Malice by Keigo Higashino

by Carol4 Comments
Keigo Higashino is a Japanese author, apparently a very popular one. I've read two of his books before from the  and loved them. This one is from a difference series, #4, but the only Kaga mystery translated into English at this time. Happily is stands well on its own. As the blurb states, the story is more of a cat and mouse game than a traditional mystery. We learn early who the killer is, even hear their confession, but as Kaga, our detective, digs deeper he questions what he's been told. I have to say I've never read a mystery quite like this one, and I've read a lot of mysteries. The killer's thought process and actions are pretty fascinating really and the motive was not what I was expecting. In the beginning, we see things from two points of view, Kaga's and Nonoguchi's, but as time goes by we hear more Kaga's thoughts and his interviews with people who knew the...
Read More

Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

by Carol3 Comments
Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits is clearly based on Pride and Prejudice - many of the characters share similarities and there are Austen quotes at the opening of each chapter, but it's a sweet romance in and of itself. It's a very Southern story and although I'm not much of a history buff, I've known enough to appreciate the fascination with the Civil War that weaves in and out. I listened to the audio version and the narrator uses a Southern drawl very effectively, not overdoing it, just adding the right flavor to the reading. Shelby is our Elizabeth, of course complete with mom and sisters, and Fielding is out Darcy. Fielding was a wonderful character, patient, handsome, intelligent. Yes, they start out on the wrong foot, but I have to admit Shelby drove me crazy for a lot of the book. She jumped to conclusions and was quite rude on occasion. He is clearly trying his hardest and yet she constantly...
Read More

The Fold by Peter Clines

by Carol1 Comment
Around my house, the common knowledge is I don't like sci-fi. Amber and David watch sci-fi movies without me, I avoid sci-fi tv shows and rarely read books that fall solidly into the sci-fi genre. I'm not saying all sci-fi sucks; in general it's just not my cup of tea. But, The Fold came up on the list of recommendations when I logged into my Audible account so I decided to give it a shot - turned out it was a good choice. This has been described as Sherlock meets sci-fi and I think that rings true. Mike is a full-out genius with a photographic memory who has been trying to be normal, until he can't pass up his friend's proposition that he head out to California to investigate the Albuquerque door. Turns out he's the perfect person for the job, brilliant, curious, observant but with some common sense. I really liked him. It's no surprise that "folding dimensions" turns out to...
Read More

Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

by Carol3 Comments
I really expected to like Natchez Burning. I've read Iles' books before and found the gripping and thought-provoking. This one just didn't work for me. The plot itself is good, I liked, or hated, the characters, and the setting was well-done. I enjoyed seeing the story from different characters points of view and it was easy to follow whose side of the story we were hearing. I did listen to the whole 35+ hours, but in the end I wished I hadn't bothered. First, there is a lot of repetition. Cut some of it out and it would be a tighter, more enjoyable book. I hate it when authors seem to think I'm going to forget things two chapters after they told me the first time. Second, it was overwrought. I don't know whether to blame the writing or the reader, but it was all overdone, just too much. Maybe the goal was to maintain tension and be descriptive, but it came...
Read More

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris

by Carol5 Comments
I want to live in Midnight. It's a really, really small town full of really, really odd people, but they are all so friendly toward each other and protective of each other. I'd love to visit Fiji's shop or have dinner with them all at the (only) local restaurant. I guess this is a mystery - who killed Manfred's client, but there is a lot going on in the background. The new hotel in town is questionable. And the new kid in town could be more dangerous than they suspect. As far as the mystery goes though, I was surprised by the whodunit and equally by the "justice" they received. We learn a lot about the characters and who/what they are in this one, it's more about them than the actual plot in some ways. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. She gives everyone their own personalities, even the visitors to town. The...
Read More

Dead Wake by Erik Larson

by Carol5 Comments
Dead Wake is not a book I would usually pick up. I don't tend to read much non-fiction and I actively avoid war books, but I've enjoyed Larson's books in the past and his "narrative non-fiction" style works for me. He tells the story with a personal touch, not just a recitation of facts. This one is pretty fascinating, the boat itself, the people on board, and all the events in the outer world that conspired against them. I listened to this one on audio and Brick did a good job. He kept me interested, made it exciting and tension-filled. There were a lot of people, but it's non-fiction, so there wasn't really any dialogue to worry about. The individuals were heard through their journals and letter, which doesn't require any distinction voices. There are a lot of people involved in the story of the Lusitania, from the captain, crew and passengers, government officials on both sides of the Atlantic,  to the...
Read More