Norwegian Inspector Harry Hole is sent to Australia as something of a consultant/observer in the investigation of the murder of a Norwegian woman. Based on this, the first book in the series and my first Harry Hole book, I’m not clear why these are so popular. I can only assume they get better. Maybe it Continue Reading…
Dreadnought by Cherie Priest: Book Review
Mercy Lynch is a nurse in the Civil War, which has been lingering on for decades. Like many people, she has torn loyalties. She’s a nurse for the Confederacy but her husband is a soldier in the Union. Shortly after she receives word that he died in a POW camp, she receives a telegram notifying Continue Reading…
The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood: Book Review
I seriously did not think I could love an audiobook performance more than I love Katherine Kellgren’s narration of the Bloody Jack series by L. A. Meyer. And then she narrated The Mysterious Howling. Holy cow. I am in awe of Ms. Kellgren’s talent! Old men, teen girls, simpering married women, wolfish children howling at Continue Reading…
The Innocent by David Baldacci: Book Review
Will Robie is a sanctioned assassin for the US government. Needless to say, if he screws up he’s officially on his own. He gets an odd assignment amidst the cartel bosses and terrorists that are his usual hits. He’s assigned to take out a woman who works for the Department of Defense. The official story Continue Reading…
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan: Book Review
Now that the immediate danger to Camp Jupiter has been averted, Percy, Jason, and friends must set out to fulfill the Prophecy of Seven. Unfortunately, there was a…misunderstanding… in the camp and the friends must also dodge the Roman soldiers who are hunting for them. Gaea is coming more fully awake and her sons are Continue Reading…
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka: Book Review
Chronicling the lives of Japanese brides coming to America, Buddha in the Attic is deceptively slim. Almost every sentence begins a new story that is only hinted at, yet I saw at least the broad strokes of an entire life in just those few words. There is no main character and the book is told Continue Reading…
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan: Book Review
Percy Jackson finds himself entering a camp of Roman demigods near San Francisco with only the vaguest memory of who he is. The Romans accept him and he finds himself on a quest with Hazel and Frank, a couple of other demigods. They must make their way to Alaska, “The Land Beyond the Gods,” defeat Continue Reading…
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin: Book Review
Talmadge is in town selling the fruit from his orchard one day when he notices two girls watching him. They’re very young and very pregnant. He dozes off for a few minutes and wakes as the girls run away with some fruit they’ve stolen. He decides not to chase them because they look hungry. A Continue Reading…
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews: Book Review
4 Stars. I just adore Mary Kay Andrews’s books because they are so much fun to read! The characters generally come to life for me, I find myself laughing at the trouble they inevitably get themselves into, and the settings feel real. Spring Fever is no exception. Annajane is not perfect by any […]
NPR Favorite Driveway Moments: Book Review
I’m not an NPR listener but something about this title caught my eye. I downloaded it at the end of the year when I was trying to squeeze in one last nonfiction book to complete a reading challenge. Only about two hours long, I knew I could listen to it in just a couple of Continue Reading…
City of Thieves by David Benioff: Book Review
During the siege of Leningrad in World War II, Lev and Kolya find themselves in jail at the same time. After a sleepless night in which they expect to be executed the next morning, they instead find themselves facing a Colonel in the Red Army. He will let them go free if they agree to Continue Reading…