The first time I read this play, I wasn't all that thrilled with it. I didn't really like the way it was structured. With a second reading under my belt, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and the structure didn't bother me.
This is the third time I've read this, and it has not lost any of it's luster or hilarity! It reads well, is laugh out loud funny and if you ever get a chance to see a production of it...GO!
This is the second time I've read this stark piece on the American Dream. Each of the 4 characters in this play is seeking something, and are willing to do pretty much anything to achieve their dream...until they're not. Harsh and incredibly insightful, this is a stark look at life, dreams, aspirations and limits. Hnath is quite brilliant in his ability to convey so much depth while having his characters say so little.
As absurd as it's predecessor, but more focused, particularly with respect to religion. This one had a few passages that were a bit repetitive for me, which took me out of the narrative a bit, but still an enjoyable and fascinating read.
Perfect timing, reading this with Halloween so close. A ghost cat, a hidden room, a corpse, and family drama all keep Maddie, JJ and the gang quite busy in this wonderful mystery!
A quick murder mystery, that manages to include twists within twists. The author is entering this for consideration for an upcoming anthology.
The holidays are always a stressful time, but when you add a corpse, an electrician and a whole bunch of rare bred cats, you'll be pulling your hair out. Maddie and the rest of the denizens of Daybreak Island manage to keep the spirit of the holidays while solving a multilayered mystery. This is such a wonderful cozy series, and each outing gets better and better!
A new writer entrusted his first manuscript to me, and I'm very grateful. Its always fantastic to hear from a new voice. This is a tightly plotted mystery/thriller that with a few tweaks here and there, the author should have no trouble shopping this to an agent and then a publisher!
This was the last book I needed to read to complete this series, and I obviously read it out of order, but I'm so glad I finally got it! Stan and the McGee clan are in a terrible pickle at the holidays in this tightly plotted cozy. Nothing and no one are what they seem: a dead Santa; two missing men; a ruined Grand Opening; international intrigue and family. Happy Holidays!!
The last in this delightful series, is rife with devious characters, Brad's bad puns, and a lot of heart. Brad, Ash, Tina and the rest of the characters face too many prime suspects in the death of a local farmer. Any one of them could have done it, and with ample reason, but the fun of this series is watching the actual police work being done to solve the crime. The wonderful descriptions of the teddy bears are always fantastic! I so wish this series had continued.
The third installment of this delightful series, has the Lyon's being burgled, a spate of counterfeited teddy's, a corpse, and some Japanese gangsters. Cuz, doesn't every cozy, have Japanese gangsters! Yet, Lamb makes it all work in this edge of your seat mystery with a gasp inducing twist!
A hard-boiled cozy is the best way to describe this debut cozy centered in the world of artisan teddy bears. A former SFPD homicide investigator retires with his wife to her childhood, Shenandoah Valley home where they make artisan teddy bears. Sweet, charming, wonderfully funny and a hint of the grittiness of a hard boiled PI novel. It's been twenty year since I first read this, and I'm glad I'm giving this this series a re-read...it just brings a smile to me face.
A re-read of the third and final installment of the King Raven series. Narrated by that amiable, frumpy but tougher than he looks, Friar, we get an emotional and satisfying conclusion to this fascinating story. Setting the legend of Robin Hood in 12th century Wales, allowed Lawhead to give an all encompassing history of the time, the people, the politics, the economics, the weaponry and the heart of the Welsh people. All of this is is brilliantly wrapped within a familiar story. A wonderful series!
I'm so thankful that I have become acquaintances with a number of authors over the years. One emailed me this short mystery that she plans on entering into a contest at the end of the month. I do hope it wins. A story of rooted deep in an angering part of American history, couple with a family mystery. Packed with a lot of emotion it deserves to win!
A re-read of the second book in the King Raven series. This one focuses on Will Scarlet, who is our narrator through most of the story. The really wonderful thing about this seasons, is that the books are social histories of Wales and England in the 11th century cleverly disguised as the Robin Hood myth.
A re-read of this book after many, many years. It still holds up. Setting the tale of Robin Hood in Wales (read the end notes as to why) makes for a fascinating read-and historically it fits. Great introduction to the characters we know and have come to love, but they have an edge that isn't there in other tellings. Lawhead's work is just so good!
I really enjoyed this one! Charming and lovely and at times laugh out loud funny, this look at two very different men falling in love is an absolute delight. Set in 1960 amongst the world of baseball, interesting and real characters navigate some real difficulties. The side characters are too fantastic-particularly Eddie's mother-she is a hoot!
A dark and twisted mystery, within a mystery, within a mystery. Very atmospheric, tense and somewhat creepy. Despite all that it is oddly hopeful. I can't explain it-read it and you'll see what I mean!
I can't even described how brilliant this book is!! It's a mystery, it's a psychological thriller, it's a family drama, it's a love story, it's a bit of everything! It is exquisitely written. Full of twists and turns and wrenching heartbreak, All the Colors of the Dark provides all the feels. This is one not to be missed!
A viciously funny piece! This was a at times funny, at times very uncomfortable, visit with a Neighborhood Association Board. Diverse people, personalities and histories collide in this look at what preservation means to different people. As with Lindsay-Abaire's work, things are not always what they seem to be, and as soon as you scratch the surface, the blood will flow!
I'm so lucky to know a number of authors, and blessed that they trust me with their writings. This is a tightly and brilliantly plotted short story mystery that combines two of my favorite things: theatre and mysteries. This will be submitted for consideration for an anthology-fingers crossed that it gets chosen, because it's really good!
Thompson has a very erudite style of writing. Wonderful use of language to pain detailed pictures. This works really well in plays, and in his novel, The Book of Maps. Unfortunately, it didn't work so well with Out Clause. This book is a mystery/thriller and needs to really move, and this didn't move quickly enough for me. Despite that, the premise is really interesting and plot lines all work, and it's very thought provoking. My main issue is that it was too long and felt too long, with took me out periodically.
The Midnight Train is part Baum's Wizard of Oz, part Dickens' Christmas Carol and all Matt Haig! This wonderfully touching train ride through the life of Wilbur Budd will give you some chuckles, make you want to slap Wilbur and tug at your heart strings. Like the Midnight Library, books play a key role in this story.
I'm so lucky to have colleagues and friends in the theatre! This piece is currently in development and in production. I believe the version I read is version 3. It needs a little tightening up, but it's a fascinating character study as well as a look at chosen family/community. I enjoyed it and found it surprisingly moving.
I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this new play which is currently in production and still being developed. I really hope that this piece gets picked up, because it's smartly written, funny as hell and moving. It is a two hander about two famous folks, one of whom was pretty much silenced in their industry, and this play gives them back their voice. Just really beautifully done!
I can always count on Schechter to deliver a dispassionate telling of facts. This book is a cleverly laid out by state, but does not include the crimes we would expect. As Schechter states in his introduction, those crimes have been covered. Some of the crimes are remarkable for the changes in the laws that they lead to, some are more famous for other reasons in their particular state. All of these curated crimes give a feel for each state and time period in which they occurred. Very clever!
I was lucky enough to be asked to be a first reader for this 3rd installment of a PI series. Fascinating main characters and a well structured story. Fans of the series will enjoy when it's finally published.
I was sucked into this story from the get go and it never let go. Melissa Albert has accomplished an amazing feat: she had to have the fictional series in this story written in her head in order to allude to it convincingly within the main story of the book; plus there was the additional story of the cunning woman; she pulled off a story within a story within a story, without missing a beat; without losing the pace; without losing the reader! The Children is heart breaking, wondrous, scary and at times downright creepy, but it is great fun to read!
A brilliant, but sadly necessary play about women; the more things change the more they stay the same! A memory play, told in a wonderfully 4th wall breaking way, told lovingly, told angrily, told tenderly, told boldy, told pleadingly and most important TOLD! A fantastic piece!
The last book in the Three Musketeers series, and it didn't disappoint. It picks up where the last book leaves off, and despite having read the last book over a year ago, I had no problem remembering who has who and who did what to whom. Dumas writes fascinating characters, realistic dialogue and has an incredibly snarky side, which is too delicious!! I've had such fun reading this series!
Woah! A family saga that is ultra-violent and yet full of love (albeit sometimes twisted) and soul. This is Shakespearean in it's scope and tragedy level. I can't even express how brilliant this book is. S.A. Cosby just keeps plumbing the depths of the human condition and comes up with gems!
If you are a fan of true crime, you can't go wrong reading Casey Sherman's work. His research is impeccable, his writing is concise, and he manages to write in such a way as to make it seem like a novel. His level of detail is unreal! I've read a lot about the Lana Turner/Cheryl Crane case and this is by far the best one out there!
A tough play to read (and I imagine an even tougher play to sit through)! Superbly written, deeply ugly and sadly very timely.
Oof! Oedipus is always a heavy piece to read (and see), but Icke's new take on it hits a little too close to our current political and social climate. This new interpretation is absolutely stellar!
An exhaustively researched and expertly crafted novelization of the life and times of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland and the Isles and Queen of France. Writing a historical tome so that it is interesting, engaging and flows is not easy, yet Ms. George has achieved just that! History really does come to life in this lovingly crafted novel.
