THE PUPPET SHOW (Susp/PolProc-Poe/Tilly-Cumbria, Eng-Contemp) - 1st in series - M.W. Craven A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District's prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues, and the police are helpless. When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of. He is reluctantly partnered with brilliant but socially awkward civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw, and the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan, and for some reason Poe is part of it. As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. With a killer's unexpected motive, a shocking finale, and a surprising ending, this is stunning debut to a series, and an author, worth reading.
Christine – Ex – Loved it. It's from her part of England. Loved the characters. Dianne – DNW - This book was full of blood and guts, with lots of gruesome descriptions of torture. The main character, a macho man, runs roughshod over his boss, a woman. Why the author set up the story so that this detective had a female boss to walk over and second-guess is not clear. The story didn’t need the woman boss nor did the author allow her to add much to the story. The plot was very complicated. There was a chance for an interesting interplay between the macho man and a bullied young woman with probable autism. The author allowed the relationship some interesting development. The young woman’s situation gave the main character lots of opportunities to protect her. He did so in a gratuitous display of macho-ness during a brawl. I did finish the book Don – Ex – Thought the book was great. Craven has a great style; very engaging. Ginny – VG+ - What a well-written, well-crafted mystery. From the start I visualized an isolated, expansive landscape with its ancient stones which was perfect. The diabolical cleverness of planning and execution of the murders was jaw dropping mostly due to the grisly nature of it. I found Poe to be an interesting, likeable guy who cares little about other peoples’ opinions. And despite being at times self-absorbed, he's a good man. His co-workers were believable and easy to visualize. Lots of good stuff there. And the pairing of Poe and Bradshaw was a stroke of genius. The single most satisfying moment of the book was Poe looking inside the bag of coffee. Kathy – VG – Liked it a lot. Liked that we didn't have to live through the actual murders. She didn't interrupt the character as being macho, just focused on solving the crimes. LJ – Ex - The trail Craven lays for Poe and Tilly to follow is fascinating, wonderfully atmospheric, and exciting. It is filled with a plethora of interesting information along the way. It includes a side path with the history of Poe's name which one assumes with have more relevance later in the series. One small point: a glossary of all the acronyms would have been helpful. The story is dark, twisty, suspenseful, filled with great characters, and one of the most gratifying endings of late. However, the best part is knowing there are for Poe and Tilly books yet to be read. Nancy – Ex – Favorite book chosen by the group since she joined. It is dark, but she loved it. Poe and Tilly were fabulous. She loved the setting and wants to read more by Craven. Neeraja – Okay – The writing was really good. Really liked the characters, but it felt a bit far fetched. Prefers a murder who is more human, but it did keep her interested. Ron – VG+ - I really liked it a lot, particularly for the two strong main characters. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought the two sequels. The book held my interest throughout, and I thought the plot was excellent, although I did guess the perpetrator about two-thirds of the way through, mainly by process of elimination.
Group Rating Average: VG
CAMINO WINDS (Susp-Bruce Cable-Florida-Contemp) – 2nd in series – John Grisham Just as Bruce Cable’s Bay Books is preparing for the return of bestselling author Mercer Mann, Hurricane Leo veers from its predicted course and heads straight for the island. In spite of a mandatory evacuation, Bruce decides to stay and ride out the storm, but a dozen people lose their lives. One of the apparent victims is Nelson Kerr, whose injuries suggest the storm wasn’t the cause of his death: He has suffered several suspicious blows to the head. As Bruce starts to investigate, what he discovers between the lines is more shocking than any of Nelson’s plot twists—and far more dangerous.
Charlotte – Okay – Leo (the storm) was interesting but the rest didn't hold up. Christine – VG – It was a diversion from his legal mysteries. The information on the hurricane was interesting. Deb G – Okay - a fun read and I enjoyed the characters. I did read Camino Island the first book and I actually enjoyed it more than the second. I may read another in the series. Dianne – Okay - This book was an okay read. It seemed like a typical Grisham book. The bookstore clerk character was interesting in the way he predicted each step of the investigation. The hints about climate change could have been developed more. Don – Okay – An airplane book; read it and forget it. Felicity – Okay - A pleasant read. The mystery part doesn’t really start until halfway through. The first half is a lot of details about how to prepare for a hurricane and sort of interesting details about settings and characters. There was a lot about women being hot and older men going after and getting younger women. I found that part kind of gross and unnecessary. The mystery was interesting and could have been it’s own highly engaging story. I wish it had been. The mystery seemed a little like spicy side dish meant to keep the soap opera-y story relevant. Gabriel – Okay – The information on the storm was interesting. About halfway through, the characters became interesting. Ginny – Okay - Of all the characters, I was focused intently upon Hurricane Leo. “His” trajectory crisscrossing the continents was so well-written it was as though Grisham gave Leo human characteristics--anthropomorphism. However, in the wake of the hurricane’s destruction with the discovery of a murdered friend, the story line went downhill. There were too many multiple tangents which went nowhere. Overall, the book did not have the feel of a John Grisham novel. It was unsatisfying. Helen – Poor – The storm was the most interesting character. The anthropomorphizing was just off, though. The plot meandered and needed heavy editing. The mystery was implausible. Joni – NR - I gave it just past halfway before it became that dreaded flying object, a wall banger (not literally as I had the book on my iPad from the library). I disliked the characters, the storyline, and the writing. The best part of this book was being able to return it to the library. Linda M – Poor - The rampant sexism and misogyny got in the way of my enjoying this rather dull telling of an intriguing conspiracy plot around pharmaceuticals and nursing homes. I was already annoyed as hell with the objectification of women, when one character, upon admiring the attractive physique of a dead woman, said something like, "What a waste." I don't know why I finished it. But I am glad I borrowed it via Libby rather than paid for it. Marcy S – Ex - Really enjoyed this book. I was right there on Camino Island with them. Loved the descriptions of Bruce's home and veranda. Loved the descriptions of the book store! So many well-defined characters, I had to keep a list. Interesting plot. Page turner Mary – OK - an OK book for an airplane, meaning that it has enough of a plot to keep one distracted for a few hours. The first half of the book is too long. Many of the characters introduced in the first half aren't relevant to the mystery. Plus, the actions of the characters who continue into the second half become rather boring after they find the body. The second half is more interesting but is too short. They story felt rushed and underdeveloped
Group Rating Average: Okay
THE SURVIVORS (Mys-Kieran Elliot-Australia-Contemp) – Standalone – Jane Harper Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home. Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn. When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away,
Cindy – VG – liked it. It reminded her of "Where the Crawdad Sings." Very atmospheric. The story really held together. The ending was real and human. Deb – Okay - Dianne – Ex - A very well-written book with complex characters. The Tasmanian setting was well described. The mystery was complex. The different versions of what had happened twelve years before were a surprise and the mystery continued to surprise. A very good book and I will look forward to reading more by this author. Don – VG – Likes Jane Harper and her writing. It didn't reveal too much. The setting was interesting. Helen – Okay – The setting was beautifully written. She did have a hard time connecting with any of the characters. Found the toxic masculinity frustrating. Wish there had been more mystery. Neeraja – Good – Liked it. Was a little deflated by the motive but thought there was some cleverness. Felt it ended on a note of hope. Marcy S - VG - Was interested to read a book in Tasmania, but the description definitely sounded more like Australia. When I think of Tasmania, my mind goes straight to the Tasmanian Devil, and I think Tasmania must be an exotic, wild place. This is not the Tasmania of this book. I enjoyed the characters and story. It does seem like kind of a stretch to me that someone would have to leave his home because he was rejected by someone. Mary - Good - Enjoyed it. A story where the past is unfolded while the present develops helps keep me intrigued. The reason for not rating it " Good-plus" is because I felt the ending was rushed Joni – Ex - All in one go. It was either a really great read, or I’ve totally lost my ability to be discerning. I loved the characters, the plot, the way it went back and forth in time, the way it had layers of mystery. The end was satisfying and made sense. Loved the theme of The Survivors and the role they took in the plot. I give it a very good and would read more and recommend to others.
A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District's prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues, and the police are helpless. When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of. He is reluctantly partnered with brilliant but socially awkward civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw, and the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan, and for some reason Poe is part of it. As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. With a killer's unexpected motive, a shocking finale, and a surprising ending, this is stunning debut to a series, and an author, worth reading.
Christine – Ex – Loved it. It's from her part of England. Loved the characters.
Dianne – DNW - This book was full of blood and guts, with lots of gruesome descriptions of torture. The main character, a macho man, runs roughshod over his boss, a woman. Why the author set up the story so that this detective had a female boss to walk over and second-guess is not clear. The story didn’t need the woman boss nor did the author allow her to add much to the story. The plot was very complicated. There was a chance for an interesting interplay between the macho man and a bullied young woman with probable autism. The author allowed the relationship some interesting development. The young woman’s situation gave the main character lots of opportunities to protect her. He did so in a gratuitous display of macho-ness during a brawl. I did finish the book
Don – Ex – Thought the book was great. Craven has a great style; very engaging.
Ginny – VG+ - What a well-written, well-crafted mystery. From the start I visualized an isolated, expansive landscape with its ancient stones which was perfect. The diabolical cleverness of planning and execution of the murders was jaw dropping mostly due to the grisly nature of it. I found Poe to be an interesting, likeable guy who cares little about other peoples’ opinions. And despite being at times self-absorbed, he's a good man. His co-workers were believable and easy to visualize. Lots of good stuff there. And the pairing of Poe and Bradshaw was a stroke of genius. The single most satisfying moment of the book was Poe looking inside the bag of coffee.
Kathy – VG – Liked it a lot. Liked that we didn't have to live through the actual murders. She didn't interrupt the character as being macho, just focused on solving the crimes.
LJ – Ex - The trail Craven lays for Poe and Tilly to follow is fascinating, wonderfully atmospheric, and exciting. It is filled with a plethora of interesting information along the way. It includes a side path with the history of Poe's name which one assumes with have more relevance later in the series. One small point: a glossary of all the acronyms would have been helpful. The story is dark, twisty, suspenseful, filled with great characters, and one of the most gratifying endings of late. However, the best part is knowing there are for Poe and Tilly books yet to be read.
Nancy – Ex – Favorite book chosen by the group since she joined. It is dark, but she loved it. Poe and Tilly were fabulous. She loved the setting and wants to read more by Craven.
Neeraja – Okay – The writing was really good. Really liked the characters, but it felt a bit far fetched. Prefers a murder who is more human, but it did keep her interested.
Ron – VG+ - I really liked it a lot, particularly for the two strong main characters. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought the two sequels. The book held my interest throughout, and I thought the plot was excellent, although I did guess the perpetrator about two-thirds of the way through, mainly by process of elimination.
Group Rating Average: VG
CAMINO WINDS (Susp-Bruce Cable-Florida-Contemp) – 2nd in series – John Grisham
Just as Bruce Cable’s Bay Books is preparing for the return of bestselling author Mercer Mann, Hurricane Leo veers from its predicted course and heads straight for the island. In spite of a mandatory evacuation, Bruce decides to stay and ride out the storm, but a dozen people lose their lives. One of the apparent victims is Nelson Kerr, whose injuries suggest the storm wasn’t the cause of his death: He has suffered several suspicious blows to the head. As Bruce starts to investigate, what he discovers between the lines is more shocking than any of Nelson’s plot twists—and far more dangerous.
Charlotte – Okay – Leo (the storm) was interesting but the rest didn't hold up.
Christine – VG – It was a diversion from his legal mysteries. The information on the hurricane was interesting.
Deb G – Okay - a fun read and I enjoyed the characters. I did read Camino Island the first book and I actually enjoyed it more than the second. I may read another in the series.
Dianne – Okay - This book was an okay read. It seemed like a typical Grisham book. The bookstore clerk character was interesting in the way he predicted each step of the investigation. The hints about climate change could have been developed more.
Don – Okay – An airplane book; read it and forget it.
Felicity – Okay - A pleasant read. The mystery part doesn’t really start until halfway through. The first half is a lot of details about how to prepare for a hurricane and sort of interesting details about settings and characters. There was a lot about women being hot and older men going after and getting younger women. I found that part kind of gross and unnecessary. The mystery was interesting and could have been it’s own highly engaging story. I wish it had been. The mystery seemed a little like spicy side dish meant to keep the soap opera-y story relevant.
Gabriel – Okay – The information on the storm was interesting. About halfway through, the characters became interesting.
Ginny – Okay - Of all the characters, I was focused intently upon Hurricane Leo.
“His” trajectory crisscrossing the continents was so well-written it was as though Grisham gave Leo human characteristics--anthropomorphism.
However, in the wake of the hurricane’s destruction with the discovery of a murdered friend, the story line went downhill. There were too many
multiple tangents which went nowhere. Overall, the book did not have the feel of a John Grisham novel. It was unsatisfying.
Helen – Poor – The storm was the most interesting character. The anthropomorphizing was just off, though. The plot meandered and needed heavy editing. The mystery was implausible.
Joni – NR - I gave it just past halfway before it became that dreaded flying object, a wall banger (not literally as I had the book on my iPad from the library). I disliked the characters, the storyline, and the writing. The best part of this book was being able to return it to the library.
Linda M – Poor - The rampant sexism and misogyny got in the way of my enjoying this rather dull telling of an intriguing conspiracy plot around pharmaceuticals and nursing homes. I was already annoyed as hell with the objectification of women, when one character, upon admiring the attractive physique of a dead woman, said something like, "What a waste." I don't know why I finished it. But I am glad I borrowed it via Libby rather than paid for it.
Marcy S – Ex - Really enjoyed this book. I was right there on Camino Island with them. Loved the descriptions of Bruce's home and veranda. Loved the descriptions of the book store! So many well-defined characters, I had to keep a list. Interesting plot. Page turner
Mary – OK - an OK book for an airplane, meaning that it has enough of a plot to keep one distracted for a few hours. The first half of the book is too long. Many of the characters introduced in the first half aren't relevant to the mystery. Plus, the actions of the characters who continue into the second half become rather boring after they find the body. The second half is more interesting but is too short. They story felt rushed and underdeveloped
Group Rating Average: Okay
THE SURVIVORS (Mys-Kieran Elliot-Australia-Contemp) – Standalone – Jane Harper
Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home. Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn. When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away,
Cindy – VG – liked it. It reminded her of "Where the Crawdad Sings." Very atmospheric. The story really held together. The ending was real and human.
Deb – Okay -
Dianne – Ex - A very well-written book with complex characters. The Tasmanian setting was well described. The mystery was complex. The different versions of what had happened twelve years before were a surprise and the mystery continued to surprise. A very good book and I will look forward to reading more by this author.
Don – VG – Likes Jane Harper and her writing. It didn't reveal too much. The setting was interesting.
Helen – Okay – The setting was beautifully written. She did have a hard time connecting with any of the characters. Found the toxic masculinity frustrating. Wish there had been more mystery.
Neeraja – Good – Liked it. Was a little deflated by the motive but thought there was some cleverness. Felt it ended on a note of hope.
Marcy S - VG - Was interested to read a book in Tasmania, but the description definitely sounded more like Australia. When I think of Tasmania, my mind goes straight to the Tasmanian Devil, and I think Tasmania must be an exotic, wild place. This is not the Tasmania of this book. I enjoyed the characters and story. It does seem like kind of a stretch to me that someone would have to leave his home because he was rejected by someone.
Mary - Good - Enjoyed it. A story where the past is unfolded while the present develops helps keep me intrigued. The reason for not rating it " Good-plus" is because I felt the ending was rushed
Joni – Ex - All in one go. It was either a really great read, or I’ve totally lost my ability to be discerning. I loved the characters, the plot, the way it went back and forth in time, the way it had layers of mystery. The end was satisfying and made sense. Loved the theme of The Survivors and the role they took in the plot. I give it a very good and would read more and recommend to others.
Group Rating Average: G+