G.P. Putnam and Sons / Penguin Random House provided an early galley for review.
This is the fifty-first book in the Spenser series and the thirty-seveG.P. Putnam and Sons / Penguin Random House provided an early galley for review.
This is the fifty-first book in the Spenser series and the thirty-seventh I've read. To say I am a fan of Parker's Boston detective would a valid statement. Once more Lupica is behind the wheel (after a nine book run by Ace Atkins following Parker's passing in 2010).
There are some standard formula elements that readers come to expect in the series, and Lupica hits them all with ease. He is clearly at home playing in Parker's sandboxes (also dipping into a bit with Parker's Jesse Stone series for which Lupica has also penned a few novels as well). After over fifty years (the series started in 1973), this is very much comfort food.
The chapters tend to be short which keeps the pacing ever moving forward. The dialogue is sharp and snappy with an often sarcastic hint as well. It all fits the genre, the characters and the Boston locale. It all goes down quite easily....more
This title recently came out in a mass-market paperback and thus was my choice for our library branch's monthly mystery book discussion for October ofThis title recently came out in a mass-market paperback and thus was my choice for our library branch's monthly mystery book discussion for October of 2024. As someone who enjoys books, it sounded like an interesting plot.
This was the first of Swanson's books that I have read, and I liked his approach to the story. It starts off with a casual, conversational way about it that makes it an easy read that pulls you along. As a librarian, all the references to books and poetry are nice layers. When the book throws out a solid twist within the first third, I was completely on-board.
I can see why this is either a book folks will enjoy or dislike. It definitely appeals to certain readers over others. I am hoping my discussion group (who are very avid mystery readers for decades) will appreciate this love letter to the genre and certain titles within it. That was certainly Swanson's intention here....more
Review and Titan Books provided an early galley for review.
The concept, the setting and the cover of this novel really caught my attention. It soundedReview and Titan Books provided an early galley for review.
The concept, the setting and the cover of this novel really caught my attention. It sounded like it would a fun read.
Major has dabbled with mysteries featuring other literary figures before (he has a trio of Sherlock Holmes novels to date). So, this one seems to fall right into his lane. As it turns out, all of the main lead characters here come from past Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde stories with Muriel coming from the 1931 film adaptation (which the author fully acknowledges in his end-notes). Major's writing style and tone fits well with the Victorian era setting, coming across as elevated and proper. It reads in a very classic way.
At the heart of it all is the interplay and relationship between Henry/Edward and Muriel. There is a tension as well as a contrast in methods that provides a conflict to go along with the ongoing mystery itself. The differences in personalities provide the real uniqueness and intrigue of the story.
I appreciate the ending with its potential for a sequel. There is definitely more that Major can mine from the trio....more
Random House Publishing provided an early galley for review.
This is the fourth novel from Rendon and, having read them all, I see that she employs simRandom House Publishing provided an early galley for review.
This is the fourth novel from Rendon and, having read them all, I see that she employs similar elements with this one as she has with her Cash Blackburn mystery series. Being a Native American, she writes about what she knows and does a fantastic job doing that. Her details about life for those on the reservations comes across clearly and honestly. It is a strength that she plays into for her novels.
Rendon also makes it a point to highlight the challenges that Native Americans face. This novel specifically focuses on the abduction of women and children from reservations. She feels it is important to shine a light on these problems and uses her writing to inform and to sound a call for action.
There are a couple things in her writing, though, that did not work for me as a reader.
First, she occasionally peppers dialogue with the Ojibwe language. While this very much adds to the realism of her work, it can be a source of confusion for the reader. Without some kind of translation, it puts the responsibility on the reader to find a way to translate things (if they decide to put in that effort at all). That takes time that pulls them out of the reading experience.
Second, her sentence structure tends to be less complex. It is often person-did-this, person-did-that. A lot of telling rather than showing. Again, it factors into the overall reading experience.
In both of these things, the mileage may vary depending upon the reader and their usual consumption sources...more
Penguin Group Viking provided an early galley for review.
I've become a fan of Osman's mysteries over the past few years, having read all of his novelsPenguin Group Viking provided an early galley for review.
I've become a fan of Osman's mysteries over the past few years, having read all of his novels so far. His Thursday Murder Club series is a lot of fun. Of course, when I saw he was putting out a new book in a new series, I had to check it out.
With his two protagonists, Osman is giving us a family affair here. I like the dynamic between the two that shows the similarities and differences between them quickly. The world they move through is also a bit grittier and more ruthless, a nice change from his earlier work. And then there is Rosie, the perfect spice for this combination. I always enjoy characters who are writers.
Of course, there are plenty of interesting and fun secondary characters here as well. The author has a knack at populating his world with folks that we very likely could see again in the sequel(s).
Lastly, I like Osman's use of ChatGPT as an element in the story. As someone who has played around with the AI tool, I found it to be something writers can use to our benefit....more
St. Martin's Press provided an early galley for review.
At PLA in April 2024, I listened to Castillo talk about this 16th book in the Kate Burkholder sSt. Martin's Press provided an early galley for review.
At PLA in April 2024, I listened to Castillo talk about this 16th book in the Kate Burkholder series. When she read from the introductory chapter, I was drawn in and wanted to know more.
She has clearly done her research when it comes to police procedures as well as the Amish ways of life. Elements in this novel ring very true. I ended up learning lot....more
Full disclosure up front: I have known the author for quite a long time. We both grew up in the same Severn House provided an early galley for review.
Full disclosure up front: I have known the author for quite a long time. We both grew up in the same small town (not far from Lily Dale itself), graduated from the same high school (one year apart), and attended the same church with our families. I am proud to say I knew Wendy long before she became a best-selling author with over five dozen books under her belt.
Of course, I know of Lily Dale too which, as noted in the book, is just ten miles from where we grew up. Surprisingly, I've never been to the Dale, but that is okay. Wendy very much knows it and brings it visually to life in the pages of her novels. She also fills it with a cast of interesting characters. While I have not read any of the previous books in this series, it was very easy for me to get into the world of Bella and her neighbors. This story has a light, cozy vibe to it while still maintaining those spiritual elements that are the hallmark of the western New York community where it takes place.
After reading this one, I am encouraged to check out the earlier titles in the series....more
When I see that Cartmel is publishing another of his books, it instantly goes on to my must-read list. I get such joy reading his novels, as they are When I see that Cartmel is publishing another of his books, it instantly goes on to my must-read list. I get such joy reading his novels, as they are full of interesting characters, well-described settings, and an enjoyable mystery to boot. This one definitely ticks all those boxes.
Cordelia is a very unconventional protagonist. Paired with the unpredictable turns of the story, this novel makes for such a delightful and fun read. Cartmel continues with his world-building which benefits both this series and his Vinyl Detective series as well....more
I am a big fan of this series and its author (see my earlier reviews) and was very excited to dive into another of his mysteries.
Of course, the entireI am a big fan of this series and its author (see my earlier reviews) and was very excited to dive into another of his mysteries.
Of course, the entire gang is back. Cartmel has created a solid dynamic between the detective, Nevada, Agnes and Tinkler; it is like checking back in with old friends each novel. He has established the voices and rhythms of these characters over the past eight years which makes their banter come across easy and natural.
The story moves along at a steady pace, with the Vinyl Detective and company following the trail of wayward Lambert. However, just when I thought I had a handle on the plot's flow, Cartmel makes a sharp turn and moves everything into an unexpected and thoroughly entertaining direction. By the end, though, he manages to wrap things up by bringing all the elements to an exciting conclusion....more
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
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
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
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
Penguin Random House provided an early galley for review.
My family roots on both sides trace back to Sicily, so I was certainly drawn to a book with tPenguin Random House provided an early galley for review.
My family roots on both sides trace back to Sicily, so I was certainly drawn to a book with this title. Plus, the cover is simply gorgeous and inviting.
The story is broken down into two narratives - the modern day with Sara and the past with Serafina. There are rich details throughout, in both geographic descriptions and historical accuracy. With these, Piazza definitely did her research (as her author notes confirms). There are also some very intriguing secondary characters.
There were, however, a couple things that did impact my reading experience. First, the two names of the main characters are very similar which could lead a reader to confusion. In fact, there is even a third character with a similar name introduced. Second, both the stories of Sara and Serafina are told in first-person past tense, alternating chapters. This kind of narrative approach that is not a favorite of mine as it can lead to more confusion (especially when both characters are of the same gender, are in similar settings and are similarly named). Also, with alternating narratives, I find the momentum of the story, for me, gets derailed every time we jump back to the other time period. Together, these are several strikes against the book for me.
I definitely think this book can appeal to the right audience. I just wasn't the right audience....more
I chose this title for our mystery book club for April of this year (the mass market paperback came out in 2023).
Normally, I am on the fence regardingI chose this title for our mystery book club for April of this year (the mass market paperback came out in 2023).
Normally, I am on the fence regarding historical fiction - especially ones set during World War II. However, MacNeal's wonderfully vivid descriptions and snappy dialogue instantly hooked me. I was quickly immersed in her world of wartime London. There is a lot of world-building at the start, setting up Maggie's environments, friends and co-workers; so it takes a good bit for the intrigue to kick into a steady pace.
With all the interplay between the supporting cast, at times it felt like a CW television show (i.e. smart twenty-somethings) set in a historical location. Again, something I am totally good with as I admittedly watch(ed) a lot of those types of shows. The mystery was a little lighter than I hoped, and, thanks to the third-person narration chosen, I was often clued in to more of what was going on than some of our protagonist characters.
Where the writing and story broke down is when the action started in the final third of the book. It seemed like every time characters were in a tense situation, the air raid sirens would sound and defuse everything. Or, when chapters would jump back and forth at cliffhanging moments that ended up killing the tension. Those kinds of cuts might work well for TV or a movie, but they did not work here.
In summary, it had potential but then ended up coming up short....more
Poisoned Pen Press provided an early galley for review.
I am instantly drawn to stories about writers. They are my kindred spirits.
I read a book by thePoisoned Pen Press provided an early galley for review.
I am instantly drawn to stories about writers. They are my kindred spirits.
I read a book by the author a few years ago - The Woman in the Library and liked it. Once more we are dealing with a story premise involving writers. The prologue and many chapters open with details and conversations that slowly start to form a bigger picture that is key to the plot. They are intriguing and mysterious. However, these do not overshadow the main narrative involving our writer-to-be Theo.
I enjoyed the relationship between Theo and Dan Murdoch, mostly for the insider glimpse into the world of writers. I appreciated the guidance Dan provided, and then I was surprised (though I shouldn't have been) by the turn the relationship took (in several ways). It certainly kept my attention focused and my curiosity piqued. I also found Theo's conversations with the publishing agent Veronica to be very revealing (the author here clearly writing about what she knows - interacting with the world of publishing).
But as the bodies start to stack up, my view of Theo shifted. I started to see her more as a victim and as an observer to larger events going on around her. She finds herself caught up in circumstances and with factions well beyond her control. When the final third of the book hits, the story has taken a completely unexpected turn that left me in even more of a confused state. If that was the reaction the author was trying to evoke in the reader, mission accomplished. Sulari does manage to bring it all around in the final chapters to explain everything....more
Loading...
