Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno
12/5/23; 256 pages
HarperCollins
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Meet the Benedettos
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Welcome Home, Stranger
Welcome Home, Stranger by Kate Christensen
12/5/23; 224 pages
HarperCollins
Welcome Home, Stranger by Kate Christensen is a recommended family drama.
Rachel Callowy, an environmental journalist in Washington, DC, and self-professed “middle-aged childless recently orphaned menopausal workaholic,” is going home to Maine after the death of her mother. Lucie was a very difficult mother, to put it mildly, and Rachel was estranged from her for the last ten years. Her wealthy sister Celeste was left to care for Lucie through cancer treatments. Celeste is upset and angry at Rachel and this presents itself as a lot of passive-aggressive behavior.
While Rachel is already handling living with an ex-husband and his boyfriend in their condo, and a boss who wants to fire her, now she has a pile of other problems. A longtime friend/lover, David, lives next door to Celeste with his new wife, but he still wants Rachel. She inherited her mother's house which needs work. Celeste has issues of her own she is dealing with, an alcoholic husband, distant teens, and loads of resentment.
Characters are portrayed as realistic individuals. Rachel is fully
realized and complex as is Celeste. Lucie is examined and exposed as an
especially flawed character. A novel only handling the complicated and
unhealthy parenting of Lucie and the effects on her daughters would be a
heavy enough focus for a short narrative.
Welcome Home, Stranger is a beautifully written novel about
the complications of family, grief, growing older, and reexamining your
past. However, it also covers so many emotionally laden topics in so few
pages that nothing seems to reach any satisfying resolution, which is
unfortunate. Just a few of Rachel's problems would be enough to cover in
one abbreviated novel. The other option would be to extend the
narrative and fully cover all the issues.
Sunday, November 26, 2023
The Fiction Writer
The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor
11/28/23; 304 pages
Park Row Books
The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor is a recommended Gothic mystery set in California.
Olivia Fitzgerald's last book, Becky, based on Daphne du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, was an adjunct failure so she is surprised when her agent calls to tell her that reclusive, handsome, mega-billionaire Henry (Ash) Asherwood wants to hire her for a writing job. The money is good so she flies to Malibu to meet with him and learn the details before signing an NDA. Ash claims that du Maurier actually stole his late grandmother's story. He has read her diary which was written in French before Rebecca was published and he wants Olivia to tell her story. Then it all gets rather dicey because he's not seriously discussing business or having his people get down to business. Olivia "finds herself drawn into a tangled web of obsession, marital secrets, and stolen manuscripts."
Where this succeeds is as a Gothic mystery, based on Rebecca. Metatextuality is clearly on display when, interspersed between Olivia's chapters about her trip, are excerpts from a book titled The Wife, which seems to be another retelling of Rebecca. It all seems a bit too much, even if you appreciate the idea Cantor is pursuing.
This plot is very slow moving and requires all manner of suspension of disbelief almost immediately, especially since a compelling reason to keep reading past the thirty percent mark is missing.
Even if you need the money, most people would suspect something odd
right away and make Ash discuss business, not his cooking abilities.
Olivia is there to do a job and she needs the information to do so. Once
it becomes clear that the handsome rich guy is not providing the
information, then it is time to go home and wait for him to get the
papers in order, not hang around and drink too much.
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell
11/28/23; 432 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Kay Scarpetta #27
Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell is a highly recommended crime fiction for fans of chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. This is the twenty-seventh novel in the long running series.
Dr. Scarpetta is flown out to wilderness of Buckingham Run in northern Virginia by her niece, Secret Service agent Lucy Farinelli. Agents are already on the ground with her longtime associate Pete Marino. Scarpetta is there to retrieve the mauled remains of two bodies, Huck and Brittany Manson, owners of an outdoor gear store. The retrieval of both bodies is involved, one body in a mine shaft and another in the lake. The two are suspected of spying or links to terrorism so the retrieval and autopsies are top secret. Their trail cameras, which the Secret Service hacked, did not show the assailant. Even weirder is the large foot print Marino found in the cave which he believes is that of Bigfoot. He took a cast of it and has made arrangements to have it examined.
Having read and enjoyed almost all of her early books, I took a long
hiatus mid-way through this series after several disappointing books. The pace does start out a bit slow as recovering the bodies and the
autopsy take up the bulk of the narrative but does pick up speed.
Appreciation of Cornwell's writing style will help. There is a lot of
technical, step-by-step medical and procedural details as well as other
details (food, technical devices, programming, vehicles, as a few
examples) shared as the plot unfolds. Expect political views.
Suspension of disbelief is required with the return of an old nemesis. The major plot thread does reach a conclusion, but there are several other unresolved storylines. This one is for fans of the series who know all the characters, their backstories, and want to know what's happening now. It wasn't surprising (the major twist will easily be predicted by some readers) but it is entertaining and comfortable to see old characters. 3.5 rounded up
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Primary Storm
Primary Storm by Brendan DuBois
11/28/23; 256 pages
Severn
River Publishing
Lewis Cole #6
(re-release, originally published on 1/1/2006)
Primary Storm by Brendan DuBois is a very highly recommended mystery and the sixth book in the Lewis Cole series.
During the frantic primary season in New Hampshire, apolitical retired Department of Defense analyst and columnist for Shoreline magazine Lewis Cole becomes a suspect in an assassination attempt on Georgian Senator Jackson Hale. The only reason he attended the rally was because his girlfriend Annie Flynn works for Hale's campaign asked him to. Apparently his gun was found at the rally. After video evidence proves his innocence, two things become very clear. The secret service agent who visited him earlier was bogus and someone is trying to use him as a pawn in a ruthless game.
The writing is excellent. The novel is well-paced and the tension rises to a heart-stopping ending. Cole is a great character who is intelligent, perceptive, and resourceful. His friend Felix Tinios makes an appearance as a very good friend. Annie is his love interest but is more a supporting character and a diversion.
DuBois captures the whole frantic
atmosphere surrounding the primary season and the pummeling of
the residents with political polls and ads in this outing.
With each new re-release of the novels in the series, I am
enjoying Lewis Cole more and more.
Now that I know that the novels are being re-release, I really
appreciated some of Cole's comments from that time. One that
especially had me laughing involved his love of reading physical
newspapers because you can't take a big computer with you if you
want to read in the bathroom. Times have certainly changed since
2006. Cole is introduced to a cell phone for the first time.
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Starkweather
Starkweather by Harry N. MacLean
11/28/23; 432 pages
Counterpoint
Starkweather by Harry N. MacLean is a very highly recommended true crime story.
In the eight days from January 21-29, 1958 nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather and (possibly) his fourteen-year-old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate,
murdered 10 people the majority in or near Lincoln, Nebraska. (Another
man was killed weeks earlier by Starkweather.) The killing spree began
with Caril's mother, stepfather, and little sister. The reverberations
of the case were immediate and Starkweather has been called the first
modern-day mass killer. Caril's involvement has never been settled. Both were convicted.
Charlie Starkweather was executed, while Caril Fugate served 18 years before her parole.
In Starkweather, MacLean re-examines official documents, interviews, and notes to provide a new account of this case. The book is broken down into six parts. Part I introduces Charlie and Caril. Part II, The Killings, sets forth two versions of the killings, one from Charlie's point-of-view and another from Caril's. Charlie gave at least 10 different versions and changed key facts in each version. Caril's version stayed pretty much the same. Part III. The Trials, details both trials. Part IV, Guilt or Innocence, MacLean shares his own analysis of what he believes happened. Part V, The Consequences, describes the effect of the killings on various people involved. Part VI, Impact, he discusses the impact on American culture. As the author grew up in Lincoln during the crimes, he saved the personal effect his research had for his epilogue.
Presenting the conflicting points-of-view of Charlie and Caril as
well as then presenting the many changes Charlie made to his recounting
of what happened is a smart move. MacLean's own analysis is quite
interesting and he made some good points. This is a very well written
account of a case many are familiar with and crime enthusiasts will
appreciate the care taken to the story.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
My Husband's Lies
My Husband's Lies by Liz Lawler
11/20/23; 342 pages
Bookouture
My Husband's Lies by Liz Lawler is a recommended thriller.
Kate is a doctor, her husband Mark is an airline pilot, and they have a young son, Jacob. Mark is being questioned by the police in connection with the murder of a young woman in Barcelona and Kate is unsure she can really trust him. Then Mark is hit by a car, hospitalized, and in a medically induced coma while the police plan to arrest him. When Mark's friend, Robert, shows up with another co-worker, Olivia, they assure Kate they are there to help and support her as she tries to prove her husband's innocence while she also questions if she can trust him.
My Husband's Lies is a fast-paced thriller full of flawed
people. The narrative is mainly told through Kate's point-of-view, whose
judgement is questionable at times. While the plot starts out
intriguing, it becomes formulaic. There is also a point where a huge
suspension of disbelief is required for the plot to even continue. What
mother would trust some random co-worker of her husband, one she has
never met, to stay in her home and take care of her child? Uh, no one I
have ever known would even consider this. Once this leap is taken, the
plot becomes very predictable. Interesting, but not utterly gripping or
jaw dropping.
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Thirty Days of Darkness
Thirty Days of Darkness by Jenny Lund Madsen
Megan E. Turney, translator
5/25/23; 413 pages
Orenda Books
Thirty Days of Darkness by Jenny Lund Madsen is a highly recommended Nordic Noir thriller and the first book in a new series by the Danish author. The edition I read was translated by Megan E. Turney.
Copenhagen author Hannah Krause-Bendix Hannah is an acclaimed writer who is currently suffering from writer's block. At a book fair she openly displays contempt for wealthy successful crime writer Jørn Jensen. Hannah claims anyone can write a crime novel. The public encounter results in Hannah accepting Jensen's challenge to write a crime novel in thirty days. Her friend and editor sends her off to stay with a friend in Iceland where she becomes part of an actual murder mystery.
Hannah comes across as an old disgruntled
curmudgeon in the beginning of the novel and then settles into a
character who seems younger than her age, forty-five. The plot is an
author following and inserting herself into a real life murder mystery
as she writes about it. As she stumbles about the small village of Húsafjöður
trying to solve the crime, her character
becomes more human and relatable because she clearly doesn't know the
inhabitants and their histories.
It is unclear if she is actually helping the local
police officer, Viktor
or not. Her host,
Ella, does not speak Danish and Hannah barely knows Icelandic. The two
communicate through written notes, which adds a level of
difficulty. The murder victim was Ella's nephew, Thor, which places
Hannah close to the investigation, which probably wouldn't happen in
real life as most guests would leave, not stick around to write a crime
novel about it.
This is an entertaining novel that has some action and humor that will hold your interest throughout. There are a few other events in the novel where readers will have to set disbelief aside. It
basically shows crime fiction as formulaic rather than a compelling
thriller with unexpected twists in the plot. At the halfway point I knew
the direction it was going.
Friday, November 17, 2023
The Other Half
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell
11/21/23; 448 pages
Anchor
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell is a recommended murder mystery, especially for anyone who enjoys disapproval of the wealthy gilded
youth of the British class system.
Influencer Clemmie is found murdered on Hampstead Heath after the 30th birthday party of her boyfriend, Rupert Beauchamp. The party was a black-tie dinner at McDonald's and attended by a host of socialite friends with nicknames. DI Caius Beauchamp, no relation to Rupert, finds the body during a morning jog. Rupert is the obvious main suspect but there are plenty of other suspects available too. Rupert uses Clemmie's death as an opportunity to pursue Nell Waddingham.
After almost set this one aside several times at the beginning of the novel, I stuck with it once the investigation started. The police procedural made me stay, even though at times it almost gets buried under extraneous information. I liked the investigative team of DI Caius, assisted by DS Matty Cheung and DC Amy Noakes and would like to see them on another case.
Most of the other characters I actively disliked. There are some plot
twists that held my interest and the novel greatly improved toward the
end.
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The Night She Lied
The Night She Lied by Lucy Dawson
11/16/23; 371 pages
Bookouture
The Night She Lied by Lucy Dawson is a highly recommended psychological thriller.
Jude has recently lost her partner and switched to working nights shifts as an A&E nurse in a hospital. When her mother,
Margaret, calls and tells her something terrible has happened, Jude is
concerned for several reasons. Perhaps she shouldn't have shared any of
this information with Rik, the new man she just met, but he seemed
understanding. When Margaret won't answer her return call, she sends the
police for a wellness check. This in turn sets off her mother, and
causes a stir in the whole family which soon culminates in Margaret
being charge with crimes committed twenty years ago.
Margaret gives off strong Mommy Dearest vibes at the start which continue throughout. This character flaw always makes it a bit difficult to believe that a grown adult daughter would keep putting up with the manipulative behavior but it also makes for a compelling narrative because you can't predict what a character who is this flawed will do next. While Margaret is truly an unlikable character, Jude isn't entirely sympathetic because something seems off about her at the start. They are both unreliable characters. This is a good time to note that if characters are eliciting this much speculation and analysis, they are probably well-written with this result in mind.
The narrative is told through multiple points-of-view and in multiple timelines, providing background information to the current action and further developing the plot. There are plenty of twists and new information divulged along the way, making the story additionally complicated and unpredictable. In turn, I enjoyed the novel while also shaking my head in disbelief, however, I read it to the end and was engaged in the story. 3.5 rounded up.
Perfect Shot
11/14/23; 368 pages
St. Martin's
Special Agent Alexandra Martel #1
Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi is a very highly recommended, action packed thriller and the first book in a new series.
FBI Special Agent Alexandra Martel, a former decorated Army sniper and combat medic, is currently on loan to Interpol and in the Netherlands when she learns an old friend, Krysten, an MI5 officer, has been killed under mysterious circumstances in London. Once in London, Krysten left clues that only Alex can follow. It becomes clear that much more is going on and that Alex has a target on her back and there is a larger scheme developing. Along with CIA agent Caleb Copeland Alex is called to Turkey to recover a stolen nuclear bomb.
Action explodes through the Netherlands, London, Turkey, and
Paris. Alex is an intelligent, tough, tenacious woman and a good
character to feature in the first novel of a new series. Caleb is still a bit of an
enigma, but is clearly more than her equal. The two verbally spar,
but work well together when threatened, pursued, and the conflict
is intense.
The heart-stopping action, dangerous conflicts, espionage, and
skirmishes are the main purpose of this thriller and Perfect
Shot certainly delivers that globally. All this action makes
for an un-put-downable thriller from start to finish. If
undercover, global geopolitical action grabs your attention, then
Perfect Shot will deliver.
Saturday, November 11, 2023
The Professor
The Professor by Lauren Nossett
11/14/23; 336 pages
Flatiron Books
Marlitt Kaplan #2
The Professor by Lauren Nossett is a highly recommended mystery.
In Athens, Georgia, college student Ethan Haddock is found dead and the media begins to follow the incident. His
professor, Dr. Verena Sobek, was taken in for questioning, after which she is suspended from teaching and a Title IX
investigation is opened. Disgraced former detective Marlitt Kaplan is
now working as a research assistant for her father, a professor. She
misses police work and her former partner, but knows she can never
return to the force. Her mother, who is also a professor at the
university, is a colleague of Verena Sobek and asks for Marlitt's help
in clearing Verena's name. Marlitt agrees, although questioning people
when you have no authority or inside access to information is
challenging.
Told through several different points-of-view, the very slow start
made it difficult to engage with the narrative right from the start. It
is not until later in the novel that the action picks up and the plot
becomes more compelling. A critical incident in Marlitt's background is
hinted at but I didn't realize The Professor was second in a series. The first novel, The Resemblance, is about the incident in Marlitt's life that preceded this novel and apparently provides some vital background information.
It is very well-written and once the action takes off, the novel
improves. If you can power through the first part things get better, as
in more compelling. Expect twists and surprises along with a good dose
of criticism over academia's treatment of staff and students. Also
expect a few incidents that require a good dose of suspension of
disbelief as they strain credibility. 3.5 rounded up.
Kinfolk
Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich
11/14/23; 400 pages
Harper
Muse
Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich is very highly recommended
Southern literary fiction that can be heartwarming, heartbreaking, and
humorous. Kinfold is an excellent novel; one of the best of
the year.
It is the 1970s in Park, Alabama, where Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, or “Nub,” 62, is a known town drunk and best friend of cousin Benny. An incident sends him to the hospital, where he first meets fifteen-year-old and six-foot-five Minnie, whose self-comforting singing wakes him up. He later discovers more about Minnie and decides to sober-up to foster her. At the same time Nub's daughter, Emily, learns some bad news that she is dealing with on her own and the man who is Minnie's father, Sugar Bass, has just been released from prison.
This whole cast of diverse, fully realized main characters come together with a supporting cast to create a complete picture of a specific time, place, and family. At the beginning, as the various characters are introduced, the narrative may seem a bit scattered, but everything will quickly begin to come together. The humor along with insight into the broken characters will grab your attention until the plot takes off, securely holding your rapt attention to the end.
At its heart Kinfolk is a masterful story of the family you
have and the one you create. There is also a good dose of drama, threats, second chances, country music, redemption, forgiveness, love, and humor.
The hilarious lines that show up throughout the story are appealing and
help set the tone of the novel. Even when something bad is happening,
humor can help with the pain. One of the earlier lines about the name for the special kind
of person who signs up for a job at Waffle House is laugh-out-loud funny. That remark is followed rather quickly by another perfect quote,
"Thanksgiving is about fulfilling family obligations and being
miserable the way the good Lord intended."
I really loved Kinfolk. Filled with memorable characters in a captivating plot, it is one of the best books I've read this year.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Odyssey's End
Odyssey's End by Matt Coyle
11/14/23; 320 pages
Oceanview Publishing
Rick Cahill #10
Monday, November 6, 2023
The Spy Coast
The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
11/1/23; 364 pages
Thomas & Mercer
The Martini Club #1
Saturday, November 4, 2023
The Railroad
The Railroad by Matt Brolly
11/8/23; 360 pages
Oblong Books
Lynch and Rose #2
The Railroad by Matt Brolly is a very highly recommended investigative thriller and the second book in the Lynch and Rose series. The pages will fly by when you read this excellent, fast-paced, tension-filled, complicated thriller.
A model train locomotive is found at the gruesome murder scene of a family of four and is clearly recognize as a tie to the psychopathic serial killer, The Controller. Special Agent Sandra Rose and Special Agent McBride are called in to assist the investigate. At the same time former agent Samuel Lynch receives a package addressed to his alias which also contains a model train locomotive. Lynch makes sure his ex-wife and son flee their current location and then contacts Rose. Because of his experience with the Controller and obvious connection to the current investigation, Rose asks him assist in the current investigation. And then the body count rises and the threat increases.
The characters are fully realized, determined, and intelligent. Readers will appreciate these characters, even when they are struggling or feel broken. It is sheer pleasure to follow along as they investigate and piece clues together. The crime scenes can be gruesome, but the idea that the criminal empire of the Controller may be returning is even more frightening.
The Railroad is an un-put-downable thriller that will hold
your attention throughout. The tension is palpable and the short
chapters keep the pages flying by as more information is uncovered and
the action intensifies. It does require some suspension of disbelief,
but this is
done without a second thought because the plot and suspense is so
compelling. Although The Railroad is the second in a series, you
can read this as a stand-alone novel as enough background information is
provided, however, I predict you will want to read the first book, The Controller.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Death at Paradise Park
Death at Paradise Park by Ross Greenwood
10/30/23; 469 pages
Boldwood Books
DS Ashley Knight #2
Death at Paradise Park by Ross Greenwood is a very highly recommended police procedural. If you enjoy detailed procedurals that closely follow the investigation, you are going to love Death at Paradise Park. Although this is the second book featuring DS Ashley Knight, it works well as a stand alone novel, however then you will want to get the first in the series, Death on Cromer Beach.
The first victim was Alfie Hook, who was killed while eating his fish and chips by the Hunstanton seaside. When DS Ashley Knight, her rookie partner Hector Fade, and her Major Investigation Team from the Norfolk Police are called to investigate, they realize that this isn't going to be a simple case once they discover who Alfie is married to. Then a second body is discovered at the nearby Paradise Caravan Park. There are seemingly no clues tying the two murders to each other and then the body count rises.
The writing is exceptional in this fast paced, detailed investigative
procedural. If you love following clues and trying to piece complicated
details together as they are discovered, this will be an
un-put-downable novel. As the death count rises, it becomes a
breath-taking mad dash against time as the team tries to figure out what is going on and why before someone else becomes a victim. There are surprises and twist along the way during the investigation.
The narrative unfolds through Ashley's point-of-view. She is a
reliable, intelligent, insightful investigator and narrator. Time is
also spent developing the characters so they feel like real, unique
individuals. Dialogue between characters occurs naturally and is
sometimes humorous. If needed, a helpful list of characters is found at
the beginning of the novel to help keep track of who is who.
Death at Paradise Park is an excellent police procedural with a
strong plot and fully realized characters that will keep you guessing
right up to the surprising ending.