Review: Cockroaches

Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thailand certainly appears to be quite an exotic place with lots of diverse people from many backgrounds. It is probably beautiful in its own way, too. Still, the corruption, drugs and sexual depravity described in this book does not make me want to visit anytime soon. Harry Hole, however, finds himself sent from Norway to discreetly solve the murder of the Norwegian ambassador in one of the bedrooms of an American-style motel which is actually a brothel. Harry is not drinking and so is very much clear-headed in his investigation, though that does not make it an easier for him to unsnarl the many threads in this ball of intrigue. I'd pretty much figured out the culprit by part 5 but must admit could not sort the motives for the various murders. Not to worry,Jo Nesbo is smarter than I and spelled it all out by the tumultuous ending. Cannot wait for the next case!!

View all my reviews

The Hidden One--Goodreads Giveaway

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having read the first two books in this series I was very excited to win this one for review. I was not disappointed. Even though out of sequence it was not dependent upon the earlier installments to understand the story--truly a stand-alone book. The Amish community is so clearly explained and shown in these books and it is interesting to read the Amish Dutch to see how closely my translation meets the immediate English the author provides. The mysteries Castillo presents are always intriguing and Kate, as a former Amish woman, is an interesting character who though no longer a member of the religious community is both understanding and respectful to its way of life. Though some view her as an outsider, her ability to speak their language and her professionalism as Police Chief often makes the less than trusting confide in her. In this book, as well as the earlier ones I've read, Kate's earlier life is revealed in small segments. Here, she is outside her area of authority doing a favor for a former childhood friend who has been arrested for the murder of his Bishop. Kate is not only an outsider to the local Amish but also to the local law enforcement agency. As her own investigation turns up some new information someone who seems to want her either silenced permanently or, at the very least, driven out of town threatened her life several times.

View all my reviews

Review: Gone Missing

Gone Missing by Linda Castillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mystery until the very last chapters with a bone chilling curve at the end! My favorite of the series so far.

View all my reviews

Review: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: The Hidden One

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: Hamnet

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A BookBrowse copy sent for reading and discussion. A fictional imagining of Shakespeare's early life and marriage in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The focus, however, is not really upon him but rather the family in which he was raised and the young local woman who becomes his wife. Indeed, he is never mentioned by name and once married doesn't appear very often in the narrative. He is an absentee father, living, writing and acting in London as his wife and three children reside in a small home alongside his parent's home. The marriage is loving and warm despite the lengthy seperation between the spouses, until the plague hits them and their young son, Hamnet succumbs at a young age.
The impact of the loss on them and their families is devastating but seems to give rise to one of the most famous plays in English literature.

View all my reviews

Review: A Perilous Perspective

A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first Lady Darby Mystery but not my last. While in the Scottish Highlands to attend a cousin's wedding Mr and Mrs Gage find themselves in the awkward position of having to tell their host that part of his cherished collection of Masterpieces are forgeries. As if that is not enough close upon their revelation a lady's maid dies mysteriously of a poisoning while in the long gallery where the collection is on display--at the foot of one of the forgeries most important to the host and his former betrothed, who now is a spinster living on the estate adjoining his. Even more of a mystery is the fact that the maid is part of this woman's household and should not be anywhere within his home.

A complex case to be sure, filled with questions not easily answered, especially when the Lord of the manor is less than forthcoming when they are posed to him!

View all my reviews