THE LIONESS (Suspense-Katie Barstow-Ranzania-Contemp) – Standalone - Chris Bojhalian Tanzania, 1964. When Katie Barstow, A-list actress, and her new husband, David Hill, decide to bring their Hollywood friends to the Serengeti for their honeymoon, they envision giraffes gently eating leaves from the tall acacia trees, great swarms of wildebeests crossing the Mara River, and herds of zebras storming the sandy plains. What Katie and her glittering entourage do not expect is this: a kidnapping gone wrong, their guides bleeding out in the dirt, and a team of Russian mercenaries herding their hostages into Land Rovers, guns to their heads.
Dianne – Okay - This book was really gory. I kept wondering if anyone would make it out alive from the safari. The descriptions of the maulings were disturbing. The characters were not really sympathetic and I found I did not identify much with them. The descriptions of cowardice/bravery were interesting, however. I found the plot overly confusing. I did not see it coming as the culprit involved in the plot was revealed. It seemed to come out of nowhere. Gabriel – DNF - For some reason, I didn't care about the characters much, their backstories, or even their danger in the Serengeti. Ginny – Okay – It was well written but she couldn't get into the characters. There was a lot of violence, but she kept looking for the killer. She stopped after about 100 pages, then read the last 60. It was not for her. Helen – Poor - I got bored very early on. I read to somewhere between 10-20% and skipped to the end. There was just nothing to hold my interest. Too many characters, too may POV changes, too much unnecessary detail. The characters have a pretty standard lineup of personalities and issues. The mystery/plot didn't appear very inventive. The gore didn't fit with the rest of the writing. Kathleen – VG – Has read other books by this author. The characters were well drawn, and the sense of foreboding is well done. I did guess the bad buy about 2/3 of the way through, but wasn't sure. Liked the contrast between the Hollywood and safari personas. Nancy – Good - I enjoyed “The Lioness” although I often needed to put aside my disbelief in the details of the story it told. The book kept me interested though; it’s last third as well as the ending were, for me, it’s best parts. I did really root for the guides, porters as well as for Carmen and Katie. They all rang pretty true for me. I ‘m glad I was able to go to Africa by reading this book. Patrick – VG - This was my first time reading a Chris Bohjalian book, and I really enjoyed it. I love books that change the perspective of the narrating voice throughout. Going from character to character kept my interest, especially because the characters were so distinctly drawn. My only quibble is the amount of violence; the people getting killed on a regular cadence lent itself to a nihilism that was a bit bleak. However, these quibbles didn’t take away from my rapt enjoyment of this thriller. Ron - Excellent—Very well written with interesting characters throughout, each getting his or her chance to shine. One of the few books I have read where I have no negative comments at all.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: GOOD
SHUTTER (ParaThrill-Rita Todacheene-New Mexico-Contemp) – 1st book – Ramona Emerson Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases. When Rita is sent to photograph the scene of a supposed suicide on a highway overpass, the furious, discombobulated ghost of the victim—who insists she was murdered—latches onto Rita, forcing her on a quest for revenge against her killers, and Rita finds herself in the crosshairs of one of Albuquerque’s most dangerous cartels. Written in sparkling, gruesome prose, Shutter is an explosive debut from one of crime fiction's most powerful new voices.
Dianne – Okay - This book was also very gory. The description of scattered human toes on the freeway was not uplifting. The explanation of the Navajo feeling about death was interesting. It would have been helpful to know if the writer is Navajo. The Kindle copy I read did not say though it would be interesting to know more about the author. The main character's supernatural gifts used as a plot device was not quite believable. But the book had some interesting descriptions of Navajo life on the reservation and in the city. Helen – Good - The author went pretty heavy on the gore. I just skipped over those parts and didn't miss anything pertinent, so that tells me the gore was just flash. The plot and characters were all right, and the paranormal parts were interesting (although I hated Edna and disliked basically all of the ghosts...why would you antagonize literally the only person who can help you?). I wasn't too fond of the jumping back and forth between present and past. I know why the author did it, but it could have been done better. After looking up how f-stops worked, the titles of the last chapters were pretty interesting. This isn't quite a Good, but I'll round up because I was interested enough to look up f-stops. Kathleen – Okay – She almost quit at the start as it was so detailed and grim. The grandmother's part was too much. The book suffered from 1st novel syndrome. She did like the ghost element and thought it was effective. Linda F – Good - Being able to see spirits would have been regarded as inappropriate in the law enforcement environment where the protagonist worked, but it was also unacceptable for her as Navajo because the Navajo believe that the spirits of the dead can contaminate them. On the other hand there was a positive resolution of the case from a law enforcement perspective. So I gave this book a B+ which is equivalent to very good. I would have rated it higher if the protagonist hadn't been so inappropriate professionally and culturally as noted above. LJ – Okay – The opening chapter is certain not easy to read as the description of the accident scene was detailed and graphic. However, it is an extremely effective opening and introduction to a protagonist who is unusual and intriguing. Rita can see, and hear, the dead. I believe this is the first book where we really see the role of a forensic photographer. Unfortunately, the book seemed to be a mash-up of Maurizio de Giovanni, whose books I love, and "The Saints of the Lost and Found" by T.M. (Toni McGee) Causey, particularly the scene in the hospital. The greatest irritant was the constant flipping between time periods, and that Rita and her grandmother were constantly bursting into tears. Although grim, by far the best part of the book for me was the description of Rita taking the forensic photographs. The ending came way too quickly and was predictable. Nancy – Good - “Shutter” was probably my favorite of these three books. The characters, particularly Rita and her grandmother, as well as Rita’s friends, rang true and were always interesting to me. The idea of all of the many different ghosts looking to Rita for their final justice and mercy was a great concept. The very beginning of “Shutter” was detailed (and gory enough) to keep me interested, but did drag a bit for me in length. I guess it did a good job though of setting up the rest of the story. “Shutter” was probably my favorite of these three books. The characters, particularly Rita and her grandmother, as well as Rita’s friends, rang true and were always interesting to me. The idea of all of the many different ghosts looking to Rita for their final justice and mercy was a great concept. The very beginning of “Shutter” was detailed (and gory enough) to keep me interested, but did drag a bit for me in length. I guess it did a good job though of setting up the rest of the story. Patrick – Okay - This book seemed to have two distinct parts: Rita’s present, which reads as a fast-paced thriller, and Rita’s past, which reads as a slow and deliberate character study. The author went back and forth between them, and I must say that I loved the thriller parts, and then found myself bored during the character development parts. I would have liked it had the author married the two parts a bit more cohesively. Also, I thought the author could have explored more the notion of victims’ ghosts talking to Rita. This seems like its own world, and one that we only get glimpses of.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: OKAY
THE TRIALS OF RUMPOLE (Collection – Rumpole – England – Contemp) – John Mortimer The iconoclastic Horace Rumpole returns in a collection of six tales in which the irreverent barrister takes on a half-dozen memorable cases
Gabriel – Good - Had time to listen to the first two. Not a huge fan of the series, but it can be charming. I preferred the second story, with the actress accused of murder. Her acting for the judge and jury was enjoyable; so was the reader's portrayal of it. Ginny – Ex – She liked that the character is the exact opposite of Morse, and that we know what's going on in his mind. Nancy – Okay - “The Trials of Rumpole “ was interesting but a bit of a slog for me to get through. It is a classic series though so I’m glad to have read it. I enjoyed the droll Rumpole and was continually amused by his humor. His wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) was a character of her times, which I’m glad, as a woman, not have had to live through. I enjoyed the last “Tale of Rumpole” the most. Setting someone up for retirement and believing you could just spring it on him as a surprise was a hoot. Finally, this book really educated me about the times as well as the English legal system, which I really appreciated. Patrick – VG+ - This was a hard book to find, and I eventually found a yellowed copy from 1979. I tend to go for newer books with flashier cover art, but this book was a great reminder to me that gems can be found in unlikely packages. I was delighted by Rumpole’s narration and his dry humor. I get a wonderful sense for who Rumpole is, and it makes me want to read more of his stories. Ron – VG+ - Wonderfully drawn protagonist with excellent secondary characters that become like a family to the reader over time. Also one of the most erudite and readable series around, with particularly good dialogue and plenty of humor.
Tanzania, 1964. When Katie Barstow, A-list actress, and her new husband, David Hill, decide to bring their Hollywood friends to the Serengeti for their honeymoon, they envision giraffes gently eating leaves from the tall acacia trees, great swarms of wildebeests crossing the Mara River, and herds of zebras storming the sandy plains. What Katie and her glittering entourage do not expect is this: a kidnapping gone wrong, their guides bleeding out in the dirt, and a team of Russian mercenaries herding their hostages into Land Rovers, guns to their heads.
Dianne – Okay - This book was really gory. I kept wondering if anyone would make it out alive from the safari. The descriptions of the maulings were disturbing. The characters were not really sympathetic and I found I did not identify much with them. The descriptions of cowardice/bravery were interesting, however. I found the plot overly confusing. I did not see it coming as the culprit involved in the plot was revealed. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
Gabriel – DNF - For some reason, I didn't care about the characters much, their backstories, or even their danger in the Serengeti.
Ginny – Okay – It was well written but she couldn't get into the characters. There was a lot of violence, but she kept looking for the killer. She stopped after about 100 pages, then read the last 60. It was not for her.
Helen – Poor - I got bored very early on. I read to somewhere between 10-20% and skipped to the end. There was just nothing to hold my interest. Too many characters, too may POV changes, too much unnecessary detail. The characters have a pretty standard lineup of personalities and issues. The mystery/plot didn't appear very inventive. The gore didn't fit with the rest of the writing.
Kathleen – VG – Has read other books by this author. The characters were well drawn, and the sense of foreboding is well done. I did guess the bad buy about 2/3 of the way through, but wasn't sure. Liked the contrast between the Hollywood and safari personas.
Nancy – Good - I enjoyed “The Lioness” although I often needed to put aside my disbelief in the details of the story it told. The book kept me interested though; it’s last third as well as the ending were, for me, it’s best parts. I did really root for the guides, porters as well as for Carmen and Katie. They all rang pretty true for me. I ‘m glad I was able to go to Africa by reading this book.
Patrick – VG - This was my first time reading a Chris Bohjalian book, and I really enjoyed it. I love books that change the perspective of the narrating voice throughout. Going from character to character kept my interest, especially because the characters were so distinctly drawn. My only quibble is the amount of violence; the people getting killed on a regular cadence lent itself to a nihilism that was a bit bleak. However, these quibbles didn’t take away from my rapt enjoyment of this thriller.
Ron - Excellent—Very well written with interesting characters throughout, each getting his or her chance to shine. One of the few books I have read where I have no negative comments at all.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: GOOD
SHUTTER (ParaThrill-Rita Todacheene-New Mexico-Contemp) – 1st book – Ramona Emerson
Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases. When Rita is sent to photograph the scene of a supposed suicide on a highway overpass, the furious, discombobulated ghost of the victim—who insists she was murdered—latches onto Rita, forcing her on a quest for revenge against her killers, and Rita finds herself in the crosshairs of one of Albuquerque’s most dangerous cartels. Written in sparkling, gruesome prose, Shutter is an explosive debut from one of crime fiction's most powerful new voices.
Dianne – Okay - This book was also very gory. The description of scattered human toes on the freeway was not uplifting. The explanation of the Navajo feeling about death was interesting. It would have been helpful to know if the writer is Navajo. The Kindle copy I read did not say though it would be interesting to know more about the author. The main character's supernatural gifts used as a plot device was not quite believable. But the book had some interesting descriptions of Navajo life on the reservation and in the city.
Helen – Good - The author went pretty heavy on the gore. I just skipped over those parts and didn't miss anything pertinent, so that tells me the gore was just flash. The plot and characters were all right, and the paranormal parts were interesting (although I hated Edna and disliked basically all of the ghosts...why would you antagonize literally the only person who can help you?). I wasn't too fond of the jumping back and forth between present and past. I know why the author did it, but it could have been done better. After looking up how f-stops worked, the titles of the last chapters were pretty interesting. This isn't quite a Good, but I'll round up because I was interested enough to look up f-stops.
Kathleen – Okay – She almost quit at the start as it was so detailed and grim. The grandmother's part was too much. The book suffered from 1st novel syndrome. She did like the ghost element and thought it was effective.
Linda F – Good - Being able to see spirits would have been regarded as inappropriate in the law enforcement environment where the protagonist worked, but it was also unacceptable for her as Navajo because the Navajo believe that the spirits of the dead can contaminate them. On the other hand there was a positive resolution of the case from a law enforcement perspective. So I gave this book a B+ which is equivalent to very good. I would have rated it higher if the protagonist hadn't been so inappropriate professionally and culturally as noted above.
LJ – Okay – The opening chapter is certain not easy to read as the description of the accident scene was detailed and graphic. However, it is an extremely effective opening and introduction to a protagonist who is unusual and intriguing. Rita can see, and hear, the dead. I believe this is the first book where we really see the role of a forensic photographer. Unfortunately, the book seemed to be a mash-up of Maurizio de Giovanni, whose books I love, and "The Saints of the Lost and Found" by T.M. (Toni McGee) Causey, particularly the scene in the hospital. The greatest irritant was the constant flipping between time periods, and that Rita and her grandmother were constantly bursting into tears. Although grim, by far the best part of the book for me was the description of Rita taking the forensic photographs. The ending came way too quickly and was predictable.
Nancy – Good - “Shutter” was probably my favorite of these three books. The characters, particularly Rita and her grandmother, as well as Rita’s friends, rang true and were always interesting to me. The idea of all of the many different ghosts looking to Rita for their final justice and mercy was a great concept. The very beginning of “Shutter” was detailed (and gory enough) to keep me interested, but did drag a bit for me in length. I guess it did a good job though of setting up the rest of the story. “Shutter” was probably my favorite of these three books. The characters, particularly Rita and her grandmother, as well as Rita’s friends, rang true and were always interesting to me. The idea of all of the many different ghosts looking to Rita for their final justice and mercy was a great concept. The very beginning of “Shutter” was detailed (and gory enough) to keep me interested, but did drag a bit for me in length. I guess it did a good job though of setting up the rest of the story.
Patrick – Okay - This book seemed to have two distinct parts: Rita’s present, which reads as a fast-paced thriller, and Rita’s past, which reads as a slow and deliberate character study. The author went back and forth between them, and I must say that I loved the thriller parts, and then found myself bored during the character development parts. I would have liked it had the author married the two parts a bit more cohesively. Also, I thought the author could have explored more the notion of victims’ ghosts talking to Rita. This seems like its own world, and one that we only get glimpses of.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: OKAY
THE TRIALS OF RUMPOLE (Collection – Rumpole – England – Contemp) – John Mortimer
The iconoclastic Horace Rumpole returns in a collection of six tales in which the irreverent barrister takes on a half-dozen memorable cases
Gabriel – Good - Had time to listen to the first two. Not a huge fan of the series, but
it can be charming. I preferred the second story, with the actress
accused of murder. Her acting for the judge and jury was enjoyable; so
was the reader's portrayal of it.
Ginny – Ex – She liked that the character is the exact opposite of Morse, and that we know what's going on in his mind.
Nancy – Okay - “The Trials of Rumpole “ was interesting but a bit of a slog for me to get through. It is a classic series though so I’m glad to have read it. I enjoyed the droll Rumpole and was continually amused by his humor. His wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) was a character of her times, which I’m glad, as a woman, not have had to live through. I enjoyed the last “Tale of Rumpole” the most. Setting someone up for retirement and believing you could just spring it on him as a surprise was a hoot. Finally, this book really educated me about the times as well as the English legal system, which I really appreciated.
Patrick – VG+ - This was a hard book to find, and I eventually found a yellowed copy from 1979. I tend to go for newer books with flashier cover art, but this book was a great reminder to me that gems can be found in unlikely packages. I was delighted by Rumpole’s narration and his dry humor. I get a wonderful sense for who Rumpole is, and it makes me want to read more of his stories.
Ron – VG+ - Wonderfully drawn protagonist with excellent secondary characters that become like a family to the reader over time. Also one of the most erudite and readable series around, with particularly good dialogue and plenty of humor.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: VG