THE LAW OF INNOCENCE (LegalThril-Mikcy Haller-Los Angeles-Contemp) - 6th in series – Michael Connelly On the night he celebrates a big win, defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a former client in the trunk of his Lincoln. Haller knows he’s been framed. As his trusted team, including his half-brother, Harry Bosch, investigates, Haller must use his courtroom skills to counter the damning evidence against him.
Charlotte – G+ - Enjoyed it. It was a gripping, one-day read. Completely implausible, but a good airplane book. Christine – Okay – Love his writing but wasn't thrilled with this one, and was disappointed. Corona – Ex - I am predisposed to like Michael Connelly's books and this story did not disappoint. I originally read this during the lock-down so listened to the audiobook this time around I enjoyed going thru the procedurals;-each team member’s part, the cooperation, overcoming the conflicts and seeing the pieces fall into place. And I mostly like the characters and these stories bring to LA in a manner that I can enjoy. Don – VG - I'm biased because I'm a Connelly regular. Good plot, characters, dialogue. Always a joy to read him Helen – VG - I didn't think I was going to like a book about courtroom proceedings and lawyers doing lawyer things, but I really liked this book! Mickey was a surprisingly good main character, well-positioned between cynical and experienced with a good dose of snark thrown in. The plot of the story was pretty quick (there were some odd time jumps), but I could follow easily and had a hard time putting the book down. A lot of the characters were rather forgettable, but I liked Mickey enough, oddball love life notwithstanding, that he and a few other characters made up for the boring characters. Katie – Okay - There was not a lot of interiority in the book, or a real attempt to explore the protagonist's feelings about a situation that puts him in personal danger. Haller is always in command of the room, even when he's just been whacked on the head - no real sense that he's really vulnerable or under threat. Interesting look at legal procedure, but the characters weren't compelling enough to make me want to read another in the series. Linda M - VG+ - The Lincoln Lawyer is in deep doo doo once again, and it's always a good ride. It's fun to see crossover characters from other Connelly books, though "The Law of Innocence" works just fine as a standalone. It begins just around the time the first COVID-19 case was discovered. World events of that time follow alongside the story as a little bit of background noise... but really hit home for me. Reminding me of what it felt like as the seriousness of things unfolded in the news bit by bit. Hey, that wound is still a little raw. Ron – G+ - The writing and characters were fine and, for a longer book, it was a quick read. My biggest problem was the police and DA’s office refusing to even consider the murder was a set-up against Haller. It made no sense at all that he would murder someone in the trunk of his car in his own garage and then then actually drive it around the next day in it rather than just leaving it in his own garage and have his driver pick him up in another one. Then to believe he would murder someone for a relatively measly $70,000 (in 2020 no less) and try to get special circumstances attached because of a monetary profit motive for me beggars the imagination.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+
DEAD SIMPLE (PolProc-DS Roy Grace-England-Contemp) – 1st in series – Peter James Michael Harrison, out celebrating with a group of friends a few nights before the wedding, suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself enclosed in a coffin equipped only with a flashlight, a dirty magazine, a walkie-talkie, and a tiny breathing tube. It's all in good fun until the four are killed in a drunk driving accident just moments after leaving Michael completely alone and buried alive. Detective Superintendent Grace is brought on to the case. Suspicions are raised when Michael's only friend not at the bachelor party refuses to cooperate, and the bride, Ashley's, faithfulness are suddenly thrown in to question.
Christine – DNF – Read ¾ of it, liked half of it, especially Cleo, but then it became ridiculous. The characters were OTT. Corona – Okay - I really like the detective team premise but I found the actions of the best man and bride unbelievably drastic. Then the story turned unnecessarily gruesome. So this series is disappointing. Don – DNF - I wanted to like this book but it muddled along. I read 200 pgs & then couldn't for see reading 200 more Gabriel – Okay - There was nothing incompetent about it, but not interesting. I can't even remember who got killed. Det. Roy Grace, aside from a few details, is a cliche. Linda M – Good - I unwittingly listened to an abridged version, which I usually try to avoid. So perhaps I missed some content that would have made me enjoy it more. High marks for suspense. It was almost unbearable at points, when Michael and Davey were talking. Other than that, I didn't love it or hate it. I didn't connect with any of the characters, nor find them intriguing. LJ – Good – James' background as a screenwriter shows in his strong characters, relationships, his ear for dialogue and the pacing of the story. It's a strong police procedural. My one criticism is that the book sounds more American and British; I kept having to check to see where it was set. Nancy – VG - however conditionally. I chose to read this book because it was suspenseful story as well being a mystery. I was able to absorb myself into the lead character of Roy Grace and loved hearing the small details of his life. I found him to be a believable person & police officer, but was not so sure I believed that he would really embalm the memory of his wife as he did, even to the extent of leaving her two slippers exactly where she had left them. I think I would have been more convinced that was true had he lost a child. (UGH!!). But truthfully, as I really think about my own grief, I’d probably enshrine my husband’s memory too. The book’s slowly revealed endings were believable as well, but a bit less so as they quickly piled up. I surprisingly though, even enjoyed the book’s final car chase and all the words from the UK that came with it. Ron – VG - I enjoyed the characters, plot, and writing quite a bit. It also had some turns I didn’t anticipate, which is always a good sign if you find them believable, which I did. The book is relatively long, but I found it a quick read.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: GOOD
THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK (HistNovel-Cussey Mary Carter-Kentucky-1930s) – Standalone - Kim Michele Richardson The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything except books. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter. Cussy, however, is the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she's going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler. This books is Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s.
Charlotte – Good – Had a hard time getting into it but she liked it more as she went along. It definitely held her interest. Cindy – VG+ - I enjoyed this book mostly because of learning new things. I had no idea there were blue people with methemoglobinemia, a WPA program called the "pack horse library project", or the lighting of a candle to bring potential suitors to the home. I have heard of the pie bake and auction due to the musical "Oklahoma". Sure are a lot of things I don't know hooey about. It reminded me a bit of "where the crawdads sing" - lonely remote girl who has spirit and intelligence, kills a badun and gets away with it. The voice here is more educated since she's a reader and into words. I think the dialog was a bit better. I loved the mule! I liked her pa. He really wanted the best for her and finally figured it out in the end. Not a mystery at all more of a 1936 cultural anthropology lesson through a coming of age story in Kentucky. I wish Junia would have kicked some sense into Harriet though. Corona – Ex - I loved this book! I enjoyed following Cussy and most of the people she interacted with. I felt transported to 1930-something Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library. – Thank you to Kim Michele Richardson and LJ for taking me there. Don – EX - Thoroughly enjoyable. "Bluet" was a fascinating protagonist. I like very good & historical fiction like this. Action was good & characters were engaging. Black & white real life photos - a great touch. Gabriel – Okay - Mixture of good and bad, so I'm averaging out the grade. Good: Vivid details, vividly evokes its time and place (whether accurate or not). Found Cussy Mary a compelling character. Some of the others were compelling too. Especially the father--his devotion to Cussy Mary was so moving because of the contrast with his conservatism. He's against her working and wants her married, but he's trying so hard in his way to take care of her. Bad: The prologue is in third person. A lot of plotlines that aren't well-integrated. The ending is rushed and fairly contrived. The author puts in a scary villain--the crazy minister, basically Harry from Night of the Hunter--and doesn't do anything with him. Helen – Poor - This is not a mystery book. It starts like one, but very quickly turns to a general fiction novel. The pace meanders quite a bit, and I wasn't really fond of the characters. There's another book very similar to this one: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Same setting, same themes, much better characters and writing, better central conflict, and less self-flagellation about personal problems. The ending of this book is just bizarre and made no sense given the previous actions of the characters in the story. As a mystery novel, this is a Do Not Recommend. As a general fiction novel, this is a Fair because the author obviously did some research to get the facts right, so at least it's a decent learning experience. Katie – DNF - at page 20. Way too much plot packed into the beginning, stilted dialog, clearly a set up for a "woman is plucky, makes good" story that felt thin and tiresome from the beginning. Maybe it got better, but it lost me too early. Linda F. – VG+ - Really loves books about the mountain people. That it dealt with librarians was even better. Linda M – Good –Seriously, the body count in this book rivals any serial killer novel. While I was reading this, I was also listening to a cozy mystery set in the 1920s in Britain. The comparative opulence of the other book was such a contrast. These folks had virtually nothing. Regarding the story, I found the evolution of Cussy's opinion of the Doc to be the most interesting thing. The romance, I could see a million miles away. But it was still sweet. I have since read "The Giver of Stars" by Jojo Moyes, also about the Kentucky Pack Horse program. I liked that one a lot more. Ron – Good - I’m wondering why this book was on our reading list since in no way is it a mystery. It is rather an effort by the author to bring to readers some aspects of history in Kentucky that very few people know about. In this, I think she is successful. My grade is based on my acceptance of the book as it is, not docking it for being a non-mystery. While I learned some interesting things and I felt the author captured the feel of the place well, I just didn’t feel she was really a particularly good writer.
On the night he celebrates a big win, defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a former client in the trunk of his Lincoln. Haller knows he’s been framed. As his trusted team, including his half-brother, Harry Bosch, investigates, Haller must use his courtroom skills to counter the damning evidence against him.
Charlotte – G+ - Enjoyed it. It was a gripping, one-day read. Completely implausible, but a good airplane book.
Christine – Okay – Love his writing but wasn't thrilled with this one, and was disappointed.
Corona – Ex - I am predisposed to like Michael Connelly's books and this story did not disappoint. I originally read this during the lock-down so listened to the audiobook this time around I enjoyed going thru the procedurals;-each team member’s part, the cooperation, overcoming the conflicts and seeing the pieces fall into place. And I mostly like the characters and these stories bring to LA in a manner that I can enjoy.
Don – VG - I'm biased because I'm a Connelly regular. Good plot, characters, dialogue. Always a joy to read him
Helen – VG - I didn't think I was going to like a book about courtroom proceedings and lawyers doing lawyer things, but I really liked this book! Mickey was a surprisingly good main character, well-positioned between cynical and experienced with a good dose of snark thrown in. The plot of the story was pretty quick (there were some odd time jumps), but I could follow easily and had a hard time putting the book down. A lot of the characters were rather forgettable, but I liked Mickey enough, oddball love life notwithstanding, that he and a few other characters made up for the boring characters.
Katie – Okay - There was not a lot of interiority in the book, or a real attempt to explore the protagonist's feelings about a situation that puts him in personal danger. Haller is always in command of the room, even when he's just been whacked on the head - no real sense that he's really vulnerable or under threat. Interesting look at legal procedure, but the characters weren't compelling enough to make me want to read another in the series.
Linda M - VG+ - The Lincoln Lawyer is in deep doo doo once again, and it's always a good ride. It's fun to see crossover characters from other Connelly books, though "The Law of Innocence" works just fine as a standalone. It begins just around the time the first COVID-19 case was discovered. World events of that time follow alongside the story as a little bit of background noise... but really hit home for me. Reminding me of what it felt like as the seriousness of things unfolded in the news bit by bit. Hey, that wound is still a little raw.
Ron – G+ - The writing and characters were fine and, for a longer book, it was a quick read. My biggest problem was the police and DA’s office refusing to even consider the murder was a set-up against Haller. It made no sense at all that he would murder someone in the trunk of his car in his own garage and then then actually drive it around the next day in it rather than just leaving it in his own garage and have his driver pick him up in another one. Then to believe he would murder someone for a relatively measly $70,000 (in 2020 no less) and try to get special circumstances attached because of a monetary profit motive for me beggars the imagination.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+
DEAD SIMPLE (PolProc-DS Roy Grace-England-Contemp) – 1st in series – Peter James
Michael Harrison, out celebrating with a group of friends a few nights before the wedding, suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself enclosed in a coffin equipped only with a flashlight, a dirty magazine, a walkie-talkie, and a tiny breathing tube. It's all in good fun until the four are killed in a drunk driving accident just moments after leaving Michael completely alone and buried alive. Detective Superintendent Grace is brought on to the case. Suspicions are raised when Michael's only friend not at the bachelor party refuses to cooperate, and the bride, Ashley's, faithfulness are suddenly thrown in to question.
Christine – DNF – Read ¾ of it, liked half of it, especially Cleo, but then it became ridiculous. The characters were OTT.
Corona – Okay - I really like the detective team premise but I found the actions of the best man and bride unbelievably drastic. Then the story turned unnecessarily gruesome. So this series is disappointing.
Don – DNF - I wanted to like this book but it muddled along. I read 200 pgs & then couldn't for see reading 200 more
Gabriel – Okay - There was nothing incompetent about it, but not interesting. I can't even remember who got killed. Det. Roy Grace, aside from a few details, is a cliche.
Linda M – Good - I unwittingly listened to an abridged version, which I usually try to avoid. So perhaps I missed some content that would have made me enjoy it more. High marks for suspense. It was almost unbearable at points, when Michael and Davey were talking. Other than that, I didn't love it or hate it. I didn't connect with any of the characters, nor find them intriguing.
LJ – Good – James' background as a screenwriter shows in his strong characters, relationships, his ear for dialogue and the pacing of the story. It's a strong police procedural. My one criticism is that the book sounds more American and British; I kept having to check to see where it was set.
Nancy – VG - however conditionally. I chose to read this book because it was suspenseful story as well being a mystery. I was able to absorb myself into the lead character of Roy Grace and loved hearing the small details of his life. I found him to be a believable person & police officer, but was not so sure I believed that he would really embalm the memory of his wife as he did, even to the extent of leaving her two slippers exactly where she had left them. I think I would have been more convinced that was true had he lost a child. (UGH!!). But truthfully, as I really think about my own grief, I’d probably enshrine my husband’s memory too. The book’s slowly revealed endings were believable as well, but a bit less so as they quickly piled up. I surprisingly though, even enjoyed the book’s final car chase and all the words from the UK that came with it.
Ron – VG - I enjoyed the characters, plot, and writing quite a bit. It also had some turns I didn’t anticipate, which is always a good sign if you find them believable, which I did. The book is relatively long, but I found it a quick read.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: GOOD
THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK (HistNovel-Cussey Mary Carter-Kentucky-1930s) – Standalone - Kim Michele Richardson
The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything except books. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter. Cussy, however, is the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she's going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler. This books is Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s.
Charlotte – Good – Had a hard time getting into it but she liked it more as she went along. It definitely held her interest.
Cindy – VG+ - I enjoyed this book mostly because of learning new things. I had no idea there were blue people with methemoglobinemia, a WPA program called the "pack horse library project", or the lighting of a candle to bring potential suitors to the home. I have heard of the pie bake and auction due to the musical "Oklahoma". Sure are a lot of things I don't know hooey about. It reminded me a bit of "where the crawdads sing" - lonely remote girl who has spirit and intelligence, kills a badun and gets away with it. The voice here is more educated since she's a reader and into words. I think the dialog was a bit better. I loved the mule! I liked her pa. He really wanted the best for her and finally figured it out in the end. Not a mystery at all more of a 1936 cultural anthropology lesson through a coming of age story in Kentucky. I wish Junia would have kicked some sense into Harriet though.
Corona – Ex - I loved this book! I enjoyed following Cussy and most of the people she interacted with. I felt transported to 1930-something Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library. – Thank you to Kim Michele Richardson and LJ for taking me there.
Don – EX - Thoroughly enjoyable. "Bluet" was a fascinating protagonist. I like very good & historical fiction like this. Action was good & characters were engaging. Black & white real life photos - a great touch.
Gabriel – Okay - Mixture of good and bad, so I'm averaging out the grade. Good: Vivid details, vividly evokes its time and place (whether accurate or not). Found Cussy Mary a compelling character. Some of the others were compelling too. Especially the father--his devotion to Cussy Mary was so moving because of the contrast with his conservatism. He's against her working and wants her married, but he's trying so hard in his way to take care of her. Bad: The prologue is in third person. A lot of plotlines that aren't well-integrated. The ending is rushed and fairly contrived. The author puts in a scary villain--the crazy minister, basically Harry from Night of the Hunter--and doesn't do anything with him.
Helen – Poor - This is not a mystery book. It starts like one, but very quickly turns to a general fiction novel. The pace meanders quite a bit, and I wasn't really fond of the characters. There's another book very similar to this one: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Same setting, same themes, much better characters and writing, better central conflict, and less self-flagellation about personal problems. The ending of this book is just bizarre and made no sense given the previous actions of the characters in the story. As a mystery novel, this is a Do Not Recommend. As a general fiction novel, this is a Fair because the author obviously did some research to get the facts right, so at least it's a decent learning experience.
Katie – DNF - at page 20. Way too much plot packed into the beginning, stilted dialog, clearly a set up for a "woman is plucky, makes good" story that felt thin and tiresome from the beginning. Maybe it got better, but it lost me too early.
Linda F. – VG+ - Really loves books about the mountain people. That it dealt with librarians was even better.
Linda M – Good –Seriously, the body count in this book rivals any serial killer novel. While I was reading this, I was also listening to a cozy mystery set in the 1920s in Britain. The comparative opulence of the other book was such a contrast. These folks had virtually nothing. Regarding the story, I found the evolution of Cussy's opinion of the Doc to be the most interesting thing. The romance, I could see a million miles away. But it was still sweet. I have since read "The Giver of Stars" by Jojo Moyes, also about the Kentucky Pack Horse program. I liked that one a lot more.
Ron – Good - I’m wondering why this book was on our reading list since in no way is it a mystery. It is rather an effort by the author to bring to readers some aspects of history in Kentucky that very few people know about. In this, I think she is successful. My grade is based on my acceptance of the book as it is, not docking it for being a non-mystery. While I learned some interesting things and I felt the author captured the feel of the place well, I just didn’t feel she was really a particularly good writer.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+