A Midsummer’s Equation by Keigo Higashino

by Carol2 Comments
Higashino might be one of my favorite authors. A Midsummer's Equation is the fourth of his mysteries I've read I've read. It's the third Detective Galileo translated into English but the 6th in the series. It doesn't matter; the ones I've read definitely stand-alone. As the blurb above says, Manabu Yukawa is at a run-down resort town to attend a conference when, surprise, surprise, someone gets murdered. Yukawa is a physicist - good at observing, logical, thoughtful, quiet. He's that character that knows what's going on but isn't going to brag about it. We also get to see his more caring side here. He becomes friends with a boy who is also staying in town and they have some very good scenes together. His concern for the boy is what pulls him into the case, and his natural tendency to get involved in mysteries - he is the series' star. A lot of mystery blurbs talk about a surprise twist, but Higashino actually lives up to...
Read More

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

by Carol2 Comments
I picked up Missing, Presumed because a.) I enjoy mysteries and b.) the blurb sounded interesting. I was expecting the standard police procedural, but what I got was more about the characters than the plot. I thought it was excellent, but if you're looking for a standard formulaic mystery, this isn't it. If you care about the people involved, about their flaws and strengths, their disillusionments and personal struggles, pick it up. It's more a general fiction than mystery to me, if that makes sense. It's not a puzzle with a neat set of clues and a clever wrap-up. Don't get me wrong, I love those too, but this one is less linear, slower pace with lots of side-tracking. Although Edith is the missing, presumed dead woman, Manon is the star, but she's complicated. In hindsight, she may have a few too many issues, but while reading the book I loved her. She's tough and smart, but lonely and needy. She's probably...
Read More

The Sans Pareil Mystery by Karen Charlton

by Carol2 Comments
There were several good things about The Sans Pareil Mystery. I enjoyed learning about the theater in London in 1810 and it is interesting to note that both the San Pareil Theater and the woman running it did actually exist. The mystery itself was okay, although the clues were not necessarily as noticeable as the big flashing arrows saying "this is s bad guy." I like Lavender and Wood as a team, but Lavender seems older to me than young 30s, his attitudes and actions don't necessarily fit. Or maybe the reader's voice sounded older and that projected on to the main character? I had to remind myself that he was younger than I think. For the time period, it was also notable that women played central roles in the story, not just in the plot, but on the side-lines too. We meet women who have younger lovers, who support themselves and their household, who are brave, who are loyal, who...
Read More

Bookburners: Anywhere but Here by Brian Francis Slattery

by Carol2 Comments
So far, Bookburners reminds me of The Librarians tv show - which is a good thing, but it doesn't have the math/literary/science references The Librarians. What it does have is a group of non-magical people very good at what they do who go around the world collecting magical artifacts - like books and bringing them back to a place where they are all collected and safeguarded. Each episode of Bookburners is just that, a self-contained story that forms a part of the overall storyline. "Anywhere but Here" is Sal's first official case. The team heads to Madrid, where another man has opened another book and bad things are happening. Not downright evil - just wrong, and weird, and cool. The descriptions were awesome, and if the storyline itself is not terribly original, I think this particular danger was pretty doggone cool. Sal is fitting in pretty well. I like how she manages to find the parts where this new job is similar...
Read More

Bookburners: Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone

by Carol2 Comments
"Badge, Book, and Candle" is the first episode in the Bookburners serial. I picked it up mostly because I enjoyed The Witch who Came in from the Cold and wanted to try another. We've got a basic urban fantasy set up - demons trying to break into our world, a main character who just learned magic exists. It's quick-paced, mostly action and little character building but it is the intro to the series. We get right into the action,but I'm sure we'll learn more about the characters as the story continues. Sal is a great character. She's intelligent and loves her brother, faults and all - and that's what draws her into this world. You have to give her credit though, she's tough. I like the serial set up. It's a short read, it kind of wraps up but leaves you wanting to see what happens in the next one. I will say that the descriptions and analogies are well done. It's an enjoyable read. I don't know...
Read More

The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

by Carol2 Comments
Is The Pursuit good? Probably not - but it's entertaining and action-packed and funny. It's got sex (off-screen) and explosions and life-threatening situations. You know the good guys, presuming you consider Nick Fox a good guy, and the bad guys are going to lose. It's a perfect quick summer read. The Pursuit is the 5th in the series and I've read them in order, which I honestly think is best. Yes, they probably work as stand-alones, but this one picks up right where #4 left off and you get to see how Nick and Kate's relationship develops. Also, most of the secondary good guy characters appear in each of them, and I do love Kate's dad. He is awesome. If you read the blurb you have a bit of an idea on the plot and it's so short I don't want to give away any spoilers. A few things I did enjoy - underground Paris, the melodramatic patriotism, and the lack of high...
Read More