Pretty good. I liked The Cloisters and this was different but similarly complex. She keeps lots of balls in the air. Old mystery connected to new mystPretty good. I liked The Cloisters and this was different but similarly complex. She keeps lots of balls in the air. Old mystery connected to new mystery which I like. Rich family, Capri, their employees and hangers-on. Murders. Twist at the end was not completely satisfying but interesting. Pretty absorbing throughout....more
Loved this book and I’m so grateful that Anne Hillerman is continuing this series. There are two basic stories, a sketchy climate cult and a sketchy rLoved this book and I’m so grateful that Anne Hillerman is continuing this series. There are two basic stories, a sketchy climate cult and a sketchy rehab/medicaid plot. Both are pretty entertaining and also informative. Characters are pretty real. I have issues with some of the pacing. Some sections drag, but there’s interesting cultural information there, and that’s always been a draw to the Hillerman books. Anyway, I’ll read whatever she writes....more
Really page turning, stayed up all night to finish it. Two sisters have a close but not entirely healthy relationship. One is a musical prodigy. The oReally page turning, stayed up all night to finish it. Two sisters have a close but not entirely healthy relationship. One is a musical prodigy. The other is dying to be a star, in every superficial way you can imagine. They have a band, romances happen, they are a smash (good description of that whole experience), they crash.Years pass, they have lives. Lots of well developed stuff here, but it all suffers from the horrible treatment of the prodigy person. The star person is too awful for too long. Imperfect but very good....more
I’ve thought for decades that Perry is a very entertaining writer. I love his characters, the suspense in his plots, and the splashes of humor in the I’ve thought for decades that Perry is a very entertaining writer. I love his characters, the suspense in his plots, and the splashes of humor in the dialogue and thoughts and relationships. This one had a good plot involving unlikely but entertaining connections between the attorney, his mother, the current victim, the criminals that discovered financial documents, and the other criminals trying to steal the money. My one complaint - well, the main one - is that the good guys suddenly get very stupid to facilitate the final attack. It seemed sloppy and rushed. They would have seen this coming, and it was like they completely changed into innocent unaware babies. Otherwise, pretty good....more
What an excellent writer! I really don’t read short stories, but I like her enough to read whatever she writes. And her short stories are masterful. SWhat an excellent writer! I really don’t read short stories, but I like her enough to read whatever she writes. And her short stories are masterful. She develops characters,sets up a plot, throws in many delicious details, and winds it up so I’m completely satisfied. I’d read a novel of most any of these stories, but they are little jewels just as they are....more
Very enjoyable. The unlikely serial killer was interesting rather than repellent. Luca’s and Virgil were entertaining as they worked together. The truVery enjoyable. The unlikely serial killer was interesting rather than repellent. Luca’s and Virgil were entertaining as they worked together. The true crime people were an original part of the investigation (as far as I’m aware). Lots of peripheral characters, some familiar, but I didn’t keep up with them well. But the people that carried the plot were well written, as always....more
I like Nesbo very much so this 3 is hard, but I just never could like any of these people, or even get a firm handle on them. The murderous brothers, I like Nesbo very much so this 3 is hard, but I just never could like any of these people, or even get a firm handle on them. The murderous brothers, always with good reason, the damage from childhood, the lover. I didn’t get any emotion going for any of them. The setting was fine, as always, and the originality of so many elements was amazing. The business, developing a town into a resort area, didn’t interest me but had my admiration for the details. I’ve never read anything quite like this. I had moments of Raymond Chandler, maybe even Ayn Rand (in a good way, creation, not arrogance). Interesting but all over the map....more
Pretty good and really thought provoking. This was my era. The position Rosemary created for herself as second class citizen seems shocking. The role Pretty good and really thought provoking. This was my era. The position Rosemary created for herself as second class citizen seems shocking. The role of women as cooks, cleaners, and support staff in her various groups is appalling. The acid culture is interesting for a while. But Leary sounds like such a demanding and narcissistic person, and they both seem so entitled and thoughtless, that it gets hard to read. Though she was a fugitive for years, Rosemary seemed fortunate to find people who made huge efforts for her, or for some theory that they assigned her to represent. My psychedelics and my living arrangements were not quite like this, but this account was great for memory and comparison....more
Very readable but not really very good. Writing is more awkward than I recall from earlier Cook novels, though his writing was never the most lyrical.Very readable but not really very good. Writing is more awkward than I recall from earlier Cook novels, though his writing was never the most lyrical. The main character is kind of an idiot. Descriptions of medical situations and procedures are pretty good. And the great part was abandoned Bellevue. I prowled through the abandoned top floor of a building there in the 70s and it was thrilling! No ghosts walking around, but furniture, clutter, medical supplies, with the East River as the view through amazing windows. This captured that experience very well. ...more
I guess these high star reviews are from people who particularly like one or both authors. I found this readable but with assorted problems. First, asI guess these high star reviews are from people who particularly like one or both authors. I found this readable but with assorted problems. First, as I have found with all the Patterson novels I’ve tried, the prose is plodding. Second, the plot keeps promising some focus but it remains scattershot, ending with new characters and extra chapters feeling around for a satisfying solution. And some characters and situations are just left lying there. Third, the “romance� just takes up space. I did read the whole thing but with eye-rolling....more
It wasn’t bad but I kept feeling like it wasn’t written by her. It read more like Girl on the Train or Woman in Cabin 10, where there’s a pretty good It wasn’t bad but I kept feeling like it wasn’t written by her. It read more like Girl on the Train or Woman in Cabin 10, where there’s a pretty good story but everyone is so drunk and bedeviled by idiotic decisions that you don’t want to solve it so much as just give everyone a good shake. And maybe court order them to treatment....more
Always good. Alex, Milo, LA setting. Someone is sniping seemingly unrelated people. Lot of characters attached to each victim plus some gratuitous lawAlways good. Alex, Milo, LA setting. Someone is sniping seemingly unrelated people. Lot of characters attached to each victim plus some gratuitous law enforcement people. Almost one-sitting readable....more
Detective from Local Gone Missing, who I don’t remember very well, becomes more robust here as she investigates a murder that seems to mirror a murderDetective from Local Gone Missing, who I don’t remember very well, becomes more robust here as she investigates a murder that seems to mirror a murder in the past. Reporter also investigates. Other characters narrate their points of view. All of them are pretty distinct. Plot is good and pacing is good. Ending was not entirely a surprise and not entirely satisfying, but the rest was good....more
Four stars felt right until the last bit when everyone became so despicable that I felt like dropping a star. This was no great lit but pretty good. BFour stars felt right until the last bit when everyone became so despicable that I felt like dropping a star. This was no great lit but pretty good. Bunch of characters, mostly in one family, but well enough drawn to make their various stories interesting. The Scottish island setting was nice. They just lost all sympathy as their stories developed, but it still had suspense and interest....more
Excellent! And funny and wise and sometimes quotable and accessible and philosophically helpful. Slow start - Phoebe’s life pre-wedding was almost griExcellent! And funny and wise and sometimes quotable and accessible and philosophically helpful. Slow start - Phoebe’s life pre-wedding was almost grim enough to stop reading. But then it gets active and full of characters well enough drawn to be memorable. Made me happy....more
Outstanding. I have missed these people. This author in fact has clarified some of the characters for me. The plot was excellent. The pacing got hurriOutstanding. I have missed these people. This author in fact has clarified some of the characters for me. The plot was excellent. The pacing got hurried as the end came closer but I don’t care. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will read other books of his, and I strongly hope future Smileys will be written....more
Beautiful writing, well developed characters - all of them, quite a few. Great settings in the southeast and London, Washington and NY less familiar bBeautiful writing, well developed characters - all of them, quite a few. Great settings in the southeast and London, Washington and NY less familiar but okay. There are no single people. Okay, I guess we’re at the complaints. One, these people are all too much. Talented, well educated, well brought up, self assured, living in perfect crime free areas, having multiple houses and clubs and friends with extra houses to offer them. I’m torn between feeling inferior and being bored. Second, maybe - surely - some people like pages and pages of descriptions of furniture etc., but for me it drags....more
I’ll give a 4 because it’s pretty absorbing, but it’s not really great. Lots of good details about small towns, nuclear facilities, relationships. SomI’ll give a 4 because it’s pretty absorbing, but it’s not really great. Lots of good details about small towns, nuclear facilities, relationships. Some terminally maudlin parts, including a big part of the ending. I might read another one by her. No complaints about the writing, except for choppy little chapters....more
Not 4 but not as bad as 3, based mostly on the early chapters with their relatively unemotional discussions of race, education, class, background, etcNot 4 but not as bad as 3, based mostly on the early chapters with their relatively unemotional discussions of race, education, class, background, etc. The tone was amusing while informative. The stars started dropping with the casual dishonesty of almost everyone but particularly the protagonist. I also had issues with some of the husband’s attitudes and expectations. But the characters felt real and the writing was pretty good....more
Loved it! Loved Davina. Liked the kids and I don’t read novels with kids generally. Hated the mom. Maybe it’s just me. Loved the country/small town seLoved it! Loved Davina. Liked the kids and I don’t read novels with kids generally. Hated the mom. Maybe it’s just me. Loved the country/small town setting, beautiful and peaceful. Short chapters perhaps a bit too short. Choppy. But mostly very good writing....more
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