Red Sky in Morning – (Suspense-Lt. Peter Maxwell-San Francisco/Bay Area-1943) – Standalone – Patrick Culhane (aka Max Allan Collins) LJ – G+ - In a period where I don’t have a lot of reading time, it’s nice to find a book that grabs my attention, and this one did. Maxwell starts out as bit naïve, but that’s resolved fairly quickly. For me, the best part of the book was the historical information; the explosion at Port Chicago, life aboard munitions ships and, particularly, African-American crews on Navy ships during WWII. The characters were a bit heavy-handed on stereotypes. The mystery was okay, but the weakest point and I felt the killer was much too easy to identify. I didn’t think it was a great book, but I did enjoy it.
The Devil in the White City – (True Crime-Chicago-1893) – Standlone – Erik Larson Linda F. – DNF – Read the first 16 pages and just couldn’t get into it. LJ – DNF – The only problem with reading on a Kindle, is you don’t know what page you’re on. I started it but it soon reminded me of the way I search the internet; the author starts on one subject, then segues to the next, and the next, and the next. I’ve been told that, once you really get into the story, it’s very good. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold my interest enough for me to get that far. Marcy – Ex – As she was traveling to Chicago, she likes to read books about places she is visiting. Marcy was so captivated by this book, she couldn’t put it down. She found it fascinating. The villain, Holmes, was really horrible. What was particularly fun, was that Marcy brought in a photography book showing Fair’s buildings and an etched, commemorative pressed-glass pitcher actually from the 1893 Fair. Corona - EX - I kept forgetting I was reading non-fiction. I really enjoyed the history and got a kick out reading the decision-making process of putting the fair together. But was shocked to know that the killing that went on was also non-fiction. - I have the impression that the serial killers we read about are fiction and don't exist in real life.
One Corpse Too Many (Hist. Mys-Brother Cadfael-England-1138) – 2nd in series – Ellis Peters (aka Edith Pargeter) Capturing everyone’s comments about this book was difficult; conversation was more free-flowing than our usual controlled, round-the-group comment. Andrea - - Andrea read “One Corpse” a long time ago. She has read other Cadfael books she enjoyed more than this and has read some of the non-Cadfael books and really enjoyed them. Charlotte – G+ - She liked it but, if you read a lot of them, they become quite formulaic. Joy – VG – She had always enjoyed the BBC productions but they are now spoiled for her as there is so much more detail in the books. Linda F – Ok – This was one of her least favorite Cadfaels as she’s not that interested in the Civil War between Stephen and Empress Maud. However, she did like that Hugh was introduced in this book. LJ – G+ - Aside from the portent at the beginning, which I always hate, I enjoyed this book. Peters creates a strong sense of time and place. She provides a clear, succinct summary of the historical events of the time. The dialogue conveys the feel of the period without slowing the pace of the book. Her characters are so well drawn. I like the element of Cadfael’s “street sense” amongst the clerical community and his ability to reason things through. I wouldn’t read a lot of these together, but they are delightful books to pick up when a reliably good read is needed. Marcy – Ok – She just couldn’t get into it; it wasn’t her thing. The use of the language was interesting, but the story just didn’t grab her. Corona - G The series is new to me, it was a good story, slow at times. Likable characters, but a little too 'Good Kid/Bad Kid' assignments for my taste. I do like how neatly they live happily ever after. (I like endings that are easy to live with.)
LJ – G+ - In a period where I don’t have a lot of reading time, it’s nice to find a book that grabs my attention, and this one did. Maxwell starts out as bit naïve, but that’s resolved fairly quickly. For me, the best part of the book was the historical information; the explosion at Port Chicago, life aboard munitions ships and, particularly, African-American crews on Navy ships during WWII. The characters were a bit heavy-handed on stereotypes. The mystery was okay, but the weakest point and I felt the killer was much too easy to identify. I didn’t think it was a great book, but I did enjoy it.
The Devil in the White City – (True Crime-Chicago-1893) – Standlone – Erik Larson
Linda F. – DNF – Read the first 16 pages and just couldn’t get into it.
LJ – DNF – The only problem with reading on a Kindle, is you don’t know what page you’re on. I started it but it soon reminded me of the way I search the internet; the author starts on one subject, then segues to the next, and the next, and the next. I’ve been told that, once you really get into the story, it’s very good. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold my interest enough for me to get that far.
Marcy – Ex – As she was traveling to Chicago, she likes to read books about places she is visiting. Marcy was so captivated by this book, she couldn’t put it down. She found it fascinating. The villain, Holmes, was really horrible. What was particularly fun, was that Marcy brought in a photography book showing Fair’s buildings and an etched, commemorative pressed-glass pitcher actually from the 1893 Fair.
Corona - EX - I kept forgetting I was reading non-fiction. I really enjoyed the history and got a kick out reading the decision-making process of putting the fair together. But was shocked to know that the killing that went on was also non-fiction. - I have the impression that the serial killers we read about are fiction and don't exist in real life.
One Corpse Too Many (Hist. Mys-Brother Cadfael-England-1138) – 2nd in series – Ellis Peters (aka Edith Pargeter)
Capturing everyone’s comments about this book was difficult; conversation was more free-flowing than our usual controlled, round-the-group comment.
Andrea - - Andrea read “One Corpse” a long time ago. She has read other Cadfael books she enjoyed more than this and has read some of the non-Cadfael books and really enjoyed them.
Charlotte – G+ - She liked it but, if you read a lot of them, they become quite formulaic.
Joy – VG – She had always enjoyed the BBC productions but they are now spoiled for her as there is so much more detail in the books.
Linda F – Ok – This was one of her least favorite Cadfaels as she’s not that interested in the Civil War between Stephen and Empress Maud. However, she did like that Hugh was introduced in this book.
LJ – G+ - Aside from the portent at the beginning, which I always hate, I enjoyed this book. Peters creates a strong sense of time and place. She provides a clear, succinct summary of the historical events of the time. The dialogue conveys the feel of the period without slowing the pace of the book. Her characters are so well drawn. I like the element of Cadfael’s “street sense” amongst the clerical community and his ability to reason things through. I wouldn’t read a lot of these together, but they are delightful books to pick up when a reliably good read is needed.
Marcy – Ok – She just couldn’t get into it; it wasn’t her thing. The use of the language was interesting, but the story just didn’t grab her.
Corona - G The series is new to me, it was a good story, slow at times. Likable characters, but a little too 'Good Kid/Bad Kid' assignments for my taste. I do like how neatly they live happily ever after. (I like endings that are easy to live with.)