This contest period's winners were Deborah L., Laura B. and Margaret M., who each received a copy of ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN by James Lee Burke and THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott.
Joan
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Thanks to this book, I now know a great deal more about Bletchley Park and the men and women who worked there breaking codes and helping the Allies win the war. Winston Churchill himself visited there to praise their efforts and their ability to keep it secret. The book describes in detail the lives of the three main female protagonists (some of whom are based on real women) working there as well as the difficulties and viewpoints of locals during the war. There are friendships, lovers, betrayals, and a real-life romance with Prince Phillip! I loved this book.
Laura
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict is amazing. I loved learning about how a woman of color who so influenced the art world through her library skills. We still are experiencing this prejudice today. Have we learned nothing?
Padmini
The Therapist by B. A. Paris
This book is a hard-to-put-down thriller. A young couple, Leo and Alice, decide to purchase a house in an expensive area of London even though their relationship is fairly new. Alice tries to become friends with the neighborhood women. In the course of pursuing a friendship with her neighbors, she finds out some disturbing news. It seems that the prior owner was murdered by her husband in her house. This is the reason why the house sold for a bargain. At this point Alice is not sure she can stay in the house but she wants to find out the reason for the murder. She decides to do an investigation on her own. Alice finds out that some of her neighbors are keeping secrets and she decides one of them is the real killer.
Katrina
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
I love him as an author but this did not live up to the hype for me. NOS4A2 was much better. Still very good writing and a good story, but not scary and it fell off towards the end for me.
Amy
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Very thought-provoking.
Ann Marie
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
This book was a unique story and it was a little slow going at first, but the second half of the book picked up!
Jeanne
Outrageous by Minerva Spencer
OUTRAGEOUS by Minerva Spencer is Book No. 2 in the Rebel of the Ton series in this historical romance novel. Sparks fly when Eva kidnaps Godric and he turns the tables and kidnaps her. Their attraction to each other is undeniable. This is well written, the characters were well developed and it is a funny, captivating storyline.
Jeanne
Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
THREE WORDS FOR GOODBYE by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb is a very well-written historical fiction about two sisters who embark on a journey to Paris, Venice and Vienna to deliver three letters for their beloved grandmother who is dying. Though the sisters are estranged and different in many ways, they come together and take the journey. As they bicker and struggle and try to get along, they begin to accept one another and realize how much they actually admire and love another. The beautiful places they visited were magnificently described by the authors and it gave me chills as I read about how the talk and fear of war with Hitler was on everyone’s lips. I have never read a book by Hazel Gaynor and Hazel Webb that I didn’t love.
Ann Marie
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby
What a great book. I was so happy when I got it in my hands because I heard so much about it. And, the book really delivered. This book had many topics - race, homosexuality, gender, caste, murder, and much more!
Pat
Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg
Great for fans of the beloved FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE.
Teresa
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
Together they’ve lived 100: years, but only 17 of them are Lenni’s. She is quite a character, and a creative one at that. She comes up with a way to commemorate their years, as each woman’s story unfolds and makes the reader want to step right into the book. Happy and sad, laughs and tears, this is an amazing story.
Teresa
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
I love time travel stories. This one uses a different premise: every New Years Day, which is her birthday, Oona finds herself in a different year of her life, in seemingly random order.
Ann Marie
Songbirds by Christy Lefteri
Yiannis is a poacher who catches birds traveling from Africa to Europe in Cyprus. He falls in love with a maid who steps out one day and disappears. The police write it of as a runaway but as Yiannis and Mishap's boss Petra look for her. Yuan now sees how the migrant workers live, where Nisha lives, but now she's gone. This book got to me because of the migrant workers who live in deplorable conditions because they have no choice. I loved that this book was based on truth.
Sharon
Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman
Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor, women take on a very important role in the war. A great story about heroic women in times of war and the friendships they shared.
Mary Ann
Haven Point by Virginia Hume
A lovely beach read!!!
Nancy
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Wonderful book.
Judy
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
The characters are so well drawn and the settings visual. Great book.
Cynthia
The Runaway Heiress by Meg Tilly
Enjoyed this story of Sarah/ Rachel having to start her life over after her husband doesn’t really want her…he wants her fortune. He will chase her and hunt her down. She becomes a few different people as she tries to save herself. She lands many jobs but her last employer is hard because he had a tough shell to break through, too. Finally they confide in each other, bond with each other and the run like crazy to save Sarah and her fortune.
Gerry
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
Re-reading this second book in Penny's Three Pines series after almost ten years, I'm finding details I didn't notice the first time and realizing how incredibly complex are the characters and the stories Penny has created. A FATAL GRACE takes place at Christmastime, just over a year after STILL LIFE. The old Hadley House, the site of an attempted murder in STILL LIFE, and the family home of the murderer of Jane Neal, has recently been sold to CC de Poitiers, who now lives there with her husband, Richard Lyons, and their daughter Crie. Early in the novel, CC is killed in the midst of a community event at which virtually everyone in Three Pines is present. Once again, Armand Gamache and his team are called in to investigate.
Laurie
The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain
Fictional history/coming-of-age family drama set during WWII/Holocaust with plenty of issues for discussion: immigration, identity, secrets and survival.
Gerry
The Woman With the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
Although it's not so classified, this novel struck me as YA, both in writing style and in plot. I didn't dislike it, but can't really recommend it either. The core of the story is based in fact: there were Polish Jews who lived for over a year during WWII in the sewers under the city of Lwów (now Lviv in Ukraine), and one survivor did describe looking up through the sewer grate and seeing a girl about her own age. But the girls' meeting and developing a relationship is fictional, and seemed both improbable and overly romanticized to me. A twist at the end only added to my sense that this book would better be classified as YA historical romance.
Gerry
The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice by Scott Ellsworth
4-1/2 stars. THE GROUND BREAKING opens with a description of the events in Tulsa in early June, 1921. Once known as the Tulsa Race Riot, the event is now more accurately called the Tulsa Massacre. This book focuses on the aftermath of the massacre, on the decades-long efforts by both whites and blacks, each for their own reasons, to deny or ignore the painful reality of the massacre, and finally, on the still unfinished effort to uncover both the facts and the relics of the massacre -- actual artifacts and human remains -- and to come to terms with this painful part of our history. Well-written and very informative, THE GROUND BREAKING is a challenge to all of us to face and reconcile with America's history of racism and oppression.
Gerry
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
Another complicated mystery, with a second mystery hiding beneath it. The first involved the death of Madeleine, a resident of Three Pines for about five years, who was apparently frightened to death during a séance at the old Hadley house, a location that has played a central role in each of the first three books in this series. Beneath that investigation, though, an incident from Gamache's past is rising again, and we begin to learn the details of the investigation that almost cost him his career. As always, the novel is filled with wonderful recurring characters, and a few new or transient faces who may or may not have a role to play in future installments. Re-reading this series one book after another makes the stories come alive!
Gerry
Incendiary by Chris Cleave
3-1/2 stars. Written in the form of a letter to Osama bin Laden, INCENDIARY is one woman's response to the horror of a group of suicide bombers' (fictional) attack on a London soccer stadium, in which her husband, their four-year-old son, and some 1,000 others were killed. I found most of the book interesting and compelling, but deducted half a star because of the ending, which I felt was rather bizarre and disrespectful to victims of actual terror attacks.
Gerry
The Damage by Caitlyn Wahrer
I won my copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am so happy I did as I might not have read this debut novel otherwise. And what a story it is! A young man is sexually assaulted by a man who picked him up in a bar. The assault and subsequent investigation and court case have an impact not only on him, but also on his friends, his family members, and the larger community. The novel explores the different ways each of the main characters react as they try to comfort and protect Nick. Very well written with a twist at the end that was unexpected but quite satisfying.
Gerry
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
The Morrow family, Peter's brother, sisters, mother, and stepfather, are introduced in this fourth novel in the Armand Gamache/Three Pines, and what an unlikable group they are! And when one of them is murdered at the Inn where they're having their annual family reunion, all the rest seem likely suspects.
Gerry
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
Labor Day weekend in Three Pines. A dead body on the floor of the bistro. No one seems to know who he was or where he might have come from, much less why he now lies dead. This fifth novel in Penny's Three Pines series is the most complex story yet, filled with history as well as mystery. I enjoyed learning about the Haida community of British Columbia, as well as the community of Czech immigrants in Quebec. Even on this second read, I found the conclusion of the novel surprising, and I suspect the story may continue and change in a future volume. 4-1/2 stars.
Gerry
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
Villavicencio writes passionately about the lives of undocumented Latinx immigrants in America. Based on interviews with immigrants young and old, in New York, Miami, Flint, and Cleveland, she has compiled vignettes that illustrate the hardships they face and the stamina with which they persist in their efforts to cobble together a life that offers a better future to their children. Not an easy read, but eye-opening and certainly worthwhile.
Gerry
Telephone by Percival Everett
TELEPHONE is the story of Zach, a geology professor, Meg, his English/poetry professor wife, and their twelve-year old daughter Sarah. Their lives are comfortable, content, perhaps a bit dull, until a crisis occurs that changes everything. Partly in response to the crisis, Zach, sets off on a mission that's a bit hard to believe, but also seems perfectly reasonable for this particular character in the context of this story. The writing is exquisite; I've had difficulty concentrating on my reading recently, but this book engaged me fully throughout, so much so that I read it almost non-stop. I can see why TELEPHONE was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Everett is a new author to me, but am eager to check out more of his writing.
Gerry
The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers
2-1/2 stars. Once again, this book reminds me that for me, fantasy, witchcraft, magic just don't make for an appealing story. This tale of several generations of enchanted women (half human, half daemon) required greater suspension of disbelief than I can muster. But it fulfills a challenge category, and did have some interesting parts to counter some very cheesy dialog, especially from the daemon Althacazur (whom I couldn't help thinking of as "the great and powerful Oz").
Gerry
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
HEAVEN is a deeply disturbing novel about two middle-school students who are constantly bullied, even tortured, by their classmates. The unnamed male narrator has a lazy eye, and perceives that defect as the reason he is bullied. Kohima, his female classmate, is bullied because she is dirty and poorly dressed. Both the victims and their tormentors hold different opinions about why this bullying occurs and what purpose it served. The reader is left to draw his/her own conclusions about this, and about the friendship that develops between the two victims.
Gerry
We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride
Beautifully written (and even more engaging in audiobook format), this novel brings together disparate individuals and families in Las Vegas, each with their own tragic past, but somehow able to rise above their faults and misjudgments to support a little boy and his family in their time of greatest need. This is a story I will long remember.
Gerry
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
4-1/2 stars. Reading this complex mystery for the second time, all three threads of the story seemed so much clearer! First, there was the continuing story from book #5, the murder of the Hermit in Three Pines, for which Olivier had been tried and convicted. Then there was the back-story of the killing of one Sûreté officer and kidnapping of another, young Paul Morin, who had been introduced in book #5. And finally, a historical mystery involving the burial of Quebec founder Samuel de Champlain, and the murder of an amateur historian who had dedicated his life to solving that mystery. I'm more and more impressed with Louise Penny's research and writing with each book I read!
Gerry
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Another very engaging and complex mystery, this time centering on a female art critic, known for her scathing critiques, who is found murdered, her neck broken, in Clara and Peter Morrow's garden on the night of Clara's celebration following her first successful art show. Lillian was hated by many for her vicious attacks in her reviews, so there's no shortage of suspects; it's likely most of the artists and dealers at the party would have been pleased with the news of her death. Meanwhile, Gamache and Beauvoir continue to struggle with their injuries from events of the previous book, when they were ambushed by terrorists in a factory, and several of their colleagues were killed.
Alice
Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn
Definitely a long read but the moors are so interesting. Lots of interesting info on Egyptology.
Betty
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
I decided to reread this classic of British detective fiction. GAUDY NIGHT can't really be put into any classification because it just doesn't fit. Sayers writes from her own perspective, unabashedly scholarly, witty and so 1930s. I can forgive some lapses in diversity because she is speaking honestly of her time.
Linda
The Ickabog by J. K. Rowling
This is a fantastical book for kids and adults to read - loved the story and highly recommend.
Bonnie
Lorna Mott Comes Home by Diane Johnson
Chick-lit and easy summer reading about a woman of a certain age finding herself.
Bonnie
(Re)Born in the USA by Roger Bennett
Nonfiction about Bennett's lifetime love affair with the USA and his ultimate move there.
Bonnie
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
Interesting family saga.
Donna
When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica
This novel begins in 1988 when Aimee is six years old and flips back and forth to 2017. She is an up-and-coming actress and has been acting all of her life. Everyone has secrets and some choose to become someone else. The most believable lies have some fragments of truth and Aimee is an expert. She had a stalker years ago and believes the stalker is leaving notes that say "I Know Who You Are". This is an intense psychological thriller and the ending is shocking.
Michele
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
I like the love that was lost and then was found story. Both of the main characters are imperfect but successful authors who fell deeply in love when they were young. Enjoyed the backstory of their youth and family history.
Donna
The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz
Otto Silbermann, a German Jew, is a successful businessman living in Berlin. The year is 1938 and Jews are beginning to be rounded up. He is awakened in the night with pounding on the door of his home and he is able to escape out the back door. He meets up with his best friend and business partner and, though swindled, sells his business for a bit of cash. Otto is now on the run and because he doesn't look Jewish, he is able to pass inspection. He spends about a week crisscrossing Germany by train and trying to figure out a way to get out of Germany. This novel is enlightening and intense as Otto experiences lack of sleep, dilemmas, hopes, and disappointment which bring him to resignation.
Donna
Other People’s Children by R. J. Hoffmann
This novel is written from three points of view: mother, grandmother and adoption mother. The mother is a young girl who puts her baby up for adoption because she believes it's best for the baby. Her mother is determined that she's the grandmother and that the adoption will not happen. The adopting couple have exhausted themselves though years of miscarriages and fertility efforts. It all seems so simple until the baby is born and decisions that seemed so simple become extremely complicated. This is a heartbreaking and, yet, heartwarming story of the challenges of adoption and mother's love.
Hilary
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
This was a character-driven murder mystery set in an elite, private school in an unnamed state in the northeast. The school loses its elite status when faculty or people connected with the school begin to die inexplicably. The plot was set up as a cat-and-mouse game where various characters try to outsmart each other. The reader is let in on some of the secrets but others are revealed later. It was a riveting book and a very unique plot - a very twisty and enjoyable thriller!
Michelle
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
There’s a lot that is great in TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM. Gyasi writes beautiful passages showing the protagonist’s inner conflict about the time period before and after her brother’s death from an opioid overdose. It felt like a work of spiritual and scientific exploration – delving into Gifty’s feelings about grief, handling her mother’s grief and depression, and her conflicts with faith and science.
Donna
No Regrets by Tabitha Webb
This is an entertaining book about the lives of three women approaching their 40s who have an unbreakable bond and tell each other everything. Each of them is dissatisfied with their lives. Stella is married with two young boys and is at her wits end. Ana is single and has no plans to ever marry though she and her partner are desperately attempting to have a baby. Dixie is a free spirit, has a wonderful job, visits dating sites and meets an interesting man on a airplane flight. The girls make decisions that are complicated and have consequences with the thought in mind that they didn't want to regret what they hadn't done. The dynamics between the women through the good times and bad are fun and interesting.
Donna
The Secret Wife by Gill Paul
Let me start by saying that I'm not a history expert in any sense of the word. I read this as historical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's a "what if" depiction of a love story between Dmitri, an Imperial Guard for the Romanov family and the Grand Dutchess Tatiana Romanov. Their lives are filled with tragedy that is held together by their love for each other...if only.
Michelle
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Painstakingly truthful and historic. A crisply-written, thoroughly researched piece of investigative journalism that began as a newspaper article and ended with what may be one of the most significant history books of our time on the opioid crisis. It needed to be done. A little bit of justice made with pen and ink.
Donna
Monogamy by Sue Miller
Annie is Graham's second wife and Frieda is his 1st wife. Graham is big in stature and big in personality. Both wives have one child by him and they are all good friends. After Graham dies in his sleep and, as the two wives grieve together, information is shared which distorts Annie's view of their marriage. This novel allows you to have an understanding of the grieving process and how actions and memories can take on new meanings.
Donna
The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams
This novel is nicely told in two time periods: NYC, 1998 and Florida, 1924. Ella has left her husband and moved into an apartment. She discovers an old and unusual photograph of a woman partially nude. Ella discovers that the photograph is taken in 1924. The Wicked Redhead in the photograph lead a very traumatic life. This story includes rum-running smugglers, pirates, a prohibition agent, wealthy and poor very complicated families and intense love stories.
Donna
The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton
Labor Day weekend, 1935, and the tourists are visiting the Florida Keys. Three young women from different walks of life, reasons and locations have arrived at Key West. The novel switches from one woman to the other as their stories are told and their lives intersect. The story builds and a deadly hurricane keeps the tension high.
Donna
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Gene and Phineas are roommates at a prestigious prep-school in Vermont in the early 40s. They are unlikely friends as Gene is an all A student who hopes to be the class valedictorian. Phineas is his opposite by being an athlete, reckless, fun loving, rule breaking, risk taker. They become very close until Gene suspects that Phineas is sabotaging him. This is an excellent coming-of-age novel of young men in college learning about life while facing entering WWII.
Donna
Nice Girls by Catherine Dang
Mary grew up in in Liberty Lake and wanted to get away from this life. In order to do this she had to excel in high school. She became known as Ivy League Mary when she was accepted at Cornell University. She returned to Liberty Lake when she got into a fight with another girl at Cornell and was expelled. Mary pretended that she was working on her thesis and got a job in a local grocery store. A former school mate disappeared and was discovered brutally murdered. Mary was suspicious of this murder and began her own search for the killer. She managed to put herself into a situation of possibly becoming the next victim.
Sonia
The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides
Loved the way the story unfolded, kept you guessing - just when you thought it was one way it was something else.
Marylyn
Sooley by John Grisham
As a college basketball fan, this novel was both entertaining and enlightening although a different type of tale than Grisham usually spins. The character of Sooley was well developed as were others important to the story.
Rosa
The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
This is the heartbreaking story of the Olander family - parents Keith and Jaya, and their daughter Karina and son Prem - as each of them navigates through the grieving process following an unbelievable tragedy. I believe any reader will relate to one of these characters, even if the reader has not experienced tragedy as great as in this story. The plot is thought-provoking and touches on many themes: the importance we place on money and material things to define success, the roles we play in our relationships with family members and friends, how we cope when life doesn't go as planned, even how non-Caucasians feel as part of American society. This story stayed with me for a long time.
Linda
The Book of Lost Names by Lisa Wingate
This historical novel is based on actual articles that were posted in a newspaper and circulated to churches in an effort to reconnect lost family members. Why were they scattered? Mostly enslaved African Americans who were sold and separated from their kin in brutal ways. Heartbreaking...
Susan
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
I enjoyed reading about living in the New York City public library - what an absolute delight. I like storylines that are different times and characters, though related. I didn’t understand why the author didn’t fully develop the characters of Harry and Pearl as children. When we discovered that Harry stole the books, at first I didn’t remember who Harry was. I would recommend the book.
Sharon
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
I really enjoyed reading this. I can't wait to read her next book in the trilogy.
Sheree
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
I thought the book was just okay. I didn't like most of the characters which could be the reason it just didn't sit well with me. It did make me wish that my family would have had a summer location that we went back to each year to make memories!
Nicolette
The Last Green by Mark Sullivan
Another WWII story from Sullivan based on real events. This story is packed full of all the ups and downs of that era told through the Martel family. So many decisions could mean life or death.
Nicolette
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
If someone had explained to me the premise of PROJECT HAIL MARY before I picked it up I likely would not have read it. I’m not much for aliens even though I do enjoy a good space adventure. However, Weir is back at it with his strong voice and personification expertise. I may have to rethink my aversion to alien stories.
Gretchen
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
Each chapter has its own intensity. A very different WWII novel.
KAY
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
This mystery continues to unfold up to the very last page before finding out all that really happened. I didn't foresee all that was revealed in this absorbing plot. I would recommend this book which will challenge your ability to predict the causes and effects!
Jill
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
This is a beautifully-written novel and a debut for Nathan Harris. It is astonishing that a young man of 22 years had a book of this caliber for his first. I can’t wait to see what he does next. Outstanding read.
Kay
The Girl From the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat
It was interesting to read about the Channel Islands during the German occupation. I found it to be a bit unbelievable that a German soldier and a Jewish girl could go undetected in such a small geographic area.
Kay
The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina
Very spiritual journey spun into a tale that I found very readable and thought-provoking.
Kay
Never Look Down by Warren C. Easley
It's always fun to follow a mystery storyline that features a city, Portland, Oregon where I am familiar with the streets and landmarks. The characters are engaging and believable. I have his next four mysteries on my bookshelf to read.
Wanda
The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent
Plot, character development and narrative style work together to make this mystery worth reading. Alternating narrators advance the plot steadily. The characters are likable. The ending is satisfying.
Donna
The Second Perimeter by Mike Lawson
The second book in the Joe DeMarco series. I'm enjoying this series about the "fixer" who works for the Speaker of the House in D.C. Lots of action and suspense.
Elizabeth
Eat the Buddha by Barbara Demick
I learned a lot about Tibet - an area of the world I know little about. But for some reason I cannot quite put my finger on, this book did not grab me as well as Demick's book about North Korea. Still worth reading - it really illustrates the horrors of authoritarianism.
Jane Ellen
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig
Best book that I have read in a long time. Uses the same quote as the film "Band of Brothers".
Edie
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Hard getting into at first but once I did could not put it down!!!
Terri
The Song of the Jade Lily by Kirsty Manning
I knew nothing about China accepting Jewish refugees during the early days of WWII. The characters and the settings were so well described and completely reeled you in. Great relationships and drama that kept me reading for long periods of time.
Nancy
World Tree Girl by Kerry Schafer
A fun, witty read! Even though the story is a murder mystery, it will keep you entertained on many levels! You will weave yourself alongside eccentric characters, both dead and alive. You will be taken to strange places during a paranormal investigation giving you that eerie, spine-chilling feeling. Kerry is a good writer with quite the imagination. Absolutely recommend!
Deborah
The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs
Very timely and very well plotted. The twist was unexpected and made sense.
Deborah
The Daughters of Erietown by Connie Schultz
Loved the characters and the ins and outs of their lives. The structure was well executed.
Susan
Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
Vivi has died and gone to a place where she can, for a certain amount of time, look down on her family and see how they are after she dies. She can use three nudges to change some things but only three. Very entertaining book.
Richard N B
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Two books, and three mysteries, in one novel. Susan Ryeland is a retired editor and the secret to solving the “current” crime lies in a book she edited, which features detective Atticus Pünd. I enjoyed the difference in style between the two storylines and was equally immersed in each mystery. Both Susan and Pünd are meticulous, thorough and deliberate in analyzing the evidence they uncover. I look forward to future installments in this series.
Anna
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I loved this book. Fredrik Backman can make you laugh, cry, cringe and think about serious issues while telling you a silly story about idiots. Ultimately, this story is about humanity and how people and their actions can influence others. He doesn't just tell you this but instead shows you through his brilliant storytelling style of writing. This is one of the best books I've read this year. I would recommend it to any human.
sherri
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
The sighs, smells, sounds, and experiences of a 12-year-old boy in the summer. Magical!
Anne
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Jane finds out A LOT about life as she navigates life with a widower. I like how intuitive the characters in this book are, and some of Jane’s observations about the neighborhood ladies are hysterical.
Jean
The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
I was really looking forward to reading this book after thoroughly enjoying its predecessor, THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED. This book was a great disappointment. It lacks the waves of delightful characters that appeared in the first book and contains a large amount of contemporary political diatribe. Too much time is spent on the main character's new devotion to reading news aloud from his iPad. And at the end he discovers Twitter! If there's a third book, I won't be reading it.
Patricia
China by Edward Rutherfurd
An epic in the form of previous books, PRINCES OF IRELAND, LONDON, PARIS. Wonderful to delve into 700 pages.
Patricia
Total Chaos by Jean-Claude Izzo
Wonderful story set in Marseilles, France. First of the Marseilles Trilogy, recommended by
Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin.
Martha
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
I was late getting to this book, but I am so glad I finally did. Cummins has given us a fictional account of what Latino migrants face in their journey to El Norte. However, the circumstances all ring true. This is a beautifully-written novel with great character development, well done descriptive narrative, exciting to read, a moving tale that brings us face to face with a credible account of danger, physical hardship, emotional suffering, and the hope of those who make the journey. In spite of the outcry of critics who said Cummins wasn't Mexican and shouldn't write this, I believe it exposes the ugly truths of crossing our borders and our neglect in trying to solve the problems.
Chris
Beauties by James Duthie
If you're a hockey fan or not, it is an entertaining read!
Patricia
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Extremely creepy, scary psychological thriller.
Janet
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
The financial world can be such a nasty ruthless world.
Alyson
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
Family secrets can be hard to keep, yet sacrifices made to keep them eventually lead to revelation.
Ora
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
It's a great summer read. Very enjoyable!
Aly
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
In a book showing that history repeats itself, I was more compelled by the past case rather than the present rape trial. If it weren't for the mystery Goldin includes with the past case, I would have DNFed the book. Even so, Goldin's writing style/structure is great despite the somewhat slow plot pace.
Lurdes
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
CIRCLING THE SUN is based on the life of Beryl Markham. She and her parents and brother lived on a farm in Kenya where her father trained race horses. Her mother and brother left for London when she was little and she was left alone with her father. He taught her all he knew and she became a horse trainer. Paula McLain writes about Kenya in rich detail and description and continues the story of Beryl, her race horses, her love of flying, and her several tumultuous relationships. After reading the story, I did some research on her and found out that OUT OF AFRICA is also about her life. I like to learn from books and this book hit the mark.
Dianne
How to Forget by Kate Mulgrew
Introspective look at her parents individually and as a couple.How does a child perceive the relationship between her parents.
Marcia
Faithless in Death by J. D. Robb
Good mystery, good detective work. I love the back and forth between Eve and Peabody, Eve and Roarke, the way Eve interviews people, how she is 100% there for the victims and finding the truth, and how she wants to save those that are still alive but in bad situations and she knows what it's like to be them. She's a good leader and a fighter and loves putting the bad guys "in a cage".
Lois
Persons Unknown by Susie Steiner
Enjoyable who-done-it!
Kimberly
The Very Nice Box by Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman
I thought this was a quirky, fun, empowering read. I hope this duo is working on another book.
Rose
No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook of this psychological thriller. When a woman is found dead with an identifying mark on her chest, Lizzie Ouellette is pronounced dead and the town isn't at all concerned. In fact, they don't miss her at all. In the minds of the townspeople, Lizzie was known as trouble for years, and her husband Dwyane Cleaves, a good ol' boy, was saddled with her. Ethan and Adrienne Richards, a wealthy couple who rented Lizzie's home on the water, are the likely suspects for the murder. If you think that is all there is to the story, you will be surprised at the twists and turns! People see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe, but you need to look deeper! I enjoyed this thriller! Clever!
Lorna
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
Exciting read. Johnny Smith comes out of a coma after 4-1/2 years and has the ability to see the future. Is it a good thing or not? Stephen King at his best!
Etta
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby
After reading BLACKTOP WASTELAND I couldn't wait for RAZORBLADE TEARS and it met all my expectations. These two books are so real that you cannot help bonding with the characters and taking another look at what you thought the world was like for "certain" people and gaining an understanding of what you had no idea about.
Kimberley
Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan
What a fun mystery! This novel takes the reader to Elkview, Alaska. Murder rocks the little town and everyone is a suspect. As the details unfold, so do interesting tidbits about Alaska. The culinary surprises also make the reader very hungry!! Our main character, Charlie, is down to Earth and a delight to follow as she attempts to unravel the clues. This mystery goes beyond the "beach read" label; it is interesting and a great length.
Maryanne
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry
Beautifully written and excellent character descriptions. It answers questions the family didn’t even know they should ask.
Helen
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Wonderful story of four siblings, set in the party scene of Malibu. The plot takes place over one unforgettable night and is about the choices each family member makes. A summer read that you will not put down.
Karen
The Russian by James Patterson and James O. Born
Daniel Ott is an unremarkable man who does his job installing computer software. He is sensitive to attitudes about his profession especially by women, and he wants to put them in "their place". He selects a woman that he thinks insults him, researches her activities and gets into her home where he kills her. He stages a gruesome scene and leaves clues and distracting evidence behind. Detective Michael Bennett must try to find the killer as the victim count builds up. He is harassed by the mayor's assistant who wants immediate action. Ott has met his match. Bennett sees connections that others overlook, but the conclusion is more complex than just capturing a serial killer.
Jan
The Premonition by Michael Lewis
Lewis is an excellent writer and does his homework so what he writes is usually true. But this book was dull - I did not learn anything new about the Covid -19 pandemic. In fact, this book persuaded me to avoid all future books about Covid. I know enough already. And I am not even going to write a book about it -- family has it, people dying all over the world. Doctors scrambling to discover more and can not get half of the Americans to listen. I have had enough. I wear my mask, stay at home, do not go out often. If you have not read a COVID book, this is as good as any.
Jeanne
The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull
I learned so much history by reading this book; Gloria Vanderbilt’s twin Thelma had a lengthy love affair with Prince Edward prior to his abdication of the throne when he married Wallis Simpson.
Susan
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Krueger’s language is beautiful. His descriptions of the landscape and river put the reader where the action is. The characters are fully developed and extremely interested. The story is told by one of the characters in a flashback, decades after the story took place. Krueger interlaces the story with historical details. One of, if not the best, books I’ve read this year. I am recommending it to everyone!
Kassidy
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
This book is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s a little bit slow at the beginning but the writing is beautiful throughout the entire book. The ending is different from what you would expect. It is awfully sad but perfect.
Leslie
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Definitely not the privileged, breezy, beachy summer tale I was expecting. An absolute page-turner with great characters and lots of in depth explorations of their past stories.
Kathy
The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher
Keeps you wondering if this could be possible and many twist and turns. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when you think you know what it going on, you realize that you don't.
Kathy
Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond
Unbelievable true story. We think we live dramatic/traumatic lives...not compared to Cheryl's. Everyone you think is good is bad and everyone you think is bad is good. We are so much a product of our environment and our "parents" have tremendous influences we don't even realize.
John
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
This is an important story about setting your own goals and setting out to achieve them.
Susan
Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman
If you loved HIDDEN FIGURES, this novel is for you. It's the little-known story of the women who served in the Women's Air Raid Defense on the Island of Hawaii and begins with the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. It's all here, the women who come together to learn a totally foreign occupation while the men are off fighting and their backstories: rich, poor, married to gamblers, married to a pilot who gets captured, looking for love, and learning to be part of a small sisterhood. Daisy Wilder is the main character, a horse-loving young woman whose dad died under circumstances that are revealed later in the book and the wealthy horse farm family with the gorgeous son Walker Montgomery. I won this book in the summer contest!
Francisca
In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir. The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies.
Beth
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline
Lisa Scottoline is a popular author; many of you have read most her books. But if you haven't read her EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES, do. It's not her latest, but it's one of her better books.
Maybe the biggest reason for that is all Scottoline's careful research. For example, the main character, Eric, is a psychiatrist. His various cases were researched so their descriptions are according to real science. Not only that, but the psychiatrist himself was researched, how he thinks and acts. EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES is a novel, but so much of it, including the legalities of a hospital system, sociopathy, police procedures, and criminal law, is authentic.
Fran
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Great book with an unpredictable ending! Loved this!
Patricia
A Lethal Lesson by Iona Whishaw
Number 8 in the Lane Winslow series. Lane and Inspector Darling return from Arizona to the snowy Kootenays and before they can catch their breath, the mysteries begin to pile up. The local one-room village school is missing a teacher just a couple of weeks before the Christmas holiday. The outgoing teacher is found unconscious and injured in her ransacked house, while the new replacement teacher is missing. Lane steps in to substitute and finds herself in the midst of a dangerous situation.
Patricia
The Granite Coast Murders by Jean-Luc Bannalec
Commisaire George Dupin series #6. This series is a double treat: an interesting mystery and a travel guide that will leave the reader wanting to travel to Brittany. Translated from German by Peiter Millar.
Rose
The Break-Up Book Club by Wendy Wax
Whenever a book is about books out book clubs, I want to read it. This book is a beach read book. Mainly about four women in various stages of their lives and their relationships with men. All of these women are members of a book club and through friendships developed there they help each other. Judith is a wife and mother of two adult children. Her husband Nate feels that their marriage is stale. Jazmine, a sports agent, and single mother is hesitant to date again after losing her fiancé. Sara is married to Mitch; he has decided he doesn’t want children and has brought his mother, Dorothy, who doesn’t like Sara, to live with them. Erin is a young woman engaged to Josh, a baseball pitcher, who decides he doesn’t want to wed.
Karen
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Pulls you in from the beginning. Characters pull you in and you fall in love with them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Teresa
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
Sweet and sad and funny, this book about a dying girl will break your heart and make you laugh. That’s a combination I love.
Cheryl
Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan
I can't get over the fact that things that happened in my youth are considered historical. Jeez, I'm old !! Lady Sunshine takes place in 1979, 43 years ago and 1999, 22 years ago. 1979 is the tail end of the Hippie era in California and the folk style music that Graham Kingston made has fallen out of fashion. His estate, The Sandcastle, is still going strong with an assortment of musicians and artists coming and going. This not quite a commune sounds idyllic on the surface but tension runs through the estate and the family. Jackie is sent to live with her Uncle Graham and Aunt Angela while her father and new stepmother honeymoon. She and her cousin Willa come from different worlds but form a bond and share secrets that fateful summer.
Tessa
The Girls by Emma Cline
I vividly remember the Manson murders of Sharon Tate et al. I followed the news coverage and could not imagine how these people became so enthralled and obedient to the obviously crazy Charles Manson. Cline’s Evie gives me some insight into how that might have happened. But I cannot bring myself to rate the book even with three stars. The subject was so distasteful to me. I cringed at how Evie is drawn in, at how she was abused, at how she “begged” for the abuse because she was so hungry for attention and for what she thought was evidence of love.
Marilyn
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Interesting story about culture and society, set in Korea.
Alice
Three Single Wives by Gina LaManna
Very hard to put it down. The style was interesting with questions from the trial prosecutor before each chapter. I highly recommend it.
Michele
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
Loved this story about a large family and the drama surrounding their father's indiscretion which has long-term effects for the children.
Maureen
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Was very good but depressing regarding the lives of people living in the Dust Bowl. I love her books.
She is a excellent writer.
Linda
Falling by T. J. Newman
A thrill of a plane ride!
Amy
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Took me a year to get to this one but I’m so glad I did.
Henderson
Tender is the Bite by Spencer Quinn
The latest edition in the Chet and Bernie series from author, Spencer Quinn, aka Peter Abrahams, does not disappoint. This series is such fun to read. The world needs more Chet and Bernie.
Donna
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days and claimed to have amnesia when she was found at a spa. She never spoke of this incident again and the world never found out what actually happened.
This is Marie Benedict's version of what may have happened to her.
Kristen
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
A unique voice in this genre. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and I wonder if there will be a sequel!
Trezeline
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
Beautiful words enhance a beautiful story.
Kimberley
Until I Find You by Rea Frey
This suspense-filled novel is fast-paced and powerful. A young mom who is visually impaired realizes her baby has been swapped. Recently widowed, her community believes overwhelming grief has caused her confusion. The story closely examines the difficulty law enforcement and the seeing impaired community share when witnesses are required. It is a great length and full of twists and turns.
Beth
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
Beautifully-written WWII story of four lost souls in Italy at the close of the war.
Rose
The Three Mrs. Wrights by Linda Keir
Lark Robinson is a game designer sitting in hotel bar when she meets Trip. Older than her, he charms her and promises to back her game production. Jessica Meyers is a doctor who leaves a fellowship program at Duke to work at Jon's cancer diagnostic company, Cancura. Holly Wright is a part-time pediatrician married to Jack. What these women don't know is that Trip/Jon/Jack are the same man. What will expose his actions, and will they be able to get revenge.
I liked the three POVs given by each of the women, but I hated the slick Jack (of course, that was the point!) Fun beach read.
Rose
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Texas Ranger Darren Matthews is proud to wear the badge, but he is currently on suspension while an investigation into the death of a white supremacist is investigated. Darren's friend, Mack McMillan, is accused of killing Ronnie Malvo after Malvo tormented Mack's teen granddaughter. Both Darren and Mack are black, and Darren had been called to the scene. Darren's mother, Bell, didn't raise him because she is an alcoholic. After his father died, Darren was raised by his uncle who encouraged him to attend law school. Although Bell didn't raise Darren, she holds his fate in her hands. Black/white racial tensions have deep roots in the town of Lark, TX where Darren goes to investigate a double murder. Great novel.
Rose
21st Birthday by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
In Cindy's office, a woman claims her son-in-law, Lucas Burke, has harmed her daughter, Tara, and her baby granddaughter. Cindy calls Lindsay to ask for help. New organization at SFPD, with Clapper, former head of forensic science is now chief. He tells Lindsay to leave it to missing persons. When bodies turn up, homicide is assigned to the case. Lindsay gets partnered with Brady, and Conklin gets partnered with new cop from Vegas - Alvarez. Lucas swears innocence. As case unfolds, Cindy gets material for new book on prolific serial killer. I thought the book had too pat of an ending. Killer wants to be famous so he gives Cindy all the info on his killings and confesses. Seems like it came out of the blue to quickly wrap the book.
Rose
Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks
TWENTY-ONE TRUTHS ABOUT LOVE is a novel written as a series of daily lists, and sometimes multiple lists in a day. Dan is insecure - as owner of a bookstore and his management of it, of his wife's love, of his ability to be a good father, about his relationship with his own father. Over the course of a few months, Dan's financial situation becomes more desperate and Dan becomes more anxious about how to resolve it. This is a sweet, endearing novel about love, strength, friendship, and relationships. I really enjoyed the majority of the novel, and laughed at many of the observations. I recommend this quick read.
Rose
Choppy Water by Stuart Woods
Holly Barker has just been elected the next president of the U.S. After a long campaign, she wants a getaway. While she and Stone escape to Maine, someone launches an attack. Thus begins a chase across America trying to keep Holly safe. A smear campaign to ruin her chance of re-election, a counter campaign against these forces, all lead to an exciting tale. Although I think the book ended rather abruptly, it was better than several of the recent Stone Barrington novels. Super quick read.
Rose
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
This is a remarkable novel of love, grit, determination, and necessity. When Lydia's entire family, except herself and her 8-year-old son, Luca, are killed by a Mexican cartel due to an article her journalist husband, Sebastian, wrote, Lydia knows they must flee Acapulco. She quickly gathers a few belongings for them and makes plans to flee the city and head north to the U.S. As they journey, they meet various people, some kind and willing to help, and others who are cruel and untrustworthy. Lydia is cautiously aware that the cartel has eyes everywhere. Two of the migrants are Soledad and Rebeca, teenagers from Honduras. The girls have seen too much in their young lives and together with Lydia and Luca, they form a family. Fabulous!
Rose
Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie
While a success as a tour guide, Skye is a bit of a mess in her personal life, not keeping up with friendships, or her family, relationships. One day, at an art show for a friend, and while trying to avoid her brother, she is approached by a 12-year-old. Vicky is the result of Skye being an egg donor for a friend years earlier. Skye initially doesn't know how to react, but eventually builds a relationship with Vicky and Vicky's family. Also, Skye is lesbian, and if that bothers you, don't read this book, because there is a lot about this in the novel. At times, I laughed out loud at Skye's outrageous behavior and antics. However, I think the book was just okay.
shelly
Falling for Her Convenient Groom by Jennifer Faye
Carla is worried about her dad after he suffered his second heart attack. Her father feels Carla should spend more time worrying about getting married and having a family rather than running the family business. Carla is determined to take over the business (the Falco Fresco Ristorantes) and makes a deal with her dad that if she gets married within six months she has full control of her decisions and he cannot override any of her decisions. Franco Marchello who is heading the Marchello Spices company wants to put their products back into the Falco Restaurants. The problem for years is that Carla's dad and Franco's grandfather had a huge fight and accused Carla's dad of cheating in a card game and he decides to pull the spices out.
Sheree
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
I really enjoyed this book and the plot. I was hesitant to read it since Carol said she didn't finish it because it was almost 600 pages, but I am glad I did - the book was very good. It was a very long read though!
Rose
The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman
I enjoyed Catherine Steadman's first novel, SOMETHING IN THE WATER, so I was excited to read her latest novel. In this novel, Steadman tells a story about acting and the industry. When Mia Eliot is dumped by her boyfriend for a starlet, she leaves London to audition for some roles in Hollywood. While waiting to be called for an audition, she meets another actress, Emily. Emily asks Mia for a favor, and when Mia does it and returns to the audition room, Emily is gone. So begins Mia's obsession to find out what happened to Emily. Strange things begin occurring, people aren't who they seem, and finally a confession scene takes place. Acting is a story that Steadman knows well, as she is an actress herself. I liked this novel, a quick read.
Jan
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
I am a Sager fan but this book was agony. Because I really liked other books, I persevered. A shy young woman who likes to spend her time in daydreams but calls them movies. Selfish - can think only of herself finally decides to drop out of college after she has beaten herself to death. Except her best friend was recently murdered and she crawls in a car with a man she does not know for a ride back to grandma's house. Sager does everything to build suspense but he fails in this one. No character development other than the whiny girl. The ending is a kick in the head - but there is an unbelievable buildup, fire in an old resort, guns, shooting, wounding, running, dive in a stream, finding cuffs just in time. Save your time.
Jan
Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane
A beautiful book. Read slowly. A woman who works at a college does work with the plants and grounds. She helped the college win an award by her careful work. She is awarded a month's free time by her supervisor. She came home because he mother was dying. She never planned to do so, but she ends up taking care of her father and working at the local college. She has not had time or energy to develop friends but she decides to go visit long time friends from her college days. Some are nice, some not. Some are busy, some are eager to see her. This gentle book talks about real friendship and urges the reader to think about it. The main character is developed into someone we would like to have for a friend. Who are your friends? Great book.
karen
The Clover Girls by Viola Shipman
Loved the friendship of the girls and although as adults they had grown apart, their history brings them together again.
Christine
The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates
This is a nice, solid Gothic-esque ghost story - young girl inherits old secluded house from a relative she never knew. While not perfect, it does deliver the right amount of chills, thrills, and just a touch of gore. It held my interest throughout and was an engrossing read.
Richard N B
All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
In this memoir, Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg outlines the difficulties of growing up “dirt poor” in Appalachia, with an alcoholic father who could never shake that demon and a mother who willingly sacrificed her own health and well-being for her children’s sake. Bragg left his home, but his home never left him. His story in an honest, gripping, and inspiring love letter to his mother.
Thomas
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
I thought this was an excellent book. A lot of twists.
Laura
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
I found it dragged. It was way too long. It could have been edited down quite a bit. I felt the families struggles and know it was a true story. I'm on the fence between a 2 and a 3 rating.
Laura
All the Little Hopes by Leah Weiss
I was thinking yet another WWII novel. This one was done in a unique way - from the homefront, not in Europe. The mixing in the concentration camp and how they made friends was a fabulous lesson that we are all equal. The three missing persons were at the beginning and at the end. I would have liked it more involved in the middle of the story. It was as if it was a grabber in the beginning and then forgotten about. Then, when the novel was almost finished, the missing person mystery had to be solved.
Jan
Miacle Creek by Angie Kim
It is a sad, sad story about immigrants and how the white man fools them so much of the time. It is also a story about a husband and what he does to seduce an innocent immigrant girl. It is a story that any Korean knows and anyone who has lived in Korea knows. Man is right. Woman and child obey. Mighty dreams - take over the world, make a million dollars. There is so much typical of Korea life in this book. The woman always obeys the man -- and the teen-aged daughter fights. It is a very sad story. People are killed by accident, lies, lies, can not one deal with the truth - did I mention constant lies? The story also deals with a lot of handicapped people. Excellent discussion points for a book club.
NANCY
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
One of the best books I have read in a some time. Rarely give a book a perfect 5-star rating. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The person who seems to be at the most disadvantage in this book ends up being a remarkable champion, against all odds.
Laura
The Push by Ashley Audrain
WOW. They say that a killer is born not created. You can still wonder whether or not Violet is evil. But many deaths go unexplained. I became very involved with the characters in this book and could see all of them as real people, a sign of a great novel. You'll need a strong stomach for this one.
Rose
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER. I enjoyed this novel which is based on a real person, although much of the family story is fictionalized. I appreciated the historical portions of this novel and focus on the events of the time: the rise of the Third Reich, the Great Depression, the birth of the Dionne quintuplets, concerns over intermarriage between religions. It is the summer of 1934 and Florence has her heart set on swimming the English Channel. Florence trains off Atlantic City NJ in the ocean. Her older sister, Fannie is in the hospital with a high-risk pregnancy. Her mom makes the decision not to tell Fannie a secret until after the birth.
Allie
The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
A delightfully spooky and queer book about a small town, disappearing teens, and the girl who gets involved when her dads come under suspicion. This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I loved it so much.
Jan
Pale by Edward A. Farmer
This is a strange little book - about race relations here in 2021- but the author is trying to tell us something. Many of the employees at the plantation are children or grandchildren of slaves. They still raise cotton. The housekeeper's oldest son has pale skin while the second child is very dark. The woman of the house (The Mistress as she is called) does some horrible things to split the children from each other and their mother. So the reader sees evil. The maid, who tells the story, hates the mistress at times and loves her at others. It is difficult to keep straight. Some of the characters are stereotypes, others are originals. The older son goes away to college but is only there one year before he is summoned back to the plantation.
Jennifer
Buckyball by Frank R. Cole
I enjoyed the story but since it’s a screen play it’s just not what I like to read. Every paragraph says who is talking (because it’s a screenplay), but this stopped me from getting into the book because of how it reads.
Jennifer
Warriors (I Bring the Fire #5) by C. Gockel
I am loving this series. The mythology blends so well with the story. Who needs to sleep when you can just finish reading the book before you go to sleep. I finished this book and immediately bought the rest of the series because I cannot wait to read more!
Jennifer
Vlad the Impaler by Captivating History
I love the hourly history books. I’ve always been interested in history and vampires so VLAD THE IMPALER obviously crossed my path, but for a short book I learned quite a bit more than I would have about Vlad. He’s both a villain and a hero. Horrible what he did, but I love when books tell both sides of the tale.
Francisca
Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
A cross-country journey from New York to Arizona gives one family – mother, father, 10-year-old boy, five-year-old girl – an opportunity to explore the history of this nation’s native peoples and to learn about the current fabric of America and the people so desperate to come here. I loved the way this unfolded. Luiselli changes narrators throughout the book, sometimes giving us the mother’s perspective, or the son’s. Both parents work to document things, and this forces the reader to think about how we remember things. I am so looking forward to my F2F book club discussion of this book!
Suzanne
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Loved this book! So different from my usual reads but the writer was so versed in the subject and put so much in this book. I read this because I had read a review previously on this site.
Cindy
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Que Mai
Historical fiction. A different perspective of Vietnam: the people, their struggles (1942-1948 Great Hunger, 1955 Land Reform, and the Vietnam War and its aftermath). Excellent story! We may be reading this one for my book club.
Margaret
The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick
Jane Kirkpatrick is not a new author for me. I've read two of her many novels: ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND and ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS. I was happy to get an ARC from the publisher, Revell, via a LibraryThing giveaway. This novel is inspirational historical fiction set in the early 1900s out West (NM, CA, etc.). Natalie Curtis, a real person who was a renowned ethnomusicologist, American Indian activist and lecturer, a singer and a classical pianist. She worked very hard for years to preserve the Indians' music, customs, food, music, & art. When she found out how the U.S. Government was treating the Indians, she felt obligated to do something. She even went as far as the White House to get the President's help. She wrote THE INDIAN'S BOOK in 1907.
Trezeline
The Perfect Guest by Emma Rous
A very good mystery. An interesting ending.
S
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Inspired by real events, this coming-of-age road trip adventure is a cross between Kristin Hannah’s THE FOUR WINDS and Sarah Gruen’s WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. It is a must-read for all animal lovers! In s modern day nursing home, 105-year-old Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Nickel is at the end of his life but he’s determined to leave a record of the most important experience of his life before his time is up. After the Great Hurricane of 1938, the orphaned Texas native encountered a pair of giraffes destined for the San Diego Zoo and their keeper. He is determined to follow them. A young reporter sees her opportunity there, too. The journey captures the country's imagination. As the miles go by bonds develop between both animals and humans.
Rose
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Jivan, living in the slums in India, tries to make a better life for her family by dropping out of school and getting a job. She also helps Lovely learn to read. Lovely is a hijra, which is a eunuch or a transgender person in India. When Jivan posts a Facebook message, it blows up in her face. She is arrested as a terrorist for bombing a train that killed 112 people. Lovely is an aspiring actress. PT Sir is Jivan‘s former PE teacher. Both Lovely and PT Sir testify at Jivan's trial. PT Sir becomes involved with the opposition political party in India and enjoys the prestige and money it gives him. In the story, the travesty is that people become enamored with wealth, and it overrides their sense of morality. It is a tragedy. Very sad.
Rose
Fortune Favors the Dead: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery by Stephen Spotswood
This book was a ton of fun! I loved that it was set in the 1940s, adding to the aura of an old-fashioned detective novel. I enjoyed the quirky characters and the way the murder mystery was laid out for you to solve. I appreciated that the main characters are a bit flawed. In the first novel in the series, we are introduced to Ms. Lillian Pentecost and Miss Willowjean Parker. Willowjean recounts the story of the Collins case, where a wealthy couple are both found dead, a year apart. Clairvoyants, family secrets and a little romance all play a part in this entertaining novel. I look forward to book two!
