I'd give it a 3.5 stars--main character reminded me a little of idea being stolen from the Dragon Tattoo series, but of course that worked well for it. It moved along at a good pace, the end was satisfying.
Sunday (Sunnie) Night has a pretty big chip on her shoulder and a dark past. Ex-military and a former cop, Sunnie is hired by Opaline Drucker, a wealthy older woman, to look into the bombing that killed her daughter and grandson and left her granddaughter, Stella, missing. The case has some strong parallels to Sunnie's past and despite her better judgement, she agrees help Opaline. Sunnie quickly finds herself in a web of danger and deceit--with little chance of escaping unharmed.
I must admit that I'm probably one of the few people who haven't read any of Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. I actually love the show Bones, but have never picked up the books--one of the few times where I've tended to prefer a show to date. So, you won't get a comparison of the Brennan series to this novel in this review (there are plenty of reviews out there with those observations, if you're interested). I am, however, a huge mystery and thriller fan. Reichs presents us with a pretty stereotypical cynical, truculent cop-turned-PI in the character of Sunnie (though Sunnie doesn't have a formal PI license). She's quirky, of course (see such exhibits as her pet squirrel, Bob) and has a distaste of rules of all forms. The story is told primarily from Sunnie's point of view, and we learn about her past only through her own recollections and memories as her present-day case causes her to occasionally think back on or mention old times. I imagine the author aiming for a Harry Bosch or Kinsey Millhone-type: I don't think Sunnie is to that level, but she's definitely a complicated and engaging heroine.
The story was certainly a compelling one, if not a bit bizarre at times. Sunnie shoots a man at the Ritz in Chicago, but is allowed to continue staying at the hotel: okay then. The Chicago P.D. allows her to continue investigating (the Drucker family bombing is technically still an open case for them) with surprising magnanimity, even with Opaline's family fortune in play. There are also portions of the novel where Sunnie has various characters under surveillance that drag on a bit (there's only so much tracking of someone back and forth that I can take).
Still, for the most part, the plot is pretty tight and exciting. Sunnie may be a bit cliche, but she's a strong character and an interesting one. She has a great wit and sarcasm to her that I loved. She's smart and savvy, even if damaged by her past. The novel also presents a couple of great twists that were excellent surprises--definitely made it worth reading for the mystery alone. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I'd be curious to read more about Sunnie in the future. 3.5 stars. More at http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/
I must admit that I'm probably one of the few people who haven't read any of Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. I actually love the show Bones, but have never picked up the books--one of the few times where I've tended to prefer a show to date. So, you won't get a comparison of the Brennan series to this novel in this review (there are plenty of reviews out there with those observations, if you're interested). I am, however, a huge mystery and thriller fan. Reichs presents us with a pretty stereotypical cynical, truculent cop-turned-PI in the character of Sunnie (though Sunnie doesn't have a formal PI license). She's quirky, of course (see such exhibits as her pet squirrel, Bob) and has a distaste of rules of all forms. The story is told primarily from Sunnie's point of view, and we learn about her past only through her own recollections and memories as her present-day case causes her to occasionally think back on or mention old times. I imagine the author aiming for a Harry Bosch or Kinsey Millhone-type: I don't think Sunnie is to that level, but she's definitely a complicated and engaging heroine.
The story was certainly a compelling one, if not a bit bizarre at times. Sunnie shoots a man at the Ritz in Chicago, but is allowed to continue staying at the hotel: okay then. The Chicago P.D. allows her to continue investigating (the Drucker family bombing is technically still an open case for them) with surprising magnanimity, even with Opaline's family fortune in play. There are also portions of the novel where Sunnie has various characters under surveillance that drag on a bit (there's only so much tracking of someone back and forth that I can take).
Still, for the most part, the plot is pretty tight and exciting. Sunnie may be a bit cliche, but she's a strong character and an interesting one. She has a great wit and sarcasm to her that I loved. She's smart and savvy, even if damaged by her past. The novel also presents a couple of great twists that were excellent surprises--definitely made it worth reading for the mystery alone. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I'd be curious to read more about Sunnie in the future. 3.5 stars. More at http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/
Two Nights is the newest novel by author Kathy Reichs. For the past six years, Sunday âSunnieâ Night has been living on remote Goat's Island (off Charleston, South Carolina). Sunday receives an unexpected visit from her former foster father, Beau Beaumonde. Beau has a case that needs someone with Sunday's skill set. One year and a week ago, Opaline Drucker lost her daughter and grandson to a bombing at a Hebrew girls' school in Chicago. Her granddaughter, Stella was not found. Opaline wants Sunday to get answers and she is willing to pay handsomely for Sunday's services. It will be a challenging task and it brings long buried memories to the surface. What happened to Stella? Can Sunday get answers for Opaline? What will happen to Sunday along the way?
Two Nights was a hard book for me to read. I was hoping for a fast-paced suspense novel. Two Nights is a slow starter. I was never able to get into the story. I ended up skimming through some of it (i.e. speed reading). I was not a fan of Sunday Night. She is intelligent, tough, stubborn, inventive, sarcastic, distant, does not trust easily, and does not let people get close to her. I think it was hard to connect with Sunday because readers are given few details on her past. We get little bits during the story with the main details revealed at the end of the book (too late). The one thing I liked about Sunday was her pet squirrel, Bob. My rating for Two Nights is 3 out of 5 stars. Two Nights is supposed to be a suspense novel, but I did not feel it. I particularly disliked the alternating chapters (which do not make sense until the end). Add to that every single detail of Sunday's day (what she did, where she went, what she ate, flopping on the bed, etc.). The story needed something more. I think it would have helped if the book had been written in the third person (instead of first person). The mystery seemed complicated, but I accurately guessed the outcome early in the story. There are some parts that are a little implausible. The case has gone cold (despite the Chicago PD's best efforts), but Sunday can get a lead right away and solve it within a short period of time. Two Nights does not have the same appeal as Ms. Reichs other creations. Two Nights does contain violence (quite a bit) and foul language.
Two Nights was a hard book for me to read. I was hoping for a fast-paced suspense novel. Two Nights is a slow starter. I was never able to get into the story. I ended up skimming through some of it (i.e. speed reading). I was not a fan of Sunday Night. She is intelligent, tough, stubborn, inventive, sarcastic, distant, does not trust easily, and does not let people get close to her. I think it was hard to connect with Sunday because readers are given few details on her past. We get little bits during the story with the main details revealed at the end of the book (too late). The one thing I liked about Sunday was her pet squirrel, Bob. My rating for Two Nights is 3 out of 5 stars. Two Nights is supposed to be a suspense novel, but I did not feel it. I particularly disliked the alternating chapters (which do not make sense until the end). Add to that every single detail of Sunday's day (what she did, where she went, what she ate, flopping on the bed, etc.). The story needed something more. I think it would have helped if the book had been written in the third person (instead of first person). The mystery seemed complicated, but I accurately guessed the outcome early in the story. There are some parts that are a little implausible. The case has gone cold (despite the Chicago PD's best efforts), but Sunday can get a lead right away and solve it within a short period of time. Two Nights does not have the same appeal as Ms. Reichs other creations. Two Nights does contain violence (quite a bit) and foul language.
Kathy Reichs had developed a new character Sunday Night that is nothing like her Temperance Brennen. Sunnie Night is tough, independent and suffered a nightmare for her childhood. The story is a nail bitter and could not put this book down. Like all Kathy Reichs books this is a winner.
