by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsOctober 1, 2018

The Ruin is a first novel by an author who is Irish and currently living in Australia.  Readers who know Tana French will think of her when they read Dervla McTiernan’s book.

A brief plot synopsis:  A detective had a case twenty years ago that involved two children who were not adequately cared for.  In the present, that little boy, now an adult dies.  What happened?   Was it murder? Why?  Is his sister involved?  Guilty?

The story is involved and complex with multiple characters.  They are well drawn, have personalities and evoke reactions in the reader.

I finished this  novel already looking forward to the next in the series.  One small criticism;  the author includes so much, maybe too much in the final solving of the case.

This novel gets 4 plus stars from this reader.  Other opinions below:
“A gripping mystery set in Galway that spans twenty years. It’s a complicated page-turning story that touches on corruption, clandestine cover-ups, and criminal conspiracy. . . . A story that’s as moving as it is fast-paced.”
—Daily Mail (London)
“Powerful . . . McTiernan neatly ties [the threads of the novel] all together in the suspenseful conclusion. McTiernan, born in Ireland but now living in Australia, is a writer to watch.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel

by Anne Hillerman

Pub Date 13 Apr 2021

Many mystery readers recognize the name Hillerman. It is shared by father, Tony, and daughter, Anne. Both are authors of excellent mysteries that draw on Native American themes. Anne took on the characters of her father’s novels, the well known Leaphorn and Chee, among others.

Spend time in the southwest among the Navajo as Bennie reconnects with an old friend’s brother whom she tries to help. This causes friction with Bennie’s husband, the long running series regular Chee. This leads to Joe Leaphorn’s involvement as well.

Those who already enjoy this series will be delighted to spend time with them again. New readers may well find that they want to go back to the beginning and have an enjoyable journey through the many earlier titles.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsSeptember 11, 2018

This is a charming woman’s fiction read about Emilia, her father, the people in her community, romance and BOOKS!  I read it a little while ago and enjoyed it as a very good light read.  It $1.99 today.

“Henry describes her novel as an ode to bookshops, and it is that. . . Readers who laughed and cried over ­Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove will love this one.”
—Library Journal

“Romantic, utterly heartwarming and a perfect treat for bibliophiles everywhere.”
–Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Café by the Sea

“Henry’s quirky cast of characters with their heartwarming intertwined tales of loss, love, and community make this a must-read for summer.”
—Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake 

“Henry’s sweet novel, filled with likable characters and shaped by a love of books, will appeal to fans of tender fiction who find bliss in bookstores and libraries.”
–Booklist

“A gorgeous escapist read.”
–Good Housekeeping (UK)

Bridges and Connections: The Secrets of Love Story Bridge A Novel by Phaedra Patrick

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMarch 16, 2020

The Secrets of Love Story Bridge is a warm-hearted tale of  flawed yet hopeful individuals who find one another and move forward in their lives.  The main character is Mitchell; he is a man with many regrets for how he lived his life with his partner Anita.  Now he is finding it difficult to move ahead without her.  A workaholic, Mitchell was often missing out on day to day life with Anita and their daughter, Poppy.

As the novel opens, Mitchell and nine-year-old Poppy form a tight (but somewhat rigid) twosome as Mitchell tries to control for all eventualities.  Mitchell tries to maintain his connection to Anita by writing letters that she will never read. He cannot get himself to read the last letter that Anita wrote to him.  Full of guilt, will Mitchell ever forgive himself?

Mitchell lives in Upchester, a town of many bridges.  One day he sees someone leave a love locket on the bridge and then go overboard.  He rescues this unknown young woman and this starts a period of change in his life.  Who went over?  What happened to her?  How will the private Mitchell cope with the ensuing publicity?

Mitchell was late to pick up Poppy on the bridge day so she was with a teacher, Liza.  The story of Liza and Mitchell will be the romance that you root for.  Readers will also learn about the connections between the woman on the bridge and the other characters in the novel.

This is a story of quirky characters who want what most of us want-a sense of connection and hope for the future.  In that sense, bridges that connect two places, form the perfect analogy for the novel.  During our current difficult times, this is a sweet book and may help readers to take a break from their worries.

Many thanks to  NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#TheSecretsofLoveStoryBridge #NetGalley

A Guide to Reading and Reflecting

by Karen Swallow Prior; Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre is, of course, a classic and one that many have read or plan to read. This edition includes the full text of the novel along with some added sections. These include a biographical essay on the author. One thing that became clear from reading this was the number of losses that Bronte faced.

This title also includes sections on reading the novel. A number of topics are covered including to what extent the book was autobiographical and other influences on the author as she wrote. The evolution of the novel and Bronte’s originality are also covered as are themes in the work. In addition, there is background on the Gothic novel and Romanticism.

This title is published by a Christian firm. So, there is also a part of the book on reading the novel “as a Christian today,”

Overall, I feel that this edition will be welcomed by readers looking for some insight into Jane Eyre before they read or reread it. There are even some questions for discussion included after each of the novel’s volumes.

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

by Inspired Inner Genius

This title is for young readers and has graphic novel like illustrations. It tells the story of Albert Einstein. Readers learn that he had his struggles, especially when young. His teachers did not always like him and did not recognize his intelligence. Of course, he went on to achieve amazing things as the author of this book duly notes.

This book gives a positive message to kids. It reminds them that, even if there are setbacks, perseverance can pay off.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Lost for Words Bookshop (Butland)

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJuly 6, 2018

When I saw the cover for this book, I thought that it would be a typical, light, women’s fiction read. That is not the case at all! This book is much more than that. Protagonist Loveday, who does work in a bookshop, is a unique, idiosyncratic, hurt young woman who does not trust easily. There are reasons for this as the reader learns. She is tattooed with quotes from her favorite novels, has a painful backstory, is bright and someone the reader hopes for. All of the characters from Nathan, to Rob, to Annabel, to Archie, to Loveday’s family are vividly portrayed and each has an important role in her life. This book is definitely worth reading in my opinion. I was inspired to look for the author’s other novels upon completing this. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s for this excellent read.

#TheLostForWordsBookshop #NetGalley