Somehow – in all my ramblings in the local library – I missed the fact that Patterson and Paetro had published another Women’s Murder Club novel last spring. So it was my happy day to find it on the new release shelf. I really like these novels, and particularly like Lindsay Boxer, the main heroine. Lindsay is tough and intelligent, but not perfect. As a police office in San Francisco she has her hands full. Lindsay’s love life (as well as her girlfriends’ who make up the murder club with her) often figures in to these novels, and I sometimes have a hard time keeping track of who is sleeping with whom, etc. and personally couldn’t care less. The novels are fast-paced and thrilling. They are similar to Sue Grafton’s alphabet series, in my opinion.

In this installment, Lindsay is chasing after two killers: one who apparently randomly guns down mothers and their young children and one who is a cat burglar. I find the concept of a cat burglar so “Hitchcockesque” – I couldn’t help but be intrigued! Both of the perpetrators are narrators in the novel and their paths cross in an interesting (though for me, predictable) way. While one is a deranged psycho, you can almost find yourself feeling sympathetic for the cat burglar.

This book was also touted as Lindsay struggling with her feelings of attraction for her partner, Rich Conklin (even though he is dating her friend Cindy – whom I find the most annoying of the bunch – and Lindsay is engaged to near-perfect Joe). Now – is it just me? Call me old-fashioned but I sometimes feel like yelling: “Don’t mess us a good mystery with all this silly love triangle stuff!!” I almost feel like the authors feel compelled to add some sort of romantic fluff since their audience is presumably women. This is personally insulting, but what can I say (except the above comment!). Anyhow, I was thrilled that this love triangle business did not figure prominently in the novel and did not detract for me from the main plot lines!

I enjoyed this novel and plowed through it in two days. I’d give it 3 1/2 stars!

I bought this book of short stories by Grisham while in the Orlando airport, waiting to head home. I like Grisham’s legal thrillers and I like short stories, so I thought I’d give it a try. This was an interesting departure for him, in my opinion, as these stories took place in Ford County – the setting of “A Time to Kill” I believe- and read – or at least the ones I read did and I didn’t get to them all – like character analyses. I found them well-written, but somewhat disturbing in terms of content (e.g. a family goes to visit their brother on death row for his execution – certainly not happy fare). This was a good little airplane read!

I had heard good things about “A Reliable Wife”, so I was excited to purchase it at my local Border’s for my trip to Florida. At some point I had read that this novel was historical fiction, and if you know me, you know I love historical fiction!

My first issue with this novel was that it seemed less historical fiction and more historical romance. You may ask: what’s the difference? Personally I draw a difference between them. In historical fiction I find that I learn things about the time because the time and setting are integral to the plot and to moving the plot forward. In historical romance I find that it is a romance that could take place any time, it’s just taking place a long time ago. Now please note that these delineations are NOT based on some literary dictionary but are mine alone! It’s how I classify books in my head. That said, my beloved Outlander series by Gabaldon will never be “historical romance” to me – which it is classed as usually – but “historical fiction” as I feel the time period is critical to moving the plot forward — and how much have I found out about natural remedies and early medicines and Scottish history from reading those novels? A lot!

Anyway – back to our novel. It will be hard to discuss this one without using SPOILERS, so please be warned!

When wealthy businessman Ralph Truitt places an ad for “a reliable wife”, gold digger Catherine Land answers his ad. Catherine has had a rough life and has survived by her wits and by using her body. She deceives Ralph about her past (though he knows from the start that she has lied to him about who she is — she has sent a picture of another woman to him). SPOILER: Catherine’s goal is to marry Ralph and then poison him slowly and inherit his money so that she can live comfortably – with her lover. Does she or doesn’t she I won’t tell you — you can read it for yourself!

I have to say – this book is touted as surprising and thrilling and that you won’t be able to predict the conclusion. Well I did right from the start. If you have experience reading gothic novels – especially those from earlier times – I think you can guess what’s going to happen. Of course guessing what would happen made me less invested in reading it!

I also found the writing in this novel to be inconsistent. It was well-written, but some of the passages had SO much sexual fantasy/memory in them that they felt bogged down. There was a lot of “he wanted to….(half a page to a page of what he wanted to do to her)”.  I felt that using the Wisconsin desolate winter landscape as a metaphor for Ralph’s (and Catherine’s) emotional well-being was a bit heavy-handed as well.

This is Goolrick’s first fictional novel, and I’m sure it won’t be his last.

I’d give it 3 Stars.

Gentle Readers — I know you may be thinking:WHERE is Beth? Why hasn’t she been posting? Has she stopped reading?!?
Never fear – I could never stop reading! I have had some incredibly busy times lately, with a family trip to Florida (Disney) for a wedding and some fun, plus other commitments. I started a few books before our trip, but didn’t finish them and had to return them to the library. I read one on our trip (review forthcoming – “A Reliable Wife”) and started another that I’m reading now (short stories by John Grisham). I also have been working on my manuscript for my cozy mystery and that is going S – L – O – W – L – Y!!! So – I have not forgotten you! Another post to follow soon! -beth 😉

I recently came across the short novel “My Vicksburg” at the library. I hadn’t read it, so of course I had to take it out. This novel tells the story of 14-year-old Claire Louise Corbett, as her family lives out the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the Civil War. Claire Louise’s father is a doctor gone to fight with the South under Robert E. Lee. Her older brother, Landon, has joined the Union forces as a doctor. Meanwhile, she, her mother, and her little brother are forced to live in a cave with their family servants while the town is under attack. When Landon returns to them with a wounded Southern soldier that he is caring for and must turn over the authorities, Claire Louise must decide where her loyalties lie, and what she can do to help her family, Robert, and herself.

I really enjoyed this short novel. I had no idea that some of the people of Vicksburg actually lived in local caves during that time of the Civil War. I found this quite fascinating. Claire Louise’s character is boldly drawn and the reader feels connected with her. Her struggles with family loyalty and pride in her home state are clearly drawn. What I found resonates most in this novel is its portrayal of relationships: between Claire Louise and her parents, and between Claire Louise and her brothers, especially Landon.

You can find this book at your local library — I did!

I came across a review of the YA/children’s book Countdown by Deborah Wiles, calling it a documentary novel, and thought it sounded compelling, so I found it at my local library. Countdown follows a period in the fall of 1962 for 5th grader Frannie Chapman. The Cuban Missile Crisis is heating up, the US is dealing with fear of nuclear disaster (“duck and cover” is the slogan of the day), and Frannie’s home life is complicated by her mentally fragile uncle and secretive older sister who has started college and is becoming distant. Add in Frannie’s “perfect” little brother, her disciplinarian mother, her father who is often away for the military, and a best friend who becomes a back-stabber, and Frannie’s life is less than ordinary, and very real.

In spots throughout the book, Wiles has inserted lyrics, slogans, pictures, articles, etc. truly from 1962 to give you a sense of Frannie’s time and place. She paints a picture of Frannie’s neighborhood and home that is so realistic, I was not surprised to read in the afterward that she had based them on her own real life. I loved Frannie’s character, and I loved the memories it evoked in me of life in an earlier decade (for me, the 70’s – personally I wasn’t born in 1962). Frannie’s Saturday mornings are spent doing chores. Her family attends church on Sundays and she goes to Sunday school. The kids in her class walk home together to their neighborhood two blocks away. There is an abandoned quarry nearby where they play, even though they aren’t supposed to. The highlight for the class is an upcoming Halloween costume party that one of the girls is having. Frannie’s secret vice is playing her sister’s 45’s on her record player when she is not home. I ask you — does anyone still live like this anymore??

Countdown is the first in a trilogy. I hope they will all feature Frannie Chapman! I think I would find the documentary novel to be of great use in the classroom. It’s a nice way to make history come alive for young readers. My challenge with this book is where to place it — I’ve seen it as YA and as children’s. Frannie is eleven, so I’d think 4th grade readers, but the content can be used much older, in my opinion. I am curious what other readers thought.

All in all, a fine read that I enjoyed. I got mine from the “new” shelf at the library!!

I know I devote a large amount of time to cozy mysteries, as I love them so much, so I will make this one – by one of my favorite authors – quick!

I was surprised to see a new Molly Murphy mystery on the shelf at the library last week. It had come out in March. I couldn’t wait to read it, though, as it pairs Molly with master magician Harry Houdini as she is hired by his wife for the huge assignment of protecting him from suspected killers. The book starts off with a magic act gone wrong, and soon Houdini himself disappears (for real!). Molly is drawn in to the theater world of illusionists as she seeks to figure out where Harry has gone, what he might be hiding, and who’s telling the truth and who is merely hiding behind illusions. Along the way she struggles with fiance Daniel’s discomfort and disapproval of her work and the planning of their future together.

All in all, it was a fun read!

So – I just discovered Blogfest 2010, where loads of book blogs are giving away prizes!
You can find out more at:
http://ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net

You can sign and track your progress visiting new books sites!

I am entering to win an awesome new Kindle at Bitten By Books:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=30336

Enjoy!

A while ago, I received a copy of “Remarkable Creatures” from my friend Jennifer over at Literate Housewife -www.literatehousewife.com. I had been meaning to get to reading it, but it had languished a bit on my overstuffed bookshelves. Last week I finally got it, and I am so glad I did!

When I first heard of this story, it was explained as “two women in the 1800’s who are friends and find fossils together on a beach in England”. My first thought was “that’s it?? Sounds like a total snooze!”. However, while essentially this book is about two women (Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot) in the 1800’s who are friends and find fossils together on a beach in England, it is so much more. It is a story about friendship, about rivalry, about class, about social mores, about women’s rights. It traces two women, who, by the way are TRUE HISTORICAL CHARACTERS (somehow I had missed this fact and that always makes a huge difference to me) and how they became friends and colleagues in finding some of the most incredible fossils (and those supporting what were at that time controversial scientific theories) of the 1800’s. Along the way, they become rivals for a man’s attention and desire, struggle with the differences in their classes, and fight for women’s placement among scientist (a male dominated and controlled field at that time).

I have read all of Tracy Chevalier’s books and do love her writing which is why I was drawn to give this book a try — and I am so glad I did!

I give this book 4 1/2 Stars!

Coming up the week of September 13 is Book Blogger Appreciation Week — a week of fun for bloggers and readers hosted by My Friend Amy and a whole contingent of volunteers!

Look for it and discover new blogs to read and love!