Alafair Tucker isn't too well acquainted with her neighbor, Miz Day. Still, it seems like the kind thing to do by helping her prepare her dead husband to be buried. After all, he had been a miserable and mean drunk who was found dead out in the snow. No one had even missed him for three days after the snowstorm. Alafair is stunned when she finds a bullet hole behind the man's ear and realizes that he didn't freeze to death but instead, someone shot him. Alafair is quite concerned because the most likely suspect is the oldest son, John Lee Day, the boy her daughter, Phoebe, is smitten with. Alafair needs to find out who really murdered Harley Day and be sure that her daughter wasn't an accomplice.
This is the first in this series by Donis Casey. I loved the book from the minute I started it. Alafair Tucker is living in Oklahoma in 1912. She is the mother to eight children and keeps very busy as a farm wife on the prairie. It is kind of like Jessica Fletcher meets Laura Ingalls. Alafair is a good mother - kind and very protective of her brood. She isn't afraid to do a little snooping to find out who is responsible for the murder. I can't wait to dig into the next book in the series!
Rating - 5 stars
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Lucia, Lucia
Lucia Sartori is a modern girl in 1951. She works downtown and has a career as a seamstress in the custom dress department at a famous store. She passes up the opportunity to marry Dante Dimetri because she knows that she will have to give up her career to live with her in-laws and help her fiance in the family business. Not much later, she meets her dream man, John Talbot. She and John fall in love and all seems to be well except that her Papa doesn't trust John. In the meantime, Lucia's life is filled with work and the excitement of living in a big Italian family.
I have loved everything that I have read by Adriana Trigiani and this is no exception. Lucia's story was filled with a warm and wonderful family. The presentation of the 1950's was a fun look to the past. Her descriptions of women's roles and the changes after the war were so entertaining and real through Lucia's life. It was also clever to have Lucia relating her story nearly 50 years later to the young playwright, Kate.
Rating - 5 stars
I have loved everything that I have read by Adriana Trigiani and this is no exception. Lucia's story was filled with a warm and wonderful family. The presentation of the 1950's was a fun look to the past. Her descriptions of women's roles and the changes after the war were so entertaining and real through Lucia's life. It was also clever to have Lucia relating her story nearly 50 years later to the young playwright, Kate.
Rating - 5 stars
THE COLOR OF THE LAW
A. Scott Fenney was born poor but he was smart and he had tremendous athletic ability. Scott used his football heroics to help him at SMU and became a lawyer. His athletic accomplishments impressed the right people and by age 38, he is making $750,000 year, driving a Ferrari, living in a $3.5 million home with his beautiful wife and daughter. When he is appointed to defend a hooker who is accused of killing the Senator's son, his life begins to crumble around him. As much as Scott would like to avoid this case, he can't. As much as he would like to please all of the right people, he also finds that he can't fight for his client. It looks like that decision may cost him everything.
This is the first book that I have read by Mark Giminez. It as enjoyable and a quick read. In ways, it reminded me of a Grisham. In some ways, Scott seems too crooked to be believable. Only with his daughter does he show any signs of integrity. Later, as he decides to defend Schwanda and takes her daughter, Pajamae into his home, he seems almost too good to be real. His wife is definitely a very shallow person with no redeeming qualities except her beauty. Although this story was a little too clearly good vs. bad, it was a good book.
Rating - 4 stars
This is the first book that I have read by Mark Giminez. It as enjoyable and a quick read. In ways, it reminded me of a Grisham. In some ways, Scott seems too crooked to be believable. Only with his daughter does he show any signs of integrity. Later, as he decides to defend Schwanda and takes her daughter, Pajamae into his home, he seems almost too good to be real. His wife is definitely a very shallow person with no redeeming qualities except her beauty. Although this story was a little too clearly good vs. bad, it was a good book.
Rating - 4 stars
Thursday, May 21, 2009
A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD
Reverend Clare Ferguson is an Episcopalian priest and a former Army Air Force pilot who is very concerned when several gay men in town have been viciously attacked. Is the small town of Millers Kill filled with anti-gays committing hate crimes. When Clare finds a victim who has been murdered, it appears to be another anti-gay crime. The more she finds out about the victim's life, it appears that he may have been murdered for another reason. Clare finds herself working with the chief of police, Russ Van Alstyne. Russ is a great guy and Clare is very attracted to him, however, Russ is also very married.
This is the first Julia Spencer-Fleming book that I have read. I have seen great reviews on some of her other books in this series and I am very glad that I gave it a try. Clare is a very real person with a sense of adventure and sometimes, a lack of common sense. Russ also seems very human. It is easy to understand the complexity of their relationship - why they are drawn together and why they must try to stay apart. This book had some elements of a cozy but a bit more of a traditional mystery. I definitely enjoyed it, except for maybe some of the description of the helicopter crash which was pretty technical and hard to visualize. I will be reading another book in this series real soon!
Rating - 5 stars
This is the first Julia Spencer-Fleming book that I have read. I have seen great reviews on some of her other books in this series and I am very glad that I gave it a try. Clare is a very real person with a sense of adventure and sometimes, a lack of common sense. Russ also seems very human. It is easy to understand the complexity of their relationship - why they are drawn together and why they must try to stay apart. This book had some elements of a cozy but a bit more of a traditional mystery. I definitely enjoyed it, except for maybe some of the description of the helicopter crash which was pretty technical and hard to visualize. I will be reading another book in this series real soon!
Rating - 5 stars
Saturday, May 16, 2009
SOMEBODY OWES ME MONEY
Our hero, Chet, is a cab driver who likes to gamble. His luck hasn't been so good lately until a passenger in his cab gives him a tip on a horse race. Chet decides to go ahead and place a bet on the horse. To his delight, he ends up winning $930. When he goes to collect, his bookie is dead in the middle of his dining room floor. When Chet reports the murder, he immediately comes under the scrutiny of the police who believe he may be involved. The police are soon the least of his worries as two rival gangs plus the beautiful sister of the dead bookie all believe that Chet was involved in the murder.
This is the first book that I have read by Donald Westlake. This book was recommended on a reading list that I subscribe to. At first, I thought the book was a little slow. Gradually, I came to enjoy Chet and all of his bumbling attempts to get his money. Things got even more fun when he teamed up with Abby, the dead bookie's sister. It took me awhile to realize that even though this book was just recorded recently, it was written in 1969. Some things seemed out of date but there was really no allusions to the specific time period of the story. I thought this was a pretty humorous book.
Rating - 4 stars
This is the first book that I have read by Donald Westlake. This book was recommended on a reading list that I subscribe to. At first, I thought the book was a little slow. Gradually, I came to enjoy Chet and all of his bumbling attempts to get his money. Things got even more fun when he teamed up with Abby, the dead bookie's sister. It took me awhile to realize that even though this book was just recorded recently, it was written in 1969. Some things seemed out of date but there was really no allusions to the specific time period of the story. I thought this was a pretty humorous book.
Rating - 4 stars
THE QUIET GAME
Penn Cage brings his daughter, Annie, home to Natchez, Mississippi in hopes that they can both heal after the death of his wife. Penn hasn't been home long when he learns that his highly esteemed father, an old-time doctor, is being blackmailed. No sooner than Penn tries to resolve that issue when he is drawn into the thirty year old murder of a young black man that was never solved. Penn realizes that his involvement may endanger his family but he also feels compelled to make sure justice is done - especially when he begins to suspect that the man behind the murders nearly ruined his father's life and his own.
This is the third Greg Iles book that I have read and the second one featuring Penn Cage. Like his other books, this story is very complex with layers and layers of history complicating the plot and human frailities. In this book, Iles especially focuses on racial issues both past and present in the South. Penn Cage is a very sympathetic and intriguing protagonist. Livy and Caitlin were also fascinating women and the reader can't wait to see which one Penn might choose. There is a third Penn Cage book coming out this summer and I will eager to read it, too!
Rating - 5 stars
This is the third Greg Iles book that I have read and the second one featuring Penn Cage. Like his other books, this story is very complex with layers and layers of history complicating the plot and human frailities. In this book, Iles especially focuses on racial issues both past and present in the South. Penn Cage is a very sympathetic and intriguing protagonist. Livy and Caitlin were also fascinating women and the reader can't wait to see which one Penn might choose. There is a third Penn Cage book coming out this summer and I will eager to read it, too!
Rating - 5 stars
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
EGGS IN PURGATORY
Suzanne has recently been widowed. She is also part owner of a wonderful little cafe, bookstore and knitting shop with two of her oldest friends. The business keeps her happy and busy. When two people are murdered within a couple of days and Suzanne is the one to find them both, she is determined to help find the killer. Soon, it seems that someone is out to get her. She wonders if it could be the preacher at a nearby cult. Of course, one of the widows seems a little too dramatic and a little too short on real tears about her husband's murder. When her late husband is accused of embezzlement, Suzanne must find the answers.
This is the first in this series by Laura Childs. I had read one of her scrapbooking mysteries and thought it was okay. I haven't read anything by her since. I really thought there were too many characters in this book to keep track of. When the murderer was revealed, I really didn't remember who he was or how he was connected to the rest of the story. I did read this book in short segments over a couple of weeks which may have been part of the problem but I'm not so sure! I would probably try another in this series because I did enjoy Suzanne and the store.
Rating - 4 stars
This is the first in this series by Laura Childs. I had read one of her scrapbooking mysteries and thought it was okay. I haven't read anything by her since. I really thought there were too many characters in this book to keep track of. When the murderer was revealed, I really didn't remember who he was or how he was connected to the rest of the story. I did read this book in short segments over a couple of weeks which may have been part of the problem but I'm not so sure! I would probably try another in this series because I did enjoy Suzanne and the store.
Rating - 4 stars
MURDER MOST MAINE
Natalie Barnes is hard at work, hosting a weight loss retreat at Gray Whale Inn. She hopes that providing top notch service including all of the meals, she may gain new customers and hopefully lose some weight herself. She isn't thrilled when she finds out the group leader, size 0 Vanessa, is an old girlfriend of her boyfriend, John. When co-owner and trainer, Dirk, is found dead, John and another islander are prime suspects. The cause of the death was poisoning, so Natalie's kitchen is shut down. What else can she do but a little investigating of her own to try to clear the man she loves and hopefully save their romance?
A visit to the Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island in Maine is always a pleasant getaway. I had been looking forward to Karen McInerney's third installment in this series for quite awhile. For the most part, this was a very fun read. At times, I got a little frustrated with Natalie. She takes some dangerous chances when exploring on her own. She sometimes jumps to conclusions with very little evidence. Overall, there was a good mystery with a satifactory conclusion. I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
Rating - 4.5 stars
A visit to the Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island in Maine is always a pleasant getaway. I had been looking forward to Karen McInerney's third installment in this series for quite awhile. For the most part, this was a very fun read. At times, I got a little frustrated with Natalie. She takes some dangerous chances when exploring on her own. She sometimes jumps to conclusions with very little evidence. Overall, there was a good mystery with a satifactory conclusion. I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
Rating - 4.5 stars
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
THE BATTERED BODY
Things are changing rapidly in James' life. Soon his father will wed Milla. Plans are in motion for the Christmas Eve wedding service. James is busy looking for a new place to live. Milla's sister, Paulette, is known as the Diva of Dough has come to town for the wedding. Apparently, Milla didn't get all of the cooking genes in her family and her sister is a well-known television cooking star. Unfortunately, Paulette isn't nearly as nice as Milla and manages to offend or insult everyone she meets. All of the family is in town when Paulette is found dead covered in the batter she was testing for Jackson and Milla's wedding cake. As usual, it is up to James and the Flab Five to figure out how the Diva of Dough was murdered.
This has been my favorite of the J.B. Stanley Flab Five series. Lots was happening in this book including a pretty good mystery. James makes a surprising discovery in his personal life. The twin librarians have romances of their own. There are lots of romances going on with the other Flab Five members. Even Murphy is back with a new mystery featuring the Flab Five, but the group is not described in the most flattering terms. This was one of those books that makes you crazy waiting for the next installment in the series to come out!
Rating - 5 stars
This has been my favorite of the J.B. Stanley Flab Five series. Lots was happening in this book including a pretty good mystery. James makes a surprising discovery in his personal life. The twin librarians have romances of their own. There are lots of romances going on with the other Flab Five members. Even Murphy is back with a new mystery featuring the Flab Five, but the group is not described in the most flattering terms. This was one of those books that makes you crazy waiting for the next installment in the series to come out!
Rating - 5 stars
ROCCO
Bartolemeo DeCrespi is a decorator with a dream. He longs to redecorate his church, The Mother of Fatima. It would seem that Bartolemeo (B- for short!) has earned the honor. He has been a lifelong parishoner and has served in every capacity from altar boy to current floral designer and keeper of the linens. B. loves his work but he also loves his family. His sister, Toot, and her three sons are key people in his life. Toot has been divorced for years and now, she is determined to get out in the dating world before it is too late. B. finds that having a chance to fulfill your dream can be pretty scary stuff.
This is the second book that I have read by Adriana Trigiani. I loved it as much as the first. It is one of those books that is more about people and their relationships than actual events. I love B. and his family, Toots, Two, Christina, all of them were so real that they seemed like MY family. It is also entertaining that this book is set in 1970, a time of change in the Catholic church and the world in general. The only sad part of the book was B.'s determination to remain a bachelor. It seems that he would have been a wonderful husband and father. It is probably too much to hope that Ms. Trigiani would write a sequel about B. I would be the first in line to read it!
Rating - 5 stars
This is the second book that I have read by Adriana Trigiani. I loved it as much as the first. It is one of those books that is more about people and their relationships than actual events. I love B. and his family, Toots, Two, Christina, all of them were so real that they seemed like MY family. It is also entertaining that this book is set in 1970, a time of change in the Catholic church and the world in general. The only sad part of the book was B.'s determination to remain a bachelor. It seems that he would have been a wonderful husband and father. It is probably too much to hope that Ms. Trigiani would write a sequel about B. I would be the first in line to read it!
Rating - 5 stars
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