Audiobook – Page 28 – Carol's Notebook

The Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023 by Carol1 Comment

I confess I have never seen the movie version of The Boys from Brazil. Honestly, I only picked it up because I was looking for a book set in Brazil and this one is a classic thriller. It's set in the world of the Nazi hunters of the mid and later twentieth century. It's conspiracy mixed with historical facts. The story begins with a top-secret meeting in a Japanese restaurant to initiate a mysterious project by 'the comrade organization'. Six hitmen are assigned to kill 94 older civil servants scattered throughout the world, and they must die on the designated dates set forth by the still-hunted Josef Mengele. Renowned Nazi-hunter, Yakov Liebermann learns about the plot via a mysterious phone call from a twenty-something American who went down Brazil to investigate. The young man is killed while on the phone call. The novel is gripping and while the plot is maybe a bit far-fetched, it was fascinating. It was easy to...

The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman

June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 by Carol1 Comment

The Last Drop of Hemlock is set in New York City in the 1920s. This is the second in the series and, while it does work as a stand-alone, I think you get a much better feeling for the characters if you read them in order. Vivian and her sister, Florence, are poor, but better off than they used to be. The setting, from their tenement building to the club where Viv works to the street's cities, felt real. I loved the details - the smells, the sights, the people. The mystery was well done. In a city where everyone works by their own moral standards, some of which are more gray than others, there are plenty of suspects in the murder. And Vivian's reasons for looking into the death make sense- they can't trust the cops. She has to call in a favor or two and puts herself in a couple of dangerous positions, but it all feels in character....

The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne

May 30, 2023May 30, 2023 by CarolNo Comments

The Antiquity Affair is a fun book. It's got history, action, suspense, family drama, and a bit of romance. Our main characters, sisters Lila and Tess, are wrapped up in a race for the Serpent’s Crown, a powerful legendary relic. They have friends and family on their side but of course, there's an evil brotherhood that also wants the crown so they can control Egypt and then, presumably, the world. I liked Lila and Tess and how they come to understand each other better throughout the book and work on repairing their relationship. Each of the women is capable in her own way and their skills play off each other's well. I listened to the audiobook and having two narrators, one for each of the women, worked out well. I do wish their voices had been a little more different. The book touches on women's place in society and the questionable ethics of removing historical artifacts from their countries of...

A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 by Carol2 Comments

When Tiffany's half-brother dies unexpectedly, she buries him in the garden and then assumes his identity. She sees it as the only way to keep her cottage and money. As a spinster in 1780s England, she has few options. Of course, being two people is quite complicated. When a servant at the palace is found poisoned, a death that looks very similar to her brother's, Tiffany realizes she might be in danger. Tiffany is a great main character. She's determined and funny and loves reading novels, which she was never allowed to do before. She's also very aware of society's inequalities and determined to help when she can. A Novel Disguise is a nice mix of romantic comedy, because of course Tiffany has a love interest and of course hijinks ensue, and murder mystery. It's also very well-researched without showing it off. The details of daily life for both the aristocracy and servants are fit in well. It also shows us a...

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

May 19, 2023May 19, 2023 by Carol6 Comments

The Honjin Murders, set in 1937 in a rural Japanese village, is told by an unnamed narrator who is telling what he learned from the people close to the crime. The eldest son of a wealthy family was marrying a beautiful, talented, but lower-class, woman. But on the wedding night, the family heard terrible screams coming from the bedroom of the newlywed couple, the door and the windows were locked, and the couple was found stabbed to death. Detective Kindaichi was summoned by the bride's uncle, to investigate the double murders. While the characters are not well-developed, we get a definite feel for the culture and traditions of the time. The plot was intricate and had several twists. The narrator plays fair with us, even going so far as to point at what is significant and what can be ignored. I can't say I love a good locked-room mystery. The murder method can get a little overly complicated, which quite honestly was...

Witches in the Kitchen by Danielle Garrett

May 17, 2023May 19, 2023 by Carol2 Comments

Witches in the Kitchen is the first of the in the Magic Inn Paranormal Mysteries series, which is apparently a spin-off of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries series. I hav never read the Harbor series and didn't feel like I missed anything. I guess some of the secondary characters are from that series originally, but I felt like everyone was introduced well. It's a fun read. Our main character, Blair, discovers she's a witch by accidentally turning into a cat when she is in a life-threatening situation. The Supernatural Protection Agency steps in and she is moved to Beechwood Inn for her safety and to learn more about controlling her powers. I liked Blair. The life she's been leading up to now is a bit boring and a bit lonely. But learning that magic is real has thrown her for quite a loop. She's sweet and nice and caring. The inn's owners, Holly and Adam, are good mentors and the other inn...