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Review Date: 9/29/2013
Helpful Score: 1
when I first got this, PBS listed this book as Hanne Wilhelmsen 1, which it wasn't; some references make it obvious there are previous books with this character. Not really a problem but I like to start series in the beginning.
Hanne Wilhelmsen is a paralyzed lesbian ex-police officer who just wants to be left alone. A train wreck in the middle of a blizzard leaves her trapped in a hotel with a hundred or so others - and then there's a murder.
It's a nice "locked-room" mystery with plenty of suspects. Told in the first person, but you don't get told everything the narrator knows. A lot of small "had I but known" moments. I don't feel I got to know Hanne very well in this book - probably deliberate given the character, but it could be due to the translation, or maybe starting in the middle of a series isn't the best. But she's interesting to be sure.
Anyway good plot, interesting characters, worth reading even if not emotionally involving.
Hanne Wilhelmsen is a paralyzed lesbian ex-police officer who just wants to be left alone. A train wreck in the middle of a blizzard leaves her trapped in a hotel with a hundred or so others - and then there's a murder.
It's a nice "locked-room" mystery with plenty of suspects. Told in the first person, but you don't get told everything the narrator knows. A lot of small "had I but known" moments. I don't feel I got to know Hanne very well in this book - probably deliberate given the character, but it could be due to the translation, or maybe starting in the middle of a series isn't the best. But she's interesting to be sure.
Anyway good plot, interesting characters, worth reading even if not emotionally involving.
21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (Aubrey/Maturin Series)
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
7
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
7
Review Date: 12/20/2020
No need to look at this book unless you are a big O'Brian fan or a completist. It's interesting to see his handwritten pages with his typewritten copy juxtaposed. Aubrey's son Sam makes an appearance, and later on Sophie and his daughters actually come aboard along with Stephen's fiance and his daughter. The last 10 pages are just handwritten, there's no typed copy. I had a terrible time making it out so I turned to www.hmssurprise.org, a wonderful O'Brian fan site, and found the transcriptions - there's a duel between Stephen and a captain. You can see the makings of another exciting novel, sadly unfinished. But I am so glad my friend talked me into reading this series many years ago, they are such great books.
Review Date: 2/16/2022
Fast-paced, decent characters if maybe a little sketchy, and a nice explanation of parallel worlds for those who haven't come across the concept. It's only science-fiction because of that one device - you accept that they have it and no one does anything with the concept except use the device. Otherwise a straight thriller: will they find the killer before he strikes again? At first I was perturbed by the scenes from Maddie's POV - I didn't want to read about her death over and over again. But the author doesn't put us through that for nothing. If you slow down and think about it, there's a lot of questions to be answered, but go with the flow and it's a satisfying ending.
Review Date: 8/2/2008
Helpful Score: 1
I have to admit I have only read one other James Patterson book, it was one of the Alex Cross ones, although Patterson seems to dominate book racks everywhere, especially in airports and grocery stores. This is part of the very popular Women's Murder Club series. I found it on the freebie shelf at the campground and figured I'd give it a try. I did finish it, but it didn't do a lot for me either positive or negative. It moves along smartly, and there's some mildly interesting villains, but I didn't care much what happened to any of the characters - and there's one place where the reader really needed to be emotionally involved. I won't seek out any of the rest of these books when I have so many others I want on my reading list, but a lot of people really enjoy them - vive la difference! Patterson is so popular he won't miss me.
Review Date: 2/24/2011
I really enjoyed this first in a series. It's so lightweight it's almost frothy, it's cute, it's got all the right cliches in all the right places. Abby Cooper is a real psychic and makes her living at providing advice to clients based on her psychic abilities. One of Abby's clients is found murdered and her gift gets her into trouble with the police, since she's describing things she ought not to know about. Abby doesn't seem to be very good at predicting her own fortune, which made for some funny moments. You're not going to have any profound insights or get sucked into the drama in this book, but I liked it. I thought it was sweet escapist reading and just what I wanted at the time.
Review Date: 3/21/2022
Picking up right where Lirael left off, Lirael and Sameth desperately attempt to foil the plans of the necromancer Hedge. Lots of action, but basically it's just one step forward two steps back for the whole book. The two manage to put aside their growing despair and keep plugging on, hoping that the next time they'll be successful. Sameth in particular grows a lot during the course of the book. I would have liked to see more of Sabriel and Touchstone - they had no role here other than to literally fly in at the last moment and help save the day. But all in all, a satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy.
Review Date: 3/15/2019
I quite liked it mainly due to the premise of the alchemy and the gargoyle. I liked Zoe, although she seems awfully scattered for someone that old. I liked Dorian (is that a pun on Dorian Grey?). I do think that Zoe should have been a bit more concerned about the murder, and finding the book that could save Dorian, than tracking down the stupid teenage boy. And Pandian really needs to tone down the whole vegan thing, that got old fast. Did I mention that Zoe is vegan? And she makes great vegan smoothies. Dorian cooks great vegan food. Vegan vegan vegan. Okay I'm done.
Otherwise, I think the series has promise - I see there are several more so I'll go on with it.
Otherwise, I think the series has promise - I see there are several more so I'll go on with it.
Review Date: 8/15/2019
The pacing is certainly good, although the mystery identity of the Admiral drags on too long. At first I thought perhaps this book was the second in a series, I felt that many references were supposed to imply familiarity with the world. But it is the first, Danker just drops us into the story and we are supposed to catch up. The book is entirely about them escaping from their predicament and moves along smartly, with the Admiral mcgyvering his way out of ever increasingly perilous situations. It's all told from the Admiral's POV but he doesn't give us many hints about who he is or why he's there. I thought of and then had to discard several guesses as to his real identity and frankly, even after the big reveal at the end, I'm still not entirely certain. Either I misunderstood some of the earlier actions, or there's discontinuities in the text, or he's still not telling the entire truth.
At any rate, it's a pleasant action SF read but didn't grab me tightly enough that I'll go on to the next.
At any rate, it's a pleasant action SF read but didn't grab me tightly enough that I'll go on to the next.
Review Date: 2/6/2020
Helpful Score: 1
Very interesting. Some of the book descriptions make this sound like a sequel to The Peripheral, but I'm not so sure...I haven't read it yet so I don't really know. Anyway I liked this just fine although I had a LOT of questions about the mechanics of it all. No matter. Switched between POV of Verity and Netherford about every 2 pages, which I usually find annoying but this time just adds to pacing. I really liked the idea of the stubs, and that the "real" timeline doesn't know how they do what they do. Verity's flight across the country, basically handed off from one person to another like a suitcase, was at the same time tension-filled but also a little tedious. I had a little trouble visualizing the very end as they're airlifted into the party. Good characterization, excellent world-building (of course), and a good ending - wraps up this story nicely and leaves room for more if wanted.
Review Date: 7/2/2020
This is my second favorite of Stewart's novels - the Lipizzan horse caps it off. Even without the horse it would be one of my favorites of hers. Vanessa, Lewis and Tim are such appealing characters, if this were written today they would be part of a series I'm sure. Great pacing, every character is perfectly delineated, good believable dialogue, and excellent sense of place. The crime aspect does make the book a little dated - in 1965 that was a major event but today, although serious, seems like small potatoes. And of course the relationship between the sexes is from 1965 too, but Vanessa is not a subservient character nor do the men act as though she is. I loved how even after the bad guy is captured there is still a scene of great peril, which Vanessa averts. There is one scene that has always stayed with me (and partly because I first read it as as a teen) - the scene where Vanessa watches the old horse dance in the moonlight. I know it's not Great Literature, but I love it anyway.
All Mortal Flesh (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 5)
Author:
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
70
Author:
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
70
Review Date: 5/7/2023
I'm re-reading this series as I have the last book, HID FROM OUR EYES, on my TBR shelf. I liked this one quite a lot, possibly because I remember the big twist in the story. I've often complained I don't remember the plots from books I read years ago, but no issues with that here. And because the twist, I found myself anticipating what was to come which really sped up the story for me. I don't remember if I guessed the villain the first time I read it but it does seem fairly obvious after the halfway point. I think Spencer-Fleming did her best to make every character, especially Russ and Clare, very unsympathetic. Given the emotional tornadoes going on, I can go with that. I really wanted to slap the both of them. The only ones to come out of this with some semblance of likability were the very minor characters Aberforth and Harlene. And while I liked it, I gotta say this is totally soap opera territory. I'm not so involved with the characters that I couldn't giggle a bit at the whole horrible situation. On to book six.
Review Date: 11/5/2021
This is a great little novella! Murderbot is so interesting, I love its voice and snarkiness, and its weird little tics. Liked the action, liked the supporting characters, loved the world-building. Just a great read.
Review Date: 9/16/2023
A fast action-packed book that nonetheless does very little to move the overall plot forward. It's more like a transition or setup book before we get to the big Wizard's Ball and/or the invasion thing, whatever that's about. Lots of fighting - Felicia is sure something - and I enjoyed all the suitors suddenly appearing. Lots of the sisters getting to know one another, which was good, and Eli not talking to Lizbeth, not good. I noticed a couple of places with editing discontinuities, which pop me out of the "zone", but oh well. I did enjoy it, Harris can always keep me reading and I finished this in one sitting, but it just isn't as complete a story as the earlier ones.
Review Date: 9/24/2017
The mood of this series has changed remarkably, from the light-hearted cozies at the beginning to the more serious, family-related issues of the day. School bullying, child abuse, extra-indulgent parenting and teen suicide make this one kind of bleak. I guessed the villain as soon as he/she/it was mentioned, but I'm sure this book wasn't intended as a classic whodunit. Still have the cozy mystery hallmarks of what Roe's wearing, what she's cooking, what her hair looks like. I could have done with fewer descriptions of Roe throwing up, actually. Still, it kept me reading straight through, and even if there is a happy ending for Roe there were left a lot of unhappy families in the town.
Review Date: 2/17/2016
I can't figure out what to say about this book. It's a nice character study of the teen-aged girl; there's a tiny bit of "magic" happening (enough to get it classified as fantasy). The big antagonist of the story is left to the last couple pages and then just evaporates (was that the point?) The main thrust of this story seems to be how great it is for nerdy youngsters to read and discuss science fiction and fantasy, which is why I'm guessing it won awards. Lovely writing, but the fantasy elements don't seem critical to the story (it reminds me of Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, which is a rapturous paean to college life with a folk tale tacked on to the last 20 pages).
So...meh. But if you'd like a list of excellent SF from the 70s and earlier, jot down all the titles in this book.
So...meh. But if you'd like a list of excellent SF from the 70s and earlier, jot down all the titles in this book.
Review Date: 5/21/2022
SO GOOD to be back with Peter and the gang! You can find my full review in the May 2022 PBS Blog.
Review Date: 6/6/2018
Gemma James, now Inspector James, is in charge when the young wife of a wealthy antiques dealer is found murdered. She was pregnant with her lover's child, so Gemma focuses on the husband who is not exactly pure as driven snow - but Duncan Kincaid finds it's too similar to the murder of another dealer. Gemma is dealing with her pregnancy, new job, new house, and having her SO butt into her case, so tensions are high. Nicely complicated plot with plenty of suspects, and interesting flashbacks that slowly start to make sense in the present day. There's a lot of sadness in this episode. I like how Crombie gives all the characters some background; and there's enough backstory for the main characters that a new reader could start here.
Review Date: 1/19/2023
Loved this take on Sherlock Holmes. You can read my full review on the PBS Blog for January 2023.
Review Date: 7/18/2018
Johnson brings a lot of thoughtfulness into what is a pretty dark story, interleaving modern day murders and human trafficking with Longmire's experiences in Vietnam. It's still got snappy dialogue and some wryly humorous scenes. The friendship between Longmire and Henry Standing Bear is so well done; just in the little snippets of dialogue you can see how well all the sheriff's team gets along. This is my second time around with this series and I'm liking it more than the first time.
Review Date: 11/19/2018
Tenth in the Longmire series, and it's another excellent entry. Lucian asks Walt to accompany him to Campbell County to give help to an old friend of Lucien's. Her husband, a cop, has committed suicide but she can't really accept that, he just wasn't the type to do it. Lucien sums up Walt perfectly when he says "I want to warn you that if you put Walter on this you're going to find out what it's all about, one way or the other...You sure you want that? Because he's like a gun; once you point him and pull the trigger, it's too late to change your mind." Walt quickly determines it was in fact suicide and now the question is, what could drive this reputedly inflexible lawman to kill himself? Henry Standing Bear and Vic Moretti show up as well, having received desperate phone calls from Walt's daughter Cady, who expects her dad to be at her side in Philadelphia while she gives birth...in 24 hours. There are tension-filled chase scenes, and the self-deprecating humor of Walt; some spiritual moments as well. I do feel bad for Cady who seems to go through the same crazy scene with her dad over and over again. But once again Walt finds the answer, even if it's one that doesn't give much consolation, and makes it to Cady in time. These are really fast reads for me, I usually manage to finish them in about 3 or 4 hours as they are so compelling.
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