Night of the Living Deed (Cozy/Ama Sleuth-Alison Kerby-New Jersey-Cont) – 1st in series – E. J. Cooperman Linda F - Okay - The book was only memorable for her because of the unexplained accidents that accompanied her reading of this book. It seemed as though paranormal forces were at work. Otherwise, the book was thoroughly mediocre, with a predictable ending and only a few good lines. LJ - DNF - This was a complete non-starter for me. Having personally experienced the paranormal, having ghosts who completely physically appear and carry on full conversations with the living just didn't work for me.
The Thin Man (Unl Inv-Nick and Nora Charles-New York City-Golden Age/1934) – Standalone – Dashiell Hammett Andrea - G+ - There was an astonishing amount of drinking in this book. It was really not very good and she was disappointing in it. The characters are extreme and not very believable. The writing is glib but the story doesn't build and the characters are dimensional. It was moderate interesting but dated.
Murder on Waverly Place (Hist Mys-Sarah Brandt-New York City-Victorian) – 11th in series – Victoria Thompson Andrea - G- - The characters were wooden and unrealistic. For being an historical mystery, there was no sense of time and/or place. The speech seemed too modern. The story did hold her interest and she did finish it. Charlotte - G+ - I found it a pleasant, interesting, easy read, even though there was a little too much séance detail. The info on the invention of the flashlight was fun and new to me. Corona - Poor - It was insipid and boring with flat characters. I found the book frustratingly simplified and the characters stereotypical. I finished the book but was inpatient with the author throughout. It was so canned I thought the writing was cheating as there was no originality in the story at all. Linda F - Okay - She almost didn't read it due to the theme of spiritualists and found it predictable. She did like the relationship between Sarah, the Detective and Sarah's mother and the reason they went to the séance. There was a bit of surprise. LJ - DNF - The more I read, the more important to me becomes an author's voice. Unfortunately, and perhaps unfairly, after finishing books by Louise Penny and Imogen Robertson, Ms. Thompson's voice came through to me almost as if the story were written for young adult readers. It just didn't have the depth or richness that compelled me to read beyond the first 35 pages of the book. I have read some of Ms. Thompson's previous books and enjoyed them, but this did not work for me now. Marcy S - Okay - The book jacket kept comparing Victoria Thompson to Anne Perry. This was definitely not up to par with Anne Perry.
Linda F - Okay - The book was only memorable for her because of the unexplained accidents that accompanied her reading of this book. It seemed as though paranormal forces were at work. Otherwise, the book was thoroughly mediocre, with a predictable ending and only a few good lines.
LJ - DNF - This was a complete non-starter for me. Having personally experienced the paranormal, having ghosts who completely physically appear and carry on full conversations with the living just didn't work for me.
The Thin Man (Unl Inv-Nick and Nora Charles-New York City-Golden Age/1934) – Standalone – Dashiell Hammett
Andrea - G+ - There was an astonishing amount of drinking in this book. It was really not very good and she was disappointing in it. The characters are extreme and not very believable. The writing is glib but the story doesn't build and the characters are dimensional. It was moderate interesting but dated.
Murder on Waverly Place (Hist Mys-Sarah Brandt-New York City-Victorian) – 11th in series – Victoria Thompson
Andrea - G- - The characters were wooden and unrealistic. For being an historical mystery, there was no sense of time and/or place. The speech seemed too modern. The story did hold her interest and she did finish it.
Charlotte - G+ - I found it a pleasant, interesting, easy read, even though there was a little too much séance detail. The info on the invention of the flashlight was fun and new to me.
Corona - Poor - It was insipid and boring with flat characters. I found the book frustratingly simplified and the characters stereotypical. I finished the book but was inpatient with the author throughout. It was so canned I thought the writing was cheating as there was no originality in the story at all.
Linda F - Okay - She almost didn't read it due to the theme of spiritualists and found it predictable. She did like the relationship between Sarah, the Detective and Sarah's mother and the reason they went to the séance. There was a bit of surprise.
LJ - DNF - The more I read, the more important to me becomes an author's voice. Unfortunately, and perhaps unfairly, after finishing books by Louise Penny and Imogen Robertson, Ms. Thompson's voice came through to me almost as if the story were written for young adult readers. It just didn't have the depth or richness that compelled me to read beyond the first 35 pages of the book. I have read some of Ms. Thompson's previous books and enjoyed them, but this did not work for me now.
Marcy S - Okay - The book jacket kept comparing Victoria Thompson to Anne Perry. This was definitely not up to par with Anne Perry.