Grab a Book & Play Booktivity! discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
What Are You Reading?
>
Where is your Bookmark?
15 Seconds by Andrew Gross
4.5 Stars
From the Book:
An electrifying, lightning-paced story of a desperate man on the run, trying to save his family from the faceless enemy that’s determined to destroy them all. A gripping tale of a life turned upside-down in 15 Seconds,
My Thoughts:
Two dads and two daughters. One trying to blame everybody but himself about how his daughter turned out....the second dad trying to save his daughter. The story is a case of where a prominent doctor has his life turned around and upside down and no one will take the time to check his story or believe him. You can't read this without feeling the frustration and helplessness of Dr. Henry Steadman.
There were some events that were portrayed that more than likely just wouldn't have happened...or at least not the way they are written....but they weren't enough to take anything away from the story. Get the book...sit back and enjoy the ride.
The Witch Maker by Sally Spencer
DCI Woodend series Book #11
4.5 Stars
From The Book:
To be Witch Makers in the moorland village of Hallerton is both a great honor and a heavy burden. But this Witch Maker never lives to witness his moment of triumph and is discovered tied to the Witching Post early one morning with a length of twine wrapped tightly around his neck. Will DCI Charlie Woodend solve this mystery?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book much more than I had thought I would. Sally Spenser did an outstanding job of portraying the small village and the strangeness of the people that inhabited it. The reader felt that they had been dropped into a time capsule and transported back 350 years. It seems that DCI Woodend and his Sergeant Monika Paniatowski also had that feeling...but while they were sorting out how to handle this case...another...seeming unrelated murder is dropped on their plates.
The story features a suspenseful and well-developed story line. A surprise ending and several semi-Gothic elements along with quaint setting and the sense of dark foreboding...all adds up to a first rate mystery.
The Man With A Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
Richard Jury Series Book #1
4 Stars
From The Book:
At the Man with a Load of Mischief, they found the dead body stuck in a keg of beer. At the Jack and Hammer, another body was stuck out on the beam of the pub’s sign, replacing the mechanical man who kept the time. Two pubs. Two murders. One Scotland Yard inspector called in to help. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jury arrives in Long Piddleton and finds everyone in the postcard village looking outside of town for the killer. Except for one Melrose Plant. A keen observer of human nature, he points Jury in the right direction: into the darkest parts of his neighbors’ hearts.
My Views:
Not a bad book at all but the author sure loves the adjective. It was a really good story and all the unnecessary description didn't make it any better. The plot was different than anything I have ever read... and that fact alone makes the reader want to read "just one more page" until before you know it the "one more page" has turned into the last page.
Another likable element about the book is the author's sense of humor. Martha Grimes made several of the characters quirky to the point of peculiarity thus having them provide a lot of levity for this essentially straightforward tale of greed gone wild. The Inspector Richard Jury character could stand to be fleshed out more but since this is the first book of 23 currently written...this may have already happened. I will certainly plan to explore more of this series.
The Cleaner by Paul Cleave
The Christchurch Noir Mystery Series Book #1
4.5 ★'s
From The Book:
Joe is in control of everything in his simple life—both his day job as a janitor for the police department and his “night work.” He isn’t bothered by the daily news reports of the Christchurch Carver, who, they say, has murdered seven women. Joe knows, though, that the Carver killed only six. He knows that for a fact, and he’s determined to find the copycat. He’ll punish him for the one, then frame him for the other six. It’s the perfect plan because he already knows he can outwit the police.
My Views:
I have read The Theodore Tate series and all of the standalone novels by this author and found all of them to be exceedingly well done with interesting, true to life characters. This series will be no exception.
The book alternates between the first person narrative of Joe, with flashbacks to his past, and several third person chapters that focus on Sally, a young woman who works at the department and feels pity, and possibly affection, for Joe. It's a very graphic, physiological story about a serial killer that believes he is smarter than anyone else and will never be caught. There are some humorous twists. He and Sally constantly misunderstand one another. Then there's Joe's mother. The strange Melissa rounds out the quirky characters. It will remind you how little you know about the people that even briefly share your everyday life.
In spite of the occasional humor it's still a dark insight into the mind of a merciless killer. The physiological thriller fan will be held captive with the first chapter.
4/6/17 - Currently reading:TEXT - Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship by Gail Caldwell--recommended by a dear friend, so beautifully written
AUDIO in the car - Brimstone by Douglas Preston--looking for another good series read by Scott Brick
Personal AUDIO - The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan--enjoying listening to it after having read it years ago
Mod
TEXT -
Gutenberg's Apprentice by Alix ChristieAUDIO in the car -
The Penelopiad by Margaret AtwoodMP3 Player AUDIO -
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
No Darker Place by Debra Webb
Shades of Death series Book #1
4.5 Stars
From The Book:
Detective Bobbie Gentry has one objective: to stop the serial killer who robbed her of her husband, her child and her life. Nick Shade understands Bobbie's pain—and her desire for vengeance. He's on a mission of his own, and the murderer known as the Storyteller is next on his list. Nick knows that the best way to find his target is to stick close to Bobbie. But as she becomes more and more reckless in her attempts to lure the Storyteller out of hiding, he has to make a choice. Will he protect her from herself even if it means passing up the chance to take out one more monster? As for Bobbie, she's forced to decide just how much she can trust this stranger who knows so much about her. And both of them are about to learn whether or not two broken people can save each other.
My Views:
A top-rate story with a wonderfully, twisted villain in the "Storyteller". He's just the type that the reader loves to hate and hope for his demise in the end. The character of Bobbie Gentry was a little over the top but you can see and understand where she's coming from. What we didn't really need to tell the story or make it any more sellable was a romance in the middle of the hunt. For me that lost it a star. Another physiological thriller that the fans of this genre will "just have to read."
Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane
Kenzie & Gennaro Series Book #5
3.5 Stars
From The Book:
When a former client jumps naked from a Boston landmark, Private Investigator Patrick Kenzie wants to know why. Once a perky young woman in love with life, her suicide is the final fall in a spiral of self-destruction.
What Kenzie discovers is a sadistic stalker who targeted the woman and methodically drove her to her death – a monster that the law can’t touch. But Kenzie can. He and his former partner, Angela Gennaro, will fight a mind-twisting battle against the psychopath, even as he turns tricks on them…
My Views:
I like Dennis Lehane's writing style. He even manages to insert some humor into stories about psychopaths and various other types of misfits. The main problem with this book was that his lead characters constantly did such unpredictable, unprofessional, unbelievable, and entirely unnecessary things to achieve their goal. It made the book about 120 pages too long. This small glitch won't deter me from reading more of this series, but hope he sticks more to his main story line in the future.
The Perfect Stranger by Wendy Corsi Staub
Social Media Series Book #2
3 stars
From The Book:
During the darkest period of her life, Landry Wells found solace in a group of bloggers who had been in her shoes and lived to tell the tale. She's shared things with her online friends that even her husband and children didn't know. Things that now, looking back, make her uneasy. One of the bloggers is dead, victim of a random crime—or was it? Did she trust too easily; reveal too much? At the funeral a thousand miles from home, Landry is about to come face to face at last with the others. These women are her closest confidantes in the world: they understand her; they know everything about her—and one of them might be a cold-blooded killer .
My Thoughts:
There was way too much detail about the characters. The book was mired down in character description from the very beginning. Eventually you just don't care about any of them any longer. The seemingly random killings were interesting as well as intriguing...thus resulting in the 3 star rating instead of 2. The reader will understand...if they don't already... the dangers of sharing too much information on social media sites and trusting total strangers.
April 12, 2017 Currently reading:TEXT -
A Darker Domain by Val McDermid--the first book I've read from this author, and I can't wait to start reading her others. I love the Edinburgh setting.Personal AUDIO -
The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan--I finished The Joy Luck Club, only to realize that it had been abridged down to less than 100 pages, but it turned out to be a happy circumstance because in a way this book is a prequel, going into the mother's background in China, so it helped to know happenings in The Joy Luck Club!
The Executioner by Chris Carter
The Hunter series Book#2
5 Stars
From the Book:
Inside a Los Angeles church, on the altar steps, lies the blood-soaked, decapitated body of a priest. Carefully positioned, legs stretched out, arms crossed over the chest, the most horrifying thing of all is that the priest's head has been replaced by that of a dog. Later, the forensic team discover that, on the victim's chest, the figure 3 has been scrawled in blood. At first, Detective Robert Hunter believes that this is a ritualistic killing. But as more bodies surface, he is forced to reassess. All the victims died in the way they feared the most. Their worst nightmares have literally come true. But how could the killer have known? And what links these apparently random victims? Hunter finds himself on the trail of an elusive and sadistic killer, someone who apparently has the power to read his victims' minds. Someone who can sense what scares his victims the most. Someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his twisted aim.
My Views:
This series is not for the faint of heart or those with a weak stomach. I have neither so needless to say I have enjoyed both this book and the first in the series [The Crucifix Killer]. The plot is well woven with clues and misdirections...which I have to admit I fell for hook, line and sinker. All the chapters are short, so don't let the 143 chapters be a turn off. Each and every one has a cliffhanger ending that will drive you on to the next and the next and the next..... I recommend the Hunter Series to anyone that loves a physiological thriller and is not bothered by graphic murder scenes.
The Red Herring by Sally Spencer
Inspector Woodend Series Book # 7
4 Stars
From The Book:
The discovery of the body of a young, red-haired school mistress, lying in a pig-pen with her face half-eaten away, is the beginning of a new investigation for Charlie Woodend. But it is to be an investigation he is soon ordered to abandon when Helen Dunn, the daughter of Wing Commander Dunn - and a pupil at the school where the dead woman taught - suddenly vanishes into thin air. While Woodend and Rutter race against time in the desperate hope of finding the girl alive, Woodend's bagman, Monika Paniatowski, continues to work on the murder, under the supervision of the mysterious Chief Inspector Horrocks, a Scotland Yard man who seems to have only a mild interest in finding the killer. Are the two cases connected? Woodend begins to wonder. And if they are, who is it who seems to be blocking both investigations at every turn?
My Views:
I just discovered this author and this series and must say that I find the stories really interesting with gripping, creative plots. They are not the usual types of mystery and suspense books that i usually read but they are a refreshing break. They are not "cozies" by any means and will satisfy anyone that wants a well plotted mystery with plenty of clues to help you try and solve the crime without the contents of the grittier ones.
Mod
TEXT -
Baking Cakes in Kigali / Gaile ParkinAUDIO in the car -
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls / Anton DiSclafaniMP3 Player AUDIO -
The World's Strongest Librarian / Josh Hanagarne
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
The Quirke series Book #1
★★★'s
From The Book:
The hero of Christine Falls, Quirke, is a surly pathologist living in 1950s Dublin. One night, after having a few drinks at a party, he returns to the morgue to find his brother-in-law tampering with the records on a young woman's corpse. The next morning, when his hangover has worn off, Quirke reluctantly begins looking into the woman's history. He discovers a plot that spans two continents, implicates the Catholic Church, and may just involve members of his own family. He is warned--first subtly, then with violence--to lay off, but Quirke is a stubborn man.
My Views:
It's a tale of murder, betrayal, and corruption in high places. It is also a sad, dark story of lives that are burdened and nearly destroyed by wrong choices that have impact forever. I did enjoy visiting 1950's Dublin. However overall, there was a lack of depth to the characters and the locations that greatly subtracted from what it started out to be. I will keep in mind that it was the first book in this series and feel it only fair to give it a second chance.
A Perfect Obsession by Heather Graham
New York Confidential series Book #2
****1/2
From The Book:
Someone is murdering beautiful young women in the New York area and displaying them in mausoleums and underground tombs. The FBI is handling the case, with Special Agent Craig Frasier as lead.
Kieran Finnegan, forensic psychologist and part owner of Finnegan's, her family's pub, is consulting on the case. Craig and Kieran are a couple who've worked together on more than one occasion. On this occasion, though, Craig fears for the safety of the woman he loves. Because the killer is too close. The body of a young model is found in a catacomb under a two-hundred-year-old church, now deconsecrated and turned into a nightclub. A church directly behind Finnegan's in lower Manhattan.
As more women are murdered, their bodies discovered in underground locations in New York, it's clear that the police and the FBI are dealing with a serial killer. Craig and Kieran are desperate to track down the murderer, a man obsessed with female perfection. Obsessed enough to want to "preserve" that beauty by destroying the women who embody it.
My Views:
I liked the first book only slightly more... but can't take anything away from this one as it was a good story. There was lots of suspense and mystery. What lost it the 5 star rating was that there were several holes in the story that were left unexplained....but it's possible they will come full circle in the next one. It is a quick read and I plan to continue the series....so we'll see.
The Devils Triangle by Catherine Coulter & J.T. Ellison
A Brit in the FBI series Book # 4
4 ****
From The Book:
FBI Special Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine are the government’s Covert Eyes—leading a top-notch handpicked team of agents to tackle crimes and criminals both international and deadly. But their first case threatens their fledgling team when the Fox calls from Venice asking for help.
Kitsune has stolen an incredible artifact from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, and now the client wants her dead. She has a warning for Nick and Mike: she’s overheard talk that a devastating Gobi desert sandstorm that’s killed thousands in Beijing isn’t a natural phenomenon, rather is produced by man. The Covert Eyes team heads to Venice, Italy, to find out the truth.
From New York to Venice and from Rome to the Bermuda Triangle, Nicholas and Mike and their team are in a race against time, and nature herself, to stop an obsessed family from devastating Washington, DC.
My Views:
This is a really good series but it is one that absolutely must be read in order. [The Devil's Triangle] delivers action, murder, technology, romance, humor, and justice. What more could you ask for? Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison bring together their outstanding writing and story telling skills to bring their story alive until the very last page. I recommend this series to all that love a well told mystery with an excellent cast of characters.
4/21/17 Currently reading:TEXT -
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd--for a book club that meets at the end of the monthPersonal AUDIO -
The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian--listening to this on a recommendation and enjoying it!AUDIO in the car--
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight--last month's pick for a book club, but I couldn't get a copy in time, so we're listening to it
The Trap by Melanie Raabe
★★
From the Book:
The renowned author Linda Conrads is famous for more than just her bestselling novels. For over eleven years, she has mystified fans by never setting foot outside her home. Far-fetched, sometimes sinister rumors surround the shut-in writer, but they pale in comparison to the chilling truth: Linda is haunted by the unsolved murder of her younger sister, whom she discovered in a pool of blood twelve years ago, and by the face of the man she saw fleeing the scene.
Now plagued by panic attacks, Linda copes with debilitating anxiety by secluding herself in her house, her last safe haven. But the sanctity of this refuge is shattered when her sister's murderer appears again--this time on her television screen. Empowered with sudden knowledge but hobbled by years of isolation, Linda resolves to use her only means of communication with the outside world--the plot of her next novel--to lay an irresistible trap for the man.
But as the plan is set in motion and the past comes rushing back, Linda's memories of that traumatic night--and her very sanity--are called into question. Is this man really a heartless killer or merely a helpless victim?
My Views:
Sounded intriguing....however I am hard pressed to tell you what this book was even about. Don't think I'll be doing this again any time soon.
Shoot The Moon by Billie Letts
4.5★'s
From the Book:
It's a tale of a small Oklahoma town and the mystery that has haunted its residents for years.
In 1972, windswept DeClare, Oklahoma, was consumed by the murder of a young mother, Gaylene Harjo, and the disappearance of her baby, Nicky Jack. When the child's pajama bottoms were discovered on the banks of Willow Creek, everyone feared that he, too, had been killed, although his body was never found.
Nearly thirty years later, Nicky Jack mysteriously returns to DeClare, shocking the town and stirring up long-buried memories. But what he discovers about the night he vanished is more astonishing than he or anyone could have imagine. Piece by piece, what emerges is a story of dashed hopes, desperate love, and a secret that still cries out for justice...and redemption.
My Views:
Those who've read other books by Billy Letts will recognize the familiar Oklahoma territory as well as the well-polished dialogue and heart-warming humor in this part murder mystery, part romance, part humorous study of human nature. It was an enjoyable story of a small town.... a murder.... and a missing child The author created a cast of interesting characters that you wanted to get to know more about. The only thing that I could have done without was the "love story" that came across as not only unbelievable but unnecessary. Otherwise it was an excellent read.
Mod
TEXT -
Expecting Adam / Martha N. BeckAUDIO in the car -
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / Agatha ChristieMP3 Player AUDIO -
Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral / Mary Doria Russell
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
★★★
From The Book:
The story focuses on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story - of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams.
My Views:
I once read a Young Adult book that featured rooms that appeared and disappeared and this reminded me a great deal of the house in that series. It's an entertaining read if you can just suspend your disbelief and just go along for the ride.
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
★★★★1/2
From The Book:
They only meant to scare him.
Mr. Griffin is the strictest teacher at Del Norte High, with a penchant for endless projects and humiliating his students. Even straight-A student Susan can't believe how mean he is to the charismatic Mark Kinney. So when her crush asks Susan to help a group of students teach a lesson of their own, she goes along. After all, it's a harmless prank, right? But things don't go according to plan. When one "accident" leads to another, people begin to die. Susan and her friends must face the awful truth: one of them is a killer.
My Views:
If you have a few hours on your hands or just want to read something that doesn't weigh 500 pounds or is composed of 700 pages...this little jewel is your new best friend. In spite of someone thinking that it should be banned...it was one of the best books I've read this year. I guess I can see the reason for "banning" it but believe me teens read much worse than this every day.
We have all had a teacher like Mr. Griffin. A teacher that demanded that we actually work to get the grade. Most of us though don't respond by kidnapping said teacher and inadvertently killing them. The students are just too young or too immature to see things from Mr. Griffin's side...they just know that English is no longer the breeze it was last year. So a group of students decide to try and change things but the plan was a disaster waiting to happen from the start. one of the perpetrators was charismatic but with sociopathic tendencies...one was the class president and never thought he's be suspected.... one was a star athlete that everyone liked and admired... and then there was the "Queen Bee"...the one that gets voted home coming Queen just because she breathes. They needed a decoy so they enlist the class geek, Susan, because she just wants to be liked. Unfortunately for them this complicates things because she out of the entire group has a conscience. Things fall apart soon due to both poor planning and sheer bad luck.
Unlike some teen books, this one attempts to give the various adults' viewpoints as well as the students. It raises some questions about nature or nurture, but can, and should be read simply for entertainment.
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
3.5 Stars
From The Book:
In a tantalizing set-up reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train… On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliche.
But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse.
Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.
Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
My Views:
I was all over the map with this one. It started out slow but the back history was essential to the story line. I thought a rating of maybe 2.5. By the middle of the book it had started to play mind games with the reader. What you thought had happened previously was suddenly out the window and an entirely new plot was coming together. The reader thinks okay a 3 rating. Don't get comfortable because it's going to change again and by 3/4 of the book the reader will know who the killer is and the scheme to pull it off diffidently earns the book a 4 or even a 4.5. Then we have the ending. So much promise and excitement to just fizzle out. I did give it the 3.5 rating for the parts of the book that I dd so very much enjoy.
Mod
Shoot The Moon by Billie Letts
4.5★'s
..."
It was a 4-star read for me as well.
The Killing Kind by Chris Holm
★ 4.5
From The Book:
Michael Hendricks kills people for money. That aside, he's not so bad a guy. Once a covert operative for a false-flag unit of the US military, Hendricks was presumed dead after a mission in Afghanistan went sideways. He left behind his old life--and beloved fiancee--and set out on a path of redemption...or perhaps one of willful self-destruction.
Now Hendricks makes his living as a hitman entrepreneur of sorts--he only hits other hitmen. For ten times the price on your head, he'll make sure whoever's coming to kill you winds up in the ground instead. Not a bad way for a guy with his skill-set to make a living--but a great way to make himself a target.
My Thoughts:
What surprised me the most about this book was the occasional humor. You wouldn't expect a hitman to be funny. As I read along I saw some similarities of other books I have read in this genre such as Roger Hobbs Ghostman or Steve Hamilton's The Lock Artist. In many ways the Michael Hendricks' character brings visions of Jack Reacher...the book one, not Tom Cruise:). A hitman who only kills other hitmen makes for a fast paced, original storyline... terrific characters...and a premise that you can't forget. The ending leaves room for a sequel and I really hope that happens.
Fast And Loose by Stuart Woods
Stone Barrington series Book # 37
4 Stars
From The Book:
Stone Barrington is enjoying a boating excursion off the Maine coast when a chance encounter leaves him somewhat the worse for wear. Always able to find the silver lining in even the unhappiest circumstances, Stone is pleased to discover that the authors of his misfortune are, in fact, members of a prestigious family who present a unique business opportunity, and who require a man of Stone’s skills to overcome a sticky situation of their own.
The acquaintance is fortuitous indeed, for as it turns out, Stone and his new friends have an enemy in common. He’s the sort of man who prefers force to finesse, and who regards any professional defeat as a personal and intolerable insult. And when Stone’s sly cunning collides with his adversary’s hair-trigger-temper, the results are sure to be explosive.
My Thoughts:
I learned about book #20 that you just have to suspend your disbelief and go along with the richer than God people and multi-talented...highly connected characters in the story line. Once you get past wondering if this is how the other half really lives, the books are "entertaining" for lack of a better description.
The plot and the characters do keep you reading "just one more chapter" until you find that you have not only read the "one more chapter" but that you have finished the book. some reviewers said that if you had read one Stone Barrington book you have read them all...I can't exactly dispute that statement but I do feel that the regular characters in the 37 books have been fascinating in the same way that a well loved and slightly eccentric family member would be.
Gone Without A Trace by Mary Torjussen
4 Stars
From The Book:
Hannah Monroe's boyfriend, Matt, is gone. His belongings have disappeared from their house. Every call she ever made to him, every text she ever sent, every photo of him and any sign of him on social media have vanished. It's as though their last four years together never happened.
As Hannah struggles to get through the next few days, with humiliation and recriminations whirring through her head, she knows that she'll do whatever it takes to find him again and get answers. But as soon as her search starts, she realizes she is being led into a maze of madness and obsession. Step by suspenseful step, Hannah discovers her only way out is to come face to face with the shocking truth.
My Views:
Anyone who likes to follow the clues and try to solve the mystery before the last sentence on the last page, will absolutely love this book. The thing that presented a little problem with that was that everyone quickly became a suspect. Everyone had motive and opportunity. I'm usually pretty successful at hunting out the villains and finding the "why" of the story...but in this case the truth was something that I had never in a million years thought of. Gone Without A Trace is a twisted psychological thriller that will keep you spellbound right up until the very end...even if you never guess it.
Mod
TEXT –
Death in the Clouds by Agatha ChristieAUDIO in the car –
Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis SittenfeldMP3 Player AUDIO -
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam
Last Bus To Woodstock by Colin Dexter
Inspector Morse series Book #1
3.5 ★'s
From The Book:
Beautiful Sylvia Kaye and another young woman had been seen hitching a ride not long before Sylvia's bludgeoned body is found outside a pub in Woodstock, near Oxford. Morse is sure the other hitchhiker can tell him much of what he needs to know. But his confidence is shaken by the cool inscrutability of the girl he's certain was Sylvia's companion on that ill-fated September evening. Shrewd as Morse is, he's also distracted by the complex scenarios that the murder set in motion among Sylvia's girlfriends and their Oxford playmates. To grasp the painful truth, and act upon it, requires from Morse the last atom of his professional discipline.
My Views:
Well I have to say that Inspector Morse is a better detective than "Yours Truly". As a police procedural it was okay. If I had not already been a fan of the TV series and if this book had not been the selection for a group read...and said group was one that I am very fond of...I more than likely would not have even rated it more than 2.5 stars. However...to its credit, the plot was sufficiently complex to keep me guessing...incorrectly I might add...until the very end.
I know that this was Colin Dexter's first novel in the Inspector Morse series and that the book was written in 1975, but the callous way that the author had the characters of Morse and Lewis deal with some gender issues just rubbed me the wrong way. Hopefully the Morse and Lewis characters will be better developed in the future books....but I don't think the next in this series will be a priority choice for reading materials for me.
Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter
Profiler series Book #1
4 stars
From The Book:
Terror stalks a small Virginia town. FBI rising star, criminal profiler Evelyn Baine, knows how to think like a serial killer. But she's never chased anyone like the Bakersville Burier, who hunts young women and displays them, half-buried, deep in the woods. As the body count climbs, Evelyn's relentless pursuit of the killer puts her career—and her life—at risk. And the evil lurking in the Burier's mind may be more than even she can unravel.
Terror is closer than she thinks. The Bakersville Burier knows he's got an FBI profiler on his trail. He knows who she is and where to find her. And he's biding his time, because he's planned a special punishment for Evelyn. She may have tracked other killers, but he vows to make this her last chase. This time it's her turn to be hunted.
My Views:
You can tell that the author either had law enforcement experience or else did a great deal of excellent research. She has produced a clear and crisply written tale of a hunt for a serial killer that abducts, kills and buries the bodies with the heads above ground so that he can visit them.
The character of Evelyn Baine, the FBI profiler...the new gal in what has always been primarily a man's world...intelligent and professional...and being very careful to keep her guard up and not give in to her attraction to fellow agent, Kyle McKenzie, is a breath of fresh air in the world of Mystery & Suspense. I usually don't care for romance being mixed into this genre but in this case it's not overpowering the main plot and actually adds to it. This is the first book and I already have the second.
Mod
Beartown by Frederik Backman
3.5 Stars
From the Book:
A profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.
People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.
Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.
Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.
My Views:
I've read and loved all of the previous books by this author but somehow this one just lacked the magic of the others. It could have been the subject. Hockey is not one of my favorite sports. Even though the story dealt a great deal with the small forest village there was still a lot of the sport featured. I did love how the author seems to infuse his characters with charm and quirkiness. They have power over the reader...they make you care about them and their struggles and their lives. I will have to admit that I now know more about hockey than I ever needed or wanted to know.
Nightwatching by John Zunski
4.5 Stars
From The Book:
On the fringe of civilization, something sinister lurks within moonlit shadows. Feel a grieving mother’s isolation in a mountain cabin, the torment of a schizophrenic shut-in, and the desperation of a broken hearted musician as they struggle to overcome both personal demons and the diabolical being feeding upon their souls.
My Thoughts:
From opening the door of the cabin in Montana, Sondra views her new home with a sense of horror. and foreboding. It's not that it's a 100% turnaround from her previous existence or that her millionaire husband has left everything that was familiar after the death of their 3 year old son...it was the sure knowledge that hit her like a sledge hammer that they were not alone. Something beyond evil waited with infinite patience.
It was a fairly short book but packed with lots of chill bump producing intrigue. I couldn't name one single person in the entire story that I really liked. The characters are all flawed to some degree making them all easy prey for the evil that came in innocent form and preyed on their very souls. In spite of that it was a very, very good read for the ghost story enthusiast. I will certainly look for others by this author.
Vanished by Elizabeth Heiter
The Profiler series Book #2
3 Stars
From The Book:
Sometimes, the past can haunt you… Eighteen years ago, FBI profiler Evelyn Baine's best friend, Cassie Byers, disappeared, the third in a series of unsolved abductions. Only a macabre nursery rhyme was left at the scene, a nursery rhyme that claimed Evelyn was also an intended victim. Now, after all these years of silence, another girl has gone missing in South Carolina, and the Nursery Rhyme Killer is taking credit. But is Cassie's abductor really back, or is there a copycat at work?
Sometimes, the past is best forgotten… Evelyn has waited eighteen years for a chance to investigate, but when she returns to Rose Bay, she finds a dark side to the seemingly idyllic town. As the place erupts in violence and the kidnapper strikes again, Evelyn knows this is her last chance. If she doesn't figure out what happened to Cassie eighteen years ago, it may be Evelyn's turn to vanish without a trace.
My Views:
I really enjoyed the first book of this series but I found I was becoming bored with the repeated theme of this one. Evelyn was told from the start that she was too close to this case to be working it but she wouldn't listen so most of the 395 pages was her proving everyone right. Throughout this book I found her to be naive & even weak. She had to be rescued more than once or twice and made some very poor choices along the way. She wasn't like this in the first book. Hopefully in future books she'll stick to what she does best...profiling.
Dark Homecoming by William Patterson
3 Stars
From The Book:
A beautiful mansion—and the consequences for a newcomer who dares to call it home. Liz Huntington met her husband David, scion of one of Palm Beach’s wealthiest families, just weeks ago. Their honeymoon was idyllic and Liz is blissfully happy—at first. But she feels increasingly uneasy in her lavish new home. Huntington House and its staff still seem to be in the thrall of David’s first wife. In fact, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hoffman, has made it clear that Liz can never measure up to the stunning, sophisticated, deceased, Dominique.
Though Dominique drowned in a yachting accident, Liz still senses her spirit in the house. She hears unexplained noises…sees shadowy figures vanishing down the long corridors. The scent of Dominique’s favorite flowers fills the air. But Liz’s fears are more than insecurity. Two young women connected to Huntington House have already met terrible deaths. More will die—and soon. Because behind the house’s polished facade is an unimaginable secret and a love turned to twisted, unnatural obsession.
My Views:
Not what I was expecting from the synopsis. The idea was great but the actual story didn't really support it. About midway through the book the plot turns away and the more than one time reader of this genre knows what is going to happen. The book had nearly 500 pages so I spent a long time hoping that the plot would go back to what the book had promised in the beginning.
Mod
TEXT –
Maurice by E.M. ForsterAUDIO in the car –
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsMP3 Player AUDIO -
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Mod
Currently Reading: The Missing Manatee & A Hundred Flowers
The Whispering by Sarah Rayne
4.5 Stars
Nell West & Michael Flint series Book #4
From The Book:
Michael Flint, a music and literature professor at Oxford, is working on a book about musical influences on the poets of WWI. Flint travels to the remote fens, in eastern England, to visit Fosse House and examine the records concerning the Palestrina Choir, circa 1900–14. His host, the personable but secretive septuagenarian Luisa Gilmore, welcomes Michael, even gives him a place to sleep when inclement weather makes traveling to the nearby town impossible, but soon Michael discovers that the history of Luisa’s family, not to mention the history of the choir, is filled with secrets.
My Views:
Sarah Rayne has an amazing talent for blending the past and the present into one neat package. Her specialty is the supernatural/paranormal genre which she weaves with history. These 100 year old events take shape through the letters and journals of men long dead but certainly not gone by any means. A goose-bump raising, creepy tale that keeps you wanting more and more.
The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe
3 Stars
From The Book:
Winter’s chill has descended on Stockholm as police arrive at the scene of a shocking murder. An unidentified woman lies beheaded in a posh suburban home—a brutal crime made all the more disturbing by its uncanny resemblance to an unsolved killing ten years earlier. But this time there’s a suspect: the charismatic and controversial chain-store CEO Jesper Orre, who owns the home but is nowhere to be found.
To homicide detectives Peter Lindgren and Manfred Olsson, nothing about the suave, high-profile businessman—including a playboy reputation and rumors of financial misdeeds—suggests he conceals the dark heart and twisted mind of a cold-blooded killer.
My Views:
The story was told from the viewpoint of three people. The dead guy didn't get much of a voice since he was missing his head. Instead of the psychological thriller portraying the murder and the hunt by the police for the killer...the story portrayed the events in the lives of the three people that lead up to the killing. Thrown into this mix was a ten year old murder that shared some of the same characteristics.
It wasn't a bad story once you get past that it's not going to be about the current murder. The writing and the plot line was easy to follow but most of the characters were not people you would care to spend an evening with let alone the rest of your life.
Into The Water by Paula Hawkins
3.5 Stars
From The Book:
A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.
Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother's sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she'd never return.
My Views:
This one was so much better than The Girl on The Train. The characters here were real and their emotions grabbed you from the pages of the book. You could liked them...you could grieved with them or rejoice with them...you actually wanted to get to know them better. The only down side that I saw was that it wasn't an easy book to read because of the sheer number of those same likable characters that sometimes spoke in the present and sometimes in the past and some just added their opinions leaving the reader to try to figure out who was talking and did it pertain to the past or present.
The Sixth Man by David Baldacci
King & Maxwell Series Book #5
4.5 Stars
From The Book:
Edgar Roy--an alleged serial killer held in a secure, fortress-like Federal Supermax facility-is awaiting trial. He faces almost certain conviction. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in by Roy's attorney, Sean's old friend and mentor Ted Bergin, to help work the case. But their investigation is derailed before it begins. It is now up to them to ask the questions no one seems to want answered: With help from some surprising allies, they continue to pursue the case. But the more they dig into Roy's past, the more they encounter obstacles, half-truths, dead-ends, false friends, and escalating threats from every direction.
My Views:
I'm a bit prejudiced when it comes to this series as it is my favorite of all the Baldacci offerings. The characters of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell continue to develop more fully from book to book, and the main mystery...like all David Baldacci mysteries... is built like an onion with layers upon layers that the reader must peel away to find the answer. One reviewer of the book hit the nail on the head with the comment " There were more double-crosses than a tic-tac-toe tournament." That pretty much sums it up.
Rooms by Lauren Oliver
2.5 Stars
From The Book:
Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.
But the Walkers are not alone. Prim Alice and the cynical Sandra, long dead former residents bound to the house, linger within its claustrophobic walls. Jostling for space, memory, and supremacy, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a light bulb.
The living and dead are each haunted by painful truths that will soon surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results.
My Views:
This was actually a very quick read but it seemed to go on forever as far as I was concerned. It seems that this author is better known for her young adult novels and this was her first book away from that category. It wasn't a terrible book but the kindest thing I can say about "Rooms" is that it bored me 98% of the time.
The characters were all maladjusted...not the type of people you would want to call your friends...not even the dead ones. I believe I came to this book expecting from the description a bit more of a ghost story. I prefer more detailed plots in my "hauntings" but I tried very hard not to make the comparison to those by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. I found the idea intriguing but must admit I found it difficult to understand just where the story was going.
The House of the Hanging Jade by Amy R. Reade
3.5 Stars
From the Book:
A dark presence had invaded the Jorgensens' house. On a spectacular bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, something evil is watching and waiting . . .
Tired of the cold winters in Washington, D.C. and disturbed by her increasingly obsessive boyfriend, Kailani Kanaka savors her move back to her native Big Island of Hawaii. She also finds a new job as personal chef for the Jorgensen family. The gentle caress of the Hawaiian trade winds, the soft sigh of the swaying palm trees, and the stunning blue waters of the Pacific lull her into a sense of calm at "The House of Hanging Jade"--an idyll that quickly fades as it becomes apparent that dark secrets lurk within her new home. Furtive whispers in the night, a terrifying shark attack, and the discovery of a dead body leave Kailani shaken and afraid. But it's the unexpected appearance of her ex-boyfriend, tracking her every move and demanding she return to him, that has her fearing for her life
My Views:
I was an easy book to read and the author told the story plainly and simply. Maybe a bit too simply. You knew exactly what the characters were and how they were going to react to the the present situations. Even though their actions and believes were a tad questionable...the "how could any sane person do something like that" thing...it somehow didn't distract from the telling. Kailani was a chef for the Jorgensen family and throughout the book we learned of the local dishes she created for the dinners,which was very interesting ...especially since she seemed to be able to do that at the drop of a hat:) The ending was a big surprise and not something I had even considered...but probably should have. Not great literature but a very entertaining little book.
Locked in by Kerry Wilkinson
DS Jessica Daniel series Book #1
4.5 Stars
From The Book:
They think they are safe at home. Someone knows better. When a body is found in a locked house, Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel is left to not only find the killer but discover how they got in and out.
With little in the way of leads and a journalist that seems to know more about the case than she does, Jessica is already feeling the pressure—and that’s before a second body shows up in identical circumstances to the first. How can a murderer get to victims in seemingly impossible situations and what, if anything, links the bodies? When a body is found in a locked house, Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel is left to not only find the killer but discover how they got in and out.
My Views:
I had never heard of this author or this series until it was selected as my Blind Date With A Book. I had a hard time finding the book but once I had secured it I was hook from the start.
Being the first book in the series it suffered "first book syndrome" in places by being a little predictable with some rough spots but nothing that put me off or took away from the story line. The main character of DS Jessica Daniel is nobody's fool and is certainly not a soft touch. The flow of the book was perfect . I certainly plan to follow this author even though our "date" has ended.
The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy R. Reade
3.5 Stars
From the Book:
"Do you know what stories Sarah could tell you about the things that happened in these little cabins? They’d curl that pretty red hair of yours."
Outside of Charleston, South Carolina, beyond hanging curtains of Spanish moss, at the end of a shaded tunnel of overarching oaks, stands the antebellum mansion of Peppernell Manor in all its faded grandeur. At the request of her friend Evie Peppernell, recently divorced Carleigh Warner and her young daughter Lucy have come to the plantation house to refurbish the interior. But the tall white columns and black shutters hide a dark history of slavery, violence, and greed. The ghost of a former slave is said to haunt the home, and Carleigh is told she disapproves of her restoration efforts. And beneath the polite hospitality of the Peppernell family lie simmering resentments and poisonous secrets that culminate in murder—and place Carleigh and her child in grave danger.
My Views:
This is the second book by this author that I've read this month. The story was interesting and well told and the characters were likable enough to earn it 3.5 stars....but if the only reason the reader picks this book, or the last one...The House of the Hanging Jade for that matter...is the description of the story...you are going to be sorely disappointed. In this case even the title is misleading. The only "ghost" in the entire story is the one in the housekeeper's head. As for the remainder of the book's description...I think they must have copied it from some other book...and I'd like to find that one.
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
3 Stars
From The Book:
Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. Her people claim descent from Kahutia Te Rangi, the legendary "whale rider." In every generation since Kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. Kahu is his only great-grandchild--and Maori tradition has no use for a girl. But when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the Maori tribe, it is Kahu who saves the tribe when she reveals that she has the whale rider's ancient gift of communicating with whales.
My Views:
I was an okay book but not something that I would have read if it hadn't met the criteria for a challenge.
Hysteria by Meagan Miranda
3 Stars
From The Book:
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.
My Views:
Like all of Megan Miranda's books this one held the reader's interest right to the very end. Mallory is haunted by a watchful presence that started coming to her right after Brian died and has followed her all the way to New Hampshire to her new school. In spite of her trying to disbelieve...it just won't go away. Matters aren't helped by the golden boys and prom queen girls that soon disclose Megan's past. Miranda creates a chilling atmosphere...a potentially unreliable narrator...a paranormal element...and manages to do them well. Unfortunately, and the reason for the 3 stars instead of something higher, is that the story loses momentum the more convoluted it grows. Despite the disappointing conclusion I did enjoy the book.
Lightning by Dean Koontz
5 Stars
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. Is he the guardian angel he seems? The devil in disguise? Or the master of a haunting destiny beyond all time and space?
My Views:
I love absolutely anything and everything that Dean Koontz writes so I was so excited when I got this as my Blind Date With A Book. I was dating an old friend as I had read this when it first came out in 2003 but 14 years can erase a lot from the old gray matter.
The first and second half of the book is almost like two different stories. The book has many facets. It's a time-travel book....it's a book about the first thirty years of Laura's life....It's about Stefan, her mysterious "guardian", who rescues her when her life is in danger.... and it's a love story.
Koontz's time traveler comes from a time and place you would never guess with an agenda all his own. The book provided an excellent read that is filled with lots of action, suspense, and truly fascinating and engaging characters.
Lost Among The Living by Simone St. JAmes
5 Stars
From The Book:
England, 1921. Three years after her husband, Alex, disappeared, shot down over Germany, Jo Manders still mourns his loss. Working as a paid companion to Alex's wealthy, condescending aunt, Dottie Forsyth, Jo travels to the family’s estate in the Sussex countryside. But there is much she never knew about her husband’s origins…and the revelation of a mysterious death in the Forsyths’ past is just the beginning…
All is not well at Wych Elm House. Dottie's husband is distant, and her son was grievously injured in the war. Footsteps follow Jo down empty halls, and items in her bedroom are eerily rearranged. The locals say the family is cursed, and that a ghost in the woods has never rested. And when Jo discovers her husband’s darkest secrets, she wonders if she ever really knew him. Isolated in a place of deception and grief, she must find the truth or lose herself forever. And then a familiar stranger arrives at Wych Elm House…
My Views:
I loved the main character of Jo. She’s strong, courageous, feisty, driven, and a bit impulsive. Her grief from her war and personal losses didn’t stop her from creating a life for herself and striving for independence. How she put up with her employer without killing her was a bigger mystery that the mystery in the story.
This story will satisfy the "ghost story lovers" and the mystery and suspense "who-done-it" enthusiasts. I wasn’t surprised when the protagonist was revealed...but I enjoyed the journey and sleuthing along the way. The reasoning behind the crime did surprised me, though it tied in very well with the historical events behind the story. Overall...a ghost story, a mystery and a good bit of history makes for a 5 star read.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Grab a Book & Play Booktivity!
Books mentioned in this topic
Signature Kill (other topics)The Jefferson Key (other topics)
Friend Request (other topics)
The Charm School (other topics)
Hidden Figures (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nelson DeMille (other topics)Margot Lee Shetterly (other topics)
Nicole Krauss (other topics)
Daphne Sheldrick (other topics)
J.D. Vance (other topics)
More...
Wrecked by Tricia Fields
Josie Gray series Book #3
3.5 Stars
From The Book:
Police Chief Josie Gray is living every cop's worst nightmare: a murder suspect who she knows personally. Even worse, it's her longtime boyfriend, Dillon Reese. Dillon's secretary has been murdered, and now Dillon's disappeared. Josie has no choice but to relinquish the investigation, giving up control of a case that matters more than any other. As suspicions split the department, Josie struggles with her choices on the night she last saw Dillon.
If she had acted on her instincts, would the innocent woman still be alive? Unable to stay on the sidelines, Josie investigates on her own terms - and uncovers a plot that could bring the killer millions. Now she must make a choice between her oath as an officer and her personal desire to get revenge.
My Thoughts:
This was the first book I've read by this author and while it's not the type of mystery & suspense book I usually read...it was a a well written story that contained a well thought out plot. It wasn't cozy by any means but it wasn't a physiological thriller either...just somewhere in between. One of the things that appealed to me was that you never really guessed the "bad guy" or exactly why things happened the way they did although there was plenty of clues along the way and I had fun trying. The story and the characters were believable. Josie acts like a real person with real problems and dreams and even the "bad guys" come in shades of gray.