Book Reviews - Notes on an Execution; Danya Kukafka and The Days of Afrekete; Asali Solomon

Notes on an Execution; Danya Kukafka

William Morrow and Harper Audio - 2022

(combo read/listen) (9 hours 42 min.)

(Mozhan Marno and Jim Meskimen - narrators - very good)

Notes on an Execution caught my eye early on. It is a work of fiction about a serial killer named Ansel Parker sentenced to death for killing several girls years earlier. The story begins with Parker on death row in Texas, 12 hours prior to his execution. Ansel does not want to die, he does want others to understand his story.  As the countdown to his execution plays out we learn of Ansel's past beginning with his mother Lavender, an abused young woman who gave birth to him in a barn at the age of 17 and, then later in pure desperation left him and his infant brother.  We also hear from Hazel, the twin sister of Ansel's wife Jenny who had an early concern for her sister's well being as she saw the ugly side of Ansel when her sister did not. Then there is Saffy, an upstate New York police captain whose job it was to see that justice was served. The two have a shared past in a group home as teens and Saffy also saw the darker side of what turned out to be a serial killer in the making.

This is a dark, exceptionally well written novel which is very different from anything I've read in a long while.  The victims themselves were not well explored but, that in no way detracted from the effectiveness of the story.  I never understood how Ansel Parker was able to do what he did yet, his story was still sometimes sad, compelling and ultimately powerful.  I was satisfied with the way the story played out. This is one of those stories I will not easily forget; it left me with plenty to think about.  Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a darker character driven work of crime fiction. 

(eGalley courtesy of publisher and Edelweiss - audiobook download from my public library)

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

The Days of Afrekete; Asali Solomon

Random House Audio - 2021

Narrated by Karen Chilton - good 

(5 hours and 33 min.)

The Days of Afrekete is a book which recently came to me attention by reading Susan's post on her blog, The Cue Card.  It's a relatively short novel (novella) at just around 200 pages and 5 hours on audio.  I'm still not sure how to classify it.  It's dark, bold and even funny at times but, I thought it was a bit strange as well.

The story begins with a black woman named Liselle Belmont hosting a dinner party to thank her white husband Winn's political supporters for their hard work despite his failed political bid for state legislature in PA.  As the dinner party is about to begin we learn that only Liselle is aware of the FBI's interest in her husband, a former real estate lawyer for some rather sketchy business dealings.  As the uncomfortable party is about begin, Liselle's mind flashes back to some 20 years earlier to her college days at Bryn Mawr and her sexual escapades as a lesbian where she eventually meets a black woman named Selena.  We begin to understand why the lives of these women play out in very different ways. Liselle begins to think given her current situation,  that Selena may be the only person who might really understand her.

Told mostly from the POV of Liselle, the story seemed to focus more on the past including insight into both women as well as  Liselle's mother Verity who a lot of issues of her own.  This is a rather short novel and although the audio, narrated by Karen Chilton, was well done, I just wasn't a huge fan of the way the story played out.

Rating - 3/5 stars

(audio book download from my public library)

brief Book Reviews from late August reading: Council of Animals; Nick McDonnell, His Only Wife; Peace Adzo Medie and Sooley; John Grisham

 

                                                   The Council of Animals; Nick McDonell

                                                           Henry Holt & Company - 2021

This slim book (just 208pp.) was the strangest of stories that I've read in a while.  It reminded me in some ways of what I remembered of Animal Farm (from decades ago).  In this story there is an event referred to as "the great calamity" where humans were pretty much extinguished from the face of the earth except for about a dozen remaining who are frightened as to what will become of them.  The event appears to have had something to do with climate change or something nuclear even but something caused by human actions or inaction.  

Left to decide the fate of the few remaining humans are "The Council of Animals" which consist of dog, cat, bear, raven, cow, horse and baboon. Since the animals feel the humans are the ones that caused the calamity, should the dozen who remain be allowed to live or should they be killed and eaten?  The manner in which the debate and finger/paw pointing goes made me smile as chaos erupted. The animal factions and their rationale was entertaining.  Yes, it's political satire but, it seems in some ways to mimic the finger-pointing that has been going on in our own politics and the divisiveness that we witness day in and day out.

I started with the short audio book (3 hours) read by the author but, the narration and sound seemed a bit annoying so I switched over to the eBook which had some cool illustrations done by Steven Tabbutt.  Although this wasn't the type of book I would normally read, I thought it had merit and was certainly thought provoking enough.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars

(Thanks go to NetGalley and Henry Holt Books for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review.)

His Only Wife; Peace Adzo Medie

Algonquin Books - 2020

Afi is a young seamstress Ghana and after her father dies she and her mother are faced with poverty.  She is convinced by family to marry Eliken Ganyo, a wealthy man she has never met in what will be an arranged marriage. When she agrees  Eliken doesn't even show up for the wedding, there is a stand-in and the marriage happens anyways.  When Afi moves to Accra to be with her new husband she learns he is in love with another woman and there is even a child involved.  

The entire set up for this marriage was by a powerful, elder Aunty -- picture the female Godfather. Aunty's intent was to get Eiken away from the woman the family does not like.  Afi starts out with an almost child-like behavior but, it was nice seeing her mature over the course of the story and begin to grow more confident. This story started out a bit slow, but, I loved the setting, Ghana, and learning about a new culture and customs. 

Rating - 4/5 stars

(Thanks go to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review.)

Sooley; John Grisham

Random House Audio - 2021

Samuel Sooleyman is a boy who loves basketball and is living in South Sudan.  He is in his last year of secondary school and gets the opportunity of a lifetime. He will join other basketball players from his country to play in a tournament in the United States.  Sooley, has led a sheltered life and has never even flown on an airplane but, this is an opportunity for the seventeen year old to be seen by scouts.  He isn't the best of the best, in fact he's the last to be chosen but, he's determined and practices every opportunity he has even when others have stopped. He improves and his determination pays off as he gets noticed.  Meanwhile back home in South Sudan, a civil war is raging, he father has been killed and his sister abducted, terrible things happen.

This is not a book just for sports lovers as I enjoyed it even more than I expected. My husband really loved it as well. It's a story about basketball and a ags to riches stories. It's also a story about a country devastated by civil war and the dreams of a better life elsewhere.  Sooley was a character to root for and I loved the way his character developed and how he transitioned into a life that was so different.  I must say that we hadn't anticipated the way the story would end (don't look for for spoilers). I do recommend this one - especially on audio.

The audio book (10 hours, 27 min) was narrated by Dion Graham who did a fantastic job. BTW: In case you have never listened to this narrator he is also narrating Colson Whitehead's new book: Harlem Shuffle which I plan to begin soon.

Rating 4.5/5 stars

(Thanks go to Penguin Random House audio for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review.)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Cold Caller; Jason Starr

 

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, now hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. 

Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book they are reading or plan to read soon.

 

                                                                     Cold Caller; Jason Starr

                                                                        WW Norton - 1998

ONE

"ON MOST DAYS, I wouldn't have said anything.  Like the typical New Yorker, I'd have given her a couple of dirty looks, maybe grunted a little, and minded my own business.  But that morning was different. Maybe things were already building up in my life, pushing me to the brink.  Or maybe I was just having a bad day. I'd have a fight with my girlfriend the night before and she'd left for work that morning without saying goodbye."

I plan on starting this one today, it was mentioned as one of the great murder mysteries in Peter Swanson's book, Eight Perfect Murders.  What do you think - read more or pass?

(2) Short Story Reviews - Snowflakes; Ruth Ware and Treasure; Oyinkan Braithwaite

 I've long been an Amazon Prime member but, I've never really taken advantage of all the freebies being a subscriber affords: free eBooks, free movies and free music downloads and, I'm sure there are other benefits as well.  I decided to try some eBook downloads (10) maximum at one time and was pleasantly surprised by the (2) short stories I read.  What I loved about these short stories was that one was 37 minutes and the other 43 minutes so, it was perfect before bed reading on (2) consecutive nights.

Book #1 - HUSH Series

(a collection of 6 brief political mysteries and psych thrillers)

Snowflakes was a fast an engrossing read that I was able to finish in about  (35) minutes.

A father who seems to be obsessed with guns seems to be quickly losing grips with reality. He forces his children (2) boys (2) girls to gather huge stones to build a tall wall around the property because of something bad that is about to happen.  A gun shot and a shout-out by the father that "their coming" and suddenly the family, minus the mother, escapes by boat with some essentials. What happened to the mother? What has really happened here? 

A dark story that was well-written and left me pleasantly surprised overall. Told from the POV of Leah an older daughter.   4 stars

                                                       Book # 2 Hush Series

Treasure is a young girl who lives in Nigeria obsessed with becoming an Instagram influencer with a huge following. She shows off expensive clothing and accessories with a background of her opulent, gated community.

@Sho4Sure is a mechanic; he is obsessed with Treasure and flirts with her online. He is obsessed with meeting her in person and, he eventually finds a way to make that happen - think "stalker".

An eye-opener and warning to those who pretend to be people they are not.  A surprise ending too. This was described as darkly comedic. I found it dark, indeed, comic? not so much.  The author of this one has also written My Sister the Serial Killer, it's one book I had meant to try but never did.  I plan to remedy that soon. 4 stars

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, now hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. . Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book they are reading or that they plan to read soon.

The Vanishing Half; Brit Bennett

Riverhead Books - 2020

One

"The morning one of the lost twins returned to Mallard, Lou LeBon ran to the diner to break the news, and even now, many years later, everyone remembers the shock of sweaty Lou pushing through the glass doors, chest heaving, neckline darkened with his own effort. The barely awake customers clamored around him, ten or so, although more would lie and say they'd been there too, if only to pretend that once, they'd witnessed something truly exciting.  In that little farm town, nothing surprising ever happened, not since the Vignes twins had disappeared. But that morning in April 1968, on his way to work, Lou spotted Desiree Vignes walking along Partridge Road, carrying a small leather suitcase. She looked exactly the same as when she'd left at sixteen--still light, her skin the color of sand barely wet. Her hipless body reminding him of a branch caught in a strong breeze. She was hurrying, her head bent, and ---Lou paused here, a bit of a showman---she was holding the hand of a girl seven or eight, and as black as tar."

I've been waiting since June for this one and finally my it's my turn from the library.  I'm really enjoying this so far.

It's a long first paragraph but, I love the writing. What do you think, read or pass?

2 somewhat disappointing reads from 2020

TITLE: Death in Her Hands

AUTHOR:  Ottessa Moshfegh

PUBLISHER:  Penguin Press

PUB. YEAR: 2020

SETTING: ?? cabin in the woods

Format: audio download (Ann Marie Lee, Narrator)

Rating - 2.5/5

As the story opens Vesta, a recent widow in her 70s, is taking a walk in the woods with her dog Charlie when she finds a note on the ground held in place by stones. The note read "Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body."

Vesta moved to a cabin in the woods on the lake after her husband died.  Since she is new to the area, and doesn't know anyone she finds herself obsessing over the note in the woods, imagining the life that Magda might have lived. As she ponders the life of Magda, we get some insight into Vesta's mindset and her unhappiness about how her own life has played out.

I've read several books by the this author which I really enjoyed but, this one was not one of them.  Told in a stream of consciousness style from the imaginings of a lonely old woman living an isolated life, I kept waiting for a revelation but, I ended up disappointed overall. I found that I couldn't even feel sorry for this lonely, isolated woman, if I was able to, I think my rating would have been a bit higher.

TITLE: Saint X

AUTHOR:  Alexis Schaitkin

PUBLISHER:  Celadon Books

PUB. YEAR: 2020

Setting: NY and Caribbean

Format: eBook purchase

Rating - 2.5/5

In 1990 a family from NY is vacationing on Saint X, a fictional 5 star resort in the Caribbean.  It's a vacation that ends in tragedy for their college freshman daughter, Allison.  Although there were (2) suspects in Allison's death, they were released when authorities decided there just wasn't enough evidence to hold the young men. As a result, the husband, wife and Claire, their 7 year old daughter, are forced to leave the island and attempt to rebuild their lives in NY.

This is not a story about one brilliant young woman's death but, how the younger sister is affected by the loss of the much older sister she had idolized.  Once the family returns home, the story fast forwards pretty quickly to Claire as a young woman who has now become obsessed with her sister's death and how her life has been affected.

As I read this story I immediately thought of the Natalee Holloway case (2005) who disappeared from Aruba on her senior high school trip and although she was never found, she has since been declared dead.

Although I was immediately drawn into this story, I had a problem with the writing style, quite often I found I never knew who was speaking. I also thought that the the ending was a disappointing.

Book Review - The Sun Down Motel; Simone St. James

TITLE:  The Sun Down Motel

AUTHOR:  Simone St. James

PUBLISHER:  Berkley

PUB. YEAR: 2020

Setting: Fell, NY

Format: eGalley

Rating - 5/5

In 1982 Vivian Delaney was a young girl who hoped to make in big in New York City, but she ended up in small town Fell, NY taking a job on the night shift at The Sun Down Motel. Things never seemed right at the motel and on November 29, 1982, while working, Vivian seemed to vanish without a trace. 

Fast forward 35 years Carly Kirk's mother was Vivian's sister.  Carly's mother has died and would never talk about Vivian's disappearance. Carly is disillusioned with college and becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her aunt Vivian.  She leaves college in Illinois and moves to Fell, NY to try to find out more about what now seems to be a closed case. When she visits The Sun Down Motel, there is a night clerk vacancy, the same job Vivian held 35 years earlier. She gets the job and by day plays amateur detective. In the process she learns that small town Fells has had more than one unsolved cases. It's clear that bad things have happened at the Sun Down over the years and not too many people are anxious to talk about it. It's also clear, early on, that ghosts haunt the place.  Yes, the Sun Down Motel, built in the early 70s and now rundown, offers more than a cheap room. 

What will Carly uncover as she delves deeper?

The story alternates between Vivian in 1982 and Carly in 2017. Readers who enjoy atmospheric stories with a creepy Gothic feel, strong, gutsy female characters who support one another should read this book. This is an edge of your seat mystery. I loved that the motel seemed to come alive on the pages and that quite a lot of the action takes place there as well.  This story was so well crafted and had a satisfying ending as well.

Thanks go to Berkley Publishing and Edelweiss to allow me access to this eBook.

Let it Snow; Nancy Thayer

TITLE: Let it Snow

AUTHOR:  Nancy Thayer

PUBLISHER: Ballantine

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING: Nantucket Island
FORMAT: eGalley

RATING - 4/5

Set on idyllic Nantucket Island, a place where even the winter snow is magical.

Christina Antonioni operates a toy shop on the island. This Christmas instead of comfort and joy, Christina learns that her rent at the shop is about to increase making her wonder if she'll be able to stay in business.  As fate would have it a 9 year old shoplifter with a close connection to Christina's landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, the richest man on the island, may help her to plea her case. As Christina gets to know the Bittlesman's family better she also gets an unexpected Christmas surprise she hadn't planned on.

I really liked my first Christmas read of 2019. The characters were charming and the story memorable. Even though the ending was predictable and a bit abrupt, I still really enjoyed this one.

No Exit; Taylor Adams

TITLE: No Exit
AUTHOR:  Taylor Adams

PUBLISHER:  William Morrow

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING: Colorado
FORMAT:  - eGalley

RATING - 4/5

When Darby Thorne learns that her mother is dying of pancreatic cancer and needs immediate surgery she heads out from Colorado where she is a college student to Utah for what might be one last visit.  One the way Darby is caught in a blizzard with a broken windshield wiper and no snow tires, so before long she is forced to pull off at a remote rest stop.

Her cellphone battery is low, she forgot her charger in her dorm and the cell service in the area is basically non existent. At the rest stop are (4) other individuals: (3 men and 1 other woman).  All are forced to wait out the storm until morning when the plows can get through.  If things can't seem to get any worst for Darby, she discovers a little girl, duct taped and caged in one of the vans in the parking lot.   The girl has obviously been kidnapped and Darby is determined to free her and get help.  Just who is the kidnapper and who can she trust?

While being stranded in a snowstorm and remote rest stops are hardly new plot devices for a thriller, the author does a very good job creating one nail-biting moment after another with a considerable amount of violence as well. The story is told mostly through Darby's POV and she has plenty of her own emotional baggage. This is a story that hooked me despite some implausible scenarios.  Jay, the 6 year old victim who was way too wise for her age and Darby at times seemed to have super human strength.  Despite these flaws, this was a good quick read that seems like it would make a great movie. 

Normal People; Sally Rooney

TITLE: Normal People

AUTHOR:  Sally Rooney

PUBLISHER:  Hogarth

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING:  Ireland
FORMAT:  - eGalley (268pp)

RATING - 4/5

Normal People is a quiet coming of age story which drew me in immediately as it's a story about early relationships and missed opportunities.

Marianne and Connell are both very bright but couldn't be more different, Yet when they meet, something clicks. Marianne's a cold, emotionless teen who comes from a wealthy but dysfunctional family. She's awkward and others her age think she's just plain odd. Connell is handsome and popular, his family is poor and his mother is a cleaning lady for Marianne's family.  One day when he goes to pick his mother up at Marianne's house, they begin to chat and soon become friends and eventually sexual partners.  Fearing he will be teased by his peers if their relationship is found out, he wants them to keep things secret and just between them. She goes along with this, probably because she's used to be mistreated, at least emotionally, by her own family.

The following year both Marianne and Connell end up at Trinity College in Dublin but here their roles seem reversed. Marianne becomes the popular one, a social butterfly and it's Connell who's feeling insecure, shy, depressed and like he doesn't fit it. Although they come in and out of togetherness, they always seem drawn back to each other.

The story is told from both of their POVs and although well written, at times I felt a bit frustrated by the story and the failure by both to communicate what they were feeling.  It reminded me about just how very much we are a product of our upbringing.  I also wish that the author delved more into Marianne's family and why she was treated the way she was growing up.

There are many themes running through this novel: social class differences, relationship dynamics, mental health issues, bullying, young love and more. A deeply drawn story with an overall darker tone. I'm glad I read it and, the more I've thought about this one, the more my opinion changed a bit overall to a slightly more favorable rating.

Wingspan; Chris Bohjalian

TITLE: Wingspan

AUTHOR:  Chris Bohjalian

PUBLISHER:  Knopf/Doubleday 

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING:  Transatlantic flight from NY to London
FORMAT:  -  eGalley

RATING - 4/5

I've read most everything Chris Bohjalian has written so I was naturally curious about this novella.  At first I though it might be a prequel to The Flight Attendant, but it was not.

Originally a one act play staring Grace Experience (Bohjalian's daughter) and K.K. Glick, it's a very quick read, basically dialog between two flight attendants. There's veteran attendant Karen and  a newbie, Emily who is on her first transatlantic flight from NY to London. Emily is extremely nervous about this flight and starts talking pretty much non stop, unloading her secrets in the process.

I read this from start to finish in bed the other night and thought it was enjoyable enough to recommend.

Available on Kindle for 99 cents

The Au Pair; Emma Rous

TITLE: The Au Pair
AUTHOR:  Emma Rous

PUBLISHER:  Berkley

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING:  Norfolk Coast
FORMAT:  - eGalley - NetGalley -  (384 pp)
RATING: 4/5

Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny never knew their mother. On the day they were born she threw herself off the cliffs of Summerbourne on the Norfolk Coast.  Now at 25 she has just lost her father to an accident and while sorting through her father's belongings and comes across a photo taken on the day the twins were born. The photo shows her mother smiling and holding one of the newborns. Why was there just one baby in the photo and why would her smiling mother have committed suicide on that very same day?

Does the "au pair" Laura, who lived with the family while caring for older brother Edwin, about 5 at the time, hold the answer to these questions? Seraphine is obsessed with tracking down Laura and quizzing any one else who may be able to fit the mysterious pieces of the puzzle together.

This was a pretty good mystery, well-paced with each chapter seeming to bring a new question or new clue. The story is told in the present from the POV of Seraphine and the past by Laura, the au pair. The ending wasn't an entire surprise but I didn't figure out everything either. Overall, I was happy I read this one.

The Stranger Inside; Jennifer Jaynes

TITLE: The Stranger Inside

AUTHOR:  Jennifer Jaynes

PUBLISHER:  Thomas Mercer

PUB. YEAR: 2017

SETTING:  Massachusetts
FORMAT:  - eBook - NetGalley (286pp)
RATING: 4.5/5

Diane Christie is a mystery writer and a crisis center hotline volunteer. She has 2 teenagers, a son with medical issues and a college-age daughter who is difficult to say the least. The 3 have relocated to Fog Harbor from New Jersey after Diane's husband commits suicide.  

The murder of a college girl and a call Diane takes while volunteering at the crisis center puts her in the middle of the investigation. The caller, with a computer disguised voice, seems to know too much about the recent murder than what has been released. Subsequent calls from the same individual state that she is the only one who can stop the killings.

This was a well-plotted suspense thriller which had me guessing about the suspects and the possible motives, I was hooked from the very start and the surprise ending was awesome as well. A quick, satisfying psychological thriller, I loved the coastal setting, characterizations and the way the story played out.  I would definitely read more books by this author.

This book is actually book #4 of a series, but, I didn't realized that until after the fact and, it can clearly be read as a stand-alone.

The Kindle version is $3.99 on Amazon.

Good Riddance; Elinor Lipman

TITLE: Good Riddance

AUTHOR:  Elinor Lipman

PUBLISHER: Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING:  NYC and NH
FORMAT:  - eGalley - Edelweiss
RATING: 3/5

Daphne Maritch is a newly divorced New Yorker who is attempting to declutter her all too tiny NYC apartment when she comes across her deceased mom June's yearbook which she inherited. The yearbook is from 1968, Pickering, New Hampshire High School, the year when Daphne's mom was a new, 24 year old teacher and class advisor.  The yearbook was heavily annotated and updated with comments each time she learned new tidbits about class members through the years.  Her mother's obsession with the yearbook stirs many questions but mostly why was Daphne's mother so obsessed with this time and the people in her life?

With no interest in keeping the yearbook, Daphne tosses it down the trash chute. Geneva, a filmmaker  who lives in the building finds the yearbook and thinks it might make an interesting project - Class of 1968, Where are You Now? A return to NH by Daphne and Geneva for a reunion brings about some shocking surprises.

Elinor Lipman is a favorite author but this book wasn't a hit for me. In fact it took me a while to get through it after the first 1/3 of the book.  Daphne and Geneva were both irritating characters for different reasons, and Daphne's father who was a more minor character was probably my favorite.  The publisher calls this a romantic comedy and yes there is some romance but, readers might be disappointed if "romantic comedy" is the reason they chose this book.  Although the story is funny at times, it's also pretty far-fetched. For anyone who hasn't read this author but would like to, I'd recommend starting with some of her earlier books like The Inn at Lake Devine - a favorite.

2 quick reviews - Waiting for Bojangles; Olivier Bourdeaut and The Whistler; John Grisham

TITLE: Waiting for Bojangles (176 pages)

AUTHOR: Olivier Bourdeaut

PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster

PUB. YEAR: 2019

SETTING:  Paris, France
FORMAT:  - eGalley
RATING: 4.5/5

Waiting for Bojangles is a dark, touching and sometimes funny story. It's told from the POV of an unnamed, young boy growing up in an unconventional home in France with his eccentric parents George and Louise. 

His parents appear madly in love but, something is off. Everyday they enjoy colorful cocktails and dance to the song, Mr. Bojangles while George calls his wife by different first names.

In reality, Louise suffers from mental illness and George is only trying to protect his wife when those highs quickly descend to new lows.

This debut novel reads as if it could be autobiographical but, the author claims it is not.  The characters are ones that I came to care for with a feeling of real love within the family despite the sometimes unpredictable behaviors of the parents.  Although parts of this short novel made me laugh, there is also sadness within the pages as well. I do understand why this won a literary award in France.  The translation by Regan Kramer was very good.

TITLE: The Whistler (419 pages - 13 hours/audio)

AUTHOR: John Grisham

PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUB. YEAR: 2016

SETTING:  Florida
FORMAT:  - audio (library) - Cassandra Campbell (narrator)
RATING: 3.5/5

In this thriller, Lacy Stolz and Hugo Hatch work for the Florida Board of Judicial Conduct.  When an alleged corruption case is brought to light by a disbarred attorney, the two have their work cut out for them as their investigation takes them into dangerous territory.   The case involves a female judge who reportedly has been taking in $250,000 each month in Indian gaming casino profits for the last 11 years.

The Indian gaming casino, a corrupt chief, skimming by a mafia don and the corrupt judge made for an interesting story. The Cassandra Campbell narration made this enjoyable but, the story was way too long and far from perfect.  I do miss the quality of those earlier Grisham thrillers.

Night of Miracles; Elizabeth Berg

TITLE: Night of Miracles

AUTHOR: Elizabeth Berg

PUBLISHER: Random House

PUB. YEAR: 2018

SETTING:  Missouri
FORMAT:  - eGalley
RATING: 4/5 stars

Night of Miracles is a sequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv which I read and loved last month.  

In this story , senior citizen, Lucille Howard  (Arthur Truluv's  former friend and neighbor), is trying to keep busy by giving baking classes to people in the area.  Her classes have become so popular that she has hired Iris as her assistant, ironically, Iris does not know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind occupied.  When tragedy strikes the new family next door, Lucille and the community of Mason, MO band together to show what it means to be good neighbors.

This was another enjoyable, light read.  This story features some of the characters from the first book as well as a new cast of characters, featured as the chapters progress.  It's a story full of kindness and compassion for others, the kind our world needs more of.  The characters are quirky and likable and the baking references in this book put me in the mood to get out my holiday baking recipes.

Fun read, although I liked the first book a bit more. I'd certainly recommend reading the books in order if you decide to try this two-book series.

Swans of Fifth Avenue; Melanie Benjamin

TITLE: The Swans of Fifth Avenue

AUTHOR: Melanie Benjamin

PUBLISHER: Random House

PUB. YEAR: 2016

SETTING:  NYC
FORMAT:  - eBook

RATING: 4/5 stars

The Swans of Fifth Avenue was our book group's November selection.  Going into this book rather blind, I was not aware that this was a fictionalized version of Truman Capote and the rich, high society "Swans", he ingratiated himself with, only to later expose their most private lives -- in his "LaCote Basque - 1965".

Set in the 1950's-1960's, it is a juicy story which I thought was fairly well-written.    Barbara "Babe" Cushing Mortimore Paley, socialite and top "swan", seemed to have it all: beauty, money and influential friends but, deep down she was not much more than a lonely, insecure trophy wife. Her husband Bill was a philandering, CBS executive. Little did Babe know, when Capote and his larger than life personality entered the picture, he would easily be welcomed in their circle but, with a penchant for gossip, he'd later use people to his advantage.

This book made for a lively discussion and everyone in the group seemed happy that we read it. 

Bring Me Back; B.A. Paris

TITLE: Bring Me Back

AUTHOR: B.A. Paris

PUBLISHER: St. Martins & Macmillan Audio

PUB. YEAR: 2018

SETTING:  United Kingdom
FORMAT:  - eGalley and audio

RATING: 3.5/5 stars

I'm a sucker for psychological thrillers and since I enjoyed this author's two previous books, I looked forward to her newest book. As this story opens, Finn and Layla, a young British couple on vacation in France, are on the road when Finn needs to use the restroom. He stops at a remote service area while Layla waits in the car. When he returns, Layla is no where to be found. Although Finn is suspected in her disappearance he is never charged.

Fast forward twelve years and Finn is now engaged to Ellen, Layla's sister. There has been a reported sighting of Layla, but she hasn't turned up nor, has her body been found.  Emails from unknown individuals who seem to know things that have been kept secret start arriving, shortly after Russian dolls begin appearing. The dolls have a significant link to both Layla and Ellen.  Is Layla alive or is someone playing cruel trucks, and why?

Told from the before and after POVs, I must say part 1 really kept me riveted, but, by parts 2 and 3 the story seemed to slow and get very repetitive.  It seemed like every chapter began to mention "Russian dolls" and "Peggy the Dog". The ending left me somewhat disappointed and, overall, for me this story just lacked the suspense and surprises found in the author's earlier books. 

The Ones We Choose; Julie Clark

The Ones We Choose; Julie Clark

Gallery Books - 2018

The Ones We Choose is a debut novel that packs a punch.  The author uses fiction and fascinating science tidbits about the DNA that shapes each of us. 

Paige Robson is a successful genetic research scientist in a small California town. Busy with her career, she soon realizes that her only chance at motherhood might be through the use of a sperm donor. 

Fast forward, Paige's son Miles is a lonely 8 year old who has issues fitting in. He also resents his mother's, kind, patient boyfriend Liam, and longs to know why he is the only child who doesn't know who his father is.  (Paige, has also had a childhood with an absent father who reappears later in the story.)

As the story progresses secrets to the identity of Miles father begin to unravel and are revealed. 

This is an amazing debut novel that blends literary fiction with science. At the beginning of each chapter are interesting genetic facts. I really enjoyed this book, a tender, heartwarming and informational read, reminding me of author, Lisa Genova.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

The Premonition; Chris Bohjalian

A sort prequel to The Sleepwalker, which will be released in January (Doubleday), The Premonition is a quick read, very atmospheric and a tad creepy as well.

Set in rural Vermont, Lianna Ahlberg is a high school senior when she witnesses her first "premonition".  A thunderstorm, snapping power lines, and soon two horses belonging to the new neighbors, the Holbrooks, are electrocuted.

The foreshadowing indicates the Holbrook's odd little boy, Eric, who is obsessed with all things medieval will be more developed in the next story.  The same is true for Lianna and Paige's(the younger sister), as well as Annalee, the girl's mother, who has bouts of sleepwalking when Mr. Ahlberg is away from home.  She has done some crazy and scary things in the past.

This story wraps up with a nail biting episode that made me want to continue on with The Sleepwalker immediately. Readers who enjoyed previous contemporary fiction by this author should be sure to check both books out.

4/5
(Kindle purchase)