a dislike).
Now I do warn you, dear reader, the choices of book are completely my own. So are my opinions. Genres may cross, and I can understand that people may disagree with what I say.
So the genre today is...
Crime!
I decided to start with crime because my mother encourages me to read this genre, and it is Mothering Sunday after all.
Let's get this show on the road!
---
1. The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg.
"Returning to her hometown after the funeral of her parents, writer Erica Falck finds a community on the brink of tragedy. The death of her childhood friend, Alex, is just the beginning. Her wrists slashed, her body frozen in an ice cold bath, it seems that she has taken her own life.Erica conceives a memoir about the beautiful but remote Alex, one that will answer questions about their lost friendship. While her interest grows to an obsession, local detective Patrik Hedstrom is following his own suspicions about the case. But it is only when they start working together that the truth begins to emerge about the small town with a deeply disturbing past."
The first in the Patrick Hedstrom and Erica Falck series, The Ice Princess, was published in 2003, in Sweden. Läckberg is talented. She paints a vivid and realistic picture with her words. There are no issues with translation either.
She is sharp, witty and incredibly descriptive. The opening chapter is harrowing, and yet beautiful, all in the same breath. The book keeps you guessing about the true identity of the killer and it leaves you thinking about it days after.
I give this: MARRIAGE!
Show More
2. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves.
"A hot summer on the Northumberland coast and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers. This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope intrigued. But then another body is discovered in a rock pool, the corpse again strewn with flowers. Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death. As local residents are forced to share their deepest, darkest secrets, the killer watches, waits and plans to prepare another beautiful, watery grave."The third in the Vera Stanhope series, Hidden Depths, was first published in 2007, in the United Kingdom. Now, I didn't know that this wasn't the first, as I came into it from the television series, entitled Vera. This was the first episode aired.
Nonetheless, Cleeves has a talent for painting the scene. The crime scenes leave you puzzled, as you can't figure out who the killer is or what the true motives are. Even when you've seen the television episode, you can't remember who's done it! Vera is a loveable character with a tough nature. Joe, her partner, matches her well.
I give this: SNOG!
3. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff.
"The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life — and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again."
A stand alone book by YA (young adult) author Brenna Yovanoff, Paper Valentine was published early 2013. This book combines crime with the paranormal as Hannah is stalked by the ghost of her best friend, which the plot doesn't really need. The book is not very well planned and is bland. The typical romance of "good little girl meets boy everybody warns against" is a time old classic, but it's boring. The characters aren't well thought out and often behave in ways which aren't true to themselves, or teens of the day. The "master criminal" isn't really a criminal, but a seemingly bored teenage boy. I know its the YA market, but its over simplistic. I could solve this, and I can't normally figure out Scooby Doo!
Show More Show Less I give this: Avoid!Show More Show Less ---Show More Show Less
Watch out for tomorrow's blog post about Vampires, all in celebration of Vampire Month!
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: The Ladies' Paradise by Émile Zola
Show Less
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