I‘m not new to the horror genre, and I‘ve enjoyed LaValle‘s work in the past, but unfortunately I decided to bail on this. I read well over half, but found that my anxiety was increasing, and I‘m not in a place where that‘s OK. That said, this had an interesting plot relating the eerie story of women pioneers in Montana who have brought their curses along as they strive to build new lives.

Set in a beautiful part of my state, and written by a Michigan author, this mystery was a joy to read. Michael Russo, a Petoskey attorney, usually handles family law. When a wealthy member of a weirdly insular resort, Cherokee Point is murdered, the police ask Russo‘s help in gaining the other resident‘s confidence. Russo winds up investigating the suspects, and ultimately solving the case, but the truth is terrible. Glad it‘s part of a series.

I have really enjoyed the books in Massey‘s Perveen Mistry series. Set in 1920‘s India, the sense of place and history are fascinating and this, her latest, is a great read. Perveen, the only female lawyer in Bombay, is representing a woman falsely charged with the use of an abortifacient, and later with the murder of her employer. The truth revolves around white colonial greed. We get to know more about Perveen in each novel

I actually enjoyed this light read. The author explores the ways in which we adjust our stories and concepts of love to protect ourselves from difficult truths.

According to Penelope, ostensibly a teacher, actually something much more and terrible, the Everly family owes her a blood debt; Violet sets out to remove the curse, sometimes aided, sometimes betrayed by Penelope‘s acolyte: Alexander. The plot gets a bit muddy at times.

What an interesting read! Set in Kyiv, 1919, a period of great unrest. Samson Kolechko has lost his entire family, most recently his father who is murdered by one of the factions fighting for control of the city. In the attack, Samson loses an ear. Reporting thieving Red Army soldiers who seize space in his home, Samson is offered a job with the newly formed police force. Fine start of a new series with great characters. Beautifully translated.

What a great read! Tautly plotted and very well written.

A young black man kills a white school teacher in the aptly named Charon County, VA. As he leaves the scene he is killed by the police. As Sheriff Titus Crowne investigates, terrible evil acts are revealed and they must hunt a serial killer. All in the midst of racial provocation by Confederate apologists.

I loved Titus‘s final redemptive act at this end of this highly recommended novel.

Ash Woods wanted to enter Lancaster College to earn his Alchemy Certificate, but unaffiliated with a powerful clan he‘s denied entry. Working as a gardener he meets Ramsey Thorne who recognizes their latent power. Ultimately joined by Callum Kendrick they embark on a quest for the Book of Source.

As a younger reader, my parents allowed to read anything I chose. I should note that this YA book has explicit bits, but well suited to the story.

I‘m not sure if I can really recommend Sager‘s latest. The first 2/3 of the book is slow, laying almost more of a back story than needed. The last third of the book has so many plot twists, it‘s almost hard to keep track. In short, the pacing is really weird. The plot: fleeing a personal scandal Kit McDeere becomes caretaker for Lenora Hope accused, but never convicted of her family‘s murder. Now she wants to tell her story.

Speculative fiction, and yet one of the more powerful condemnations of the American penal system that I‘ve read since Michelle Alexander‘s nonfiction The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration… The author‘s footnotes are brilliant!

Prisoners, tortured into a complete lack of hope, are offered a chance at freedom by participating in state supported gladiator-like killing “games.” In the midst of the carnage, there is grace. Unforgettable characters.

“Just when you think you‘ve seen the worst human beings have to offer, you find out you‘re wrong.” (p. 442).

King features Holly Gibney, a character I‘ve loved. She has been hired to find a missing woman and in the process unveils horrors wrought by a pair of demented professors who are seeking a way to reverse the ravages of their old age. King proves, yet again than no one should underestimate midwestern small towns.

Are the sins of parents visited upon their children? In this “story of atrocities” (p. 226) we live through Tom Kettle‘s life memories. His wife, June was raped, starting at age 6, by a Catholic priest. As an adult she strikes out in a horrible act of justice. The ripples of her act and her pain extend to her entire family. Awful and grim, the novel is so beautifully written that, although there is no redemption it becomes a transcendent story.

The language in this novel was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, with everything that I have going on, I just couldn‘t concentrate enough to do it justice, so I‘ve set it aside for another day. Anyway, this is a temporary bail, but a bail nonetheless ☹️

In the first half of this book Chakrabory lays the foundation for her new series. As a result it is a slow and, frankly not very interesting beginning to what becomes, in the second half a thrill ride through a well-built world. Amina Al-Siafi is a mother, was a ship‘s captain/pirate and returns to the sea to rescue a young, magical girl . Her past shipmates join her on what becomes a life threatening adventure. Looking forward to the next entry.

This story is flat out soul-satisfying! Greta, like many of the women in her small Indian village, is abused by her husband. She finds some freedom when he disappears. Some think she killed him and want her to help them get rid of their equally horrible spouses. Mahem ensues. Lots of humor amongst the very real pain. By the end, after getting her vengeance, she tells her returned wastrel, “You‘re wrong, I‘m right, and I‘m definitely not sorry.”

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! Vera Wong has run a tea house in Chinatown for years, but the business is barely squeaking by and she‘s lonely. One morning she comes down to find a dead man on the floor. As she sets out to solve the crime,her primary suspects become closer than family, enriching her life. I loved the twist at the end.

If you‘re looking for mood lifting book, grab this quick read. You won‘t be sorry.

“Vera Wong Zhuzhu, age sixty, is a pig, but she really should have been born a rooster.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

I have enjoyed all of the August Snow novels, but Stephen Mack Jones latest, Deus X is really something special. Father Michael Grabowsk, who August has known since the Franciscan baptized him, has been forced to retire in light of unsubstantiated abuse allegations. Investigating, Snow discovers that the false accusations stem from a power mad Bishop who wants a Vatican post. Beautifully written, great Detroit details. Highly, highly recommended.

Special Agent Harry Vance is murdered in Berlin. His colleagues, Brodie and Taylor, Army criminal investigator, are sent to liaise with their German counterparts and various FBI & CIA folk to find the perpetrator. Not surprisingly, everyone has a different agenda. Their investigation leads them to historical truths about the Stasi and current threats from far right baddies. In short a vintage DeMille plot. Written with his son this one falls flat

Agnes Sharp converted her home, Sunset Hall to a shared living situation for pensioners and they‘ve become a family of sorts. None of them came through life unscathed, and they have secrets from their past. And none more than Agatha who is investigating the deaths of people she once knew. Although I‘ve enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club books, this story is darker, and more complex. I loved it; and Hettie, the tortoise is a fantastic character!

Reading this book is like experiencing a fever dream. When I let go, and just enjoyed the beautiful writing, I found myself discovering a route through the madness that has gripped Ada, her son Giles and her husband, Danny when she disappears.

Is Ada really unhappy, does she chafe at her role as mother, has she willingly left, or has she been transmuted into the natural world she believes to be failing. Others are gone too. What‘s happening?

This was an engaging mystery, and the first of the County Kerry series. Dimpna Wilde followed in her father‘s footsteps and became a veterinarian. She left her hometown, Dingle, after horrific events. She‘s retuned because one of the principal men involved in those events is murdered. She‘ll have to revisit the past to find the truth.
Unfortunately, there isn‘t a lot of Irish here; I wish the dialogue had been more authentic. Good twists though.

1. Yup, I can drive a stick. I learned on a huge Buick station wagon with “three on the tree” which definitely dates me!

2. Can‘t get better than Hunter Thompson and the Great Red Shark — and that dates me too!

#Two4Tuesday. #TheSpineView

The only disappointing thing about reading this book is that I have not read any of the earlier related Rockton series. This book has all the components of a good mystery, well drawn characters, puzzling deaths, lots of red herrings and mistaken identities.

Haven‘s Rock will be a hidden community, created to provide sanctuary for people requiring support and safety. Even before it‘s finished people begin to disappear and then bodies are found.

This is a strangely unsuccessful historical mystery, and it‘s difficult to put my finger on exactly why. I think it‘s mainly that her primary character, Alexander Hamilton‘s wife, Eliza is a bit one dimensional. Reeling from her husband‘s death, she attempts to unravel a conspiracy that had led to several murders, assisted by a group of widows from another class of society.

If this will become a series, later entries may be stronger.

After reading and enjoying her, Drowning, I went back to read this, her first. While it wasn‘t as tightly crafted, Newman can certainly provide a thrill-ride.

Pilot Bill Hoffman has been asked to be substitute pilot for a flight to New York. His family is then taken hostage. They‘ll die if he doesn‘t agree to crash the plane. Newman gives us evil doers that are real, complex with understandable motives. Read it in one sitting.

What a wonderful, charming story. Meg (“short for Megladon”) Shaffer gives us a book that shows us the power of hope, and how wishes can come true.

Jack Masterson is the author of the Clock Island book series. Four adult‘s, all with childhood connections to the author, have been invited to compete for the rights to his latest book. Lucy Hart MUST win to make her dream of adopting Christopher come true. Thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Rupert Holmes has presented us with an interesting premise, and at times the story is engaging. Unfortunately there are also clunky bits that drag, and also sections that are just overwrought and border on the farcical.

Cliff Iverson, after an unsuccessful attempt to murder his truly awful boss, is enrolled at a College formed to instruct in the fine art of murder. His story, and that of other students, make up the plot. Bit of a slog.

I‘m not a big fan of Christmas themed books, and this mystery did not change my mind. Sophie Hannah‘s latest Christie reinvention tries hard to be complicated, but it isn‘t — the identity of murderer is no surprise, making Poirot‘s big drawing room reveal just silly.

Catchpool says: “This was far from the first time I had desperately looked forward to leaving a place before I had arrived.” Finishing this book, I know exactly how he felt!

The first in a new series. Huntsmen are born from union of a creature and a human and tasked with the control of the uncanny. Aaron and Rosemary Harker, brother and sister Huntsmen, are called to investigate murders in Brunson, NY (1913) including a distant cousin, accompanied by their hellhound, Botheration.

The story unfolds VERY slowly, except for the final pages. Jury still out on whether the series is worth following, might read the next.

A fluffy fantasy that doesn‘t require any deep thought or careful reading; perfect for the sprint to complete holiday preparations.

Called to a solicitor‘s office, Ivy Radcliffe is shocked to find that she is the heir of Blackwood Abby. Suddenly, she‘s thrust from modest life into the role of Lady Haworth. As an avid reader, she is thrilled by the estate‘s library — but it imposes a terrible cost. A curse that will steal her memories, and life.

Kuldesh Sharma, an Antique dealer and an old friend of Stephen‘s, occasionally accepts a package, holding it until it is picked up. Some money changes hands, but more importantly if he refuses they will torch his store. Kuldesh is killed and the Thursday Murder Club investigates. The witty, joyful banter is forced in this fourth in the series, but there are painful things happening for Elizabeth and Stephen, so allowances must be made.

Don‘t tell anybody, but I‘m a disaster movie junkie. Love ‘em all (except Titanic, THAT was just silly) Well, this book is just like a soul satisfying disaster flick. It checks all the boxes: lovable characters trapped together with interesting back-stories, engineer who keeps folk safe with his knowledge, lovely older couple, two charming kids, horrible a** hole, brave female captain, valiant rescuers, etc. Finished at 2AM. Just plain, fun read!

I‘ve loved James McBride‘s books, and I eagerly waited for this one to become available. After reading more than half way, however, I‘ve decided to set it aside and maybe try again later. The book is more heavy handed than his earlier work. His character are almost caricatures. I get that this is probably the point, but I just wasn‘t enjoying the story. I‘m disappointed.

“There was an old Jew who lived at the site of the old synagogue up on Chicken Hill in the town of Pottstown, PA, and when Pennsylvania State Troopers found the skeleton at the bottom of an old well off Hayes Street, the old Jew‘s house was the first place they went to.”

An excellent historical mystery set in Philadelphia, 1875. The primary character is Lydia Weston, a physician at Women‘s Medical College of Pennsylvania and the book‘s debut author is herself. A doctor

Police discover an apparent suicide of a patient treated by Dr. Weston. The autopsy reveals that she was murdered and that she was a different person. The investigation reveals horrific crimes. A good read and, I hope the start of a series.

I need to read the first Henri LeFort mystery, but I enjoyed this one even without the benefit of that background. Set in occupied Paris, Inspector LeFort has been tasked with locating a missing physician. His investigation leads him to discover horrific medical experimentation on disabled children. With the help of both friends and enemies, LeFort‘s solution stops the atrocities, foils the Nazi‘s and helps the Resistance. Bit formulaic, but fun.

In the first of her FBI K-9 books, Sara Driscoll gives us a fluffy thriller with enough meat on its bones to make it interesting. The details about K-9 tracking and search/rescue are fascinating. Chapter heads provide detailed snippets about the process. Megan Jennings, and her canine partner Hawk are called to the scenes of terrible bomb blasts and fires and then involved in the search for, and ultimate apprehension of the madman. Fun read,

This is a good Icelandic thriller from Arnaldur Indriðason and I love that we‘re given more information about Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson‘s back story. In this novel, a skeleton is discovered, and tracing its identity reveals a story of terrible domestic abuse, and ultimately how it taints and destroys the victims. In a parallel arc, Erlender‘s daughter is hovering near death due to a late stage miscarriage resulting from her drug abuse.

There is twisted darkness that lives at the heart of Bottom Springs, LA and the Holy Fire Baptist Church. It takes Ruth, daughter of Pastor James Cornier, an interminable time to see it, but when she does, hellfire literally rains down. Ruth‘s psychological abuse, at the hands of her parents, would have broken her without her friend Everett‘s flawed intervention. Not any true redemption here. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

“‘You described a personality type. The ones who lead what you called “still lives.” Do you remember?‘”

“‘Yes I do. The ones who aren‘t growing and evolving. The one‘s who are standing still. They‘re the ones
who rarely get better.‘”

Rereading Penny‘s Still Life which is just as good as I remember! Going to read the series ( on Libby during appointments) to catch up on the one‘s I‘ve missed.

Deeply reliant on, and evocative of Pinocchio and at times, The Wizard of Oz, Kline‘s latest stand alone is, IMHO, not his best work. When he breaks free from the earlier author‘s tropes there are flashes of his usual brilliance, and I genuinely enjoyed his characters. Victor, the last of his kind, sets out on a quest to find his stolen creator/father/robot accompanied by sentient and charming machines seeking wisdom, courage and a heart.

What a lovely novel that I never wanted to end. The author has given us a wonderful gift, framed around and evocative of the play, Our Town. At her adult daughter‘s request, Lara Nelson is recounting her brush with fame: her own and
and that of her long ago summer love, Peter Duke, a troubled young man who goes on to doomed stardom. The cemetery scene is masterful! Yes, Ms Patchett, you brought us back to the joy of Wilder‘s work. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this entertaining mystery Jance combines characters from the Joanna Brady and the Walker Family series, featuring Dan Pardee. He‘s a field officer with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People‘s Task Force, and hard on the trail of a serial killer.

Don‘t miss the Afterword and the After-Afterword pages at the end. They may make you feel a bit better about the cultural appropriation problems related to Jance writing about indigenous issues.

When a book receives as much attention as this one, particularly in light of Iron Flame‘s release, it can prove a disappointing read. Although it doesn‘t really live up to the hype. FW is a pretty satisfying piece of dragon fiction, and like others, I liked the creatures more than the humans. I could have done without some of the Violet/Xaden romance, but there‘s a good story here, and I‘m on the mother of all library hold lists for the next.

Jacintha and Gabe Cross are the best penetration guys available, testing corporate security systems to insure they‘re as robust as possible. Returning home from a failed job, “Jack” finds her husband Gabe brutally murdered. Good premise, but not very well executed. Predictably, Jack is the primary suspect. Predictably, she runs terrible risks seeking the actual killer and unfortunately, there‘s no surprise twist. Good news: it‘s a quick read.

I bailed about a third of the way in. Should have quit when I read “… that malignant turd in the lunch bowl socked between his ears” on page three. Mean spirited, nasty and just plain dull. Can‘t remember who recommended it, but they did me no favor.

The first half of McMahon‘s latest is plenty scary, particularly when we wonder if what Alison O‘Connor comes to believe about her dying mother is true, or if Alison is descending into madness. Initially, McMahon walks that terrifying tightrope very well. Unfortunately, as the evil takes a concrete form, the story becomes a bit absurd. It‘s the difference between the truly scary, “Turn Of The Screw”, and the more predictable “Rosemary‘s Baby.”

I‘ve always enjoyed Heller‘s writing, and his talent saves this somewhat clumsy plot. Ren Hopper works in Yellowstone as a National Park Service Ranger. Someone is setting traps and stalking wildlife, particularly his friend Hilly‘s beloved wolves. The sense of place is fascinating, as are the tragedies from Ren‘s past. The characters and groups that are introduced, but never tied in to the story are annoying. Maybe a sequel?

Pretty good fairy tale that introduces us to the lives of Hansel and Gretel as adults shaped by their childhood traumas. Hansel has become a wastrel, gambling and drinking to excess. Gretel, who is grappling with the knowledge that she has witchy powers, is being pulled toward the dark, and the light. Shapeshifters and a cursed bear loom large. The chapter heads tell the story of Rose Red, and her character has an connection to the siblings too.

In this wonderful lyrical novel, the story of a six year old boy lost in the South African outback, is told through a series of incredible character studies. We meet his family and those searching for him, some genuinely concerned, and some with their own agendas. We also get to know Denny, lost during a dust storm, and experience his fear, and yes wonder as he seeks his Mam and home. McFarlane writes beautifully. Highly recommended!