Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

This week’s The Short List:

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A Novel

by Susan Elia MacNeal

#MotherDaughterTraitorSpy #NetGalley

Last year I read and reviewed The Hollywood Spy, one of the Maggie Hope stories by this author. It set the stage for this new novel as it opened my eyes to what was happening among the pro German U.S. groups in the lead up to WWII. What I learned was appalling.

In many ways, Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy picks up where The Hollywood Spy left me. The difference is that this title is based on the lives of a real mother and daughter. Many other characters are also based upon real people. Here is a story about good and evil.

Readers get to know Vi and her daughter, Veronica. Veronica was set to have a very bright future as a journalist after she graduated from Hunter College. One mistake derailed her. Vi and Veronica subsequently leave New York and move to California at a relative’s urging. This puts the reader right back into a story about anti-Semitism, pro German sentiment and the world of spies. There are many shocking events over the course of the novel.

I highly recommend this title. I even think that it would be a wonderful one for high school students who are studying American history to read. It is, after all, important to know what happened right here in the U.S. In addition, some of the parallels to today’s political landscape are also here-just think about that.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 20 September 2022

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A suspenseful page-turner, vivid historical account, and inspiring story of female empowerment all in one . . . Riveting!”—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star

“A timely, fascinating story about a little-known chapter in American history, one that resonates especially strongly today.”—Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Resistance Women

“A fascinating, thought-provoking thrill ride through the fascist underbelly of 1940s Los Angeles, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy will have you glancing over your shoulder and wondering just what you’d dare—and whether you’d make it out alive.”—Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Daughter

“Gut-wrenching . . . This is historical fiction at its best.”—Lauren Belfer, New York Times bestselling author of And After the Fire

“Susan Elia MacNeal is at the height of her powers in this riveting suspense novel.”—Sujata Massey, Agatha Award–winning author of The Widows of Malabar Hill

“Susan Elia MacNeal is outstanding! Her ability to convey a spellbinding story that is realistically rooted in this time period puts her among the best!”—Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge series and the Bess Crawford series

The latest thrillers for October 2022 — Lee Child’s new Jack Reacher novel and more

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7649d97e-4982-11ed-8b55-aaf85c581598?shareToken=980759338a38e1facf878ed816db0033

Overcoming Fear and Achieving Success

by Napoleon Hill

A bit of research showed me that Napoleon Hill wrote many books of which his best known apparently is Think and Grow Rich. Amazing to me is that the book was first published in 1937. This is the first of this author’s works that I have read.

Here in a short, just over 100 page book, Hill takes on big topics as can be seen from the book’s subtitle. As the introduction notes, there are aspects of the essays that will perhaps feel dated but readers may still haves some good takeaways. Dip in and hopefully take away some bits of wisdom and something to contemplate after completing each entry.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 October 2022

1989 is the second in this new series by Val McDermid, following on last year’s 1979. Protagonist Allie Burns works for a newspaper and the term “intrepid” most aptly describes her as a reporter.

Allie has moved ahead in some ways since the conclusion of 1979, much as one would over a ten year period. No spoilers though so that readers who love Allie can catch up with her on their own.

This novel reflects some of the tragedy and chaos of the period. As the book opens the Lockerbie bombing has just happened, AIDS is raging and the Berlin Wall still stands. The homophobia and blame that victims of AIDS faced is heartbreakingly described.

One plot line follows Allie as she pursues a story about an AIDS drug trial. This takes her into East Berlin and gives readers a chilling feel for what it was like to live there.

There are many characters here from mogul Ace whom someone wants to kill, his daughter Genevieve, scientists, the Stasi, Allie and her partner and many more. Readers will like some of these characters more than others.

I liked this book quite a bit but I would still say that this author’s Karen Pirie books are my favorite. That said, I love that McDermid is a writer who tries new things and her depiction of the period feels most accurate. I also enjoyed spending time with Allie. I look forward to what comes next in 1999.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 October 22

Here is book four in the Louise Rick series although the author notes that it is set in an earlier time in her protagonist’s life. The book is set in Copenhagen, giving me my first mystery read in this city.

A woman is found dead and Louise is on the case. She also has an abandoned baby on her hands. Are the two linked? How? Who has committed a rather grisly crime? Is organized crime involved? What follows is a bit dark but nonetheless engaging. Lovers of Scandi crime will want to give this one a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 02 January 2018

Note that this book was previously published under the title Farewell to Freedom.

by Susan McCauley

How can you resist this cover? This title will be adored by both children and adults who know what it means to love a dog and be a recipient of that dog’s love. This book is based on a true story. It is beautifully illustrated and nicely written.

Trooper lives in Montana but needs to travel to California when his owner needs open heart surgery. Trooper faces his fears in getting on the plane and goes on to charm everyone at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Readers will be charmed as well.

Luckily Trooper’s owner gets better and they are able to return to Montana. There is a nice message through Trooper about how friends can be made in more than one place.

The end of the book includes photos of the real Trooper and other information. Adults may be a bit teary as they read this.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 22 November 2022

With legions of devoted fans and a knack for high-voltage emotional drama, Hoover has sold more than 20 million books. And she’s done it her way.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/books/colleen-hoover.html

Wallis Simpson’s name has come up quite a bit lately. Of course, the recently deceased Elizabeth II would never have been Queen were it not for Wallis. There are also those who have compared Wallis with Megan Markle. Both found a man unhappy with royal life and moved him away from what had always seemed to be his destiny.

For those who would like to know more about Wallis, this title offers a good read. Morton has the ability to write biographies that read almost like novels. The pages definitely turned for me. However, readers should note that they may well leave this book not liking its subject.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 13 February 2018