Review: In the Woods by Tana French

by Carol15 Comments
I was meant to read this book. Honestly In the Woods had everything I adore – a murder mystery; moody, quirky characters; long, descriptive sentences; a unique setting that becomes a character in and of itself. First the mystery. A twelve year-old girl is found dead at an archaeological site that is about to get bull-dozed to make way for a new road. She was popular and had recently been accepted to ballet school, but her father is an outspoken opponent of the highway. The clues are there, but it’s a meandering investigation for the detectives in charge of the case. There are a lot of dead ends and many potential suspects. I liked how the story took it’s time, explored all the options. For a thriller, I found it a slow read, not because I was bored, but because the writing forced you to rake your time. It wasn’t one I could have rushed through. There is a second mystery, too....
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The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor

by Carol9 Comments
The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor "More ghosts," Elinor said. "It seems that we constantly manufacture them. We are factories of ghosts." (pg. 438, ARC) Jerusalem College in Cambridge in 1786 is full of secrets, privileges, abuses, power struggles, illicit sex. And a ghost. Sylvia Whichcote, who drowned in the garden pond, is said to haunt the garden and was seen by young Frank Olderhaw. Frank was subsequently committed to a home for the mentally unstable, but his mother wants him cured and returned to London. To this end, she hires John Holdsworth, a bookseller and widower who has fallen into financial ruin. John has written a book, The Anatomy of Ghosts, that explains his disbelief in ghosts, and so Lady Anne believes he is perfect for the task. When he arrives in Cambridge, Holdsworth realizes that to help Frank he must solve the mystery of Sylvia's death. In the process, he is drawn deeper in the Cambridge community, and encounters...
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The Best Defense by Kate Wilhelm

by Carol9 Comments
The Best Defense by Kate Wilhelm A Three Reasons Review 1. Reason I chose this book Kate Wilhelm was an author I "discovered" last year. I enjoyed the first one in her Barbara Holloway series and this audiobook was on the "always available" list through my library, so I borrowed it. 2. Reason I liked the book It kept me hooked. Barbara Holloway is defending a woman accused of killing her daughter and then setting a building on fire to cover up the crime. The media has already convicted her, but Barbara is far from sure she's guilty. There's a small group of other suspects, some of whom prove to be very dangerous. I liked Barbara better in this one. She's still not quite sure of who she is/ who she wants to be, and she is recovering from the death of the man she fell in love with in the first book, but she doesn't dwell on herself as much as she did in the...
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The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton

by Carol6 Comments
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton I knew Chesterton as a religious writer. I think that one of the collections I read had a selection or two by him. I was surprised when I learned he was also a well-known mystery author. The Man Who Knew Too Much is more or less a collection of eight short stories featuring Horne Fisher. Fisher is a low-key man, seemingly uninterested but actually very observant and intelligent. He has many friends and relatives in the government, which add an interesting layer to these stories which take place in pre-World War I England. "I know too much," he said. "that's what's the matter with me. That's what's the matter with all o us, and the whole show; we know too much. Too much about one another; too much about orselves." (4%) But Fisher uses what he knows about human nature, about politics, about people to solve a variety of puzzling crimes. Each time we...
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The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton

by Carol4 Comments
The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton I have to admit that I have a growing fondness for steampunk, and there are lots of cool details in this fun, quick read. Julia, airship waitress and music hall dancer, wants to discover who murdered her sister and why. When the famous Lady Law offers to solve the case for free, Julia can't help but agree. After all, Lady Law has caught countless criminals, including Jack the Ripper, beating Scotland Yard to the punch every time. But Julia doesn't entirely trust her, and neither does Julia's new friend, Constable Al Grant. Al and Julia, along with an aging adventurer Horace Holly, unravel the truth. The mystery held my attention, even though I have to say I was a little disappointed in the ending, but simply it used a device that I'm not a big fan of. I truly liked Julia's character. She's a tough lady, but only because she has to be. She's waiting for...
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A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry

by Carol4 Comments
A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry Dear Vespasia, It was certainly tragic that poor Gwendolen committed suicide during the weekend party at Applecross. I'm sure Isobel could never have suspected that her comment, cruel though it was, would lead to Gwendolen's death. I also think that Bertie takes some of the blame by not following after Gwendolen and assuring her that he truly wanted to marry her. And expecting Isobel to carry a letter to the dead woman's mother as a form of expiation seems a bit harsh. After all, she only made a rash comment. On the other hand, she certainly couldn't afford to have society turn its back on her. I do think it was kind of you to volunteer to travel with Isobel across Scotland in the winter. It's a rugged journey, though the scenery did seem as gorgeous even as it's dangerous. However, I know you had your own reasons between wanting to impress Omegus Jones and your continual...
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