Die Again (#11) by Tess Gerritsen

 

3.5 out of 5 stars -- This is a good suspense thriller, however, the Rizzoli and Isles partnership is tired and old and I think the series has extended beyond my loyalty level. If I look at the novel as a standalone, I am able to take away a very unusual story of a safari years old gone terribly wrong and a complicated manhunt that spans time and continents to present day. The shifting point of view narrative that relates the ill-fated Botswana bush trek and connects to the gruesome murders in Boston gives a little bit of pause when suppressing the coincidence that yields disbelief. Despite that tenuous link, and the background and the efforts required to bring the case to a close, I most enjoyed reading about the seven people who made the trip into the delta and about what happened there.

I think Tess Gerritsen is an incredible writer whose prose and description captures the reader whether she is describing the savannah or the morgue. The details are often gruesome, but evoke that rightness that draw the reader into the tale. I have read every book she has written and wish she would return to the medical thriller genre that first caught my eye and pushed her to my "must read" list. As I said earlier, I believe she should retire this series and focus on her storytelling skills that make her an expert in her field. Fortunately, this novel has little really to do with Rizzoli and Isles and more to do with adventure in the wild.

I am sure any fan will want to read this novel, as I did, and enjoy the experience of escaping into the wilds of Africa -- but safely from the couch.

Thank you to LibraryThing First Reads for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

4+ out of 5 stars - Confabulation..."a memory disturbance, defined as the production of fabricated, distorted or misinterpreted memories about oneself or the world."

I think the best way to enjoy this book is to just read it without having too much information about it. I raced through it in a couple of hours because I just could NOT put it down. Fun. Intense. I would suggest it to anyone who likes to be a little bit uncertain about what is actually going on or someone who likes to think they've figured it all out early. I found it unpredictable and suspenseful and I'm recommending it to thriller fans. Loved the character development and the pacing -- it will definitely make you think!!

Rachel takes the same train to and from London every day. As the scenes beyond her window slide by, she looks longingly at the houses from the signal point where the train often stops. She sees the people who live there from her seat and has started to feel like she knows them and their habits; she tells herself stories about the routines of their lives. One day, however, she sees something disturbing and can't keep it to herself.

Megan and Scott Hipwell live in one of the houses along the train tracks and they are Rachel's favorite couple to watch. They seem so in love...

Then there's Anna and Tom Watson almost next door. They have a new baby and Rachel can see they are a happy family.

What happens when an unreliable narrator has information that could help solve a crime -- if only anyone believed her? And, if what she says she saw is actually true? Rachel, Megan and Anna share narrative point of view as events unfold and lead to a shocking conclusion.

Library Book.
PS This is not a new GONE GIRL. And, actually, I liked this one much better.

The Ice Queen (#3) by Nele Neuhaus

4.0 out of 5 stars

This is an excellent German police procedural, and the third book by Neuhaus that I have read. It is also #3 in the series. Unfortunately, because of the order in which the translations have been released in the USA, and also because the release of the series is incomplete, I actually started with Bad Wolf (#6), then read Snow White Must Die (#4), and just now getting this one. REVERSE ORDER. This is quite confusing going backward in time with regard to the growth of the Kirchhoff-Bodenstein partnership and with character development. In addition, the personal lives of the characters, once known from reading out of order, become less important and somewhat annoying as you knew the decisions and choices they were going to make and the outcome. I always enjoy details about the lead detectives and their lives outside of the current major case.

I must credit a friend, Kim M, for the excellent literary detective work she did to identify the titles and order of the series as published in Germany. It's with regret that I realize that I won't likely be able to read them all until translated in whatever order the publisher decrees, and disappointed that I can't read in order as a good series should be read.

So, for interested readers, this is the information needed
Taunus (Oliver von Bodenstein and Pia Kirchhoff) Series

#1 - An Unpopular Woman (pub 2006 as Eine unbeliebte Frau)
#2 - Friends Till Death (pub 2007 as Mordsfreunde)
#3 - The Ice Queen aka Skin Deep (pub 2009 as Tiefe Wunden)
#4 - Snow White Must Die (pub 2010 as Schneewittchen muss sterben)
#5 - Those Who Sow (pub 2011 as Wer Wind sät)
#6 - Bad Wolf (pub 2012 as Böser Wolf)
#7 - The Living & the Dead (pub 2014 as Die Lebenden und die Toten)

With that now clear, I must say that each story is a well-developed and complex investigative novel that could probably stand on its own IF you hadn't already read another, and more importantly, read them at least in order of them being written instead of backwards. From the synopsis provided and without giving away spoilers, this one involves a series of gruesome murders that lead back to the Third Reich and SS officers taking on the identity of dead Jews, greed, and incredible family secrets. There are many characters, lots of red herrings, and a solid conclusion. I did enjoy it. Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the e-book ARC to review.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

3.0 out of 5 stars - "Memories. Wounds heal. Love lasts. We remain."

Two sisters face the horrors of German-occupied France during WWII and find courage and unbelievable resilience in the face of constant danger.

Vianne Mauriac sends her husband off to the front while she maintains their home and cares for their daughter in quiet Carriveau. Her world is torn apart when a German soldier commandeers her home and when she has some difficult decisions to make in order to survive. Things get even worse when the Germans begin to arrest the Jews and take away homes and businesses.

Eighteen-year-old Isabelle has been willful, impetuous, and wild most of her life. She felt unwelcome with both her sister and her father and joins the French Resistance after Gaetan, a man she loves, abandons her. The choices she makes in a world gone mad surprise her most of all.

I've read almost all of Hannah's previous books and this is not my favorite. Although the last few chapters of the book were the most interesting to me as an old woman prepares for an award ceremony in Paris and the dangling ends tie up as we learn the outcome of the sisters' lives, much of the book was repetitive and it seemed to drag on as the point of view shifted from sister to sister in the recounting of the war years. I'm sure Hannah's fans, as well as those who are interested in WWII historical fiction, will not want to miss this.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.

Farewell to Freedom by Sara Blaedel

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Another good one, the 4th in the Louise Rick/Camilla Lind series. These are police procedurals and they move slowly as the detectives uncover clues, follow leads, and investigate the crimes. Camilla, a journalist, usually gets involved by interviewing people of interest as they relate to stories she is writing for the newspaper.

I like the characters as I learn more about them with each book. Louise and Camilla are complicated women and they are quite private about their personal feelings and lives even though they are best friends.

This novel focused on sex trafficking trade and the abuse of women and young girls who have been brought to Denmark for the purpose of prostitution by Albanians seeking to profit by their work. When one of the girls is found dead and no witnesses can identify the killer, Louise and her fellow detectives try to unravel the mystery.

I recommend this series to anyone looking for books featuring solid, methodical police work with interesting stories that usually explore an issue of significance to women. I will have to wait until the next books are translated into English to be able to read on in the series. I'm putting #5 and #6 on my TBR (I've already read #7).

Library book.

Only One Life by Sara Blaedel

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Another fast-paced novel by this author of Nordic crime fiction featuring Detective Louise Rick of Copenhagen Police Department and her journalist friend, Camilla Lind. This particular book focuses on the cultural issue of "honor killings" when a young, teenaged, Jordanian, Muslim girl who lives with her family in Holbraek is found murdered. This is the 3rd novel I've read in this series, though not in order, and I'm really enjoying the characters and the setting. I'm eager to learn more about Louise and Camilla's personal lives even as they investigate the cases in standard police procedural form. Although I'm not generally surprised by the whodunit, I do enjoy the process and the way that the author ties all the red herrings and loose ends together. I feel sometimes that the slow reveal and somewhat obtuse writing style works well with this type of story. I like that the translation is complete and that I don't have to learn any Danish in order to thoroughly understand anything in the book (though I don't mind its inclusion as long as it is translated). I'm looking forward to starting #4 later on this evening but then I'll have to wait for more to be published in USA to continue on in the series. Library book. Read January 4, 2015

Call Me Princess by Sara Blaedel

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Thrilling police procedural, the second in a series, featuring Assistant Detective Louise Rick of Copenhagen Police Department. Set in Denmark, this novel focuses on the online dating scene and a serial rapist and murderer. I like the writing and the characters -- Louise is struggling in her personal life and striving to also mange her heavy workload during an intense investigation and manhunt for the rapist. Her friend, Camilla, a reporter, is on the fringe of the story as she writes and publishes a first person account of survival by one of the victims. I am eager to read more in the series to get to know the characters better. I read book #7, THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS, first and am now trying to go back and find all the English translations of the earlier books in the series. Of course it would be better for me to read in order, but this one worked also as a standalone. I have #3 and #4 on hand and will read them next. Library book.  Read January 3, 2015

Method 15/33 by Shannon Kirk

2.5 out of 5 stars -- The ultimate in asset management and "divine coincidence"...

Suspend your disbelief if you can while reading this novel about a kidnapped pregnant girl who, because of almost superhuman skills and brilliance, turns the tables on her captors. The plot centers on escape and revenge scenarios, and this 16-year-old has abilities and, later on, the money to plan and play out the drama to her satisfaction. I was drawn into the story quickly because of the girl's predicament, but further revelations about her personality and said skills just completely turned off my empathy button -- I just could not buy in. I felt the supporting characters in this novel were all very stereotypical and one-dimensional. Toward the last part of the book, I was just shaking my head at the ridiculousness of the tied-up conclusions -- unable to imagine this ending except in a totally alternate reality.

Although it's meant to be a thriller, it is only somewhat suspenseful until the reader sees where this is going and a realistic drama veers off into a revenge fantasy where our heroine creates tools and deadly weapons out of nothing more than a piece of thread or a tack. The author attempts to use science to explain the unusual skills and abilities of her characters -- how convenient that so many of those involved in this story have amazing talents such as these.

If a "payback" and "get even" type of novel interests you, such as SUFFER by E.E. Borton, this might be one you'd enjoy. It wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the e-book ARC to review.

The Woman Who Would Be King by Kara Cooney

3.5 out of 5 stars -- Fascinating nonfiction account of Hatshepsut, who at only age 20, set out to put herself into the highest office in Egypt - as King. As the book points out, she was the ultimate "working mother" whose ambition for a dynasty of her own was foiled only by her own womb. Since she did not bear any sons, her co-regent Thutmose III, was able to systematically obliterate all traces of her kingship after her death and perpetuate his own royal succession. "Her fate was to be erased, expunged, silenced."

The book reads much like a doctoral dissertation and there are footnotes and quite a bit of repetition, not all of it equally interesting. This is no fairy tale royal romance story, but one that any person interested in Egypt's history and rulers will want to read for its accurate portrayal of this incredible woman. The awkward phrasing of the work, with the author using phrases with the words such as "might", "probably", and "could" detracts somewhat from a definitive record of Hatshepsut's life since her personal feelings and reasons are not known. There is a bit of speculation, but these instances come from authoritative points of view and study, not pure conjecture.

I enjoyed it but couldn't help comparing its dry tone to a historical fiction novel about Hapshepsut  by Stephanie Thornton. Oh we all love juicy stories about royalty and the Egyptian Pharaoh's reigns have always provided a glimpse into a dramatic lifestyle during those ancient times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the e-book ARC to review.

My Year of Books 2014

What a great reading year! I read 156 books in 2014 and most were completely absorbing. I discovered a few new authors and branched out into some fascinating nonfiction. Most of those books were reviewed here on this blog!

I read a wide variety of genres, but usually tend to like historical fiction and the mystery/suspense/thriller types most of all. I intend to reflect on the titles I read and come up with a list of my favorites -- as well as the biggest disappointments -- after some contemplation. I'll post those here later.

Happy reading in 2015 and I look forward to any comments and any recommendations as I challenge myself to read at least 100 books this year!

Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton

4.5 out of 5 stars -- I read this while also watching the Netflix series, Marco Polo, and found it absolutely fascinating. Definitely inspired the researcher in me as I spent hours on the internet reading more about this amazing, but definitely bloodthirsty family.

Fueled by greed and lust for power, the family that would rule the largest empire the world has ever known was given to excess in all things. There is no manner of cruelty that wasn't doled out to enemies of the Khan, but loyalty was also rewarded. Though the men had the helm, it was the women of the realm who sacrificed everything to keep fathers, husbands, brothers and other male relatives on the throne. I doubt I would have survived 15 minutes living in the vast Mongol world! Between the harsh climate, the ghastly food, the constant rides into gory battles, and all manner of treachery -- the women of Genghis Khan were very resilient and strong enough to overcome even the worst horrors.

The book focuses on the lives of only a few of the women involved during the ancient days of Genghis Khan's Golden Family, but the reader knows immediately that without them, the Khan could not have ruled as effectively. Despite the barbarian label, there were also many benevolent and sophisticated accomplishments of those who were the great Mongol warriors and rulers of clans. Throughout all, the women behind the great men devoted themselves to their families and worked tirelessly at often unbelievably difficult times to preserve the empire.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the People of the Felt circa 1171 CE to 1248 CE. It is historical fiction, with a few liberties noted by the author in her endnote, at its finest.

Library book. 

Descent by Tim Johnston

3.6 out of 5 stars -- "People want to believe in some plan, or design, when all around them is the evidence that the whole world is nothing but dumb luck."

In the aftermath of a daughter's abduction, a father and his son -- the girl's younger brother who was injured during the kidnapping -- tentatively explore what it means to live without knowing what happened to her. Guilt and blame are in abundance as each deals with the trauma in his own way.

The cold, the snow, the mountains -- relentless in their remote beauty with miles of isolated areas where a girl could be kept or a body hidden for decades. After 2 years of pestering the local sheriff and his posse to keep searching, Grant lives in a borrowed cabin just to stay close to where Caitlin was taken. His wife has returned to Wisconsin having a series of breakdowns that further fracture their perilous marriage. Sean, having survived being hit by a car during the attack, is aimlessly driving around the country until he returns to his father to salvage what's left of their relationship. This is more a story of emotions and angst than it is a thriller or police procedural. Slow moving at times, the reader will continue to be compelled by the author's prose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the e-book ARC to review.

After We Fall by Emma Kavanagh

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Is it only after you fall that you can choose to rise again? Only a moment separates "after" from "before" when events or decisions change the outcome forever.

This is a very intense novel that deals with issues surrounding four people who experience different types of loss in a cataclysmic way. A plane crash. A murder. A woman escaping her son and husband. Secrets, infidelity and lies. The narrative shifts in point of view as each story is slowly revealed showing the pain of realizing that the relationships in life are what make or break you. Can a bad decision be overcome or are you meant to suffer the rest of your life? How well do you communicate with those you love or do you feel that ignoring the problem will allow you to continue on in a sort of purgatory? Illusions -- how well do really know those you love and what will you give up for them?

I enjoyed this although it was a bit confusing initially until all the characters were introduced. I can't say that I felt a lot of empathy for some, but I was definitely sympathetic to others. The universe is uncaring and life is capricious -- choosing to keep on going is very difficult sometimes especially when the direction is not known. I have seen this described as a psychological thriller, and I found it a little depressing, but I'd recommend it to anyone who likes realistic stories about people in unhappy circumstances.

I stayed up late reading this because I had to finish before I could sleep.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the e-book ARC to review.

Five by Ursula Archer

3.5 out of 5 stars - Police procedural set in Salzburg, Austria, features the team of Detective Inspectors Beatrice Kaspary and Florin Wenniger as they try to discover the perpetrator of some very gruesome murders. The uniqueness of this thriller lies in the way that the constabulary are given clues -- the killer is leading them on a scavenger hunt using GPS coordinates and the hobby of geocaching. Referred to as the "owner" because he or she is placing items in the caches, the team tries to stay one step ahead of him as body parts keep turning up and one find leads to another. The victims don't seem to have any connection to each other and Beatrice becomes very frustrated as the police continue their round-the-clock, sometimes tedious, investigation. Meanwhile, Beatrice (of course)has a host of personal problems as is typical of crime fiction -- the messed up policewoman. Although I found this very interesting because of the geocaching element, the thriller moves slowly, but the pacing seems to fit for this case. The revelations were interesting though it did seem to take a long time to get there and some dubious coincidences provide a few moments of eyebrow raising. I enjoyed the novel and would likely read another featuring this pair of detectives. I hope that the author doesn't plan for a romance between Beatrice and Florin and that Beatrice gets her personal act together. TFTH - thanks for the hunt! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.

Suffer by E E Borton

3.0 out of 5 stars -- What's a good friend to do?

Kate Freeman experiences the unimaginable (though it's described in vivid, grisly detail) when an intruder invades her home while she's there alone with her son, Caleb, as her husband Paul is out with his buddies on his boat. Left for dead, her once fantastic life is completely destroyed. When she wakes up in horrible condition, she has but one goal -- the burning desire for retribution and revenge. Kate will do anything she must do to find the perpetrator and she will use everyone to that end. But first, she needs to get stronger, build her fortress, and prepare to take back her life.

Although the premise was good, so much annoyed me. The characters were so unbelievable and predictable. The romance was lame. The scenario was unrealistic and, although I could totally understand the motivation, hard to imagine that all of those involved would act as described. It was an anxiety-provoking read, but again, required a lot of suspension of disbelief though I must admit I nodded my head at the climax. After all, as one of the characters points out -- if criminals saw THIS, crime would go way down.

I'd read another by this author as I like the chiller, thriller genre. Be prepared, it does have a lot of description of torture and other heinous acts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the e-book to review.

From the Cradle by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Fast-paced suspense thriller focusing on every parent's worst nightmare.

Child abduction. Kidnapping. These words send chills up the spine of any parent. In London, three couples are suffering after their children have been taken from them in very different ways. No ransom notes have been received. Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon catches this very delicate and complicated case. Who is taking these children and why?

Interracial couple Helen and Sean Philips went out to dinner leaving their 15-year-old Alice in charge of her 3 year-old sister, Frankie. When they arrive home, Alice is asleep and Frankie is gone! There are no signs of attempted entry and the couple is nearly crazed with guilt and grief. The other two couples of the missing children are also not faring well and the citizens are scared and anxious for DI Lennon to find the children and bring them home safely.

This was a very suspenseful read and I could not put the book down until I finished it. I've not read anything by this writing team before but definitely will look for other titles now. I hope to see more of DI Lennon in a future book. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the e-book to review.

Hanging Hill by Mo Hayder

3.8 out of 5 stars -- Standalone novel by Mo Hayder is complex and intricate with red herrings and multiple plot lines.

Two estranged sisters are drawn into misadventure and a harrowing set of situations when a teenager's body is found beaten and strangled along a canal tow path. Sally is a single mother, divorced, and finding herself desperately in need of money to support herself now that her lifestyle circumstances have changed. Zoe, a detective inspector with the police in Bath Central, is a tough and independent loner who has a hidden past that she is desperate to keep secret.

Lives collide when the investigation into the teenager's murder leads both women along a tangled and perilous path to a shocking revelation.

I love Mo Hayder and this author will be an "always read" for me. This wasn't quite as good as the series featuring Jack McCaffery, but I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of the thriller suspense genre.

Library

Conversion by Katherine Howe

3 stars -- YA Novel

 Here's the deal -- I know exactly what "conversion" means so I already knew how this would play out, but despite that, I enjoyed the story. I have also read another of Katherine Howe's books (The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane) and Fever by Megan Abbott. I'm pretty familiar with hysteria and teenage girls.

This was my teen book club pick for this month and I'm eager to hear what they have to say about it -- not sure if they're aware of, or have read the other current books, but I know they have all been exposed to The Crucible in sophomore English class. Should be a fun discussion!

Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell

4.0 out of 5 stars - Dr. Kay Scarpetta is on the trail of a serial sniper who kills targets from incredible distance. She and her husband, FBI profiler Benton Wesley, join Pete Marino  and Kay's niece, Lucy, to find this killer in a difficult case that has them perplexed. None of the victims are connected and there's not much evidence at the scene -- except for some copper fragments.

Since 1990, after I'd read her first book -- POSTMORTEM -- I've been a fan of Kay Scarpetta. I must say that the author has had her hits and misses as the series evolved over time and this one, #22, still has the science and forensic investigation that I've come to appreciate through the years. To me, Patricia Cornwell represents the genre -- well before I "knew" Temperance Brennan (BONES), I was in thrall to this type of crime fiction. I wanted to BE Kay and live her life. Then came all the personal drama, much of which I could have done without, because truly I don't really like all that -- I just want the crime(s), the science, and the closure of the case! I don't care about Benton or Lucy (sick to death of Lucy) or all their secretiveness -- just get on with whodunit and why. I like the medical details and all the interesting facts that Cornwell describes (sometimes too much information) in each book. I get impatient with all the relationship and personal issues. I don't care about what Kay is cooking. I understand that facts don't necessarily make a "story" but all Kay's dithering and self examination don't necessarily ramp up the suspense. Her books are full of action, and Kay definitely has lots of talent and skill in MANY areas, and I still tremendously enjoy the descriptions of the job of medical examiner.

I'll keep reading this series as long as Cornwell writes it. I hope future books will focus less on Kay and her messed up personal life and more on the cases. I did hate that this one ended in a cliffhanger...

Amazon Vine ARC

Deadlight Hall by Sarah Rayne

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Mystery surrounding a haunted house in England, the site of a series of unusual events and an old crime.

A paranormal story of Jewish children confined to a very unpleasant old house after being smuggled through the underground to England during World War II. Although they had initially been placed with families, Deadlight Hall became an isolation hospital when an epidemic of meningitis spread through the community just after Christmas one year. The story centers on the disappearance of two twin girls, Sophie and Susanna Reiss, who were thought to be sought by the Angel of Death himself, Dr. Joseph Mengele.

Many years later, Leo Rosendale, one of the children who escaped Germany with the twin girls, brings the story to his Oxford colleague, Michael Flint, when he hears that Deadlight Hall is to be converted to new living spaces. Leo feels the place is haunted by old ghosts who know what happened there, and he wants to know what, if anything, can be found about his twin friends. He has a little golem engraved with their initials and says that the girls had a matching one with his -- they had traded in a pact of reassurance of their friendship and the golem is a sort of relic that is understood to provide safety. Did the girls get taken by agents of Dr. Mengele or were they killed in the house? In a series of letters and other things that Leo and Michael find, tantalizing bits of detail emerge that deepen their concerns about the house and its previous inhabitants.

The narrative shifts back and forth in time and slowly builds suspense as the reader becomes involved in the mystery of what actually happened in that house. The conclusion is satisfying and somber -- a reminder of a time when there were good people in the midst of the horror that was World War II. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal and stories about that time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the e-book ARC to review.