Bangkok 8 by John Burdett

by Carol2 Comments
Bangkok 8 has been on my to-read list for a while, and I finally got around to picking up the audio from the library. Let's be honest, it was an obvious choice for me. It's a mystery in an exotic locale and the detective has a philosophical streak. The murder itself was unique - the snakes in a locked car- and although it's a shame that Sonchai's partner was killed too, it was the only reason the crime was actually investigated thoroughly. The cops in Bangkok are mostly corrupt and add in that the US government would really rather at least one of the suspects not be looked at too closely, they likely would have let it drop. Sonchai can't though and his search for the truth leads us across the city and has us meet drug dealers, prostitutes, and business owners from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of vices and interests. Sonchai is a complicated man. He's the son of a prostitute and American...
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A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

by Carol3 Comments
I love Penny's Gamache series and this one was even better than the last couple. Gamache has taken the position of Commander of the Sûreté academy, the last bastion of the corruption that has plagues the Sûreté and a place to stop the corruption in its earliest stages, with the training of the cadets. And of course, there's a murder. One of the professors is killed, and no one at the academy is above suspicion, including Gamache  and the cadets. It's a very personal mystery for Gamache and a complicated situation. Is murder sometimes justifiable? Is anyone beyond redemption?\ As always, it's the characters the drive the mystery. With several trips to Three Pines and the homicide at the school, we meet most of the old familiar characters we know and love, but the new folks are well-drawn. The people here are real, even Gamache. They have strengths, but faults too, loyalties and habits. There's also the mystery of the old map, why it was...
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The Terra-Cotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri

by CarolNo Comments
I've been reading the Commissario Montalbano out-of-order over the last few years. I enjoy them but not enough to go out of my way to read them. Most I've picked up on audio from the library when they've been available. I like Montalbano. He's amusing in a crass way. He's as interested in literature and food as he is catching criminals. He can be philosophical one moment and wise-cracking the next. He cynical, but also has a soft side. He can be tough as nails, but the idea of a promotion or talking in front of the media terrifies him. This time around we've got two things going. There's a Mafia gun situation and the mystery of the two people killed 50 years ago. I like that both get solved. The current mystery needs to be dealt with, but the older one captures Montalbano's imagination. The secondary characters are well-developed, even those that end up dead. The mysteries were well done. The present day situation had well-placed...
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Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon

by Carol2 Comments
Murder in G Major drew me in because of the mix of mystery and music, set in Ireland to boot. I did have a problem with the whole set up of how Gethsemane at the school and cottage; it just seemed a bit of a stretch, but it's certainly not the first cozy mystery to force its heroine into the spot she needs to be. It's not surprising really that the Irish town is full of an odd mix of people, some good, some bad, some amusing, some crazy. Actually, even the cottage being haunted fits. I did love the interactions between Gethsemane  and her ghost, the composer Eamon McCarthy. She's feisty, he's a hot head, together they're perfect. I liked the school kids too, even if they weren't really given much screen time. The mystery itself was good, just the right amount of clues and suspects. and there was one bit of the ending that I just loved. This is the first in the series and...
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Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

by Carol5 Comments
Ever feel like you are just missing the piece that makes everyone love a book? That's how I feel about Dark Matter. People love it. I thought it was okay, but not outstanding and the ending annoyed me a bit. And, since I had high expectations, just "okay" was really a let down. At heart, Dark Matter is a love story with a bit of philosophy thrown in. It does make you think about how choices affect who you are, the life you lead, how far you would go to hold onto the life you have, how big the universe(s) can be. It's also a thriller, complete with guns and violence and blood. It was fast-paced and a quick read, but I've read a lot of thrillers. I'll grant the twist was interesting, but couldn't carry the book for me. It was the only part that felt really unique, though. But I was expecting sci-fi. I don't read a lot of sci-fi, only...
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Armstrong by Torben Kuhlmann

by Carol3 Comments
I loved Armstrong!! The little mouse's story is exciting and fascinating. It's filled with perfect little details that mirror human thoughts about space but from a mouse's perspective. For example, none of his mouse friends believe the moon is made of stone - they of course think it's cheese. Armstrong is a clever mouse who keeps working, even after disappointments and disasters. Honestly, if you have a child in the 4-8 age range, pick this one up. It's a bit longer than most picture books, but worth it. It's a perfect story for dreamers and future inventors and space enthusiasts. The art is fabulous. We get details of Armstrong's plans and illustrations of New York City that are amazing. The cover and trailer below will give you an idea of the style. Don't worry, though, the English version has English headlines for the newspapers. It was originally published in German, I believe....
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