Babs Dionne is the crime lord in Waterville, Maine, trying to keep order in town, where Canadian immigrants are treated as white trash, when things geBabs Dionne is the crime lord in Waterville, Maine, trying to keep order in town, where Canadian immigrants are treated as white trash, when things get ugly really fast. A classic story of a leather factory polluting the water, maiming people, leading to deaths and drug dependencies. One daughter disappears, a second daughter almost dies of an overdose, and her son died overseas in the military. Her grandson has a black eye, and Babs has to lay a smackdown on her son-in-law. She and the sheriff are in bed together, when an enforcer shows up for a Canadian drug king, who wants to own the local trade. Secrets become known, and the truth is harsh. The only steady hand in town seems to be the parish priest. A bit too heavy on violence and too little differentiation among the players....more
A weird book, that seemed to be more of a history of a house, than of the owners. Precious few of the characters were interesting: murderers, an appleA weird book, that seemed to be more of a history of a house, than of the owners. Precious few of the characters were interesting: murderers, an apple farmer, spinster twins, a lovelorn painter, an adulterer, a psychic, gay lovers, ghosts, prisoners, and a hungry wildcat (see book cover.) For me anyway, I found the narrative disjointed and the high ratings on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ surprising. ...more
Sepehr Haddad does a very good job elucidating the relatively unknown history of Iran prior to and during WWII, which unfortunately became a battlegroSepehr Haddad does a very good job elucidating the relatively unknown history of Iran prior to and during WWII, which unfortunately became a battleground among the Allies (Britain/U.S.), the Third Reich, and Russia. Its natural resources, oil and food, were coveted by foreign powers, leaving many citizens starving or worse. While focusing on the plight of an Iranian family, with a German in-law, there were elements of smuggling and spycraft. For me anyway, the primary characters were not sufficiently compelling to give the book a higher rating....more
Another excellent book in the Malabar House series featuring Bombay’s only female detective, Persis Wadia, and the traveling Metropolitan Police crimiAnother excellent book in the Malabar House series featuring Bombay’s only female detective, Persis Wadia, and the traveling Metropolitan Police criminologist, Archie Blackfish. Set in the 1950s, the frozen body of a murdered white man is found in a Himalayan mountain cave. Because he is a white man, there is pressure to identify him and find what happened. Then, a prominent couple are found dead in their bed: Italian Stephen Renzi was bludgeoned, and his Indian wife, Leela Sinha, has her throat slit. Leela’s father is politically connected so this case becomes a priority as well. Finally, a German Catholic pacifist priest, Peter Grunewald, is also bludgeoned. When an incompetent police colleague, Hemant Oberoi, arrests and forcibly extracts a confession from a man Persis believes innocent, further pressure falls on her investigation. The reason for the deaths is sussed out by Persis, again putting herself in grave danger along the way....more
This is a very short story: basically, it is Andy Borowitz's account of a life-threatening medical situation, interspersed with his wonderful sense ofThis is a very short story: basically, it is Andy Borowitz's account of a life-threatening medical situation, interspersed with his wonderful sense of humor, including the title itself.
P.S. Kind of cheating to count it as a book. ;-)...more
My least favorite Jennifer Nielsen book (out of 14.) 14-year old Atlas and his father use mountain climbing as an escape to avoid speaking about the cMy least favorite Jennifer Nielsen book (out of 14.) 14-year old Atlas and his father use mountain climbing as an escape to avoid speaking about the cancer-related death of his mother. It's 1939, and they join an expedition to climb Mount Everest. The adults ditch Atlas at one of the camps, but disappear following an avalanche in their push to the summit. A single Sherpa, Atlas and a 14-year old American named Maddie (whose father is also missing) mount a rescue attempt, battling the elements, the oxygen-starved elevations, and their inner demons. There is an even sillier plot line of Nazis seeking a hidden Aryan race, possibly sabotaging the adult climbers. I also did not care for the interruption of flashbacks to climbing mistakes made previously by Atlas, which interrupted the main plot....more
11-year-old Parvana is the daughter of educated parents in Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban in the late 1990s. Parvana helps her father in the ma11-year-old Parvana is the daughter of educated parents in Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban in the late 1990s. Parvana helps her father in the market, where he translates or reads letter for the many illiterates in Kabul. Barely scraping by, her father is seized and taken off to prison, leaving the family with no income so Parvana pretends to be a male cousin named Kaseem to continue her father's business as women are not allowed to be alone and must be completely covered at all times by the Taliban. She and a school acquaintance make some money doing something shady, but use the proceeds to sell gum and cigarettes to bring in more income. Her family life changes as someone comes to help and her older sister accepts a marriage proposal. First in a five book series....more
Sami Kierce is on his way to medical school when his college roommate and his lax buddies decide to go to the Sun Coast in Spain, where Sami falls harSami Kierce is on his way to medical school when his college roommate and his lax buddies decide to go to the Sun Coast in Spain, where Sami falls hard for a girl in a disco named Anna. After partying, drinking, drugging, and screwing, he wakes up to find her stabbed multiple times and his hand on the bloody knife. He reports the death, but there is no body, but he runs back to America. Sami has lost his way, and decides to pass on medical school, eventually becoming a cop. Things go badly there, and he is forced to resign in disgrace, but his fiancee is murdered. The killer is found, convicted and sent to prison. As this book starts, Sami is happily married with a one-year old son, and is teaching a class in investigations when the killer is released essentially due to Sami's reputation for being a dirty cop. As he is teaching, a woman looks in on the class and Sami thinks it is Anna, setting in motion, a project for his class as they track her to a fancy estate in tony Connecticut, and comes to learn she is the kidnapped daughter of a wealthy family, who disappeared for 11+ years, returning with no memory of what happened. We then embark on a classic Coben mystery, full of twists and intrigue....more
Twenty years ago, a junior accounting clerk Doris Grandfelt was brutally stabbed to death at work. Readers know who committed the crime, but the policTwenty years ago, a junior accounting clerk Doris Grandfelt was brutally stabbed to death at work. Readers know who committed the crime, but the police are stumped as she was found in a park many miles away. Her older sister, Lara Grandfelt, is a major contributor to local politicians and wants the murder solved, and decides to offer a $5 million reward over the advice of U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and BCA Agent Virgil Flowers, including posting the police reports online. Naturally, this brings out true crime bloggers, and one of them finds the murder weapon buried elsewhere in the park using a metal detector. This is the first of many breakthroughs making the killer feel threatened, who then starts taking lethal actions to hide their identity. Virgil and Lucas work together, pushing and prodding the bloggers until they identify the guilty party. Actually, the book should only be rated 3.5 for the ending....more
John Singer Sargent was the preeminent portrait artist of his era: late 1800s/early 1900s. Jean Strouse has provided a thoroughly researched book abouJohn Singer Sargent was the preeminent portrait artist of his era: late 1800s/early 1900s. Jean Strouse has provided a thoroughly researched book about him and his patronage by the Wertheimer family, who were important art dealers in that same time period. Sargent's mastery was in showing who people were, both inside and outside. Strouse also discusses important social and economic themes, such as anti-Semitism (where museums were not interested in exhibiting Jews) and the decline of the British aristocracy and the rise of modern businessmen (including the transfer of their art and collectibles.) I found the book's organization to be unorthodox, even confusing at times, but liked the color plates....more
Solid effort by Brett Battles, who is continuing the Stuart Woods' series. Woodman & Weld win a lawsuit against a seriously wealthy sociopath, who decSolid effort by Brett Battles, who is continuing the Stuart Woods' series. Woodman & Weld win a lawsuit against a seriously wealthy sociopath, who decides to punish Stone by destroying the artwork of his famous mother, Matilda Stone. When his townhouse is attacked, Stone uses lethal force against one of the intruders, further enraging his adversary. Next, they decide to obtain three paintings, with the intention to burn them at an upcoming birthday celebration for Stone, including one painting acquired by producer, Billy Barnett (a/k/a Teddy Fay.) Meanwhile, Stone meets an insurance investigator, who has been looking into a new of arson cases where paintings have turned to ash. These crooks are hired to find three Stone paintings in too short order, and things go badly, especially when the dirty art dealer decides to keep the originals and hire a forger. My only quibble is that I really do not think Battles has been able to mimic the voices of the main characters, mainly his choice of words....more
Here's the lead: "Bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Lola in the Mirror is the irresistible new novel from international bestselling [Australian]Here's the lead: "Bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Lola in the Mirror is the irresistible new novel from international bestselling [Australian] author, ... Trent Dalton." Best book I have read this year. It's quirky though.
We meet a soon-to-be 18-year old girl, whose identity is unknown to her and readers alike. She lives with her mother in an abandoned van with four flat tires, and her friends are houseless and addicts of one kind or another; but, she has big dreams of being a famous artist and wants to go to the local art school in Brisbane. They live off of scraps from a drug dealer, who employs them in her seafood store. The two have been on the run, because the mother killed her husband, who was a monster and she intends to turn herself in when the girl turns 18, but things go awry when the mother attempts a heroic act. The girl's life changes thereafter, and not for the better, eventually placing her in harm's way in more ways than one. Miraculously, she and a wealthy boy fall deeply in love, and when things look darkest, something wonderful happens.
Paul Heppell's ink sketches at the beginning of each chapter are frigging awesome!...more
Another excellent historical fiction book by Mario Escobar, based on a real hero in Warsaw ghetto during WWII. Sixty-year-old Janusz Korczak is a dediAnother excellent historical fiction book by Mario Escobar, based on a real hero in Warsaw ghetto during WWII. Sixty-year-old Janusz Korczak is a dedicated physician, a respected educator, and is well-known in the Warsaw community, where he runs a Jewish orphanage. When the Nazis invade, he, his workers and the children are placed at great risk, eventually forced to abandon their school a move into the walled Warsaw ghetto. Despite his failing health, Janusz and his friends do everything in their power to shield the children from disease, starvation, and the daily horrors surrounding them. An extraordinary story about a truly remarkable hero, whose caring and love for orphans was unbounded, especially his relationship with Hendrik....more
Nesta Acheron is in a bad mental space, drinking and taking strangers into her bed. The war with Hybern, her transition from human to high fae, her unNesta Acheron is in a bad mental space, drinking and taking strangers into her bed. The war with Hybern, her transition from human to high fae, her unknown powers, and her guilt over her father's death have taken a toll. That's a lot of weight on one's shoulders. Doing what they think is best, Feyre and Rhys cut off her cash flow and force her to choose between training with Cassian and work in the library or live penniless with humans. Between the two new activities, she feels better physically and makes some new friends in the library, who she asks to join her in training (to deal with their own personal traumas.) This helps Nesta finds purpose again in life, and rekindle her relationship with Cassian, who is patient, unflappable, and kind. Ultimately, Nesta finds her inner strength when a seemingly insurmountable challenge faces her and her friends. Personally, I did not care for the unnecessary family drama with Feyre and Rhys....more
Brett Battles has picked up where Stuart Woods left off, with Book #7 in the Teddy Fay series. Some of his former colleagues from Operation Golden HouBrett Battles has picked up where Stuart Woods left off, with Book #7 in the Teddy Fay series. Some of his former colleagues from Operation Golden Hour are being systematically assassinated in Europe. With Teddy Fay heading to Europe anyway on a publicity tour for Peter Barrington’s newest movie, Lance Cabot asks Teddy to investigate who is murdering these people and why. As always, Teddy has to avoid entanglements with various women and alter his appearance multiple times, switching between himself, his movie producer persona or his movie stuntman persona. ...more
12-year old Ciara finds an ancient journal/spellbook belonging to Bianca, a disciple of the legendary Dragon Mage, in an abandoned tower, but refuses 12-year old Ciara finds an ancient journal/spellbook belonging to Bianca, a disciple of the legendary Dragon Mage, in an abandoned tower, but refuses to hand it over to the local Warden, who has pillaged the local town with his relentless greed. She summons a dragon named Scorch, who has been asleep for 1,000 years; he realizes that Ciara is a descendant of Bianca and knows the Dragon Mage wanted magic to be accessible to all people. Instead, her evil disciple (Cillian) has misrepresented her wishes, claiming only living descendants can wield magic or monster Revenants will return. Scorch reluctantly begins to teach Ciara magic from the spellbook (a hoot itself) so she can rescue her mother from the Warden and cure her mother of the deadly Skael Cough that killed her father. Sadly, too much magic drains Ciara of all her energy. With the help of the Captain of the Guard's daughter, they launch a daring rescue attempt, which falters when Ciara's energy wanes, requiring outside intervention....more
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