The Talented Mr. Ripley (Crime Novel-Tom Ripley-Italy-Cont) – 1st in series – Patricia Highsmith A product of a broken home, branded a "sissy" by his dismissive Aunt Dottie, Ripley becomes enamored of the moneyed world of his new friend, Dickie Greenleaf. This fondness turns obsessive when Ripley is sent to Italy to bring back his libertine pal but grows enraged by Dickie's ambivalent feelings for Marge, a charming American dilettante. Evanda – DNF – She just did not like it. Libby - -Just started reading it. She has really liked what she’s read so far. Linda S – VG - Linda read it a long time ago. She thought it was very well written, but didn’t particularly like the story. It is not her genre and she didn’t like the element of coldness of the characters. LJ – Good - I could see and appreciate the quality of the author’s writing, but I didn’t particularly care for the book. Tom Ripley is a textbook sociopath and Highsmith does an excellent job of portraying it. The complete disdain with which she conveys Tom’s feeling toward Dickie’s friend, Marge, is exceedingly well done. There is a very good conveyance of Tom’s fear as well as very good suspense. As a character study, I felt the writing was excellent. Unfortunately, I found the characters, other than Tom, very one dimensional and completely undeveloped. I do question, although could be wrong, about one of the forensic elements but do find it very hard to accept that no one really saw the similarities between Tom and Dickie or did a more thorough investigation. The situation with the letter to the father and the will would have been highly suspect to me unless the family really didn’t care. As a mystery, there were just too many parts of the book that did not hold together. I shan’t read another in this series. Marcy G – VG - She really liked it and thought it was wonderfully done. You enter Tom’s mind and see his “rationalizations.” She had good feels for all the characters and loved the sense of place as she particularly loves Italy. Marcy S – DNF – Marcy first read it in 1985 and didn’t like it then as, since we see the events from the killer’s mind, there is nothing mysterious about the book. She does not like looking into the mind of a cold-blooded killer. Group Average Rating: Okay
Heresy (Hist Mys-Giordano Bruno-England-1583) – 1st book – S.J. Parris When fugitive Italian monk Giordano Bruno—philosopher, magician, and heretical scientist—arrives in London, he’s only one step ahead of the Inquisition. An undercover mission for Queen Elizabeth I and her spymaster provides added protection. Officially, Bruno is to take part in a debate on the Copernican theory of the universe at Oxford University; unofficially, he is to find out whatever he can about a Catholic plot to overthrow the queen. But when his mission is dramatically thrown off course by a series of grisly deaths and the charms of a mysterious but beautiful young woman, he realizes that somewhere within Oxford’s private chambers lurks a brutal killer. Corona – Poor - The book did hold her interest enough that she finished it but she hated it. It was very graphic with unappealing characters and just not fun to read. Evanda – Ex - Evanda adored it. She had never before read an historical thriller and didn’t know that people thought that was in the 1500s. It completely held her attention; she couldn’t put it down. Linda F. – Okay - She is a fan of the actual historical figure of Giordano Bruno, but the idea that he could be a spy and keep secrets was not in character with the facts of the person. However, she went along for the read even though the events seemed out of character for the person. She disliked what happened with the female character, whom she enjoyed. Linda will probably read the next book by Parris. Linda S. – DNF- It just was not her cup of tea. Historical figures who see everthing so differently from those around them seem too modern to her. LJ – G+ - I was afraid the book would drag, but it didn’t. Parris writes with wonderful detail; I repeatedly thought that as I read. It was not that the detail distracted me, but it made the story richer. There are some very insightful statements made about religion and the divisions and hatred it can cause and the effect its power and instillation of fear has on people…”the way it makes men believe they alone are right.” Normally, I am strongly opposed against using either actual figures or iconic fictional characters created by others, as protagonists. I must confess, I was not familiar with Bruno so, in this case, it didn’t matter to me. The other most interesting character to me was Sophia Underhill, daughter of the rector. She was smart, gutsy and privileged beyond what was normal for women of the time, yet still subject to the prejudices and constraints of the time. She was very well written. Fortunately, the author did not attempt to write the dialogue in the vernacular of the period. Even though there may have been anachronisms, I did not notice any. I was too busy reading. Finally, we come to the plot and the overall quality of writing. The former I enjoyed. The story moved right along, there were no significant slow spots; it was certainly suspenseful and gripping. The quality of writing, however, suffered a bit. There were portents and way too many large coincidences, almost to the point where I started counting them. I very much enjoyed “Heresy,” but don’t know that I would read another book in the series. Marcy G – Okay – Mixed feelings; she liked the historical perspective of fanaticism but felt the book was slow moving and had to be persistent in order to keep reading. Group Average Rating: Good
Seeking Whom He May Devour (Pol Proc-Insp. Adamsberg-France -Cont) – 2nd in series – Fred Vargas A small mountain community in the French Alps is roused to terror when they awaken each morning to find yet another of their sheep with its throat torn out. One of the villagers thinks it might be a werewolf, and when she's found killed in the same manner, people begin to wonder if she might have been right. Suspicion falls on Massart, a loner living on the edge of town. The murdered woman's adopted son, one of her shepherds, and her new friend Camille decide to pursue Massart, who has conveniently disappeared. Their ineptness for the task soon becomes painfully obvious, and they summon Commissaire Adamsberg from the city to bring his exceptional powers of intuition to bear on layer upon layer of buried hatred and secrets. Corona – VG - Really liked it. She really loved the two men with the truck and the Canadian. She did have a problem with sense of place as the Canadian was such a distinct character, she kept thinking the book was set in Canada. Evanda – VG - She loved it; really enjoyed everything about it. Linda S – VG - Really liked it mainly because of the characters. She did have some problems with the believability of how the murders happened. There were some really funny bits that were wonderful. There was a bit too much reliance on the weird, but she really enjoyed it. LJ – VG+ - Vargas creates wonderful characters and it is they who drive the story. I was delighted that we get to know Camille in this book as she was previously, something of a mystery herself. The residents of the village, Suzanne, and particularly the old shepherd and Solomon, with home Camille ventures forth, are wonderfully created with affection, humor. There is also great poignancy to the relationship, particularly with the inclusion of Adamsburgh into the traveling trio. Vargas has a wonderful voice with a wry humor. I love her imagery and descriptions, particularly in the opening when she anthropomorphizes the wolves. She brings the story, location and people to life. If there is a weakness, it is in the plot but only because the characters are so strong. However, I found the further I progressed into the story, the more intrigued I was by the mystery. I knew the killer was not a werewolf; the story is not horror or fantasy. I did suspect the villain but appreciated that being given details as to the motive behind the crimes as well as uncovering the killer. There is also a second thread to the story which adds suspense. There is no question I have become a Vargas fan. Marcy S – VG - She really liked it but didn’t get a strong sense of Adamsberg. In the beginning, the book felt slow to her but once it was acknowledge that there was a human killer, she enjoyed it very much. Loved the characters, particularly Soloman and the dictionary definitions, the truck and the dog. Even though some things seemed far-fetched, she didn’t care because she enjoyed the book so much. Group Average Rating: VG
A product of a broken home, branded a "sissy" by his dismissive Aunt Dottie, Ripley becomes enamored of the moneyed world of his new friend, Dickie Greenleaf. This fondness turns obsessive when Ripley is sent to Italy to bring back his libertine pal but grows enraged by Dickie's ambivalent feelings for Marge, a charming American dilettante.
Evanda – DNF – She just did not like it.
Libby - -Just started reading it. She has really liked what she’s read so far.
Linda S – VG - Linda read it a long time ago. She thought it was very well written, but didn’t particularly like the story. It is not her genre and she didn’t like the element of coldness of the characters.
LJ – Good - I could see and appreciate the quality of the author’s writing, but I didn’t particularly care for the book. Tom Ripley is a textbook sociopath and Highsmith does an excellent job of portraying it. The complete disdain with which she conveys Tom’s feeling toward Dickie’s friend, Marge, is exceedingly well done. There is a very good conveyance of Tom’s fear as well as very good suspense. As a character study, I felt the writing was excellent.
Unfortunately, I found the characters, other than Tom, very one dimensional and completely undeveloped. I do question, although could be wrong, about one of the forensic elements but do find it very hard to accept that no one really saw the similarities between Tom and Dickie or did a more thorough investigation. The situation with the letter to the father and the will would have been highly suspect to me unless the family really didn’t care. As a mystery, there were just too many parts of the book that did not hold together. I shan’t read another in this series.
Marcy G – VG - She really liked it and thought it was wonderfully done. You enter Tom’s mind and see his “rationalizations.” She had good feels for all the characters and loved the sense of place as she particularly loves Italy.
Marcy S – DNF – Marcy first read it in 1985 and didn’t like it then as, since we see the events from the killer’s mind, there is nothing mysterious about the book. She does not like looking into the mind of a cold-blooded killer.
Group Average Rating: Okay
Heresy (Hist Mys-Giordano Bruno-England-1583) – 1st book – S.J. Parris
When fugitive Italian monk Giordano Bruno—philosopher, magician, and heretical scientist—arrives in London, he’s only one step ahead of the Inquisition. An undercover mission for Queen Elizabeth I and her spymaster provides added protection. Officially, Bruno is to take part in a debate on the Copernican theory of the universe at Oxford University; unofficially, he is to find out whatever he can about a Catholic plot to overthrow the queen. But when his mission is dramatically thrown off course by a series of grisly deaths and the charms of a mysterious but beautiful young woman, he realizes that somewhere within Oxford’s private chambers lurks a brutal killer.
Corona – Poor - The book did hold her interest enough that she finished it but she hated it. It was very graphic with unappealing characters and just not fun to read.
Evanda – Ex - Evanda adored it. She had never before read an historical thriller and didn’t know that people thought that was in the 1500s. It completely held her attention; she couldn’t put it down.
Linda F. – Okay - She is a fan of the actual historical figure of Giordano Bruno, but the idea that he could be a spy and keep secrets was not in character with the facts of the person. However, she went along for the read even though the events seemed out of character for the person. She disliked what happened with the female character, whom she enjoyed. Linda will probably read the next book by Parris.
Linda S. – DNF- It just was not her cup of tea. Historical figures who see everthing so differently from those around them seem too modern to her.
LJ – G+ - I was afraid the book would drag, but it didn’t. Parris writes with wonderful detail; I repeatedly thought that as I read. It was not that the detail distracted me, but it made the story richer. There are some very insightful statements made about religion and the divisions and hatred it can cause and the effect its power and instillation of fear has on people…”the way it makes men believe they alone are right.” Normally, I am strongly opposed against using either actual figures or iconic fictional characters created by others, as protagonists. I must confess, I was not familiar with Bruno so, in this case, it didn’t matter to me. The other most interesting character to me was Sophia Underhill, daughter of the rector. She was smart, gutsy and privileged beyond what was normal for women of the time, yet still subject to the prejudices and constraints of the time. She was very well written. Fortunately, the author did not attempt to write the dialogue in the vernacular of the period. Even though there may have been anachronisms, I did not notice any. I was too busy reading. Finally, we come to the plot and the overall quality of writing. The former I enjoyed. The story moved right along, there were no significant slow spots; it was certainly suspenseful and gripping. The quality of writing, however, suffered a bit. There were portents and way too many large coincidences, almost to the point where I started counting them. I very much enjoyed “Heresy,” but don’t know that I would read another book in the series.
Marcy G – Okay – Mixed feelings; she liked the historical perspective of fanaticism but felt the book was slow moving and had to be persistent in order to keep reading.
Group Average Rating: Good
Seeking Whom He May Devour (Pol Proc-Insp. Adamsberg-France -Cont) – 2nd in series – Fred Vargas
A small mountain community in the French Alps is roused to terror when they awaken each morning to find yet another of their sheep with its throat torn out. One of the villagers thinks it might be a werewolf, and when she's found killed in the same manner, people begin to wonder if she might have been right. Suspicion falls on Massart, a loner living on the edge of town. The murdered woman's adopted son, one of her shepherds, and her new friend Camille decide to pursue Massart, who has conveniently disappeared. Their ineptness for the task soon becomes painfully obvious, and they summon Commissaire Adamsberg from the city to bring his exceptional powers of intuition to bear on layer upon layer of buried hatred and secrets.
Corona – VG - Really liked it. She really loved the two men with the truck and the Canadian. She did have a problem with sense of place as the Canadian was such a distinct character, she kept thinking the book was set in Canada.
Evanda – VG - She loved it; really enjoyed everything about it.
Linda S – VG - Really liked it mainly because of the characters. She did have some problems with the believability of how the murders happened. There were some really funny bits that were wonderful. There was a bit too much reliance on the weird, but she really enjoyed it.
LJ – VG+ - Vargas creates wonderful characters and it is they who drive the story. I was delighted that we get to know Camille in this book as she was previously, something of a mystery herself. The residents of the village, Suzanne, and particularly the old shepherd and Solomon, with home Camille ventures forth, are wonderfully created with affection, humor. There is also great poignancy to the relationship, particularly with the inclusion of Adamsburgh into the traveling trio. Vargas has a wonderful voice with a wry humor. I love her imagery and descriptions, particularly in the opening when she anthropomorphizes the wolves. She brings the story, location and people to life. If there is a weakness, it is in the plot but only because the characters are so strong. However, I found the further I progressed into the story, the more intrigued I was by the mystery. I knew the killer was not a werewolf; the story is not horror or fantasy. I did suspect the villain but appreciated that being given details as to the motive behind the crimes as well as uncovering the killer. There is also a second thread to the story which adds suspense. There is no question I have become a Vargas fan.
Marcy S – VG - She really liked it but didn’t get a strong sense of Adamsberg. In the beginning, the book felt slow to her but once it was acknowledge that there was a human killer, she enjoyed it very much. Loved the characters, particularly Soloman and the dictionary definitions, the truck and the dog. Even though some things seemed far-fetched, she didn’t care because she enjoyed the book so much.
Group Average Rating: VG