Cut to the Quick (Hist Mys-Julian Kestrel-England-Regency) – 1st in series – Kate Ross Andrea – Ex – Rather than “Cut to the Quick,” Andrea read “Whom the Gods Love.” She likes reading books set in this period but had, of late, become tired of Anne Perry’s books. This reminded her of Anne Perry in her early days. Ross provided an excellent feel for the times and the characters. What she liked best was that it was a real mystery that was solved through detection. Andrea was sorry to learn there are only three more books in the series as she was looking forward to reading much more of Ms. Ross’ work. Evanda – VG+ - It was very well written and very pictorial. LJ – VG+ - For those of us who love period mysteries, Ross is one of the best. She captures the period with exquisite detail from dress, manners, speech. Her characters are wonderfully drawn portraying all levels of society. Kestrel is the character at center stage. He is the personification of the Regency dandy exhibiting droll cynicism and detachment. Upon meeting Hugh’s young sisters, he comments “…I rather like making friends with women before they’re old enough to be dangerous.” However, under the veneer, is a consideration for others, an admiration for goodness, awareness of people’s natures and a determination for justice. Although there are quite a number of characters in the story, each is so well drawn as never become confused. The plot is very strong. It’s not a locked-room mystery as the key is on the hall table. It is very much a case of who is the victim, how did she get there and what was her relationship to the people in the house. It’s a step-by-step investigation with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Best of all, I certainly did not predict the killer. While sadly, Kate Ross only published four books before her death, this, as are all of her books, is very well worth reading and reading again.
Shanghai Moon (PI-Lydia Chin and Bill Smith-China-Cont) - 9th in series - S. J. Rozan Andrea – G+ - Didn’t like the letters; thought they were tedious. She did like the characters and the feel of the story. There were interesting twists and turns and she didn’t predict the ending. She thought the information about the Jews in Shanghai was interesting. Corona – VG – She read it some time ago and although she didn’t care for the letters, she does remember enjoying it very much. Evanda – VG – This was the first book she’d read by Rozan so she didn’t quite get the relationship between Bill and Lydia, but she did enjoy Lydia’s mother and the references to food. She thought the plot was interesting. Linda F – VG+ - It was also her first time reading Rozan and she was rather impressed. She had known about the Jewish refugees in Shanghai and found it interesting how the Jewish family interacted with the Chinese family. She felt the interrelationships were more important than the mystery and found the cultural bridge interesting. She didn’t care for the original investigator with whom Lydia was working. Linda S – Good – Felt there were a lot of coincidences. She really likes the series but this wasn’t her favorite as it took her too far away from Bill and Lydia. She didn’t like that the letters tell much of the story. LJ – VG+ - I had so missed this series. Those who have followed it know that the protagonist alternates with each book, and this was Lydia’s turn. But part of what makes the books work is the uncertainty of the relationship between the two characters and where it might, or might never, lead. Rozen does create great characters, brings them to life. She is masterful in blending the two cultures and educating us about both. I love Rozan’s use of dialogue and humor, particularly Lydia’s mental conversations. They add just the right touch of lightness to the story. And this story was particularly good. There was fascinating information about the recent history of China and their taking in refugees during the war. I learned things I had never known. I loved Rozan’s use of Rosalie’s letters and found them fascinating. The plot was so well done. It twisted direction with nearly every chapter. Trish – VG+ - Trish had just returned from visiting China so both this, and the next book, were very timely choices. This was the first books she’d read by Rozan. She liked the descriptions, characters and found them multifaceted. She liked the story about looking for the necklace and felt it provided a good description of who some single item can take on a life of its own. The ending was surprising. She liked the letters even though she thought the detail in the letters was a bit of a stretch. She enjoyed the historical background and felt it was historically accurate.
The Eye of Jade (PI-Mei Wang-China-Cont) – 1st in series – Diane Wei Liang Andrea – Okay – Found the book very disappointing. She felt the sense of period was very weak and felt it conveyed little on the life during that time. In fact, it was hard for her to tell, at first, exactly when the book was set. There were some problems with the writing; it needed a good editor. The characters were not well developed, the plot was weak and there was one gaping hole in the plot. Evanda – VG – What she liked was that it made her want to find out more about the life of the wealthy in Beijing and find the apartment building referenced in the story. She thought the book was good; found it interesting and liked it. Linda F – DNF – She did not find it believable and felt it had no real sense of place. LJ – VG - This was an unusual mystery and a fascinating book. It is a PI story, but very different from the typical American PI. The story focuses on people, interactions and relationships, yet still has some suspense. I realized how little I know about China, past or present. There are vast differences between our cultures but enough similarities that the story really worked. The sense of place is wonderful and the dialogue has just the right voice to it. I am interested to see where Mei Wang’s story goes. Trish – Okay – Trish felt the conversations were stilted and gaping. The story was not really a mystery and lacked a real sense of place. She also had trouble placing the time setting until about the 3rd or 4th chapter. She did feel it was a fairly believable story of children in their not knowing what their parents went through during the Cultural Revolution but there was not enough focus given to the underground and smuggling. The last few pages which raised moral issues were most interesting but they were stuck at the very end.
Andrea – Ex – Rather than “Cut to the Quick,” Andrea read “Whom the Gods Love.” She likes reading books set in this period but had, of late, become tired of Anne Perry’s books. This reminded her of Anne Perry in her early days. Ross provided an excellent feel for the times and the characters. What she liked best was that it was a real mystery that was solved through detection. Andrea was sorry to learn there are only three more books in the series as she was looking forward to reading much more of Ms. Ross’ work.
Evanda – VG+ - It was very well written and very pictorial.
LJ – VG+ - For those of us who love period mysteries, Ross is one of the best. She captures the period with exquisite detail from dress, manners, speech. Her characters are wonderfully drawn portraying all levels of society. Kestrel is the character at center stage. He is the personification of the Regency dandy exhibiting droll cynicism and detachment. Upon meeting Hugh’s young sisters, he comments “…I rather like making friends with women before they’re old enough to be dangerous.” However, under the veneer, is a consideration for others, an admiration for goodness, awareness of people’s natures and a determination for justice. Although there are quite a number of characters in the story, each is so well drawn as never become confused. The plot is very strong. It’s not a locked-room mystery as the key is on the hall table. It is very much a case of who is the victim, how did she get there and what was her relationship to the people in the house. It’s a step-by-step investigation with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Best of all, I certainly did not predict the killer. While sadly, Kate Ross only published four books before her death, this, as are all of her books, is very well worth reading and reading again.
Shanghai Moon (PI-Lydia Chin and Bill Smith-China-Cont) - 9th in series - S. J. Rozan
Andrea – G+ - Didn’t like the letters; thought they were tedious. She did like the characters and the feel of the story. There were interesting twists and turns and she didn’t predict the ending. She thought the information about the Jews in Shanghai was interesting.
Corona – VG – She read it some time ago and although she didn’t care for the letters, she does remember enjoying it very much.
Evanda – VG – This was the first book she’d read by Rozan so she didn’t quite get the relationship between Bill and Lydia, but she did enjoy Lydia’s mother and the references to food. She thought the plot was interesting.
Linda F – VG+ - It was also her first time reading Rozan and she was rather impressed. She had known about the Jewish refugees in Shanghai and found it interesting how the Jewish family interacted with the Chinese family. She felt the interrelationships were more important than the mystery and found the cultural bridge interesting. She didn’t care for the original investigator with whom Lydia was working.
Linda S – Good – Felt there were a lot of coincidences. She really likes the series but this wasn’t her favorite as it took her too far away from Bill and Lydia. She didn’t like that the letters tell much of the story.
LJ – VG+ - I had so missed this series. Those who have followed it know that the protagonist alternates with each book, and this was Lydia’s turn. But part of what makes the books work is the uncertainty of the relationship between the two characters and where it might, or might never, lead. Rozen does create great characters, brings them to life. She is masterful in blending the two cultures and educating us about both. I love Rozan’s use of dialogue and humor, particularly Lydia’s mental conversations. They add just the right touch of lightness to the story. And this story was particularly good. There was fascinating information about the recent history of China and their taking in refugees during the war. I learned things I had never known. I loved Rozan’s use of Rosalie’s letters and found them fascinating. The plot was so well done. It twisted direction with nearly every chapter.
Trish – VG+ - Trish had just returned from visiting China so both this, and the next book, were very timely choices. This was the first books she’d read by Rozan. She liked the descriptions, characters and found them multifaceted. She liked the story about looking for the necklace and felt it provided a good description of who some single item can take on a life of its own. The ending was surprising. She liked the letters even though she thought the detail in the letters was a bit of a stretch. She enjoyed the historical background and felt it was historically accurate.
The Eye of Jade (PI-Mei Wang-China-Cont) – 1st in series – Diane Wei Liang
Andrea – Okay – Found the book very disappointing. She felt the sense of period was very weak and felt it conveyed little on the life during that time. In fact, it was hard for her to tell, at first, exactly when the book was set. There were some problems with the writing; it needed a good editor. The characters were not well developed, the plot was weak and there was one gaping hole in the plot.
Evanda – VG – What she liked was that it made her want to find out more about the life of the wealthy in Beijing and find the apartment building referenced in the story. She thought the book was good; found it interesting and liked it.
Linda F – DNF – She did not find it believable and felt it had no real sense of place.
LJ – VG - This was an unusual mystery and a fascinating book. It is a PI story, but very different from the typical American PI. The story focuses on people, interactions and relationships, yet still has some suspense. I realized how little I know about China, past or present. There are vast differences between our cultures but enough similarities that the story really worked. The sense of place is wonderful and the dialogue has just the right voice to it. I am interested to see where Mei Wang’s story goes.
Trish – Okay – Trish felt the conversations were stilted and gaping. The story was not really a mystery and lacked a real sense of place. She also had trouble placing the time setting until about the 3rd or 4th chapter. She did feel it was a fairly believable story of children in their not knowing what their parents went through during the Cultural Revolution but there was not enough focus given to the underground and smuggling. The last few pages which raised moral issues were most interesting but they were stuck at the very end.