About half way through... the theme: "cooking as metaphor for life" -- ok, not quite as good as "Like Water for Chocolate" -- the writing seems a bit About half way through... the theme: "cooking as metaphor for life" -- ok, not quite as good as "Like Water for Chocolate" -- the writing seems a bit overdone, but the characters are interesting and the food recipes sound delicious....more
A compelling page-turner set in NYC. The main character is a detective who stumbles upon the body of an NYU student who appears to be the "girl from tA compelling page-turner set in NYC. The main character is a detective who stumbles upon the body of an NYU student who appears to be the "girl from the bad part of town who made good." The main detective, O'Hara, appears to have some "girl from the bad part of town" in her past and is trying to make up for it. The author, De Jong, doesn't get bogged down in the police procedures but focuses on O'Hara's need to figure out who Francesca Pena is...or was....more
Just picked this up at the library and I'm pleasantly surprised. After one full day, I'm more than 3/4 through. Can't wait to find out the ending and Just picked this up at the library and I'm pleasantly surprised. After one full day, I'm more than 3/4 through. Can't wait to find out the ending and to pick up Gillian Flynn's first novel, "Sharp Objects."...more
A good mystery, with an interesting protagonist: Clara Benning, a vet who lives in a small, rural village in England. She suddenly finds herself caughA good mystery, with an interesting protagonist: Clara Benning, a vet who lives in a small, rural village in England. She suddenly finds herself caught up in a 50 year old mystery involving splintered religious sects and murders committed by snake bites....more
Not a bad old-fashioned ghost story - the usual suspects are all here: a creepy Georgian house that has fallen into disrepair, a once rich, proud famiNot a bad old-fashioned ghost story - the usual suspects are all here: a creepy Georgian house that has fallen into disrepair, a once rich, proud family now beset by financial troubles, a country doctor who grew up in the shadow of the house and son of the family's former servant. But, very similar to 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' Unfortunately, Poe's version has no equal, but this is a reasonable attempt....more
Tana French's second novel, "The Likeness," cements her as an author we should be keeping our eyes on. The novel, a page-turning whodunit, kept me gueTana French's second novel, "The Likeness," cements her as an author we should be keeping our eyes on. The novel, a page-turning whodunit, kept me guessing until the very end. We are introduced to this novel's protagonist in French's first book, "Into the Woods." French alludes to that first book, but quickly moves on and sticks to the plot of this second novel.
Set in a small Irish town outside Dublin, Cassie Maddox is a former undercover detective who is called onto a crime scene where a young girl's body is discovered. Maddox has been out of the Undercover squad for about two years now, and finds herself in the rather boring, mundane Domestic Violence department.
When she arrives at the scene, we find out why she was called -- the dead women bears a striking resemblance to Maddox and in fact is using Maddox's undercover name -- Lexie Madison. But as we learn, Maddox's deep cover identity was entirely fabricated by her and her superior officer at the time -- who is also heading up this current investigation.
In a bold move, Cassie once again dons the mantle of Lexie Madison to take up residence in turn-of-the-century house with the girl's four other house mates, a rather odd and quirky lot -- all of whom are graduate English majors. Maddox soon becomes embroiled in the gang of four's lives, seamlessly (for the most part) fitting in and in the process, finding out some things about herself as a person. But there is a murder to solve...just how she pulls it off is enjoyable and enthralling. A definite four-star winner....more
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