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| 1613166001
| 9781613166000
| 1613166001
| 4.45
| 155
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| Mar 04, 2025
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Apr 06, 2025
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| 0914091921
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Apr 06, 2025
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| 1668023938
| 9781668023938
| 1668023938
| 4.00
| 71,439
| May 07, 2024
| May 07, 2024
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liked it
| The description of this book intrigued me, so I borrowed it from the library. In the end, I found the book less compelling than I expected. In a nutshe The description of this book intrigued me, so I borrowed it from the library. In the end, I found the book less compelling than I expected. In a nutshell: Elizabeth Black (Ellie) disappears from a party when she's 17 and reappears two years later, disheveled and much the worse for wear. Ellie won't talk about what happened to her, though Detective Chelsey Calhoun tries to press Ellie. Calhoun is especially driven because her own sister Lydia vanished many years ago. As the story unfolds, we learn that Ellie had a terrible experience, and things are much more complicated than they seem on the surface. The theme of men who mistreat, use, and abuse women is an important one, but 'kidnapping' stories are my least favorite mystery sub-genre, and on top of that, the plot of this novel seems very unrealistic to me. Still, this book received many high ratings, so I'd encourage potential readers to read other reviews for additional opinions. ...more |
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Apr 06, 2025
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| B075CQSTGT
| 4.11
| 250,317
| Jul 15, 2016
| Feb 20, 2018
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Apr 05, 2025
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| B000FC13FY
| 3.80
| 14,263
| 1993
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| 0399162372
| 9780399162374
| 0399162372
| 4.25
| 23,265
| Oct 2014
| Oct 07, 2014
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liked it
| 3.5 stars Virgil Flowers thrillers are spinoffs from John Sandford's 'Prey' series featuring Lucas Davenport - the lead investigator for Minnesota's Bu 3.5 stars Virgil Flowers thrillers are spinoffs from John Sandford's 'Prey' series featuring Lucas Davenport - the lead investigator for Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). [image] Virgil Flowers is also a detective for the BCA, and Lucas is his boss. In this 8th book in the 'Virgil Flowers' series, the investigator gets involved in three cases, which range from dogs to drugs to murder. [image] As the novel opens, these are dark days for dog lovers in southeast Minnesota. A ring of dog thieves are kidnapping pooches from their homes and selling them on the black market and to research labs. One of the dognappers is a scoundrel called D. Wayne Sharf, who's adept at snatching canines. [image] D. Wayne has just stolen Winky Butterfield's two beloved black labs, and Winky is bereft, angry, and vengeful. [image] Flowers' fishing buddy Johnson Johnson asks Virgil to catch the dog thieves and retrieve the missing canines, or else a group of vigilantes will take the law into their own hands. [image] Flowers' hunt for the stolen dogs takes him up into the hills of southeast Minnesota..... [image] .....where Virgil comes across a commercial meth lab housed in a trailer. [image] While Virgil is combing the Minnesota bluffs for stolen dogs and drug manufacturers, he happens to meet a local boy called Muddy Ruff. Muddy is an observant, rifle-toting twelve-year-old who knows the area well, and the boy is very helpful to Virgil and the drug-busting Feds. [image] While all this going on, a murder occurs in Trippton, Minnesota. The victim is a journalist called Clancy Connelly, who has unearthed an embezzlement scheme being perpetrated by the Buchanon County School Board. [image] The school board members - ALL of whom are supposedly upstanding citizens - have been stealing at least one million dollars per year by inflating prices for gas (for school buses) and by perpetrating other larcenous schemes. [image] When the school board members learn Connelly is about to expose them, they hold a meeting and vote to kill him. Connelly is shot in the back before he can file his report, and Flowers is called in to investigate. [image] Flowers soon becomes suspicious of the school board, and he takes steps - sometimes involving threats - to unmask the board members as thieves and killers. [image] The embezzlers become exceedingly nervous, which leads to more homicides, and Virgil himself becomes a target. (Who knew school boards were so ruthless鈥解€�) [image] The Virgil Flowers novels mix humor with crime-solving, and "That F****n' Flowers" (Virgil's nickname) is a fierce investigator with a heart of gold. [image] Even dogs know this, which leads to a great finale for this thriller. [image] This is a good suspense novel, highly recommended. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 30, 2025
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| 1250893119
| 9781250893116
| 1250893119
| 4.06
| 895
| Mar 09, 2023
| Feb 25, 2025
|
liked it
| 3.5 stars In this 10th book in the 'Brittany Mystery' series, Commissaire Dupin investigates the murder of a wealthy sheep farmer from Belle-脦le, an is 3.5 stars In this 10th book in the 'Brittany Mystery' series, Commissaire Dupin investigates the murder of a wealthy sheep farmer from Belle-脦le, an island off the coast of Brittany, France. The book works fine as a standalone. [image] Brittany is in northwest France [image] Belle-脦le is off the coast of Brittany Commissaire Georges Dupin, who started his police career in Paris, has been a Breton detective (detective in Brittany) for ten years. [image] Dupin loves his home on coastal Brittany, and revels in the blue and green sea, where he swims each morning with the gray seal who's befriended him. [image] [image] One morning the Breton sea contains more than marine creatures. The body of Patric Provost, a native of Belle-脦le, is found in the harbor at Do毛lan, where Patric was visiting his uncle. [image] Commissaire Dupin and his team are quickly dispatched to Belle-脦le, a gorgeous little island with a riot of colors everywhere the eye can see. [image] [image] Dupin's squad learns that Provost was a VERY wealthy sheep farmer/landowner/landlord on Belle-脦le, and that everyone who knew Patric disliked him. [image] The residents of the island describe Patric as a skinflint who relished in thwarting people's hopes and dreams. For example, Provost refused to repair his run-down, leaky rental properties; prevented his tenants from expanding their businesses; wouldn't allow other sheep farmers to acquire new breeds, etc. Now that Provost is dead, there are new opportunities for many people on Belle-脦le. Moreover, Provost's last will and testament leaves his entire fortune, millions of Euros, to the island's wind energy project. This scheme is is meant to make Belle-脦le self-sufficient with green energy. The wind turbine enterprise, led by the mayor, can now go ahead full steam!! [image] Since Patric's murder benefits almost everyone on Belle-脦le, there are a plethora of suspects. Dupin and his detectives get busy interviewing people, checking their alibis, looking into their finances, and so on, in hopes of identifying the killer. [image] [image] The mystery at the heart of the novel is intriguing, but it's almost secondary to descriptions of beautiful Belle-脦le, and anecdotes about the region and its history. As it happens, a member of Dupin's team, Inspector Riwal, has relatives on Belle-脦le, and Riwal is a font of knowledge about the island. [image] As the investigators go about their business, Riwal is frequently reminded of appropriate stories to relate. For instance, Riwal observes: "The island is seventeen and half kilometers long, and nine kilometers at its widest point....Belle-脦le is much more than an island. It's a realm. Even though it's merely 'a few hectares of land in the ocean' as we islanders say, it's an entire continent in its own right." "The original Acadians who came to Belle-脦le in the late 1700s were inspired by ancient mythical Arcadia, and its utopia of a golden era, the idea of a peaceful, carefree pastoral life in harmony with the island's idyllic nature and beauty." [image] Mythic Arcadia "No other island has attracted so many artists: Monet, Rodin, Matisse, Sarah Bernhardt, Jacques Pr茅vert. Gustave Flaubert. The island is surrounded by an aura of liberalism and artistic spirit, of immense freedom and creative anarchy." And more. [image] One of Claude Monet's paintings of Belle-脦le There are also descriptions of Belle-脦le's spectacular scenery, wandering sheep, tourist attractions, and historic artifacts - like the two menhirs (upright monoliths) called Jean and Jeanne, said to have been a man and a woman. [image] Menhirs: Jean and Jeanne The myth goes as follows: Jean was the son of a holy bard and Jeanne was a poor shepherdess. They were in love, but forbidden to have a relationship. So the leader of the druids told witches to turn Jean and Jeanne into stones, far away from each other. Some people believe the monoliths are slowly moving closer together, and their meeting will bring about the end of times. Author Jean-Luc Bannalec skillfully evokes the atmosphere of Belle-脦le, including the scorching summer heat and the kaleidoscopic sights. To illustrate: "The island capital lay on a ria too, you could see the inlet making its way inland. The little town - narrow streets, beautiful old houses in pastel tones: pink, light blue, light green, yellow....It looked like a film set. Caf茅s, bars, restaurants, shops, a leisurely to and fro without any hurry or haste." [image] All the major characters in the book are interesting and fun, especially Commissaire Dupin, a coffee addict who's constantly in search of his next great cup of java. Dupin's neverending quest is very entertaining....and he does find the perfect cup of coffee. [image] [image] The mystery of Patric Provost's death, as well as auxiliary blackmailings and kidnappings, are solved in the end, and Dupin's team returns home to Brittany to celebrate the Commissaire's ten year anniversary as a Breton detective. This is a charming little mystery, off the beaten track. Recommended for light reading. Thanks to Netgalley, Jean-Luc Bannalec, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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not set
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Mar 30, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 0063003058
| 9780063003057
| 0063003058
| 3.65
| 644,758
| Feb 22, 2022
| Feb 22, 2022
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Mar 30, 2025
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not set
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Mar 30, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 0446612871
| 9780446612876
| 0446612871
| 4.14
| 7,244
| May 10, 2005
| May 01, 2006
|
In this 4th book in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, the Paterson, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer represents a professional football player. Sinc In this 4th book in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, the Paterson, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer represents a professional football player. Since Andy Carpenter inherited twenty-two million dollars from his father, he doesn't NEED to work. But Andy hasn't had a case in three months, and is itching to get back in the courtroom. [image] A possible case comes up when Paterson, New Jersey Homicide Captain Pete Stanton summons Andy to the home of Kenny Schilling - a star running back for the New York Giants. [image] Kenny is holding off the police with a gun, INSISTING on speaking to Andy. Kenny says he found the bloody corpse of Tony Preston - a wide receiver for the New York Jets - in his bedroom closet, but Kenny contends he didn't kill the man, and has no idea how the body got into his house. [image] Kenny says he panicked when the cops showed up, and he needs a good lawyer. Andy is skeptical at first, but comes to believe Kenny was framed, and agrees to defend the running back. [image] Andy's team includes his investigator and girlfriend - former cop Laurie Collins; [image] law associate Kevin Randall; [image] Marcus Clark - the toughest guy on the planet, who watches Andy's back and squeezes information out of bad guys when needed; [image] Sam Willis - an accountant and computer hacker extraordinaire. [image] Andy's secretary Edna - a crossword puzzle aficionado, who goofs off more than she works; [image] and Adam Strickland - a Hollywood screenwriter who's helping with this case for a screenplay he's writing. [image] Laurie discovers that the victim, Tony Preston, was using AND dealing drugs, and Andy decides to work up a SODDI (some other dude did it) defense - the idea being that a drug kingpin called Cesar Quintana had Tony killed. The drug lord doesn't appreciate the attention Andy's stirring up, and sends goons to Andy's house, so it's a good thing Marcus is on the job. [image] Things get even more complicated when Andy's team learns that young football players across the country have been dying unexpectedly, from sudden heart attacks and road accidents. Can this be related to the murder of Tony Preston? [image] Andy is well-known for throwing everything plus the kitchen sink into his defense maneuvers, and prosecutor Dylan Campbell - who's no slouch himself - resists and objects with all his might. [image] Among the highlights of the Andy Carpenter series are Andy's quips, jokes, and sarcastic comments. [image] For example, when prosecutor Dylan Campbell drags his feet providing discovery, Andy tells the judge: "There is the matter of discovery your honor. We've discovered that the prosecutor does not seem to believe in it. They have not turned over a single document to us." Campbell explains the weekend got in the way of turning over the material, and Andy jibes, "Since I had no evidence to examine your honor, I spent some time over the weekend looking at the rules of discovery, and it quite clearly states that the prosecution must turn over documents as they receive them, even if God forbid, it interferes with their weekend. I might add that they were able to find the time during that same weekend to provide information to the media. Perhaps if I had a press pass I would have a better chance of getting the information the discovery statute requires." Of course, Andy prevails, infuriating Campbell in the process. [image] Another fun anecdote revolves around Detective Pete Stanton, who's a close friend of Andy's. Pete offers to pass on some information about the case over dinner, and Andy observes: "Since I've inherited my fortune, Pete's goal is to make me poor again. He does this by selecting the most overpriced restaurants he can find and then stuffing himself to the point where he has to be lifted out of his chair with a crane while I pick up the tab.....it would be cheaper to bribe the jury." [image] As always in this series, there are plenty of courtroom scenes, with Andy demonstrating his knack for cross-examining witnesses and throwing the prosecutor off his game. ...more |
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Mar 30, 2025
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0399155384
| 9780399155383
| 0399155384
| 4.05
| 10,444
| Feb 10, 2009
| Feb 10, 2009
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really liked it
| In Alex Berenson's 'John Wells' novels, Wells is a CIA agent whose mission is to stop terrorists. [image] In this 3rd book in the series, Wells has had In Alex Berenson's 'John Wells' novels, Wells is a CIA agent whose mission is to stop terrorists. [image] In this 3rd book in the series, Wells has had too much exposure in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Russia, etc. to be 'undercover', and he's living outside Washington DC with his fianc茅e, fellow CIA agent Jennifer Exley. [image] Wells is on the 'enemies' list of many rogue countries, and his and Exley's residence is guarded 24/7. [image] Unfortunately, John and Jennifer are more vulnerable when they're out and about, and an attack when the duo are driving to work leaves Jennifer badly injured, facing a long hospitalization and painful rehab. [image] [image] Wells learns the strike was ordered by Russian arms dealer Pierre Kowalski..... [image] .....and John sets out to track down and kill the Russian, probably in the most painful way possible. [image] Meanwhile, a catastrophic situation is brewing elsewhere. Middle Eastern terrorists have formed a cabal, and mean to destroy both the United States and Russia. [image] The fanatics manage to steal two nuclear bombs from a Russian armory (a feat that's described step-by-step in the book, in case you want to try it.) [image] [image] The Middle Eastern zealots don't have the Russian nuclear codes, so they are going to extract the uranium from the purloined bombs and build their own device (this procedure is also described step-by-step). [image] The fanatics plan to bomb Washington DC during the State of the Union address, which will wipe out the entire U.S. government. If this doesn't work out, the bombers have alternate targets in mind. [image] To insure the biggest possible explosion, the terrorists need a good quantity of beryllium, which they hope to buy from Pierre Kowalski. [image] Thus we have all the players in place - John Wells, Pierre Kowalski, and the Middle Eastern zealots. Of course this is the bare bones of the plot, which is intricate, suspenseful, and more or less realistic. (Terrorists should know detonating an enormous bomb would blow back on the Middle East, AT LEAST with the devastating fallout circling the world. The fanatics in this novel don't seem bothered about this, but it's fiction after all.) [image] All the major characters in the story - including the Americans, Russians, and Middle Easterners -are well-rounded, with motivations that make sense to themselves. The book is a page turner, and I was on tenterhooks to find out what would happen. One thing is clear: it would be good to have John Wells around in an emergency. [image] Well-constructed story, recommended to fans of espionage thrillers. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 25, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 1250869846
| 9781250869845
| 1250869846
| 4.06
| 5,495
| Apr 18, 2023
| Apr 18, 2023
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really liked it
| This multigenerational tale focuses on Alberto Cohen and his descendants, a family of Sephardic Jews whose lives were buffeted by the events of their This multigenerational tale focuses on Alberto Cohen and his descendants, a family of Sephardic Jews whose lives were buffeted by the events of their time. The novel was inspired by author Elizabeth Graver's ancestors, especially her grandmother Rebecca (the novel's main protagonist), whose story started in Turkey and culminated in America. Graver includes photographs of her relatives in the book, which adds a personal touch to the story. As the novel opens in 1907, Alberto Cohen, his wife Sultana, and their children live in Fener, a wealthy neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey. Alberto owns a successful textile factory, and the Cohen's eight-year-old daughter Rebecca attends Catholic school with other privileged children - Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim. Rebecca speaks Ladino at home and French at school. She also has a lovely singing voice, and trills tunes in Ladino, French, and bits of Turkish, Hebrew, and Greek. [image] Istanbul, 1907. Rebecca Cohen on left, with siblings Isidoro and Corinne. Their cousin Victoria stands behind them. [image] Istanbul, circa 1900s Rebecca especially enjoys Shabbat (the Sabbath), 'when the children are encouraged to dance and make merry, and the family visits relatives or takes a riverboat to the park. For supper there's cold fish with lemon and egg, and lokum [Turkish delight] for dessert, and the ball comes out for catch, and the tambourine for song.' [image] Synagogue in Istanbul [image] Riverboats in Istanbul [image]\ Lokum (Turkish Delight) Rebecca has a very happy childhood, learning needlework and drawing at school, climbing ropes at Maccabi gymnastics, spending hour after hour with her best friend Lika, listening to tales and superstitions related by Lika's Tiya (Aunt) Djentil, going to picnics, and so on. (Note: The tales of Tiya Djentil - who's actually Alberto's first wife - are wonderful!) Despite the Cohen family's obvious good fortune, Rebecca's grandmother sews a bonjuk bead to the underside of every collar to ward off the evil eye - a practice Rebecca picks up and practices all her life. [image] Bonjuk Bead (to ward off the evil eye) In 1914, World War I begins, and the winds of change start to blow. Rebecca's father Alberto is a half-hearted businessman, and he drinks raki, and plays poker, chess, and backgammon for high stakes - rapidly squandering the family fortune. At the same time, Turkish tolerance for Greeks, Armenians, and Jews fades, and 'ethnic' families begin to leave the country. [image] Bottles of Turkish Raki [image] Ethnic families emigrated from Turkey Rebecca's friend Lika relocates to America with her parents, but Rebecca knows her family won't follow. 'Her family, especially her father, is from here [Turkey] the way the pavestones are from here, drawn from the very earth.' [image] Rebecca Cohen in Istanbul, 1920 Nevertheless, by 1925, Alberto and Sultana feel compelled to emigrate. Among other things, young men are being conscripted into the Turkish army, and the Cohens fear for their sons. So Alberto seeks a position elsewhere, and is offered the modest job of shammash (caretaker) of a synagogue in Barcelona, Spain. Spain!! The country that expelled the Sephardic Jews in 1492, and robbed, beat, and raped them on the way out. Spain is now inviting descendants of the Spanish Jews back, for economic reasons. [image] Alberto and Sultana Cohen Alberto sees no options but to take the shammash position, and the Cohens move to Spain. Though the Jews are ostensibly welcome in Barcelona, they still have to keep a low profile. Alberto advises Rebecca, who's now a talented seamstress looking for work, not to mention they're Jewish, just to say they're Turks....and not to bring up the synagogue to anyone outside the community. When Rebecca asks why they must hide, Alberto responds, "What do you want? To dance in the streets? To scream and shout? Be my guest, and see what happens!" Alberto is right because, despite Rebecca's excellent needlework, she's rejected by an employer who learns Rebecca's last name is Cohen - a Jewish name. "Next time - the dressmaker leans in, her voice low - "you say this: I am Marie Blanco Camayor, from Paris France." Rebecca adopts the professional name Marie Blanco Camayor, gets a job, and since she's a talented seamstress and fashion designer, Rebecca soon has her own business. By now Rebecca is in her early twenties, well past the age girls are expected to marry. With few Jewish bachelors in Barcelona, Rebecca is encouraged to wed 29-year-old Luis Baruch, who - it turns out - is badly damaged from exposure to mustard gas during WWI. [image] A Jewish wedding in Barcelona, Spain Rebecca and Luis have two children, David and Alberto (Albert), but Luis is a bad husband and absentee father, always off in other countries 'doing business.' [image] Barcelona, 1929. Rebecca in dark coat, with sons Albert and David in front of her and her brother Josef in doorway. Woman in striped dress unknown. Years pass, during which Rebecca really shows her mettle, taking care of her sons, running her business, and even making a difficult journey to see Luis in Adrianople, Turkey, then returning to Spain. (Note: The 'helpful suggestions' of the Jews in Arianople are nothing short of outrageous and laughable.) [image] Barcelona, 1928. Rebecca Cohen Baruch sits holding her son, Albert, with son David in front of her. Her parents, Sultana and Alberto Cohen, stand behind her with other relatives and friends. [image] Rebecca Cohen Baruch with her sons Albert and David By 1934, Luis has died, and European Jews are feeling the hatred of Hitler and the Nazis. Rebecca is encouraged to marry a Jewish widower named Sam Levy, who lives in America. This would provide Rebecca's sons with a father, Sam's daughter Luna with a mother, and might help the rest of the Cohen/Baruch family move to the States. To accomplish her emigration, Rebecca must wed Sam in Cuba, then enter America as his wife. [image] Berlin, 1930s. SA and SS men post signs signs reading Germans! Defend Yourselves! Don't buy from Jews! [image] Cuba in the 1930s Now in her thirties, Rebecca faces many new challenges in Astoria, Queens (in New York City), where the Levy family resides. For one thing, Sam's mother is cool to Rebecca; for another, Sam's daughter Luna, now seven-years-old, was born severely handicapped. Luna can't walk; can't use the bathroom; speaks in grunts and garbled words; can't feed herself; and has distorted features. (Note: Luna's condition isn't named, but she apparently has cerebral palsy.) Sam and his mother coddle Luna, but - despite Luna's very strong resistance - Rebecca takes it upon herself to make the girl more self-sufficient. When Sam protests, Rebecca tells him, "鈥淚f you wanted a dishrag for a wife, you picked the wrong lady. I won鈥檛 sit back and watch a life go down the drain." Thus Rebecca makes Luna wear her leg braces, and over time, teaches the girl to walk, talk, and take care of herself. From Luna's point of view, 鈥淣ewmother [Rebecca] tortures her. For the past month, [Rebecca] has been taking her through a set of exercises for an hour a day, but with Nona [Grandmother] gone, the hour becomes two, then three.鈥� Still, Luna's life improves over time. [image] Astoria, Queens in the 1940s In Queens, Rebecca and Sam have children of their own. In addition, Rebecca guides her sons David and Albert through adolescence; opens a dressmaking shop; helps Sam with his candy store; sings a repertoire of Spanish, Hebrew, and Ladino songs at the local Jewish center - where she has a devoted following; and is an important presence in the Jewish community. Nevertheless, in 1950, when the novel concludes, Rebecca's disappointments are many. 'She is not well-to-do, though she was born to be. She is not surrounded by family and has a perpetual sense of being not quite at home. More than anything, she is often lonely, wanting more chatter, more cuddling, more laughter and especially 鈥� is it odd for a woman her age, a mother of six? 鈥� more play.' [image] Catskills (New York State), 1937. Sam Levy rows the boat. Albert Baruch mugs for the camera as his brother, David Baruch, leans toward his half-brother, Jack Levy. Rebecca holds her daughter Suzanne and sits beside her stepdaughter, Luna Levy. Unknown boy in water. Though the novel focuses largely on Rebecca, we also learn about other characters, including.: Rebecca's father Alberto, who has a sojourn in America as a young man; divorces his first wife because she's sterile; loves reading and gardening; and has his hopes crushed by sad events. [image] Istanbul Garden Rebecca's mother Sultana, who has a sunny personality and runs her Istanbul household with a cook and servants; Sultana is the optimist of the family, and tries to see the bright side of events. [image] Cook in old Istanbul Rebecca's best friend Lika, who's gifted in math and science, and would like to be a nurse, which the nuns [at the Catholic school] say is possible if you pray and study hard enough. [image] Nurses in the early 1900s Rebecca's son David Baruch, who's a poor student and naughty adolescent. David has a traumatic experience while he's serving as a seaman during World War II. [image] Seamen during WWII And more. Graver's word pictures of Turkey, Barcelona, Cuba and Queens are vivid and picturesque, and Graver is adept at describing the lives of the characters as they migrate from place to place. This is a compelling story of a family buffeted by fate, and the antisemitism prevalent in the 20th century. Sadly, prejudice against Jews and other groups is still (and again) a factor in the lives of many people. Very good book, recommended to readers interested in Jewish history. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 20, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 0812988876
| 9780812988871
| 0812988876
| 4.31
| 904
| Feb 25, 2025
| Feb 18, 2025
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really liked it
| 4.5 stars Lorne Michaels (b. 1944) is a Canadian and American television writer and film producer. He's probably best known for creating and producing 4.5 stars Lorne Michaels (b. 1944) is a Canadian and American television writer and film producer. He's probably best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live (SNL), which has been on the air from 1975 to the present. [image] Lorne Michaels This biography of Michaels toggles back and forth between Lorne's life and career, and the step-by-step preparations for the SNL episode that aired on November 3, 2018 - with host Jonah Hill and music guest Maggie Rogers. [image] Jonah Hill [image] Maggie Rogers As always, the Writers' Meeting for the Hill-hosted show took place on the Monday before - October 29, 2018 - at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where SNL is based. The Writers' Meeting is where writers pitch ideas for sketches, and the following six days - during which the skits are tested and rewritten and rehearsed and winnowed - culminates in a live broadcast on Saturday night at 11:30, before a worldwide audience of millions. Preparations for the November 3 episode, under the eagle eye of Lorne Michaels, are described in great detail, and should interest fans of the show. [image] Original Cast of SNL. Not Ready for Prime Time Players: John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd, and Gilda Radnor It seems like Lorne Michaels was destined for show business from the get-go. The SNL creator was born Lorne Lipowitz in Toronto, Canada, to parents Florence and Henry Lipowitz. The Lipowitz family loved the entertainment industry, and they would watch movies and TV shows, and talk about the actors and actresses. Lorne daydreamed about acting, writing, and directing, and he put on musicals in summer camp, wrote funny items for his high school newspaper, contributed comedy sketches to the school's 'Frolics', acted in school shows, etc. [image] Young Lorne Michaels Teenage Lorne's friend (and later his first wife) Rosie Shuster was the daughter of comedian Frank Shuster, and Frank taught Lorne the fundamentals of television production. [image] Lorne Michaels' first wife Rosie Shuster [image] Frank Shuster Lorne also steeped himself in culture: Victorian novels, Romantic poets, Shakespeare, newspapers, plays, comedy revues, comedy recordings, etc. Lorne and a friend would also take the bus to New York to sit in studio audiences and meet people working in the industry. At the University of Toronto Lorne majored in English, and co-wrote and directed the University College Follies, a well-regarded theatrical revue. 'Lorne had organizational skills, a grip on the technical aspects of mounting a show, a knack for spotting talent, and a temperament that allowed people to flourish creatively.' Lorne was honing the talents he'd later need for SNL. After college, Lorne spent time in Europe, especially London, then returned to Canada in 1966, determined to succeed in the entertainment industry. Lorne and his friend Earl Pomerantz formed a comedy team called Lipowitz and Pomerantz, and performed in local clubs and on radio and television shows. [image] Lipowitz and Pomerantz Comedy Team (Lorne Michaels and Earl Pomerantz) Along the way, Lorne changed his name to Lorne Michaels and married Rosie Shuster - who was also a comedy writer. Lorne had originally planned to stay in Canada, but went to Los Angeles at the age of 24, to write for 'The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show'. Going on to write for 'Laugh-In', and with his knack for fraternizing, Lorne met all the right people: talent agent Bernie Brillstein; variety TV eminence Bob Finkel; sitcom writer Bob Schiller; producer George Schlatter; and more. Lorne soon moved on to other aspects of show business, cultivating his skills. One of Lorne's triumphs is a hilarious skit on 'The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour' called 'The Puck Crisis'. This is a mockumentary about an invasive species that spread Dutch Puck Disease, which devastated the crops of Canada's hockey puck farmers. "Over grim footage of lab-coated scientists examining shriveled pucks drooping from branches, a dead-serious voiceover explains the blight's origins: puck pests, or puctococci, were accidently carried over on the sticks of a touring Dutch hockey team." This skit - and numerous others - stood Lorne in good stead as he pursued future endeavors. [image] SNL cast member Gilda Radner challenges the show's guest, professional football player Fran Tarkenton, to an arm wrestling competition on set [image] Will Ferrell on SNL Lorne's ascent up the entertainment industry ladder is thoroughly documented by author Susan Morrison. Starting early on, Lorne worked with talents like Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Teri Garr, Candace Bergen, Neil Young, James Taylor, Garrett Morris, Albert Brooks, Lili Tomlin, Buck Henry, Richard Pryor, Molly Shannon, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Pete Davidson, Norm Macdonald, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, and on and on - creating many symbiotic relationships with show business folk. Lorne also became close friends with famous people like Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, and Paul McCartney, which added to his glittery image. [image] Paul McCartney and Lorne Michaels [image] George Carlin on SNL [image] Eddie Murphy on SNL [image] SNL cast members Bill Murray, John Belushi, Garrett Morris, and Steve Martin are seen hanging out backstage on set [image] Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, and Bill Hader on SNL [image] Chris Farley on SNL On the subject of SNL, the book covers every aspect of the show, from conception, to creation, to birth pangs, to success, to Lorne leaving for five years, to good and bad shows, to sketches, to political philosophy, to budgets, to drug dealers on the set, to awards, to Lorne's management style, to props, to everything else you can think of. If you're interested in the people connected with SNL - producers, directors, writers, assistants, actors, actresses, comics, mimics, musicians, guest hosts, costume designers, supporters, detractors, critics, what have you - this is the book for you. [image] The control room for SNL in the late '70s was just as busy of a place as it is today, as the show has been live since its inception [image] Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, and Tom Hanks on SNL [image] Joe Piscopo appears in a sketch impersonating David Letterman. As the comedian looks in the camera, his cue cards can be seen in the wings [image] Kenan Thompson on SNL SNL has been on the air for half a century, and is the parent of a huge 'family'. Morrison writes, "When graduates of the show reunite for anniversaries, they feel a kinship across the decades. They are an elite tribe, like astronauts." And producer/comedian Paula Pell remarked, "It's like Lorne had a hundred children with nine wives. It blows your mind, the amount of connective tissue he's created in the world of comedy." [image] Paula Pell [image] Steve Martin joins magician Harry Anderson at a cast party after the show in the early '80s. To this day, the cast still gathers for an after-party following each episode [image] Candice Bergen practices her opening monologue during rehearsal for an episode in which she was the host. She was the first woman to host SNL and did so five times between 1975 to 1990 Part of Lorne's legacy includes show business ventures beyond SNL, and Morrison writes about these as well. The author also discusses Lorne's personal life: his mother, father, extended family, wives (Rosie Shuster, Susan Forristal, and Anne Barry), friends, lifestyle, homes, favorite restaurants, vacations, parties, gift-giving (Lorne has a knack for thoughtful presents), and so on. (Note: Lorne and Alice Barry have three children, Sophie, Henry, and Edward) [image] Lorne Michaels' second wife Susan Forristal [image] Lorne Michaels and his third wife Alice Barry [image] Lorne Michaels with his children Sophie, Henry, Edward Morrison did an enormous amount of research for this 600+ page biography, which tells us a lot about Lorne Michaels. It would seem Lorne's most important legacy is the 'healing laughter' provided by SNL, which can draw a smile, and help us go on, even after a disaster or bad news. It feels like every famous person in the modern western world is mentioned in this book, which I'd recommend to readers interested in the entertainment industry, especially fans of SNL. Thanks to Netgalley, Susan Morrison, and Random House for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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| 0062678450
| 9780062678454
| 0062678450
| 3.10
| 23,581
| Feb 20, 2024
| Feb 20, 2024
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liked it
| 3.5 stars Mystery writer Sebastian Trapp, author of the popular 'Simon St. John'' detective series, stopped writing for a decade after a tragic inciden 3.5 stars Mystery writer Sebastian Trapp, author of the popular 'Simon St. John'' detective series, stopped writing for a decade after a tragic incident in his life. [image] Two decades ago, on New Years Eve 1999, Trapp's wife Hope vanished from their San Francisco mansion, and their 14-year-old son Cole disappeared from a sleepover. [image] [image] Sebastian was suspected of killing them both, and was investigated by the police and attacked in social media, but the cases went cold without resolution. Trapp went into isolation, communing only with his (then) 19-year-old daughter Madeline, who was a college coed at the time. [image] The years smoothed the angst, and Sebastian cranked out one last 'Simon St. John' novel ten years ago, and was remarried five years ago, to a beautiful woman named Diana....who had once been Hope Trapp's assistant. [image] Now Sebastian's kidneys are failing, and though he's getting dialysis several times a week, Trapp is given only three months to live. The mystery writer decides to wrap up his life with a mini-biography, and he hires New York City writer/mystery buff Nicky Hunter to pen the book. To do the job, Nicky moves into Trapp manse, and is set up in Cole's old bedroom, which encompasses the entire huge attic. [image] Cole's old domicile is rather eccentric, being half boy's room and half repository for family artifacts, including taxidermied 'Watsons' (Watson 1, Watson 2, and so on) - the family dogs over the years. The current Watson takes a shine to Nicky, and Nicky - who's a dog lover -likes Watson as well. [image] Nicky's modus operandi is to hang out with Trapp - at his home, at his club, and sightseeing around San Francisco - while he relates stories about his life. [image] Nicky also speaks to Trapp's family, friends, and acquaintances. This includes Trapp's daughter Madeline; [image] Trapp's happy-go-lucky nephew Freddy; [image] Trapp's widowed sister-in-law Simone; [image] and Trapp's former assistants, fellow club members, etc. [image] Like many suspense fans, Nicky has amateur sleuth DNA, and she hopes to solve the mystery of what happened to Hope and Cole. Nicky gets lucky when she finds Cole's dusty old diary hidden under a floorboard in his room. [image] The journal, as well as stories Nicky hears, reveal that Cole was an artsy kid who liked to do origami.....and NOT the sporty lad Sebastian wanted for a son. Trapp was determined to 'fix' Cole, Hope defended her son, and things in the family were tense. [image] [image] Could this have led Sebastian to murder his wife and son? As Nicky spends time with Trapp, strange things happen in the mansion. Red origami butterflies appear here and there; Madeline gets mysterious texts; and a thief riffles through Trapp's desk. [image] Then there's a suspicious death!!! Two San Francisco detectives investigate the incident, which renews interest in the old disappearances of Hope and Cole. Nicky discovers that not everything is as it seems with the Trapps and their circle, and many people are keeping secrets. The book's climax takes place at San Francisco's 'Land's End', a coastal labyrinth made of stones, where the unexpected truth is revealed. [image] The book is suspenseful, but slow-moving, and readers who prefer lots of action might be frustrated. I liked the book though, and appreciated the step-by-step build-up and (what later turned out to be) subtle clues. Recommended to fans of cunning mystery stories. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 13, 2025
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| 0063157519
| 4.02
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| Feb 11, 2025
| Feb 11, 2025
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really liked it
| The struggle for civil rights in America has been going on for centuries, and though progress has been made, some injustices haven't changed. This boo The struggle for civil rights in America has been going on for centuries, and though progress has been made, some injustices haven't changed. This book centers on two generations of Black women - a mother and daughter - fighting a discriminatory system decades apart. [image] Author Nancy Johnson was inspired in part, by recent events. In an interview, Johnson observed, "These periods are different, yet we are going through the same thing over and over again. When we look at where we are in America鈥攏ew presidential administration, new Congress鈥攎arginalized groups now are grappling with how to resist. Looking back at how our ancestors did generations back can be instructive for how we respond today.鈥� In 1959, Freda Gilroy, who comes from an upper-middle-class Black family in Chicago, begins her freshman year at Nashville's Fisk University. [image] The school is a legacy from her parents, Almeda Gilroy and Dr. Booker Gilroy - who see higher education as their people's true emancipation. [image] Freda, a math major, follows the rules of her Jubilee Hall dormitory; is conscientious about her classes and schoolwork; calls her parents every Sunday; and becomes best friends with her two roommates. Cora and Evaline. [image] As Freda's freshman year unrolls, she meets two young men who will be instrumental in her life. The first young man is Darius Moore, a saxophone player and Fisk student who's a civil rights activist; [image] During Freda's outing to the state fair with Darius, she's exposed to blatant racism for the first time in her life when she sees a sign indicating 'Colored Bathrooms' and 'White Bathrooms.' This literally makes Freda sick to her stomach, and it's just one of many exclusion policies in the Jim Crow South. [image] Freda is even more taken aback when she happens to be shopping at Woolworth's on the day Black students are staging a sit-in at the 'Whites Only' lunch counter. Darius is one of the demonstrators, and the reaction of White patrons - and the police - is vicious. As a result, Freda is drawn into Darius's civil rights activism. [image] Meanwhile, Freda meets Gerald Vance, who turns out to be a very nice medical student at Nashville's Meharry Medical College. Gerald's philosophy aligns with that of Freda's dad - that education is the path ahead for the Black race, not demonstrations. [image] Freda is torn between Darius and Gerald. Darius matches her compulsion to fight for civil rights, and Gerald matches the expectations of her parents, who feel Black advancement will be achieved via academics and professionalism. * Jump ahead to 1992, and Freda is married to Dr. Gerald Vance. Freda is teaching math, Gerald has a successful medical practice, and their 27-year-old daughter Tulip has been working at Maddingly Public Relations for five years. [image] Tulip is one of two Black employees at Maddingly, and she's a real go-getter. Tulip works extra hours on her accounts and finds a novel way to attract new business to the firm, all in hopes of getting a promotion. Tulip knows White employees see her as an affirmative action hire, and she's subjected to microaggressions and furtive snide comments. [image] In her private life, Tulip is dating a handsome bus driver named Key, but the romance is constantly discouraged by her parents, who want Freda to marry a professional man. [image] Tulip's life comes to a crossroads with the Rodney King case. King was the victim of police brutality, and when the cops are being tried, Tulip fully expects a conviction. When the police are exonerated, Tulip is stunned and feels compelled to join activists demonstrating against the verdict. [image] Tulip faces the same discouragement her mother did, but forges ahead to assist a rally for justice. Along the way, Tulip jeopardizes her employment by using work contacts to advance her cause. [image] The book toggles back and forth between Freda's story in 1959 and Tulip's story in 1992, and it's evident these two women are fighting the same battle more than three decades apart. [Note: Sadly, we still see police brutality against Black victims, like George Floyd, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, and more.] [image] The book is more than a story about civil rights, however. The author explores the lives of the characters, and I was drawn into the exploits of Freda, Tulip, and the people around them. Along the way we encounter bad boy behavior; trouble paying tuition; a gay man half-way in the closet; an accidental pregnancy; abusive white nationalists; the secret activism of Nat King Cole; Pullman Porters furtively transporting money for Black demonstrators; and more. [image] Pullman Porters I liked the book and was very pleased with the finale, which satisfied my personal sense of 'chickens coming home to roost'. I think it's important to include another snippet from Nancy Johnson's interview, where she says, "It feels like we take a few steps forward and a few steps back. I mean, right now, when you look at some of the executive orders from the current administration and their attempt to roll back some of that civil rights progress made when Freda was a student in the 1960s. Some of what鈥檚 been couched as DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] looks like there is an attempt to roll back some of the civil rights protections people have. I see the trajectory, and it鈥檚 scary. It鈥檚 a lot, but I think when people read People of Means, it will feel like it鈥檚 in conversation with where we are today because there are so many parallels with what鈥檚 happening in the 50s and 60s, in the early 90s, and today." [image] Author Nancy Johnson I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Nancy Johnson and Bahni Turpin, who do a fine job. Thanks to Netgalley, Nancy Johnson, and HarperAudio for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 13, 2025
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| B0DM36BVV5
| 4.00
| 2,544
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| Jan 23, 2025
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liked it
| Twentysomething Winona took care of her dying grandmother in Escondido, California, and is lonely and mourning now that Grandma Jane has passed. [imag Twentysomething Winona took care of her dying grandmother in Escondido, California, and is lonely and mourning now that Grandma Jane has passed. [image] At a support group, Winona meets a fellow mourner called Dakota, and agrees to go foraging with Dakota and her housemates. [image] The foraging is agreeable, and Dakota and her housemates are friendly. [image] Winona is invited over to eat the foraging feast, and it turns out the housemates live in the weird 'mirror house' - a house covered in mirrors - that's the talk of Escondido, with some people saying a religious group lives there. The housemates are Maude, Kristen, Dakota, Scarlett, and a man called Simon Spellmeyer. The atmosphere in the house is laid-back, with cooking aromas, guitar playing, vaping, and drinking......lots and lots of drinking. [image] Winona feels so comfortable that, when she's told there's a spare room in the mirror house, she quickly agrees to move in. Winona transfers her few belongings to the mirror house, and continues to work at her bookstore job. It soon becomes obvious that Simon is the 'leader' at the mirror house. Simon is a psychologist, but his practice is 'on pause' and he's consulting about 'software engineering stuff.' [image] Nevertheless, Simon is functioning as a therapist for the women in the house, to help them get over their 'fears.' For instance, Kristin needs to stay on the wagon; Scarlett needs to conquer claustrophobia; Winona gets queasy at the sight of blood; and so on. Simon schedules private sessions with the gals for therapy. Anyone looking in from the outside would KNOW this is a cult, but Winona just thinks she's surrounded by a new loving 'family'. Since alcohol flows freely all day long, Winona's perhaps not thinking clearly, but she's drawn in, day by day, to accept more and more control over her life. As the story unfolds, Simon attracts more followers and things take a very ominous turn. [image] The book is told from Winona's point of view with excerpts from Scarlett being interviewed by a journalist. It's not a spoiler to say that Scarlett is speaking one year after Simon's 'girls' committed mass suicide. This is a typical cult story, and as always when one is an 'outside observer', it seems unbelievable that the women are too blinded (or stupid鈥解€�) to see what's going on. It you're interested in seeing how someone is drawn into a cult, inch by inch, you might like this book. However, the novel doesn't cover any new ground, being a standard cult indoctrination scenario. Thanks to Netgalley, Faith Gardner, and Mirror House Press for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 09, 2025
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| 1643753177
| 9781643753171
| 1643753177
| 4.22
| 73
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| Mar 04, 2025
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really liked it
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4.5 stars Katherine Gibbs (b. 1865), lived in comfortable circumstances until her husband died in 1909 and left the family destitute. Katherine had no 4.5 stars Katherine Gibbs (b. 1865), lived in comfortable circumstances until her husband died in 1909 and left the family destitute. Katherine had no skills, so she enrolled in a secretarial studies course where she learned typing, shorthand, bookkeeping, business practices, etc. Better yet, Katherine learned to teach those subjects, and in 1911, Katherine opened her first secretarial school. [image] Katherine Gibbs Eventually, branches of the 'Katherine Gibbs School of Secretarial and Executive Training for Educated Women' opened in Rhode Island, Boston, New York City and New Jersey. [image] Katherine Gibbs School in Boston [image] Students at the Katherine Gibbs School In addition to teaching secretarial skills, the Katherine Gibbs schools had courses in art and music appreciation, English literature and composition, psychology, sociology, economics, contemporary civilization, and world government. The curriculum also included lessons in personal grooming, elocution, and fashion sense. As a result, Katherine Gibbs' graduates were in high demand as secretaries, and many 'climbed the ladder' in a world where "men still held tight to high-paid, high-prestige occupations." [image] Typical 'Gibbs girl' with a hat and white gloves Gibbs' plan to give women a boost was simple. She'd give employers women who were better than men: speedier typists, flawless stenographers, tidy organizers, and well-groomed, nicely dressed, gracious hostesses. In addition, 'Gibbs girls' would stealthily learn all about the organization, observe leadership, gain new skills, make new contacts, earn a decent living, and move up in the world....striking out on their own if necessary. [image] Krefft includes mini-biographies of 'Gibbs girls' who succeeded in a variety of professions. I'll give some examples. 鈼� Katherine Towle: Towle got a degree from UC Berkeley, then graduated from the Gibbs school in 1923. After being employed by the Berkeley admissions department for three years, Katherine was denied admission to the school's PhD program because she was a woman. So Towle got a job as resident dean at the elite Ransom and Bridges school in Piedmont, California and soon became headmistress. Then in 1943, Towle joined the Women鈥檚 Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps and was eventually promoted to Colonel. [image] Katherine Towle 鈼� Mary Sutton Ramsdell: Ramsdell had a turbulent life before she graduated from the Gibbs school in the 1920s. Ramsdell then put her education to good use in Boston - at a home for unwed mothers. This was really a private detention center, and Mary was dismayed by the fact that women who 'fell from virtue' were penalized, but the men involved weren't punished. So Mary became a Massachusetts State Policewoman with a badge and gun, and she handled crimes involving women. Mary hauled in men who seduced underage girls; tracked down sexual predators reported to the police by teachers, ministers, nurses, and child protection agencies; went after negligent parents, etc. Mary had a twenty-year career where she was an advocate for women and a respected leader in the law enforcement community. [image] Mary Sutton Ramsdell 鈼� Mary Goodrich : Goodrich was an aviation reporter and columnist who earned the first woman's pilot's license in Connecticut. In the early 1930s, Goodrich was appointed director of the Betsy Ross Corps, a group of female pilots ready to assist in national defense during emergencies. Mary lost her pilot's license in 1933 for faulty depth perception, after which she enrolled in the Gibbs school. This led to a job as a publicist and then a position with the Walt Disney Studio. Hired as a secretary, Goodrich was soon scouting out story ideas, writing summaries of the plot and characters, and doing background research on costumes, landscapes, and buildings. Krefft notes, "Mary's time at Disney would always remain a prized memory." [image] Women working at the Walt Disney Studio Other Gibbs school graduates with distinguished careers include: 鈼� Lenna Wilson - who became a New Hampshire State Representative in the 1920s; [image] Lenna Wilson 鈼� Natalie Stark - who volunteered with the Sacco and Vanzetti defense team and later - while living in the Philippines - lobbied for United States aid to starving Chinese farmers; [image] Natalie Stark 鈼� Lillian Lorraine - who flew domestic missions for the Army Air Forces during WWII; [image] Lillian Lorraine 鈼� Loretta Swit - who became an award winning actress (she played 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in M*A*S*H); [image] Loretta Swit as 'Hot Lips' Houlihan 鈼� Loudell Insley - who worked for Robert Kennedy and Ted Kennedy; and more. [image] Loudell Insley with Ted Kennedy In addition to discussing the Gibbs schools, Krefft writes about society pressuring women to be 'stay at home wives and mothers', which would leave the good paying jobs for men. [image] Women were welcome to work as nurses and teachers, but for much of the 20th century, it was almost impossible for females to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, scientists, and so on. The Gibbs schools played a part in remedying that situation, so kudos to them. This book, which contains a fine synopsis of women's professional advancement - along with many photographs - is an excellent addition to women's history. Highly recommended. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Eliza Foss, who does a fine job. I also had access to a digital copy of the book. Thanks to Netgalley, Vanda Krefft, and Algonquin Books for copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 06, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 0061807389
| 9780061807381
| B000FC11YC
| 3.96
| 24,366
| 1990
| Oct 13, 2009
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Mar 05, 2025
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| 0593537084
| 9780593537084
| 0593537084
| 3.48
| 8,339
| Jan 07, 2025
| Jan 07, 2025
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liked it
| 3.5 stars Lauren Berry, May Hanover, and Kelsey Ellis first met about two decades ago, at a summer arts camp called Wildwood. At the time, May and Kels 3.5 stars Lauren Berry, May Hanover, and Kelsey Ellis first met about two decades ago, at a summer arts camp called Wildwood. At the time, May and Kelsey were adolescent campers..... [image] .....and Lauren was the 23-year-old music director. [image] The trio were at Wildwood every summer for years, with May and Kelsey eventually becoming counselors. The threesome became close friends and kept in touch, but haven't been together in the same place for a decade. That's about to change this weekend, with a planned get-together at a luxurious Airbnb in the Hamptons. [image] In many ways, Lauren, May, and Kelsey have enviable lives, but each of them has encountered 'cancel culture'. Lauren: Lauren is a world class musician and the first African American Music Director of the Houston Symphony. While working at Wildwood arts camp, Lauren was romantically involved with Thomas Welliver, the married Texas oilman who co-owned Wildwood with his wife. When Lauren and Thomas's affair became public knowledge, an ugly culture war erupted with Lauren at the center. [image] May: May is the child of a Chinese mother and White father (who played no role in her life). May graduated from Harvard University and Columbia Law School, after which she became a prosecutor and then a law professor. May's troubles stem from an incident on a subway platform, when someone called her a racial slur, and May wrongly attributed the insult to a Black man. The incident went viral, with people calling May "AsianDAKaren". [image] Kelsey: Kelsey grew up in a very wealthy family and has a good job in her father's commercial real estate company. Kelsey married a restaurant chef called Luke Freedman, but it didn't work out and the couple filed for divorce. In the midst of the proceedings, Luke was gunned down and robbed, and the homicide went unsolved. Internet trolls flooded the internet with messages saying Kelsey hired someone to kill her husband. Kelsey knows the harassment will continue until Luke's murderer is caught. [image] For the Hamptons weekend, Lauren, May, and Kelsey plan to relax and enjoy swimming, food, music, drinks, and conversation. On their first vacation day together, the gals start to party hardy, then drive to Sag Harbor for dinner at the historic American Hotel. [image] Sag Harbor is crowded, but Kelsey - who's driving - spots a pickup truck preparing to leave a parking space. The women wait a few minutes, and as the truck leaves, the spot is snatched by a small white sedan. A handsome man and beautiful woman exit the sedan and stroll off, two happy little lovebirds. [image] Later, over dinner with LOTS more liquor, Lauren, May, and Kelsey grouse about the stolen parking space and joke about revenge. The result is that the following note is left on the white sedan's windshield: 'He's cheating. He always does.' [image] [image] [image] The fallout is unexpected and unfortunate. The next day, the handsome man in the white sedan, whose name turns out to be David Smith, is a missing person. Much to their chagrin, Lauren, May, and Kelsey get drawn into the police investigation. This happens, in part, because May's law enforcement instincts lead her to stick her nose into the David Smith case, which brings the women to the attention of the authorities. [image] As a result, secrets emerge - revelations that threaten the women's longtime friendship as well as their well being. One plot point involves frozen embryos, which I found interesting and enlightening. Additional characters add interest to the story, including: Kelsey's well-meaning but interfering father, who tries to control every aspect of her life; [image] Kelsey's stepbrother Noah, whom May dated many years ago; [image] May's current fianc茅 Josh, who may be too humdrum for her; [image] and oilman Thomas Wellifer - who's still in Lauren's life. [image] I enjoyed the book, though the motive for the wrongdoing stretches credulity a little bit (for me). Still, I'd recommend the novel to fans of suspense novels. Thanks to Netgalley, Alastair Burke, and Knopf for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 04, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 0063322218
| 9780063322219
| 0063322218
| 3.85
| 4,360
| Jun 18, 2024
| Jun 18, 2024
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really liked it
| Thirty-nine-year-old Deena Wood, a Black native of Georgia, isn't in a good place. In the past year, Deena lost her mother Libby, was divorced by her Thirty-nine-year-old Deena Wood, a Black native of Georgia, isn't in a good place. In the past year, Deena lost her mother Libby, was divorced by her husband Lance, and was fired from her litigator position at a prestigious Atlanta law firm. [image] Deena is now back in her childhood home in Brunswick, Georgia..... [image] ......living with her father Jimmy and his new wife Ruth, whom Deena resents. [image] Deena also dislikes her new job, doing boring legal work for an engineering firm called Medallion. [image] To get away from things, and 'hear her mother's voice', Deena often drives out to Georgia's Low Country and walks around. [image] On one excursion Deena is threatened by an elderly Black man called Holcomb Gardner, who mistakes Deena for a real estate agent. It seems developers have been harassing Holcomb, saying he MUST sell his waterfront property. Holcomb insists he's NEVER going to leave his land, and sends Deena on her way. [image] Deena looks into Holcomb's situation and comes across laws concerning "heirs' property" which hark back to Reconstruction, when land was distributed to freed slaves. [Note: It's complicated, but if a former slave's descendant dies without a will, ALL the relatives can claim a portion of the land. A developer can then buy a parcel from one relative, and force the others to either sell up or pay for their portion, which can be tens of thousands of dollars.] [image] Deena learns that cash poor Black people, who rarely make wills, are being fleeced all over the South. Deena wants to help, so she drives back out to Holcomb's place. There Deena finds that Holcomb's gone, his dog's gone, and his trailer's gone. Instead, there's a sign saying the land is for sale. [image] Deena suspects foul play, especially after she learns Holcomb's sister Delilah was killed in a hit-and-run accident six months ago. Deena reports Holcomb's disappearance to the police, who show little interest in either Holcomb or Delilah....whose hit-and-run killer was never caught. [image] Deena's inquiries seem to be alarming some people, because a car starts following her all over town; a crooked city councilman threatens her; a masked man tries to break into her home; and she's ambushed by a mugger. Luckily, Deena's dad Jimmy and her Uncle Duke take down the mugger, but he manages to run away. [image] Deena's no shrinking violet, and though she doesn't know it, Deena is being assisted by Gullah Geechee spirits. The Gullah Geechee are descendants of West African slaves who settled in the Low Country, and Gullah Geechee wraiths - whose voices weave through the book - are guiding Deena's quest. [image] In between looking for Holcomb, and trying to assist people affected by heirs' property laws, Deena goes about her usual business. This includes looking for a house to buy; dealing with her annoying boss at Medallion; and (maybe) reconnecting with her old boyfriend Howard, a handsome lawyer who's also back in Brunswick. [image] The tale becomes a thriller when Deena discovers the culprits at the bottom of the land grab, who don't mean to be thwarted! I enjoyed this mixed genre novel, which has historical, supernatural, and suspense elements. In addition, it's interesting to get a peek at Gullah Geechee food, traditions, and culture. I'd highly recommend the book to interested readers. [image] Beef and Okra Stew [image] Basket Weaving You can follow my reviews at ...more |
Notes are private!
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Mar 02, 2025
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Paperback
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| 0008590001
| 9780008590000
| B0C735D54L
| 3.91
| 2,755
| Jan 04, 2024
| Jan 04, 2024
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3.5 stars This debut book in the 'Val & Arbie mystery series' introduces us to the English amateur sleuths. It's summer 1924, and a young bon vivan 3.5 stars This debut book in the 'Val & Arbie mystery series' introduces us to the English amateur sleuths. It's summer 1924, and a young bon vivant called Arbuthnot Lancelot Smith (Arbie) - who lives in the Cotswold village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh - is planning a stroll to the village shop for newspapers and tobacco, followed by a spot of fishing on his grounds. [image] It's not to be, however, because Arbie is accosted by Miss Amy Phelps, one of the oldest and richest residents of Maybury-in-the-Marsh. Miss Phelps explains that her home, the Old Forge manor house, has a ghost that's frightening her. Though most villagers think Arbie is an airhead, Miss Phelps wants him to look into the matter. This is less surprising than it might seem. [image] As a kind of lark, Arbie had written a book called 'The Gentleman's Guide to Ghost-Hunting', which was an unexpected smash hit with the British public. [image] Arbie is trying to squirm out of assisting Miss Phelps when his longtime friend, Valentina Coulton-James (Val), the vicar's daughter, comes whizzing along on her bicycle. Val is a tall strapping athletic girl who, hearing about the ghost, immediately says she and Arbie will look into it. [image] Arbie and Val are invited to a luxurious tea at the Old Forge to discuss the matter. [image] At the manor house, Arbie and Val are greeted by the housekeeper Mrs. Jane Brockhurst. [image] The ghosthunters also meet the houseguests. These are: Cora Delaney - Miss Phelps' oldest friend; [image] Reggie Bicklesworth - an artist who rescues and rehomes needy animals; [image] Phyllis Thomas -Miss Phelps' niece; [image] and Murray Phelps - Miss Phelps' nephew. [image] A few days later, Arbie and Val set themselves up at the Old Forge for the night, to look and listen for ghostly emanations. The twosome don't see spirits, but the next morning, Miss Amy Phelps is found dead in her locked bedroom, poisoned with cyanide. [image] Police Inspector Gorringe arrives to investigate the homicide..... [image] .....and Arbie and Val, who both think of themselves as Sherlock Holmes, look into the murder as well. The main thrust of everyone's inquiries is 'cui bono' (who benefits). Typical cozy mystery tropes abound, such as old grudges; a spot of larceny; strange accidents; people changing their wills; etc. [image] Things move pretty quickly and Arbie helps expose the culprit at the book's climax. [image] This is a rather slight story, but the historical setting is interesting, the characters are fun, and I got quite a few laughs. Recommended to fans of the genre. You can follow my reviews at ...more |
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Mar 01, 2025
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| 4.45
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Apr 06, 2025
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| 3.78
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Apr 06, 2025
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| 4.00
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Apr 06, 2025
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| 4.11
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Apr 05, 2025
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| 3.80
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Apr 01, 2025
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| 4.25
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liked it
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Mar 30, 2025
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| 4.06
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liked it
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Mar 30, 2025
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| 3.65
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Mar 30, 2025
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| 4.14
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Mar 30, 2025
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| 4.05
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really liked it
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Mar 25, 2025
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| 4.06
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really liked it
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Mar 20, 2025
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| 4.31
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really liked it
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Mar 19, 2025
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| 3.10
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liked it
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Mar 13, 2025
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| 4.02
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really liked it
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Mar 13, 2025
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| 4.00
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liked it
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not set
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Mar 09, 2025
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| 4.22
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really liked it
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Mar 06, 2025
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| 3.96
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Mar 05, 2025
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| 3.48
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liked it
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not set
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Mar 04, 2025
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| 3.85
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really liked it
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not set
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Mar 02, 2025
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| 3.91
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Mar 01, 2025
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