Corona’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2007)

Corona’s comments from the EBMRG group.

Exactly! - I love that this happens, it implies a mysterious force at work...

Does anyone else out there find themselves reading in themes? Accidentally? - This has "happened to me" more than once. I'll pick up three books about lost children, or lost mothers or pioneering girls... this weekend I found that both my audio book and my hard copy were about time traveling and Hitler. (The Little Book by Selden Edwards - G & Life After Life by Kate Atkinson - OK.) - Just wondering...

The Bedlam Detective I really liked the protagonist. But the story line wasn't of interest to me; it didn't bring me anywhere I wanted to go. - I wouldn't go back. - I rate it an OK-Poor.

Sorry to miss this meeting, a friend was celebrating a birthday.
   Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol I really enjoyed this story, felt like I got to meet Oscar Wilde (I take my stories seriously) and I liked him. I was angry at a society that would cut down this talent in his prime. - I'd give it a VG+.
—Corona

Glad to hear you like it Marcy!

Among Thieves (Legal Thriller -Scott Finn-Boston-Cont) – 3rd in series – David Hosp
Corona – Ex – This book had nothing that annoyed her. It told a good story. There was nothing in which she was not interested and she particularly liked the partnership. - Looking forward to the next in the series; hope that Sally will still be w/Scott Finn.
Linda S – VG – She loved the tie in with the real museum and thought the author did a good job of blending known facts with a plausible plot. She likes art-theft books in general and found the tie in with the IRA interesting. She did feel that, in spite of being the author’s third book, it had a very first-book feel to it and needed to lose about 50 pages as there was too much extraneous detail. She did like the relationship between the partners.
LJ – Poor - Let me start with the things I did like about this book, as it won’t take very long. The description of Isabella Stewart Gardner, her museum and now she created it was excellent. I hadn’t realized that much of the financing for the IRA (Irish Republican Army) came from stealing valuable art and ransoming it back. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Sally, the thief’s 14-year-old daughter, as well as Lissie and Kos, both of whom work with Finn. Unfortunately, there were many things I did not like about the book. Other than the description of the museum, there was very little sense of place. The story could have been set in any city. We were given area names and economic strata, but there was no read sense of Boston. For other than those mentioned previously, there was very little character development. There were good guys and bad guys and other guys but most were quite forgettable. Other than knowing Finn grew up in “the system,” I had no real feel for him as a character and certainly no affinity was created. Even the dialogue was indistinguishable, one character to the next. As to the story, it is not really a legal thriller. A couple visits to the jail and a couple short courtroom scenes does not a legal thriller make. The story, and even the dialogue, was very predictable. A considerable part of the story was told in the past. Unfortunately, that was more interesting than the present. Only in the last approximately 50 pages did the story become gripping. There is an interesting twist at the very end, but I was left feeling that Hosp didn’t really finish the story, even knowing the missing object are, in reality, never found. I did finish this book but was certainly not impressed by it. I doubt I’ll be reading more by Mr. Hosp.
Marcy G – VG - based on the strong characters and complex plot. She greatly enjoyed the book. Marcy also likes reading books set in Boston and felt that the author did convey the city nicely.

Iron River (Pol Proc (ATF)-Charlie Hood-California/Mexico-Cont) – 3rd in series – T. Jefferson Parker
Corona – Okay – Mixed feelings – the story was tough to read and she found the voice confusing as to who was telling the story. It did not have a satisfying ending. The story was too messy; too mean but she did learn a lot. The meanest parts of the story were probably based on fact, which was the hardest part of reading it. It was well written and she respected the author’s talent, but she did not enjoy it.

An Incomplete Revenge (Hist Mys-Maisie Dobbs-England-1931) – 5th in series – Jacqueline Winspear
Evanda – Ex – Really liked reading it. It was like reading a script. The book was very girlish, very wonderful and made her feel like a kid reading it. She loved the book and will read the others in the series.
Joy – Ex – She loves Maisie Dobbs – Loved it! Liked that she’s coming into her own as a character and liked the theme of reconciling the past. The plot was excellent; there was a lot going on in the story with Maisie and the Roma.
Linda S – VG – Love book one and she liked this one pretty well. Likes the character of Maisie but she did feel the plot about the Roma was a bit romanticized. She felt it was unrealistic that Maisie had no prejudices. It’s hard for an author to give the protagonist flaws, but Maisie not having any seemed unrealistic.
LJ - Okay - This is my second foray into Maisie Dobbs. I didn’t care for her first time and, I must admit, nothing much has changed. Winspear does include information on the gypsies that I found interesting until it became redundant. She also includes details to the point of minutia on things that aren’t particularly important. Her descriptions are informative but not evocative so that a feeling for the sense of place is missing. As a character, Maisie is the sort of person who would annoy me if I knew her. Yes, I can justify some of it by remembering she’s experience the trauma of war, but not all. There is arrogance to Maisie that surpasses self confidence and is somewhat unappealing as it borders on arrogance. Her friend, Priscilla, is the complete antithesis to Maisie and annoying in her own way. In fact, the most interesting characters in the book were Maisie’s father followed closely by the dog. The story itself is just not gripping. There’s no real suspense or emotion; everything is at a distance and somewhat dispassionate. The number of coincidences is overwhelming; Maisie’s perfection at everything becomes tiring. Everyone is willing to talk to her. There is no struggle or effort really required; it’s all quite neat and rather placid. For those who like cozies; no violence, no real threat, no swearing, no sex, no real evil, this would be perfect. Unfortunately, that’s just not my taste so although there were parts that were interesting, it was not really my cup of tea--single malt whiskey, please.

We had a great turnout tonight for our last meeting of 2010, closing out our 16th year as a group. How incredible! On the way home, it occurred to me there was one person I forgot to thank for keeping our group going; Jack.

Jack, we do so thank you for giving us a home each month. We know we don’t support you as much financially as we would like, but hopefully that will change one of these days soon. In the meantime, we love Dark Carnival and look forward to our upcoming 11th year there.

I was delighted to have Andrea, Charlotte, Corona, Libby, Linda F., Linda S., Marcy G. and Marcy S with us tonight.

From LJ's recap notes of our December meeting.

Midnight Fugue (Pol Proc-Dalziel/Pascoe-England-Cont) – 24th in series – Reginald Hill
Marcy S – VG+ - Very much enjoyed the book. Even though it comes quite late in the series, she appreciated the author not spending a lot of time on back story, but would have liked just a little more information. There were so many acronyms, a glossary would have been helpful. Marcy will probably read another book in the series.
Corona – Ex - A mystery that takes place within 24 hours, which gives the impression that all the mysteries will be revealed quickly but it still takes 352 pages. The story is full of interesting people and complicated enough to make it interesting but not so complicated that I dropped the strings. This is the first investigation run by The Fat Man since being in the hospital; it is hit and miss a few time as to whether he is up to the task. I was surprised to find myself rooting for him. But I needn't have worried, The Fat Man is back!

A Play of Isaac (Hist Mys-Joliffe-England-1400s) – 1st in series – Margaret Frazer
Marcy G – VG - She really enjoyed the book even though she knows nothing about the 13th Century. She liked the tone and the characters and felt she learned quite a bit about the period due to the setting. She really liked that there was a character with Down’s Syndrome and the manner in which he was treated by others. The mystery was okay but she really enjoyed the setting and would definitely read more in the series.
Andrea - Andrea was unable to find the selected book so instead read “The Apostate’s Tale” from Margaret Frazer’s Sister Frevisse series. Unfortunately, she hated it. It was much to “nun-y”; too heavy on religion. There was no feel for the period and the mystery was mediocre. She rated it as “Poor”.

Tomato Red (Noir-Sammy Barlack, Missouri-Cont) – Standalone – Daniel Woodreall
Linda F – VG – One thing she really noticed was that the characters were teenagers. She thought Woodrell very accurately conveyed the sense of desperation some teens have. The writing was so good, she stopped thinking about the characters’ behavior as mistakes when they became the victims of injustice.
Linda S – Ex – She loved the language. She was amazed she was reading such a dark book, which she normally doesn’t like, but the author made her care about the characters, almost against her will. She doesn’t like noir, but the characters were so compelling and the writing so strong, she loved it.
Marcy G – VG – Really liked it. They were not characters she usually would like, but the author imbued them with such humanity through his beautiful writing. She loved the dialogue and the use of dialect. Wonderful use of language.

The Skeleton Room (Pol. Prod-Peterson/Heffernan-England-Cont) – 7th in series – Kate Ellis
Andrea - VG - Read “The Bone Garden.” She liked the characters, especially Wesley and his boss, Gerry who is, for once, an intelligent, sympathetic and appreciative sort. The modern mystery was good and Wesley’s actions solved the mystery, although the coincidental solution of the ancient mystery was a little much but interesting. The story held my attention; I read it in one sitting and wanted to finish it. There was some stuff that made me think I needed to have read earlier books, but it didn’t get in the way; just a little annoying; i.e., the relationship between the Wesley and his archeologist friends and the story about the female officer.
LJ – VG - In a few words, Ellis conveys the horror the victim would have experienced of being walled in a room and left to die. Ellis’ descriptions, whether of such terror or of living in a village where most everyone could walk to work, is part of her appeal. She is a wonderfully visual writer, whether it is of places, situations or people. Regarding people, she has created a diverse and interesting cast of principal characters. Gerry Heffernan, the boss, is somewhat old-fashioned in his views on women and technology while being an experienced cop who leads his team. Wesley Peterson is the intellect, somewhat put down for his education, dealing with racism due to his color, but respected by his boss. In every ointment comes a fly in the shape of DC Steve Carstairs who is bigoted, sexist, lazy and not overly bright. He is offset by Rachael and Trish, the very capable women on the force. It’s the wonderful, diverse ensemble cast rounded out with non-police characters which gives a very real feeling to the story. And what a good story it is. The plot is very well done. There are several threads which intersect, and very effective plot twists which never feel contrived. With each thread, I wanted to know more while being unable to predict where the story was going and certainly didn’t predict the resolutions presented. I did enjoy the nod to the movie “Charade.” Ellis has become a favorite author of mine. Her books have never disappointed me, and “The Skeleton Room” stands well among them. They are more than a standard police procedural, blending the personal lives of the characters, archeology, English history and murder.

The Case of the Missing Servant (PI-Vish Puri-India-Cont) – 1st in series – Tanquin Hall
Andrea - - She is currently listening to the audio version of this book as narrated by Sam Daster; an excellent narrator. She is really enjoying it and finding it very charming. Having visited India several times, the book is definitely “India.” The story is cute but not super cute. The author’s knowledge of modern India is apparent.
Charlotte - - She is about ½ way through reading it. At first she felt the story was overdone but is getting used to it now that she is getting more into the story.
Evanda – VG – Love the setting and enjoyed the book very much.
Linda S – VG – Loved visiting India and the descriptions of food, even though she doesn’t particularly care of Indian food. She enjoyed the characters, especially Mummy. It was a fascinating look at present-day India and it’s culture. She found the plots very satisfying.
LJ - VG - Puri is often compared by others to Sherlock Holmes but he also reminds me of Hercule Poiroit, albeit with a larger spirit. He also made me think, a bit, of Louise Penny’s Gamache because of his four rules of detection. All together, he is a very likable, appealing character. He’s not perfect, fortunately, as he has an intense fear of flying. Puri is supported by a fascinating team of operatives, each with their own background. Best of all is Mummy, his mother, who conducts her own investigation and has the experience for so doing. No amateurs here. It is fascinating to look at an entirely different culture. One forgets how old a civilization is India yet it a culture in transition. There is a bit of a moral and/or cautionary tale for Westerners here. The gap between the wealthy and the poor is huge. The old jobs for the individual and the poor are disappearing. The Indian court and justice system is a shamble. Bribery is the way in which much gets done. ”How can India reach superpower status with all the corruption around.” Yet Puri also observes that Krishna stated “The discharge of one’s moral duty supersedes all other pursuits, whether spiritual or material.”. The three mysteries within the story are very well done. There is nothing obvious about them and the investigation is done through following the clues and investigative procedure. I like that. The writing is first rate; not a portent or cliff hanger in sight. This was a very enjoyable book and one I probably would not have picked up had it not been a selection of my mystery readers’ group. I would read more in the series and would definitely recommend “The Case of the Missing Servant.”
Marcy S – Ex – Really enjoyed it. There was a very strong sense of place with wonderful detail. It made her realize there is a lot to learn about India. The author made an effort to expose some of India’s problems without being preachy. She enjoyed the wonderful humor and appreciated that each of the three mysteries stood on its own.
Corona - VG - I also enjoyed the trip to India, the intimacy of the nick-names (can't believe they do that to themselves!) and the rich character descriptions. I especially (as did others) appreciated the details of every-day India living. Things I would never have experienced otherwise.

Merry, Merry Ghost (Para Mys-Bailey Ruth-Oklahoma-Cont) – 2nd in series – Carolyn Hart
Andrea - Good - Read “Laughed ‘til He Died” from Hart’s “Death on Demand” series. She finished it but it was too cute for her. The protagonist, a bookshop owner, kept referring to authors of whom Andrea had never heard. The mystery was interesting but the relationship of with the protagonist’s husband was annoyingly perfect. The solution to the mystery was almost accidental; the murderer was smarter than the protagonist.
Charlotte – Okay – Just too sweet and irritating for her but she did finish it. It was just too sweet.
Corona - Good - She liked the supernatural with the mystery but felt the story was slow, predictable and cute. She did like that there was a second ghost, which was fun, and the way the author played with it. She found herself so involved in the story, she didn’t identify it as a cozy until she was finished reading it. She also liked the book well enough that she went back and read the first book in the same series.
Linda S - Good - There was no reason why she should like it but it struck her in the right mood and reminded her of “The Bishop’s Wife” (Cary Grant version). All the protagonists little comments were amusing. Linda fell for all the tricks. The book was fun and Linda was charmed in spite of herself.

The Pallbearers (Pol Proc-Shane Scully-So. Cal-Cont) - 9th in series - Stephen J. Cannell
Corona – Ex – Really enjoyed it. She found it real easy and liked the way the information was brought out. The women were a little stereotypical but she liked the story and the author’s voice.
Linda S – VG+ - She really liked it and was rather surprised she did as she’s not big on books set in LA and the whole surfer thing. But she liked the character exploring his past. Although the end was rather unbelievable, it didn’t bother her until she thought about it after finishing reading the book. The relationship of the character with his wife did annoy her. Linda did find bits of the story hit a bit close to home and, therefore, personally, hard to read, but she really liked the book overall.
LJ – Okay – As much as I’ve enjoyed Cannell’s television shows over the years, I’d never read one of his books. It seems I’d have been better staying with television. On the positive side, Cannell does create an interesting cast of characters, providing background and dimension to each one, including the cat. He doesn’t assume you’ve read previous books in the series, which I appreciated. He links the characters by a common thread but doesn’t quite tie off all the ends, which I didn’t mind. I did appreciate not having Scully being infallible or supermacho, although there was macho there, such as being able to have sex after virtually no sleep for an extended period of time and having been beaten to a pulp. However, for the most part, his female characters are strong and very capable, which I also appreciated. Cannell’s writing can be characterized by short chapters that are very visual and action-packed. On the downside, there are massive coincidences, an entire chapter of portents—those of you who’ve followed my reviews know how I despise portents—and some actions by the protagonist that were completely unbelievable. There points where the plot progression was so deliberately telegraphed it made it predictable. I didn’t hate the book but even among airport books there are levels; those you deliberately take with you and those you’re stuck buying at the airport news shop of lack of choice. This is the latter but still an entertaining read to keep one occupied for a few hours.

Snow Job (Legal Mys-Arthur Beauchamp-Canada-Cont) – Standalone – William Deverell
Marcy G – Okay – Because she like to read a series in order, she first read “April Fool” and loved it. She enjoyed the character, the setting, the humor and the mystery. Unfortunately, all the things she liked about “April Fool” were missing from this book. The story just went on and on and she found she really didn’t care about much of it. She really didn’t like getting hung out to dry about the DiPalma character. Marcy was very glad when the book was done.

The Shadow Woman (Pol Proc-Chief Insp. Erik Winter-Sweden-Cont) – 2nd in series - Åke Edwardson
Marcy G – Poor – The premise was good but the protagonist was filled with darkness and angst. The worst part was that the protagonist had sudden bursts of intuition and knew what was coming next. It made no real sense. Marcy G also would never read this author again.
Marcy S – Poor – In looking at the book, she was interested in reading it and she did read the whole book but it never went anywhere. It was such a letdown. She would never read anything by this author again. She felt as though he was trying to be obscure. She did read the whole books but, in the end, had no real idea what it was about.

Cut to the Quick (Hist Mys-Julian Kestrel-England-Regency) – 1st in series – Kate Ross
Andrea – Ex – Rather than “Cut to the Quick,” Andrea read “Whom the Gods Love.” She likes reading books set in this period but had, of late, become tired of Anne Perry’s books. This reminded her of Anne Perry in her early days. Ross provided an excellent feel for the times and the characters. What she liked best was that it was a real mystery that was solved through detection. Andrea was sorry to learn there are only three more books in the series as she was looking forward to reading much more of Ms. Ross’ work.
Evanda – VG+ - It was very well written and very pictorial.
LJ – VG+ - For those of us who love period mysteries, Ross is one of the best. She captures the period with exquisite detail from dress, manners, speech. Her characters are wonderfully drawn portraying all levels of society. Kestrel is the character at center stage. He is the personification of the Regency dandy exhibiting droll cynicism and detachment. Upon meeting Hugh’s young sisters, he comments “…I rather like making friends with women before they’re old enough to be dangerous.” However, under the veneer, is a consideration for others, an admiration for goodness, awareness of people’s natures and a determination for justice. Although there are quite a number of characters in the story, each is so well drawn as never become confused. The plot is very strong. It’s not a locked-room mystery as the key is on the hall table. It is very much a case of who is the victim, how did she get there and what was her relationship to the people in the house. It’s a step-by-step investigation with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Best of all, I certainly did not predict the killer. While sadly, Kate Ross only published four books before her death, this, as are all of her books, is very well worth reading and reading again.

Shanghai Moon (PI-Lydia Chin and Bill Smith-China-Cont) - 9th in series - S. J. Rozan
Andrea – G+ - Didn’t like the letters; thought they were tedious. She did like the characters and the feel of the story. There were interesting twists and turns and she didn’t predict the ending. She thought the information about the Jews in Shanghai was interesting.
Corona – VG – She read it some time ago and although she didn’t care for the letters, she does remember enjoying it very much.
Evanda – VG – This was the first book she’d read by Rozan so she didn’t quite get the relationship between Bill and Lydia, but she did enjoy Lydia’s mother and the references to food. She thought the plot was interesting.
Linda F – VG+ - It was also her first time reading Rozan and she was rather impressed. She had known about the Jewish refugees in Shanghai and found it interesting how the Jewish family interacted with the Chinese family. She felt the interrelationships were more important than the mystery and found the cultural bridge interesting. She didn’t care for the original investigator with whom Lydia was working.
Linda S – Good – Felt there were a lot of coincidences. She really likes the series but this wasn’t her favorite as it took her too far away from Bill and Lydia. She didn’t like that the letters tell much of the story.
LJ – VG+ - I had so missed this series. Those who have followed it know that the protagonist alternates with each book, and this was Lydia’s turn. But part of what makes the books work is the uncertainty of the relationship between the two characters and where it might, or might never, lead. Rozen does create great characters, brings them to life. She is masterful in blending the two cultures and educating us about both. I love Rozan’s use of dialogue and humor, particularly Lydia’s mental conversations. They add just the right touch of lightness to the story. And this story was particularly good. There was fascinating information about the recent history of China and their taking in refugees during the war. I learned things I had never known. I loved Rozan’s use of Rosalie’s letters and found them fascinating. The plot was so well done. It twisted direction with nearly every chapter.
Trish – VG+ - Trish had just returned from visiting China so both this, and the next book, were very timely choices. This was the first books she’d read by Rozan. She liked the descriptions, characters and found them multifaceted. She liked the story about looking for the necklace and felt it provided a good description of who some single item can take on a life of its own. The ending was surprising. She liked the letters even though she thought the detail in the letters was a bit of a stretch. She enjoyed the historical background and felt it was historically accurate.

The Eye of Jade (PI-Mei Wang-China-Cont) – 1st in series – Diane Wei Liang
Andrea – Okay – Found the book very disappointing. She felt the sense of period was very weak and felt it conveyed little on the life during that time. In fact, it was hard for her to tell, at first, exactly when the book was set. There were some problems with the writing; it needed a good editor. The characters were not well developed, the plot was weak and there was one gaping hole in the plot.
Evanda – VG – What she liked was that it made her want to find out more about the life of the wealthy in Beijing and find the apartment building referenced in the story. She thought the book was good; found it interesting and liked it.
Linda F – DNF – She did not find it believable and felt it had no real sense of place.
LJ – VG - This was an unusual mystery and a fascinating book. It is a PI story, but very different from the typical American PI. The story focuses on people, interactions and relationships, yet still has some suspense. I realized how little I know about China, past or present. There are vast differences between our cultures but enough similarities that the story really worked. The sense of place is wonderful and the dialogue has just the right voice to it. I am interested to see where Mei Wang’s story goes.
Trish – Okay – Trish felt the conversations were stilted and gaping. The story was not really a mystery and lacked a real sense of place. She also had trouble placing the time setting until about the 3rd or 4th chapter. She did feel it was a fairly believable story of children in their not knowing what their parents went through during the Cultural Revolution but there was not enough focus given to the underground and smuggling. The last few pages which raised moral issues were most interesting but they were stuck at the very end.

Please excuse me for skipping the July update. Often I am late in posting, sometimes very late. But this is the first time I've missed it altogether and I'm sorry.

FYI, I moved in July and couldn't keep up with it all.

However, if anyone wants to edit once in a while I am happy to share!

–Corona

The Blood-Dimmed Tide - by Rennie Airth
Andrea - Okay - She didn't like it but wasn't certain why. She didn't like the serial killer or all the foreshadowing. The solving of the crime was unrealistic and the characters seemed wooden. She did like parts of the character of Madden.
LJ - VG - (Review from Nov 2004) - It’s been four years since Airth's first book, but worth the wait. Although the story is more an assemble cast than focusing solely on Madden, you have an excellent sense of the characters in a well-plotted story. Set in a time of political tension, it’s interesting to see how the situation in Germany impacts the people and investigation. The suspense builds through the story to a dramatic climax. I only hope there is not another four years until the next book, as I really enjoy Mr. Airth's writing.
Marcy G - VG - She read both this and the 1st book in the series. She liked this book very much. There was a good sense of place and historical perspective. She liked John Maddon as a character and the way the book was written, even though the mystery itself was a bit weak.
Marcy S - VG - She enjoyed it quite a bit; liked the description of places. The subplot of the fellow WWI soldier draw her in. It did but her that Airth would have Maddon refer back to events in the past that didn't seem germane to this book.

Wife of the Gods - by Kwei Quartey
Andrea - Good - I thought it was quite good, but also disappointing. I really though I'd get a flavor of Africa and of the characters, but I didn't. The character of the main detective was interestingly flawed but the family stuff seemed like a gratuitous add-on. The story of his son's injury could and should have been dropped. The resolution to the mystery was also annoying in that there was too much confession and not enough true detecting.
Linda F - Poor - Didn't like it. She thought the character was a bad cop, unsympathetic and his dysfunction caused him to not solve the case. She didn't like the way the author handled his culture. To her, and from an interview she read, it was clear the author doesn't like his culture.
Linda S - VG - The point Linda F. make about the author being conflicted does show in the book, but Linda S. felt it was gently handled. She wished Dawson had adopted more the philosophy of integrating both the old ideas and new. She liked the sense of Ghana she got; she did feel she could see it. She also liked that Dawson was flawed and that the unresolved family issue does get resolved somewhat. Linda would read another by this author.
LJ - VG - I very much enjoyed this book. On one hand, it is look and education into life in Ghana, which was fascinating; on the other hand it’s a good, solid mystery. Quartey creates a very strong sense of place whether it be in the town or the small village. We see the customs, even down to the manner of salutations, and superstition, as well as the contrast between lives in the two environments. Dawson is well-crafted character. He comes from a family history that is less than ideal, smokes marijuana, although it is illegal, a critically ill son and a difficult relationship with his mother-in-law. Although it wasn’t focused upon, I did wonder whether Dawson has a form of synesthesia from there being a couple mentions of his being able to feel voices. I appreciated the contrast between Dawson, who uses standard investigative techniques, and Fiti who believe in superstition and forcing a confession to prove his belief. However, I also appreciated there being repercussions for Dawson’s actions, which is unusual. The story is well plotted and I certainly did not figure out the killer prior to it being revealed. It is wonderful to see more new authors appearing from other countries. I look forward to reading Mr. Quartey’s next book.
Marcy G - VG - Liked it. She thought the author gave a good picture of the clash of cultures which were rational about some things and irrational about others. She liked Dawson for his flaws and conflicted relationships. The mystery was not that dazzling but she thought the story overall was good.
Marcy S - - She is about half-way though and is loving it. Dawson is very human. It is interesting to see the differences in perspective between people in the city and in the country. She likes that it doesn't focus on the cultures but captures the way life is, and that even those in the city don't cross the gods.

New Tricks - by David Rosenfelt
LJ - VG - (Review from December, 2009) It’s an odd situation where the protagonist of the book is someone I don’t particularly care for. He is a little too wise-cracking, and except when in the courtroom, Andy often comes off as a bit of a dork and not always very bright. He has relationship issues, of which I am getting bored. Happily, in this book, Andy emotionally grows up. While I enjoy the song-chat dialogue between Andy and his friend Sam, “Town Without Pity” was written and made famous by Gene Pitney. However, the supporting characters, including the dogs, even out the tone of the book and make it very enjoyable. What I really did like was the plot. Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going or what the motive for the killings was, the story went somewhere else; the twists were very good, unexpected and I never saw the villain coming. I did have a couple issues; portents—but there was only one so I could forgive it; and Laurie’s recovery seemed way too fast for me. I also appreciated being able to read it while having a 7-year-old reading it aloud next to me and I didn’t have to switch books because of expletive language, sex or violence that his father, in the row ahead of me on the plane, would not have appreciated my sharing with his child. The book is very current but didn’t overwhelm the pace of the story, and Rosenfelt’s book does have a great pace. Some criticize the idea of a book being an airplane read. I view it as a compliment as it’s something that can completely distract and engross me and that I want to finish in one read. New Tricks was a very good airplane read. I’ve already ordered his next book.
Marcy G- VG - It was very enjoyable, entertaining, lighthearted, and witty. She liked the dogs. It's a good summer read.

With some of us attending Bouchercon in October—LJ, Charlotte, Marcy G. and Marcy S. are the ones of whom I know so far—Charlotte suggested we read some of the books nominated for upcoming awards, so…

Starvation Lake - (Unl Inv/Journal-Gus Carpenter-Michigan-Cont) - 1st in series - Bryan Gruley
Charlene - G+ - She found it hard to get into and, had it not been a group read, she might have stopped as there was just too much hockey for her. However, once she got into it, she enjoyed it. However, she did feel the protagonist was a bit slow on the uptake toward the end.
Evanda - - Felt it was a bit Thornton Wilder because of the town. The writing was very good. She had a hard time with the hockey, but then realized the plot echoed the game. She thought it was a smart book.
LJ - VG - I’ll admit this book started out a bit slow for me. I’m not a sports fan, and certainly not an ice hockey fan, so I wasn’t certain I was going to like this. However, the book quickly turned to being a book about people, rather than sport, and I never had any desire to stop reading. I read for character. Gruley creates great characters. Moreover, he creates fully-developed, interesting, realistically flawed, human characters. None of them are excessive or over the top. Instead, they are believable. Gruley also creates a very strong sense of place. He takes you to a town past it’s height of success, but struggling to maintain. It’s a town full of people who’ve lived there all their lives and see no reason to live anywhere else. He makes you feel the challenge of the weather but these are people accustomed to living with those challenges. The story is very well plotted and well written. One thing I personally appreciated was at points when other authors would have been tempted to insert a portent into the story; Gruley refrained from so doing. Rather than feeling manipulated into reading on, the plot and story’s pace compelled me to keep reading. Gruley has written a wonderful debut novel. I am looking forward to his next book. (Read March 2009)

Nemesis (Pol Proc-Insp. Harry Hole-Norway-Cont) - 2nd in series - Jo Nesbo
Charlene - G - She liked it in the beginning but there were so many characters and so many twists, she reached a point where she just wanted it to end. She was particularly unhappy that one of the criminals went undiscovered.
Marcy S - G+ - She had very mixed feelings; sometimes she thought it was terrific and other times; crap. She found the British English translation often jarring. The author had so many things going on, it was hard to follow at times. There were other points where the story seemed fragmented. At the same time, the book was very interesting and kept her reading.

A Beautiful Place to Die (Pol. Proc-Det Sgt. Emmanuel Cooper-South Africa-1952) - 1st in series - Malia Nunn
LJ - Good - “A Beautiful Place to Die” gives a stark portrayal of South Africa during apartheid and the Immorality Act banning sexual conduct between whites and nonwhites. Although I was able to look the terms up, a glossary might have been helpful for those of us not as familiar with the history and terminology. Cooper makes a sympathetic protagonist with shades of Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge character. While it’s an interesting homage, it also felt like a cheap, and not very satisfying, way of telling us about Cooper’s background. We do learn, though other means, some of this background throughout the story, but much remains vague about him. However, all the characters seemed stereotypical, from the Jewish doctor and his wife, to the enigmatic Zulu constable, to the storm trooper Security Branch and on. There was very little dimension to the majority of the characters. The plot conveys how unjust and brutal living was under apartheid. While interesting and educational, it’s not enough to make the book work. The mystery itself, and its investigation, became almost secondary. It did have a number of well-executed twists and revelations, along with suspense and some brutality. I did identify one villain early but not another. However, my largest complaint was that, although realistic, I found the ending unsatisfying. I certainly don’t regret having read this book. It was interesting, I did learn from it. However, I don’t believe this is a series with which I shall continue.
Linda F - VG - Really good characterization and an interesting milieu and situation. However, the case seemed predictable.
Linda S - Good - It was interesting being set at the beginning of apartheid, but there was too much focus on it. She liked Emmanuel and the interaction between him and Security Branch; thought it was well done. The book could have used more editing. She did wonder whether some of the language was anachronistic. Linda S. would read another by this author.

Night of the Living Deed (Cozy/Ama Sleuth-Alison Kerby-New Jersey-Cont) – 1st in series – E. J. Cooperman
Linda F - Okay - The book was only memorable for her because of the unexplained accidents that accompanied her reading of this book. It seemed as though paranormal forces were at work. Otherwise, the book was thoroughly mediocre, with a predictable ending and only a few good lines.
LJ - DNF - This was a complete non-starter for me. Having personally experienced the paranormal, having ghosts who completely physically appear and carry on full conversations with the living just didn't work for me.

The Thin Man (Unl Inv-Nick and Nora Charles-New York City-Golden Age/1934) – Standalone – Dashiell Hammett
Andrea - G+ - There was an astonishing amount of drinking in this book. It was really not very good and she was disappointing in it. The characters are extreme and not very believable. The writing is glib but the story doesn't build and the characters are dimensional. It was moderate interesting but dated.

Murder on Waverly Place (Hist Mys-Sarah Brandt-New York City-Victorian) – 11th in series – Victoria Thompson
Andrea - G- - The characters were wooden and unrealistic. For being an historical mystery, there was no sense of time and/or place. The speech seemed too modern. The story did hold her interest and she did finish it.
Charlotte - G+ - I found it a pleasant, interesting, easy read, even though there was a little too much séance detail. The info on the invention of the flashlight was fun and new to me.
Corona - Poor - It was insipid and boring with flat characters. I found the book frustratingly simplified and the characters stereotypical. I finished the book but was inpatient with the author throughout. It was so canned I thought the writing was cheating as there was no originality in the story at all.
Linda F - Okay - She almost didn't read it due to the theme of spiritualists and found it predictable. She did like the relationship between Sarah, the Detective and Sarah's mother and the reason they went to the séance. There was a bit of surprise.
LJ - DNF - The more I read, the more important to me becomes an author's voice. Unfortunately, and perhaps unfairly, after finishing books by Louise Penny and Imogen Robertson, Ms. Thompson's voice came through to me almost as if the story were written for young adult readers. It just didn't have the depth or richness that compelled me to read beyond the first 35 pages of the book. I have read some of Ms. Thompson's previous books and enjoyed them, but this did not work for me now.
Marcy S - Okay - The book jacket kept comparing Victoria Thompson to Anne Perry. This was definitely not up to par with Anne Perry.

Mourners (PI, “Nameless Detective-Bay Area, California-Cont) – 31st in series – Bill Pronzini
Corona - G+ - I enjoyed this much more than I expected to. (I think it arrogant to not name the detective,) It was rich and engrossing. I enjoyed reading a mystery without excessive brutality. I liked the characters. And a bonus: On pages 50 & 153 of my copy the protagonist was referred to by name: Bill.
Linda S – Good – Couldn’t decide whether it was her mood that made it hard to get into this book. It was sad, but well plotted. The change of POVs was annoying. She didn’t feel the sub-story with Tamara added anything to the story. Linda liked Tamara professionally, but not personally.
LJ - Ex – Remembering I reviewed this in 2006: Pronzini is such a fine writer. He takes, what could be, a basic mystery and layers it with text that deepens and enriches the plot. On the top level, this is a very good mystery. It leads the reader on a fascinating trail finding out exactly what the object character is up to. The sense of place, dialogue and suspense are all very well done. You become involved with all the characters and care about them. Even the minor, and somewhat unlikable, characters are ones you recognize. On a second level is the story of grief and mourning; its many forms and the impact it has on various people’s lives. I can’t say enough about this book. I am ready for the next in the series, and determinedly looking for the ones I’m missing. If you’ve not read this series, even with a few slight misses, start at the beginning and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Marcy G – Good – She was a bit troubled by stating with the 31st book in the series as she liked to read in order. She thought the plot was okay, but needed more back story on the characters. The alternating POVs was annoying and she found it difficult to follow who was narrating when.
Marcy S – VG – Enjoyed it very much. She could see where it would have been beneficial to read the series from the beginning. Liked that you get into the characters lives. She was kept in the mystery throughout. The change of POV didn’t bother her, but was occasionally hard to follow.

Inspector Cadaver (Pol. Proc-Inspector Maigret-France-Cont) – Georges Simenon
Corona – Good - I remained engrossed in the story although I chaffed impatient at the ‘good’ guy/’bad’ guy story-line then warmed up to it when the stereotype of the ‘cadaver’ began to fill-out.
LJ – Okay - I read a lot of translated books, so I don’t think it was that, but I had the hardest time getting into this, beginning with the poor structure of the opening sentence. That was countered, however, by Simenon’s wonderful descriptions: "It was as if the furniture and every object in this house had remained in the same place for generations…” As for the character of Maigret, he seemed brusque and self-involved, yet insecure and lacking self confidence. There was nothing particularly appealing or empathetic about him. Fortunately, the book is short but, even for that, I did not find it captivating. I didn’t care for the characters; the investigation was very hard to follow until the end when suddenly it all came together for Miagret. The final issue for me was that I particularly didn’t like that justice was not served in the traditional sense. Overall, I am sorry my first experience with Georges Simenon will probably be my last.

Incriminating Evidence (Legal Thriller-Mike Daley-Bay Area, CA-Cont) – 2nd in series – Sheldon Siegel
Corona – Good – I really liked the relationship of Martinez and Daley! I like the other characters too. The plot got to be over-the-top but it was a good read.
Andrea - - She didn’t have a chance to read this particular book, but has liked the one’s by Siegel she has read and particularly Mike’s relationship with Rosie. She feels the legal information is well done.
LJ - - I’ve managed to read all of his books except this one. I do enjoy his writing. I like the relationships between the characters, and Siegel’s humor. He creates a very strong sense of place. It’s always fun reading a book set in San Francisco where he references places I’ve been or know and people who are iconic to the Bay Area. His courtroom scenes are probably my favorite parts of his books.
Marcy S – VG – Really liked the book even though she didn’t think was as good as his first. She liked his dry wit, dialogue and the San Francisco references. She did feel the ending was a bit convoluted.

Last Seen Wearing (Pol Proc-Inspector Morse-England-Cont) – 2nd in series – Colin Dexter
Corona – NR - I was not impressed with Morse spinning scenarios then looking for clues to fit. The story looked more & more like a bowl of spaghetti with just as much motivation of unraveling it.
LJ – Poor - I read principally for character. When I don’t like the characters, I have a hard time getting through the book. Other than his love of opera, there was little to like about Morse. He drinks too much, is into pornography and leaps to conclusions about the case, then trying to make the clues fit his conclusion. Sgt Lewis is strictly a side kick and given little notice at all. Rather than real investigation being done there are a huge number of coincidences. The “procedure” of an investigation is seems disregarded at worst and is sloppy at best. A court would have a field day with the way in which evidence was, or wasn’t handled. I found this a slog to get through. With so many other good British police procedural authors available, Dexter is one I’ll leave behind.

Dance for the Dead (Susp-Jane Whitfield-US-Cont) – 2nd in series – Thomas Perry
Corona – Good - I loved our heroine but I must admit I was more tolerant of her being super cool as I would have been of a man (her being American Indian also helped). The story was populated with people who knew their job well, could think 23 steps ahead and had little in common with us mortals. A great story, interesting characters, but enjoyable only in small portions.
Linda F – DNF – What she read was okay but she decided it wasn’t worth her time to finish it.
Linda S – VG – Really loved the character of Jane. Liked the poison scene but the ending was more brutal than it needed to be.
LJ – VG - I love books that are both exciting and actually teach me something--trusts and banking--without slowing down the story. Jane is a fascinating character, a Native American whose culture and history are provided through visions and dreams, who is capable and inventive. This is a very good book in a fascinating series.

Bruno, Chief of Police (Pol. Proc-Bruno –France-Cont) – 1st in series – Martin Walker
Corona – Ex – Had a lot of fun reading it. I loved our hero, endearing, reminded me a lot of Hamish and like Hamish, I had to keep reminding myself that he belonged to a younger generation. I liked the complex look at the murderers and insight of the political ramifications on the solving of the murder. But I especially liked spending time in rural France.
Linda – DNF for his book “Caves of Perigore” which contains three story lines. She gave up after the first two chapters as the second chapter, set in the past, just didn’t work for her.
LJ – VG+ - This may be Walkers first book, but it won’t be the last of his I read. I so enjoyed that the story is set in the countryside, rather than in Paris. He paints verbal pictures of the countryside and the food. I learned history of the WWII in France and the Resistance that I hadn’t known. The story is wonderfully plotted. But it’s the characters that really make this work. Bruno is an orphan who is a canny, sensitive character who loves his town, values his relations with his friend, the town’s mayor, and never carries a gun. This was a wonderful read.

Rat Race (Ama. Sleuth-Matt Shore-England-Cont) – 9th in series – Dick Francis
Corona – VG+ - Read this awhile ago but did re-read it for tonight. This is one of her favorite Dick Francis books and such a study in contrasts between this and “The Leopard’s Prey” by Susanne Arruda that we read for February 2010 (when she first read this book). They both had women pilots, but this was more realistic and enjoyable. She particularly liked the the way everyone worked together in a crisis. The only reason she didn’t’ rate it “excellent” is that the character of the protagonists are pretty much identical in all of Francis’ books.
Linda S – G – Liked it more than expected. The gender politics were a bit creepy but she liked the protagonist a lot. He was a study in contrasts; funny yet sad, living with tragic. She liked the puzzle and the details about flying.
LJ - VG+ - Although I’ve not read this particular book since January 1977, it reminds me why I became such of fan of Dick Francis’ writing. The protagonist, Matt Shore, is so appealing and one of a style I appreciate—the “common” man caught up in an uncommon situation. He is not perfect. He is intelligent without being egotistical, attractive without being overbearing, and heroic without being macho. And, he gets the girl, but you know there are painful incidences along the way. In spite of the opening portent, the story captivates you from the very first page and never lets you go. The pacing between suspense and respite is every effective. The writing is masterful—not a term I use lightly—and imminently readable. I was surprised how much of the plot I remembered after all these years, and that’s a real tribute to the author. Whether Dick or Mary Francis was the primary author of this, and the other books by Dick Francis, I frankly don’t care. All I know is that it was a great read when I read it the first time, and it is a great read now.

Living Witness (Unl. Invest-Gregor Demarkian-Pennsylvania-Cont) – 24th in series – Jane Haddam
LJ - G+ - Any book which deals with differing religious views can be both interesting to read and challenging to review. Ms. Haddam does include characters who fall within several camps; evangelicals, fundamentalists, Christians, secular humanists and atheists. She also raises issues of snobbery, peer pressure, ignorance and education. I appreciated reading Ms. Haddam’s views on each of these topics and felt she did a very good job integrating them into the plot For the most part, they were presented without blatant bias against the beliefs but rather against the individual character. This was the first Haddam book I’ve read but was pleased to find, as far as knowing the primary characters, it didn’t matter. Enough back story was provided for Demarkian and his fiancée that I was very comfortable and didn’t feel anything was missing. As to the other characters, I should like to have seen a better balance. Perhaps, however, it was only that those who are extreme in their views seem to predominate whatever environment they are in. However, there were some secondary characters I found fascinating but about whom I want to know more. I fault the author’s desire to focus on the attitudes and philosophies rather than the characters. For all that, the basics of the plot were very good. There was a clever diversion and an unexpected motive. I was also surprised when I realized that, for the volume of text, the story encompassed only three days. However, there were times one lost the focus of the story for the viewpoints. I felt this was a shame as it diminished what could have been a very good book with stronger editing. While I enjoyed the book, it didn’t make me want to seek out others in the series.
Marcy G – DNF – She tried, but just couldn’t stay with this . She was frustrated by the extremist rants on both sides of the issues and didn’t find any of the characters expecially interesting.
Marcy S – Poor – Took her several times to get into it. All the characters were too strident. Gary was the only slightly sympathetic characters. There wasn’t any real development or background of Demarkian so she never got a real sense of him.

Fer-De-Lance (PI-Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin-New York City-1934) – 1st in series – Rex Stout
Joyce Andrews Ex - Loved Fer-de-Lance. Have been to the Nero Wolfe fan club web site and am going to try to work my way through the books. Reading THE LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN currently. I believe I have a crush on Archie but it is too soon to tell. I am absolutely attracted to his efficient use of language (slang). Nero's agoraphobia, bipolar episodes, alcoholism and flower fawning are some of the best character development techniques I have seen in a long time. Thanks for the recommendation.
Linda S – VG+ - She read “The Doorbell Rang” and it was a hoot. She loves the characters as they are so much fun to read. Very clever story, really good mystery.
LJ – Good - The fun of reading Nero Wolfe is not the plot, although this one did have a good twist to it, but for the characters. On one hand, you have Wolfe, the corpulent, beer drinking, gourmand who has orchids cultivated in his attic conservatory. He is well-read, well-spoken, often difficult to deal with yet a brilliant deductive and intuitive thinker. On the other hand is Archie, orphaned as a child, lives in Wolfe’s brownstone, uses common English, and drinks milk. The two characters are complete opposites but one immediately senses the underlying respect and affection which goes beyond a working relationship. It is the dialogue and relationship of these two characters that make the book, and series, work. An interesting aspect to this book is that we meet the characters seven years in, so references to previous cases abound. In most cases, this would annoy me as there would be that sense of something missing. Stout, however, is so adept in his writing and his characters are so well developed, the previous case references simply become historical notations. Stout was writing in present time, now history to us. Because of that, we are presented a living sense of time, place, social mores and behavior. There were certain expressions, common at the time. They are objectionable to us today and serve as a reminder of our advancement from the past. One element with which I did have a problem, was some of Archie’s slang. There were times I had to re-read sentences or paragraphs to understand what he was saying. It was fun to go back and re-visit Nero and Archie, but not so much as to make me want to reread all the books. However, if you’ve never read Rex Stout, I do recommend picking up at least a few of his books.

Death of a Witch (Pol. Proc/Cozy-Hamish Macbeth-Scotland-Cont) – 24th in series – M.C. Beaton

Andrea- VG – I’ve read many of these, but I’m not quite sure which when I look at the names. I had gotten sick of them, but I think this one is one of the better ones. There is more mystery and amusing quirks of the Scottish characters. The romances have little twists that make them more enjoyable. Fortunately, there is not much of the annoying Priscilla.

Corona – Okay – Had not read Hamish before. There was a lot of sexism. She kept having to remind herself that Hamish is young, as he came across much older. There was a touch of arrogance to the character which didn’t appeal to her. The story seemed as though it required a lot of license. She did like the setting very much and did read the whole thing.

Joy – VG – Thought it was great.

Linda – Okay – Likes the series in general, but not this particular book. She did like the setting, the character and their quirks. She did not like the set up for the mystery or the sexism and all the relationship entanglements with women. She might have cut it more slack had it been an earlier book in the series but, by this point, feels the books should be better.

LJ - Good - The Hamish books lie somewhere between traditional mysteries and cozies. On the traditional side, by the end of the book there are a lot of bodies and the protagonist is a policeman. However, rather than there being a detailed investigation, it’s almost as if, when Hamish appears, people confess and everything falls into place. On the cozy side, there is an awful lot of time spent dealing with his relationships with women. He has better relationships with his pets. As for characters, Hamish is a little too good to be true. He’s tall, red-haired, good looking to the point where every woman, but the one he wants, throws themselves at him, and can run like the wind. I was a bit annoyed that Hamish’s superior, CI Blair, is portrayed as so incompetent but at least it’s balanced by Hamish’s friend, DS Jimmy Anderson, and Blair’s boss, CS Davoit The style is a bit simple for my taste, almost as if written for young adults. I do like that the dialogue is written with an indication of people’s accents without it becoming laborious. The element I most enjoyed was the sense of place. Beaton’s descriptions of the highlands and the weather, which can be a critical element in living in, and navigating around, the highlands, is well done. This was a light, enjoyable read but it’s a series I’ve put behind me.

Trish – G+ - Liked it. She had never read Beaton before. As with Corona, she kept thinking Hamish was much older than he is supposed to be. She did like the sense of place and felt the story had some nice twists and clues.

The Coroner’s Lunch (Lic. Invest-Dr. Siri Paiboun-Laos-1975) – 1st in series – Colin Cotterill Laos, 1975.

Andrea – VG+ - I will definitely read more by the author. The back jacket of my library copy likened it to the Botswanan series by Alexander McCall Smith, but I think it is vastly better; it had real substance and a true mystery. The characters were equally charming, and it had an equally great sense place which was unfamiliar and exotic, but the story wasn’t syrupy. As a review I read on line said, “the mysteries provide many enlightening insights into all aspects of this mysterious country and it’s societies, and all the many disparate threads are bought together in a truly admirable and masterly way at the end.” I usually hate the spiritual stuff—and solving crimes through spiritual aids—but in this book, unlike the horrible Jade Cameron books—it worked.

Corona – G+ - Enjoyed it but does wonder how they’ll go for 12 more books considering the age of the character. The story was neatly done, engrossing and felt it really brought her there. She liked how the protagonist cut through the bull and especially appreciate his reflections on what he had been fighting for and what he was left with. He was elderly but never gave up respecting his dreams. Corona was glad for the trip and appreciated it. She will read more of this series.

LJ - VG+ - How have I missed Cotterill until now? Let me start with history. I am of the Vietnam era; I had friends who fought, and died, there. Once the war was over, I had very little interest in that area of the world. Now I find it fascinating to see how Communism controlled every aspect of individual’s lives. What I particularly like is that Cotterill doesn’t present it in a heavy-handed manner, but through the character’s perspective of that being the way life is. In some ways, I find that more effective. The characters are wonderful. Dr. Siri, who performs his first autopsy with the help of a very old French book, his assistants, Dtui who reads Thai fan magazines, and Geung who has mild Down’s Syndrome, plus his friends are all delightfully portrayed with affection and, often, humor. But it is Siri who takes the lead and is our connection to the metaphysical world. With his white hair, uncontrolled eyebrows and shocking green eyes, Siri stands out on his own, but he can also see the dead and communicate with spirits. Rather than making the book unbelievable, it adds dimension and an element of suspense to the story in a way that is hard to quantify. There is a wonderful sense of place to the story, but different from the usual. It is very much tied in with the way people live, rather than descriptions of the location in which the story is set. I am so pleased to have found this author and have already ordered the rest of this series.

Trish – VG+ - We were delighted to learn that Trish has lived in Laos, among Asian countries, teaching English as a second language. She really liked the book and felt it gave a good feeling of life under Communism. She liked the character of the doctor, felt there were good twists on the murders happening for various reasons and the relationship with Thailand.

The Godwulf Manuscript (PI-Spenser-Boston-Cont) – 1st in series – Robert B. Parker

Andrea – G – I liked the character and the writing and the feel for my hometown of Boston. But the plot of the mystery was only fair. It was secondary to the character of Spenser and the people surrounding him. I read it awhile ago, but remember that the unfolding of the mystery of the manuscript seemed to be forgotten and that Spenser went with hunches that solved things amazingly easily. I read reviews on the web to remind me of the plot and remembered that I really didn’t like that Spenser slept with two of the characters. I also found his dealings with the Mafia boos, Joe Broz, fairly absurd.

Linda F – Okay – While you could detect the classic Spenser in this first book with his cracking wise, he was yet the Renaissance man he is in later books, who would never have had to ask what was an illuminated manuscript. She missed the rest of the team; Susan and Hawk. In fact, this first book seemed to be just an ordinary mystery.

LJ – VG - I’ve not read this book since the 1970s and it is an interesting cultural look back. I am very happy fashions have changed away from white vinyl boots and leisure suits and that technology has advanced from mimeographs and typewriters. As silly as some of the slang sounds today, at least it wasn’t as profane as today’s speech. It is also interesting looking at Spenser in his later 30s. He still thought he was funnier than anyone else did. This is a pre-Hawk, pre-Susan Spencer. As annoying as Susan can be, the one thing she did bring to the series was Spenser’s monogamy. What hasn't changed is his doggedness, determination to see the case through, dedication to the innocent and his cooking. I am always amazed that he has just the right ingredients in his kitchen to make a wonderful meal. Those are the little things. What Parker did extremely well was description, dialogue and plot. With a very few words, you knew where you were and the other characters in the scene. He often employed analogies—“The wet wool smelled like a grammar room coatroom.”—which put you right into his scene. His dialogue, even with the slang of the period, was always tight, crisp and real. As to plot, the story started a bit light and annoying. However, once it took hold, it hit its stride and I was completely engrossed. Re-reading this very first book makes it clear as to why I have read every other book Parker wrote.

Corona - G I enjoyed the book but was impatient with his 'snappy' comments, this fellow was a little too 'cool' for my tastes. I also didn't appreciate how easily the women got involved with him. But the trip back in time was fun but the plot seemed superfluous to me.

January's meeting marked the beginning of our 17th year! Amazing! We had a great turnout with Andrea, Charlotte, Corona, Libby, Linda F, Linda S, Marcy G, Marcy S and me, and with a review sent in by Chris in North Carolina.

Our February meeting will mark the beginning of our 10th year at Dark Carnival. Thank you, Jack!!

Happy reading,
LJ