Book #2/193 of my goal to read a book from each of the U.N. member states. This one was pretty easy, but I've been meaning to read it for a while.
I waBook #2/193 of my goal to read a book from each of the U.N. member states. This one was pretty easy, but I've been meaning to read it for a while.
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. Penny does such a good job of creating a fully fleshed out community here, as well as developing an interesting crime story. Inspector Gamache clearly enjoys his time in Three Pines and is quickly accepted by the community. For me, I often don't really care who did it in mystery novels, but rather how well the story is told - and this one was told really well in my mind.
My only issue was about the fledgling detective who undermined herself by not listening to Gamache and others. It felt like she was included in the novel as an object of punishment and an example of what's not acceptable in the world of this novel. I felt a little uncomfortable that the novel was so determined to punish and expel her. I'm wondering if this gets fleshed out more later in the series....more
This book is so much fun. I really enjoyed it. The story focuses on a group of people in their 70s and 80s in a retirement community who meet every ThThis book is so much fun. I really enjoyed it. The story focuses on a group of people in their 70s and 80s in a retirement community who meet every Thursday to try to solve cold cases. When a murder that's connected to the community takes place, they, of course, have to be involved. They manage to make themselves a nuisance for the police, but they also play a crucial role in solving multiple murders, often taking advantage of the ways that people write them off because of their age. The characters are *such* characters and are very well drawn. Overall, this story is a delight.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I've now read all four of the Mitford Murders books, and they lose a little bit of charm with each installment. Fellowes did a lot of historical reseaI've now read all four of the Mitford Murders books, and they lose a little bit of charm with each installment. Fellowes did a lot of historical research for this book, but the plotting, characterization, and story just falls flat. Louisa is sent off on a cruise with the Mitfords on the thinnest of pretenses, and the mystery is not particularly interesting. It moves between the time of the cruise and a later trial, but it's not clear what that adds to the story. Ultimately, the solution is extremely unsatisfying and the book is pretty uninspiring.
I received an arc of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
This novel takes the characters and plot points from Jane Eyre and recasts them into a suspense story set in modern-day Alabama. I love retellings, anThis novel takes the characters and plot points from Jane Eyre and recasts them into a suspense story set in modern-day Alabama. I love retellings, and the shifting of Jane Eyre into a dog walker in a fancy housing development is a good choice. The opening scene with the snotty Mrs. Reed who sends her out walking in the rain is well done. Hawkins doesn't worry too much about staying exactly true to the characters as Bronte wrote them, so both the Jane character and John Rivers are a little bit of a surprise.
It's also a very twisty mystery, and I didn't guess the ending, even though in retrospect I totally should have.
While I enjoyed the mystery, characterization, and reshaping of plot points, the pacing was not great. It takes a very long time for the suspenseful part to emerge - in fact, just when I was wondering how much longer she could string out the romance between Eddie Rochester and Jane, a plot twist emerges. Once the suspense gets going, it feels less exciting than I think it's meant to be.
This, however, could also have something to do with the audiobook narration. I alternated between the audiobook and a kindle copy, and I wound up listening to the final third. When Eddie takes over the narration, it's spoiled in my mind because the narrator is very sleepy sounding. Eddie's supposed to be a bit of an enigma, but the narration sounds a little like a deer in the headlights.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and read it really quickly, but I also wished it was just a little bit better.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I was wondering if Horowitz could make the novel-within-a-novel format work again, and I was pleasantly surprised. Although it feels like a big shift I was wondering if Horowitz could make the novel-within-a-novel format work again, and I was pleasantly surprised. Although it feels like a big shift to move from the frame story to the fictionalized novel midway through, both stories were equally absorbing. Horowitz is really good at updating the classic format, and both of the mysteries in this novel are twisty and complicated in an almost mathematical way. It all comes together in a satisfying way.
I received an ARC of this novel from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series, even if I'm a little embarrassed to admit it. This installment is just as cute as the previous ones, witI continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series, even if I'm a little embarrassed to admit it. This installment is just as cute as the previous ones, with the talking animals taking part in the action and the solution to the mystery. In this one, there is a subplot about rats in the attic at Hilltop House that would completely freak me out in real life because I HATE rats, but seems perfectly reasonable and even charming in Albert's telling.
I'm beginning to sense a pattern in the mysteries in this series, but it doesn't bother me because the mystery is just the framework to hang the rest of the story on. The final pages always have to resolve about 4-6 subplots, so the main mystery hardly takes central stage.
The characters are well drawn, and Beatrix Potter emerges as a very human, sensible, and capable person. Likewise, the setting and storylines are richly textured. All in all, this is a satisfying and cozy book to be reading in the middle of a pandemic....more
There was a time when I had had enough of the Agatha Raisin stories because her insecurity and pettiness got on my nerves. She is so consumed with worThere was a time when I had had enough of the Agatha Raisin stories because her insecurity and pettiness got on my nerves. She is so consumed with worrying about the various men in her life that it becomes repetitive and detracts from the mystery.
This latest Agatha Raisin book is a refreshing departure. Agatha is just as consumed with the men in her life, but somehow it is softened this time around. The mystery is interesting, and the narration is very well done. As usual, everyone behaves outrageously, and Agatha does nothing to endear herself to her potential enemies. While the novel follows Beaton's usual formula, I really enjoyed this one.
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I was interested in this book because I’ve read several WW2 historical mysteries recently that I liked. This one was disappointing. The set up was comI was interested in this book because I’ve read several WW2 historical mysteries recently that I liked. This one was disappointing. The set up was complicated, and I never fully got my head around it. There were a bunch of characters who were potential suspects, but virtually indistinguishable. Huber missed the opportunity to have a psychologically compelling conclusion by picking a ham-handed solution. Overall, although I did get interested in finding out the solution about halfway through, I’m not going to rush to read the next in the series....more
Poppy Redfern is back, and this sequel is just as good as the first one. The historical detail about the female flyers in World War II is pretty interPoppy Redfern is back, and this sequel is just as good as the first one. The historical detail about the female flyers in World War II is pretty interesting.
Poppy has a new job as a writer for London's Crown Film Unit, which produces films that encourage other Britons to take part in the war effort. Ok, it's propaganda, but the women flyers are very talented and proud of their work. When the female pilots begin crashing unexpectedly, Poppy is determined to figure out what's going on even if the military is ready to write it off as pilot error. The solution feels a little like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but overall I really liked it.
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review....more
Thus novel didn’t really pick up for me until the last third. I kept with it because the narrator’s family history and back story is interesting, but Thus novel didn’t really pick up for me until the last third. I kept with it because the narrator’s family history and back story is interesting, but I kept waiting for it to start. Maybe if it hadn’t been billed as a fast-paced spy thriller, I wouldn’t have expected it to be a page turner. It’s not, but it’s a solid story on its own....more
Yes, indeed, I’m continuing to read this series starting Beatrix Potter and a cast of animals that talk - and I’m not ashamed to admit it. While this Yes, indeed, I’m continuing to read this series starting Beatrix Potter and a cast of animals that talk - and I’m not ashamed to admit it. While this is definitely about as cozy as a cozy can get, it is actually quite suspenseful in its way. The mystery is better constructed than the last, and now I’m looking forward to the third in the series....more
I see from other reviews that I'm an outlier here, but the charm of this book was lost on me. I'm pretty forgiving, but the set-up for this mystery waI see from other reviews that I'm an outlier here, but the charm of this book was lost on me. I'm pretty forgiving, but the set-up for this mystery was incredibly sloppy. Harrison's aunt Betty is determined to win the dog show one year, but she still feels compelled to chew out the main sponsor because its dog food made her dog sick. Sick in what way? Could it be allergies? Of course, when they throw her out of the dog show, she's the main suspect when the sponsor shows up dead. And he's found by the dog under the dais? I don't know, I just didn't find the premise or the characters as charming as I was clearly meant to.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
This is a very light and entertaining mystery that is loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s And The There Were None. The protagonist and her sister heThis is a very light and entertaining mystery that is loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s And The There Were None. The protagonist and her sister head off to a remote island to inspect a hotel she may or may not have inherited from her recently deceased husband. There are quirky characters on the island and hijinx ensue....more
You might think that the Kopp sisters series might get stale once it’s up to its 6th installment, but not at all. Dear Miss Kopp is told through letteYou might think that the Kopp sisters series might get stale once it’s up to its 6th installment, but not at all. Dear Miss Kopp is told through letters between the sisters and other characters. Stewart spins up a layered set of narratives that perfectly capture the spirit of the earlier books while letting each of the sisters come into their own.
I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review....more
I listened to this as an audiobook with my favorite narrator, Barbara Rosenblat. I haven't read/listened to a Mrs. Pollifax mystery in a while, but I I listened to this as an audiobook with my favorite narrator, Barbara Rosenblat. I haven't read/listened to a Mrs. Pollifax mystery in a while, but I immediately remembered why I like Rosenblat so much as a narrator. The mystery is only mildly interesting, but the characters (or, at least, the protagonists) are all unique and slightly eccentric. However, one thing I noticed listening to this in 2020 is how Islamophobic its depictions of the criminals are. At root, it's a story about a sweet little old white lady from the West overcoming Muslim extremists and defending the homeland. Not sure I have the appetite for that in the current moment....more
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