The Snake Stone (Hist Mys-Yashim Togalu-Istanbul-19th century) – 2nd in series – Jason Goodwin When a French archaeologist arrives in 1830s Istanbul determined to track down a lost Byzantine treasure, the local Greek communities are uncertain how to react; the man seems dangerously well informed. Yashim Togalu, who so brilliantly solved the mysterious murders in The Janissary Tree, is once again enlisted to investigate. But when the archaeologist's mutilated body is discovered outside the French embassy, it turns out there is only one suspect: Yashim himself.
Andrea – VG – Saw the author at a small author’s event and really enjoyed him. She told him of having a friend who is, due to prostate cancer, a contemporary eunuch. She liked the book a lot. It had a great sense of place and wonderful cooking. She really liked the personalities of the characters and the history, but the plot was the definitely weak point. Corona – Okay – She had enjoyed Janissary Tree and does like how he writes. It wasn’t easy getting into the story but enjoyed it once she did, however, she had to go back a couple times for clarity. There is an excellent sense of place and a wonderful use of food but the story was just not a page turner. Linda F – Good - She was disappointed by the last of archeological content but there were some surprising developments. She liked the character of the wife and thought she was a firecracker. Mostly she was interested for the historical content and a good surprise ending. LJ – G+ - I love Goodwin’s strong sense of place. His descriptions draw mental pictures and engage you senses. The book is a fascinating look at Istanbul of this period and a culture so different from our own, but you also see our culture viewed through their eyes. We are also seeing it at a time of significant transition from being and primarily Muslim city, to one more influenced by Western Culture. Yet his descriptions are not only of this past, but a past beyond the story. The literary references were wonderful; I even learned things about Byron I hadn’t known. The sub-story of the Sultan, who is dying, and the Sultan’s mother, was fascinating. Yashim is a wonderful character; intelligent and multifaceted. He’s also a man who doesn’t really fit anywhere, yet from that, allows him to go places others cannot. I’m always delighted by Stanislaw Palewski, the ambassador without a country and by the flashes of quite delightful, yet subtle humor, Goodwin injects into his dialogue. I did find the story a bit confusing, at times, yet there was some excellent suspense and a great twist at the end.
Group Average Rating: G+
The Vault (Pol Proc-CI Wexford-England-Cont) – 23rd in series – Ruth Rendell Chief Inspector Reg Wexford has retired. But D.S. Tom Ede is very keen to recruit Wexford as an adviser on a difficult case. The bodies of two women and a man have been discovered in the old coal hole of an attractive house in St John's Wood. None carries identification. But the man's jacket pockets contain a string of pearls, a diamond and a sapphire necklace as well as other jewellery valued in the region of £40,000. Wexford is intrigued and excited by the challenge – until this new investigative role brings him into serious physical danger.
Andrea – G+ - She is an admitted fan and really likes the relationship within the family. She really enjoys Rendell’s books. Christina – VG - She liked it but wasn’t wow-ed by it. She thought it was a little slow, but she did like it and would read more books in the series Linda S – VG – Had never read Rendell before and wasn’t certain she’d like it but really did. She liked that, even though the book is late in the series and even a follow-up to the one which precedes it, she had no problem knowing the characters and their history. She, too, really liked the details of his family, particularly the vignette with his grandchildren. The plot was good; the story logical. It was a very good police procedural. LJ – G+ - While I loved that Rendell opened the story by providing the history of a house involved in the crime, there was one section which, had her writing been less good, would have made the book a wallbanger for me. However, I quickly moved past that feeling and felt that first chapter was a corker. Her style struck me as a bit simplistic, in the beginning, but I quickly moved past that as well. I loved all the literary references and Wexford’s comment of how nice it would be to be an fictional detective…”I’m an amateur detective now but I haven’t got Lord Peter’s right of entry into a suspect’s home or a right to question him or her.” I enjoyed the look at his personal life; the relationship with his family at a point of crisis. I enjoyed the mystery but did feel finding the clues relied a big heavily on coincidence, one of which even the character acknowledged, which was nice. I read a non-Wexford a long time ago and hated it. I’m happy to say, this may have changed my attitude to where I would think of reading another in this series.
Group Average Rating: VG
On Borrowed Time (Suspense-Richard Kilmer-NY State-Cont) – Standalone – David Rosenfelt Everything is going right for magazine writer Richard Kilmer. His girlfriend, the beautiful Jennifer Ryan, has agreed to marry him. The happy couple celebrates with a romantic drive up to Kendrick Falls. Even as dark clouds begin to gather, Jen and Richard press on. The freak storm sends Richard careening off the road and throws Jen from the vehicle. Richard seems to be fine, but he can’t find Jen anywhere—neither can the town’s police. The storm has disappeared and with it every trace of the future Mrs. Kilmer. Richard remembers her so vividly, but no one he knows can confirm that Jen ever existed. Could he be crazy? Did he dream her up? After weeks of nightmares, therapy, and unanswered questions, his life is still in pieces. But just as Richard begins to completely unravel, so do the secrets behind Jen’s disappearance.
Christina – DNF – Terrible. Gave it up after only a few pages. Just not worth wasting her time. LJ – DNF – I did get further than Christina but also gave it up. The premise is one I do find intriguing but I’ve never yet found an author that carries it off effectively. Certainly this one didn’t The story become only more farfetched with every chapter.
When a French archaeologist arrives in 1830s Istanbul determined to track down a lost Byzantine treasure, the local Greek communities are uncertain how to react; the man seems dangerously well informed. Yashim Togalu, who so brilliantly solved the mysterious murders in The Janissary Tree, is once again enlisted to investigate. But when the archaeologist's mutilated body is discovered outside the French embassy, it turns out there is only one suspect: Yashim himself.
Andrea – VG – Saw the author at a small author’s event and really enjoyed him. She told him of having a friend who is, due to prostate cancer, a contemporary eunuch. She liked the book a lot. It had a great sense of place and wonderful cooking. She really liked the personalities of the characters and the history, but the plot was the definitely weak point.
Corona – Okay – She had enjoyed Janissary Tree and does like how he writes. It wasn’t easy getting into the story but enjoyed it once she did, however, she had to go back a couple times for clarity. There is an excellent sense of place and a wonderful use of food but the story was just not a page turner.
Linda F – Good - She was disappointed by the last of archeological content but there were some surprising developments. She liked the character of the wife and thought she was a firecracker. Mostly she was interested for the historical content and a good surprise ending.
LJ – G+ - I love Goodwin’s strong sense of place. His descriptions draw mental pictures and engage you senses. The book is a fascinating look at Istanbul of this period and a culture so different from our own, but you also see our culture viewed through their eyes. We are also seeing it at a time of significant transition from being and primarily Muslim city, to one more influenced by Western Culture. Yet his descriptions are not only of this past, but a past beyond the story. The literary references were wonderful; I even learned things about Byron I hadn’t known. The sub-story of the Sultan, who is dying, and the Sultan’s mother, was fascinating. Yashim is a wonderful character; intelligent and multifaceted. He’s also a man who doesn’t really fit anywhere, yet from that, allows him to go places others cannot. I’m always delighted by Stanislaw Palewski, the ambassador without a country and by the flashes of quite delightful, yet subtle humor, Goodwin injects into his dialogue. I did find the story a bit confusing, at times, yet there was some excellent suspense and a great twist at the end.
Group Average Rating: G+
The Vault (Pol Proc-CI Wexford-England-Cont) – 23rd in series – Ruth Rendell
Chief Inspector Reg Wexford has retired. But D.S. Tom Ede is very keen to recruit Wexford as an adviser on a difficult case. The bodies of two women and a man have been discovered in the old coal hole of an attractive house in St John's Wood. None carries identification. But the man's jacket pockets contain a string of pearls, a diamond and a sapphire necklace as well as other jewellery valued in the region of £40,000. Wexford is intrigued and excited by the challenge – until this new investigative role brings him into serious physical danger.
Andrea – G+ - She is an admitted fan and really likes the relationship within the family. She really enjoys Rendell’s books.
Christina – VG - She liked it but wasn’t wow-ed by it. She thought it was a little slow, but she did like it and would read more books in the series
Linda S – VG – Had never read Rendell before and wasn’t certain she’d like it but really did. She liked that, even though the book is late in the series and even a follow-up to the one which precedes it, she had no problem knowing the characters and their history. She, too, really liked the details of his family, particularly the vignette with his grandchildren. The plot was good; the story logical. It was a very good police procedural.
LJ – G+ - While I loved that Rendell opened the story by providing the history of a house involved in the crime, there was one section which, had her writing been less good, would have made the book a wallbanger for me. However, I quickly moved past that feeling and felt that first chapter was a corker. Her style struck me as a bit simplistic, in the beginning, but I quickly moved past that as well. I loved all the literary references and Wexford’s comment of how nice it would be to be an fictional detective…”I’m an amateur detective now but I haven’t got Lord Peter’s right of entry into a suspect’s home or a right to question him or her.” I enjoyed the look at his personal life; the relationship with his family at a point of crisis. I enjoyed the mystery but did feel finding the clues relied a big heavily on coincidence, one of which even the character acknowledged, which was nice. I read a non-Wexford a long time ago and hated it. I’m happy to say, this may have changed my attitude to where I would think of reading another in this series.
Group Average Rating: VG
On Borrowed Time (Suspense-Richard Kilmer-NY State-Cont) – Standalone – David Rosenfelt
Everything is going right for magazine writer Richard Kilmer. His girlfriend, the beautiful Jennifer Ryan, has agreed to marry him. The happy couple celebrates with a romantic drive up to Kendrick Falls. Even as dark clouds begin to gather, Jen and Richard press on. The freak storm sends Richard careening off the road and throws Jen from the vehicle. Richard seems to be fine, but he can’t find Jen anywhere—neither can the town’s police. The storm has disappeared and with it every trace of the future Mrs. Kilmer. Richard remembers her so vividly, but no one he knows can confirm that Jen ever existed. Could he be crazy? Did he dream her up? After weeks of nightmares, therapy, and unanswered questions, his life is still in pieces. But just as Richard begins to completely unravel, so do the secrets behind Jen’s disappearance.
Christina – DNF – Terrible. Gave it up after only a few pages. Just not worth wasting her time.
LJ – DNF – I did get further than Christina but also gave it up. The premise is one I do find intriguing but I’ve never yet found an author that carries it off effectively. Certainly this one didn’t The story become only more farfetched with every chapter.
Group Average Rating: DNF