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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Sailim has commented on (60) products
Busy Body
by
Kemper Donovan
Sailim
, January 27, 2024
The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan was an outstanding read. Told from a first-person perspective, the story is that of an experience of a ghostwriter engaged to ghost write an autobiography for the latest failed presidential candidate. As a first-person narrative, it necessarily includes inner thoughts, observations, and barbs. She chronicles her own adventures, misadventures and frankly, stupidity along with the actions of her co-sleuth, the failed presidential candidate. The clues are woven into the story well. Some are detectible, some leave one thinking back and discovering the instance the clue came along. All the clues are there to be discovered by the characters and the reader. At first, I did not appreciate the narrator. To be honest, the style is a bit of an acquired taste. However, once into the story, it lends itself to the overall feel of the story as her personal perspective. Perhaps one of the most refreshing parts of the story was the entire lack of political messaging and nudging. The only agenda to the book was to solve the murder and for the ghostwriter to set her life on a path. HIGHLY recommend.
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No One Can Know
by
Kate Alice Marshall
Sailim
, January 21, 2024
I enjoyed the book. However, I don’t think I liked a single character in it – except perhaps Gabriel. And he is still a perhaps. The parents were abusive. The sisters – awful people who were willing to throw their sister to the wolves to protect themselves, even when they know she, at least, is innocent. Emma’s relationship with Nathan is a classic “marry your father.” And the police are corrupt. I absolutely do not like books that make the cops out to be bad guys – whether they are too stupid to do their jobs, too in love with their own power to see the forest for the trees, or the out right bad guy. Descriptions went on too long making some of the drama seem very forced. In places the story is boring and pointless. It was a sad, sick depiction of horrible people doing horrible things to themselves and others. But I did enjoy it.
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Listen for the Lie
by
Amy Tintera
Sailim
, January 21, 2024
What a great idea! A story and a podcast wrapped into one, but also kept separate. Very timely. The book is divided into the things that are happening currently with flashbacks to what happened before. The reason for the current events is a true crime podcast investigating a murder that was never officially solved, even though everyone “knows” who really did it. The reader gets to investigate along with the podcaster, Ben, but has the added benefit of also being in the mind of Lucy – the suspected murderer who claims she cannot remember what happened that long-ago night. Tintera expertly weaves the two story perspectives around each other creating a good flow and a suspenseful and truly enjoyable read. With respect to the characters, Lucy’s parents are abominable. Well, actually, so is most of the town. Ya gotta love Grandma. She seems to be the only one who doesn’t turn on Lucy. The voice in Lucy’s head was a bit annoying. Unlike most books about podcasts I found this one refreshing and kind of real.
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Hammers and Homicide
by
Paula Charles
Sailim
, January 21, 2024
I feel as though I just read, “Every Tired Cliché For Dummies.” Every-other paragraph had another tired cliché and then the author insults the reader by explaining what the cliché meant! The characters were immature and completely inappropriate for their age category. To clarify, that means a 50+ year old acted like a 12-year-old. And it was not entertaining. The book felt like it was a first attempt by a teenager. Poorly written, overly descriptive of things that did nothing to contribute to the story, and ridiculous speech patters by someone who is supposed to be a senior adult. Throw in some well fumbled ghostly visits and truly, it was awful. While I forced myself to finish, I greatly regret it. Dreadful waste of time.
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The Family on Smith Street: An utterly gripping and nail-biting psychological thriller
by
Elisabeth Carpenter
Sailim
, August 16, 2023
Interesting concept but terrible execution. The multiple timelines and points of view are the "'It' girl" of writing just now, but it just fell far short in execution with this book. There are too many jumps, too many points of view, too much over-the-top. Rather than adding to the story, it only creates chaos which does not contribute at all to the storyline or moving the plot forward. None of the characters were particularly likable or even engaging. No one really DOES anything. Poor kidnapped woman was basically left to rot by her "loving family." Daughter is more concerned with hunting down her friend who is sick in bed than finding her own missing mother. Wow. This is a recommended hard pass.
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Beneath the Marigolds
by
Emily C. Whitson
Sailim
, November 22, 2022
When first beginning, it feels like Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers. A group of people gather at a “spa” only to find something isn’t quite right. Whitson, however, goes in an entirely different direction and does it well. The story is engaging and enjoyable. What wasn’t enjoyable was the writing style, which should have been caught in editing. The long strings of simple sentences threw off the cadence of the story. There were so many sentences strung together that should have been combined that it becomes very obvious and distracts from the story. For example, rather than writing, “I picked up the book, read the title, and put it down on the table.” Whitson would write, “I picked up the book. I looked at the cover. I read the title. I looked for somewhere to put it. I put it down on the table.” It sounds petty, I realize. But this simplistic form of writing works to build suspense and slow things down, allowing drama and tension. But it does not work where she wrote it. The instances of attempting and failing to use this writer’s device were so frequent that they become noticeable and irritating. I found myself counting the sentences that should have been combined and rewriting the paragraph in my head instead of absorbing the story. Even with that annoyance, I enjoyed the book. It was easy to follow and unfolded at a great pace. It is a terrific story concept and with a little better editing would have been a five-star fiction.
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The Secret of the Lost Pearls: A Riveting Regency Historical Mystery
by
Darcie Wilde
Sailim
, November 17, 2022
Wilde makes a point of developing her characters thoroughly and in completely believable ways in The Secret of the Lost Pearls. The story is imaginative and… complete. The details tie up nicely, providing the reader with a very satisfying arm-chair-sleuth experience as well as a convincing ride through Regency England. As this is the sixth in a series, it is refreshing to see the characters stay true to their original design, while growing and changing in response to the events and decisions of their lives. Wilde’s writing is engaging and enveloping. One does not just read the story, but steps into the pages, following Miss Thorne around as she conducts her inquiries. Nicely done.
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Once Upon a Royal Christmas
by
Teri Wilson
Sailim
, November 17, 2022
The description of the book clearly identifies Once Upon a Royal Christmas as being from Hallmark. The cover, sparkly and snowflake adorned, underscores the direction the book will take. If it is possible to get diabetes from a book, this one is sure to spawn it in spades! From the outset through the conclusion, the story is sugary sweet in the extreme. Teri Wilson delivers a story perfectly crafted for Hallmark. I would expect it to join their holiday lineup soon. Gracie is too perfect. She is (again) sweet in everything she does. Her wide-eyed innocent approach to everything she sees or encounters is a bit extreme, more than I would expect from someone who had attended the likes of Julliard. But it is part of the whole Hallmark formula, so it works. The characters are not deep or well-developed. Their relationship is a standard Hallmark 5-second romance. An enduring work of literature, this is not. However, since it wasn’t meant to be, it should not be judged that way. The story is fun, romantic escapism at its best. “Princess” meets Prince. Beauty meets “The Beast”. Nearly every fairytale is represented in one way or another, including modern ones. If one loves Hallmark Christmas movies, this is certainly the right book for the holidays.
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Never Lie
by
Freida McFadden
Sailim
, November 15, 2022
Never Lie was not as predictable as thought at first. The use of initials was a good trope to send out potential clues and red herrings. That said, the character of Trish was more than annoying with her constant declarations that her husband was her hero and “the best husband ever” simply because he put dirty dishes in the kitchen. The incessant references first to her deep, dark secret she hasn’t told her husband, then to the baby were obnoxious. Ethan, Trish’s husband is entirely unlikeable, and Trish makes comments about his anger issues, indicating that she may be afraid of him. There are frequent references to her friends warning him about his “red flags,” but then McFadden does absolutely nothing with all these “red flags.” The ”suspense” fell flat. McFadden would start to build the tension, but it never paid off, not a single time. Details of the story were inconsistent. The beginning of the story and the details exposed later in the book do not tie together and frequently contradict. The title has nothing to do with the story. The “heroes” are disgusting. The writing feels like high school.
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Nothing but the Night Leopold & Loeb & the Truth Behind the Murder That Rocked 1920s America
by
Greg King, Penny Wilson
Sailim
, November 08, 2022
Keep moving. Nothing to see here. Really. Leopold and Loeb is a well-known case. The book really does not add much of anything to the story beyond the opinions of the authors. If you do not know anything at all about the case, it may be interesting. If you even know their names, then you likely will not learn anything from this book. Just keep perusing the bookshelves for something engaging. This is not it.
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Prisoner
by
BA Paris
Sailim
, November 08, 2022
What a fabulous idea for a book. Unfortunately, the main character is a total idiot and the story lacks the opportunity to root for anyone. None of the characters are plausible. The situations in the story are unconvincing and unbelievable. Complete train wreck of a book. Don’t waste your time.
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Rising Tide A Vera Stanhope Novel
by
Ann Cleeves
Sailim
, November 08, 2022
I loved this book. Never read any Ann Cleeves and did not put it together with the “Vera” show on the tele when I requested to review this book. The show is OK, but the Vera character is awful. Once I realized they were the same story I was a bit worried. But this is book is wonderful! Vera is a well-developed character who is a bit odd, but that is part of what makes her such a great character. Her quirkiness is clearly explained and works well as a backstory. The story is told mainly from Vera’s point of view. The handling of her weight is such a brilliant depiction of the thoughts of a person who has been fat their whole lives – the negative self-image, the projection of the self-hatred onto others is well done. She further takes on the idea that every claim of sexual assault must be believed and the reality that such claims can, and in unfortunate situations, do happen and ruin lives. She handles both situations masterfully. In all, Ms. Cleeves weaves an engaging story. Janine Birkett has the perfect voice for Vera and helps wrap the listener in the tale. Great read, great listen. Cannot recommend it enough.
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Death By Beach Read
by
Eva Gates
Sailim
, June 29, 2022
Beach Read is a fun little cozy. It is a bit shallow and predictable, but if one is reading to just escape for a while and enjoy, it does measure up. Some of the happenings seem a bit contrived and some take “you can’t make this stuff up” too far. But the characters are fun and the story is workable with only a small amount of suspension of disbelief. I love the setting of the town, particularly the library in a lighthouse. The Rum Runner inclusion was a great plot tool. I would certainly be sleeping with one eye open in that cottage. The writing is a bit overly descriptive, telling details that in no way advance the story or are even of interest. The story itself is slow to get started and once moving is like following a classic car driven by an octogenarian on a Sunday morning.
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Hidden One A Novel of Suspense
by
Linda Castillo
Sailim
, June 29, 2022
I am glad I read “The Hidden One” before I read any of Ms. Castillo’s other books. After reading it, and enjoying it, I read the first of the series. Then the second. Then I stopped. Her obsession with Daniel Lapp, which apparently has lasted through 13 years followed by 14 books has started to become a drinking game – and not in a good way. Kate Burkholder is a hot mess. In real life, she could never have become a police officer, let alone a chief of police. She has so many issues that she is, apparently, unable to deal with, that she could never have passed the psychological exams. To exacerbate the issue, she is romantically involved with an equally screwed-up love interest. Her investigative approach and decisions are constantly influenced by her own screwed-up history. Not a good character. As for this story specifically, I can honestly say that having experienced it in the order I did (#14, #1, #2), it is a good story - as a stand-alone. It is not suspenseful at all. There was nothing that made it a page-turner and I didn’t bite my nails once throughout the book. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and stereotypical.
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Best Friend
by
Shalini Boland
Sailim
, June 29, 2022
It was rather clear from the start how the besties were going to work out. But this story is really well done. It isn’t so much about who was the nutter, but rather just how crazy and how far she would go. It was neither “shocking” nor “stunning” as the advance reviews indicated it would be, but it was a great read. It left one truly wondering just how far Darcy would go, what she would do next. For me, that was the fun in the book – just how crazy was this woman going to get. The narration was excellent.
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The Wayward Spy: Volume 1
by
Susan Ouellette
Sailim
, June 29, 2022
If Maggie is an example of the people who serve as analysts for the CIA or House Intelligence Committee, I can certainly understand why foreign affairs and National Security are such a mess. Someone who works for these departments cannot be asked to lock her doors? And no one seems to care that her friend is stealing classified documents? Maggie bumbles around and has to trip over a dozen obvious clues before she manages to figure it out – or someone tells her. The bay guy is obvious from the very beginning – well both of them. All three? Guess it depends on how you count. There was no mystery for the reader, only for a character of limited intelligence. The rather major issue is that the book doesn’t end so much as it stops. There is no resolution. The matters are left unresolved. Rather than enticing one to read the next installment (yes, unfortunately, there is one), it is like a door being slammed in one’s face mid-sentence. Whilst addressing the style of author Susan Ouellette, she could not keep her details straight. Maggie worked for the CIA and trained at the Farm but then later claims her late fiancé taught her how to shoot a gun. For a book that allegedly had to be cleared by the CIA before it could be published, it lacks all credibility. Perhaps that is more down to the CIA edits than Ouellette’s writing, but it doesn’t feel that way.
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Brides Guide to Marriage & Murder A Brilliant Victorian Historical Mystery
by
Dianne Freeman
Sailim
, June 29, 2022
Ugh! Families can be such a trial! Particularly when they are more obsessed with themselves than with how they are impacting other people. Dianne Freeman certainly brings those annoying family members to life – and makes me envy the patience demonstrated by Lady Harleigh. As with the other books in this series, Freeman weaves a fun tale of murder and mysteries. The reliance on actual historical occurrences is a nice touch. No previous knowledge of the characters or the events of previous books in the series are needed to enjoy the story, although, I do recommend reading the earlier installments.
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The Echo Man
by
Sam Holland
Sailim
, April 10, 2022
Jessica is an entirely unlikable character and nearly turned me off the book in the early pages. Nate is a mess, but seems to have some redeemable characteristics. Cara might be a good cop, but the story really doesn’t feel like it is about her so much as Nate, her brother, and Jessica – Nate’s new girlfriend and wanted fugitive for murder, and of course, the Echo Man. Holland has a brilliant writing style. He weaves the stories together well, creating a believable tale, despite the fallback to serial killer copycat. The story does not feel at all like a replay of another copycat story. It is believable and creepy. The end presents a twist of sorts, although there were plenty of hints early in the story. The story is a bit gruesome, as are the serial killers the antagonist strives to imitate. If you don’t like gore, violence, specific crime scene descriptions, avoid this book. Bottom line. Because the book is filled with it. But if you enjoy reading the gritty, ugly side of crime, it is a good read.
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214 Palmer Street A completely gripping psychological thriller packed with suspense
by
Karen McQuestion
Sailim
, April 10, 2022
Honestly, I am torn on this book. Ambivalent. Sarah is suffering from a head injury. She knows she has fuzzy recall, and her judgment is less than trustworthy, yet she trusts a physical therapist she barely knows over her husband whom she knows she has known and loved for some time. Her husband, Kirk is a whiny, clingy, smothering, needy wuss. Every time he was in the story I wanted to scream at him to grow a pair. The jumps in time do not develop the story or move it forward. It comes across more like a literary contrivance employed simply because it is currently “the done thing.” McQuestion uses descriptive language well, developing the settings and supporting the storyline. But the storyline doesn’t really deserve the support. It is not engaging or absorbing, the plot is pretty predictable. The characters are THERE, but I would never invite any of them over for dinner.
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The Party at Number 12: A totally addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist
by
Kerry Wilkinson
Sailim
, April 10, 2022
What a fabulous idea for a book. Perhaps the people I hang out with are a bit more forward-thinking than the characters in the book. From the moment the party attendee turns up dead the book goes off the rails. It seems every character is determined to do the dumbest thing they can imagine. The decisions made are beyond ridiculous and truly make no sense. None of the characters behave as adults – even in a state of shock or a defensive position. The murderer was a stretch at best and the motive for the murder was over-the-top stupid. However, if you step away from the overall stupidity of everyone involved and rely very heavily on suspension of disbelief, then it could be a good rainy afternoon read. I’ve not read anything from Mr. Wilkinson previously and may not again. It was a truly inspired idea and he just did not deliver.
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Taste for Poison Eleven Deadly Molecules & the Killers Who Used Them
by
Neil Bradbury
Sailim
, March 08, 2022
I love mysteries and poison seems like such a great way to knock someone off. To be fair, I was a bit concerned that this would be a dry, textbook explanation of poisons. Dr. Bradbury made a super job of it! It was interesting, educational, and entertaining. I learned a lot, understood the chemistry, and would read another again.
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Aloha Alibi
by
Jasmine Webb
Sailim
, March 08, 2022
The premise of the book is a bit silly. Here is a hint to the main character – if the mafia can find you in Seattle, they can figure out you ran off to Hawaii and are staying under your own name at your mother’s house. So that will tell you the level of intrigue in the book, not that the mafia plays more than a passing role to get the story started. That said, I do not believe Ms. Webb intended this to be a follow-up to The Sopranos or Goodfellas, nor was it to be a Sherlock Holmes. With that said, the characters are fun and likable. Charlie and her old lady friends are great for a laugh, and you really want to get to know them, maybe have tea (or ice cream). The adventure is fun if you just let yourself go in the story. In all, a fun, light read.
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One for the Books
by
Jenn McKinlay
Sailim
, March 08, 2022
Lindsey is a tiny bit obsessive, which really isn’t appealing. And she obsesses over stupid things. OK, I get it, this is supposed to be her wedding, but it really isn’t hard to adjust plans, particularly when you are using your own venue – or that of your future in-laws who own an island. It was not a complex mystery or even a complex story. It was a relaxing story, kind of fun, definitely lighter than a typical cozy. While better than watching it rain, it was not a story that inspired me to read any more from Ms. McKinlay.
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Bone Deep Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case
by
Charles Henry Bosworth, Joel Schwartz
Sailim
, March 08, 2022
This is a challenging book. The main character, or actually, the subject of the book, is an innocent man who, if the reporting by the authors is to be believed, was railroaded by the police, prosecutors, and the judge. From the beginning, the “investigating” detective made me angry. It was the embodiment of fitting the facts to the theory. That anyone would be subject to such blatant prosecutorial misconduct, investigative incompetence, and judicial corruption is unthinkable, and yet this book proves we must think of it. Bosworth and Schwartz do an excellent job of relating the facts from their perspective and that of their client. They left me desperately wishing it were not a true story. The Dateline tie-in served to give it more credibility and enjoyability.
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Blue Fire: A Riveting New Thriller
by
John Gilstrap
Sailim
, March 08, 2022
Like just about every post-apocalyptic story, this one seems to devolve into a retelling of the Lord of the Flies, sort of a The Walking Dead without the Zombies. That isn’t a bad thing, just an observation. I enjoyed the story well enough to seek out the previous book. What was appealing for me was the reality of it. OK, I said it was a retelling of LOTF, but sadly, that is pretty realistic in human nature. The book is dramatic, but not in an over-the-top way; it addresses believable situations and paints an accurate, if grim, portrait of what things will look like should we ever find ourselves thrown back into the pre-electronic age. The characters were well developed, and their evolutions made sense, not only to the story but to reality. I did not like the weird “Hell Day plus” thing employed to place events on a timeline. It was chaotic. The story jumped around, back and forth through time with absolutely no purpose. It did not further the story or tie events together; rather, it was somewhat distracting. Having now read the previous book, these jumps are even more problematic because they do not tie to the timeline established in the first book. As a series, there needs to be reliable continuity. It just is not there. #VictoriaEmmerson, #JohnGilstrap, #NetGalley, #Post-Apocalyptic, #Survival
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The Lighthouse
by
Christopher Parker
Sailim
, October 18, 2021
The Lighthouse is definitely not adult general fiction. YA, possible, but not adult. The story itself is very YA. The writing style is unsophisticated and, frankly, shallow. It tried to be mystical and supernatural and “beyond”. But it fell short. The story moved too slowly, took too long to make a point and when finally doing so, doing it heavy-handedly. Braden Wright has a great voice for narration. He probably was not a good fit for this story, as most of the characters are female. He does not do a girl child girl voice well at all.
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Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed
by
Helene Tursten, Marlaine Delargy
Sailim
, October 15, 2021
Presented with an elderly woman who was dishonest and deceitful, argumentative and entirely unlikeable started the entire experience on a bad note. It didn’t get better. The writing seemed childish – not childlike. To be fair, the book was not written in English so the issue may lay in the translation. The narrator did a great job. Voice and cadence were pleasant and appropriate, facilitating what enjoyment could be obtained from the story. I wanted this to be the story of a feisty old lady who is clever and overcomes in spite of her age and other peoples’ stereotyping, a more sophisticated, yet murderous, Mrs. Polifax. It wasn’t.
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Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens: A Riveting New Regency Historical Mystery
by
Andrea Penrose
Sailim
, September 27, 2021
Andrea Penrose is a wonderful author. She incorporates the then current events, language, formality and precision of the times into believable characters. Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens is no exception. For a portion of the story Charlotte seemed to be abandoning her intestinal fortitude. Her fierceness vanished. As the story developed, her old pluck returned, governed by her emotional attachments. In all, the story was true to the series and well done. The story itself was unique in that the twists and turns were not predictable which made for difficulty in solving the crime, even for the characters. More fun, the true nature of the crime was not clear until the end – and excellent and unique approach. Great story, great read. Highly recommend.
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The Stowaway
by
James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth
Sailim
, September 14, 2021
Minutes into this book, I hated it. It never improved. Maria Fontana is the most neurotic “psychologist” ever. She is completely Unadjusted (forget not well-adjusted), non-functioning individual ever. That she is supposed to be teaching future psychologists is by itself frightening. Perhaps that was supposed the be the fear factor of the book. This is NOT a psychological thriller and is not at all enjoyable. The premise of the story is nearly believable, but it is a stretch. Honestly, the biggest question that arose for me was what do these authors have against cruise ships? I wish I had never wasted my time with this book. Greatly disappointing. The idea had great potential but the characters were so horrible. That coupled with the authors apparent love of gratuitous gore made it a definite pass for me. Ugh! I wish it were a movie so I could have walked out.
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Over the Falls
by
Rebecca Hodge
Sailim
, September 14, 2021
Hodge has written an excellent, engaging and realistic story in Over the Falls. From the opening passage to the last, the story follows normal actions of realistically developed characters through an unfortunate, but believable situation. The only portion of the story that even slightly begged credulity was the existence of a relationship between Bryn and Sawyer as more information about him was revealed. However, the story is excellent! It was refreshing to experience a story that didn’t suddenly wrap everything up with a neat little bow. Life just isn’t like that and this book rings true to life. The imagery presented added to the story. Hodge artfully avoided bogging down the flow of the book with descriptions, rather helping to immerse the reader/listener in the events taking place. Very well done. The audio presentation was pleasant. Nick Mondelli did a great 14-year-old boy. His emotions and frustrations so common in 14-year-olds could be heard in the narration. Aven Shore did not do as dynamic of a job. She wasn’t whiny or over the top, which could easily have happened. Instead, her narration was a bit flat, lacking emotion where it seemed it should be. She sounded more like she was giving a statement to the police through the entire narration.
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Murder in the Village: A completely unputdownable English cozy mystery
by
Lisa Cutts
Sailim
, August 31, 2021
Belinda Penshurst is someone I would murder if I were a cozy author. She is pushy, rude and bossy. She is an entitled snot who likes to remind everyone – including herself – how she has saved everyone with her money, townspeople and her family alike. She feels she can do as she pleases, keeping secrets from her “partner” and then being upset when the shoe is firmly on the other foot. Harry, her “partner” seems a bit thick. Overall, not an impressive or convincing crime-solving duo. They do manage to resolve the mystery of the missing dogs and the murders, although they were not that difficult to discern. Ultimately, Harry and Belinda should go their own ways and never ever cross paths again. Supposedly, there is to be a romance in the offing between Belinda and Harry. But both characters are so juvenile they “flirt” (I guess) by insulting each other, lying and generally being repulsive individuals. The narrator’s voice was appealing, but to be honest, I kept falling asleep and had to back up and listen to nearly the entire story chapter by chapter. I cannot be certain if that was the voice, the story or a combination of the two.
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You Can Never Tell A Novel
by
Sarah Warburton
Sailim
, August 31, 2021
Sarah Warburton tells a good story in You Can Never Tell. She maintains focus on the main character and her interactions with other characters. The story itself is only briefly a “who done it” and transitions to a “how to put a stop to it”. Warburton handles the change smoothly. Kacy, the main character, is a bit whiny, insecure, and grates on the nerves some. In real life, she would likely not have developed the friendships she did due largely to the torturous, self-obsessed attitude demonstrated through most of the story. Further, she The show of strength demonstrated by Kasy in the final portion of the story would seem out of character, but Warburton does a fine job of developing the internal strength in the character. The weaving in of the podcast is a well-managed addition, giving a feeling of reality to the story. The banter between the podcast hosts rings true with actual true crime podcasts. Who the “bad guy” is was easy to discern early in the story. If one is looking for a true opportunity to solve the mystery, this is not the book. It does leave one feeling a bit nervous about getting too close with the neighbors.
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The Missing Husband: A Tense Psychological Suspense Full of Twists
by
Natasha Boydell
Sailim
, August 20, 2021
I listened to this as an audio book rather than reading it. At first, I thought I had misread the genre classification for The Missing Husband. It seemed more of a “her side/his side” type story. But as the stories began to move closer and closer to alignment, the classification suddenly came into sharp focus. What an interesting and unique telling of the story. With respect to the narration, Rupert Degas is the best male narrator I’ve ever had the fortune of listening to. His command of character representation using slight variations in tone and pattern are spot on. I’ve enjoyed listening to him in a number of other stories and was pleasantly pleased with this one. Likewise, Penelope Rawlins does a excellent job narrating her portion of the book. Together they brought the story to life and created a total immersion feeling that served the characters well. Natasha Boydell wrote a captivating story with well-developed characters who left you liking, disliking, and hating them. The ending felt a bit abrupt, but I have no idea how else it should have ended. The irony woven into it was perfect. Well done!
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Plymouth Undercover
by
Pamela M Kelley
Sailim
, August 17, 2021
Plymouth Undercover wanted to be a good story. Had a great plot, but just does not live up to its potential. The characters are pretty shallow and incredible. A wannabe actress chucks her “dream” to come back and take over running her father’s private investigation firm? She and her mother/partner immediately take on a missing persons turned murder case? No experience, no license – except for an 80-year-old employee (not partner, manager or owner of the company). It begs credulity. Every step taken, sight seen, thought… thought is spelled out in full detail plus, with an over the top obsession with food. Details in a story help develop the characters or move the story forward, when there is a point to them. But when the “point” feels like the detail is merely to stretch the word count far enough to qualify as a novel rather than a short story, it is too much. That is the case here. The narrator needs to learn how to narrate without gasping for air. Additionally, she sounds more like a starry-eyed child than someone who believes they are going to be a successful private investigator. There is no strength behind the voice. No drive, no determination. It verges on simpering – and is not pleasant or appropriate for the story. It reads more like a young high school student’s short story assignment submission that only managed to garner a C. In all, it was neither a pleasant story nor listen.
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Lanas War A Novel
by
Anita Abriel
Sailim
, April 08, 2021
Lana’s War. Hmmm…This is a difficult review to write. The characters were not developed to any degree. The plot started out quite engaging but the author seemed to lose her way as the book developed. In the latter half of the book, it felt she lost the thread altogether and then just ended it. I suppose, should the reader be looking for a distraction for a few hours this would be a good option. But anyone looking for depth and development will be disappointed. The prose was repetitive, excessively so. There were hints of character potential that never developed. The main character, Lana Antanova, started out sympathetic, but then just became another flat character, losing her appeal. She wasn’t particularly smart or brave and displayed poor judgement so frequently one almost begins to root for the Germans to catch her. OK, not root for them exactly, but unless they were the Germans of Hogan’s Heroes, they couldn’t help but stumble across her. Guy Pascal is never really developed at all. He is supposed to be her partner and handler, yet he disappears for days at a time with no word, no instruction. It did not make sense – particularly since Lana’s cover was to be his mistress. It just did not make sense. I wanted to like it. And in some ways I did - until close to the end - but it just did not deliver. It made a joke of the French Resistance. It wasn't thrilling. It rather plodded along going no where with characters that were not worthy of a story.
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Daylight
by
David Baldacci
Sailim
, March 28, 2021
I like David Baldacci. I do. But this book was so tired. Agent with missing family member, distracted from doing his/her job because of it – cannot trust anyone in the government, except they do – someone gets hurt or killed and the protagonist throws a long-running, completely exhausting pity party. Horrible. And incredibly disappointing for a Baldacci book. Truly, the book read like a formula. It was bad, bad, bad. The prose was torturous. Did someone ghost write this book? It felt like it.
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Shanghai Secrets
by
Sulari Gentill
Sailim
, March 28, 2021
Sulari Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair series has been masterfully crafted from the beginning. Shanghai Secrets, previously released as All The Tears in China, rises easily to the standard set by the previous nine installations. The writing is excellent and the story telling marvelous. Gentill researches well her settings, weaving historical accuracies into the work, allowing the characters to interact with authentic locations and personalities in an easily acceptable manner. The story is believable and immersive. Wonderful adventure, enjoyable read. High recommendation.
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Daylight: An Atlee Pine Thriller #03 [With Battery]
by
David Baldacci
Sailim
, January 20, 2021
David Baldacci is a well-established and enjoyable author. Daylight is the next installment in the Atlee Pine series and unfortunately, does not live up to Baldacci’s reputation of skill. The story is tired and comes across as a retread of his other work. The only truly original aspect to the story are the character names. Agent with a messed up family history and a missing or dead sibling, government conspiracies that make all agents untrustworthy. It is old and tired and not only has been done to death, it has been done by Baldacci previously. This book was a disappointment. Felt like he was following a formula and just phoning it in.
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The Silent House
by
Nell Pattison
Sailim
, November 04, 2020
Intriguing concept – how can a murder be committed without anyone in the house knowing it is happening? When everyone in the house is deaf? Could be. Great idea for a story. I’m not certain what I expected, but this wasn’t it – which is not to say that is a bad thing, just not what was expected. Paige, the main character is well developed, well written. However, other than being hearing, living in a deaf community there is little different about her. Her ability to speak British Sign Language gives her an excuse to be in the story, but other than that one small plot detail the sign language and deafness really play little in the story. Anyone looking for some insight into the deaf community would be disappointed. However, moving beyond the “deaf” aspects of the story, it is entertaining. The story develops well, giving false clues and red herrings. As an armchair detective, this is a great read. While an introductory book, it does not get bogged down in detail. The focal point of Paige’s history is woven into the story in a way to make it less backstory. Overall, it left me wondering how the characters will develop in future installments.
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Murder at No. 4 Euston Square: The Mystery of the Lady in the Cellar
by
Sinclair McKay
Sailim
, June 16, 2020
An intriguing telling of a true crime. Initially, it felt like a story, but quickly lost that feel and became more like the reading of a police file. This is neither a compliment or criticism, only a description of the feel of the book’s flow. Fans of true crime will enjoy reading it. The writing is intelligent and engaging, organized and… procedural. In all a good relating of the case. McKay relates the case and its investigation in a forthright manner, looking for explanations and answers beyond those unearthed at the time. It is well written and well-staged. A great read.
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Murder by Suggestion
by
Veronica Heley
Sailim
, June 07, 2020
What a great read from Veronica Heley. The story is intelligent and handles the civilian detective in a realistic manner. No great leaps that could not be followed by the reader. No magical feats of deduction that are unbelievable or fake. Ms. Heley has done a masterful job with this book. Additionally, she presents characters in a secular fashion with a Christian faith. Specifically, the Christian beliefs of the characters - not all characters, only a handful - express their faith through prayer in a way that normal, average people will do in their daily lives. The religious aspects of the book are gentle, in no way excessive or preachy. Instead, they were true to the characters and a refreshing approach. Well done!
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Hangmans Secret A Victorian Mystery
by
Laura Joh Rowland
Sailim
, June 02, 2020
The Hangman's Secret by Laura Joh Rowland was not an easy read, not because of complex characters or plots, but rather because of the over-the-top drama in the lives of every single character. The overabundance of social justice themes - not appropriate for the era of the story - and the whining of the main character made it rather unpleasant from the outset. I truly wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, the author did not even bother to research her setting. She knows little or nothing about England, let alone Victorian England. Avoid this book.
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Murder by the Book
by
Lauren Elliott
Sailim
, November 05, 2018
What an over-the-top drama-laden book! The main character, Addie, is a case study in a number of psyhological issues including co-dependency. She is whiny, clingy and imposing on people who she hasn't known for 5 minutes. Overshare does not appear to be a word in her vocabulary - but it certainly needs to be. The supposition of the story is that Addie has been in town long enough to completely make over a business property and set up a story, yet she knows no one in town - NO ONE! It takes place in a town where no crime every happens, but suddenly everyone is sneaky, snarky, evil, and out to get Addie (even though no one has never met her!) - WAY beyond belief! And only goes downhill FAST from there! This was a painful read. I would suggest avoiding this book like one would the plague. I enjoy a good cozy, but this certainly is NOT one.
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Girl in the Woods
by
Patricia MacDonald
Sailim
, August 15, 2018
Patricia MacDonald is an internationally renowned author of some pretty dark tales. Girl in the Woods is no exception! This story relates the details of a sad and dysfunctional family whose actions and choices leave an innocent man in prison for 15 years and a murderer on the loose. Some of the story is a bit hard to swallow (abandoning your job and business to do the work you’ve hired someone else to do?), but if the reader truly believes in suspension of disbelief, these points of questionable decisions become minor blips that enable the story. MacDonald tells a good story. Fans of amateur detective fiction – and particularly fans of MacDonald – will enjoy the twists and turns and little surprises hidden throughout the story. Hold on, because this page turner may surprise you in the end. Armchair detectives get ready!
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Four Funerals & Maybe a Wedding
by
Rhys Bowen
Sailim
, August 11, 2018
Rhys Bowen once again demonstrates why she is an award winning author. Fans of Georgie are going to love the newest adventure as she plans for her marriage to Darcy. In her typical fashion, Lady Georgiana innocently goes about life as an impoverished heir to the throne – albeit 36th in line. The search for a home for the soon-to-be newlyweds meets a giant bump in the road when her benefactor makes the offer of his home, a large country estate. Seems a great gift until her arrival at the estate. The house and gardens are a mess; the house, sparse; the servants hopeless! In her usual fashion Georgie stumbles on a mystery which nearly proves fatal! With the aid of her usual companions – her Grandfather, mother, Queenie, Belinda and Darcy – Georgie carries on, providing an entertaining romp of a mystery which unravels satisfyingly. The biggest mystery of all was whether Georgie and Darcy would make it down the aisle and into wedded bliss. Certainly seems the fates are against it! Another wonderful Georgie tale. Thank you, Ms. Bowen!
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Murder Takes a Turn
by
Eric Brown
Sailim
, August 03, 2018
Another Agatha Christie rip-off was my first impression of Eric Brown’s “Murder Takes a Turn”. How frustrating! Random people throughout London and the vicinity receive an invitation to a run-down old house for a weekend where their hosts wishes to “apologize” for some long-ago wrong. Each with their own personalized enticement accepts the invitation. But that is where the similarity ends, thank heavens! Some extra, uninvited guests arrive as well and the host does make several appearances, albeit not pleasant ones. Anger ensues amongst most of the guests, one becomes suicidal. Brown’s story turns out to be far better than a Christie knock-off. In fact it is well told, unique and a very enjoyable read. Well written and intelligent. The main characters – Donald and Marie – are a great couple and team. Well done, Mr. Brown!
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Kings Witch
by
Tracy Borman
Sailim
, July 21, 2018
Tracy Borman’s “The King’s Witch” is a surprisingly delightful read. That is not a backhanded compliment, but rather a statement of genuine surprise. The genre is not one typically enjoyed due to the mysticism, however, Borman’s handling of the subject was pleasant and intriguing rather than the expected too far gone witchcrafty story. Frances is a thoroughly well-developed character, enjoyable to get to know and quite knowledgeable in herbs and their healing proposition. The use of herbal concoctions weaves easily into the story, giving the reader the feel of genuine presence in the period. The prose of the story as well as the premise flows smoothly. The storyline is credible, pulling one in to react personally to the characters and circumstances. Overall, well written and worth the read.
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Queen's Progress
by
M. J. Trow
Sailim
, July 08, 2018
The Queen’s Progress is likely excellent read for fans of renaissance mystery. The language felt a bit clunky and over descriptive, but I expect it fulfilled the purpose of the author, M.J. Trow. The overall impression was neither comfortable nor engaging, due mainly to the heaviness of the linguistic choices. That said, Trow successfully painted clear pictures throughout the book. At this time, it remains unclear who I would recommend the book to. It is not one I should enjoy reading again nor would I seek out the author for other works – which is not to say it is poorly written, only that it did not appeal to this reviewer.
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A Steep Price
by
Robert Dugoni
Sailim
, July 08, 2018
Sixth in the Tracy Crosswhite series, Robert Dugoni ventures a bit further a field in “A Steep Price”. This book focused less on Crosswhite and either her partner or her husband, relying more on the other members of Violent Crimes’ “A Team” of detectives – Del and Faz. As with all Dugoni’s Crosswhite books, the stories – of which there are two – are well developed and thought out. The case involving Crosswhite is inspired by actual new articles the author read and elected to weave into a sad tale of family drama and murder. Del’s and Faz’s story plays out in cities across the country and certainly up and down the I-5 corridor on a daily basis. Even still, both stories were fresh and engaging, quickly absorbing the reader’s attention. The local details of the area will be appreciated by anyone familiar with the greater Seattle area. The book leaves Dugoni an “out” on where he chooses to take the future of Crosswhite and her friends. How he elects to proceed will be quite anticipated.
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Gentlemen Formerly Dressed
by
Sulari Gentill
Sailim
, June 20, 2018
I had no idea until the epilog that this was a book in a series. Likely the tag line “A Rowland Sinclair Mystery #5” should have given it away. OK, I didn’t read that part. But the book does not read as a serial. Rather, the characters go about their business with little reference to the past beyond what is necessary to the plot and it is delivered in such a way it feels natural instead of necessary. Sulari Gentill spins an intriguing tale from the beginning wherein the reader meets the heroes of the story just as they have escaped from Nazi Germany in its infancy where the rumblings of the evil to come were only becoming known – and placated away. The story reads more like real life than a typical fiction mystery. Gentill relates normal goings on of the characters, not just those activities pertinent to solving the crime. While such a practice can become tedious, Gentill skillfully avoids this pitfall, weaving a story that is engaging, intelligent, historically accurate and enjoyable. I suppose Gentlemen Formerly Dressed could be classified by some as a “cozy” mystery, but it does not read as lightly or with the level of humor commonly found in such novels. Certainly the main character was not a woman. The story was excellent. To fans of historical mysteries, I would highly recommend Gentlemen Formerly Dressed, perhaps begin with book 1 of the series, but if the others are as this one, it is not really necessary.
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Gentlemen Formerly Dressed
by
Sulari Gentill
Sailim
, June 20, 2018
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Inspector & Mrs Jeffries
by
Emily Brightwell
Sailim
, June 14, 2018
This is the first of a series, but the last for me. The main character is a arrogant, condescending cow who believes she is smarter than, not just her employer whom she alledges to like, but everyone else in the ruddy book! She is completely unsympathetic character. Her employer, a police superintendent at the Yard is written as a fool. Another "police are stupid and incapable of doing anything right" book. The writing is mediocre at best, the story is tripe, the characters are vile. AWFUL, truly awful. Learn from my mistake and avoid this drivel like the plague.
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Fire in the Thatch: A Devon Mystery
by
E. C. R. Lorac
Sailim
, June 14, 2018
ECR Lorac opens “Fire in the Thatch” with a lovely description of Devon and the Malory community. In no time at all the characters felt like comfortable old friends. Lorac easily leads the reader to trust the locals and dislike the interlopers. The daughter-in-law is particularly off-putting. Her “city friends” a easily disliked and mistrusted. Knowing it is a murder mystery, it was easy to begin suspecting the “city friends” before the murder was even committed. The murder in this story was never experienced. In fact, when I turned the page from engagement with the local characters to a discussion at Scotland Yard it was, for a moment, confusing as though something was missed. Once the confusion of the transition passed, one is quickly re-absorbed into the story. Lorac lays out clues without giving away the resolution. He weaves an excellent story and although written during WWII, his style is fresh and engaging. Well worth the read.
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The Reluctant Assassin
by
Fiona Buckley
Sailim
, May 23, 2018
The Reluctant Assassin by Fiona Buckley was an interesting read. The story is engaging from the beginning, particularly for fans of historic fiction. My reading it inspired my son to learn more of Mary, Queen of Scots – always a good thing. The story itself was engaging. Historically accurate, Buckley paints a picture of life in court during Elizabeth I’s reign. Her use of speech patterns and vocabulary helps immerse the reader in the story. The story moves along quite well told from the perspective of the heroine, Ursula Stannard (half-sister to Queen Elizabeth I and illegitimate daughter of Henry XIII), building in intrigue as she finds herself in the “prison” house wherein Mary Stewart is being held as a “guest” of Elizabeth. The sudden switch from building the story from Ursula’s perspective to revealing the outcome of the adventure from her son’s perspective was a little unsettling and felt a bit clunky, particularly in light of “spoilers” to the end result of the tale revealed so early on. The return to story-telling by Ursula to then switch once more to that of one of her servants further altered the atmosphere of the book. It almost felt as though the three were stood in front of one telling the story in that moment, taking turns to relate their part so that the reader knew the outcome by the mere fact that the story was being told at all. This is not the first book of the series. While that does not take away from the story, Buckley’s continual rehashing of Ursula’s romantic and marriage aspirations – or lack thereof – did become redundant. Other details of past adventures were merely referenced to the degree necessary to the relating of the story. Buckley’s writing style is certainly a unique one. The story is enjoyable.
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The Goat Parva Murders: An Inspector Knowles Mystery
by
Julian Worker
Sailim
, May 15, 2018
Julian Worker created an amazingly dysfunctional – verging on needing to be walled off from the rest of the world – English village where everyone appears to be deeply engrossed in criminal and sexually deviant behavior. Don’t get excited, it isn’t descriptive of the sexual deviancy, it doesn’t even provide interest in that area. The detectives are plodding, avoiding moments of brilliance expertly. The victims garner no sympathy. The townspeople who do NOT die are nothing to write home about. There really is nothing to compel the reader in the story. I cannot recommend the book and would never elect to read another of his in this genre.
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Tuscan Child
by
Rhys Bowen
Sailim
, May 07, 2018
The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen is a lovely historical fiction split between 1944 Tuscany and 1973 England and Tuscany. Expertly woven, the story intertwines the two eras into a story which might have been the history of anyone, exploring the impact of one’s actions on the situation of progeny. In this story, Bowen relates the adventures of an English airman who is forced to abandon his mortally damaged bomber over the skies of Italy only to be found by a local woman who at the risk of her own life and that of her son, husband’s grandmother, and the entire village, decides to help the Englishman hide. A strong relationship blooms between them. For a time Bowen leaves the reader wondering if the relationship survived the war and his return to England. Some 30 years later, the Englishman dies. His daughter, Joanna, who believes herself to be his only child, returns home to learn she has an older half-brother she has never met and possibly another sibling living in the Tuscan countryside. Uncovering a part of her father’s life she never knew existed, Joanna is driven to learn more of her father’s time in Italy during the war. She makes her way to Italy only to become entangled in a “new family”, a murder, and an entirely new life while discovering a father she never really knew. Bowen is a master story-teller and certainly does not disappoint in “The Tuscan Child.” Her characters are well developed, storyline well thought out, situations believable. The story flows with an ease which engages the reader, while allowing for periods away.
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England Expects
by
Sara Sheridan
Sailim
, May 02, 2018
England Expects, a mystery set in 1950’s England was a good read. It took a while for me to really get into the story. Perhaps this was because it is not the first book in the series (3rd, actually) and I spent a bit of time wondering about the backstory of the characters. However, once I got into it, the story moved very quickly and logically. The clues were available to follow and the characters believable. Mirabelle was fun. Vesta was a bit less dynamic. Ms. Sheridan has obviously researched her genre well and creates a picture which feels real. Using poetic license, she weaves a tale involving the reality of 1950’s Brighton and a few of her own creations, developing a story that was not surprising, but certainly satisfying.
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Murder at Half Moon Gate
by
Andrea Penrose
Sailim
, February 27, 2018
Set in Regency London, Murder at Half Moon Gate, by Andrea Penrose, is a well-crafted story. Penrose obviously knows her English cultural history as the language and customs of the time are well represented and come alive on the page. The characters are engaging and dynamic with multi-layers and secrets of the past held, from not only other characters, but also the reader in such a way that rather than being annoying, it entices the reader to know more, read more. The primary characters of the story are of quite divergent circumstances: he an Earl, her a lower working class widow with friends in quite unusual places. When Earl Wrexford stumbles upon a murder in some of the darkest stews of London, he instantly knows he must enlist the assistance of Charlotte Sloane, a satirist working under the name AJ Quill. She brings her resources – including two street urchins who appear to have adopted her – to bear in support of the investigation. Working quite independently yet sharing their knowledge, Wrexford and Charlotte untangle a web of lies, betrayal, red herrings and murder. In all, the story was compelling and intelligent. The unlikely mix of characters from a wide range of social classes was intriguing rather than suspect. The combination works well and supports the flow of the story entirely.
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Chameleons: An Untold World War II Story
by
Marcus a. Nannini
Sailim
, February 16, 2018
Marcus Nannini has a wonderful knowledge of WWII history. It is obvious that he is familiar with the times and cultures in which his story is set. He provides wonderful detail and historic information which informs and interests the reader. I have no doubt Nannini has done extensive research and is well informed as to this particular bit of US and Japanese history. The style in which the story is written is less appealing. The feel is more of a first-time fiction writer in need of a good editor. The story bumps along, not making a lot of sense with no explanation provided. Early in the story, the discovery of a long-dead body provides an enticing opening. Surprisingly, both the police officers initially summoned and the Navy forensics team who take over the excavation and investigation completely fail to notice that something has been removed from the grave. With no explanation and no indication of any sort how such a discovery of a corpse from decades before could be of any kind of security issue, one of the lead characters begins declaring everything “top secret” and “your eyes only”. It made no sense. This is not to say the telling is not accurate, simply that it did not provide enough support to make it understandable. As a truth based historical fiction, the lack of this type of detail distracts from the story. The writing style for me was difficult to ignore. The blatant lack of explanation of motivation for actions taken by characters was distracting and confusing. While the historic knowledge was evident it was not enough of a compelling addition to make the story enjoyable.
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Ghost of Christmas Past
by
Rhys Bowen
Sailim
, November 14, 2017
Bowen provides well-developed characters, an interesting story line, accurate historical details and enough detail of her characters’ prior experiences to be informative, but not repetitive. The main character, Molly Murphy, is a woman living in 1906 New York. Her temperament and behavior fit well into this suffrage period of American history, knowing society rules yet daring to speak her mind and push boundaries, much to her husband’s frustration at times. Molly is a wife and mother, Irish immigrant and former detective married to an NYPD Captain. While visiting a family outside the City for the Christmas holiday, Molly learns of a tragedy that struck the family ten years before – the disappearance of their 3yo daughter Charlotte. Seeing how troubled Winnie, Charlotte’s mother, remains after all these years, Molly determines to learn what has happened to the child. The clues unfold in an interesting and natural feeling manner, allowing the reader to play along with Molly and her reluctant husband as they pursue the truth. Twists and turns in the story keep it interesting to the end. I really enjoyed reading this installation in the Molly Murphy series and look forward to reading earlier books. Ms. Bowen is an excellent author to be enjoyed with a glass of wine and a cozy fire.
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