Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

I have not as yet read this but it has gotten very good reviews as you can see below.  Kirkus comapres the author to two of my favorites, Steiner and French which has to be a good sign.

“[A] taut, psychologically twisted debut . . .  Readers will root for the spiky Kinsella, with her emphatic center, and hope to see more of her in future books.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

“Cat’s evolution from one-dimensional sad sack to complex, honest adult is both believable and welcome, putting her on par with Susie Steiner’s and Tana French’s female detectives. A truly satisfying—and gritty—mystery.”
(Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“Frear has fashioned a remarkably rich and sympathetic character in Cat, and her portrayal of dysfunctional families, especially their mix of world-weary dialogue interspersed with cutting comments, is cringingly realistic. . . . Impressive. . . will also work as a way of keeping Tana French fans happy while waiting for French’s next book.” (Booklist)

“An assured debut . . . All the characters–minor or lead, living or dead–are well crafted. Frear also makes an impression with her vivid dialogue and prose . . . It’s no secret that Lies is an engrossing read.”
(Shelf Awareness)

This may be a good one for long winter nights as it is over 900 pages long.  I have not yet read it but am putting it on my TBR pile.

From Library Journal

I have not read this but purchased it immediately when I saw that it was an e-book bargain.  Becoming Mrs. Lewis has gotten excellent reviews.  The novel tells the story of C S Lewis and Joy Davidson.  I am excited to read it and hope that you will be too.

You can see some of the praise below.

‘Patti Callahan weaves a hypnotic historical fiction narrative of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis, or ‘Jack,’ as he’s known to his closest friends . . . Spanning more than a decade, this slow-burning love story will be especially satisfying to writers and C.S. Lewis fans, as there are many references to his literary canon and his famous stories of Narnia. Callahan’s prose is heartfelt and full of grace.’ (BookPage)

‘Callahan crafts a masterpiece that details the friendship and ultimate romance between the real Davidman and Lewis . . . Fans of Karen White and Mary Alice Monroe will enjoy this book. Callahan’s writing is riveting and her characters spring to life to create a magical and literary experience that won’t be soon forgotten.’ (Library Journal, STARRED review)

‘Readers familiar with the life and work of C.S. Lewis will relish learning about the woman who inspired some of his most famous books. Others will find the slow burn of the romance between the two mesmerizing. All fans of women’s fiction, particularly works with religious themes, will appreciate reading about this vibrant and intelligent woman.’ (Booklist)

I was not aware of this publication until I saw it on NetGalley. It is definitely worth a look and I would read this magazine again in the future. This publication is about reading and children; the target audience is probably parents, school and public librarians and teachers. There was an interesting mix of articles including one about a teen in Florida who is legally blind, advocating for better services who has written a book and one by James Patterson about a new series featuring heroine, Max Einstein, a girl who will have adventures while making science interesting. There are also reviews, suggestions of books for holiday gifts and some articles on other media like TV, music and movies. A good publication if you are its target audience.
Thanks NetGalley and Story Monsters Ink.

#StoryMonstersInkNovember2018 #NetGalley

This is a standalone novel by a favorite author of mine.  Earlier this month, I posted on her latest Karen Pirie novel.  The Vanishing Poing is an earlier book.  It was a suspenseful, involving read and I highly recommend it!

From Goodreads:

Young Jimmy Higgins is snatched from an airport security checkpoint while his guardian watches helplessly from the glass inspection box. But this is no ordinary abduction, as Jimmy is no ordinary child. His mother was Scarlett, a reality TV star who, dying of cancer and alienated from her unreliable family, entrusted the boy to the person she believed best able to give him a happy, stable life: her ghost writer, Stephanie Harker. Assisting the FBI in their attempt to recover the missing boy, Stephanie reaches into the past to uncover the motive for the abduction. Has Jimmy been taken by his own relatives? Is Stephanie’s obsessive ex-lover trying to teach her a lesson? Has one of Scarlett’s stalkers come back to haunt them all?

A powerful, grippingly-plotted thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the end, The Vanishing Point showcases McDermid at the height of her talent.

In my opinion, Mutts is one of the best comic strips around.  Mooch and Earl are animal friends who experience life with wonder, joy and sometimes bafflement.  They can bring a smile to even the grumpiest face.  This is the newest compilation and I highly recommend it.

Some examples…

Finding an excellent bedtime story to calm a child at the end of the day is not easy; there are many but they are not all good. This one is! With whimsical illustrations and a peaceful refrain of Shhh!, a child watches as night falls, the moon rises, an animal brushes their teeth, etc. It is time to go to sleep.

This book is lovely and would be a perfect end of the day read. Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this wonderful picture book.

My children’s lit professor asked each student to bring in a picture book today and tell what made it meaningful.  This led me to think about some of my favorites.  I hope that you will enjoy seeing them!

Student favorites also included

The Giving Tree

Iggy Peck Architect

Just Go to Bed

Bad Girls Throughout History

Cat in the Hat

Good Night Darth Vader

Junie B Jones

The Little Red Hen

What Do You Do with a Problem

Pout Pout Fish

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Balloons over Manhattan

C is for City

The Amazing Bone

What would you add to this list?  Are some of your favorites here?  Do you recall favorite moments being read to or reading picture books to children you know?

This is both a very charming and a very instructive book.  If you want to learn to draw and paint adorable animals, you can learn how here.  There are detailed instructions on supplies and steps in creating the animals shown.  There is also support for the need to learn and acceptance at not being perfect.  However…If you don’t want to draw, you might enjoy just looking.  The illustrations are adorable!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto!

#DrawAndPaintSuperCuteAnimals #NetGalley

The Great Go-Kart Race is a story in a new series of picture books that feature STEAM concepts. Each entry will highlight Science, Technology, Engineering, Art or Math. This one is about science.

The book has lovely, appealing illustrations. We watch as the young protagonists. Max and Suzy try to win their go-kart race while encountering some obstacles along the way. For example, they get stuck in the mud. How will Max and Suzy manage their challenges? They succeed by using what they know and observe.

Young listeners will get an easy to understand yet genuine exposure to some scientific principles as try to figure out what will happen next. Concepts covered include forces, energy and materials. The back of the book has questions and additional resources.

This looks like it will be a great way to introduce concepts to children. I look forward to reading more in the series.

#BrokenGround #NetGalley

Val McDermid writes a number of series; of them all, the Karen Pirie novels are my favorites. Broken Ground is the newest of these.
I enjoy Karen. She is a quirky woman who has faced a significant loss and is still recovering. In this novel, she gingerly considers a new relationship. She is an old fashioned copper who cares about justice and what is right. She is loyal to those on her team who are still learners.
Karen is the head of the Historical Cases Unit in Scotland. Spending time with her, the members of her team (including her adversaries) and her cases is always time well-spent. In this novel, there are several stories; one relates to events of WWII, another to a serial rapist, and there is also a present day murder. Each of these plots is explored satisfactorily.
I finished this book today and am already looking forward to what happens next in the series. I highly recommend both this book and the series.

Many (!) thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this satisfying read.

Others in the series: