Review: The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

by Carol20 Comments
Can I review The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths without talking about the mystery? Probably not, but the plot is not what kept me engrossed in the book, it was the setting and the main character that held my attention. I listened to this on audio, read by Jane McDowell. That's the one thing about going fishing, it gives me plenty of time to listen to books. I can fish and listen easily enough, especially when I'm not catching many fish. McDowell did an excellent job, but I will give a small warning. The book is written in the present tense, which is rather unusual. I'm not sure if I would have noticed if I hadn't been thinking about tenses already. I actually tend to write in the present tense myself, but I know it can be off-putting for some people. Ruth is an archaeologist, a single woman closing in on 40 who lives with her cats in a remote area of...
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First Paragraphs – India Black and the Widow of Windsor

by Carol4 Comments
"Alafair, you stupid girl. It's First Samuel. First Samuel, for goodness' sake." Mrs. Evangeline LeBlanc rustled to the table in her black silk gown, taking up the heavy Bible from the table and flipping rapidly through its pages until she'd found the correct chapter and verse. "First Samuel, chapter 28. You had the pages turned to Second Samuel, chapter 24." Her daughter shrugged. "Really, Mama, do you think any of these people will notice whether it's First Samuel or Second Samuel or a page from Mrs. Gaskell? It's so dark in here you can't see your hand in front of you face." There you have it, the first two paragraphs from the prologue to India Black and the Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr. Would it grab your attention? I really wish the bit had featured India. I love her brashness. Tuesday Intros is hosted by Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea....
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Review: “Map of the City” by Valerie Laken

by Carol10 Comments
Photo credit: BBC News In "Map of the City" the narrator is in some ways a typical Midwestern college-age girl. She's trying to find her place, fit in, navigate relationships with men, learning how to become her own, independent person, but Laken adds the complexity of Moscow in 1991 to the mix. The young woman is a foreign exchange student, just when the Soviet Union is collapsing. We get an inside view of the riots and the economic hardships, but the narrator is still separate. It's not her country, not her language, no matter how hard she tries to fit in. I liked how Laken let us see the woman's relationships honestly. She's not in love with the men in her life, but she enjoys their company. The writing is wonderful, descriptive and authentic, seeing a truly historical time through the lens of one woman's experience. "Map of the City" is included in Separate Kingdoms by Valerie Laken, which you can purchase on...
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Review: Between the Thames and the Tiber: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Ted Riccardi

by Carol16 Comments
First, a side thought. I never know whether to include the book's subtitle in my post title. In this case I did because it really is essential, usually I don't though. Honestly, subtitles in fiction just tend to annoy me. Give me a good title without feeling you need to explain further. Just my opinion. Back to the book. I am a die-hard Sherlock Holmes fan. While Doyle's stories will always be first in my heart, I do enjoy the new adventures, re-tellings, re-imaginings, sequels. For a second there, I thought I was talking about Austen's works. Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite of the pastiches. Appropriately, Between the Thames and the Tiber is a collection of  Holmes' adventures transcribed by the ever-loyal Watson. It mirrors the originals in tone and style, but the I just didn't like the stories. They were missing the spark that makes Holmes enjoyable. Yes, Holmes uses his deductive reasoning and Holmes and Watson's friendship matches the originals,...
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