Recently out in a mass-market paperback, I picked this title for our montly Mystery Book Discussion at my library branch. Set in Australia, it soundedRecently out in a mass-market paperback, I picked this title for our montly Mystery Book Discussion at my library branch. Set in Australia, it sounded like it had a nice hook that my group might enjoy.
The story starts out a bit slow, having to set up the various relationships and the whole small-town vibe where everybody knows everybody. It isn't until the body is discovered that everything starts to kick in. Old secrets and the past start to surface. It is from this point onward that the story really engaged me as potential suspects began to emerge from the large cast of locals. I will admit the ending revelation was not what I expected, but I found it very satisfying.
The small-town setting is actually a nice play upon the old "locked room" mystery model. The only slight variant is that no one is actually prohibited from leaving. Seeing that most of the residents have lived there all their lives, the "isolation" is really self-imposed. It reminds me, in some ways, of growing up in a small-town myself and how insular communities like the one in this novel can be. I also appreciated the subtle commentary with the online community forum.
One thing I am not a fan of is how Harper weaves in the flashbacks. There are spots where she jumps from the present to the past multiple times within the same chapter. Reading I had to do a double-take to make sure I'm certain exactly when we are. I can't imagine how confusing the audiobook of this would be. I much preferred the approach taken near the end with chapters 38 and 40.
I definitely think my book club group will have a good discussion from this one....more
Dey Street Books provided an early galley for review.
I have been a fan of McDonald's music since the 70's. He has one of those distinct voices that juDey Street Books provided an early galley for review.
I have been a fan of McDonald's music since the 70's. He has one of those distinct voices that just harmonized so well with whatever he was collaboriting on. I was interested to learn more about his life.
Right out of the gate, I found the writing to be engaging and personal. Some of that might be due Reiser's input, but the story is all McDonald's. I was very fascinated by how he grew up and got into music at such a very young age.
I did not realize that McDonald spent time with the ranks of Steely Dan, time which actually overlapped some with his coming onboard with the Doobie Brothers. Looking at his discography, I was surprised with how few solo releases and hits he had through the 80's (my peak period of pop radio listening) even though his voice could be heard on so many tracks at the time (with the Doobies and with working with other artists). Funny how memory deceives you there.
Finally, I was glad we got a glimpse into his lasting marriage to Amy Holland and his family life. I've always been a fan of her debut album and hit single.
All in all, a nice casual autobiography from someone who made it through the excesses of the 70's and came out strong on the other side....more
I enjoyed the previous volume of this series, so I was ready to get more of the story this time.
This colVIZ Media provided an early galley for review.
I enjoyed the previous volume of this series, so I was ready to get more of the story this time.
This collection includes episodes 8 through 15 plus some shorter bonus material that fills in between episodes from the first volume. The pacing here starts out slower with our couple realizing that anything is fair play in this game only to then find themselves completely paralyzed by the possibilities. This does mirror in some ways one of the aspects that occur in with the young and inexperienced.
This volume gets a bit more meta too when it starts referring to the Shojo Manga that Yukiya borrowed from his younger sister and was referencing for dating ideas. This started in the last volume but it continues here. Miku also checks them out and at one point states "we are already tons of shojo-manga stuff - why aren't things progressing?". And this might have been a bit of my challenge with this volume. The story has a solid premise (the "love game") but the characters seemed a bit stuck in a rut. There needs to be growth and movement.
Of course, the last few episodes set up the cliffhanger for the volume. Where will it go from here? Time to wait for volume 3....more
Harper Muse provided a complimentary copy for review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I had the pleasure earlier this month atHarper Muse provided a complimentary copy for review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I had the pleasure earlier this month at PLA 2024 to listen to Helgar as one our daily speakers. Her primary work is in the field of climate change, and she has written several nonfiction books and articles on the subject. Her passion for this showed as she was moving her message into new channels with a children's book and this novel. There is no denying that she knows her stuff when it comes to this very important topic.
I found myself quickly connected to Corrine and her family. Helgar's attention to everyday details brought the story to life. It was easy to see how this family has been through so much, and they were all coming to terms with loss and grief in their own ways.
The story itself stretches over many months (not counting occasional flashbacks - some slightly confusing based on where they were inserted with the current day flow of things). For me, that impacted the momentum and created gaps or lapses. It felt like I was checking in periodically on the characters rather than having an urgency to their plans and actions. Hopefully that is something the author can work as she continues to do more fiction; I would certainly seek out more work from her down the road....more
Sourcebooks Landmark provided an early galley for review.
I had the pleasure of hearing Harris passionately discuss her upcoming novel during an authorSourcebooks Landmark provided an early galley for review.
I had the pleasure of hearing Harris passionately discuss her upcoming novel during an authors panel at PLA 2024 in Columbus, OH, a few weeks back. She set the story in North Carolina, a state in which I lived for more than two decades. She and I also share the same day time job (adult services librarian). Needless to say, all of these factors made me very interested in checking out her upcoming book.
I was hooked right from the first chapter as we are introduced, one by one, to King's four children. Each one is layered and complex, making me want to keep reading more about them. I was eager to see how they would intereact when they come together during one of the most challenging times for family members to endure. The fact that each has dysfunction in their individual lives just added tension to the whole situation. I found all of their stories very relatable.
The novel also puts focus on the important topic of heir property and the legal loopholes used to take Southern black-owned land. Harris educates readers on this subject all the while keeping them entertained with her characters.
Overall, I very much enjoyed Long After We Are Gone. Harris' writing is simultaneously vibrant and down-home - a winning combination. She has been added to my "wrtiers to watch for" list for future releases....more
Poisoned Pen Press provided an early galley for review.
This was another author whom I heard speak about their upcoming novel back in April 2024 at thePoisoned Pen Press provided an early galley for review.
This was another author whom I heard speak about their upcoming novel back in April 2024 at the PLA annual convention. As a librarian, I found the title and the premise to be very intriguing. I definitely was eager to check it out.
I had a hard time getting through this one, but I made myself finish it nonetheless. My problem was with the characters; I found them all absolutely self-absorbed thus unlikeable. I am not sure if they came across this way because of their ages or as commentary on the generation from which they come, but I just could not connect to them. Even though we get several chapters up front to get introduced to them as well as the point-of-view shifting between each of them throughout the story, it simply did not help me sympathize with any of them.
What added to it was how those personalities actually worsened after they took drugs. Their paranoia rose and their ability to reason dropped extremely, no doubt a response to the tension of this situation. Still, because I cared for none of them, I was not at all invested on who lived and who died.
The ending does tie to elements laid out before (as a mystery should), but that was only a small compensation.
I am confident this book will find an audience for whom it resonates. Maybe a younger audience than this particular Gen-X reviewer....more
Tor Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.
Goldman was another new author for me that I heard speak at a Mystery Writers Panel at PLA20 Tor Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.
Goldman was another new author for me that I heard speak at a Mystery Writers Panel at PLA2024 early this month. His pitch to us for this one really grabbed my interest, so I wanted to check it out.
Right out of the gate, I like his writing style. He combines his Emmy-award winning comedic rhythms with a clear Midwest charm to pull the reader right into the narrative. It certainly worked on me. Of course, it helps that the plot has an interesting hook to drag you in as well. The relationship between the siblings and the whole small town homecoming vibe really hit the mark for me. I could completely relate on both of these elements.
I found myself quickly engaged with the mysterious circumstances in which Liv and Gave find themselves in the center. The pacing and structure kept me motivated to read "just one more chapter", taking me along to a satisfying resolution....more
William Morrow provided an early galley for review.
Atkins was yet another of the authors I got to hear talk about their upcoming books back in April aWilliam Morrow provided an early galley for review.
Atkins was yet another of the authors I got to hear talk about their upcoming books back in April at PLA 2024. His excitement about this new series was enough to get me to check it out.
I really enjoyed this first outing of Porter Hayes. I found the character to be interesting and layered. He has a backstory and many connections to the Memphis community that I am eager to see explored in future installments of this series. The whole Memphis vibe is fun as well.
There is a lot of secret lives and double-dealing going on in the story. That leads to various characters touching upon the bigger plot in differing ways. Some worked for me and kept me very focused. Others, however, did not and thus I found myself quick skimming those chapters. Still, the deeper into the book I got the deeper into the mystery I found myself embroiled. The story definitely went directions I had not anticipated.
Overall, this was a very violent thriller (a little too much so for my normal taste). I did enjoy all of the music references though....more
Penguin Group Viking provided an early galley for review.
Johnson was another of the authors I heard talk about his upcoming release at a Mystery WritePenguin Group Viking provided an early galley for review.
Johnson was another of the authors I heard talk about his upcoming release at a Mystery Writers Panel at PLA2024. Although this is the twentieth book in the series, it sounded like it might be a good place to jump in - what with being a flashback to the main character's youth and all. What can I say? I like a good pitch from someone who is passionate about their work.
The author's comfort level with these characters he has been writing for the past two decades shows through. The dialogue and the interplay come across as effortless; this is a world he knows well with characters that are fully fleshed out. Anyone who has been reading the series all along will feel like they are in comfortable surroundings.
Now that I've had a taste of the adventures of Walt Longmire, I just might have to go back and read more of the series (when time allows)....more
Union Square and Company provided an early galley for review.
I had the pleasure to hear Shelley speak about her book at PLA2024 last month, and she waUnion Square and Company provided an early galley for review.
I had the pleasure to hear Shelley speak about her book at PLA2024 last month, and she was very excited to bring this story to readers. Her passion as well as an intriguing title and concept convinced me to check this one out.
Usually books with two narratives do not always work for me, especially when they split between the present and the past. I find myself invested more in one over the other, and then I am disappointed when we jump away from the one I am enjoying the most. Here, I was instantly pulled into the story of Estelle in the past while finding Shanice's story to initially be a little slower. As we spent more time with Shanice, I got more into those plot threads as they too started to ramp up in their own mystery.
At a certain point, I felt I had pieced together an important connection but needed to figure out how it might play out in the end. There were definitely several more twists to go, right through the final chapters, so it kept me guessing on how it would all come together.
In the end, I am intrigued by the Harlem Renaissance and want to learn more about it and the people involved....more
St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books provided an early galley for review.
Earlier this year, I read The Night Shift by Finlay and really enjoyed it. So, ISt. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books provided an early galley for review.
Earlier this year, I read The Night Shift by Finlay and really enjoyed it. So, I was eager to see what he would write for his next novel.
There are definitely some similarities between that book and this one. Both involve a reopened cold case involving high school students several years later. There are several narrative viewpoints in both - including one from a male connected to the incident who changes his name to avoid the infamy and one from a female in a position of law enforcement that is investigating the case. This book is also divided into three parts and features many shorter chapters, allowing for jumping around to the various threads of the tale.
I found the story to have a slow build, much like a roller coaster. While everything still moved along at a steady pace, I was hoping for some faster thrills and much sharper twists. Granted, the "slowness" might too be where my brain was at when reading this (coming off a super busy week prior). Still, I was entertained by this story.
One of the secondary characters instantly became a favorite of mine - the true crime podcaster Ziggy de la Cruz (no spoilers). This is a character of which I'd like to see more. To be used in just a small way would be a waste. Finlay has reused characters in books in the past, so there might be some hope for Ziggy down the road.
As a would-be writer myself, I did appreciate Finlay's notes in the back where he talks about how locales in the book were places he had some familiarity. That reflects a lot of writing tips and guidance I've absorbed over the years ("write what you know")....more
St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books provided an early galley for review.
I was drawn to this novel the moment I saw the cover. It has an appealing viSt. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books provided an early galley for review.
I was drawn to this novel the moment I saw the cover. It has an appealing visual and colors that I found inviting.
For me, the story started off slow but picked up about the quarter mark when Vandy gets a new ally in the investigation. Even still, a tighter pacing all the way would have kept me more focused.
The clues all are revealed by the end. There are strong themes too relating to race and class and priviledge. It is a story that definitely has something to say...more
Little, Brown and Company provided an early galley for review.
As a librarian who loves to wander the stacks in the library and bookstores, this was anLittle, Brown and Company provided an early galley for review.
As a librarian who loves to wander the stacks in the library and bookstores, this was an instant draw for me. By hearing the words and approaches of others with similar inclinations, my hope was to get further insight into my own self.
The book is broken into five parts, each with a general theme to it. Within each of those parts are then many profiles of booksellers and librarians. Each profile is short (mostly two to three pages apiece), taking no time at all to read. so, they can be consumed in short moments between other tasks if need be.
But, when taken together, they paint a picture of the world of reader services that are offered by these two professions. For someone who has chosen to work in that world, it resonates with my own views and experiences. For those not in the mix, perhaps this book will give insights into the professions....more
Blackstone Publishing provided an early galley for review.
Sometimes a book grabs my attention just by its cover. That is true with this one. I really Blackstone Publishing provided an early galley for review.
Sometimes a book grabs my attention just by its cover. That is true with this one. I really like the design work done here by artist Alenka Vdovic Linaschke. It really drew me in.
Ryan presents nine short stories in this collection, with a reoccurring cast and an overarching narrative theme. It is very much episodic fiction - small digestive looks (ranging from ten to seventeen pages in length) in the life of Charlie and his social circle. It is something I find appealing as an alternative to doing a longer form novella or full-blown novel.
Ryan places his characters firmly into the world of Harvard and Cambridge, MA, with locations that actually exist. I am instantly drawn into this world of studies and students. It resonates with my own collegiate years (albeit nearly four decades apart). I also found that I could very much relate to Charlie, whom I am strongly convinced is a fictional avatar of the author himself.
All in all, I came away with a warm feeling after finishing the book and, in part, hoping that someday there might be more exploits of Charlie down the road. But, if there isn't, that would be okay too - for this collection definitely satiated a literary hunger. Thank you, Baron Ryan....more
Vintage Anchor, a division of Penguin Random House, provided an early galley for review.
As a child, some of my favorite library books to check out deaVintage Anchor, a division of Penguin Random House, provided an early galley for review.
As a child, some of my favorite library books to check out dealt with puzzles. In the late 1970's, when I was still in junior high school, I had a subscription to Games Magazine. It is, therefore, no surprise the title of this novel would jump right out to me.
This novel has a cast of varied characters. I like the concept of the Fellowship itself - people of similar interests coming together and supporting one another. I also liked the puzzles sprinkled through the story for the readers to complete if they are so inclined. Some were fairly easy for me; a few took a little more time.
The story bounces back and forth between the present day (2016) and the past (when the Fellowship was first starting out). At first, this is marked, but then it is up to the reader to keep track of when we are. As I've noted in the past, I am not a huge fan of parallel narratives as they can sometimes be confusing or slow down any momentum gained when switching to the other period of the story.
Granted, there is no fear of that latter aspect here as the story has a very meandering pace as it is. There is movement, sure, but I was not feeling a sense of urgency as I read. And, the aforementioned puzzles also slow the reading progress down if time is taken to work them out as they are presented. But, perhaps, this might have been Burr's intention all along - to get us to slow down in this hectic 21st century world to take in and savor that which we are currently focused on.
I do have to nitpick something though. One of the characters in the book is always reading Danielle Steel novels. However, each title that the author notes clearly were written many years after the scenes in which they are shown. That is something only the well-read (or a librarian like myself) would catch on to. I am a stickler for accuracy in pop-culture references in historical pieces. With so many complex puzzles and such in the book, I was surprised to see this area of detail falling short....more
Simon and Schuster provided an early galley for review.
By the age I became aware of network news, somewhere in my childhood in the early 70's, the namSimon and Schuster provided an early galley for review.
By the age I became aware of network news, somewhere in my childhood in the early 70's, the name and face and voice of Barbara Walters was known to me. As far as I knew, she was always there. I never questioned a woman in a high profile position of journalism. I just took it as a fact of life. When she shifted over to the weekly 20/20 or any one of her specials through out the year, it was something I found myself watching. She was a source to be trusted and admired.
When I saw the solicitations for Page's book, I knew this was one I and my library patrons would hopefully want to read.
The book moves right from the start with short chapters on family and growing up. One quote from Barbara I found illuminating was that she valued "interesting" over "normal". That certainly makes a lot of sense given how her professional life would play out.
One thing that also jumps out right from the start is that Barbara came up in a world that is vastly different than the one of the 21st Century we now how. This was a world of sexism and deal-making - often the price of doing business and getting ahead. It is very much a world I remember from the earliest half of my life. This might very well serve as an uncomfortable eye-opening experience for younger modern readers, but we learn from the lessons of the history of others.
It also becomes obvious as to why Page chose the title that she did. Barbara very much broke the rules, often doing whatever it took to make her way to the top and to stay there. She was very cut-throat indeed. I really found I learned a lot from reading this biography....more
IDW Publishing provided an early galley for review.
I grew up on Godzilla movies being shown on a local syndicated channel on Saturday afternoons. SomeIDW Publishing provided an early galley for review.
I grew up on Godzilla movies being shown on a local syndicated channel on Saturday afternoons. Something about a giant monster wrecking havoc on humanity appealed to me. His popularity has not diminished since those days; my grown son raved about the recent Godzilla Minus One film from 2023. So, why not present a story where the giant lizard encounters historical explorers from the 1500's?
The artwork by Miranda is gorgeous, with colors by Eva de la Cruz that give it even more vibrancy. Tieri's story has the right mix of swashbuckling pirates and giant kaiju to bring back the childhood excitement and imagination in every reader. Clearly, the creative team are very much fans of this franchise as they draw deep into the catalog and lore to craft this rousing tale.
I also appreciated the inclusion of the variant covers. There were several nice pieces in the bunch....more
A few months back, I checked out the the first volume of this manga. I am eager to see how the story conVIZ Media provided an early galley for review.
A few months back, I checked out the the first volume of this manga. I am eager to see how the story continues.
The action picks right up volume 1 left off - with Gero facing off against the water master. The artwork once again conveys the energy and emotion of the dynamic encounter. But once the tide turns and the battle is over, the even more challenging navigation of the world of dating begins for Gero. And this, clearly, is the bigger of the challenges for him. Poisons and fighting for survival is what he was raised to do. Connecting with another on a personal level is a whole new world for him.
Gero's second assignment is one of protection for a young woman set to inherit a family run corporation. His skills are put to the test when another interestingly powered assassin targets her. Again, the artwork of the action scenes is very exciting. Once more, we end on a cliffhanger to be resolved in the next volume (smart planning to encourage continued reading of the series).
I like too that each chapter ends with a page from a character profile glossary. It is a quick summation of details accompanied by figure art of each character....more
University of Minnesota Press provided an early galley for review.
I have been a Beatles fan since childhood. One of the first albums I ever remember aUniversity of Minnesota Press provided an early galley for review.
I have been a Beatles fan since childhood. One of the first albums I ever remember actively listening to was 1964's Meet The Beatles. And, of course, the two songs that are the subject of this book are certainly favorites.
Cott's approach is an interesting one, starting from the position that the songs are two sides of the same coin. He structures his book in a similar fashion which carries the analogy further. His detailed historical research lays out where the band was at the time and how they arrived at the point the songs were composed and recorded. As I get older, I find myself fascinated by the recording process and details of songs.
The second part of the book consists of five insightful conversations as the author discusses the two songs and more with Laurie Anderson, Bill Frisell, Richard Gere, Margaret Klenck and Jonathan F.P. Rose. Cott's choices come from all walks of life, some I knew and some I did not. I liked that Cott formatted it all as a narrative conversation rather than a standard script-interview approach. It was like having a fly-on-the-wall position while these interesting conversations were taking place.
Overall, I would say that Let Me Take You Down would be of interest to both casual Beatles fans as well as diehard ones (though the latter will likely be well-versed in the information found in the first part). It definitely gives the reader something to think about....more
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