Subtitled “the science and secrets of our mysterious feline companions” this book should be a must read for every self-proclaimed cat-person. Subtitled “the science and secrets of our mysterious feline companions” this book should be a must read for every self-proclaimed cat-person.
THE INNER LIFE OF CATS by Thomas McNamee
On a freezing cold and snowy night in Montana Mr. McNamee notices some tracks in the snow of the laneway leading to his barn. Investigating some mewling he discovered a very small, very cold and hungry looking black kitten. Realizing that this little bundle of fur was too young to be out on her own – probably too young to even be away from her mama – he bundles her up and takes her into the house. Named Augusta, because Mr. McNamee and his wife counted back and thought she was probably born in August, this was the start of a 15-year loving relationship.
The book follows Augusta through the stages of her life with the McNamees and as he describes each milestone Augusta passes Mr. McNamee also shares his meticulous research about cats pertaining to the same subject matter. Mr. McNamee wanted to be a better cat owner and to understand Augusta as best he could and he shares everything he learned with his readers. He wrote about his own relationship with Augusta so touchingly that I had to close the book for a little while when he was describing when the time came to let Augusta “go”. The author also discusses many other topics such as the feral cat communities around the world and the timely (and touchy) subject of the impact of both feral and outdoor “house” cats on wildlife.
Mr. McNamee has definitely done his homework to write this book. In my current business venture in cat-sitting I have been asked many questions by clients, some – as a life long cat owner I had answers to, others I had to call my vet-tech daughter to answer. I have made it a mission to become more informed about the “science” of cats and this book fit the bill. There were things in this book that I had not read in any of the other “cat” books I have explored.
If you want to have a better understanding of the enigma that is the cat, this is one of the better books to start that journey.
“The Inner Life of Cats” surpassed the reasons I had to read it and was at the same time an easy and entertaining read. ...more
When the bell rings it signals “the changing”. One child arrives at the island and the eldest leaves. It’s always been the way …
“Nine on on/>When the bell rings it signals “the changing”. One child arrives at the island and the eldest leaves. It’s always been the way …
“Nine on on island, orphans all, Any more – The sky might fall”
ORPHAN ISLAND by Laurel Snyder
The children on the island do not know why they are there or why they must leave when their time comes. That’s just the way things have always been. The green boat arrives with a young child and the eldest must leave, always a boy for a boy and a girl for a girl. Then the next eldest moves up to take care of the new arrival, teaching them the ways of the island and how to be as self sufficient as possible until it is their time to leave.
The island is an idyllic place to live; nothing there would ever hurt you – even the wind would not let you fall off a cliff, the snakes do not bite, the bees do not sting and the fishing net is always full. Really, the only thing to remember is not to take the last of anything. If you pick the last fruit then no more will grow. It’s the way of things on the island, the rule to follow – like the changing.
But what would happen if one of the children decided not to leave? Would the sky really fall? Jinny didn’t think so and she knew that she was not ready to leave the island for the unknown fate the green boat represented, not even if it meant being reunited with Deen, who left the year before.
This was an enchanting and captivating story that had me turning the pages until I got to the end. I don’t have too many one-day reads these days and this was such a lovely book to read on a quiet, overcast afternoon (and I have to confess to a bit of cover love as well). Ms. Snyder captures the voices of various children on the island with perfection, ranging in age from (I’m guessing) three to just pre-pubescent, that in itself is admirable. I had fun trying to figure out some of the terms the children has come up to name common objects. Just what are “poms” and “sweet snaps” exactly? I did manage to figure out “ersters” and “ink fish”! She also gave me a totally believable community of children living in isolation on their own mysterious island.
This is a YA novel and possibly because of my jaded and decidedly not YA mindset I kept looking for a lesson in the pages of this book. I am sure there is a wise lesson in there somewhere, I just couldn’t put my finger on it because I was so busy enjoying the story … I think I didn’t want to look too deeply.
When I came to the end the story felt somehow finished and not at the same time. It wasn’t a cliffhanger but there was so much more I wanted to know. What happened to Jinny in particular and on the island in general? Who was Abby? What’s the deal with the green boat? I am hoping there will be a sequel – or better yet, a prequel but if not – a little mystery in life is a good thing.
Loved this one so definitely 5 stars.
The following is a passage from tbe book because I love it when characters love books as much as I do ... “Back at the fire circle, Jinny opened the book, cradling its worn spine in one hand as she turned the soft, crumbling pages with the other. All the kids knew to be careful with the books. They were swollen, faded, eaten by the salt air and the grit of sand, not to mention so many grubby, grabbing fingers. When a book died, there was nothing to be done about it. The kids could only bury it in the sandy earth beyond the book cabin door and try to remember the story. They marked these little graves with the biggest shells they could find. It made a funny sort of garden.” ...more
One night, after an argument about a cheap necklace, two sisters disappear – three years later one returned.
EMMA IN THE NIGHT by Wendy Walker EMMAOne night, after an argument about a cheap necklace, two sisters disappear – three years later one returned.
EMMA IN THE NIGHT by Wendy Walker
Cassandra and Emma never had things easy growing up with a mother who displayed classic signs of narcissism. One day they were loved and the next could be frightening in the neglect they suffered. They soon learned how to keep their mother happy but in turn she learned how to play them against each other. Then both girls disappeared on the same night. Emma’s car and shoes were found on the sand by the ocean, but no signs of Cass could be found and nothing was missing from her room. Could the girls have disappeared together or were they the victims of two random, but coincidental abductions?
The FBI psychologist assigned to the original case suspected something else was at play but trying to convince others almost caused her to lose her job. When Cass returned demanding action to find her sister, Dr Winter saw her second chance to set things right.
This was a twisty-turny tale of a severely dysfunctional family. It was obvious from the time that Cass returned that things were not as they seemed. As I read more and more of the story I developed plausible outcomes … and then changed my mind again and again. Despite my multiple guesses I still got the ending wrong but that’s a sign of a good psychological thriller, right?
While I enjoyed this book there were times I felt it could have moved along at a slightly quicker pace; the story is told from multiple points of view so some of it was repetitive. When I got to the end I couldn’t get past the feeling of “well that could have all been prevented with one phone call”.
Emma in the Night releases on August 29th, 2017 and while I certainly would not hesitate to recommend this book to friends, but can’t quite rate it among the top books I’ve read in this genre.
* I’d like to thank the publisher, St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for my copy of the book, sent in exchange for an honest review. * ...more
The story of Frankenstein’s monster has captured the imagination of readers of almost two centuries, not only because of the story itself but also it’The story of Frankenstein’s monster has captured the imagination of readers of almost two centuries, not only because of the story itself but also it’s back story. It has also been retold in many forms. With this one Mr. Pyper hits it out of the park.
THE ONLY CHILD by Andrew Pyper
Lily Dominick was six years old when, as she looked on, her mother was brutally murdered. The trauma caused her recollections to be hazy … she recalled only a monster knocking on the door to kill her mother and her six year old self being rescued by a white creature. The incident still haunts her dreams and may well have led to her career choice as an adult where she is Dr. Dominick working as a psychiatrist with the worst of the worst criminals in New York’s Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Centre. At work it sometimes seems to her she can read the mind of the incarcerated. One morning she walks in to interview a man known only as Client 46874-A and claiming to be 200 years old. For Lily he is an enigma; she can’t get a read on him and she feels as if he is looking into her mind instead of the other way around. Then he throws Lily totally off balance when he claims to have known her mother and what happened to her so many years ago.
The next day Lily awakens to the news that Client 46874-A has escaped. Driven by clues he leaves for her and the need to discover if he can truly help her solve the riddle of what happened on the night her mother died Lily sets out to find him and hopefully the truth.
Mr. Pyper takes his reader along on Lily’s quest as she travels across Europe picking up more and more information about not only “Michael”, as she named the mystery man, but about herself as well. And for Lily the truth does indeed turn out to be stranger than fiction.
“The Only Child” is a well-written page-turner. I would expect nothing less from Mr. Pyper. This book is not only a psychological thriller with it’s share of the paranormal but is extremely entertaining in it’s explanations of the basis of not only “Frankenstein” but also “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Dracula”. Within the context of the story it had me nodding my head and thinking “Oh yeah … makes sense”.
As I read closer and closer to the end I began to formulate my own theory about Lily and Michael so I was quite pleased to discover that I was at least half right. Despite that, the reveal caught me by surprise. I had hoped for a different outcome but the ending suited the story. Not wanting to have to include a “spoiler alert” I do want to mention that there was one scene at the end of the book which wrapped up the story so extremely well that I still pause to think about it a few days after I’ve closed the cover – so well done Mr. Pyper.
* I’d like to thank the publisher, Simon and Shuster, and Netgalley for providing me with the book at no charge in exchange for an honest review.* ...more
This is one of those books that sort of meanders along as story good enough to keep you reading … until page 300 … when you get an OMG moment that chaThis is one of those books that sort of meanders along as story good enough to keep you reading … until page 300 … when you get an OMG moment that changes the pace of the whole thing.
HE SAID, SHE SAID by Erin Kelly
Kit has been an eclipse chaser since he was a child and it’s a hobby that he carried into his adult life and his girlfriend, Laura as well as sometimes their friends followed along more to keep him company than because they were also eclipse chasers. While attending a rather disappointing eclipse festival (the weather being such a big factor) Laura and Kit are walking back to their tent after the non-event when Laura happens upon a rape in progress. Of course, they report the crime and Laura feels a strong connection with the victim. She and Kit go through the whole trial process ensuring that the rapist, despite his protests of “misunderstanding”, ends up in jail. But that is hardly the end of the whole situation when the victim shows up at their doorstep and Laura begins a tentative friendship with her, much to Kit’s disapproval.
Fifteen years later Kit and Laura are married, she is heavily pregnant with twins and they are living under an assumed name. No good deed goes unpunished!
That’s all I can really say about this book without giving away the aforementioned, brilliant, page 300 twist.
I enjoyed Ms. Kelly’s writing and the way she was able to pull me into the story but truthfully this would have been a 3-star read until I came to “the twist”. It caught me completely by surprise and I raced through the rest of the book to learn how things would play out and the last quarter of the book was certainly a page-turner. However, I can’t quite bring myself to give it 5-stars because it started off a little slow, because of the flashback sequences it was at times a little repetitive and the ending left me feeling a little … well … unsatisfied.
So 4-stars for this one. It’s still a good read that I would recommend and I will definitely pick up something else by Ms. Kelly.
* I received this book at no charge from Goodreads First Reads * ...more
It’s a Wild West tail/tale with a twist – baseball and cricket have not been invented, nary a human to be found, dogs instead of horses and cats rule.It’s a Wild West tail/tale with a twist – baseball and cricket have not been invented, nary a human to be found, dogs instead of horses and cats rule.
ELVIS THE GUNSLINGER by Romey Connell
According to the book blurb if you were to cross John Wayne and James Bond you would get Elvis the Gunslinger. To all appearances he is a gentlecat rancher but the truth is he is a government agent – the best of the best. After a night spent putting out a mysterious fire in his dog barn and chasing down the feline culprit Elvis’ partner Frank shows up announcing they are leaving on the train ASAP to take on a case. The son and daughter-in-law of millionaire cat Morris Pusserschmott IV have been kidnapped and Fatscat, the meanest, smelliest outlaw in the west is the prime suspect. Elvis and Fatscat have history so who better to get to his hideout compound and see that justice is done.
Elvis is a hard drinking, hard loving lawman but that never gets in the way of his clever clue solving skills. And like any good G-man he always gets his man!
This fun read got off to a bit of a slow start for me. I found myself rolling my eyes at the beginning – you really need to suspend reality for this book – but soon enough I was caught up in the elaborate kidnapping scheme, the witty repartee between Frank and Elvis, the twists and turns of the case and the very creative characters Mr. Connell has written about.
I enjoyed the case, the chase and the resolution of the story but one of the dangers when anthropomorphizing cats is walking the fine line between making them too true to their feline nature or giving them too many human qualities. In this case Mr. Connell leaned a little to the latter. I was expecting more of a “cat tale”. This would have been a good read if the characters were human and, granted, replacing them with cats made it imaginative and often humorous but it would have been more fun (for me) with a few more cat-like moments and behaviours.
Overall, once I got used to the cat characters, this was a fun read. Definitely intended for a late teen to adult audience. 3.5 stars for this one and if pushed would lean towards rounding up to 4 because it was creative and the story picked up in the last half of the book.
* I won this book in a contest by the Purrington Post, so would like to thank them for sending me this book at no charge with no expectation of a review *...more
Urban fantasy is not my usual go-to genre, but tempt me with vampires and I can be convinced to give one a try. The bonus is that the vampires in thisUrban fantasy is not my usual go-to genre, but tempt me with vampires and I can be convinced to give one a try. The bonus is that the vampires in this one are bloody and brutal – just the way I like ‘em.
A CHANGE OF HEART by Mark Benjamin
Gabriel Harper could be the poster boy for the fellow they kick sand on at the beach. Smart and nice doesn’t always cut it and the bullies soon found he was an easy mark for their fun. Escaping from one such attack by diving behind a dumpster Gabriel never thought it would change his entire world. That’s where he came across the dying Lucas, one of “The Royals” in the vampire community. Lucas had never procreated but with his dying gasp he decided to turn Gabriel.
Alone and not knowing what was happening to him Gabriel navigates, with the help of a strange voice in his head, what it takes to be a vampire and the reader is introduced to a very unique world of vampires and the Silver Legionnaires – those who hunt them.
When Gabriel and three of his friends are unexpectedly yanked from their everyday lives and into the fortress of the Legionnaires life becomes very uncomfortable for Gabriel. Although he is a “hybrid” no one knows his secret, so how does a new vampire live among those determined to eradicate them. As the story progresses the reader realizes that things are not happy in either camp and, while each community is determined to rid themselves of the other, a little extra spice was added because each community also had traitors within their midst. Would the vampires and the Legionnaires destroy each other or would they be destroyed from within?
This was a fairly lengthy book and just as I thought things could be moving ahead at a little faster pace Mr. Benjamin threw in a twist I was certainly not expecting. Well done as it certainly gave me my second wind.
This book starts out with a bang. Mr. Benjamin definitely drops you right into the middle of the action and then just as you feel you need to catch your breath he the reader back to the norm … Gabriel’s world as a college student. From that point on the book follows a pretty straightforward time-line. While the book is written in the third person each short chapter is headed with the name of the character that the chapter features. I have no problem reading in this manner but the book has an overabundance of characters to keep straight and, rather than helping, the chapter headings seemed to make it more difficult to keep the minor characters straight.
I did enjoy this book. It was, in my opinion, a very original take on the vampire tale while still staying true to the nature of the beast. It also gave me a vampire protagonist I couldn’t help but like without making him too “twilighty”. I did feel that some of the characters had rather juvenile reactions to certain situations considering their twenty-something age bracket but this is book one in “The Royal Blood Chronicles” so I am going to assume the characters mature as the series progresses. I am also going to assume that I received an ARC because the book could have benefited from a last fine-tooth-comb edit.
I would definitely pick up the next one because I am curious as to where the story is going to go. 3.5-Stars for this one. ...more
Teenager has gotten his hands on some firecrackers and when he sets one off in the house Farfel runs out to join Bob on the backyard fence, his fur stTeenager has gotten his hands on some firecrackers and when he sets one off in the house Farfel runs out to join Bob on the backyard fence, his fur standing on end and definitely looking spooked. “That’s the last claw” proclaims Farfel … being scared out of his own home. Bob wasn’t too sure what firecrackers were and could only imagine something as horrible as the “tail devouring vacuum monster” or the “heat emitting hair-dryer monster”. Teenager, now relegated to the outdoors by Mrs. Gregson, continued on with the fireworks in the driveway. The two cats ran to Bob’s house and quickly scooted into the basement for safety. It wasn’t long before Farfel detected mice. Bob either lacked the hunting gene or was a conscientious objector because he just let them be. Before Bob could explain Farfel had caught and killed one of the mice.
Marcia was devastated to know rodents were in her house and had to come up with a cat-friendly way to rid her home of these pests. Farfel just shakes his head in disbelief at her plan and Bob makes an interesting discovery about himself.
These stories will appeal to and be a fun, quick read for adults (especially those who love their feline fur babies) but the stories are definitely G-rated and would make a great introduction to short chapter books for young readers. The illustrations will help bring the stories to life and the “cat dialogue” will be something to chuckle over as your youngster reads along.
I would like to thank Ms. Carmichael for providing this book for me to read and review at no charge. It in no way influenced my opnion....more
Sometimes you just have to read something light and fun, and if that something is told by two absolutely charming “talking” cats, well – all the betteSometimes you just have to read something light and fun, and if that something is told by two absolutely charming “talking” cats, well – all the better. This was my first introduction to Bob and his best buddy Farfel and it was cat-love at first read.
FARFEL AND BOB’S SUMMER BROMANCE by Kendra Carmichael
Bob lives with Marcia who adopted him when she decided a cat was a better relationship than some of the boyfriends she had had. Needless to even say, she spoiled him thoroughly. One day Marcia came home and told Bob that she would have to be away every Wednesday evening for several weeks because of a new project at work. Hmmm – this was going to be a bit disruptive to his life because Bob like to spend his evenings on the fence with his best friend Farfel. Farfel’s life was a little more stressful than Bob’s because he lived with Mr. and Mrs. Gregson, Teenager, Bird and his nephew kitty, Rooster. Farfel liked to “unwind” during their time on the fence so he was quite shocked when Bob announced the change in plans.
"Having a busy family to care for, Farfel relied on his evenings with Bob for much needed down-to-Earth cat companionship."
Now, Farfel was an awesome hunter so he decided that on his, now unoccupied, Wednesday evenings he would patrol the perimeter of Bob’s house. When he caught a mouse he would deposit it on Bob’s doorstep as a gift.
“Bob, who didn't even like mice that much, especially not dead ones, purred as he looked on. Because, as much as Marcia loved him, Bob liked knowing Farfel loved him too.”>
Nice kitty idea but, unfortunately Marcia didn’t agree – and – she thought it must be Bob hunting since the mouse was on her doorstep. But how was he getting out of the house while she was away? Marcia had to get to the bottom of this mystery!
When Ms. Carmichael contacted me to ask if I would like to read a couple of her books I agreed. I was a little apprehensive because one never knows what one is going to get but in this case I was more than pleasantly surprised. These books are beyond cute and the stories are accompanied by her amusing artwork. I fell in love with Bob and Farfel and their little adventures.
I would like to thank Ms. Carmichael for providing me with this book for review at no charge. It in no way influenced my opinion....more
I love the idea of adult coloring books but was always a little apprehensive about purchasing one and jumping in … I know its supposed to be relaxingI love the idea of adult coloring books but was always a little apprehensive about purchasing one and jumping in … I know its supposed to be relaxing but I’ve seen some pretty complicated pictures that I think (for me) would be more frustrating than relaxing. When I came across this book it was enough to make me change my mind.
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE … AND A CAT by Samantha Snyder
This adult coloring book is very generous with its 50 pages of cat “doodle art” complete with a wide variety of quotes and saying by everyone from Edgar Allen Poe to Abraham Lincoln accompanying each picture. Each page was nice and big and the pictures not too intricate, hence not leaning toward the frustrating.
I’m no expert by any means but I thought the pages were of good quality with the bonus of only being printed on one side, so if one wanted to use markers the next picture would not be damaged by bleeding through.
The only reason I have not gone a full 5 Stars on this book is that not every page had a cat included in the picture; sometimes it was just a paw print and sometimes only the words of the saying with some florals or doodles around the edges. The cats that were included were charming and whimsical often reminiscent of folk art so I’m sure this would appeal to cat lovers.
So, did I find it relaxing or frustrating?
I can’t answer that question.
I had scrounged out the package of pencil crayons I had in my desk from a previous (unrelated to coloring) project and had gotten about halfway through the picture I chose to start with when a friend of mine popped in for a visit. She is an avid coloring book enthusiast – some of her completed works are amazing – and she quickly commandeered my book. She is definitely enjoying it!
I’d like to thank Wordslinger and the author for providing me with a review copy of this book at no charge with the hope of receiving an unbiased review. ...more
I am fairly convinced that I now know where the writers on “Jeopardy” get some of their questions. I was flipping through the pages of this book durinI am fairly convinced that I now know where the writers on “Jeopardy” get some of their questions. I was flipping through the pages of this book during a commercial break while watching the game show and there it was! – The exact trivia tidbit that had just been a question on the show. Their secret is out now.
STRANGE HISTORY by The Bathroom Readers Institute
The folks at the Readers Institute have taken some of the most interesting historical facts and strange stories from their numerous previous books and compiled them in this book that is perfect for history trivia buffs. According to the blurb on the book there are also about 50 pages of previously unpublished stories.
Whether you have read the some of the stories before or all of them are brand new to you this book is a fun read. Do you want to know if Marco Polo really saw Unicorns, the story behind the curse on Shakespeare’s Macbeth or who really discovered the Rosetta Stone? This is the book that will give you all that and so much more.
I didn’t realize there was a Reader dedicated to Canadian facts and trivia nor one featuring scary stories … they are definitely going to be added to my TBR.
I'd like to thank Printers Row Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this book at no charge ...more
I was introduced to Uncle John when I received one of the books as a Christmas gift with the inscription “Because it’s probably the only room where yoI was introduced to Uncle John when I received one of the books as a Christmas gift with the inscription “Because it’s probably the only room where you don’t read”. Hahaha … if only she knew. What? No! No! Think bubble bath!
UNCLE JOHN’S FACTASTIC BATHROOM READER by the Bathroom Readers Institute
These are not the kind of books that you sit down and read in one or two sessions. They usually come in at 500+ pages crammed full of facts, trivia, odd news and all kinds of other things that absolutely boggle the mind.
This entry into the series is no exception. I can’t seem to ever be without a book within arm’s reach and this is perfect book to have close by to flip through during commercial breaks, on your kindle when waiting for an appointment or, of course, in the bathroom.
I'd like to thank Printers Row Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this book at no charge> ...more
Miss Armstrong had me hooked from the opening sentence. Her ability to create unique “worlds” for her novels and characters never ceases to amaze me.Miss Armstrong had me hooked from the opening sentence. Her ability to create unique “worlds” for her novels and characters never ceases to amaze me. This second book in the “City of the Lost” series took me once again to the middle of nowhere, Rockton, Yukon Territories ... the place people go when the want or need to disappear from their everyday lives.
A DARKNESS ABSOLUTE by Kelley Armstrong
Yup … Rockton is where people come to disappear but unfortunately they don’t check their natures at the door. What Casey very quickly finds out is that when you populate the town with troubled people often their troubles come with them. This means sometimes people DIS-appear from Rockton too.
Tracking a town runaway through a blizzard is not an easy feat but you have to know when to call it quits. Casey and Deputy Will Anders come to just that conclusion when they can no longer see each other on the trail. Taking shelter in a nearby cave they come across a surprise – a woman thought to be another town runaway thought lost and dead – here in “their” cave, where she has been held captive for over a year. Despite being taken care by someone she cannot identify her captor. When they bring her back to town she seems to be all right despite her ordeal. Maybe a little too all right? Was it someone from town or one of the hostiles living in the wilderness? Casey Duncan and her (now) boyfriend Sheriff Dalton are determined to find out but just how do you do that when the whole town could be suspects.
In the first book of the series we got a brief glimpse of the “outsiders” and the “hostiles”; those people living, to varying degrees outside the town. Bad enough trying to identify suspects when all your neighbours are living a lie but how do you go about finding people who have no desire to be found and are not shy about letting you know that.
A few new characters were introduced in this book and a few from the first were fleshed out a little bit more – all interesting and unique. And, the new puppy was a nice touch. Another page-turner that kept me guessing to the very end. Looking forward to the next in the series.
I’d like to thank Minotaur and Netgalley from providing me with a review copy of this book at no charge
If you are out fishing on a chilly spring morning it’s because you hope to land a big one, but not necessarilyBROKEN ANGELS by Graham Masterton
If you are out fishing on a chilly spring morning it’s because you hope to land a big one, but not necessarily as big as a human body. Father Heaney’s bloated, tortured and garrotted body snags the fishing line and it’s quite obvious that he didn’t accidentally fall in the river. When Katie Maguire is informed about the murder of a second priest, also similarly tortured she has to amp up the investigation despite the Church trying to throw red herrings and cover-ups in her way.
Again, the story line of this thriller is not an entirely new concept but he does give it a fresh spin, once again drawing in some myths and legends. The manner in which Mr. Masterton has his crimes executed it pretty bloody and leaves no doubt as to the reason for the killings. I had that part figured out before it was explained, but that in no way took anything away from the rest of the story.
Reading this book immediately on the heels of “White Bones” I immediately noticed a pretty serious continuity flaw. One of the characters that very definitively died at the end of the first book was very much still alive at the beginning of this book. It sounds a little petty but with 35+ books under his belt Mr. Masterton’s uncaught discrepancy set my teeth on edge. I found myself reading the rest of this book anticipating other inconsistencies as I did so. It was a bit distracting. Mr. Masterton also likes to use the hospitalization of a family member as a distraction for Katie, once or twice I can accept, so I will pick up the third in the series somewhere down the road - hopefully some of those personal peeves will be left out. ...more
For me Graham Masterton is synonymous with “The Manitou”. Mr. Masterton has been responsible for some of my most cringe-worthy horror reads and his NiFor me Graham Masterton is synonymous with “The Manitou”. Mr. Masterton has been responsible for some of my most cringe-worthy horror reads and his Night Warriors books still remain some of my favorites. For a long while he sort of dropped off my radar and then I came across his crime thriller series featuring Katie Maguire. I started the series with the most recent book so I knew I wanted to go back and check out the first few.
WHITE BONES by Graham Masterton
When some construction on a farm building unearths bones D.S. Katie Maguire gets called to the scene. It quickly becomes obvious that this is not a recent crime scene and after the forensics it turns out that the bones date back to 1915. But why so many dismembered bodies in one grave – each with a piece of lace tied through the thighbone.
The crime is passed on to an anthropologist to puzzle out until a new murder victim surfaces, oddly enough with a piece of lace tied to the thigh bones as well. Now Katie has a recent and a decades old murder to investigate. Is it possible that it is the same killer?
I can’t say Katie Maguire is a fresh take on murder detectives … women have been taking the leading role in a lot of crime fiction lately but she is an interesting leading character. She has a shady husband and some pretty questionable “friends”. What made this book a little different is Mr. Masterton takes some pretty fascinating Irish folklore and ties it into a crime thriller.
Oh? Those cringe-worthy moments I mentioned? Yup – still there. I’ve read some pretty gruesome crime fiction in my day but this one had me grimacing, had it been a film I was watching I definitely would have been peeking out through my fingers.
After reading the first two books in this Promise Falls trilogy I waited quite awhile before picking up this last book. I don’t know why I waited so lAfter reading the first two books in this Promise Falls trilogy I waited quite awhile before picking up this last book. I don’t know why I waited so long but now that I’ve read it I’m on the fence about this one.
THE TWENTY-THREE by Linwood Barclay
Promise Falls is a small town that has been under siege for a long while now and the number 23 seems to be important to whoever is perpetrating the horrendous acts. Now it’s the Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd and as the sun rises people are dropping like flies. It doesn’t take long to figure out that something has been put into the water supply. As if that wasn’t enough for the hospital and police department to deal with another murder occurs – one bearing horrible similarities to two past, as yet unsolved, murders. Could all these events be related?
Mr. Barclay once again gave me a page-turner. Things in Promise Falls were happening and they were happening quickly. For this reader it was almost too much, too quickly. Just when I was catching on to what was happening with the water the scene switched to the murder and then a quick cut to the mayoral candidate and then back to the water treatment plant. While I don’t mind a lot of action this installment in the trilogy seemed overpopulated and slightly out of control. The mystery of “23” was solved and yet with everything that went on there were still some questions unanswered.
Mr. Barclay has stated this is his last visit to Promise Falls. We’ll see? ...more
I’m always on the lookout for a good horror story so when I got the email that I’d won a copy of this one I was quite excited to read it. I’ve read aI’m always on the lookout for a good horror story so when I got the email that I’d won a copy of this one I was quite excited to read it. I’ve read a few other novellas by Mr. Cassidy and, like those, this one did not disappoint.
FOSGATE’S GAME by David C. Cassidy
Chadwick and Fosgate were business associates but that was all they had in common. Fosgate is a hunter, a brute, insensitive to other people’s feelings, concerns and fears. Chadwick was more sensitive – his ulcer flares up when he is in Fosgate’s company, the hunter’s trophies on the wall disturb him and thunderstorms are a phobia – and tonight’s dinner did indeed take place a very dark and stormy night. Chadwick understands that Fosgate takes a perverse sort of joy playing on his fears but it cannot be helped; these ongoing evenings are a necessity of doing business.
But this night is different.
This night Fosgate shares a mysterious secret about an object he picked up in his travels, a chess set with pieces so grotesque Chadwick could not comprehend why and who would have carved them. The set should have stayed hidden in it’s case. It emanated evil, but worse; Fosgate wanted to play!
This book had me in its grip from the first page. Chadwick’s fear and loathing of Fosgate was palpable and as the evening and Chadwick’s discomfort progressed so did mine. Since I don’t care for Jason and Chainsaw “slasher” type horror finding a good old-fashioned scare seems few and far between these days. Rest assured there is still the requisite amount of mayhem, death, blood and gore but Mr. Cassidy does not feel the need to slap you in the face with it … one quick mention and the rest is left to the readers imgination … like some of the masters of the genre he understands that this reader does not need to feel splattered in blood to feel fear. How does it all turn out? Satisfyingly twisted thank you very much!
Kudos!
I’d like to thank Mr. Cassidy for providing me with this book through a contest with no expectation of a review. ...more
After the last few books I was ready to give up on this series. I’m quite glad I decided to plough through one more. I thought this was the best one iAfter the last few books I was ready to give up on this series. I’m quite glad I decided to plough through one more. I thought this was the best one in quite a while.
ECHOES IN DEATH by J.D. Robb
In start of this 44th book in the In Death series Eve and Rourke have just returned from a lovely vacation on their private island in time to attend the Winter Ball, a charity event. Eve, of course, hates every minute of the schmoozing, fancy dress and toe numbing heels. She was looking forward to getting back to work on Monday but work finds her as she and Rourke are driving home when a young woman, naked and beaten, runs out in front of their car. Eve Dallas is suddenly back on the job … heels and all.
They manage to rush Daphne Strazza to the ER in time to save her life, but when Eve goes back to investigate it is quite obviously to late for her husband. Daphne swears the devil himself broke into their home after a dinner party, tied up her husband and then repeatedly assaulted her. Eve understood that it couldn’t really have been the devil, but who was this master of disguise – who, as it turns out has targeted several other couples before and probably has a list of future victims as well.
With Echoes in Death Ms. Robb has gone back to what I enjoyed about these books at the beginning – the crime, the squad, the investigation and Rourke to go home to. It was a relief to me that Rourke took a little bit of a back seat in this one. Frankly, he was becoming annoyingly controlling and invasive of Eve’s space in the last few entries. Yes, he still helped with some computer work but this case was solved by good old police work. Well 2060’s style police work. Therein lies my only complaint with this book ... the solving of the case seemed to come out of the blue. All at once Eve seems to have an epiphany and the bad guy is in the interrogation room. Did I miss a chapter or two? Was it supposed to be a surprise or did Ms. Robb realize the page limit was looming and she better get this case solved.
Echoes in Death has ensured that I will pick up at least the next instalment. ...more
I am a bit of a sucker for this type of book. Interacting with the public for most of my working life I have a few amusing stories up my sleeve too. II am a bit of a sucker for this type of book. Interacting with the public for most of my working life I have a few amusing stories up my sleeve too. I think that sets my expectations pretty high.
I WORK AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY by Gina Sheridan
The tag line on this book is “A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks”.
Crazy? Not so sure.
Humorous? Borderline.
I can’t honestly say that, for me, there were any laugh-out-loud moments as I read this book. I found it mildly funny at best so that was a little disappointing. I understand that Ms. Sheridan was sharing some of these stories in a blog and eventually had other librarians sending her stories that she added to her own and shared a select number in this book. I may go and check out the blog sometime just to see if she could have made better choices.
My favorite story in the book? Ouchies, Library … I stubbed my toe just as someone dropped a book into the inside book drop. As I yelped and howled in pain, a child on the other side said “Mommy, I think we hurt he book”.
All that aside I do applaud any literary effort that celebrates libraries and librarians. I use my library A LOT and am so grateful they do what they do. For that reason I tacked another ½ star onto my rating of this book … 3 ½ stars! ...more
I read and enjoyed the books in the Song of Fire and Ice series, and let’s face it; very few authors are as ruthless as Mr. Martin when it comes to kiI read and enjoyed the books in the Song of Fire and Ice series, and let’s face it; very few authors are as ruthless as Mr. Martin when it comes to killing off characters in the most gruesome ways. When I saw this book at the Dollar Store (sorry Mr. Martin, sad for you – good for me), despite my self-imposed book buying ban I had to pick it up to see what Mr. Martin considers YA fiction.
THE ICE DRAGON by George R.R. Martin
Adara was a winter child, born during the worst winter anyone could remember. Unfortunately, her mother died in childbirth – no one knows if that, the storm or her father’s (albeit) hidden blame resulted in her not ever feeling cold. When other children tired of their winter games and ran inside for warmth Adara went alone to build her ice castle. It was there she first met the Ice Dragon of legend. No one had ever seen it other than from afar but after several winters Adara not only touched it but also rode on it’s back. They developed a unique friendship out of mutual loneliness.
As war encroaches ever closer on her village neighbours and friends are leaving. Even Adara’s uncle, a King’s Dragon Master, warned her father to leave but he was a stubborn man. When it was too late to leave and the only thing that could save them was Adara’s dragon it became a question of which friend was willing to sacrifice more for the other.
While not totally without war, bloodshed and death Mr. Martin has definitely toned it down for the younger audience intended to read The Ice Dragon. What there is, I would consider age appropriate and not graphic happening “off page”. He does give his young reader a page turning story and a poignant lesson about what it means to be a friend. An added bonus is the wonderful illustrations.
I enjoyed the book and am glad I “splurged” and picked it up. ...more
This book has been described as “A compelling portrait of a unique moment in American history when the ideas of Charles Darwin reshaped American notioThis book has been described as “A compelling portrait of a unique moment in American history when the ideas of Charles Darwin reshaped American notions about nature, religion, science and race”. That is an accurate description but the book is so much more.
THE BOOK THAT CHANGED AMERICA – How Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Ignited a Nation by Randall Fuller
In 1860 Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species” and I think it would be fairly safe to assume that he had steeled himself for the backlash that the publication would produce from all parts of society. I’m not quite so sure he was prepared for the support he received or the fact that his book would be used as an argument supporting both sides of the slavery issue in America.
“Reviewers for the American popular press consistently understood Darwin as having provided a theory that showed that black and white people were related. In truth, Darwin had refrained from addressing this issue in the “Origin” because he was unwilling to claim more for his theory than it could adequately answer.”
I found that quite interesting, as I had never come across any information about that particular use of Darwin’s theory before. Of course, that was by no means the only impact his publication had on the world; especially when it concerned religion and science. Botanist Asa Gray was possibly the first person in America to read Darwin’s book and he soon led the charge for acceptance of Darwin’s revolutionary theory. Soon the book was introduced to other members of the scientific, religious and philosophical realms of society: Charles Loring, Franklin Sanborn, Bronson Alcott and Henry David Thoreau. In researching this book Mr. Fuller not only tells us the impact the book had on those luminaries but also the influential writers of the time such as Emerson, Lousia May Alcott and Frederick Douglas.
I cannot begin to describe all the areas Mr. Fuller touched upon in this book in a short review, but suffice it say that he packs a lot of interesting information into this 322-page book. I not only learned more about Mr. Darwin’s theory but also enjoyed the biographical aspects about the others spotlighted.
It’s difficult to imagine one book filled with one man’s ideas could change the thinking of an entire country, but after reading Mr. Fuller’s book I can certainly see how it happened. Well researched and well written but more importantly it satisfied the curiosity that prompted me to pick it up and I can’t ask more than that, so five stars for this one. ...more
When I was in High School (yeah, I’m surprised I can remember back that far too!) we had a wonderful Advanced English teacher who allowed us to do one termWhen I was in High School (yeah, I’m surprised I can remember back that far too!) we had a wonderful Advanced English teacher who allowed us to do one term on Horror books – the classics. We read Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and, of course, Frankenstein. (We also watched Hitchcock films and were allowed to choose a modern horror book of our choice for independent study.) Despite dissecting and reassembling these books ad nausium I did not learn as much about Mary Shelley and her monster as I did from reading this book. English teachers, as awesome as some of them might be, could learn a lesson here and occasionally take a few steps outside the actual book.
THE LADY AND HER MONSTERS – a Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr, Frankensteins and the Creation of Mary Shelley’s Masterpiece by Roseanne Montillo
From the frog experiments of Luigi Galvani in the mid-1700’s through to Mel Books’ “Young Frankenstein” man has always been fascinated with reanimation of the departed. Ms. Montillo does not spare those readers of a more delicate constitution from the realities of these experiments. Gruesome as they were it is important to understand how Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley might have come about some of her knowledge about these experiments in a time when well mannered women were kept in the dark about science.
Not only does this book offer an explanation of how Mary Shelley may have come up with Frankenstein’s monster but also serves as a comprehensive biography of Shelley and her family, as well as several of the prominent people in her life; Byron, or course and Percy Shelley are among others both well known and not. As far as the truth behind the stories and myths surrounding the writing of the book itself … ‘twas indeed a dark and stormy night.
Ghoulish as it makes me sound, I was also quite fascinated about the goings on of the “body snatchers”.
Packed full of obviously well researched information and written in an easily readable style I definitely have to give five stars to this fascinating read. ...more
After I read “Fifteen Dogs” several years ago Andre Alexis became on author on my “need to read more by him” list. If you saw my TBR you would understAfter I read “Fifteen Dogs” several years ago Andre Alexis became on author on my “need to read more by him” list. If you saw my TBR you would understand why that hasn’t happened until now. When I read about the release of this book in 2016 I knew I wanted to pick it up. It took me this long to get to it. Shame on me!
THE HIDDEN KEYS by Andre Alexis
Tancred Palmieri is an enigma – an honourable thief who also happens to have a detective as a best friend. He lives in and mixes with the people in a shadier area of Toronto, not somewhere you would expect to meet Willow Azarian, a billion dollar heiress with a not so secret heroin addiction. Tancred knew nothing about Willow but she knew him by reputation. A chance(?) meeting sitting on the barstools in a dive bar prompts them to start a conversation. Tancred took Willow to be what she appeared, a slightly eccentric addict with possibly delusions of grandeur – until she shows him her “mad money” bank book containing a 6 figure balance. After saving her from some thugs Willow tells Tancred a fantastic story about a treasure hunt her father arranged for her before he died. Each of the five Azarian siblings received an unusual gift bequest in their father’s will. Each gift individually was simply a memento but combined they were an intricate series of clues. Willow is convinced there is a pot of gold at the end of the hunt but her siblings believe otherwise. Willow wants Tancred to steal each of their mementos and help her solve the puzzle. He gives his word and Tancred is nothing if not a man of his word even when it means completing the task without Willow’s help. He quickly finds out that others are also on the same quest but is he on the mother of all treasure hunts or the wildest goose chase of his life?
As he did in “Fifteen Dogs” Mr. Alexis gives his reader an extremely entertaining story. This one is filled with eccentric characters from all parts of the economic spectrum, he gives us moments of almost slapstick humour and at other times nail biting suspense, all combining to ask the reader to question what the true meaning of family, friendship and promises might be. Amazingly enough he does this in an unobtrusive way. Never obviously preaching the subtle undertones, it wasn’t until I read the last page and closed the cover that it occurred to me how meaningful this entertaining story really was.
If I was pressed to find fault with the book I would have to admit that in one or two instances it dragged a little, more than likely because I was impatient to find out if there was a treasure. It was fun to read a book set in Toronto, a city I know well so it’s still five stars for this one. Mr. Alexis hit another one out of the park. ...more
This book blipped on my radar but wasn’t readily available so I sort of forgot about it, then it magically arrived on my doorstep in my “Cozy Box SwapThis book blipped on my radar but wasn’t readily available so I sort of forgot about it, then it magically arrived on my doorstep in my “Cozy Box Swap” and I was quite thrilled. I had a mountainous pile of library books that had to read and return so it took me a while to get to this one. I’m really sorry about that because 1. It was a gift and I wanted to read it and, 2. It is a fantastic book!
84 CHARING CROSS ROAD by Helene Hanff
Helene is looking through the Saturday Review of Literature when she comes across an ad for the bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Road. She writes a letter to the store inquiring about purchasing some classic books she is having difficulty finding in New York City … difficult that is without leaving her apartment and spending an outrageous amount of money. Soon enough the books arrive on her doorstep and so begins a 20-year correspondence and friendship between herself and the proprietor of the store, Frank Doel. The story is told entirely through the letters she and Frank, as well as some other employees of the store and Frank’s family, share. The reader is not only privy to their lives through the correspondence but is also given a very clear picture of post war London compared to New York City in the same time period. It was a charming read.
Helene never made it to London during Frank’s lifetime, or for that matter the lifetime of the bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Road, but she did eventually manage to take her “dream trip” to London because of the letters. A trip paid for by their publication led to what was the second half of this book, originally published as “The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street”, it is the tale of her exploration of London. A little bittersweet because she can never meet Frank she never the less takes her reader along as she joyfully explores this city she loved from afar.
While I enjoyed the first part of the book slightly more than the second the book taken as a whole was marvellous. I fell a little bit in love with Helene: her brashness, her outspokenness, her feminism before it was fashionable and her frugal way of getting things done. She charmed me as she charmed all the people she met along the way during this part of her life.
This was definitely a 5-star read and I encourage anyone who loves books and likes London to pick up this book. This is a book that is definitely getting a permanent home on my favorites bookshelf. I am going to make a point of picking up what amounts to the third in this original “trilogy”, “Q’s Legacy”. I wish I had read this book before my own trip to London last year.
“I do love secondhand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest. ...
“I love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages someone long gone has called my attention to.” Helene Hanff...more
Susan Morrow is comfortable in her second marriage; although it’s not perfect she enjoys her home and her children. She tells herself this is the lifeSusan Morrow is comfortable in her second marriage; although it’s not perfect she enjoys her home and her children. She tells herself this is the life she wants. Her first marriage to Edward Sheffield was filled with her encouraging him to write and Edward making excuses. She hasn’t thought about Edward in years and then all of a sudden a manuscript arrives in the mail with a letter from Edward asking her to read his book. Susan waits until she has some quiet moments and then begins the book about some …
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS by Austin Wright.
Susan is quickly drawn into the fictional life of Tony Hastings and his family. On an ordinary drive to their summerhouse in Maine the unimaginable happened. At first Tony is left emotionally paralysed by the violence done to himself and his family. Slowly, he comes to terms with the fact that it happened but is unexpectedly drawn in to the often unexplainable quest for judgement both he and the local police seem to need in closing the case of what happened to Tony and his family.
“Nocturnal Animals” is a book within a book that seemed like an interesting concept when I first read about it. The first part of the book held my interest because I got caught up in Susan’s excitement at digging into the manuscript. I could relate to her wanting a quiet place and a set time frame to do the book justice. Reading along with Susan I was as shocked as she was at what was happening to the Hastings family. When Susan had to close the manuscript to address her life (which I very quickly became bored with) I, like Susan, couldn’t wait to get back to the manuscript. Unfortunately that feeling really didn’t last much past the first third of both the book and the book within the book.
I can’t say the writing was horrible – I’ve read worse – but the editor was asleep at his job on this one. This book was previously published under the title “Susan and Tony” so you would think this being the second go round the errors might have been caught? There were sentences that I had to read two and three times and still couldn’t make sense out of them. I just moved on hoping I didn’t miss some important piece of information. This does not endear me to the book I am reading.
I also kept waiting for the book to fulfill the promise in the cover description, “Susan is plunged into the past, forced to confront the darkness that inhabits her and driven to name the fear that gnaws at her future and will change her life.” Yeah – didn’t happen.
So why did I keep reading? There was an underlying sense that this book was going to surprise me with a big reveal at the end. I was optimistic that my fortitude would pay off. It didn’t. The ending I was expecting never materialized and in the case of both books I was left disappointed.
I’m giving this one 2 stars because the first third was, aside from the editing, interesting. It was too bad the rest didn’t live up to the hype. This book has been made into a movie. I may watch it if it ever makes it to the small screen but doubt I’ll go out of my way to do so. ...more
Casey Duncan has three things in her life she cares about: being a detective, her best friend Diana and her no-strings-attached sometimes lover. She aCasey Duncan has three things in her life she cares about: being a detective, her best friend Diana and her no-strings-attached sometimes lover. She also has one big secret. When it seems like her past is catching up to her and Diana’s present is getting dangerous she realizes that they both have to disappear. No place better than Rockton …
THE CITY OF THE LOST by Kelley Armstrong.
Rockton is a unique place. It’s in the middle of nowhere and you will not find it on a map anywhere. Somewhere in the Yukon, Rockton is filled with people who found it necessary to disappear from their lives … some for their own protection and some to evade the law. Each must go through a vetting process and possess a significant amount of money to be accepted but only the Sheriff knows who is there and for what reason, yet even that information may not be trustworthy. As each person arrives they are given tasks according to their particular skill set so Casey quickly becomes a deputy … just in time to help solve a gruesome murder.
In this, the first book of her new series, Ms. Armstrong once again does what she does so well – build a fictional world that is believable and unique. Whether it’s her “Otherworld” or Rockton she takes us just far enough out of reality to make it ring possible. An isolated town, a murder mystery and a little romance thrown in make “City of the Lost” an excellent read. Originally published as six mini novellas I’m sure the reader was kept in suspense from one instalment to the next. I waited until all six parts came out in book form and am glad I did so. Although, let’s face it, it’s a great marketing ploy but I would have found it frustrating to read it in bits and pieces. Can’t wait for the next book in the series. ...more
The mission statement of this book can be found in the description on the flyleaf “to better understand the furry strangers in our midst”. Science wriThe mission statement of this book can be found in the description on the flyleaf “to better understand the furry strangers in our midst”. Science writer Abigail Tucker does an admirable job but really, can anyone really understand cats?
THE LION IN THE LIVINGROOM: HOW HOUSE CATS TRAINED US AND TOOK OVER THE WORLD by Abigail Tucker
Ms. Tucker, a cat lover herself, takes us on a masterful historic tour of the world of cats and how they came to be the most popular of pets the world over – or rather how they invaded our lives and homes to ingratiate themselves into our lives – making us not owners, but drooling love slaves. If you are expecting a written version of a “cute cat you-tube” video BE WARNED, this book is anything but that. In fact if I didn’t know better I would think this book was written to dissuade anyone from ever cohabitating with a feline.
Ms. Tucker takes her reader through the history of cats and how they, quite literally, domesticated (if that word can even be used in reference to cats) themselves and how they managed to travel the world over, sometimes much to the chagrin and detriment of local residents, both human and wildlife. Yes, she tackles the ugly problem of cats, domestic and feral, and their negative impact on the wildlife in their vicinity.
“Worldwide, house cats already outnumber dogs, their great rival for our affections, but as many as three to one, and their advantage is probably increasing. The tally of pet cats in America rose by 50 percent between 1986 to 2006, and today approaches 100 million … Wild and tame, homebound and footloose, these cats increasingly preside over nature and culture, the concrete jungles and the real ones beyond … the house cat is the new king of beasts.”
Ms. Tucker seems to have a wide variety of scientists and researchers on speed dial and gives excellent insight into things such as the toxoplasma parasite and how it may have possible infected the human brain causes us to love our little fur-babies even more, why cats, despite the best efforts of humans manage to remain strong and plentiful in feral communities.
From history to science, cats in literature to our obsession with cats on the internet, dogs vs. cats as pets and new specialty breeds such as rag dolls and werewolf cats Ms. Tucker has written a very comprehensive book that every cat owner/lover should read at some point. You may not like everything you read but it is worth knowing.
While I believe Ms. Tucker has done very thorough research in writing this book I can not, because of personal experience with this amazing creature that is cat, quite bring myself to jump on the bandwagon of everything she has written … or course, that could be a touch toxoplasmosis talking? Read the book – you’ll understand.
Despite my minor misgivings I am still rating this book at 5 stars. Ms. Tucker managed to write a book jam-packed with information and make it a very enjoyable read that proves her flyleaf statement true “the correct reaction to a house cat isn’t ‘awwww’. It’s awe.” ...more
A deathbed confession, a family curse, a dark and stormy night complete with a mysterious stranger; really, what more could you ask for in a horror stA deathbed confession, a family curse, a dark and stormy night complete with a mysterious stranger; really, what more could you ask for in a horror story?
HauGHnt by David C. Cassidy
As his father lies on his deathbed Paul Steele finds he can barely look at the man let alone offer him any comfort as he takes his last breaths. His father’s life-long quest to find peace in the bottom of a bottle destroyed Paul’s mother and alienated Paul. What the old man has to say before he dies does nothing to change Paul’s feelings, but now Paul may understand his never ending drinking. Paul’s father committed an unimaginable crime and avoided prosecution by making the proverbial deal with the devil. “We’re all damned. It’s just a question of when”. For Paul Steele the mysterious “when” turns out to be “right now”.
This short story is the first of Mr. Cassidy’s “Dark Shapes, Dark Shadows” series and after reading “HauGHnt” I am looking forward to what’s to come. Mr. Cassidy seems to enjoy taking an ordinary person with an ordinary life and putting them in the most extraordinary situation. It certainly makes for a chilling read.
Short stories are not my usual go-to read because, by their very definition, they are – well – short. It’s difficult to come to care for characters in the few pages allotted to the read but Mr. Cassidy packs a lot into this one, so I found myself totally involved in Paul’s dilemma. I couldn’t get to the end fast enough – in the good way! And the end? Paul shocked me as did HauGHnt and that’s always a good thing in a horror story.
I admit to wishing the story were just a tad longer, but taking the “creep” factor into consideration I’m giving this one 4 ½ stars.
* I’d like to thank the author for providing me with this book at no charge in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion. * ...more
Yrsa Sigurdardottir has been a fave of mine since I read the first book in her Thora Gudmundsdottir series. This standalone novel showcases what Ms. SYrsa Sigurdardottir has been a fave of mine since I read the first book in her Thora Gudmundsdottir series. This standalone novel showcases what Ms. Sigurdardottir does best … chills up your spine and not just because of the cold Nordic setting.
WHY DID YOU LIE by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Nina’s life has slipped off the track a little bit. She is a pariah among her fellow police officers for filing a sexual harassment suit. Now she is working on dead files in the basement of the building where she has entirely too much time to think about her husband who is lying in a coma after attempting suicide.
Helgi is a photo-journalist doing a photo shoot on a very small, very remote island where a team was sent to refurbish a defunct lighthouse. Helicopter troubles keep them on the island longer than usual and during a raging winter storm one of them disappears.
Noi and Vala return from a trip to the United States where they had house-swapped their home with an American couple. Coming into their house they sense that something is off but cannot put their finger on what it is.
What do these people have in common? At one intersecting point in their lives they lied! Now, someone or something wants them to pay for those lies.
I enjoy Ms. Sigurdadottir because she give me the all the thrills and chills I love without the “in-your-face” horror. In “Why Did You Lie” she tells four seemingly unconnected stories that each hold your interest independently but when she brings them together at the end of the book it is in the most deliciously unexpected way. If you enjoy mystery thrillers with a touch of what might or might not be a supernatural element I highly recommend you add Ms. Sigurdardottir to your TBR. ...more
Have you ever taken a vacation and made sure to include a visit to a place or site that was mentioned in a book you read? I know I can’t be the only oHave you ever taken a vacation and made sure to include a visit to a place or site that was mentioned in a book you read? I know I can’t be the only one! Over the years I’ve managed to cross a few things off my bucket list of places to visit … The Gardner Museum in Boston, The Cloisters, the Library, the Met and Central Park in NYC, The Art Institute in Chicago, and The Louvre and Versailles in Paris – yes – museums and galleries seem to be the theme of prominence. My travel bucket list just got a whole lot longer after reading this book (now if only my lottery numbers would hit). If this book is any indication they should definitely hire authors to write travelogues.
TREASURE PALACES – “GREAT WRITERS VISIT GREAT MUSEUMS” edited by Maggie Ferguson
When Tim de Lisle took over as editor of “Intelligent Life” magazine he was inspired by a museum trip with his children to publish a series of articles titled “Authors on Museums” in which “in each issue of Intelligent Life a distinguished writer – not an art critic – would return to a museum that had played some part in their life, and write about what they liked (or didn’t) about it, weaving in a thread of memoir.” There were some misses such as when “David Sedaris admitted that he wasn’t a museums kind of person, but a ‘gift shop and café kind of person’.”
In the stories selected for this book it is interesting to note that most of the museums the authors chose to revisit were small, often obscure, places that spoke to them on a personal level. The galleries and museums range, geographically, from New York City to Zagreb and from Stockholm to Australia. Each article is, of course, written in the first person and many have a conversational tone that made this non-fiction book very easy and most enjoyable to read. Each author’s reason for their choice of museum was as varied as the choices themselves. If you enjoy art galleries and museums or are an armchair traveler, like myself, this book is a must read. I promise you will have a few places to add to your personal bucket list as well.
So which ones in particular made my list?
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum (Roddy Doyle) The first article in the book is also the top pick on my revised bucket list. On the morning of October 1874 Mrs. Gumpertz’s husband left for work and never returned, leaving her with children to support and no income. The story was not uncommon in the tenements of 1800’s New York City. This museum stands as the tenement did then, when the landlord did not want the expense of doing necessary repairs and evicted all the residents. As the author explains, “That is why the Tenement Museum is so special and why I’m here for the third time in 15 years. No famous people lived here. But people did. It’s hard not to expect Mrs. Grumpertz to walk in and demand to know what I’m doing here, in their home. ‘Looking at your wallpaper would be the answer.’”
Everything is original and the walls tell the stories … “The life of the house is in the walls, behind the flaking paint and in the flaking paint.”
The Museum of Broken Relationships (Aminatta Forna) This museum is a collection of items donated by people who have lost their loves. A married man donated a shaving kit given to him by his 17-year old mistress in the 1980’s. When he donated the shaving kit he wrote a note that read, “I hope she doesn’t love me any more. I hope she doesn’t know she was the only person I ever loved.” The museum contains everything from stuffed animals and silk dresses to hats, books and a special pair of motorcycle boots donated by a young man who purchased them for his girlfriend Anna. He and Anna eventually broke up and over the years several other girls wore the boots on the back of his bike but in his mind those boots would always be “Anna’s boots”. Exchanging tokens of love is something we all do and all the best sources advise to get rid of those things if the relationship ends. Sometimes we just cannot bear to do that so why not give them a home in the “Museum of Broken Relationships”?
One article in this book moved me to tears; In Flanders Fields Museum, Ypres (Michael Morpurgo) so this museum is on my list of places I will probably never seek out, for the same reason I did not go to Ground Zero when I was in NYC and will not visit the 911 Memorial. I will not go to Auschwitz, nor the Holocaust Museum. As touchingly as Mr. Morpurgo wrote of the museum and its stories, and as much as I enjoy most aspects of history these museums are difficult to walk through. I did find myself at the memorial for the Oklahoma Bombing. It was incredible and it stays with me to this day, so many years later, and that’s why I won’t go back there or seek out Flanders Fields … the voices of the ghosts are too loud and haunt me for too long.
Other notable mentions?
Musee Rodin in Paris (Allison Pearson) Who has not seen at least a picture of Rodin’s famous “The Kiss”? Ms Pearson visits the museum 30 years after her first introduction to the statue, “Three decades on, I wonder what I saw in this monumental snog. It would sit perfectly in a Las Vegas chapel of lurve. Sometimes marble feels too smooth, too chilly for Rodin’s purposes; these days I am moved by the rougher and readier terracotta Kiss that sits in a modest glass case to one side of the original. Still, I owe that first Kiss. For a group of weary teenagers from the Midlands, here was remarkable news. Dead people had felt these things; and the living went on feeling them.” Explaining a scene from a movie in which Ingrid Bergman is overcome by looking at the agonized figures cast in the ashes of Pompeii Ms. Pearson explains “I recognized the expression on her face … What Vesuvius did by accident, Rodin did by design.”
Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford (Frank Cotrell-Boyce) The first question every visitor asks when visiting the Pitts River for the first time is “where are the shrunken heads”. These heads are the star attraction even inspiring a scene in Harry Potter. The Pitts Rivers is a giant cabinet of curiosities. “Nowadays it’s well signposted and staffed. Back then it took a bit of nerve to step out of the soaring daylight of the National Museum into the shadows of the Pitt Rivers. A museum hidden, tucked inside a museum. Inside there were more doors to dare.”
The above were some of my personal favourites but all of those included in the book were wonderful. I borrowed this book from the library but it will definitely find its way onto my permanent bookshelf sometime in the future, if only to use as a reference when I accumulate enough Air Miles to take another amazing trip.
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