I'm a fan and some of his stories I enjoy more than others. This one is fast pace, intriguing and educational about how the justice system works and wI'm a fan and some of his stories I enjoy more than others. This one is fast pace, intriguing and educational about how the justice system works and when it doesn't work. I highly recommend the story for entertainment purposes and educational interests on legal matters....more
I'm a fan of Anne Perry, 19th Century England murder mysteries, and now a fan of D.M. Quincy's Atlas Catesby amateur sleuth. Unlike Ms. Perry I was reI'm a fan of Anne Perry, 19th Century England murder mysteries, and now a fan of D.M. Quincy's Atlas Catesby amateur sleuth. Unlike Ms. Perry I was relieved didn't have to sit through another "ton" high society affair of divine gowns and stuffy men. Quincy gives just enough to envision that era whilst moving on with the sleuthing. Atlas, in the 30's, still grieves the death of his eldest sister, a death he says is murder. Because of it he is hyperaware of unfairness, especially toward women. In a small country town he and his friend, Earl of Charlton, witness a man selling his wife. Atlas comes to the sale as the highest bidder and the story takes on a calamity of events resulting in the death of the rotten husband, Mr. Warwick, a most disagreeable gentleman. Of course, Lilliana is young and beautiful and appears quite haughty during the sale and afterward. Many surprises as Atlas goes forth to discover who did kill Mr. Warwick (whomever nary a person liked at all so many to choose from) and who exactly is Lilliana with a secret past? And, of course there's romance budding between the damsel in distress and her gallant savior. Glad the romance didn't dominate a fine mystery. My first read of Ms. Quincy, and not my last at all! ...more
I've mixed thoughts about this book, The Late Show by Michael Connelly. I didn't feel a reasonable connection to the protagonist, Renee Ballard. She'sI've mixed thoughts about this book, The Late Show by Michael Connelly. I didn't feel a reasonable connection to the protagonist, Renee Ballard. She's tough and thorough but definitely a maverick. The crimes and solving them were well written and held my interests. There was too much detailed information about the procedure and process of the police department and crime solving. I felt I was reading, at times, more of a non-fiction on 'how it's done' than a fictional story. I am, like many are, a huge fan of Connelly but to me this isn't his best. We'll see where he goes with it. ....more
I like most of author, Lisa Scottline's novels and this one didn't disappoint. Devil's Corner is a fast paced interesting look, sad as it truly is, atI like most of author, Lisa Scottline's novels and this one didn't disappoint. Devil's Corner is a fast paced interesting look, sad as it truly is, at the horrible demise of poor neighborhoods in the US with it's crack/cocaine drug use and high crime. Still, I liked the characters - except Vicki Allegretti, prosecutor at times bugged the heck out of me with her not very streetwise actions and constant chattering. Still, I like it and don't know if I read another Vicki novel but will read more Scottlini books....more
I read this book in the early 1980's. It was a gift to me and I looked at it as - too long to sit and read. But over the years picked up the book and I read this book in the early 1980's. It was a gift to me and I looked at it as - too long to sit and read. But over the years picked up the book and used it more as a reference source. Mr. Stuphen was truly before his time before it was acceptable and known about the great influences foods, such as sugar, sodas, etc, influence much more than our psychical bodies. He talks about seen and unseen influences of electrical currents, which are in our daily lives (computers, iPhones, clocks, cars, etc), charging through our bodies and hitting our nervous systems. It was easy for me to accept his thoughts and studies being a (successful) psychic/medium now for forty years - how I see "unseen" influences in people's auras, and how their lives are conducted because of them. It is a rather dry read at times, but certainly if you are interested in understanding how influenced you are, a good source. ...more
My first time read of author Daniel Mason. A Far Country is a beautifully written story about Isabel, a young South American girl, and told in her perMy first time read of author Daniel Mason. A Far Country is a beautifully written story about Isabel, a young South American girl, and told in her perspective. The words are like the trickling of a river moving slowly down its path toward the pull of the ocean.
The images Mason creates are colorful and poignant as a country farming family and community undergo the stark reality of the modern and cruel overtaking of their land held for hundreds of years. It is in a Latin America country although the location is not disclosed. Having been in Brazil, I imaged that country.
Isaias, Isabel's brother leaves for the "big city" for a better chance in life. He is a musician. Many of the country people have left their homes that promise of a better life for in the country, people are starving and being killed by the government and big money take-overs.
I didn't like the ugly descriptions of the killing of people and the torture of animals but it is an ugly reality most of us don't know or choose not to know about - happening now in South and Central America.
The story is not only well-crafted with words to inspire the imagination but riveting in its intensity of Isabel's journey to the Big City. She, at 15 years of age and along with her family, is starving and her parents decide to send her to a cousin and Isaias. A Far Country in reflection is a coming of age and unfortunately, for me, soon after Isabel gets to the city the story becomes sluggish, not moving but repeating too much her emotional attachment and longing to be with her brother. I admit, I got bored and impatient. If not having seen the poverty and the struggle of those poor in Brazil, I might have put the book down, but I had to know what happened to Isaias when he got to the city. Isabel searches for him while totting around her cousin's baby.
There is NO DOUBT that this author is an excellent writer to create images. Read this book when you can linger over the words for they are creations of an art piece in many ways.
It seemed as though "Transfer" by Sophie Schiller, came along at the right time: I had just returned from a holiday in the area the story takes place It seemed as though "Transfer" by Sophie Schiller, came along at the right time: I had just returned from a holiday in the area the story takes place and I like historical fiction, be that a mystery or a good romance story. This book has both.
It begins in 2001 with Soren Jensen, thirty-something journalist, in a plane ride. He is traveling to the Danish West Indies to write a story about a woman who recently has died and on her deathbed revealed an intriguing story.
Soren is a widower of one year and in need of a life change, something to help him with his grief, besides the bottle. The interest of his journalism is Abigail Maduro who died at 100 years. Her great-granddaughter will meet Soren when he arrives in St. Thomas and take him to Charlotte Amalie, the town Abigail was from. She has documents to back up Maduro's story about spies and love.
After their meeting we go back in time to the story of sixteen year-old Abby (Abigail). We meet her in Panama - 1916 and learn she has been left orphaned and in shock. Her parents were killed in a car crash and she is almost penniless because of a corrupt family friend. The man demands she be sent to live with her only surviving relative, Aunt Esther, her father's oldest sister who lives in the family's old home in St. Thomas. While on board a ship to her new home she meets an Irish man and they soon discover a German spy is on board. From there the reader become enmeshed in the thrill of the hunt. The story takes place during the Great War - WWII which was with Germany and most of the world, 1914 to 1918.
When Abby arrives in St. Thomas, Aunt Ester is as unhappy with the arrangement as she. It's going to be a hard life for the young, once very well loved, girl. Luckily the housekeeper, Nana Jane, is understanding and has a little control over the aunt, who is mentally unbalanced and embittered over life's losses.
Aunt Ester demands Abby give up her dream to be a teacher and earn her living sewing. Abby is very unhappy but manages to make some friends of interest. One day she stumbles upon a handsome young German sailor, Erich, who is hiding out at the local synagogue. From there the plot thickens. A flurry of secrets plots as well as budding love with hopes and fears arise. The story keeps a good pace and each time I thought I wasn't that interested, a line, a character, a new part of the plot popped up. I did want to know more about Abby as much as Soren did.
When Abby was on the ship the writing style changed and at first I wasn't impress with the change. Then I realized, this is a young woman writing in her journal. It felt authentic. Sixteen in 1916 was very different from that age nowadays. I settled in and appreciated Abby's private thoughts and views. Soon it changed back when Abby arrived on the island and flowed.
The parts I found a bit laborious were the history telling. The narratives of the characters telling how the island came under the rule of the Danes were too long for me. I thought I was in a history class rather than reading and enjoying a fictional story. And then again, I do love history and very much appreciated learning about the tug and pull, political gains and money power that went on to hold this island. And, there is a local political and mystical black queen who the whites think crazy, but holds power of the people and the story. She's a colorful character.
Also, I was interested in learning about the African social, economic and culture in that region. When on my recent holiday in St. Lucia, I learned from the local African-St. Lucians about their history and present situation. "Transfer Day" includes that kind of history as well and keeps the African-St. Thomas characters real with the spelling of their own way of speech. It gives the reader a true sense of how the everyday want-to-feed the family people suffer under the ruling class who clash over power.
"Transfer" is a good story and certainly a good historical one. It is also recommended for YA....more
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