HOLDING (Mys-Sgt. PJ Collins-Ireland-Contemp) – Standalone – Graham Norton The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama but when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke—a former lover of two different inhabitants—the village’s dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated sergeant PJ Collins struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret. In this darkly comic, touching, and at times heartbreaking novel, perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters, and explore—with searing honesty—the complexities and contradictions that make us human.
Cindy – G+ - Had a hard time getting into it but she liked it better and better as she went along. She'd never read a mystery where the detective was so un-sleuthlike. It seemed to be a book of so many people whose lives have been put on hold. It was interesting and she did like the cop in the end. Don – Good – Kind of enjoyed it. It was pretty much an airplane book. Felt it was light. Jeanne – G+ - She didn't know Norton had written novels and was very pleasantly surprised. She liked the tone as it was very light. The characters were interesting without being caricatures. It didn't seem cliché at all. She would recommend it. Helen – DNF – She couldn't get to like any of the characters. Didn't car for the plot. Katie – Poor – Was right on the edge between interesting and tiresome. She didn't like that the woman's lives all revolved around men. Linda M – VG – It did take a while to get into, but she did like the characters. She has a thing for all things Irish and Australian. Marilyn – Good – Enjoyed it. It was very, very Irish. A nice enjoyable read. It gave her a real feel for the people.
Group Rating Average: Good
>b>GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL (PsyMys-Cyrus Haven-England-Contemp) – Standalone – Michael Robotham A girl is discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Half-starved and filthy, she won’t tell anyone her name, she doesn’t appear in any missing persons file, and her DNA can’t be matched to an identity. Six years later, she is living in a secure children’s home with a new name, Evie Cormac. When she initiates a court case demanding the right to be released as an adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure. Evie knows when someone is lying, and no one around her is telling the truth. Meanwhile, Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who dies on a lonely footpath close to her home. Pretty and popular, Jodie is portrayed by everyone as the ultimate girl-next-door, but as Cyrus peels back the layers, a secret life emerges—one that Evie Cormac, the girl with no past, knows something about. A man haunted by his own tragic history, Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice.
Christine – VG – Loves Robotham's writing and his characters. Loved the whole story but felt maybe the ending was over-plotted. Loved the story right to the end, but felt the actual end was over the top. Don – G+ - Liked the story and the concept was it was clear this was just the beginning of a series. Felt a bit manipulated. Cyrus had a dark spot but, again, his story was left open. Liked the characters. Gabriel – Good – It was fairly good. At first, he didn't think he'd finish it, but it grew on him Cyrus was very sympathetic and Evie turned out to be pretty complex. The murder plotline wasn't as interesting, but was competently done and kept him reading, especially the sections where Evie was involved. He wasn't totally convinced by Cyrus' decision related to Evie, or that the court would let him handle things the way he did. Helen – Good – Enjoyed it but there were plot holes all over the place. There are points in the plot where there were huge jumps in the logic. She did like that no one was magically "fixed" in the end. Felt the ending was too rushed. The author could have leaned less on character tropes. Katie – Okay – Felt Cyrus wanted it both ways. The fact of him taking Evie into his home strained credulity. The book needed better editing. She did like Cyrus' character. Linda F. – DNF – Didn't like the characters in the opening and felt it was going to be too dark for her. Linda M – VG+ - She really liked the alternating narratives between Cyrus and Evie, and found their voices equally interesting. Linda enjoys it when bits of the story are seen from different eyes. The two broken souls work well together. She did find some incongruity with Evie... sometimes she seemed hardened for her age (whatever age she is), and other times she seemed quite naive. But possibly that's what happens with her brutal history. She would definitely read the next in the series, and may go take a look at his other series. LJ – VG+ - I love unusual, quirky characters especially when they are well-written. Robotham accomplishes that, and much more. Evie, who is also defined as being--…" dyslexic. Antisocial. Aggressive"-- is a character about whom one to want to know more. Cyrus, too, has a past beyond imagining. That the author puts these two emotionally damaged characters together demonstrates the strength of the human spirit and determination to survive. Both characters are unique and fascinating. Nothing about either of them is what one would expect. It's a pleasure when something causes one to stop and consider--"When I run, my thoughts become clearer. When I run, I imagine that I'm keeping pace with a planet that turns too quickly for me." Rather than slow down the flow of the story, it adds depth and richness to it. The story does alternate between the two lead characters. Being inside Evie's mind can be painful to read, and all the more so for knowing there are real children who feel as she does about herself. The descriptions of deaths is brutal, but done in a way that is factual and not gratuitous or salacious. Even so, Robotham finds the perfect way to inject just a bit of wry humor. The investigation into Jodie's death takes one down a very twisted path filled with surprises. The only slight criticism is that the resolution seemed over the top. What one can truly appreciate is that, even at the end, both Evie and Cyrus remain enigmatic. "Good Girl, Bad Girl" is a strong, character-driven story filled with well-done twists. It is also the start of a new series. Marilyn – Okay – Had mixed feelings about it. She kind of liked the characters in a way, but found Cyrus' actions unrealistic. She kept wondering how Evie was so educated. She enjoyed it but was bothered by it.
Group Rating Average: Good
THE MAN WHO DIED (Myst-Jaakko Kaunismaa-Finland-Contemp) – Standalone – Antti Tuomainen A successful entrepreneur in the mushroom industry, Jaakko Kaunismaa is a man in his prime. At just 37 years of age, he is shocked when his doctor tells him that he’s dying. What is more, the cause is discovered to be prolonged exposure to toxins; in other words, someone has slowly but surely been poisoning him. Determined to find out who wants him dead, Jaakko embarks on a suspenseful rollercoaster journey full of unusual characters, bizarre situations and unexpected twists. With a nod to Fargo and the best elements of the Scandinavian noir tradition, The Man Who Died is a page-turning thriller brimming with the blackest comedy surrounding life and death, and love and betrayal, marking a stunning new departure for the King of Helsinki Noir Don – G+ - Liked it because he likes Scandinavian noir. He connected with the protagonist's angst. It was quirky enough that it kept his attention. The plot simmered, but didn't really take off.
Christine – NR – Hated it, it was very close to a wall-banger for her. She thought it was bizarre. Way over the top. Jeanne – NR – The tone was all over the place and very random. The rationalization made no sense. She didn't like the violence as it felt so choreographed. Thought the whole reason for changing the premise at the end was to put in the romance. Katie – Okay – A great premise pretty badly squandered. Kathy – VG+ - Really liked it. She likes quirky. Liked that it felt fresh and interesting. Linda M – VG – A really unique and interesting premise. The character's personality's changes as it goes on. Enjoyed the first half more than the second. Marilyn – Ex - One of the best books she's read in years. Thought it was going to be very dark. Liked the contrast between the darkness and the humor.
The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama but when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke—a former lover of two different inhabitants—the village’s dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated sergeant PJ Collins struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret. In this darkly comic, touching, and at times heartbreaking novel, perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters, and explore—with searing honesty—the complexities and contradictions that make us human.
Cindy – G+ - Had a hard time getting into it but she liked it better and better as she went along. She'd never read a mystery where the detective was so un-sleuthlike. It seemed to be a book of so many people whose lives have been put on hold. It was interesting and she did like the cop in the end.
Don – Good – Kind of enjoyed it. It was pretty much an airplane book. Felt it was light.
Jeanne – G+ - She didn't know Norton had written novels and was very pleasantly surprised. She liked the tone as it was very light. The characters were interesting without being caricatures. It didn't seem cliché at all. She would recommend it.
Helen – DNF – She couldn't get to like any of the characters. Didn't car for the plot.
Katie – Poor – Was right on the edge between interesting and tiresome. She didn't like that the woman's lives all revolved around men.
Linda M – VG – It did take a while to get into, but she did like the characters. She has a thing for all things Irish and Australian.
Marilyn – Good – Enjoyed it. It was very, very Irish. A nice enjoyable read. It gave her a real feel for the people.
Group Rating Average: Good
>b>GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL (PsyMys-Cyrus Haven-England-Contemp) – Standalone – Michael Robotham
A girl is discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Half-starved and filthy, she won’t tell anyone her name, she doesn’t appear in any missing persons file, and her DNA can’t be matched to an identity. Six years later, she is living in a secure children’s home with a new name, Evie Cormac. When she initiates a court case demanding the right to be released as an adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure. Evie knows when someone is lying, and no one around her is telling the truth. Meanwhile, Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who dies on a lonely footpath close to her home. Pretty and popular, Jodie is portrayed by everyone as the ultimate girl-next-door, but as Cyrus peels back the layers, a secret life emerges—one that Evie Cormac, the girl with no past, knows something about. A man haunted by his own tragic history, Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice.
Christine – VG – Loves Robotham's writing and his characters. Loved the whole story but felt maybe the ending was over-plotted. Loved the story right to the end, but felt the actual end was over the top.
Don – G+ - Liked the story and the concept was it was clear this was just the beginning of a series. Felt a bit manipulated. Cyrus had a dark spot but, again, his story was left open. Liked the characters.
Gabriel – Good – It was fairly good. At first, he didn't think he'd finish it, but it grew on him Cyrus was very sympathetic and Evie turned out to be pretty complex. The murder plotline wasn't as interesting, but was competently done and kept him reading, especially the sections where Evie was involved. He wasn't totally convinced by Cyrus' decision related to Evie, or that the court would let him handle things the way he did.
Helen – Good – Enjoyed it but there were plot holes all over the place. There are points in the plot where there were huge jumps in the logic. She did like that no one was magically "fixed" in the end. Felt the ending was too rushed. The author could have leaned less on character tropes.
Katie – Okay – Felt Cyrus wanted it both ways. The fact of him taking Evie into his home strained credulity. The book needed better editing. She did like Cyrus' character.
Linda F. – DNF – Didn't like the characters in the opening and felt it was going to be too dark for her.
Linda M – VG+ - She really liked the alternating narratives between Cyrus and Evie, and found their voices equally interesting. Linda enjoys it when bits of the story are seen from different eyes. The two broken souls work well together. She did find some incongruity with Evie... sometimes she seemed hardened for her age (whatever age she is), and other times she seemed quite naive. But possibly that's what happens with her brutal history. She would definitely read the next in the series, and may go take a look at his other series.
LJ – VG+ - I love unusual, quirky characters especially when they are well-written. Robotham accomplishes that, and much more. Evie, who is also defined as being--…" dyslexic. Antisocial. Aggressive"-- is a character about whom one to want to know more. Cyrus, too, has a past beyond imagining. That the author puts these two emotionally damaged characters together demonstrates the strength of the human spirit and determination to survive. Both characters are unique and fascinating. Nothing about either of them is what one would expect. It's a pleasure when something causes one to stop and consider--"When I run, my thoughts become clearer. When I run, I imagine that I'm keeping pace with a planet that turns too quickly for me." Rather than slow down the flow of the story, it adds depth and richness to it. The story does alternate between the two lead characters. Being inside Evie's mind can be painful to read, and all the more so for knowing there are real children who feel as she does about herself. The descriptions of deaths is brutal, but done in a way that is factual and not gratuitous or salacious. Even so, Robotham finds the perfect way to inject just a bit of wry humor. The investigation into Jodie's death takes one down a very twisted path filled with surprises. The only slight criticism is that the resolution seemed over the top. What one can truly appreciate is that, even at the end, both Evie and Cyrus remain enigmatic. "Good Girl, Bad Girl" is a strong, character-driven story filled with well-done twists. It is also the start of a new series.
Marilyn – Okay – Had mixed feelings about it. She kind of liked the characters in a way, but found Cyrus' actions unrealistic. She kept wondering how Evie was so educated. She enjoyed it but was bothered by it.
Group Rating Average: Good
THE MAN WHO DIED (Myst-Jaakko Kaunismaa-Finland-Contemp) – Standalone – Antti Tuomainen
A successful entrepreneur in the mushroom industry, Jaakko Kaunismaa is a man in his prime. At just 37 years of age, he is shocked when his doctor tells him that he’s dying. What is more, the cause is discovered to be prolonged exposure to toxins; in other words, someone has slowly but surely been poisoning him. Determined to find out who wants him dead, Jaakko embarks on a suspenseful rollercoaster journey full of unusual characters, bizarre situations and unexpected twists. With a nod to Fargo and the best elements of the Scandinavian noir tradition, The Man Who Died is a page-turning thriller brimming with the blackest comedy surrounding life and death, and love and betrayal, marking a stunning new departure for the King of Helsinki Noir
Don – G+ - Liked it because he likes Scandinavian noir. He connected with the protagonist's angst. It was quirky enough that it kept his attention. The plot simmered, but didn't really take off.
Christine – NR – Hated it, it was very close to a wall-banger for her. She thought it was bizarre. Way over the top.
Jeanne – NR – The tone was all over the place and very random. The rationalization made no sense. She didn't like the violence as it felt so choreographed. Thought the whole reason for changing the premise at the end was to put in the romance.
Katie – Okay – A great premise pretty badly squandered.
Kathy – VG+ - Really liked it. She likes quirky. Liked that it felt fresh and interesting.
Linda M – VG – A really unique and interesting premise. The character's personality's changes as it goes on. Enjoyed the first half more than the second.
Marilyn – Ex - One of the best books she's read in years. Thought it was going to be very dark. Liked the contrast between the darkness and the humor.
Group Rating Average: Good