An intriguing story line, paced well, and well written. I feel like I'm missing part of the story because I didn't read the first book, and I wasn't thrilled with the ending (probably because I didn't read the first book). Guess I'll have to get the first book to figure it all out.
This is only my second book by Jojo Moyes, and damned if she can't write a beautiful, gripping, lively story. Set against the backdrop of the depression in rural Kentucky, this story follows the exploits of the Packhorse Librarians. This group of women are based on the actual Librarians who delivered reading material to the rural poor in Kentucky during the WPA Program during the depression. Sad to say that nothing has changed in the almost 100 years since the setting of this book: domestic violence, corruption, misogyny, censorship, it's all in the book and it's all still happening now. This book is a love letter to persistent women and to the power of love and knowledge!
A beautiful hotel, a rash of robberies, a death and Miss Marple...these are a few of my favorite things! A hectic, convoluted tale set in a beautiful Edwardian hotel this mystery has class, elegance and one of the most twisty plots I've come across, and Christie manages to keep juggling a lot of balls, and never drops a one!
What an interesting concept for a mystery! Members of the Detection Club each contributed a chapter to this mystery. There were rules thatchy were to follow in regards to what they could and couldn't do with the clues presented in the chapters preceding theirs. Some chapters flowed nicely together, some you could tell were written by different authors; but al blended to make an intriguing mystery. The really cool part of the book for me was the appendix which included the thoughts from each author on who they thought did it, why and how they interpreted the previous clues to write their chapters. Great fun!
A Swedish noir novel, ostensibly about a crime, but it's really about the people. A beautiful translation, Blaze Me a Sun looks at a specific set of crimes, and the people those crimes affect, from the victims to the police, to their families and neighbors. Quite a stunning novel, with a great many twists and turns which will leave you gob smacked by the end!
Louise Lovie Lloyd is my kind of heroine: flawed; heart in the right place; knows what's right and is willing to do what it takes to rectify a problem! Dead Dead Girls is a wonderful debut novel from Nekesa Afia and I hope she has a long career ahead of her. Aside from a few clunky transitions, this is a fascinating mystery/thriller set in 1926 Harlem. The sad, statement is that although this novel takes place 100 years ago, if the author had set it in present time, she wouldn't have to change any major plot points. If you're looking for a new heroine and a new voice Afia's novel is it!
With a nudge, nudge and a wink, wink, this punny cook book is a delightful read all on it's own. The recipes are interesting, don't look to difficult and their tie ins to the Broadway shows they are named after is cleverly done. The background if the musicals mentioned as well as the tidbits about them at the end of the recipes, are just fun! I highly recommend this!
One or two points I found a little less than credible, other than that, this was a great thriller! Interesting characters, fantastic, underdog heroine, and a fascinating and tightly written plot, propelled this book along. Can't wait for Avery's next adventure!
I've been reading the Best New England Crime Stories for a number of years, and I have to proclaim Deadly Nightshade as the Best! The caliber of the stories selected is astounding. Each and everyone one of these shorts is creative, interesting, and tightly plotted. A Superb read!
An ultra violent look at life, poverty, and power in India, Age of Vice is full of fascinating characters. The same time line of this story is told from various characters' points of view and creates a vivid picture of the choices people make when they aren't in full control of their circumstances, and what those choices lead to and whom they affect. Would have given it 5 stars, but I wasn't as thrilled with the ending as I should have been.
