Carol's Notebook

Title: 1222 (Hanne Wilhelmsen #8) Author: Anne Holt Translated by Marlaine Delargy Read by Kate Reading Category: Mystery Audio published: December 27, 2011 by Blackstone Audio (First published 2007) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository A train on its way to the northern reaches of Norway careens off the track during a massive blizzard, 1,222 meters above sea level. The passengers abandon the train for a nearby centuries-old hotel, which is practically empty, except for the staff. With plenty of food and shelter from the storm, the passengers think they are safe until one of them turns up dead. With no sign of rescue, and the storm continuing to rage, retired police inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen is asked to investigate. Paralyzed by a bullet lodged in her spine, Hanne has no wish to return to police work. Bitter and anti-social, she is slowly coaxed back to her old habits as her curiosity and natural talent for observation compel her to take an interest in the passengers and their secrets. When another...

Title: Missing Barbados Author: Willem Pain Category: Mystery Published: March 13, 2013 by the author Rating: 2½ out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository A teenage member of the royal family is kidnapped while on holiday in Barbados putting Susan Berg, the shoot-first owner of the Caribbean Detective Corporation, on the case along with her hard charging associate, Dutch Holland.  Together they destroy half of the Monarchy and most of Barbados as they aim their spotlight on the darkest secrets and most notorious of villains on the island.   I don't think Barbados will miss Susan and Dutch when they leave. The mystery is interesting enough, I guess, but all the destruction and shooting and ruining your "friends'" belongings got a little monotonous. Setting: Barbados seem like a perfect vacation destination. Tropical and, to quote the book, "a refined and well-run island. Dressing for dinner, tea time, low crime and very stable." Sandy beaches a warm ocean, good food. Sign me up, but not for any...

Title: Death of the Demon (Hanne Wilhelmsen #3) Author: Anne Holt Reader: Kate Reading Category: Mystery- Police Procedural Audio published: June 18, 2013 by Blackstone Audio (First published 1995) Rating: 4½ out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound In an orphanage outside Oslo, a twelve-year-old boy is causing havoc. The institution’s aging director, Agnes Vestavik, sees something chilling in Olav’s eyes: sheer hatred. When Vestavik is found murdered at her desk late at night, stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife—with Olav nowhere to be found—the case goes to maverick investigator Hanne Wilhelmsen, recently promoted to superintendent in the Oslo police. Hanne suspects that Olav witnessed the murder and fled, and she orders an investigation of the orphanage staff. But Hanne is hopeless at delegating, hopeless at pooling information, hopeless at sharing responsibilities. Only Hanne’s supreme deductive skills keep her on the job, but this, however, is one case where her instincts are leading her astray. Meanwhile, Olav makes his way to his once unfit mother’s apartment in central...

Title: The Rainbow Goblins Author: Ul de Rico Category: Childrens - Fantasy First Published: 1978 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon After seven goblins try to steal it, the Rainbow is careful never again to touch the earth. There are seven evil goblins, each a different color, who travel the land far and wide and each time they find a rainbow, they lasso it and suck out its colors, filling themselves. Up until this time the Valley of Rainbows, where rainbows are born, had been safe, but the goblins heard of the valley and travelled there. The night before their attack, they go over their plan in a nearby cave during a thunderstorm, but the roots are listening. The next day, thanks to the flowers, the rainbow survived and the goblins drowned. On the one hand, I enjoyed this story of why rainbows never touch the ground and why there are so many beautiful, colorful birds. On the other hand, the goblins were nasty for no real...