Don’t let this one be a stranger to you: The Stranger Diaries by Griffiths

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsOctober 19, 2018

MY EARLIER REVIEW IS BELOW

I have absolutely adored Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway mystery series and hope that she will continue to write many more book about Ruth, her family, colleagues and friends. Ms. Griffiths has also penned the post-war Max Mephisto series. Now, she has written her first standalone novel. I will start by saying that this atmospheric, character driven story does not disappoint.

Plot: Clare is a teacher at the school where her daughter, Georgia, is a student. Harbinder is a Detective Sergeant whose alma mater is this school. When Clare’s colleagues begin to die, Harbinder is assigned the investigation. The school also has close ties to the author of a very scary story. These threads intertwine to produce a suspenseful, somewhat Gothic tale.

Most interesting to me in the book were the many characters and their interrelationships. There are Clare and her ex-husband, Clare and her daughter, Clare and her colleagues, Clare and Harbinder. Then there are Georgie and her parents, Georgie and her teachers, Georgie and her boyfriend, Georgie and her writing group, etc.

Another feature of the novel is the offering of different points of view. The reader sees events through the eyes of Clare, Georgie and Harbinder.

As in all good mysteries there are some twists. This is a novel that I definitely recommend. My favorite novels by this author are still the Ruth novels but this is worth a read for suspense lovers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read by one of my favorite authors!

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsNovember 18, 2018

#BrokenGround #NetGalley

MY EARLIER REVIEW:

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.

It is currently an e book for $2.99

A Novel

by Beth O’Leary

This is a sweet and enjoyable read about Tiffy and Leon. They are going to be flatmates. She needs a place to live and he is looking for a rent share. The twist is that, for a while, the two do not meet. Leon works nights while Tiffy works days; they plan never to be in their home at the same time. How do they get from this agreement to a relationship? Read this one to find out. It is a nice story.

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

This charming debut features lovely characters being nice to one another. It’s easy to root for them to get together and solve the problems in each of their lives. Be prepared to hand-sell this one. It’s a sweet romance that will win over readers once they discover it on the shelves.”

—Library Journal, starred review

This is a wonderful historical novel based upon the Book Women who delivered library materials to those in the out of the way sections of Kentucky.  The book women were part of a program started by President Roosevelt under the WPA.

There are many book women in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky but the protagonist of the novel is the unforgettable Cussy.  Cussy speaks in dialect which helps the reader to fully enter into her world.  Cussy faces special challenges because she is the last of the ‘blues.’  There really were blue-skinned people in America as a supplement at the back of the novel attests.  They were objects of curiosity and also of prejudice, just as was the case for the African American population.

Cussy wants to be independent both before and after her disastrous short term marriage.  And yet, what will happen with patron Jackson who is one of the few to call Cussy by name, rather than the derogatory Bluet?

Cussy’s love of books flows through the novel.  There are references to books that were popular at the time, including those by Steinbeck and Rex Stout.  Cussy’s inventiveness in making books and delivering what her patrons need is impressive.

The landscape of rural Kentucky, the small towns, the mines, the mountains are all well described.  Each patron that Cussy visits has a back story and readers will even come to learn more about the mule who transports her.

If you are a reader who enjoys historical fiction set in the U.S., consider this one.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks, for this book in exchange for an honest review.

What happened? Why? The Killings at Kingfisher Hill

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsSeptember 18, 2020

#TheKillingsatKingfisherHill #NetGalley

The New Hercule Poirot Mystery

by Sophie Hannah

MY EARLIER REVIEW: #TheKillingsatKingfisherHill #NetGalley The Killings at Kinfisher Hill is the fourth mystery that Sophie Hannah has written with the permission of the Agatha Christie estate. The books feature Hercule Poirot. They are stand alones so can be read in any order. This book, along with the others in the series, have an old fashioned feel. They have some Christie trademarks with traditional settings, intricate plots and some interesting characters. Readers know that with the help of his “little grey cells,” Poirot will solve the case. There are a number of threads to the story. In one, a young woman refuses to initially board a coach because she has been told that she will be murdered if she sits in seat seven. What will happen to her whether she sits there or not? Poirot has a conversation with a mysterious woman on this same coach. She tells him that she has murdered someone and regales him with the tale while remaining anonymous. Who is she? Did she do what she said? How will Poirot find out? Then there is Helen. She has confessed to a murder but it is not clear that she actually killed the victim. Did she? Why if she did, and why confess if she did not? And…who is the second murder victim? Why were they murdered? How does this connect with the first murder in the story? Thank goodness that Poirot is around to bring order to the case and the reader’s world. Fans of traditional mysteries and/or Agatha Christie will enjoy this case. Can your “little grey cells” figure it out? Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this enjoyable read. All opinions are my own.

We all have tales to tell: The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJanuary 2, 2020

MY EARLIER REVIEW:

The beginning of this novel asks that readers suspend disbelief.  Why were these five characters mysteriously invited to attend a society whose mission was not known?  The author implies that something higher than the fictional Gilda brought them together.  After all, this is a book that is published by a Christian publisher.

So…the five are the heir to a cosmetic company, a widower grieving for his wife, a divorced man wanting to see his children, an executive assistant who would feels qualified to be a CEO, and her former husband, an academic who is contemplating a difficult career decision.  The story of each of these characters, Coral, Ed, Chuck, Lexa and Jett is told in a way that keeps readers turning the pages.  There are romance, secrets revealed and healed, and deep friendships formed over the course of the novel.

SPOILER:  One of these characters makes a major life decision based on being called to become an active Christian.  I won’t tell you who but in the context of the story, this felt slightly forced to me.  Otherwise, I found this novel to be an enjoyable, easy read .

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

#TheFifthAvenueStorySociety #NetGalley

Now out: The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson

by Anne Youngson

Just as a narrowboat must travel at its own, somewhat measured pace, the timing of this novel is deliberate and thoughtful (in a good way). This is clearly a book to savor, not one to rush through. Readers will commit to the experience of enjoying some literary travel in an unhurried way.

The Narrowboat Summer tells the story of three women and those around them. The owner of the boat is Anastasia, an older woman who has lived on the canals. She needs a place to stay off of the water while she receives medical treatment. She comes to stay at Eve’s home.

Two women, previously unknown to one another, take on the task of ferrying Anastasia’s boat to its’ destination. One is Eve and the other is Sally, both of whom are seeking change and meaning in their lives.

As the two navigate and travel, they become closer to one another. They also meet a series of people on their literal journey and their voyages of self-discovery. These include an elderly man, a storyteller and others, all of whom have something to say and teach about life.

The stories of the characters are engaging and readers root for all of them as they seek the lives that they want (and deserve). Take the time to travel with them. You will enjoy the journey.

As a side note, I have always thought that it would be marvelous to travel along the British canal system. I still have not done that but this book did nothing to lessen my wish to do so.

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

by DK

Pub Date 23 Feb 2021

This title is exactly as described. It offers simple, concise explanations of concepts in the field.

Following an introduction, this book is broken down into sections including Thinking About the World, Being and Language, Mind and Matter and, Right and Wrong. Each of these divisions has many subsections; to name just a few: An Unknowable Origin, Hume’s Fork, Taking Language Apart, The Helpless Mind, Human Understanding, The Virtuous Life and Moral Choice.

Each entry is illustrated and short. It is the kind of book that will answer questions for many and will encourage others to dig deeper.

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

By the way, if you would like to learn more about philosophy through novel, I highly recommend Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.