RIVER OF DARKNESS (PolProc-John Madden-England-Golden Age) 1st in series - Rennie Airth Tormented by his harrowing wartime experiences and the loss of his family, Inspector John Madden is sent by Scotland Yard to investigate when a small Surrey village is torn apart by five horrific murders and joins forces with a beautiful doctor to capture the killer, a demented veteran of World War I.
Kathleen – VG - Beyond the rather horrifically described murders, it's a psychological suspense more than a mystery per se. Well drawn characters, some developed in a more well-rounded way than others, and a very interesting perspective on WWI PTSD. I'm more familiar with the post-WWII stories and suffering, so this was relatively new to me and I thought it was handled extremely well. Some of the lesser characters were a little more stereotyped and one-dimensional, but I forgive that for a first in a series. I was also interested to note that this was written so recently, obviously by an author who has steeped himself in the war and particularly in its aftermath on individuals and communities. I noticed that few modern phrases or turns of speech had made their way into the dialogue. I didn't note them so can't remember the specifics, but that's what made me look up the year written. I thought the pacing and suspenseful faux-climaxes worked--they had me holding my breath. Also liked the early profiling and the discussion around the skepticism and fear of it. LJ – VG - Loved the characters of Insp. Madden and Dr. Helen Blackwell. Madden is very convincingly written as are the tragedies he has suffered. There are excellent red herrings and well-done suspense The time period and sense of place are very effective with excellent descriptions. Airth is a wonderful author. Ron – VG – This is a well-written police procedural mystery set in post-World War I England. The characters are well-drawn and the period, atmosphere, and local geography are depicted with skill.
Group Rating Average: VG
THESE SILENT WOODS (Susp-Cooper/Finch-Appalachians-Contemp) – Standalone – Kimi Cunningham Grant For eight years, Cooper and his young daughter, Finch, have lived in isolation in a remote cabin in the northern Appalachian woods. And that's exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he's got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin’s shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. The only people who know they exist are a mysterious local hermit named Scotland, and Cooper's old friend, Jake. But this year, Jake doesn't show up, setting off an irreversible chain of events that reveals just how precarious their situation really is. When a stranger wanders into their woods, Finch’s growing obsession with her could put them all in danger. After a shocking disappearance, Cooper is forced to decide whether to keep hiding—or finally face the sins of his past.
Gabriel- Good - In between Okay and Good, so I'm rounding up. Finch and Cooper are well-rounded characters with a well-fleshed-out relationship. Their solitary life in the woods was detailed and vivid. I liked the part where they go shopping for the first time in many years. I didn't like the flashbacks as much, though I didn't dislike them. And I didn't like the end--a bit of a deus ex machina. Helen – Okay - I wasn't thrilled by this book. I wasn't a fan of Cooper, who gave you the impression that he was both a better and worse person than he actually was. He had a strong unreliable narration theme going, which I did not appreciate. Finch was a likeable character and well-written. No one will ever be able to convince me that Scotland is not a pedophile; I couldn't wait for him to leave every time he showed up. The whole plot was kind of far-fetched, and the ending was a horrible disappointment. I give it a Fair (aka Okay) because I got to the end without too much difficulty, although I was tempted to throw my iPad at the wall at least once. Kathleen – G+ - I read the description and almost didn't read it, but was glad that I did. I enjoyed the slow pace of the character's lives, even while finding it a bit of a plausibility stretch. Over time I became very invested in the characters, and where their stories would lead because there was a sense of inevitability and dread hanging over every scene because of Cooper's secrets. I thought Finch was delightful, and the writing was wonderfully descriptive of their day-to-day lives. There were some inconsistencies in the way the characters behaved and spoke; it seemed like they fell in different places on a spectrum from unworldly-simple to sophisticated-erudite. (maybe we all do!) In the end, the story expressed love from all sides; Cooper for Finch and Marie, Finch for all living things, Scotland for Cooper and Finch despite being gruff (and rebuffed). I didn't love the ending; after the pacing of most of the book, it went very quickly and left a lot of gaps between present day and Finch's epilogue, which strained credibility a bit. LJ – G+ - This is a very interesting book; one of those about which I wasn’t certain when I started it, but found I couldn’t stop reading it. Normally, I dislike time-switching, but it worked here. Finch (aka Grace Elizabeth) may seem too old for eight, but considering she has been isolated with Cooper her whole life, it’s not surprising. It’s clear the author knows children well. This is truly a book filled with life lessons. One appreciates Cooper’s reflections on serving in a war, “It is no respecter of persons, war. Even if it doesn’t damage your body, it damages your soul. Scotland, their neighbor, is an intriguing character with a lot of life wisdom. The author very effectively introduces Marnie and delivers the information about her brother, Jake, the owner of the cabin, being dead. Even though we, the readers, never met him, we feel his loss and that’s the sign of an effective writer. There are some wonderful profound thoughts here, “I can’t help but think: Consider how much has happened. How a life can veer and stretch and retrack and shatter.” There is a well-done building of suspense with the appearance of the Sheriff. The mystery of a murder is almost a side story, albeit important to the plot. And the lesson of the book is grace. It’s not a perfect book, but one that pulls you in and entices you to read it straight through. Nancy – Good - The somewhat sentimental plot of “These Silent Woods” consistently held my attention even though many of its details weren’t logical. For example, no eight year old child would have put up with all of Cooper’s rules as gladly as Finch seemed to - such as having no toys and just the same books to read and reread over and over again, having no friends her own age, no electric light or radio in the cabin, and most amazingly of all, putting up without complaint to being forced to use an outhouse for years on end. Finch even agreed to stay silent and motionless under blankets in a cold truck while her father had the fun of actually going into a real live store. But the book really shone in its depiction of Cooper’s personality and how he was shaped by his early familial abandonment and the trauma of repeated deployments. In fact, the book’s most realistic and well done scene was when Cooper’s PTSD in the diner resulted in his falling from grace in the eyes of the rest of his fellow townspeople. After that, his becoming a hermit at Lincoln’s farm just made logical sense. What didn’t make sense was how he managed to tie up his dead girlfriend’s parents, to successfully kidnap their granddaughter and then to completely hide her for the next eight years. People as rich as the Judge’s would realistically have been able to jail him and get their granddaughter back. Finally though, I did enjoy the book’s ending which was interesting and heartwarming, although Scotland’s sacrifice felt too neat and not 100% believable. Instead, he and Cooper would have more realistically been sentenced to death or at least jail thrown in jail for a very long time. I thought the characters and dialogue rang true, particularly Cooper and Finch. I could believe the traumas of Cooper’s life and the logic of what all that did to make him cling tight to the one spot of good in his life, Finch. Some of the extenuating details didn’t quite hold together . Ron – VG+ - Really liked the book. Liked the attention to the character's PTSD, even though it wasn't known as that yet, and the setting of Scotland. Wonderfully drawn characters that the reader invests in and exceptionally good writing, with a story of strong emotion and morality.
Group Rating Average: G+
NO ACCIDENT (Pol Proc -Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman-SoCal-Contemp) – 25th in series – Steven F. Havill When a driver slams his pickup truck—twice—into a tandem bike being ridden by Carlos Guzman and his fiancée, Tasha, in Briones, California, it's more than a simple hit-and-run; the driver clearly intended to harm them. Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman gets the call with the news of her son's accident and wastes no time racing to his side. She is greeted by Police Captain Eddie Mitchell, formerly of Posadas County, who allows Estelle to "consult" on the investigation—but only to a point.
Nancy – Okay – She enjoyed it, particularly the characters. The best part was the interaction between Reyes-Guzman and the sheriff. LJ - VG - There is so much to recommend this book. It starts with one crime scene in New Mexico and ends in the courtroom adjudicating the initial crime. This demonstrates the role, and limits, of the police. One can become incredibly tired of angst. With Reyes-Guzman, there is a strong family unit. They are loving and fully supportive of one another. They also bring humor to the story which is refreshing. One appreciates seeing different branches of law enforcement work together and hopes that’s a more accurate presentation of what really occurs. While Estelle is very much involved, she is also very aware and respectful of boundaries and jurisdictions. Rogue cops may be exciting, but one doubts they last that long. It is suspected that those who know firearms will truly appreciate Havill’s writing. The author holds an associate of applied science degree in gunsmithing. NO ACCIDENT holds one’s interest from first page to last. If one is looking for high action, this isn’t it. If one is looking for an excellent follow-the-clues police procedural with well-done red herrings and unexpected twists, pull up a chair.
Tormented by his harrowing wartime experiences and the loss of his family, Inspector John Madden is sent by Scotland Yard to investigate when a small Surrey village is torn apart by five horrific murders and joins forces with a beautiful doctor to capture the killer, a demented veteran of World War I.
Kathleen – VG - Beyond the rather horrifically described murders, it's a psychological suspense more than a mystery per se. Well drawn characters, some developed in a more well-rounded way than others, and a very interesting perspective on WWI PTSD. I'm more familiar with the post-WWII stories and suffering, so this was relatively new to me and I thought it was handled extremely well. Some of the lesser characters were a little more stereotyped and one-dimensional, but I forgive that for a first in a series. I was also interested to note that this was written so recently, obviously by an author who has steeped himself in the war and particularly in its aftermath on individuals and communities. I noticed that few modern phrases or turns of speech had made their way into the dialogue. I didn't note them so can't remember the specifics, but that's what made me look up the year written. I thought the pacing and suspenseful faux-climaxes worked--they had me holding my breath. Also liked the early profiling and the discussion around the skepticism and fear of it.
LJ – VG - Loved the characters of Insp. Madden and Dr. Helen Blackwell. Madden is very convincingly written as are the tragedies he has suffered. There are excellent red herrings and well-done suspense The time period and sense of place are very effective with excellent descriptions. Airth is a wonderful author.
Ron – VG – This is a well-written police procedural mystery set in post-World War I England. The characters are well-drawn and the period, atmosphere, and local geography are depicted with skill.
Group Rating Average: VG
THESE SILENT WOODS (Susp-Cooper/Finch-Appalachians-Contemp) – Standalone – Kimi Cunningham Grant
For eight years, Cooper and his young daughter, Finch, have lived in isolation in a remote cabin in the northern Appalachian woods. And that's exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he's got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin’s shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. The only people who know they exist are a mysterious local hermit named Scotland, and Cooper's old friend, Jake. But this year, Jake doesn't show up, setting off an irreversible chain of events that reveals just how precarious their situation really is. When a stranger wanders into their woods, Finch’s growing obsession with her could put them all in danger. After a shocking disappearance, Cooper is forced to decide whether to keep hiding—or finally face the sins of his past.
Gabriel- Good - In between Okay and Good, so I'm rounding up. Finch and Cooper are well-rounded characters with a well-fleshed-out relationship. Their solitary life in the woods was detailed and vivid. I liked the part where they go shopping for the first time in many years.
I didn't like the flashbacks as much, though I didn't dislike them. And I didn't like the end--a bit of a deus ex machina.
Helen – Okay - I wasn't thrilled by this book. I wasn't a fan of Cooper, who gave you the impression that he was both a better and worse person than he actually was. He had a strong unreliable narration theme going, which I did not appreciate. Finch was a likeable character and well-written. No one will ever be able to convince me that Scotland is not a pedophile; I couldn't wait for him to leave every time he showed up. The whole plot was kind of far-fetched, and the ending was a horrible disappointment. I give it a Fair (aka Okay) because I got to the end without too much difficulty, although I was tempted to throw my iPad at the wall at least once.
Kathleen – G+ - I read the description and almost didn't read it, but was glad that I did. I enjoyed the slow pace of the character's lives, even while finding it a bit of a plausibility stretch. Over time I became very invested in the characters, and where their stories would lead because there was a sense of inevitability and dread hanging over every scene because of Cooper's secrets. I thought Finch was delightful, and the writing was wonderfully descriptive of their day-to-day lives. There were some inconsistencies in the way the characters behaved and spoke; it seemed like they fell in different places on a spectrum from unworldly-simple to sophisticated-erudite. (maybe we all do!) In the end, the story expressed love from all sides; Cooper for Finch and Marie, Finch for all living things, Scotland for Cooper and Finch despite being gruff (and rebuffed). I didn't love the ending; after the pacing of most of the book, it went very quickly and left a lot of gaps between present day and Finch's epilogue, which strained credibility a bit.
LJ – G+ - This is a very interesting book; one of those about which I wasn’t certain when I started it, but found I couldn’t stop reading it. Normally, I dislike time-switching, but it worked here. Finch (aka Grace Elizabeth) may seem too old for eight, but considering she has been isolated with Cooper her whole life, it’s not surprising. It’s clear the author knows children well. This is truly a book filled with life lessons. One appreciates Cooper’s reflections on serving in a war, “It is no respecter of persons, war. Even if it doesn’t damage your body, it damages your soul. Scotland, their neighbor, is an intriguing character with a lot of life wisdom. The author very effectively introduces Marnie and delivers the information about her brother, Jake, the owner of the cabin, being dead. Even though we, the readers, never met him, we feel his loss and that’s the sign of an effective writer. There are some wonderful profound thoughts here, “I can’t help but think: Consider how much has happened. How a life can veer and stretch and retrack and shatter.” There is a well-done building of suspense with the appearance of the Sheriff. The mystery of a murder is almost a side story, albeit important to the plot. And the lesson of the book is grace. It’s not a perfect book, but one that pulls you in and entices you to read it straight through.
Nancy – Good - The somewhat sentimental plot of “These Silent Woods” consistently held my attention even though many of its details weren’t logical. For example, no eight year old child would have put up with all of Cooper’s rules as gladly as Finch seemed to - such as having no toys and just the same books to read and reread over and over again, having no friends her own age, no electric light or radio in the cabin, and most amazingly of all, putting up without complaint to being forced to use an outhouse for years on end. Finch even agreed to stay silent and motionless under blankets in a cold truck while her father had the fun of actually going into a real live store.
But the book really shone in its depiction of Cooper’s personality and how he was shaped by his early familial abandonment and the trauma of repeated deployments. In fact, the book’s most realistic and well done scene was when Cooper’s PTSD in the diner resulted in his falling from grace in the eyes of the rest of his fellow townspeople. After that, his becoming a hermit at Lincoln’s farm just made logical sense. What didn’t make sense was how he managed to tie up his dead girlfriend’s parents, to successfully kidnap their granddaughter and then to completely hide her for the next eight years. People as rich as the Judge’s would realistically have been able to jail him and get their granddaughter back. Finally though, I did enjoy the book’s ending which was interesting and heartwarming, although Scotland’s sacrifice felt too neat and not 100% believable. Instead, he and Cooper would have more realistically been sentenced to death or at least jail thrown in jail for a very long time. I thought the characters and dialogue rang true, particularly Cooper and Finch. I could believe the traumas of Cooper’s life and the logic of what all that did to make him cling tight to the one spot of good in his life, Finch. Some of the extenuating details didn’t quite hold together .
Ron – VG+ - Really liked the book. Liked the attention to the character's PTSD, even though it wasn't known as that yet, and the setting of Scotland. Wonderfully drawn characters that the reader invests in and exceptionally good writing, with a story of strong emotion and morality.
Group Rating Average: G+
NO ACCIDENT (Pol Proc -Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman-SoCal-Contemp) – 25th in series – Steven F. Havill
When a driver slams his pickup truck—twice—into a tandem bike being ridden by Carlos Guzman and his fiancée, Tasha, in Briones, California, it's more than a simple hit-and-run; the driver clearly intended to harm them. Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman gets the call with the news of her son's accident and wastes no time racing to his side. She is greeted by Police Captain Eddie Mitchell, formerly of Posadas County, who allows Estelle to "consult" on the investigation—but only to a point.
Nancy – Okay – She enjoyed it, particularly the characters. The best part was the interaction between Reyes-Guzman and the sheriff.
LJ - VG - There is so much to recommend this book. It starts with one crime scene in New Mexico and ends in the courtroom adjudicating the initial crime. This demonstrates the role, and limits, of the police. One can become incredibly tired of angst. With Reyes-Guzman, there is a strong family unit. They are loving and fully supportive of one another. They also bring humor to the story which is refreshing. One appreciates seeing different branches of law enforcement work together and hopes that’s a more accurate presentation of what really occurs. While Estelle is very much involved, she is also very aware and respectful of boundaries and jurisdictions. Rogue cops may be exciting, but one doubts they last that long. It is suspected that those who know firearms will truly appreciate Havill’s writing. The author holds an associate of applied science degree in gunsmithing. NO ACCIDENT holds one’s interest from first page to last. If one is looking for high action, this isn’t it. If one is looking for an excellent follow-the-clues police procedural with well-done red herrings and unexpected twists, pull up a chair.
Group Rating Average: G+