Review: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Incredible journey of a British Armada headed to the West Coast of South America to intercept a Spanish galleon filled with silver from the New World. Britain and Spain are at war and it would be quite a coup to capture this ship and its wealth.

But, it is 1740, the Atlantic Ocean is a wide empty expanse, the Cape of Hope is treacherous and the season is all wrong. Disease is rampant on the ships, many of the sailors have been impressed so aren't necessarily the most adept and in some cases are actually quite old and/or infirm. Still, the Armada, or most of it, manages to make it around the Horn. Two ships turn back and the others become separated in high seas and poor visibility. One of them, The Wager, hits the rocky shore and is destroyed.

Alone, and stranded on an uninhabited, swampy, rocky island the crew and its officers must try to survive and maybe, get back home to England, if they cannot find the rest of the ships and complete their mission for the Crown. This is the story of the new horrors these men faced after the almost 6 months of the horrors of 16th century life in the World of Wood--the Royal British Navy and its strata of authority and servitude in an inhospitable barely seaworthy vessel.

Riveting, horrifying and mesmerizing--took only 2 days to read this page turner.

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Review: Do Tell--Not Sure What Audience the Author Hopes To Reach

Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book rehashes old Hollywood scandals that have been thrown together and mixed up and written into a mishmash in which no actual scandal is left clearly. Even the purported author of the book, Edie O'Dare is a conglomeration of Louella Parsons ( Poppy?, although LP was the most feared woman in Hollywood at the time ) and Hedda Hopper--known for her extravagant hats, less than stellar movie career and being the mother of Perry Mason's assistant in the old TV show. A touch of Sheila Graham, another though lesser gossip columnist of the era, has been added to O'Dare's character. Graham's drunken screenwriter was her lover, F.Scott Fitzgerald not her brother, however.
It is to the point, that I, an 80 year old, would even be able to make these connections. And because these and other similarities to the real Hollywood characters of the pre-War and post-War era that it would seem the book is aimed to me and my generation. But, it is all old hat, old news and just boring--not even worth stopping to try to ID the real cast. As to the relationship between Charles and Hal, in today's world it would not even cause a second look. And, in today's world, I doubt the generations younger than mine would care about a book that really just reads like ancient gossip columns.
The characters are superficial and don't elicit any feelings in the reader at all--but then, Hollywood is and always was superficial and the public's real knowledge of any personal life of the members of the Biz has never changed. We know what will induce us to pay money to see the stars and anyone who doesn't toe the line finds that the publicity is less than career enhancing.

This is my review of a Bound Galley provided by BookBrowse for that purpose

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Review: Murder on Wall Street

Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Doesn't seem possible that this is the 24th book in the series--how far the characters have come and how much their relationships have grown! Lest, one believes that turn of the century New York City was the good old days, we learn that domestic violence, drug addiction, murder, infidelity and rape were as prevalent then and there are they are today through out the world. And, the rich families of society are not immune to them, though they have the means to hide the scandals and even protect the guilty.

The story begins with one murder of a rapist and abusive husband. Malloy has been approached by a friend, whose wife was one of the rapist's victims, to investigate. Jack Robinson, a gangster gone legit, is concerned that his history with the family of Hayden Norcross, his own former life, and the fact that he seemingly has ample motive for the murder, may result in his fingering as the murderer. Not only would such an arrest or even interrogation cause him discomfort but it would result in the revelation that the child his wife carries is not his own. Such notoriety would bring shame on her, her family and their hard earned position in society.

Hayden certainly had a plethora of enemies so the field is wide open for Malloy and Sarah to investigate. Lots of twists and turns, lots of seemingly unanserable questions and a second murder--this time of Hayden's father --all provide a complex and interesting read with lots of history thrown in for added depth. Cannot wait for #25

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Review: Break from Nuala

Break from Nuala by Harriet Steel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shanti and Jane have finally taken a vacation from Nuala. They are on the coast in the town of Galle and its Cinnamon Hotel. The guests are the typical assortment of British colonists of Ceylon in an upscale setting. A widowed actress and her entourage planning on carrying out her deceased husband's desire to deep sea dive in the vicinity; an older woman who resides in the hotel permanently and her young niece, an artist who is visiting her; a young couple who seem to prefer their own company; a young Swedish fellow here to study the local flora and who is also rather reclusive (shy, perhaps?); another young man, also on vacation and, seemingly, interested in the artist and very much encouraged by her aunt.

After having dinner and observing their fellow guests, Shanti, as is his habit, if off for an evening stroll and jane, as is hers, after coffee, retires to their room to read before bed. Naturally, this idyllic situation is not very long lasting, as, almost upon rising it is discovered that one hotel employee is discovered, apparently mauled to death, in the vicinity of the actress' bungalow. Also, the actress and her entourage have all taken mysteriously ill. And almost within a day, the young artist, Helen Morris disappears. Despite his intention to stay out of the investigation, Shanti finds the local Chief Inspector to be too quick to accept the first death as an animal attack and the discovery of the perpetrator of Miss Morris' apparent death very convenient.

Though not wanting to intrude upon another policeman's investigation, Shanti and Jane find it impossible to stand by quietly when the man seems lazy or possibly corrupt.

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