Set at a camp in upstate NY in the mid-70s, a young female camper disappears in the middle of the night. She is the daughter of the camp owners, who aSet at a camp in upstate NY in the mid-70s, a young female camper disappears in the middle of the night. She is the daughter of the camp owners, who are quite wealthy, and everyone is afraid to tell her parents, mostly because her older brother also disappeared forever when he was just eight years old. Suspicion falls on the son of the parents' banker, who is thought to be the heir apparent. The daughter is very odd, but is very friendly with the female camp director. The primary investigator from the NY State Police is the strongest character in the novel, and has to deal with many family secrets, and pressure from her own Polish family to live at home when her job is hours away. I thought there were a too few POVs, but thought the timeline switching was well done. A few surprises at the end, but a bit too long getting to them....more
Set in Bayou country, deputy Annie Broussard discovers the brutal murder of an attractive female real estate agent and business owner. Detective FourcSet in Bayou country, deputy Annie Broussard discovers the brutal murder of an attractive female real estate agent and business owner. Detective Fourcade believes the killer is a seemingly timid guy, whose advances and small gifts she rejected. When a key piece of evidence found in the defendant's possession is barred because it was not listed on the warrant, the defendant walks setting off a series of unfortunate events, including an attack by the victim's father and a beating by Fourcade, witnessed by Broussard. Broussard wants to see justice done, and hesitatingly begins to work on the case, even though the new lead detective has ordered her off the case, in part because of her intention to testify against Fourcade. The defendant and Broussard are harassed and attacked by parties unknown, and Hoag keeps readers guessing until the end....more
Two young Japanese girls and their father move to the country to be closer to their ailing mother in the hospital. Their new home may be haunted, but Two young Japanese girls and their father move to the country to be closer to their ailing mother in the hospital. Their new home may be haunted, but at a minimum is spooky. A elderly neighbor watches the little one (Mei), while her school age sister (Satsuki) is in school. Mei is adventurous, and discovers a forest spirit named Totoro. When Mei goes missing, Satsuki has to find her sister, with help from magical friends. The illustrations are breathtaking -- perhaps the story boards for the movie? -- and the reason for the 5 star rating.
2.5 stars, rounded up. Jack Reacher awakens, chained to a stainless steel table, bruised and battered, with a broken wrist, supposedly rescued from a 2.5 stars, rounded up. Jack Reacher awakens, chained to a stainless steel table, bruised and battered, with a broken wrist, supposedly rescued from a car accident, with no memory of the accident. Seriously, Jack Reacher with a broken bone? It simply took too long to figure out what was going on, and the agenda of the bad guys, and more importantly, why the FBI was after these criminals. Catching a bunch of home robbers should not involve the FBI. Jack eventually partners with a cop looking for vengeance on one of the robbers, who shot her father (retired cop, turned security guard) to death in a robbery. The killer bears a resemblance to Jack, leading to an interesting meeting for the two. Unfortunately, the real crime is too unbelievable and Jack's wit and charm is too often absent, at least for me....more
19 year-old Jakob Novis is a math wizard, and has been working hard to break the Enigma cipher at Bletchley Park in 1940, unintentionally ignoring his19 year-old Jakob Novis is a math wizard, and has been working hard to break the Enigma cipher at Bletchley Park in 1940, unintentionally ignoring his headstrong, 14 year-old sister Lizzie. Lizzie is secretly trying to locate her American born mother, who mysteriously disappeared from the Warsaw embassy, where she volunteered to go, as it was being closed. She is presumed dead, except Lizzie is sure she is alive. Meanwhile, their grandmother in Cleveland is hell bent on Lizzie coming to America. Lizzie runs off, and is reunited with Jakob at Bletchley Park, where she notices many details as a messenger, eventually figuring out what happened to her mother, along with Jakob and two other friends from Bletchley Park, by risking her life....more
Another weak effort in the Ranger's Apprentice series: Royal Ranger #7. It seems that author John Flanagan is more interested in churning out a new boAnother weak effort in the Ranger's Apprentice series: Royal Ranger #7. It seems that author John Flanagan is more interested in churning out a new book than in advancing this series with character development. Will and Maddie have really taken a back seat to warring peoples in neighboring lands. The Temujai are once again looking to usurp the lands of Toscana, where Will and Maddie and trying to negotiate a cooperation agreement. Things are going well, and while the infantry and cavalry of the two countries are formidable, they are not enough to quash the Temujai invasion, forcing Will to hire mercenaries, despite his own misgivings, which prove to be valid as greed triumphs....more
Protagonist Vida is raised by her uncle Ogden in an isolated area in the woods, taught to appreciate the land and its many creatures. She pans for gemProtagonist Vida is raised by her uncle Ogden in an isolated area in the woods, taught to appreciate the land and its many creatures. She pans for gems, and has a sixth sense about the natural world. An sociopathic billionaire has destructive plans for Kettleton County and will stop at nothing to succeed. Vida's fiancee tries to rally public support against his development project, and is killed in what is deemed an accident by the police department. Vida knows better, as they come after her; however, she is a force with which to be reckoned herself, and is able to find a few allies in her battle, including the wisdom of a female mystic. 3.5 stars, rounded up....more
This is the first of ten books in the Noodle Shop Mystery series, and I had hopes that it might be as much fun as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum serThis is the first of ten books in the Noodle Shop Mystery series, and I had hopes that it might be as much fun as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, especially with this zinger: "Welcome to the Ho-Lee Noodle House, where the Chinese food is to die for." Lana Lee is working in the family's Chinese restaurant in an Asian mall, when the mall's owner dies after eating shrimp dumplings delivered by Lana. His allergy is well-known, but Lana and Peter (the cook) are the most likely suspects. Lana decides to investigate to clear their names, putting herself in danger and annoying the assigned detective. Unfortunately, this was nowhere near as entertaining as I had hoped....more
I think the Yiddish word mishegoss is the most appropriate word to describe Steven Weinberg's book about color. For those who do not know Yiddish, herI think the Yiddish word mishegoss is the most appropriate word to describe Steven Weinberg's book about color. For those who do not know Yiddish, here are some synonyms: craziness, folly, tomfoolery, indulgence, and lunacy. Using colors as chapters, he describes how and when various colors were developed (e.g., cow piss for yellow or poisonous chemicals for others.) He also veers into a number of famous painters lives and their masterworks. It's weird, but will appeal to a certain kind of reader....more
Uneven book, especially the pacing. Archaeologist Rabbit Ward is a time traveler, who seeks patrons to go back in time to recover lost artifacts from Uneven book, especially the pacing. Archaeologist Rabbit Ward is a time traveler, who seeks patrons to go back in time to recover lost artifacts from the ancient world. Unfortunately, he remains traumatized by losing the son of a patron on a mission from 20 years ago. Rabbit gets a rare opportunity to return to the period to try to recover the golden menorah once; however, things begin to go wrong as soon as he arrives in 6th century, Constantinople, because he seems to have a competitor or two from the future. I thought the author really left Rabbit's relationship with Helen unexplored, perhaps leaving this for future books in the series, but it was unfulfilling. 2.5 stars, reluctantly rounded up....more
2.5 stars, rounded up. The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a building, with a very mixed group of tenants. Roya is the superintendent’s kid, and likens hers2.5 stars, rounded up. The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a building, with a very mixed group of tenants. Roya is the superintendent’s kid, and likens herself a detective jumping in when Katya Petrov, goes missing. This leads Roya, her new BFF Amin and Katya's wife to a fortune telling machine at Coney Island, which seems to harken time travel (think of Tom Hanks and the hit movie Big.) I never got connected with the characters or timelines. ...more
Another exciting book in the Commander Reece series, although there was a bunch of extraneous geopolitical gobbledygook in the first 100 pages. Reece Another exciting book in the Commander Reece series, although there was a bunch of extraneous geopolitical gobbledygook in the first 100 pages. Reece has been thrown in an unlighted cell in supermax prison for his alleged role in the assassination of President Christensen (at the end of the last book.) He is eventually rescued by Alice and his CIA buddy, but the Russians are still after the secrets in his father's papers. They are also involved in trying to divide the world between themselves and the Chinese, but distracting the U.S. with a false flag operation. While trying to protect his friends, Reece finds himself in the middle of trying to thwart a nuclear attack, requiring him to contact the wife of a U.S. Senator killed in office to unravel the mystery of his father's damaging secrets....more
Page and Turner are fraternal twins, often left to themselves by their parents and equally absent babysitter, and often spend time at the NY Public LiPage and Turner are fraternal twins, often left to themselves by their parents and equally absent babysitter, and often spend time at the NY Public Library. They "borrow" their father's prized copy of Dracula and hope someone at NYPL can tell them what it's worth, but the book disappears into the stacks, and they are dragged into a night at the museum NYPL, where an epic battle is brewing between characters escaped from books. I liked the illustrations, but found the story slow to develop, caused in part by my inability to decide which twin was which. The good news is that the story got better as it went along. ...more
Elizabeth (Ellie) Black disappeared from a high school rage party at a local motel, only to reappear two years later, wandering out of the forest in tElizabeth (Ellie) Black disappeared from a high school rage party at a local motel, only to reappear two years later, wandering out of the forest in the Olympic National Park. She is withdrawn, and unwilling to help Detective Chelsey Calhoun find her abductor, even as Chelsey discovers the identity of a second kidnapped woman based on blood found on Ellie's clothes. Chelsey is suffering from her own family trauma: the cancer death of her police chief father and her sister's murder by her boyfriend, who then committed suicide by driving his car off a cliff. The story goes back and forth between Ellie's time in captivity with other victims as their wills are destroyed by evil captors, and her time after release in therapy, with her family. The ending was excellent, and a real twisty treat. ...more
Easily the worst book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series. Bruno is recovering from being shot, and has not been cleared for active duty. Three sets Easily the worst book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series. Bruno is recovering from being shot, and has not been cleared for active duty. Three sets of bones are found in a grave on a property being redeveloped: two naked German girls and possibly an Italian submariner so lots of international intrigue. An American wants to get licensed to lead tours about the Dordogne region's ties to America, while avoiding her ex-husband. This creates an opening for author Martin Walker to do a boring historical data dump. Basically nothing happens in this book, until the very end when the release of water from upstream dams threatens St. Denis and the local valley, with Bruno as the hero again. Skip this one, and wait for Book #18....more
Having read Ragnar Jonasson's Death at the Sanitorium earlier this month, I found this book similar, where abuse changes lives and leads to abherent bHaving read Ragnar Jonasson's Death at the Sanitorium earlier this month, I found this book similar, where abuse changes lives and leads to abherent behavior. Like the other book, this is also told in separate timelines. In the current one, a government employee Odinn, is asked to complete the casework of a colleague who died suddenly, investigating claims of mistreatment of boys sent to a state correctional facility in the 1970s, working on a remote farm. Odinn himself is dealing with the recent death of his estranged wife and responsibility for their daughter and her trauma. The second timeline was from the farm in the 1970s, where we hear what occurred from the POV of Aldis, an employee at the facility Odinn is investigating. For me, the story took too long to get going, which was remedied in the end, with an unusual merging of the storylines....more
Another excellent installment of the City Spies series. Annie, the daughter of Mother (who leads the City Spies) and Clementine (who allegiances are uAnother excellent installment of the City Spies series. Annie, the daughter of Mother (who leads the City Spies) and Clementine (who allegiances are uncertain) and who wants nothing to do with the spy business of her parents, is threatened in Italy and goes on the run. Her brother and the City Spies team are working to protect the future Queen because of a threat that is supposed to happen at the Royal Wedding. The City Spies divide up to solve both problems, and face numerous threats, especially a technology-based one, where someone is trying to destroy an integrated computer network for the world's spy agencies. As always, author James Ponti continues to add to the depth of his characters in this sixth book....more
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