BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.

A note about BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.:

These are not, in any way, meant to be comprehensive reviews. They are intended to acknowledge that I have read the book, and give my honest core impressions.

If a real review is what you wish, there are many wonderful book blogs available, and I have provided some tools to find them under the tab marked "Useful Stuff."

~ AUDIOBOOKS ~

Night (audiobook) - Elie Wiesel

I first read this in high school after studying the Second Word War and the Holocaust. Time has not diminished the power of the Mr. Wiesel's story or his voice.

There are lessons. Will we ever learn them?

~ EBOOKS ~

At Risk (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell

This is the beginning of a new to me series from Ms Cornwell, published in 2006. And, well . . . The reviews of this series (there's one more as of this date) are overwhelmingly bad - for good reason.

Winston Garano is the protagonist, and he's about the only likeable character in the book.  His boss, a lady DA, is despicable in extreme. And everyone else is meh.

The most annoying feature of the undeveloped plot with its one dimensional characters, however, is that it is written in present tense. It seems ameturish and continually pulls the reader out of the story.

I hate giving bad reviews, especially when Ms Cornwell was once one of my favorite writers. 

The Front - (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell

"My father always said the secret to success is simply not giving up. Kind of a cool thing to tell a little girl."

The second book in the Winston Garano series and STILL written in present tense.

There is far more anger, hatred, and betrayal in this novel than in the first, if it is at all possible.

Cool quote, though.

Hornet's Nest (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell

This is yet a third Patricia Cornwell series, Andy Brazil.

Pettiness, backstabbing, anger, hatred, betrayal, . . . and this from the good guys. The actual murder mystery is almost an afterthought, tucked in amongst the rest of the misery.

I quit. I will not be reading any more of either of these Patricia Cornwell series, there are too many good books out there. Unfortunately, I feel compelled to continue with Dr. Kay Scarpetta. At this point I have so much invested to quit and my health insurance doesn't cover the therapy needed to.

~ REINCARNATED TREES ~

The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly

I think every adult has times of longing for childhood days.

But the fairytales . . . They're never quite the same . . .

Flesh and Blood - Patricia Cornwell

These days the whole world revolves around Kay and her band. Every crime is about them. They wallow in their separate pits. They don't communicate with one another.

And you know there's trouble brewing when you find yourself in the last chapter without nearly enough room for a satisfactory resolution.

That being said . . . this book, like the previous one, is definitely better than they have been for a while. Still, they remain far from the beginning of the series, when Kay actually practiced her trade, proving herself a top forensic specialist by solving crimes.

Death of an Angel - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie

Choices.

Results are sometimes far from what we intended.

Death Takes Up A Collection - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie

This one sent me to the internet with a few questions, and I learned some interesting things.

Requiem At the Refuge - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie

"But youth, like snow, is a problem that goes away if you ignore it long enough."

Life is full of new beginnings, if you're brave enough to take the first steps.

The Corporal Works of Murder - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie

To the chagrin of homicide inspectors Kate Murphy and Dennis Gallagher, Sister Mary Helen's career change has placed her closer to trouble.

With Sister Eileen away in Ireland, Sister Anne seems to be being pulled out of her comfort zone.

BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.

A note about BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.:

These are not, in any way, meant to be comprehensive reviews. They are intended to acknowledge that I have read the book, and give my honest core impressions.

If a real review is what you wish, there are many wonderful book blogs available, and I have provided some tools to find them under the tab marked "Useful Stuff."

~ SHORT STORIES ~

The Safe Man (ebook) - Michael Connelly

Wow!

I hadn't expected such a solid effort from a writer of murder mysteries, but ... yes.

~ EBOOKS ~

The Burning Room (ebook) - Michael Connelly

I think it's a sign of how good a writer is by how angry you become when the main character ends up getting a raw deal at the hands of his superiors - and I have railed over and over again at some of the jerks in Bosch's world.

Connelly remains one of my favorite writers of murder mysteries.

Killing Orders (ebook) - Sara Paretsky

"Still, you know what they say - the best medical care today costs no more than the cheapest nuclear submarine."

Danger can come from the most unexpected places. Although these days, It's not that unexpected.

Death on Retreat - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie

Even the serene redwoods cannot shield Sister Mary Helen from the intrusion of murder.

Neither can the law keep her from using her sharp mind to solve the mystery.

~ REINCARNATED TREES ~

The Golem of Hollywood - Jonathan Kellerman & Jesse Kellerman

Jonathan Kellerman has been consistently one of my favorite authors for years, and this collaboration with his son Jesse was an unexpected pleasure.

A modern murder mystery unfolds along side an ancient story, and the two eventually converge. It drew me along.

Unfortunately, now I have to look up Jesse Kellerman's novels and read them!

How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back - Ruth Stout

Have you ever enjoyed reading a gardening book? This one was amusing and well written.

It's not a how to book, nor does it go into in depth explanations. Ms Stout shares all the mistakes she made over the years, and explains her principal of gardening that she developed over the years.

I have been coming to some of the same conclusions as Ms Stout, and found the book helpful.

Raging Heat - Richard Castle

"Nikki, never underestimate the ability of the devils among us to see only the saints in themselves. How else could they go about their day?"

Richard Castle may not be the best mystery writer who ever lived, but the way he balances his characters and the different worlds he inhabits is masterful.  . . . Really.

This was another fun romp with Nikki Heat and her crew as she goes toe to toe with those who believe their power can beat her push for justice.

Motive - Jonathan Kellerman

"- let me ask you, amigo, what that tech said, everything tastes like chicken. You think chickens say everything tastes like corn?"

A new murder links back to a cold case, but the clues are very confusing. Detective Sturgis and Doctor Delaware persevere, however.

There was less gore and more puzzle than some of the previous Alex Delaware novels. That being said, I've never been disappointed with any of them.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Mr. Riggs has taken found objects (actual vintage photographs) and used them as the centerpiece of an intriguing story.

Like the narrator, the reader begins the novel vacillating between explanations for the occurrences, however . . .

The Brief History of the Dead - Kevin Brockmeier

This is a story about life, death, and what lies between.

It left me asking the question: How many people have I touched in my life?

Dark Tower IV: Wizard And Glass - Stephen King

"Story telling always changes time. At least I does in my world."

Past, present, and the moving on . . .

The gunslinger finally begins to tell his tale, and it's not hard to understand why he is the way he is.

(I hope I live to finish reading the series. At the rate I'm going it's not a forgone conclusion.)

BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.

A note about BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.:

These are not, in any way, meant to be comprehensive reviews. They are intended to acknowledge that I have read the book, and give my honest core impressions.

If a real review is what you wish, there are many wonderful book blogs available, and I have provided some tools to find them under the tab marked "Useful Stuff."

~ AUDIOBOOKS ~

The American Gun Mystery - (audiobook) - Ellery Queen

Ellery is a bit out of his comfort zone with the wild west show, but it doesn't impair his keen sense of observation.

I on the other hand, missed this one entirely.

~ SHORT STORIES ~

Angle of Investigation (ebook) - Michael Connelly

This is a collection of three Harry Bosch short stories that take place at three different times in his long career. They're not as compelling as the full length Bosch offerings, but they will do fine to tide me over until the next novel arrives.

Switchblade (ebook) - Michael Connelly

This is one short story. It wasn't bad, but compared to Connelly's intricate Harry Bosch novels, it reads more like a story proposal than a fully fleshed out story.

I think that the writing of novels and short stories are two different skills, and no amount of skill in one guarantees skill in the other.

Windy City Blues (ebook) - Sara Paretsky

This is an interesting and well written assortment of short stories, scattered pieces of V.I. Warshawski's timeline, that add to both the back story and mystique of reoccuring characters in the series.

~ EBOOKS ~

Bitter Medicine (ebook) - Sara Paretsky

Another lesson on how greed perverts the systems meant to help us, how it's mostly legal, and how the poor and powerless suffer the most.

On the bright side, V.I. gets the pleasure of irritating her ex.

The First Rule (ebook) - Robert Crais

I like both the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novels. They both contain the same base cast, but the focus changes.

The writing is consistent and the plots work well.

Hard as he seems, Joe is a sucker for the underdog, when someone is truly in need of help.

Blacklist - Sara Paretsky

"Let me tell you, I saw plenty of that in Europe in 'fourty-four, never thought I watch it in my own country. I risked my life on the beaches at Anzio, I know what real fire feels like comming at you out of real artillary, I saw my buddies cut up in pieces around me. If I'd known I was doing that so you could break into any house in america because you felt like it, they couldn't a got me on that landing boat"

"In these times, any whiff of wrong doing by a prominent progressive would only give the right wing radicals more cause for triumphalism. I couldn't bear to contribute to their jubilant trampling on human rights. I couldn't pursue this investigation further."

This novel positions the McCarthy era against today's 9/11 erosion of rights and governmental overreach in a way that does not preach, but evokes the sadness, loss, and tragedy engendered by fear run rampant.

It is by far my favorite of the series yet, and the saddest.

Serpent's Tooth (ebook) - Faye Kellerman

Ms Kellerman's stories occupy a position between the cozy and the hard hitting, with a generous mix of family and mystery.

As Decker ages his concerns have changed, the least of which is a daughter who wants to join the force.

The Beige Man (ebook) - Helene Tursten

The wait for a new translation can be a long one, and unlike with new publications, is not always predictable. Like the rest of Ms Tursten's novels,  this one was worth the wait.

Do we ever really know the people in our lives?

Total Recall (ebook) - Sara Paretsky

"When not only your family, but your house, maybe even your entire town, has been obliterated - you have no records to turn to. And if you did, the company would treat you the way they did Carl: by denying the claim because you couldn't produce a death certificate. They really were a prize group of bastards, those bankers and insurers."

Still are.

Again, V.I. is drawn into the past, and learns more of the devastation suffered by those closest to her.

BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.

A note about BOOK REVIEWS. Sort Of.:

These are not, in any way, meant to be comprehensive reviews. They are intended to acknowledge that I have read the book, and give my honest core impressions.

If a real review is what you wish, there are many wonderful book blogs available, and I have provided some tools to find them under the tab marked "Useful Stuff."

[NOTE 3/31/15:] Last year I began including a quote with my comments on each book, and I liked that it grounded what is essentially just my brief thoughts. This year, however, as I am now spending a large portion of my time sewing in an attempt to add to our household income, and while this is a great time to listen to audiobooks, it does not lend itself to easily capturing a good quote. Therefore, going forward I will not be including a quote with all the books I read this year.

~ AUDIOBOOKS ~

The Silkworm & Cuckoo's Calling (audiobook) 

- Robert Galbraith

Both of these novels remind me greatly of Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder stories, except with more tea & literature and less action.

They are heavy on characterization and focus on solving the mystery, itself.

The Golden Notebook (audiobook) - Doris Lessing

If you are interested in a close reading of this book, try {The Golden Notebook dot com}.

This is one of the books, the reading of which, was considered de rigueur by feminists of my generation. Yes, I just got around to reading it.

I find myself wishing that I had read it in the seventies when I had the chance. Never having read anything about the book, I was expecting non-fiction. Although we still have far to go in building a true egalitarian society, we have come a long way. And as I read it seemed somewhat dated.

The Caves of Steel (audiobook)
 - Isaac Asimov

As this story unfolded, I was reminded of the influence Mr. Asimov has had on American culture, in the direction of so much of our science fiction, and our very conception of robotics and AI.

Could it be said that Asimov is to science fiction what Tolkien is to fantasy?

(It was also remarkably reminiscent of a short lived television series from last year,
 called Almost Human.)

There Was An Old Woman (audiobook) - Ellery Queen

I know! I know! I know!          Oh! s#%t!

Even though I read all the Ellery Queen mysteries when I was *ahem* young, they are new to me these days. (There's a really bad Alzheimer's joke in that.)

Without a doubt, they remain some of the best constructed and most confounding mysteries I've ever read. I'm never disappointed, even when I do (rarely) solve one.

Double Sin and Other Stories (audiobook)

 - Agatha Christie

A nice, classic collection of Agatha Christie short stories

One of them however, The Dressmaker's Doll, is not your typical Agatha Christie story, in that it was not a murder mystery.

Muahahaha . . .

The Halloween Tree (audiobook) - Ray Bradbury

I sure picked the wrong time of year to read this one. It would have been much better at Halloween Hint. Hint.

It's hard for me to believe that he's no longer with us. Some people aren't just a part of the fabric of our lives, they helped create it, and they leave a hole when they are gone.

Is there an author who has made you feel this way?

The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (audiobook)

 - Lilian Jackson Braun

Where would we be without cats? 

This go'rou nd Coco & Yum Yum help solve a murder involving trains, family curses, and embezzlement.

The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (audiobook) 

- Lilian Jackson Braun

What's in a name - besides confusion that is?

The Cat Who Said Cheese (audiobook)

 - Lilian Jackson Braun

There were so many mysteries to solve in this one!


The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (audiobook)
- Lilian Jackson Braun

Along with the mystery, we get some "Short and Tall Tales," as told to Qwillerman by various interesting Moose County inhabitants.

The Cat Who Wasn't There - (audiobook)

- Lilian Jackson Braun

Coco works his magic even thousands of miles away.

The Cat Who Went Into the Closet - (audiobook)

- Lilian Jackson Braun

I share Coco's fascination with over stuffed closets. I, however, lack his intuition.

The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal - (audiobook)

- Lilian Jackson Braun

 Some people are really jerks.

On the bright side, I've always loved that apple barn.

The Cat Who Moved a Mountain - (audiobook)

- Lilian Jackson Braun

New friends, solitude, and rain don't dampen Coco's mojo. Though Quill does get bogged down a bit.

~ SHORT STORIES ~

The adventure of the Sinister Stranger (audiobook)

- Agatha Christie

Although I have repeatedly read Ms Christie's Poirot And Miss Marple stories, this is the first of the Tommy & Tuppence stories I've read. The characters were enjoyable and that always adds to a story.

 
Voluntary Committal (audiobook)
- Joe Hill

This story moves beyond the usual mystery and conjures up some intriguing possibilities.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (audiobook)

 - Roald Dahl

After the Dahl stories I'd read with my children over the years, it was not what I expected. It was an uplifting story that left me with a smile.

The Case of the Middle Aged Wife (audiobook)
 - Agatha Christie

I saw the ending early in the story, but it was enjoyable, none the less.

The Case of the Discontented Soldier (audiobook)

 - Agatha Christie

This one bore a remarkable similarity to The Case of the Middle Aged Wife, which made the solution quite easy.

Suicide Run (audiobook) - Michael Connelly

This is a collection of three Harry Bosch short stories, and they are good for what they are. As far as Harry Bosch stories go they seem lacking and unfinished.

I wonder if this is how his ideas begin, and he just fleshes them out until they are a complete creation.

~ EBOOKS ~

Demolition Angel (ebook) - Robert Crais

"She was alone with it. She told herself that was okay; she had been alone for three years."

This novel puts Carol Starkey, a minor player in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series, at center stage, where she acquits herself quite admirably.

The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights (ebook) - Faye Kellerman

"Your mask is Karl Marx," Feinermann said.

"No, it's not," Karl protested. "I'm Albert Einstein."

"I hate to say this, young man, but you're no Albert Einstein."

Most of these short stories were pretty good, and two of them were co-written her children.

But a couple of them were not mysteries and seemed out of place. After all, it was billed as an anthology of crime stories.

Critical Mass (ebook) - Sara Paretsky

"They ravage, they slaughter, and call it 'empire.' They create a desert and call it 'peace.'" 

 
Old evils and their legacy show up in the present, and V.I. is right in the middle of the maelstrom. 

She never forgets the voiceless and abused.


 
Chasing Darkness (ebook) - Robert Crais

Politics and corruption stand squarely in the way of justice, until Elvis finds himself an unwilling champion.

One of the things I like about Elvis is that no matter how hard he might try not to be, he is always a good person (albeit a badass one).

Blacklist (ebook) - Sara Paretsky

This story moves from a man blamed for his own murder, to McCarthy era blacklists, and V.I. doesn't bat an eye as she finds herself up against the Patriot Act. I wish I had her nerve.

The Watchman (ebook) - Robert Crais

“She asked me why I always had something flip to say. I said that I didn't know, but having been blessed with the gift, I felt obliged to use it.”

Mr. Crais' Elvis/Pike mysteries are my new favorite series, and this one does not disappoint. Pike takes the lead in this one, though his buddy Elvis is right there when he's needed.

I only discovered the series last year and am still catching up on reading all that are currently available.