Grab a Book & Play Booktivity! discussion
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Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella, 4****sI really enjoyed this YA novel about a young teen-aged girl who has been through a traumatic experience at school (which is never explained in complete detail). She is now going to therapy for an anxiety disorder, is excused from going to school for a few months, and wears dark glasses all the time. However, it seems that the rest of this dysfunctional family are not in much better condition! Although, the book deals with this family's problems, it is told in a fairly light way and much of it is funny. I enjoyed it immensely, not wanting to put it down until I was finished to see how it was all going to end. It is recommended for 7th grade and up, but I enjoyed it a lot!!
Campfire Takes: Great Lakes by Christopher Larsen5 ★'s
From the Book:
11 spooky campfire tales based on legends and true events in and around the Great Lakes region. Filled with creepy and sometimes humorous details, each has historic significance. Shiver as you read about the ghosts in Duluth, Minnesota, haunting the Glensheen Mansion, and the myth of a giant moose terrorizing tourists off the North Shore of Lake Superior. Meet the Melon Head Creatures, living in a dark and forbidden forest off Lake Michigan, the result of a mad scientist’s experiments, or a classic Lady in White. Discover the Manitous water gods, Native American spirits living at the bottom of the lake always looking for unsuspecting prey. Find a giant man-eating turtle, storm Hags, and the Red Devil of Detroit. Learn about Niagara Falls' Maid of the Mist, the real legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and the Michigan Dogman.
My Thoughts:
Are they true? Some say they are... while others are skeptical. No matter if you believe in the supernatural or not these 11 stories are sure to bring you chills and perhaps even have you reassessing your opinion if you are a non-believer. I can almost guarantee that you won't be taking any after dark strolls along the shoreline.
You may wonder why so many paranormal stories grow around lakes, rivers and streams. Some say that it is because water attracts and binds the spirits to a locality. My personal favorite of these tales is the story of Melon Head Creatures living in a dark and forbidden forest off Lake Michigan. I won't give too much away but I will tell you that each the lakes holds it's own when dealing with the possible unknown living within it's boundaries.
The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter
Robert Hunter series Book #1
5★'s
From The Book:
When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.
My Thoughts:
I read out of order so I have read other Chris Carter books before this one that we read as a group read. I knew what an incredible writer Chris Carter was and what fascinating, believable, liable characters he has created in this series that just keeps getting better and better...so I was expecting nothing less than a stellar performance with the The Crucifix Killer and Carter delivered 100%.
One of the reasons that this author writes with such knowledge about serial killers is that he is somewhat of an expert on the subject. In reading his bio I discovered that Carter studied psychology and criminal behavior and went on to be a part of the Michigan State District Attorney's Criminal Psychology Team. Because of that he spent a lot of time interviewing and studying a lot of criminals, some of whom were serial killers. This he has very successfully transferred into his ultra-ego , Robert Hunter and why his books portray such real-life horror.
They're not for everyone. They tend to be very dark but then they are dealing with a very dark subject.
Missing May by Cynthia Rylant, 5*****sThis is a wonderful book about a young girl and a loss in her family, and how they deal with it.
It is written for 8-12 year old children, but I laughed and I cried, and I read it in one sitting! Absolutely loved it and the way it was written. Recommended to Everyone!!
Mod
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. and Nora Ephron's
I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman
Little Boy Blue by M.J. Arlidge
Helen Grace series Book #5
4★’s
In the darkest corners of the city, there is a thriving nightlife where people can let loose and cross the lines of work and play, of pleasure and pain. But now that sanctuary has been breached. A killer has struck and a man is dead.
In a world where disguises and discretion are the norm, one admission could unravel a life. No one wants to come forward to say what they saw or what they know—including the woman heading the investigation: Detective Helen Grace.
Helen knew the victim. And the victim knew her—better than anyone else. And when the murderer strikes again, Helen must decide how many more lines she’s willing to cross to bring in a devious and elusive serial killer.
My Thoughts:
I have really liked this series from the very beginning. The only problem I had with it was Helen’s pastime and addiction to S &M. It seemed way over the top and unnecessary to what was already a great story. In the last book she was making a real effort to distance herself from her dominatrix, Jake... and was doing a fairly good job. Jake, who had a major crush on Helen, had also met someone and was moving on. Now… Jake is dead…murdered by someone he thought he could trust.
I know when Helen began lying her way through the first few chapters that all was not going to end well for her. As she investigates the unexpected murder it begins to look as if it was a tragic accident…just a sex game gone wrong. Unfortunately everything begins to go wrong for Helen and soon threatens Helen's private life and the secrets that she would rather not have exposed to the light of day.
M.J. Arlidge has done what he does best…He has left the reader hanging on a cliff and just waiting to see how this all turns out.
Diana S wrote: "I'm currently reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. and Nora Ephron's [bookcover:I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman|30..."Those are both good books! I especially liked Nora Ephron's book. It was so funny!
Sex, Lies and Serious Money by Stuart Woods
Stone Barrington series Book #39
3.5★'s
From The Book:
Fresh off the runway at Teterboro, Stone Barrington arrives home to find an unexpected new client on his doorstep, anxiously soliciting his help. But everything is not as it seems, when the client reveals the true nature—and value—of his recent turn of fortune. From luxury New York high-rises to the sprawling New Mexico desert, his client is pursued from all angles...and Stone quickly learns that easy money isn’t always so easy.
My Thoughts:
Stuart Woods is doing so much better than he was a few months ago. Once again he's managed to produce another Stone Barrington book without the main theme being noting but sex with a little "oh yes...maybe I should throw in a story line." Like all these books everyone is richer than God and spends money like it grew on trees...and for these characters...maybe it does. One thing that I have always liked about these books is that they are a fairly quick read with little time wasted on unnecessary description...and it is so entertaining seeing how the other one-third lives. I do wish that Mr. Woods would invest in a map of the U.S. so that he can see there are many more cities in this country than Delano, Georgia. Nice town but does every character have to have originally come from there..and if that is true...why don't they ever know one another? I will await the next two books of 2017. After all you did leave us hanging.
11/4/16 Currently reading:TEXT -
The Angry Woman Suite by Lee FullbrightPortable AUDIO -
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow--I'm listening on my iphone, but there are 29 parts, so it's going to take a while! I loved the PBS show about the making of the Broadway musical, so I'm going to the source!
I just finished Anne of the Island
Wonderful book! -- about the ongoing saga of Anne, her life, and her loves. This is book #3, and I will try to get to Book #4 "Anne's House of Dreams" as soon as possible!
Mod
TEXT -
The Girl Who Played Go by Shan SaAUDIO in the car -
Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy TanPortable AUDIO -
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Agent Pendergast series Book # 16
4.5★'s
From The Book:
After a harrowing, otherworldly confrontation on the shores of Exmouth, Massachusetts, Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is missing, presumed dead. Sick with grief, Pendergast's ward, Constance, retreats to her chambers beneath the family mansion at 891 Riverside Drive--only to be taken captive by a shadowy figure from the past. Proctor, Pendergast's longtime bodyguard, springs to action, chasing Constance's kidnapper through cities, across oceans, and into wastelands unknown. And by the time Proctor discovers the truth, a terrifying engine has stirred-and it may already be too late .
My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed this series...which I discovered by sheer accident...for many years. Agent Pendergast is a strange character that borders on the mystical and paranormal side but is a brilliant detective that like Sherlock Holmes...always gets his man...or is that the Mounties? Anyway... you may be amazed...you may be befuddled... you may be exasperated at times...but the one thing you will absolutely never be is bored.
The story is packed with action..sometimes a bit too much. Old nemesis return that should have stayed dead and buried...and the ending was rather bittersweet...but luckily for fans of this series the saga continues to play out.
Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves
Vera Stanhope series Book #6
4.5★'s
From The Book:
As the snow falls thickly on Newcastle, the shouts and laughter of Christmas revelers break the muffled silence. Detective Joe Ashworth and his daughter Jessie are swept along in the jostling crowd onto the Metro. But when the train is stopped due to the bad weather, and the other passengers fade into the swirling snow, Jessie notices that one lady hasn't left the train: Margaret Krukowski has been fatally stabbed. Arriving at the scene, DI Vera Stanhope is relieved to have an excuse to escape the holiday festivities. As she stands on the silent, snow-covered station platform, Vera feels a familiar buzz of anticipation, sensing that this will be a complex and unusual case. Then, just days later, a second woman is murdered. Vera knows that to find the key to this new killing she needs to understand what had been troubling Margaret so deeply before she died - before another life is lost. She can feel in her bones that there's a link. Retracing Margaret's final steps, Vera finds herself searching deep into the hidden past of this seemingly innocent neighborhood, led by clues that keep revolving around one street. Why are the residents of Harbour Street so reluctant to speak?
My Thoughts:
I'm a real fan of both the Vera Stanhope TV series..."Vera" and these wonderful books featuring this character. This book was made so much more enjoyable because it was read as a group read and I got not only to share my feelings and opinions as we went along but got to read and how my fellow readers saw the story.
An elderly woman, who resides at a remote boarding house located on Harbour Street in a small coastal town that has few visitors...is dead. Those few visitors, as well as the dead woman herself... all hold pieces as to how and why she was brutally killed. This is just Vera's cuppa of tea...she can' t wait to sink her teeth into it and root out the suspects and the entire truth, which these people are so reluctant to tell.
It's addictive storytelling at it's best. The character of Vera is a larger than life force to be reckoned with. The tenacity and single mindedness she brings to each murder inquiry confounds suspects, her own team, and readers as well. It soon becomes obvious that Vera is the one in charge and we...rather first time or long time readers... are simply along for the enjoyable ride.
The Jury Master by Robert Dugoni
David Sloan series Book#1
4★'s
From The Book:
David Sloane is the best wrongful death attorney in San Francisco. But despite his professional success, he's plagued by a nightmare of a childhood he cannot consciously remember. When he receives a package from a White House confidant who then turns up dead, the contents reveal a history he could never have imagined.
My Thoughts:
I love Robert Dugoni's flowing, easy to read writing style and the way he makes the reader feel that they are right in the midst of the story.
Although the title makes you think it's a legal thriller...it actually has more of a political trend. David Sloan is a brilliant defense attorney...never lost a case. He's also an ex-Marine whose past has come back to haunt him and seemingly everyone he loves and is acquainted with...when he is mailed a document by a long ago friend and fellow soldier who just happens to be the Presidents best friend who has just committed suicide. Someone will stop at nothing to retrieve this package and the bodies begin to pile up.
I am not being a huge fan of political thrillers, but I definitely became involved with the characters, caught up in the suspense and loved the twist at the end. This is Robert Dugoni’s first novel and it wasn’t perfect, by any means, but it was exciting and compelling. I shall definitely hunt down his next book in this series.
The White Devil by Justin Evans
3.5★'s
From The Book:
Set in a four-hundred-year-old boys' boarding school in London, a chilling gothic thriller...A fierce and jealous ghost . . .A young man's fight for his life . . .
The Harrow School is home to privileged adolescents known as much for their distinctive dress and traditions as for their arrogance and schoolboy cruelty. Seventeen-year-old American Andrew Taylor is enrolled in the esteemed British institution by his father, who hopes that the school's discipline will put some distance between his son and his troubled past in the States.
But trouble—and danger—seem to follow Andrew. When one of his schoolmates and friends dies mysteriously of a severe pulmonary illness, Andrew is blamed and is soon an outcast, spurned by nearly all his peers. And there is the pale, strange boy who begins to visit him at night. Either Andrew is losing his mind, or the house legend about his dormitory being haunted is true.
When the school's poet-in-residence, Piers Fawkes, is commissioned to write a play about Byron, one of Harrow's most famous alumni, he casts Andrew in the title role. Andrew begins to discover uncanny links between himself and the renowned poet. In his loneliness and isolation, Andrew becomes obsessed with Lord Byron's story and the poet's status not only as a literary genius and infamous seducer but as a student at the very different Harrow of two centuries prior—a place rife with violence, squalor, incurable diseases, and tormented love affairs.
When frightening and tragic events from that long-ago past start to recur in Harrow's present, and when the dark and deadly specter by whom Andrew's been haunted seems to be all too real, Andrew is forced to solve a two-hundred-year-old literary mystery that threatens the lives of his friends and his teachers—and, most terrifyingly, his own.
My Thoughts:
The story was intriguing...even though I didn't think it was exactly "chilling". " The Tsucon Citizen" gives a fairly true account of just what the story is about when it says "Evans has fused a literary mystery, sinister ghost story and Gothic romance with the story of a boy’s intellectual and sexual awakening.”
The author has also made the characters as likable as 14-17 year old boys can be...you can't help be work up some sympathy for the main character...16 year old Andrew Taylor...an American boy sent to this old English school by his domineering and controlling wealthy father without a clue of the differences in cultures and even the language... that you would think would be somewhat the same.... that he will be forced to live with for the next year.
I can recommend this novel but not as a Gothic thriller. If a thriller is what you are expecting you will be disappointed. But for an atmospheric Gothic mystery with well drawn characters...absolutely.
The Dinner by Herman Koch, 4****sThis psychological thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat! It is not fast-paced, but certainly keeps you thinking and guessing as the author lets out a few clues at a time as to what is happening and going to happen.
It is the story of two brothers, and their wives, having dinner at a restaurant. They are there to discuss a family situation regarding each of their sons, and how they are going to handle it. All the time thinking how their decisions will affect the boys' futures, and their own futures, one of which is a high level politician. All the information is not revealed till the very end, and even then the reader is left with a few questions, such as "What just happened?!..."
I enjoyed this book very much and think it would make a good movie!
The Conviction by Robert Dugoni
David Sloan series Book #5
5★'s
From The Book:
father takes the law into his own hands to save his son, trapped in a juvenile detention center from hell. Lawyer David Sloane is desperate to get through to his troubled teenage son Jake. Still reeling from the devastating loss of his mother in a brutal murder, Jake has spiraled out of control and Sloane has barely been able to keep him out of jail. So when his old friend, detective Tom Molia, suggests that they take their sons on a guys-only camping trip, Sloane gratefully accepts.
What Sloane imagines will be the perfect excursion turns into a horrifying nightmare when the boys are arrested for vandalizing a general store late at night while their fathers are asleep. The next morning, before Sloane and Molia even realize they’re gone, their sons are tried, convicted, and sentenced by the presiding judge to six months in the county wilderness detention camp, Fresh Start. For the teenagers, a grueling physical and psychological ordeal begins.
My Thoughts:
This is a story that we have seen in reality in recent years although perhaps not to this extent. From the very beginning of Jake and T.J.'s ordeal the reader knows that this is just going to take one wrong turn after another and hoping that justice will finally win out.
The entire story line is one surprise after another. No one is who you think they are and after a while you have no idea who or what to trust. I will have to admit that I skipped some of the financial stuff...way more than this brain could digest... but had to give the complexity of the plot 5 stars. Good job Mr. Dugoni.
November 13, 2016 Currently reading:TEXT -
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee for a library book clubPortable AUDIO -
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, taking a break from listening to
, which is 29 hours long--I'm almost 1/2 way through!AUDIO in the car -
Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard, not as compelling as her other two books so far!
Just finished Mansfield Park
by Jane Austen, 4****sPoor Fanny Price! Jane really puts her through the mill in this book! But I guess "all's well that ends well." ;)
IMO, there were lots of details about everyone's feelings, conversations, and correspondence through the first 47 chapters. Then, it seemed to me like, Jane just got tired and decided to sum up the story in one final chapter. And "Bob's your uncle" the book's finished! Oh well, I enjoyed it overall. A traditional Jane Austen novel :)
Also, I listened on my LibriVox app and the reader, Karen Savage, did a fantastic job!
The Button Man by Mark Pryor
3.5★'s
Hugo Marston series book #4
From The Book:
Former FBI profiler Hugo Marston has just become head of security at the US Embassy in London. He’s asked to protect a famous movie-star couple, Dayton Harper and Ginny Ferro, who, while filming a movie in rural England, killed a local man in a hit and run. The task turns from routine to disastrous almost immediately. Before Hugo even meets them, he finds out that Ferro has disappeared, and her body has been found hanging from an oak tree in a London cemetery. Hours later a distraught Harper gives Hugo the slip, and Hugo has no idea where he’s run off to. Taking cues from a secretive young lady named Merlyn, and with a Member of Parliament along for the chase, Hugo’s search leads to a quaint English village. There, instead of finding Harper, more bodies turn up. Teaming with local detectives and then venturing dangerously out on his own, Hugo struggles to find connections between the victims. Is this the work of a serial killer—or something else entirely? Knowing he’s being tailed, the killer prepares for the final, public act of his murderous plan, and Hugo arrives just in time to play his part.
My Thoughts
This was the first book by Mark Pryor and the first in this series that I had read. The writing style flowed very well and was very easy reading. The premise of the story was also very good...a body hanging in the graveyard and plenty of suspects. The main problem I had with the story was that the lead character...a former member of the FBI and the head of the American Embassy security...would lose the man he was supposed to be protecting in the first place...and then chase him all over London and the outlying villages with the aid of people that he knew absolutely nothing about other than what they had told him. That just didn't seem believable and it bothered me throughout the entire book. I do plan on reading others in this series as I found that Hugo is a very likable character on the whole.
Anyone looking for a murder mystery to enjoy without the blood and guts will find this series fits the bill perfectly.
Mod
The Dinner by Herman Koch, 4****sThis psychological thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat! It is not fast-paced, but certainly keeps you thinking and guess..."
My F2F book club had a spirited (and loud) discussion about this book last night. Great for book groups!
There is already a movie in Europe, though I'm not sure it's available in the USA. There will be a US version (set in NYC) starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney. It's in post-production, with a scheduled release date sometime in 2017, I think.
One of Us by Tawni O'Dell
2.5★'s
From The Book:
Dr. Sheridan Doyle—a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist—is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office whenever a twisted killer’s mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he’s still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago.
Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners’ deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny—in pursuit of a killer—comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself.
My Thoughts:
If any story proves the old saying "You can't go home again", this one certainly does. The main problem was that the mystery had no mystery. From the book description the reader would expect more to the story. It started out to be interesting. The story of a little boy's relationship with his almost /sometimes abusive father and the grandfather that was always there to save him...and then it started a giant roll down hill. The characters were like stand-up silhouettes cut from cardboard. I think the author lost interest in portraying anyone that was remotely likable about the 3rd chapter. I have read other books by this author and I really have to say that based on that I was expecting a lot more.
Lightening by Dean Koontz
5★'s
From The Book:
In the midst of a raging blizzard, lightning struck on the night Laura Shane was born. And a mysterious blond-haired stranger showed up just in time to save her from dying. Years later, in the wake of another storm, Laura will be saved again. For someone is watching over her. But just as lightning illuminates, darkness always follows close behind.
My Thoughts:
Laura has been a haunted woman from the moment of her birth. Now she is a married...not especially a happy life but it's about to get worse...someone has come to kill her. She has a guardian angel...someone that has always protected her. Laura will finally find out the truth but it may not be what she was expecting as she learns the answers to the questions...what are are this stranger's intentions? Does he really mean her well? Just where does he come from, and why doesn't he seem to age?
I am a huge Dean Koontz fan so I may be just a bit over the top here...but this is one of the best of Dean Koontz offerings even if it wasn't one of his longest. I have talked to people that listened to the book and they all say that it needs to be read to fully appreciate the terror and the evils that people are capable of... and I agree.
Behind Closed Doors
by B.A. Paris, 4****sOh my! What can I say?! This book was a total roller coaster ride -- and I hated it! -- and I still gave it 4 Stars!
I hated it because it was too scary for me and made me very uncomfortable. However, it was written very well, the descriptions made me feel like I was there, and it really kept me on the edge of my seat. Once I started it, I had to finish it!
It is the story of a woman who marries the wrong man and can't get out of it -- or away from him! She also can't convince anyone else that there is anything wrong. Her husband, a famous lawyer who looks perfect to all from the outside, has set the scene well by telling everyone that she has mental issues. So no one would believe her if she told them the truth! So how does it end?! You are going to have to find that out for yourself!! Read at your own risk ;)
Natural Causes by Michael Palmer
3.5★'s
From The Book:
Dr. Sarah Baldwin races to a Boston hospital with a young woman whose normal labor has suddenly become a matter of life and death. As she struggles to save both mother and baby, she doesn't know that two other women have already died under horrifying identical circumstances. And so begins Sarah's own nightmare, as she learns that the prenatal herbal vitamins she prescribed are the only thing these women have in common. Soon Sarah is fighting to save her career, her reputation--her life. For she's certain there must be some unknown factor linking these women, and as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that someone will do anything--even murder--to keep a devastating secret.
My Thoughts:
Interesting to see the world of medicine through the eyes of Dr. Sarah Baldwin. She's the type of doctor that almost anyone would want to have. One that is not afraid to employee methods such as Western science medicine as well as using holistic practices such as acupuncture. But she gets into trouble after two women die and one woman is maimed in their pregnancies after taking her herbal supplement which she recommended instead of the usual vitamins. An investigation follows which delves into the politics and money of the medical profession.
The book started out as a whirlwind page turner that had so much promise....exciting passages that detailed medical emergencies as this bizarre blood clotting illness that consumes its victims with horrific speed... and realistic insights into internal hospital politics...and believe me there are many. Eventually it dissolved in the average hospital melodrama of big money...corporate greed...and institutionalized medicine versus the persecuted doctor. It seemed that Michael Palmer just couldn't figure a way to end it all on a different note than all the previous medical thrillers.
The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian Mckinty
The Troubles Trilogy Book #1
5★'s
From The Book:
Spring 1981. Northern Ireland. Belfast on the verge of outright civil war. The Thatcher government has flooded the area with soldiers, but nightly there are riots, bombings, and sectarian attacks.
In the midst of the chaos, Sean Duffy, a young, witty, Catholic detective in the almost entirely Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary, is trying to track down a serial killer who is targeting gay men. As a Catholic policeman, Duffy is suspected by both sides and there are layers of complications. For one thing, homosexuality is illegal in Northern Ireland in 1981. Then he discovers that one of the victims was involved in the IRA, but was last seen discussing business with someone from the Protestant UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force). Fast-paced, evocative, and brutal, this book is a brilliant depiction of Belfast at the height of the Troubles and a cop caught in the cross fire.
My Thoughts:
The story was very close to my heart as my grandparents left Northern Ireland with my 3 year old mother and her 5 year old sister in 1926. They decided that the The Troubles were not a time that they wanted to raise a family in and my grandfather was Scottish and that was another story.
The time is 1981. It was a time when the technology that we rely so much on today was in it's infancy and the police for the most part, had to rely on what we now nostalgically refer to as "good old fashion detective work". DNA analysis was just coming on the forefront in criminal investigation, Enter Detective Sean Duffy...a really likable, imaginative character. If you were to take the best of John Thaw's Inspector Morse , Ian Rankin's John Rebus and add a bit of Peter James's Roy Grace stir well with some unexpected humor...you'll begin to see what this man is all about. I can not recommend this book highly enough. I only hope the next two in the trilogy are as intriguing as this one.
The Borrowers
by Mary Norton, 4****sThis is a fun children's book (on the 100 Top Children's Books list) about little people who live under the floorboards of the house. And they don't "steal" from the home owners, they just "borrow." Therefore, they are "The Borrowers." But their biggest fear is to be "seen" by one of the home owners who might bring a cat in to catch them! So this is part of the plot of this book which is the first in a series of five, written for children ages 7-10. Very cute, and would be fun to read to children in a classroom or to your own child/grandchild!
Summer
by Edith Wharton, 3***sA sweet, sad story of a young girl in a small town who gets herself into a bad position and then just has to live with it. Nothing unexpected or surprising, really. Just Wharton's beautiful writing to take you through it. I liked it. But I'm not sure that I'd recommend it, unless you're just a big Wharton fan and want to read all that she's written.
Beyond Recall by Robert Goddard
5★'s
From The Book:
On a bright autumn afternoon in Truro, the Napier family celebrates one couple’s golden wedding anniversary and another’s marriage. But for one member of the clan, the day turns dark. Chris Napier, prodigal son, suddenly spots the ragged specter of a former friend, Nicky Lanyon—a man whose own family was ruined by the same twist of fate with which the Napiers were blessed. And the next morning, Chris is horrified to find Nicky dead, hanging from a tree where the boys once played.
For Chris, the suicide opens a floodgate of doubt and suspicion. How did his family’s wealth slip out of the hands of a great-uncle, brutally murdered before he could change his will? Were the men convicted of the crime truly guilty? And who is the mysterious, seductive woman who claims to know the Napiers’ darkest secrets? As the crimes of two families are exposed, a series of violent acts shadows him and suddenly Chris knows he’s in uncharted waters…until a killer drops one last disguise—for the ultimate act of revenge.
My Thoughts:
The story is incredibly complex, and absolutely believable. The family history leading up to the present events is brilliantly depicted in each chapter and each witness that Chris uncovers adds a piece of information to the building blocks making up the final chapter. I did find it a challenge to keep who, what and why straight at times...but the end result was so well worth it. I would highly recommend this to anyone that loves a tangled mystery with lots of "I never saw it coming" plots.
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
5★'s
From The Book:
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better. But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.
Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.
Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.
My Thoughts:
Jack is a monster in sheep's clothing....and he's proud of it. There have been few times throughout a book that I have actually hoped and prayed for one of the characters to die but I found myself hoping with each new chapter that he would finally get his just rewards. I have to say that this was one of the best and yet most terrifying psychological thrillers I have ever read. The most terrifying thing about Jack was that he was so entirely "normal" to the rest of the world. He practiced cruelty that doesn't leave a single physical mark and takes domestic control to entirely new levels. This will really bother some people so approach it with extreme caution.
Carol wrote: "Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
5★'s
From The Book:
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’..."
Didn't I tell you?!! I'm glad you liked it :)
Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell
3★'s
From The book:
On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.
My Thoughts:
This was the second book by Tawni O'Dell that I have read this month and I do have to say it was much better than the first one. There is still way too much time spent on descriptions and unnecessary histories of the characters and not enough time on the investigations and the progress in solving the crime.
The plot is very complex at times and there are insights and discoveries in this one that were absent from the first book. I was hoping that Angels Burning might be the beginning of a new series but it seems to be going to remain as a standalone thus far. Some of the character's actions are beyond belief but I believe there is hope for this authors books.
November 28, 2016 Currently reading:TEXT - The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory--trying to finish it by the end of the month--it's also our library book club choice for January, so I'll be ahead of the game there
Portable AUDIO - The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney--just downloaded from the library and one of the books in contention for Best Fiction, 2016 for Goodreads
AUDIO in the car - Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard--learning all kind of history about Churchill and the Boer War
No Man's Land by David Baldacci
John Puller series Book #4
4.5★'s
From The Book:
Two men...thirty years. John Puller's mother, Jackie, vanished thirty years ago from Fort Monroe, Virginia, when Puller was just a boy. Paul Rogers has been in prison for ten years. But twenty years before that, he was at Fort Monroe. One night three decades ago, Puller's and Rogers' worlds collided with devastating results, and the truth has been buried ever since. Until now.
Military investigators, armed with a letter from a friend of Jackie's, arrive in the hospital room of Puller's father--a legendary three-star now sinking into dementia--and reveal that Puller Sr. has been accused of murdering Jackie. Aided by his brother Robert Puller, an Air Force major, and Veronica Knox, who works for a shadowy U.S. intelligence organization, Puller begins a journey that will take him into his own past, to find the truth about his mother.
Paul Rogers' time is running out. With the clock ticking, he begins his own journey, one that will take him across the country to the place where all his troubles began: a mysterious building on the grounds of Fort Monroe. There, thirty years ago, the man Rogers had once been vanished too, and was replaced with a monster. And now the monster wants revenge. And the only person standing in his way is John Puller.
My Thoughts:
This has proven to be another excellent series by David Baldacci. John Puller is one of the most compelling characters that I have encountered in some time. An excellent investigator although not always by the book but ever mindful that he represents the United States Army. This one contains some unexpected discoveries along the way, including futuristic military science. The end of each chapter simply insists that you to continue on to the next. Extremely enjoyable and highly recommendable.
The Hunters by Chris Kuzneski
3.5★'s
THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team—a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief—is tasked with finding the world’s most legendary treasures.
THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country’s treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state—paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts—were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.
THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery…until now.
From The Book:
THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team—a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief—is tasked with finding the world’s most legendary treasures.
THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country’s treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state—paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts—were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.
THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery…until now.
My Thoughts:
In order for a the reader to have a visual in their minds of what is taking place on the page, the author needs to be able to provide enough dialog for this picture to form since there is no wide screen TV. This didn't happen in this book. Lots of action...almost too much if that is possible...but not enough interaction among the characters for the reader to get the "why" this was happening.
The "Team" was composed of a mix of personalities that had never worked together before. This is fine in the office but when you are planning to steal a treasure that more than one group of people are willing to kill you to keep....this is far from ideal. Of course these are strong minded stubborn types for the most part, with a computer nerd and a translator that the author was actually thinking we would buy that she learned to drive a train just from watching the old engineer...who was one of the best characters in the book by the way.
The book received the half-star because I read with a group where we took the book in sections and each person added there comments. Seeing the others perspective on the story let me see the story from a different angle. I really like this author and have read others of his books and enjoyed them immensely. I enjoyed this one more because of the group I read it with. Anyone who likes non-stop action thrillers combined with lots of history will love this book.
Bad Wolf by Nele Neuhaus
4★'s
From The Book:
She looked at herself in the mirror, touched her fingertips to the little red hood on her head, and laughed. The dress was a real dirndl, with a short skirt and apron. Papa had plaited her hair into two braids, and she really looked exactly like Little Red Riding Hood in her fairy-tale book.
He always brought presents―it was a secret that she and Papa shared, because he never brought anything for the others. Only for her. She was his favorite.
The door opened, and she uttered a frightened cry when she saw the wolf. But then she had to laugh. It wasn't a real wolf after all; it was only Papa, who had put on a costume. How lovely it was that she was the only one to share this secret with Papa. Too bad she could never remember anything afterward.
On a hot June day, the body of a sixteen-year-old girl washes up on a riverbank outside of Frankfurt. She has been brutally murdered and shows signs of long-term abuse, but no one comes forward with any information as to her identity. Even weeks later, the local police have not been able to find out who she is. Then a new case comes in: A popular television host is attacked, raped, and locked in the trunk of her own car. She survives, barely, and is able to supply only vague hints to the police, having to do with her recent investigations into an organization whose members are from the highest echelons of society, and the potential uncovering of a shocking history they'd prefer to keep from the public eye. As the two cases collide, Inspectors Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein dig deep into the past and underneath the veneer of bourgeois society to come up against a terrible secret that is about to impact their personal lives as well. It is almost too late for a person very close to Pia before she and Oliver finally track down the big bad wolf.
My Thoughts:
A word of warning: This book deals with one of the most disgusting of crimes, child molestation, and how frequently it occurs.
The book has a slow beginning but it's not too far into it that it really picks up speed and you find that you just can't put it down. Combining police procedural and a favorite Grimm’s fairy tale is a winning combination. It begins with the discovery of a girl's body on a river bank in Frankfurt and evolves from there into a masterfully told tale of crime and evil.
Much of the first few chapters was devoted to setting up the situation...but from there it was non-stop action once the story was in place. Be prepared for false clues and betrayals, along with genuine leads. The novel leads to a satisfactory but not necessarily believable conclusion I think the author's main purpose of this novel was to show how child abuse can affect everyone...victims...families and many, many others.
The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike
4★'s
From The Book:
This tale of a young married couple who harbor a dark secret is packed with dread and terror, as they and their daughter move into a brand new apartment building built next to a graveyard. As strange and terrifying occurrences begin to pile up, people in the h someone... or something... lurking in the basement. The psychological horror builds moment after moment, scene after scene, culminating with a conclusion that will make you think twice before ever going into a basement again.
My Thoughts:
Talk about creepy...this is it! The things that this family and the other apartment residents encountered were unrelenting and down right terrifying. It shows what a typical family...no matter what the nationality...experiences when faced with supernatural forces. It will also make you think twice about venturing into the basement alone and especially in the dark. I was a little disappointed with the ending. I wanted some more concrete answers to the why of the things that were happening and more information about the entity... but overall it was an excellent, atmospheric horror story.
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Summer by Edith Wharton AUDIO in the car -
Money, Money, Money by Ed McBainPortable AUDIO -
Long Man by Amy Greene
The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch series Book #21
4,5★'s
From The Book:
Harry Bosch is California's newest private investigator. He doesn't advertise, he doesn't have an office, and he's picky about who he works for, but it doesn't matter. His chops from thirty years with the LAPD speak for themselves.
Soon one of Southern California's biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire is nearing the end of his life and is haunted by one regret. When he was young, he had a relationship with a Mexican girl, his great love. But soon after becoming pregnant, she disappeared. Did she have the baby? And if so, what happened to it?
Desperate to know whether he has an heir, the dying magnate hires Bosch, the only person he can trust. With such a vast fortune at stake, Harry realizes that his mission could be risky not only for himself but for the one he's seeking. But as he begins to uncover the haunting story--and finds uncanny links to his own past--he knows he cannot rest until he finds the truth.
At the same time, unable to leave cop work behind completely, he volunteers as an investigator for a tiny cash-strapped police department and finds himself tracking a serial rapist who is one of the most baffling and dangerous foes he has ever faced.
My Thoughts:
Back in 1992 I read the first of Michael Connelly's new series about a take-charge, by the book, no holds barred police detective...Harry Bosch. I was hooked after the the last page of that book was turned and I can say that absolutely nothing has changed.
After the book before this one...The Crossing...we saw some big changes coming for Harry including his leaving the San Francisco Police Department after throwing his commanding officer through a plate glass window. We as fans thought that perhaps Harry was going to ride off into the sunset. I was really glad to see this book appear to take it's place as #21 and bring Harry back.
Harry is working for a smaller department investigating cold cases as well as doing some private investigating work on his own. The difference is he doesn't get paid for his police work because of a new program that the department is working to allow detectives that aren't quiet ready to throw in the towel to continue to work and feel productive while lending their many years of expertise. At first it seemed the police case and the private case were not going to exist too well in the same story line but as usual Michael Connelly brought both to a glorious conclusion. Mickey Haller...the Lincoln Lawyer from another of Connelly's series and Harry half brother...has a major role in the story also. So what more could Michael Connelly's fan ask for?
[In the Dark of the Night by John Saul
4.5★'s
From The Book:
Summer vacation becomes a season in hell for an ordinary family who unwittingly stir something invisible, insidious, and insatiable from its secret slumber–unleashing a wave of horror only the darkest evil could create, that only a master of spine-tingling terror like John Saul could orchestrate. For deep in the shadows in the dark of the night lurks something as big as life . . . and as real as death.
It has waited seven years for someone to come back to the rambling lakeside house called Pinecrest, which has stood empty since its last owner went missing. For upscale Chicago couple Dan and Merrill Brewster, the old midwestern manse is an ideal retreat, and for their kids, Eric and Marci, it’s the perfect place to spend a lazy summer exploring. Which is how Eric and his teenage friends discover the curious cache of discarded objects stowed in a hidden room of Pinecrest’s carriage house. The bladeless hacksaws, shadeless lamps, tables with missing legs, headless axe handle, and other unremarkable items add up to a pile of junk. Yet someone took the trouble to inventory each worthless relic in a cryptic ledger. It has all the makings of a great mystery–whispering, coaxing, demanding to be solved.
But the more the boys devote themselves to restoring the forgotten possessions and piecing together the puzzle behind them, the more their fascination deepens into obsession. Soon their days are consumed with tending the strange, secret collection–while their nights become plagued by ever more ghastly dreams, nightmares that soon seep into reality. And when a horrifying discovery surfaces, so does the chilling truth–about the terrifying events that rocked the town seven years before, the mysterious disappearance of Pinecrest’s last resident, and a twisted legacy with a malevolent life of its own . . . and a bottomless hunger for new victims.
My Thoughts:
This is a reread for me but several years have past since I read it the first time. I discovered John Saul's books almost forty years ago and eagerly read every book he wrote from that time on. It's more than just a horror story. It's seemingly impossible things happening to real families that could be your next door neighbors...your friends... or Heaven forbid...even your own family.
The plot is not especially unique...at least not to ghost story and horror story regulars but there are plenty of twists and turns. Overall just good creepy fun along the way as John Saul is famous for his creepy things happening to ordinary people type of writing. If you like that type of book then this authors writings will never disappoint.
The Lost Girls
by Heather Young, 4****sI really liked this book! I don't know if I can review it without going into a lot of detail, so I'll try to keep it very basic if I can:
This is the story of a family with three daughters and the youngest one goes missing. The rest of the book is about how her absence affects the family. But, how the youngest sister goes missing is not a major part of the story until almost the end. Just the effect of her being gone is the major theme: how it affects the dad, mom, the two older sisters, and some of the community.
Now, the other interesting part is that the whole book is told by two different people: one part is told in first person by one of the older sisters starting back in the 1930's during the summer that the whole "missing sister" mystery began. The other story is told in the present by the granddaughter of the other older sister in third person! Are you confused yet?! I thought I was going to be, but as soon as I figured out who was telling which part of the story, I really liked both stories equally, and they both held my attention.
I will say that it was not really fast-paced until you start to get about three-fourths of the way through, then I couldn't put it down! Because there are two stories going simultaneously, there are two pretty big climaxes that happen, one after the other.
I really did like this story and the author's writing style a lot, and would definitely read other books that she writes!
Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville
Serena Flanagan series Book #1
3.5★'s
From The Book:
Ciaran Devine, who made Belfast headlines seven years ago as the “schoolboy killer,” is about to walk free. At the age of twelve, he confessed to the brutal murder of his foster father; his testimony mitigated the sentence of his older brother, Thomas, who was also found at the crime scene, covered in blood. But DCI Serena Flanagan, the only officer who could convince a young, frightened Ciaran to speak, has silently harbored doubts about his confession all this time.
Ciaran’s release means several things: a long-anticipated reunion with Thomas, who still wields a dangerous influence over his younger brother; the call-to-action of a man bent on revenge for his father’s death; and major trouble for Ciaran’s assigned probation officer. Meanwhile, Serena Flanagan has just returned to the force from her battle with breast cancer, only to endure the pitying looks of her coworkers and a mountain of open case files. She will soon discover that even closed cases can unleash terror on the streets of Belfast.
My Thoughts:
Not a bad book or a bad story plot but not much investigation taking place since that was pretty much done years ago. Anyone that reads this type of book figured out what had actually happened and who had done it shortly after the first few chapters. Still a fairly well done story when you consider that there was constant going back and forth from seven years ago to the present.
The story dealt with a topic that every cop wants to believe is impossible...children that kill. This not only dealt with that subject but also with children who convincingly lie and makes finding the truth a thankless job. I can't say that I particularly developed any like or dislike for DCI Serena Flanagan. More development may take place in later books but at this time she seems rather bland and not particularly interesting. Not a bad effort for a first book and a really interesting persona in the character of Daniel Rolston has earned it a 3.5 stars rating.
The Good Cop by Brad Parks
4★'s
From The Book:
As long as Newark Eagle-Examiner reporter Carter Ross turns in his stories on deadline, no one bats an eye if he doesn't wander into the newsroom until 10 or 11 in the morning. So it's an unpleasant surprise when he's awakened at 8:38 a.m. by a phone call from his boss, telling him a local policeman was killed and to get the story. Shaking himself awake, Carter heads off to interview the cop's widow. And then he gets another call: the story's off, the cop committed suicide.
But Carter can't understand why a man with a job he loved, a beautiful wife, and plans to take his adorable children to Disney World would suddenly kill himself. And when Carter's attempts to learn more are repeatedly blocked, it's clear someone knows more than he's saying about the cop's death. The question is, who? And what does he have to hide? Carter, with his usual single-minded devotion to a good story―and to the memory of a Newark policeman―will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.
My Thoughts:
A good story with a believable plot and characters that even though they are not especially over-the -top exciting...they are people you can like and feel some empathy for. Carter Ross has a real sense of humor which is evident through out the story. The widow is a strong willed woman...maybe a bit too strong for having just lost her husband and finding herself alone with a 7 year old and a 5 month old...but never the less she adds a lot to the story. Her pastor however is straight out of the "make me rich at any cost" camp. I don't see how people fall for this dribble. The widow is absolutely certain that her cop husband was murdered and not a suicide as almost the entire police department wants her to believe. Carter Ross is also convinced that there is much more going on than is being said. Who will profit the most from this is just one of the questions he finds himself facing to try and find justice for this "Good Cop".
That Darkness by Lisa Black
A Gardiner & Renner novel
4★'s
From The Book:
Lisa Black draws from her experience as a forensic investigator to create two of the most fascinating characters in crime fiction: a killer with a unique sense of justice and a woman in a lifelong relationship with death.
My Thoughts:
This book certainly takes a 360 degree turn with the killer's identification. It took another 360 degree turn at the end. I don't think I have ever seen this in any of the thousands of books I have read over the years. I had to go back and reread the first few chapters to make sure I was reading it right and hadn't missed something along the way. Very clever turn of events Ms. Black.
I won't say anything else...you'll just have to read it for yourself and be prepared to be amazed.
The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves
Vera Stanhope series Book #7
4★'s
From The Book:
Life seems perfect in the quiet community of Valley Farm. Then a shocking discovery shatters the silence. The owners of a big country house have employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist, to look after the place while they’re away. But his dead body is found by the side of the lane―a lonely place to die.
When DI Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene, she finds the body of a second man. What the two victims seem to have in common is a fascination with studying moths―and with catching these beautiful, intriguing creatures.
The others who live in Valley Farm have secrets too: Lorraine’s calm demeanor belies a more complex personality; Annie and Sam’s daughter, Lizzie, is due to be released from prison; and Nigel watches, silently, every day, from his window. As Vera is drawn into the claustrophobic world of this increasingly strange community, she realizes that there may be many deadly secrets trapped there .
My Thoughts:
You can't be in a hurry when indulging yourself in an Ann Cleeves book. This is a writer that keeps many "secrets" close and only throws them out occasionally. Separating the facts from the red herrings does require the expertise of one such as DI Vera Stanhope. Lucky for the reader that she always shows up.
The title of this book, The Moth Catcher can be interpenetrated to indicate the trap itself or the one catching in the trap. Throughout this book the reader will feel "caught". In her usual manner Vera Stanhope cleverly works her way through the many entanglements and like the Mounties..."gets her man".
It was an enjoyable read and the only problem I had with the book was the complete lack of enough information to let the reader figure out who the killer was. This is evident in most of Ann Cleeve's books. One thing that she is excellent at is "layering" each of her characters so that the reader has a multitude of suspects to choose from. I had to give this one 4 stars because I just happened to pick the correct suspect. This was accomplished through no talent of my own...just blind good luck.
December 13, 2016 Currently reading:TEXT - The Search for Anne Perry by Joanne Drayton
Personal AUDIO - Firewall by Henning Mankell
AUDIO in the car - Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow--listened to the first half last month, now continuing
All The Colors of Darkness by Peter Robinson
Alan Banks series Book #18
4 ★'s
From The Book:
In a world of terror and uncertainty, what does one small death matter?
The body hanging from a tree in a peaceful wood appears to Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot to be a suicide. Further investigation into the sad demise of Mark Hardcastle, the set designer for the local amateur theater company, leads to the corpse of Mark's older, wealthier lover, brutally bludgeoned to death.
Suddenly the case demands the attention of Chief Inspector Alan Banks, called back from his vacation even though nothing suggests this wasn't a crime of passion followed by remorse and self-destruction. But machinations within the shadow world of secret government only add to the colors of darkness already shading this troubling affair. And a stubborn policeman who will not be frightened away could lose everything in one terrifying, explosive instant.
My Thoughts:
This book draws on elements of espionage and Cold War treachery, yet it is another solid installment in the Inspector Alan Banks series.
Boys playing in the woods find a body hanging from one of the trees. Alan Banks is away with playing house with his much younger girl friend, Sophie... so Annie Cabot is own her own until she is ordered to call Banks and bring him back. It looks like a domestic quarrel where one partner bludgeoned the other and then hanged himself in grief so Annie thinks she hardly needed assistance with this case. Banks returns and all of a sudden no one wants the case investigated...they want it closed. Of course that raises red flags to Alan and Annie who continue to investigate on their own.
There are many subplots to the main story and investigation, so at times, the whole thing becomes confusing...and in the end it still leaves you wondering if any of the motives for the murder were ever really believable. There are personal developments with our main detective that fans of the series will want to see but I have to say I've read better Alan Banks novels.
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