Books Read in November
Whiskey on the Rocks
© 2005 Nina Wright
+ + This too-cute mystery is the second of the Whiskey Mattimoe mysteries, in the eccentric town of Magnet Springs, Michigan. Realtor Whiskey becomes involved in murders--one of which takes place on one of her rental properties. Her Afghan figures prominently, as well as other dogs (too much face-licking for me). Well-crafted, but not my style.
Murder in the Rimrocks
© 2006 Gladys Smith
+ + + Comment
A Case of Imagination
© 2006 Jane Tesh
+ + + + + When Madeline Maclin has a slump in her newly-established PI business, she takes a trip with her friend, Jerry, to a nearby town to see a house he has inherited. Jerry is pleased the house looks haunted (he dabbles in the supernatural). Within hours, Madeline has two new jobs—one to investigate the sabotage of a beauty pageant, the other teo determine if a bookstore employees house is haunted. It all fits together. And then there’s the murder.
Great characters, and Madeline is a good PI. This is Tesh's first mystery. Hope to see more.
Scrambled Eggs
© 2005 Boris Riskin
+ + + This could be a RPG, as retired English teacher Jake Wanderman is seduced into an international caper involving the KGB and various unsavory Mafiosi types, both in NYC and abroad. The objects of everyone’s desire: Faberge eggs. The clich´e;s were abundant, with all the key women lusciously beautiful, and the villains ugly, with bad accents and worse breath. But it was a fun romp on the fantasy side.
The Heat of the Moon
© 2006 Sandra Parshall
+ + + Very original story of psychological intrigue, where Rachel Goddard is compelled to learn about her family history after dealing with a fearful child in the vet clinic where she works. Strong characters.
Burn
© 2005 James Patrick Kelly
+ + + + In this SF of future times where myriad worlds have been discovered and settled, firefighter Spur recovers from burns he received on duty. He begins to contemplate the realities he perceives in his community and the planet Walden. Is the Simple Life, too simple? Dynamic characters and good sense of place on a world of violent dichotomy.
Cry Baby
© 2006 Gloria White
+ + + Another Ronnie Ventana mystery. Good San Francisco area atmosphere, as Ronnie's longtime friend leaves two babies with her and disappears. Ronnie has to find out why, especially after she's mugged and her house is tossed. Lots of action and interesting characters. A few loose ends remained dangling, which weakened the ending.
Putting Lipstick on a Pig
© 2006 Michael Bowen
+ + + + + Lots of wit and interesting dialogue in this mystery, where lawyer Rep Pennyworth and his English professor wife, Melissa, are drawn by a series of coincidences into a two-year-old death of a person Rep detested. More murder comes their way, as well as intricate and intriguing clues. Set in Milwaukee and the woods thereabouts.
Still Life
© 2005 Louise Penny
+ + + Mystery set in S.E. Quebec. Intricate story with good sense of place, as C.I. Armand Garmache investigates the murder of a beloved elderly woman in a small village. Several gimmicky devices near the end spoiled the story; also point of view was garbled, often making it hard to read.
Break No Bones
© 2006 Kathy Reichs
+ + + + + Intricate plot and good characters. Also some great one-liners, as Tempe Brennan is called on to help longtime friend who is a county coroner in South Carolina. As a forensic anthropologist, Tempe discovers bodies and connections others would have missed. As she identifies the grisly murder remains, her compulsion to learn what happened is aided by her estranged husband, lawyer Pete, and current squeeze, Andrew Ryan. Astute analysis of the crimes also leads the police to the perp and prosecution.
© 2005 Nina Wright
+ + This too-cute mystery is the second of the Whiskey Mattimoe mysteries, in the eccentric town of Magnet Springs, Michigan. Realtor Whiskey becomes involved in murders--one of which takes place on one of her rental properties. Her Afghan figures prominently, as well as other dogs (too much face-licking for me). Well-crafted, but not my style.
Murder in the Rimrocks
© 2006 Gladys Smith
+ + + Comment
A Case of Imagination
© 2006 Jane Tesh
+ + + + + When Madeline Maclin has a slump in her newly-established PI business, she takes a trip with her friend, Jerry, to a nearby town to see a house he has inherited. Jerry is pleased the house looks haunted (he dabbles in the supernatural). Within hours, Madeline has two new jobs—one to investigate the sabotage of a beauty pageant, the other teo determine if a bookstore employees house is haunted. It all fits together. And then there’s the murder.
Great characters, and Madeline is a good PI. This is Tesh's first mystery. Hope to see more.
Scrambled Eggs
© 2005 Boris Riskin
+ + + This could be a RPG, as retired English teacher Jake Wanderman is seduced into an international caper involving the KGB and various unsavory Mafiosi types, both in NYC and abroad. The objects of everyone’s desire: Faberge eggs. The clich´e;s were abundant, with all the key women lusciously beautiful, and the villains ugly, with bad accents and worse breath. But it was a fun romp on the fantasy side.
The Heat of the Moon
© 2006 Sandra Parshall
+ + + Very original story of psychological intrigue, where Rachel Goddard is compelled to learn about her family history after dealing with a fearful child in the vet clinic where she works. Strong characters.
Burn
© 2005 James Patrick Kelly
+ + + + In this SF of future times where myriad worlds have been discovered and settled, firefighter Spur recovers from burns he received on duty. He begins to contemplate the realities he perceives in his community and the planet Walden. Is the Simple Life, too simple? Dynamic characters and good sense of place on a world of violent dichotomy.
Cry Baby
© 2006 Gloria White
+ + + Another Ronnie Ventana mystery. Good San Francisco area atmosphere, as Ronnie's longtime friend leaves two babies with her and disappears. Ronnie has to find out why, especially after she's mugged and her house is tossed. Lots of action and interesting characters. A few loose ends remained dangling, which weakened the ending.
Putting Lipstick on a Pig
© 2006 Michael Bowen
+ + + + + Lots of wit and interesting dialogue in this mystery, where lawyer Rep Pennyworth and his English professor wife, Melissa, are drawn by a series of coincidences into a two-year-old death of a person Rep detested. More murder comes their way, as well as intricate and intriguing clues. Set in Milwaukee and the woods thereabouts.
Still Life
© 2005 Louise Penny
+ + + Mystery set in S.E. Quebec. Intricate story with good sense of place, as C.I. Armand Garmache investigates the murder of a beloved elderly woman in a small village. Several gimmicky devices near the end spoiled the story; also point of view was garbled, often making it hard to read.
Break No Bones
© 2006 Kathy Reichs
+ + + + + Intricate plot and good characters. Also some great one-liners, as Tempe Brennan is called on to help longtime friend who is a county coroner in South Carolina. As a forensic anthropologist, Tempe discovers bodies and connections others would have missed. As she identifies the grisly murder remains, her compulsion to learn what happened is aided by her estranged husband, lawyer Pete, and current squeeze, Andrew Ryan. Astute analysis of the crimes also leads the police to the perp and prosecution.
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