I've only ever known the thrillers that Baldacci has written, so I went into this one with a little trepidation. I should have known better. What makes Baldacci's thrillers so fantastic is his abilities as a storyteller. If you're a good storyteller then it makes no difference in which genre you choose to tell those stories. One Summer is taut with drama, heart, danger, redemption and hope-a lot like a thriller; and let's face it family dramas can be a fraught as national security or international intrigue!
This was so fascinating! What could have been a cut and dry true crime novel where the players and the crime, trial and the aftermath are laid out clinically, became en engrossing read in the history or hypnotism during the Belle Epoque in Paris. Science and history blend beautifully as the back drop to this tale of greed, domestic abuse and murder.
Not having read the first book in this series, I was worried that I might have missed some set up, but luckily this was not the case. The characters are well developed, the locale lovingly described, and enough of what happened in the first was explained. There were some plot points in this one that I felt weren't developed fully which took me out of certain parts of the book, but other than that, it had an interesting murder, and some great subplots.
What I like to referent as an in-between novelette, this short story featuring Cotton Malone, the star of Berry's brilliant series, is as fulfilling and as packed as Berry's full length novels. This throwback to Cotton's early days offers an alternate look at bin Laden's fate.
Reading a Steve Berry novel ticks two of my favorite boxes: history; and international thriller. I always learn something, or find something to read more about while in the midst of the heart pounding action. Seven religious artifacts, a pile of old papers, and Poland all conspire to keep the reading on the edge of their seat! If you haven't read Steve Berry, you're missing something special!
It's always a delight to visit with Lilly and the rest of the Garden Squad. The wonderful thing about reading Julia Henry's series, is the time she takes to set up the situations and relationships within her stories. The reading is brought along with the characters through their day until they are unexpectedly faced with a murder. This brings the characters up short, and the reader. It's a subtle way of writing, but oh so effective. Wreathing Havoc takes place at Thanksgiving, and involves the local theatre and the local theatrical troupe, memories and people from the past and alots of twists and turns. The diverse characters that make up the Garden Squad all bring a different energy and perspective to everything, allowing the group to tackle numerous mysteries all at once. It is such a creative and fun series that everyone should be reading!
