Where is your Bookmark?

[Carol]

The Ex by Alafair Burke
4★'s

What's It About?
Twenty years ago she ruined his life. Now she has the chance to save it. Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene ever since the shooting of his wife Molly by a fifteen-year-old boy three years ago. An early morning run along the Hudson River changes that when he spots a woman in last night’s party dress, barefoot, enjoying a champagne picnic alone, reading his favorite novel. Everything about her reminds him of what he used to have with Molly. Eager to help Jack find love again, his best friend posts a message on a popular website after he mentions the encounter. Days later, that same beautiful stranger responds and invites Jack to meet her in person at the waterfront. That’s when Jack’s world falls apart.

What Did I Think?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters that Burke has created are so much like real people...not always likable but ever changing...sometimes for the good and sometimes not. The story itself is rather complicated but not to the point of loseing the reader. We learn about past history and how and if it affected current situations.

The Ex will appeal to those that like crime novels mixed with mysteries and legal thrillers. I highly recommend it.

[Carol]

The Book of Souls by James Oswald
Detective Inspector McLean series Book #2
5★'s

What's It About?
Each year for ten years, a young woman’s body was found in Edinburgh at Christmastime: naked, throat slit, body washed clean. The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLean's fiancée. But the Christmas Killer made a mistake, and McLean put an end to the brutal killing spree.
It’s now twelve years later. A fellow prisoner has just murdered the incarcerated Christmas Killer. But with the arrival of the festive season comes a body. A young woman: naked, washed, her throat cut. Is this a copycat killer? Was the wrong man behind bars all this time? Or is there a more frightening explanation? McLean must revisit the most disturbing case of his life and discover what he missed before the killer strikes again .

What Did I Think?
I love the supernatural overtones of this series. I do get rather frustrated with the bullying that is allowed by the higher ups in the police department. If this a true reenactment of all police headquarters in Edinburgh then there is a strong need for major counselling and anger control sessions.

What the book actually was and what it was capable of was not revealed until almost the very last and it let the reader form their own opinion of what it was and how it fit in with the story. I will say the ending was not a total surprise but it did leave a major string dangling. Perhaps it will be answered in the third book. Looking forward to it.

[Book Concierge]

July 17 - Currently Reading

TEXT – Malicious Intent / Kathryn Fox
AUDIO in the car – Baker Towers / Jennifer Haigh
MP3 Player AUDIO - Happy Never After / Kathy Hogan Trocheck

[Carol]

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson
3's my rating
5's Brian's rating - He'd give them all 5's:)

What's it About?
Princess Decomposia is overworked and underappreciated. This princess of the underworld has plenty of her own work to do but always seems to find herself doing her layabout father's job, as well. The king doesn't feel quite well, you see. Ever. So the princess is left scurrying through the halls, dodging her mummy, werewolf, and ghost subjects, always running behind and always buried under a ton of paperwork. Oh, and her father just fired the chef, so now she has to hire a new cook as well. Luckily for Princess Decomposia, she makes a good hire in Count Spatula, the vampire chef with a sweet tooth. He's a charming go-getter of a blood-sucker, and pretty soon the two young ghouls become friends. And then...more than friends? Maybe eventually, but first Princess Decomposia has to sort out her life. And with Count Spatula at her side, you can be sure she'll succeed.

What Did I Think?
My little reading pal, Brian, brought this one home from the library a few weeks ago and said I want you to read this one with me...which he is asking me to do less and less now that he feels more confident....and that's a good thing:) I needed a book with a household item in the title or on the cover and "Count Splatula" fit the bill. I'll let Brian take it from here. Be aware if you are over 10 years old that it will take you about 45 minutes to read this from cover to cover...but it's a cute story.

Hi I'm Brian
It was a fun book because it had funny people in it. The king ate too much and got really fat and Princess Decomposia wanted him to not spend all his time being King and eat things that were good for him so she hired Count Spatula to be the cook. Princess Decomposia has to do all the work because the King just wants to eat. Count Spatula was in love with the Princess and just wanted her to be happy and nor so tired all the time. Another thing that I really liked about the book was that Count Spatula was really a vampire and his friend was a zombie. Aunt Carol read it with me so I know that grownups will like it too.

[Carol]

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz
Jane Hawk series Book#1
4.5★'s

What's It About?

“I very much need to be dead.”

These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. People of talent and accomplishment, people admired and happy and sound of mind, have been committing suicide in surprising numbers. When Jane seeks to learn why, she becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America. Her powerful enemies are protecting a secret so important—so terrifying—that they will exterminate anyone in their way.

But all their power and viciousness may not be enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless—and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love.

What Did I Think?
I loved Dean Koontz in his early years of writing, but it seemed that in the past few years he had started to write what I would call "tamer" stuff. The stories just didn't have the same feeling that all of his earlier works did. They were still good...just not AS good. It was with some hesitation that I picked up "The Silent Corner'...the first book in his new Jane Hawk series. If all the rest of the books are like this one then Mr. Koontz has a diffident winner.

Jane is not your usual FBI agent. In this opening book she's fighting a huge bio-tech corporation that plants the idea of suicide and murder into previously innocent, happy, well adjusted individuals...one that just happened to be Jane's Marine Corp husband. The plot is scary but very believable...the character of Jane Hawk is a likable everyday mother and wife that just happens to be able to out think and out shoot the bad guys while remaining smart and appealing. I can't wait to see where Dean Koontz takes Jane next.

[Carol]

Down Dark Road by Linda Castillo
Kate Bunkholder series Book #9
4.5★'s

What's It About?
Two years ago, Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a “fallen” Amish man and a known drug user with a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed for Painters Mill.

What Did I Think?
I really liked the personal connection that Kate had in this one. From the start you knew that things were not going to end well...but the reader had no idea how many different twists events were going to take before it concluded. Not only did Kate have to come to gripes with events from her childhood but she had to face something that every cop dreads and finds so hard to comprehend...betrayal by their own.

This is a great series with a likable, believable character in Kate Bunkholder. The entire series will appeal to all that love a mystery that doesn't have a lot of blood and guts but yet is not a cozy.

[Book Concierge]

Carol wrote: "
Down Dark Road by Linda Castillo
Kate Bunkholder series Book #9
4.5★'s
..."

I'm on the hold list at the library for the first book in this series ....

[Carol]

The Prisoner's Gold by Chris Kuzneski
The Hunters series Book #3
5★'s

What's It About?
At the end of the 13th century, Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan gave an Italian merchant unfettered access to his kingdom. The traveler was Marco Polo, and his journey would become legendary. Aided by a special passport that protected him throughout the land, Polo amassed unbelievable wealth and hid it before his return to Italy. To this day, the location of his treasure remains a mystery.

The Hunters—an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the world’s greatest treasures—are tasked with finding the missing fortune. Guided by firsthand accounts of Polo’s travels, they quickly discover there are hostile forces willing to do anything to stop them from taking the riches from Chinese soil. Before long, the treasure hunt becomes a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that will rewrite history while taking the lives of many.

What Did I Think?
This is an exceptional series written by a very talented writer. The excitement is high level... going from a car chase to an air chase to fights to shooting and everything imaginable in between. This one had a twist that I didn't see coming, but it was a good thing. Glad it wasn't like the twist in the book before this one. You really must read this series in order or you will never figure out what is happening or why. This series will appeal to all that like a good thriller with plenty of action and a large dose of history.

[Carol]

Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
4.5★'s

What's It About?
1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

What Did I Think?
Fourteen year old June knows that her Godfather is dying of AIDS. It's the 1980's and the AIDS epidemic is a big part of the life scene. There is also an entire nation offering various opinions on the subject. We soon see that June's family is diffidently divided on the issue. You had to feel compassion for June when finding out she did not know everything about her Uncle...such as his being bullied by her sister and further alienated by a mother who wanted her brother, Finn, to suffer for the life choices he made. She succeeded in making not only Finn, but everyone suffer, most especially Toby, Finn's love who June had no idea even existed before the funeral. This brought more guilt and questions to June. Brunt managed to depict the public's conception and reaction to the emergence of this disease without being overly dramatic or sensational. The characters had a story to tell and it was so well woven throughout the whole book.

[Book Concierge]

Carol wrote: "
Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
4.5★'s
..."

I loved this book. Great review!

[Carol]

Most Dangerous Place by James Grippando
Jack Swyteck series Book #13
4.5 ★'s

What's It About?
Defending a woman accused of murdering the man who sexually assaulted her, Miami lawyer Jack Swyteck must uncover where the truth lies between innocence, vengeance, and justice in this spellbinding tale of suspense—based on shocking true-life events.
According to the FBI, the most dangerous place for a woman between the ages of twenty and thirty is in a relationship with a man. Those statistics become all too personal when Jack Swyteck takes on a new client tied to his past. It begins at the airport, where Jack is waiting to meet his old high school buddy, Keith Ingraham, a high-powered banker based in Hong Kong, coming to Miami for his young daughter’s surgery. But their long-awaited reunion is abruptly derailed when the police arrest Keith’s wife, Isabelle, in the terminal, accusing her of conspiring to kill the man who raped her in college. Jack quickly agrees to represent Isa, but soon discovers that to see justice done, he must separate truth from lies—an undertaking that proves more complicated than the seasoned attorney expects.

Inspired by an actual case involving a victim of sexual assault sent to prison for the death of her attacker, James Grippando’s twisty thriller brilliantly explores the fine line between victim and perpetrator, innocence and guilt, and cold-blooded revenge and rightful retribution.

What Did I Think?
I have been a long time fan of this series. It seems that it just gets better and better with each additional episode. You are eager to find out more from the very first page. Rape has more than one victim...entire families, marriages and relationships suffer often irreparable damage that can lead to revenge that often sets off a disastrous chain of events. Thus is the case of this young woman....but is she truly only a victim or is she as much a predator as her attacker? A complex plot with so many twists and turns that Grippando pulls off beautifully.

[Carol]

The Late Show
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
Renee'Ballard series Book #1
4.5★'s

What's It About?
Renee' Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood--also known as the Late Show--beginning many investigations but finishing none, as each morning she turns everything over to the day shift. A once up-and-coming detective, she's been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor.

But one night she catches two assignments she doesn't want to part with: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. Ballard is determined not to give up at dawn. Against orders and her partner's wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night. As the investigations entwine, they pull her closer to her own demons and the reason she won't give up her job, no matter what the department throws at her.

What Did I Think?
I hope Harry Bosch is not retired but just taking a long over-due vacation. Where ever he is he should be aware that a new star has risen on the police horizons...Detective Renee' Ballard. Ballard is in her own way as complicated and scared as Harry...and like Harry this woman is driven to succeed..to leave no stone unturned in her pursuit to solve the case. When the piece fall into place for Renee'Ballard the reader shares her adrenaline jolt. When her demons come to haunt her, the reader shares her sorrow.

The book is fast paced and the character of Renee' Ballard is everything this series needs to become as big a hit...maybe even bigger than Harry Bosch...although that's hard to imagine right now. Thank you Mr. Connelly... and please take good care of Harry.

[Carol]

The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James
4.5★'s

What's It About?
London, 1925. Glamorous medium Gloria Sutter made her fortune helping the bereaved contact loved ones killed during the Great War. Now she's been murdered at one of her own séances, after leaving a message requesting the help of her former friend and sole rival, Ellie Winter.

Ellie doesn't contact the dead—at least, not anymore. She specializes in miraculously finding lost items. Still, she can't refuse the final request of the only other true psychic she has known. Now Ellie must delve into Gloria's secrets and plunge back into the world of hucksters, lowlifes, and fakes. Worse, she cannot shake the attentions of handsome James Hawley, a damaged war veteran who has dedicated himself to debunking psychics.

As Ellie and James uncover the sinister mysteries of Gloria's life and death, Ellie is tormented by nightmarish visions that herald the grisly murders of those in Gloria's circle. And as Ellie’s uneasy partnership with James turns dangerously intimate, an insidious evil force begins to undermine their quest for clues, a force determined to bury the truth, and whoever seeks to expose it.

What Did I Think?
Another great read by this very talented author. I believe that this was the most original and interesting of her books thus far...and I think I've read almost all of them and gave them very high ratings. The characters of Ellie, the physic and James, the shell-shock vet, were simply made for one another. The information about mediums and seances seemed to be well researched. I didn't realize that these seance "parties" were so popular in England and the U.S. after WWI. Overall the supernatural aspects were well written and the main plot is a solid "who done it" mystery. We have a good cop...an old adversary who becomes an ally... and several more interesting characters who add to the story line. This book will appeal to everyone that loves a good mystery even if they are skeptical about the supernatural.

[Carol]

Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis
Joe Plantagenet Series Book #3
4 ★'s

What's It About?
Thirteen Torland Place is a house with a disturbing past. When a student living there is found murdered, DI Joe Plantagenet wonders whether her death has anything to do with its grim history. Then other, similar deaths come to light and he fears that a ruthless serial killer is at work. Could the deaths be connected to Obediah Shrowton, an executed murderer whose presence still seems to linger in the house? Or is there a yet more sinister and dangerous explanation?

What Did I Think?
If you enjoy a good, solid police procedural with strong supernatural overtones, you will diffidently like the Joe Plantagenet series. Kate Ellis has skillfully blended history with present-day crime to produce an outstanding series with excellent characters.

The story is complex...perhaps a bit too complex, which lost it the 5th star...and suspenseful. This is due partly to the fact that there are so many people who have a great deal to lose if their secrets are revealed. It's the third book in the series but it can very well be read as a standalone. However, something tells me that you'll want to go back to read the others. The atmosphere of the town of Eborby along with a strong story line and believable characters make this one a winner.

[Marilyn]

July 27, 2017 Currently reading:

TEXT - Blood Orange by Susan Wittig Albert
--for a library book club--love that this mystery is set in a small town between San Antonio and Austin, as is the whole series I believe.

Personal AUDIO - The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich--don't know who recommended this book, but it's interesting...

[Book Concierge]

July 28 - Currently Reading

TEXT – Sworn to Silence / Linda Castillo
AUDIO in the car – Kitchens of the Great Midwest / J. Ryan Stradal
MP3 Player AUDIO - Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener / M.C. Beaton

[Carol]

Yesternight by Cat Winters
5★'s

What's It About?
A young child psychologist steps off a train, her destination a foggy seaside town. There, she begins a journey causing her to question everything she believes about life, death, memories, and reincarnation.

In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.

Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.

Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.

What Did I Think?
How many lives can and do we live? It was a book that you just couldn't put down. Cat Winters weaves this story of a family with a seven year old daughter that is at times old beyond her years, and a school physiologist that struggles to believe that what she suspects isn't happening. Alice Lind tells herself that what she is doing is to help Janie O'Daire and her estranged mother and father but the deeper she digs the more her own troubled past seems to be catching up to overpower her. You hoped that everything would turn out okay but you knew that at some point their world was going to collapse around their ears.

Even though there is a supernatural flavor...not of ghostly hauntings but of reincarnation.... throughout the story line it is also a story of how society viewed the roles of males and females during the flapper era and how thankful we should be that those attitudes are past...but it seems that nothing may really remain in the past. Historical and paranormal fans will love the book.

[Book Concierge]

July 31 - Currently Reading

TEXT – My Mrs. Brown / William Norwich
AUDIO in the car – Kitchens of the Great Midwest / J. Ryan Stradal
MP3 Player AUDIO - Half Broke Horses / Jeannette Walls

[Carol]

The Two Minute Rule by Robert Crais
3★'s

What's It About?
Ask anyone on the wrong side of the law about the two minute rule and they’ll tell you that’s as long as you can hope for at a robbery before the cops show up. Break the two minute rule and it’s a lifetime in jail. But not everyone plays by the rules.

When ex-con Max Holman finally gets out of jail, freedom doesn’t taste too sweet. The only thing on his mind is reconciliation with his estranged son, who is, ironically, a cop. But then he hears the devastating news: His son and three other Los Angeles police officers were gunned down in cold blood the night before Holman’s release. When the hit is exposed as a revenge killing and the question of police corruption is raised, it becomes a father’s last duty to clear his son’s name and catch the killer.

What Did I Think?
In a nut-shell I would have to say that this novel is a tale of one man’s search for redemption. Most of the characters are not at all likable...but then they aren't supposed to be. The saving grace for the entire story is ex-con Max Holman and ex-FBI agent Katherine Pollard, They make the perfect odd couple and keep this novel personal and real. The ending has a real twist that readers will never see coming

I've read all the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series and really enjoyed every one of them. I have found that this authors standalone novels don't quiet live up to Elvis and Joe for me... but they are readable.

[Carol]

The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler & Jack Du Brul
The Oregon Files Series Book #7
4★'s

What's It About?
On December 7, 1941, five brothers exploring a shaft on a small island off the coast of Washington state make an exciting discovery, only to be interrupted by news of Pearl Harbor. In the present, Cabrillo, chasing the remnants of a crashed satellite in the Argentine jungle, makes a shocking discovery of his own. His search to untangle the mystery leads him first to that small island and its secret, and then much further back, to an ancient Chinese expedition, and a curse that seems to have survived for over five hundred years. If Cabrillo’s team is successful in its quest, the reward could be incalculable. If not...the only reward is death.

My Thoughts:
Lots of action...at times a little too much. Cussler's novels always begin with a scene straight from a history book that has significant ramifications and often dire consequences, relating to the present day...although at first it may not seem to have any connection. The Silent Sea like all 6 of it's predecessors... is a thoroughly enjoyable tale told with a great deal of imagination that Clive Cusssler seems so adapt at. Anyone that goes for history...adventure...thrillers with non-stop action... and characters that you will quickly come to love and respect will find that The Oregon Files series fits your expectations.

[Book Concierge]

August 6 - Currently Reading

TEXT – The Dud Avocado / Elaine Dundy
AUDIO in the car – Lucky Man / Michael J. Fox
MP3 Player AUDIO – Don't You Cry / Mary Kubica

[Carol]

The Widower's Wife by Cate Holahan
4 ★'s

What's It About?
Ana Bacon, a beautiful young wife and mother, tumbled off a cruise ship into dark and deadly waters. Ana is gone--leaving behind her wealthy husband and adorable daughter--but not everything about her disappearance adds up. What secrets did she leave behind?

Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten-million-dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall, and the official ruling seems to hold up. Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana's life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.

What Did I Think?
I really liked the character of Ryan Monahan. He was determined, clever and not an easy man to fool... which was Tom Bacon's dogged intentions in order to collect the five million dollar insurance payment from the policy he talked his wife, and mother of his 3 year old child, into purchasing just prior to the cruise. There were a couple of things that I found impossible to believe that brought down the rating but overall it was an enjoyable read with several "I didn't see that coming moments.

[Carol]

A Killer Harvest by Paul Cleave
5★'s

A blind teenager receives a corneal donation and begins to see and feel memories from their previous owner...a homicide detective who was also his father. Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It’s taken loved ones from him, it’s robbed him of his eyesight, and it’s the reason why his father is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. Joshua is handed an opportunity he can’t refuse: an operation that will allow him to see the world through his father’s eyes. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what these eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. What exactly was his dad up to in his role as a police officer? There are consequences to the secret life his father was living, including the wrath of a man hell bent on killing, a man who is drawing closer and closer to Joshua. Joshua soon discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from.

What did I think?
I have read almost all of Paul Cleave's books and found each one to be equally as interesting and entertaining as the one before. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite...but this one...A Killer Harvest would have to be very close. The "bad guy" characters who received the organ transplants, are nearly all drawn so that you have to feel some empathy if not actual sympathy for them. The "good guys" are not as good as they should be...but you have to wonder if they meant to do the right thing and just got caught up in the tangled web they created. I can't say much more without giving away a lot of spoilers but anyone that loves spending time with a good mystery will find that A Killer Harvest just might be what you're looking for.

[Marilyn]

August 9--currently reading:

TEXT - The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe--for a library book club--while the subject is interesting, the style is too flighty for me!

Personal AUDIO - A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline--absolutely loving this book, excellent writing

AUDIO in the car - Camino Island by John Grisham--my husband and I are both really enjoying this one

[Carol]

A Grave Talent by Laurie King
Kate Martinelli series Book #1
3.5★'s

What's It About?
The unthinkable has happened in a small community outside of San Francisco. A series of shocking murders has occurred, the victims far too innocent and defenseless. For Detective Kate Martinelli, just promoted to Homicide and paired with a seasoned cop who's less than thrilled to be handed a green partner, it's a difficult case that just keeps getting harder.

Then the police receive what appears to be a case-breaking lead: it seems that one of the residents of this odd colony is Vaun Adams, arguably the century's greatest woman painter and a notorious felon once convicted of a heinous crime. But what really happened eighteen years ago? To bring a murderer to justice, Kate must delve into the artist's dark past...even if it means losing everything she holds dear.

What Did I Think?
All I can really say for the book is that it's a decent mystery with the potential to have been a great new series if not for a couple of things that are fairly important to me in any book. The book was well-written, but not a very interesting mystery. There was way too much description from the landscape to the farm machinery to what everyone had for breakfast. That in itself distracted from any meaningful story-line.

There was also a way too obvious suspect and not enough believable development of some of the main characters. I really liked the character of Martinelli...but her partner who is supposed to be tough and demanding turns into a wimp in a couple of pages and remains so for the rest of the book. The main suspect is constantly described as more remarkable and special than just about anyone else on the planet which I found rather odd praise for a man that goes around killing 5 year olds'.

It's not by any means a horrible book...it just didn't quiet live up to it's potential. I've read other books by this author and found them to be better. Perhaps it's just "first in the series syndrome".

[Book Concierge]

August 13 - Currently Reading

TEXT – Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
AUDIO in the car – Dune by Frank Herbert
MP3 Player AUDIO – The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

[Carol]

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Victoria Speedwell series Book #1
4.5★'s

What's It About?
London, 1887. After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

What Did I Think?
Victoria Speedwell is a woman who speaks her own mind and does as she pleases which was quite unusual during the Victorian times in which she lived. She is a woman who has the most amazing abilities and perceptions. Soon after burying the aunts that raised her, and putting the vicar's wife in her place she becomes embroiled in solving two mysteries, one very close to her heart. Aiding her is a virtual stranger that came to offer her aid that she really didn't have need of.

I was more than surprised to find out that the author is a Texan. You would have thought the book was written by a Brit. If you enjoy dry British humor...Victorian settings...gutsy and unconventional heroines who enjoy scandalizing the prim & proper set...intrigue and murder..then .this is the book for you. It was at many times downright amusing. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Carol]

Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series Book#1
3.5★'s

What's It About?
When a young girl is found dead in the mountains outside Timber Creek, life-long resident Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, are assigned to the case that has rocked the small Colorado town. With the help of Cole Walker, local veterinarian and a single father, Mattie and Robo must track down the truth before it claims another victim. But the more Mattie investigates, the more she realizes how many secrets her hometown holds. And the key may be Cole's daughter, who knows more than she's saying. The murder was just the beginning, and if Mattie isn’t careful, she and Robo could be next.

What Did I Think?
New series for this author and I believe she has pulled it off brilliantly. The character of Mattie is a very strong figure without being obnoxious or feeling that she had something to prove as some female law enforcement characters do. The author also did a good job in articulating the capabilities of a trained police dog. You gotta love a good dog character and Robo is perfect. This is certainly a very good first effort for Margaret Mizushima. I look forward to meeting Mattie and Robo again.

[Marilyn]

August 16, 2017 Currently reading:

TEXT - The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley--for a library book club, Young Adult Literature

Personal AUDIO - You'll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron--author is Nora Ephron's sister, and I love her books

[Carol]

Debt of Dishonor by Robert Goddard
5★'s & ❤

What's It About?
Geoffrey Staddon had never forgotten the house called Clouds Frome, his first important commission and the best thing he had ever done as an architect. Twelve years before the day in September 1923 when a paragraph in the newspaper made his blood run cold, he had turned his back on it for the last time, turned his back on the woman he loved, and who loved him. But when he read that Consuela Caswell had been charged with murder by poisoning he knew, with a certainty that defied the great divide of all those years, that she could not be guilty. As the remorse and shame of his own betrayal of her came flooding back, he knew too that he could not let matters rest. And when she sent her own daughter to him, pleading for help, he knew that he must return at last to Clouds Frome and to the dark secret that it held.

What Did I Think?
This book was also published under the title Take No Farewells which of course adds to the confusion when searching for it. If you find it under either title you are holding in your hands a real treat. The book is so full of good characters, devious characters, and characters that you just don't know what to make of. It has a murder, it has a trial and it has one major surprise after another. The book, at least for me began rather slow but by the second chapter I didn't want to stop. I don't know too many authors that are in the class with Robert Goddard that can make the reader feel one emotion after another from anger and frustration to hope and joy. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a great mystery.

[Carol]

The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine
4★'s

What's It About?
Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She intends to renovate the ruinous house into a hotel, but the shocking discovery of human remains brings her ambitious restoration plans to an abrupt halt before they even begin. Few physical clues are left to identify the body, but one thing is certain: this person did not die a natural death.

Hungry for answers, Hetty discovers that Muirlan was once the refuge of her distant relative Theo Blake, the acclaimed painter and naturalist who brought his new bride, Beatrice, there in 1910. Yet ancient gossip and a handful of leads reveal that their marriage was far from perfect; Beatrice eventually vanished from the island, never to return, and Theo withdrew from society, his paintings becoming increasingly dark and disturbing. What happened between them has remained a mystery, but as Hetty listens to the locals and studies the masterful paintings produced by Theo during his short-lived marriage, she uncovers secrets that still reverberate through the small island community—and will lead her to the identity of the long-hidden body.

What Did I Think?
100 years separate the past story from the present story which is told from the view points of Hetty in the present and her ancestor Beatrice in the past. Hetty dreamed of turning the house her aunt had left her into a beautiful hotel in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Hetty had never seen the area where the house was located so the reality was more than she had ever bargained for. Not only was the house in danger of falling into the sea but there was an unwelcome guest already in residence...it had been there for the better part f 100 years.

This was Sarah Maine's first novel and she has created a top rate story. I can't say that it's exactly a riveting mystery but it certainly bears all the elements of intriguing. If you are drawn to the wild Scottish landscape and historical romance and mystery are what you love in a book...they you'll love this one.

[Marilyn]

August 18, 2017 Currently reading:

TEXT - The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea--for a senior book club--so long that we're reading 1/2 this month, and the second 1/2 next month

AUDIO in the car - Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann--interesting so far...

[Book Concierge]

Marilyn wrote: "August 18, 2017 Currently reading:

TEXT - The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea--for a senior book club--so long..."

I loved this book! Hope you enjoy it.

[Carol]

The Boys From Santa Cruz by Jonathan Nasaw
E.L. Pender Series Book #5
2★'s

When troubled teen Luke Sweet is left orphaned and homeless, the court ships him off to to a treatment center program for juvenile delinquents in Humbolt County. Luke has a twisted past and when several members of the group turn up dead, he quickly becomes the number one suspect. Agent Pender must track him down before anyone else gets hurt. When word gets around about another phycho killer who goes by the name of Asmador, the case become more dangerous and deranged than anyone thought possible.

What Did I Think?
As you can see from the rating...not much and I think I may be in the minority here. I'm not a prude and I have certainly read more than my share of crime novels that was full of dirty language and over the top sex... but this was even too much me. One of the big draw-backs was that it's hard to get behind a book when you completely dislike the main character...or for that matter, all of the characters in the story. In the end I was left with actual disgust for Agent Pender and the great majority of the other characters. It didn't come across for me as a thriller but just a very sad commentary on life...the inadequacies of the justice system and the breakdown of the family structure. If this was what Mr. Nasaw indented to do then he succeeded admirably. The 2 Star rating was more than generous.

[Carol]

Blood Men by Paul Cleave
4.5★'s

What's it About?
Edward Hunter has it all—a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future . . . and a very dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in New Zealand’s most hellish penitentiary. That man was Edward’s father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance in his world. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood?

What Did I Think?
I loved the book ...however it is diffidently not for everyone. Most people that enjoy true-crime type mysteries expect to sometimes find some really graphic and gruesome scenes when it comes to the murders. "Blood Men" had more than it's share and that alone will put a lot of people off.

It lost a half star with me because I lost patience with the police. They were working against a killer's very real time schedule but seemed to drag their feet at every turn. Otherwise the main character... Edward...was pitied...applauded...and encouraged by the reader through out this madhouse adventure as he almost single handed searched the town of Christchurch for his young wife's killer.

Read it with caution...but if you enjoy this type of mystery...by all means read it.

[Carol]

The Likeness by Tana French
Dublin Murder Squad series Book #2
4★'s

What's It About?
Detective Cassie Maddox return to unravel a case even more sinister and enigmatic than the first. Six months after the events of [In the Woods], an urgent telephone call beckons Cassie to a grisly crime scene. The victim looks exactly like Cassie and carries ID identifying herself as Alexandra Madison, an alias Cassie once used. Suddenly, Cassie must discover not only who killed this girl, but, more importantly, who is this girl?

What Did I Think?
One thing I have found about Tana French's novels that I like a lot....is her never ending efforts to give her stories an accurate social, historic context. She also creates well developed real characters with both likable and unlikable qualities, most of who earn our empathy within a few pages. The thing about this one that lost it a 5 star rating was French's reliance on coincidence alone. She didn't even attempt to provide a plausible explanation for how dead Lexi Madison managed to find undercover cop Lexi Madison's identity and then assume it in a way that could persuade Trinity University to admit her to its PhD program in English. That was something that I found I just couldn't accept as truth. The ending provided a surprise that helped the book keep it's 4 star rating

[Book Concierge]

Carol wrote: "
The Likeness by Tana French
Dublin Murder Squad series Book #2
4★'s
..."

I've yet to read Tana French, and I really must get to her books!

[Marilyn]

I like that although the characters continue from book to book, each book is from a different character's perspective.

[Carol]

The Innocentby David Baldcci
Will Robie series Book #1
5★'s

What's it About?
America has enemies - ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target. But Will Robie may have just made the first - and last - mistake of his career... It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn't seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people. Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn't an ordinary runaway -- her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can't walk away. He needs to help her. Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he's convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents' deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power.
Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl's life... and perhaps his own.

What Did I Think?
I love this entire series. It had very good character development for being the first novel in the series... and there were a lot of characters to follow but in the end each one of them came together nicely taking their share of the blame and glory in the somewhat complicated plot. The only character that was a bit harder to understand and a bit out of line was the daughter...Julie. She wasn't really a believable 14 year old. She was just too smart and way too forgiving for a teen of any age. All in all I would have to say it was an excellent read. Anyone that likes any of the David Baldacci novels will enjoy this series also.

[Carol]

Say Nothing by Brad Parks
5★'s

What's It About?
Judge Scott Sampson doesn’t brag about having a perfect life, but the evidence is clear: A prestigious job. A loving marriage. A pair of healthy children. Then a phone call begins every parent’s most chilling nightmare. Scott’s six-year-old twins, Sam and Emma, have been taken. The judge must rule exactly as instructed in a drug case he is about to hear. If he refuses, the consequences for the children will be dire. For Scott and his wife Alison, the kidnapper’s call is only the beginning of a twisting, gut-churning ordeal of blackmail, deceit, and terror. Through it all, they will stop at nothing to get their children back, no matter the cost to themselves . . . or to each other.

What Did I Think?
From the beginning you just couldn't see how this ever had any chance of ending well. Because Judge Sampson and his wife Allison were under orders from the kidnappers to say absolutely nothing to anyone and just follow instructions...it didn't take long for this to effect their marriage, their family life, their friends, and the Judge's career. It was a compelling, sometimes heart wrenching, story with Complications and twists that build to an unexpected climax . I challenge anyone with a heart to read the last chapter with a dry eye.

[Carol]

Barely Legal by Stuart Woods & Parnell Hall
Herbie Fisher Book #1
3★'s

What's It About?
Under the tutelage of Stone Barrington, Herbie Fisher has transformed from a bumbling sad sack into the youngest partner at the white-shoe law firm Woodman & Weld, and a man whose company is in high demand both because of his professional acumen and his savoir faire. But even his newly won composure and finely honed skills can’t prepare him for the strange escapade he’s unwittingly pulled into, and which—unbeknownst to him—has put him at the center of a bull’s-eye. In the city that never sleeps there are always devious schemes afoot, and Herbie will have to be quick on his feet to stay one step ahead of his enemies...and they’re closing in.

What Did I Think?
There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed...like the courtroom scene where poor Herbie, who has never tried a criminal case in his entire career, but is helping out a sick friend, is trying to convince his inherited client to take the plea deal that his lawyer friend had set up and thought would be a no-brainer. Other than that and a few more it was just another Stone Barrington novel. Same characters...same richer than God people who are beginning to come across as unbearable snobs. I like Stone Barrington and Dino but I expected the Herbie Fisher first book to carry more independence...like the first Teddy Fay book. That was excellent and I look forward to more of Teddy. Herbie should go back to his corporate office and work on bank and tax fraud.

[Carol]

Diary of A Haunting by M. Verano
4★'s

What's It About?
an American teen recounts the strange events that occur after she moves into a new—and very haunted—home with her family in this chilling diary that features photos and images of what she experienced.

Letters, photographs, and a journal…all left behind in the harrowing aftermath. Following her parents’ high-profile divorce, Paige and her brother are forced to move to Idaho with their mother, and Paige doesn’t have very high hopes for her new life. The small town they’ve moved to is nothing compared to the life she left behind in LA. And the situation is made even worse by the drafty old mansion they’ve rented that’s filled with spiders and plenty of other pests that Paige can’t even bear to imagine. soon, strange things start to happen around the house—one can of ravioli becomes a dozen, unreadable words start appearing on the walls, and Paige’s little brother begins roaming the house late at night. And there’s something not right about the downstairs neighbor who seems to know a lot more than he’s letting on. Things only get creepier when she learns about the cult that conducted experimental rituals in the house almost one hundred years earlier. The more Paige investigates, the clearer it all becomes: there’s something in the house, and whatever it is…and it won’t be backing down without a fight.

What Did I Think?
I was amazed that this was a YA book. I wondered if the author used that genre because he just couldn't bring himself to call it non-fiction.

Mr. Verano, the author, is an associate professor of history and curator of the North Idaho historical text collection. His research includes the occult and supernatural folk histories....so it was a bit of fiction and quiet a lot of truth involved in his writing of [Diary of A Haunting]. The house exists...the characters were actual residents of the house...and the psychologist testified at the trial of Paige Blanton...the main character. This all took some of the "it's just a story" out of the equation and turned it into "what really happened in that house?" Dr. Verano says he leaves it to the reader to form their own conclusions...but there are several events that just have no logical or scientific explanations.

I liked the book for what it was. An easy read with a element of goose-bumps. I would have liked for Dr. Verano to have expanded more on what he really thought had or had not actually happened.

[Book Concierge]

Sept 1 - Currently Reading

TEXT – Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings
AUDIO in the car – The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
MP3 Player AUDIO – Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

[Carol]

The Ghosts of Idlewood by M.L. Bullock
Volume 1
4.5★'s

What's It About?
When a team of historians takes on the task of restoring the Idlewood plantation to its former glory, they discover there's more to the moldering old home than meets the eye. The long-dead Ferguson children don't seem to know they're dead! Lead historian Carrie Jo Stuart uses her special ability to get to the bottom of the many mysteries that the house holds.


What Did I Think?
As most of you know I am a sucker for a good haunted house, ghost story. This one fit the order perfectly. The combination of history, old houses, and ghosts into a historical fiction book makes for an excellent read for ghost story fans. There is also a modern day story with just a touch of romance. I believe there is a series before this one that leads those same characters into this series but since this is Volume 1 it can certainly be read on it's own.

[Marilyn]

September 2, 2017 Currently reading:

TEXT - My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg--for my nonfiction book club--disappointed that it's not an autobiography but a compilation of excerpts of her speeches, but it's interesting in its own right

Personal AUDIO - The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson--funny book; not unlike the character of Forrest Gump, this 100 year old man tells stories about his experience helping invent the atomic bomb and getting drunk with Harry Truman, helping Franco blow up bridges in Spain, getting to know the shah of Iran, and now Stalin who's anxious to pick his brain for his atomic bomb experience.

[Carol]

Little Deaths by Emma Flint
2★'s

What's It About?
It's 1965 in a tight-knit working-class neighborhood in Queens, New York, and Ruth Malone--a single mother who works long hours as a cocktail waitress--wakes to discover her two small children, Frankie Jr. and Cindy, have gone missing. Later that day, Cindy's body is found in a derelict lot a half mile from her home, strangled. Ten days later, Frankie Jr.'s decomposing body is found. Immediately, all fingers point to Ruth.

As police investigate the murders, the detritus of Ruth's life is exposed. Seen through the eyes of the cops, the empty bourbon bottles and provocative clothing which litter her apartment, the piles of letters from countless men and Ruth's little black book of phone numbers, make her a drunk, a loose woman--and therefore a bad mother. The lead detective, a strict Catholic who believes women belong in the home, leaps to the obvious conclusion: facing divorce and a custody battle, Malone took her children's lives.

What Did I Think?
I always hate it when a book that I'm expecting more from just doesn't produce. I know it's not easy to write a book and get it published so I always feel that I should look for at least one redeeming factor. I just couldn't find it in this one. This very weak entry was plagued from the start by ridiculous characters and unfathomable dialog. If there was a plot it never did raise it's head. I kept waiting for the defendant to be charged but 3/4 of the book was finished before that happened. What were they waiting for? The trial was another disaster going somewhere to happen. This is this authors first novel so maybe they will improve with time. I'm just not sure I will take another chance.

[Carol]

The Secret of Roscarbury Hall by Ann O'Laughlin
4.5★'s

What's It About?
n a crumbling mansion in a small Irish village in County Wicklow, two elderly sisters, Ella and Roberta O’Callaghan, live alone in Roscarbury Hall with their secrets, memories, and mutual hatred. Long estranged by a dark family tragedy, the two communicate only by terse notes. But when the sisters are threatened with bankruptcy, Ella defies Roberta’s wishes and takes matters into her own hands, putting her baking skills to good use and converting the mansion’s old ballroom into a café.

Much to Roberta’s displeasure, the café is a hit and the sisters are reluctantly drawn back into the village life they abandoned decades ago. But gossip has a long life, and Ella finds herself reliving painful memories when Debbie, an American woman searching for her birth mother, begins working at the café. As the local convent comes under scrutiny, the O’Callaghan sisters find themselves caught up in an adoption scandal that dates back to the 1960's and spreads all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.


What Did I Think?
Two estranged, elderly sisters, a beautiful period home that is in need of major renovation and a lifetime of secrets. A wonderful recipe for good historical fiction. There is also the added tale of forced and hidden adoption in Ireland going back decades. It may sound like fiction, but unfortunately, it seems to be based on true events. This is an extremely mesmerizing novel...in more ways than one. The characters are drawn with compassion. Loved the Ballroom Cafe. It and its surroundings sound idyllic and "delicious". The story is one of courage, strength and changing worlds. On the other hand it was a heartbreaking story. Set in Ireland it tell the story of an American lady looking for her Irish mother after discovering she had been adopted. She traces it back to the convent for unmarried mothers and a huge can of worms is unearthed, entwining the lives of the sisters and Debbie. Great story...wonderful characters...and very emotional material.

[Carol]

What The Dead Want by Norah Olson
3★'s

What's It About?
Haunting photographs and dark family secrets...A love of photography, an old camera, and countless questions...these are all that sixteen-year-old Gretchen has left of her mother, who mysteriously disappeared years ago. Now she must return to the place where her mom vanished—a decaying mansion that Gretchen has suddenly inherited from her great-aunt Esther. However, Gretchen won’t find the answers she’s seeking without unraveling the secrets that lurk inside the house. There are stacks of photographs and letters from her ancestors that go back centuries, pointing to some kind of haunting past. But when proof of the mansion’s dark history appears to Gretchen in the form of ghostly visions and the soft, eerie whisper of her mother’s voice, there’s no doubt that something sinister has taken place there. No matter how scared she might be, Gretchen must somehow uncover the reasons why this indescribable force has descended upon her family and find a way to set everyone...even the dead...free.

What Did I Think?
It was a YA novel so I wasn't really expecting it to be much more than just a good ghost story...which it was. I found parts of it to be somewhat slow and drawn out...while other parts seemed overly rushed. Gretchen and her two friends, that she had only just met, discovered the families secrets in two days. That just didn't seem possible as those secrets had been buried for 200 years.

I didn't dislike the book but it had potential to be so much more. If you are looking for something light with just a bit of a creepy tone to it, you're definitely going to enjoy this one.

[Carol]

Wolf by Mo Hayder
Jack Caffery series Book #7
4.5★'s

What's It About?
A bone-chilling novel about a family held hostage in their country home. When a vagrant—the Walking Man, a recurring character in Hayder’s fiction—finds a dog wandering alone with a scrap of paper with the words “HELP US” attached to its collar. He’s sure it’s a desperate plea from someone in trouble and calls on Detective Inspector Jack Caffery to investigate. Caffery is reluctant to get involved—until the Walking Man promises in exchange new information regarding the childhood disappearance of Caffery’s brother. Meanwhile, the Anchor-Ferrers, a wealthy local family, are fighting for their lives in their remote home ten miles away. As their ordeal becomes increasingly bizarre and humiliating, the family begins to wonder: is this really a random crime, or have they been chosen for a reason?

What Did I Think?
I believe if this had been the first book that I had read in Jack Caffery series it more than likely would have received less stars...but because I knew how well it would pick up...I hung in there and wasn't at all disappointed. This author is a master at ratcheting up tension slowly throughout a book to the point that it demands to be finished. Some will find this one a bit depressing and the characters dark...but what characters she has created in the two that held the family hostage. The ending was shocking and so over the top even for Mo Hayder. You will never in a million years see it coming.

[Marilyn]

September 6, 2017 Currently reading:

TEXT - News of the World by Paulette Jiles--for a neighborhood book club--actually the author lives close to San Antonio, in Utopia. Beautifully written!

Personal AUDIO - Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane--just for fun and just started

AUDIO in the car - having given up on several books, we're now starting The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson--history of computers, which is familiar since I taught a unit of this history as a 7th grade computer literacy teacher! Who knew? I could have written a book!