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Review Date: 1/17/2024
This was a great book! Solid plot, impossible crime. Was it magic or otherworldly as local legend seemed to dictate? Or was there a simple or not so simple solution? It was very intriguing and kept me turning the pages for sure. I liked the two âdetectives' and the old and new crimes to be solved. Halter's writing is quite lovely and descriptive too.
Review Date: 7/24/2013
Her family had warned her that things would be different in the city, an Patricia Teeling had laughed at their caution. She had come for the excitement: the new job, the strange new people, the pubs and the dance halls, the men who followed her with their eyes. Even the stabbing death of her neighbor didn't shake her-until a dark handsome man with a crippled walk, the 'Goosefoot', appeared the next day. She would see him on the street, in a pub, stalking her day after day, but there was something about him she wanted-something that drew her to him...like a moth to a flame.
Not sure what I think on this one. Very mixed feelings. I want to finish it to see what happens, but I can't really say I'm 'enjoying' it. Really stupid characters. It's a sort of coming of age story with a murder thrown in. Set in Dublin Ireland. Very smart girl graduates college and is informed by her uncle that she is to inherit his very large, successful farm. She has worked with him on it all her life and graduated with a degree in agriculture science. She has a beau and is set for a successful life. But...she decides she needs to move to the city to 'experience' life first. Her uncle gives her one year to get it out of her system and the farm is hers, if she decides at the end of the year she wants to stay in the city she loses the farm. So off she goes, not really knowing what it is she is looking for. She acquires a room mate that is obsessed with sex and the male 'membrum virile', (although she hasn't experienced them yet) and makes friends with one of her fellow teachers at the school where she teaches science. He takes her for a pint everyday after school and gives her a balloon to blow up when they part company, explaining it will make her feel better. But it's the couple downstairs that are the strangest and her life really takes a bizarre turn after getting involved with them. She makes some really dumb choices for such a smart gal. I don't know how to describe it besides bizarre! I'm not finished yet, but almost so the jury is still out on this one. So I might talk more about it after I chew on it awhile. I think this book is one that needs chewing on. I also have 'Bogmail' by the same author and I will definitely be reading it too.
Not sure what I think on this one. Very mixed feelings. I want to finish it to see what happens, but I can't really say I'm 'enjoying' it. Really stupid characters. It's a sort of coming of age story with a murder thrown in. Set in Dublin Ireland. Very smart girl graduates college and is informed by her uncle that she is to inherit his very large, successful farm. She has worked with him on it all her life and graduated with a degree in agriculture science. She has a beau and is set for a successful life. But...she decides she needs to move to the city to 'experience' life first. Her uncle gives her one year to get it out of her system and the farm is hers, if she decides at the end of the year she wants to stay in the city she loses the farm. So off she goes, not really knowing what it is she is looking for. She acquires a room mate that is obsessed with sex and the male 'membrum virile', (although she hasn't experienced them yet) and makes friends with one of her fellow teachers at the school where she teaches science. He takes her for a pint everyday after school and gives her a balloon to blow up when they part company, explaining it will make her feel better. But it's the couple downstairs that are the strangest and her life really takes a bizarre turn after getting involved with them. She makes some really dumb choices for such a smart gal. I don't know how to describe it besides bizarre! I'm not finished yet, but almost so the jury is still out on this one. So I might talk more about it after I chew on it awhile. I think this book is one that needs chewing on. I also have 'Bogmail' by the same author and I will definitely be reading it too.
Review Date: 8/28/2014
Good police procedural. I liked the controversial premise for the crime, watching the characters relationships grow, and following the detectives methodically sift through evidence, weeding out red herrings and suspects to the dramatic end.
Review Date: 7/27/2013
Helpful Score: 1
My first Ian Rankin. Excellent! So much of this book was about our detective John Rebus. Being the first book in a long series, it introduced us to him properly. But what a wonderful thrilling ride to finding the killer! I liked the complex relationships between characters and watching the journey of a very broken man finding himself again. Looking forward to seeing more of Rebus!
Review Date: 8/29/2014
This book is written like a novel and very well researched. Nothing in her life is left out. Excellent
Review Date: 7/24/2013
Helpful Score: 1
The story is told in alternating chapters. Two distinct stories in their own right, running together and intersecting. The story of Arthur Dunn and his brother Jake growing up in the 1930's and Ian Christopherson's story of coming to age in a small northern town in the 50's. Ian and Arthur are the tie that bind the stories together. Slowly and gently taking us through the lives of these two men and building to the inescapable explosion between brothers.
I like stories about family struggles, we all have them don't we? I love looking at the dynamic of relationships. This book hit home for me in two ways, Arthur has a 'co-dependent' relationship with his mother. He felt responsible for her happiness. Somewhere along the lines in their lives she sent that message to him. I had the same dynamic in my relationship with my mom. So I could identify with Arthur. There was Jake the brother whom the mom treated with kid gloves, I have a handicap brother. Same dynamic. With Ian one of his parents abandons the family and he has to learn to come to terms with that. My dad left us when I was a teenager.
The setting is really far north in Ontario Canada, small town life, farm life. Ms. Lawson puts you right there in that bitter cold winter. Pulls at your heartstrings when a horse gets sick in the middle of a blizzard, they can't get to the vet. Ian has a Native Indian best friend from the reservation and we see the tensions between the Indians and the white man.Throw in World War II and the hardships and the terrible loss.
I loved Arthur and as much as you want to dislike Jake you have to wonder why? Why does he do the things he does? The dynamics between the brothers really is the crux of the story and it is a very well told one. I'm very glad she decided to tell this story from Arthur's point of view instead of Jake's. Their dad was a silent man and even though he doesn't say much, I think his relationship with each of the boys speaks volumes. I can't recommend this enough if you like family dramas!
I like stories about family struggles, we all have them don't we? I love looking at the dynamic of relationships. This book hit home for me in two ways, Arthur has a 'co-dependent' relationship with his mother. He felt responsible for her happiness. Somewhere along the lines in their lives she sent that message to him. I had the same dynamic in my relationship with my mom. So I could identify with Arthur. There was Jake the brother whom the mom treated with kid gloves, I have a handicap brother. Same dynamic. With Ian one of his parents abandons the family and he has to learn to come to terms with that. My dad left us when I was a teenager.
The setting is really far north in Ontario Canada, small town life, farm life. Ms. Lawson puts you right there in that bitter cold winter. Pulls at your heartstrings when a horse gets sick in the middle of a blizzard, they can't get to the vet. Ian has a Native Indian best friend from the reservation and we see the tensions between the Indians and the white man.Throw in World War II and the hardships and the terrible loss.
I loved Arthur and as much as you want to dislike Jake you have to wonder why? Why does he do the things he does? The dynamics between the brothers really is the crux of the story and it is a very well told one. I'm very glad she decided to tell this story from Arthur's point of view instead of Jake's. Their dad was a silent man and even though he doesn't say much, I think his relationship with each of the boys speaks volumes. I can't recommend this enough if you like family dramas!
Review Date: 11/20/2013
Conveniently this murder takes place just as school holidays are beginning and Carolus' cousin Fay has alerted him to the need for his help in solving the mystery. Carolus and his 'man and woman', Mr. & Mrs. Sticks, head for Blessington-on-Sea to help dig up clues as to who killed the hateful Mrs. Bomberger and buried her neck deep in the sand. One of Carolus' students meets him there and aids in the investigation. Not able to get a true statement out of any of the suspects, he has to piece together all the lies to come up with the solution.
Review Date: 11/20/2013
Although this mystery starts off with a very spontaneous murder the crux of the story is about the theft of a very valuable piece of pottery. It was a great romp, I loved it. Full of wonderful characters and an old village church crumbling around them. A 'witches coven' regularly cavorting naked in the full moon through the pastures, Miss Hislop the virginal old maid, crazy about the new young curate Michael Sabini and determined to experience sex just once in her lifetime! John Webber, the detective put out to pasture by his bosses, comes home to Flaxfield to get in shape again (or should he just retire?) and leads the hunt for the Pew Group. Mrs. Lizzie Thomas, Doreen's irrepressible mother, determined to set her daughter's life to right and maybe find love in the middle of it? The sexy Irishman, O'Shea with his butterflies on his bum. Not to mention the delightful vicar, William Coley, who's single-minded determination to get the restoration of his church funded might involve the infamous Pew Group! What in the world does he have up his sleeve!? Will it ever come out that Doreen tripped her husband? Guess you'll have to read it to see! You won't be sorry. A really fun read and delightful plot-line.
Review Date: 7/24/2013
Helpful Score: 1
Fun read! Full of charming characters, gentle humor and a well plotted mystery. I really the character of Inspector Alan Grant. Not afraid to get his information a little outside of the 'rules', but full of caring and sympathy.
I don't want to give away too much about the book and spoil your fun of reading it for yourself... Tisdale is a fun character on the run from Inspector Grant and his men. He's their key suspect. The police chief's daughter, Erica, is sure he is innocent and goes out on the limb to help him. She brings him food until he turns up missing and then she is on the hunt for the item the police are looking for, as she's sure it will clear him. Erica is a great character and Grant has a soft spot for her. Does she find the item? Does it clear Tisdale? Do they ever find Tisdale? And does romance bud between the two?
There are lots of interesting suspects, fellow actors who hated working with Christine, a husband who is a Lord, a male friend who shows up the morning they find her body and every says they are lovers, an astrologer who predicted her death and a no good brother out for her money. It could be any of them. I certainly didn't guess the right person! See if you can!
I don't want to give away too much about the book and spoil your fun of reading it for yourself... Tisdale is a fun character on the run from Inspector Grant and his men. He's their key suspect. The police chief's daughter, Erica, is sure he is innocent and goes out on the limb to help him. She brings him food until he turns up missing and then she is on the hunt for the item the police are looking for, as she's sure it will clear him. Erica is a great character and Grant has a soft spot for her. Does she find the item? Does it clear Tisdale? Do they ever find Tisdale? And does romance bud between the two?
There are lots of interesting suspects, fellow actors who hated working with Christine, a husband who is a Lord, a male friend who shows up the morning they find her body and every says they are lovers, an astrologer who predicted her death and a no good brother out for her money. It could be any of them. I certainly didn't guess the right person! See if you can!
Review Date: 3/20/2015
This was another excellent book by Mildred Davis. She does suspense well! Johnny seems to be blackmailing everyone in town. Finally he meets his match and someone puts an ice pick through his heart. They should have felt safe now but then the whispering phone calls started! His mother is acting strange and snooping around, determined to find the killer. Making all kinds of innuendos. Pitting one neighbor against the other. Is she the one making the calls?
A good study in human behavior. Davis sets up the community dynamics well in the opening chapters. Seems like a tight community, with long standing friendships, until Johnny is killed. Now protecting their secrets are at the top of the list and they become like insects ready to devour each other. A kidnapping, a suicide and a confession lead to the climactic ending.
A good study in human behavior. Davis sets up the community dynamics well in the opening chapters. Seems like a tight community, with long standing friendships, until Johnny is killed. Now protecting their secrets are at the top of the list and they become like insects ready to devour each other. A kidnapping, a suicide and a confession lead to the climactic ending.
Review Date: 7/24/2013
Helpful Score: 1
'In this, L.R. Wright's first mystery novel, we are introduced to RCMP Staff Sergeant Karl Alberg; and so begins the highly-acclaimed series featuring Karl and librarian Cassandra Mitchell.
At eighty, George Wilcox hardly expected to crown his life by committing a murder. It had happened so quickly, so easily, so unexpectedly in the sleepy town on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia: a near-perfect crime that wraps Wilcox in a web of guilt, honor, and secrets of the past. An unprovoked act that soon binds him to the warmhearted town librarian, Cassandra Mitchell, and her new romantic interest, zealous Staff Sergeant Alberg. Together, this troubled trio find themselves caught up in a crime whose solution transcends the logic of pure justice.'
This mystery is set on the west coast of Canada along the 'Sunshine Coast'. Our detective is a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. Different for me. Also different, the story opens with the murder and we know who it is from the get go. Question is why and will he turn himself in or will Karl figure it out?
I couldn't put it down. I loved George and Cassandra. I HAD to find out what happened all those years ago when George was young and why he hated Carlyle so much. The murder changed everything for George. His whole life and what he believed was turned upside down. Had he been wrong all those years? I wanted to go to the 'Sunshine Coast' and go to Cassandra's library. Karl seemed a little offish but the stray cat gives us a clue to what is really at the heart of this tough Mountie. I will tell you, the end had me crying. Maybe I'm just a big softie:) A totally satisfying read.
There are 9 books in the series with Alberg and in the last one he retires and Sgt. Edwina Henderson takes his place and there are two more books featuring her. That's quite different too!
At eighty, George Wilcox hardly expected to crown his life by committing a murder. It had happened so quickly, so easily, so unexpectedly in the sleepy town on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia: a near-perfect crime that wraps Wilcox in a web of guilt, honor, and secrets of the past. An unprovoked act that soon binds him to the warmhearted town librarian, Cassandra Mitchell, and her new romantic interest, zealous Staff Sergeant Alberg. Together, this troubled trio find themselves caught up in a crime whose solution transcends the logic of pure justice.'
This mystery is set on the west coast of Canada along the 'Sunshine Coast'. Our detective is a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. Different for me. Also different, the story opens with the murder and we know who it is from the get go. Question is why and will he turn himself in or will Karl figure it out?
I couldn't put it down. I loved George and Cassandra. I HAD to find out what happened all those years ago when George was young and why he hated Carlyle so much. The murder changed everything for George. His whole life and what he believed was turned upside down. Had he been wrong all those years? I wanted to go to the 'Sunshine Coast' and go to Cassandra's library. Karl seemed a little offish but the stray cat gives us a clue to what is really at the heart of this tough Mountie. I will tell you, the end had me crying. Maybe I'm just a big softie:) A totally satisfying read.
There are 9 books in the series with Alberg and in the last one he retires and Sgt. Edwina Henderson takes his place and there are two more books featuring her. That's quite different too!
Review Date: 3/20/2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery! I HAD to get to the end to see who did it. Ms. Davis used multiple narrators to tell the story. Chapters titled as to whom was telling their side of the story-Story Continued by Minnie Caldecott... It was fun getting to know the characters this way. Like an actress sliding into a role, Ms. Davis slid into character as she wrote each chapter. I enjoyed the small town atmosphere and relationships. I liked the characters. Even the not so lovely or nice ones you found yourself understanding and wanting them to grow and become better people. It was interesting in seeing how the secrets and character of one man effected the whole community and changed the course of all the residents lives. I highly recommend this book.
Review Date: 8/28/2014
Haunting is the right word for this book! I couldn't put it down, there were no chapters in it so I didn't know when to stop:) Actually I just couldn't put it down. The end left me speechless. I don't want to tell you anything about the story. I want it to unfold for you as you turn the pages. I read a review that gave me way too many spoilers and I wish I had started it with a clean slate.
Read it, let me know what you thought.
Read it, let me know what you thought.
Review Date: 8/28/2014
This book is set on an island off the coast of Charleston S.C. Both of my boys were born in Charleston so the setting is very familiar to me and the history and culture of this area of the south. Bart nailed it. Wonderful southern flavor, great characters, southern drawl, sweet tea and southern oaks with moss hanging from them. You can really visualize it.
In the telling of the story we move back and forth between now and during the Civil War to learn the history of the house and the family. I loved that! When reading a section about the original owners back in the Civil War time, there is some hateful behavior and hateful names and words that are offensive, but it reminds you what a horrible time in our history it was. Then we move back into present day and see how the characters are heartbroken over the outrageous behavior of their ancestors. There is a good balance.
There is some sexual content in this book. Ghostly and earthly. The sex wasn't over-done, but the crude banter of a sexual nature between characters was a little much in my opinion and could have been left out entirely as far as I was concerned. It detracted from a great story. Unless he was trying to highlight the change in the Bambi character as the story progressed.
Other than that it was an engaging, well written, story that kept me turning the pages.
Wadmalaw is a real island and there is a real Tea Plantation on it! Bigelow Teas actually bought it and renovated it and opened it for tours. it is the last remaining tea plantation in America. That's on my bucket list of things to see! There is also a recipe for Russian Tea in the book, and not the one using powdered tea and Tang!
In the telling of the story we move back and forth between now and during the Civil War to learn the history of the house and the family. I loved that! When reading a section about the original owners back in the Civil War time, there is some hateful behavior and hateful names and words that are offensive, but it reminds you what a horrible time in our history it was. Then we move back into present day and see how the characters are heartbroken over the outrageous behavior of their ancestors. There is a good balance.
There is some sexual content in this book. Ghostly and earthly. The sex wasn't over-done, but the crude banter of a sexual nature between characters was a little much in my opinion and could have been left out entirely as far as I was concerned. It detracted from a great story. Unless he was trying to highlight the change in the Bambi character as the story progressed.
Other than that it was an engaging, well written, story that kept me turning the pages.
Wadmalaw is a real island and there is a real Tea Plantation on it! Bigelow Teas actually bought it and renovated it and opened it for tours. it is the last remaining tea plantation in America. That's on my bucket list of things to see! There is also a recipe for Russian Tea in the book, and not the one using powdered tea and Tang!
Review Date: 11/20/2013
Jane is in a sanitarium following a terrible accident she can't remember. There are only a few other residents. The Doctor in charge inherited the home from his grandfather and he is only planning on keeping it until the residents there have passed away as they have no where else to go. He takes in Jane as a favor to a friend who is Jane's guardian. It seems all of her family are gone now. All she has is the guardian a trusted family friend and a fiance, both of which she doesn't remember.
She's remembering snippets here and there. She remembers her father holding her and playing with her but the Dr. said her father died when she was just months old. She remembers her family telling her not to marry her fiance as he is a bad man. There's the reoccurring dream about overhearing a conversation about guns and shooting someone. Was it a dream or a memory and was it a plot to kill someone? And there is the memory of the terrible fire! Was that where she was injured? No one is telling her anything. She's in a wheel chair unable to walk, but the Dr. says that should come back to her as her strength grows. Then the stranger appears and threatens her life. How did he even know she was beginning to remember things? Who can she trust? Is her fiance behind the plot? Is he really her fiance? What happened to her nurse, Zee, who heard the voices Jane heard in the night too?
She's remembering snippets here and there. She remembers her father holding her and playing with her but the Dr. said her father died when she was just months old. She remembers her family telling her not to marry her fiance as he is a bad man. There's the reoccurring dream about overhearing a conversation about guns and shooting someone. Was it a dream or a memory and was it a plot to kill someone? And there is the memory of the terrible fire! Was that where she was injured? No one is telling her anything. She's in a wheel chair unable to walk, but the Dr. says that should come back to her as her strength grows. Then the stranger appears and threatens her life. How did he even know she was beginning to remember things? Who can she trust? Is her fiance behind the plot? Is he really her fiance? What happened to her nurse, Zee, who heard the voices Jane heard in the night too?
Review Date: 3/20/2015
Jane is in a sanitarium following a terrible accident she can't remember. There are only a few other residents. The Doctor in charge inherited the home from his grandfather and he is only planning on keeping it until the residents there have passed away as they have no where else to go. He takes in Jane as a favor to a friend who is Jane's guardian. It seems all of her family are gone now. All she has is the guardian a trusted family friend and a fiance, both of which she doesn't remember.
She's remembering snippets here and there. She remembers her father holding her and playing with her but the Dr. said her father died when she was just months old. She remembers her family telling her not to marry her fiance as he is a bad man. There's the reoccurring dream about overhearing a conversation about guns and shooting someone. Was it a dream or a memory and was it a plot to kill someone? And there is the memory of the terrible fire! Was that where she was injured? No one is telling her anything. She's in a wheel chair unable to walk, but the Dr. says that should come back to her as her strength grows. Then the stranger appears and threatens her life. How did he even know she was beginning to remember things? Who can she trust? Is her fiance behind the plot? Is he really her fiance? What happened to her nurse, Zee, who heard the voices Jane heard in the night too?
Lots of great suspense!
She's remembering snippets here and there. She remembers her father holding her and playing with her but the Dr. said her father died when she was just months old. She remembers her family telling her not to marry her fiance as he is a bad man. There's the reoccurring dream about overhearing a conversation about guns and shooting someone. Was it a dream or a memory and was it a plot to kill someone? And there is the memory of the terrible fire! Was that where she was injured? No one is telling her anything. She's in a wheel chair unable to walk, but the Dr. says that should come back to her as her strength grows. Then the stranger appears and threatens her life. How did he even know she was beginning to remember things? Who can she trust? Is her fiance behind the plot? Is he really her fiance? What happened to her nurse, Zee, who heard the voices Jane heard in the night too?
Lots of great suspense!
Review Date: 8/28/2014
There is an eight page introduction to this book. The book is way too short. Although in the short telling of this very large tale, you meet a lovely strong girl with such exuberance for life in-spite of her very hard life. Beautiful clear descriptions of the slums she called home and the people who were her neighbors. At 8 years old she is removed from her mother's care and sent to an orphanage where she lives until she is 16. Her grandparents are middle class people with a nice home and land, but because she was born out of wedlock her strict Presbyterian grandfather won't sit at a dinner table with her or her mother or speak to them at all. They would visit her grandparents home on rare occasion and grandma showed them love and fed them, but grandpa left the house. How very sad that because of a hard, unforgiving heart and misplaced religious views this innocent child lived the life she did. And yet she only saw the beauty and the whimsy in everything. Maybe it was God's plan for her after all to make her who she ultimately became. He gave her a beautiful gift that I envy!
Review Date: 10/8/2014
This is my first Stevenson book. I have an old hardback book club edition. The picture on the dust jacket was deceiving. It put in my mind that the story was set in the 1800's or something because of the clothes the women had on. We're told the men were in the navy and a war had just finished but which war was never mentioned. As I read, wishing I knew what time the story was taking place in, I was envisioning people and dress from the 1800's. Then the movie Arsenic and Old Lace was mentioned and I knew it was WWII! I'd spent most of the book in the wrong century! Other than that annoying little problem I did enjoy this sweet little Kailyard.
Have since learned her books are usually set during the time period they were written in.
Have since learned her books are usually set during the time period they were written in.
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