Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight.
Kate receives a call at work demanding her daughter be picked up from school immediately, but by the time she arrives (late, as usual), Amanda is dead. Initially, Amanda's death is ruled a suicide, but then Kate receives some anonymous text messages that suggest Amanda didn't jump off the school roof, she was pushed. Kate then launches into a new investigation of Amanda's death, discovering things about her daughter that seem unthinkable to Kate.
4.5 stars. The book was excellent, and almost a 5 star, except for some coincidences at the end which were unbelievable.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Book #5 in 2014
A Dark and Stormy Knit by Anne Canadeo.
Is the murder of a local co-ed related to the Knit Kats, a group of anonymous yarn graffiti artists? Maggie Messina and her Black Sheep Knitters are on the case, along with the local cops, of course.
4 stars for chick-knit-lit. Subtract one for the non-crafty.
Is the murder of a local co-ed related to the Knit Kats, a group of anonymous yarn graffiti artists? Maggie Messina and her Black Sheep Knitters are on the case, along with the local cops, of course.
4 stars for chick-knit-lit. Subtract one for the non-crafty.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Book #4 in 2014
Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner.
Despite an injury that has her on medical leave, Detective D.D. Warren helps the team catch The Rose Killer, who is copying a 40-year old serial killer, Harry Day. Are the killings somehow related to Harry, or perhaps to his daughter Shana Day, a killer in her own right, but who is currently serving a life sentence? Where does younger daughter, Dr. Adeline Glen, a psychiatrist with a rare condition that prevents her from feeling pain, fit in?
4 stars.
Despite an injury that has her on medical leave, Detective D.D. Warren helps the team catch The Rose Killer, who is copying a 40-year old serial killer, Harry Day. Are the killings somehow related to Harry, or perhaps to his daughter Shana Day, a killer in her own right, but who is currently serving a life sentence? Where does younger daughter, Dr. Adeline Glen, a psychiatrist with a rare condition that prevents her from feeling pain, fit in?
4 stars.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Book #3 in 2014
Cross My Heart by James Patterson.
Alex Cross must find out who is killing prostitutes, while his wife investigates who is kidnapping babies. Could the two cases be linked? Meanwhile, another madman is stalking the Cross family, planning his own assault.
This could have been a 4 star book, except it's really only half a book. The stalker case is not resolved and is left hanging for the next book. After Ava rises from the dead, I never once believed that the whole family is truly dead. Please, authors, if you kill someone off, let them rest in peace.
Since it's half a book, I can only offer a 2-star rating. The author did this recently in the Michael Bennett series, too. I really hope this is not a new trend, because I don't like it.
2 stars.
Alex Cross must find out who is killing prostitutes, while his wife investigates who is kidnapping babies. Could the two cases be linked? Meanwhile, another madman is stalking the Cross family, planning his own assault.
This could have been a 4 star book, except it's really only half a book. The stalker case is not resolved and is left hanging for the next book. After Ava rises from the dead, I never once believed that the whole family is truly dead. Please, authors, if you kill someone off, let them rest in peace.
Since it's half a book, I can only offer a 2-star rating. The author did this recently in the Michael Bennett series, too. I really hope this is not a new trend, because I don't like it.
2 stars.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Book #2 in 2014
The Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown.
The latest Mrs. Murphy mystery by RMB and SPB. What's behind the murders in Crozet at Halloween time? Will the haunted hayride be more than the residents bargained for? I couldn't get into this book for some reason and had to force myself to finish reading it. Maybe the animals weren't in it enough? And the whole Indian history stuff re: land rights was confusing, and kind of boring.
2 stars.
The latest Mrs. Murphy mystery by RMB and SPB. What's behind the murders in Crozet at Halloween time? Will the haunted hayride be more than the residents bargained for? I couldn't get into this book for some reason and had to force myself to finish reading it. Maybe the animals weren't in it enough? And the whole Indian history stuff re: land rights was confusing, and kind of boring.
2 stars.
Book #1 in 2014
Simplify Your Christmas by Elaine St. James.
Since this was written 15 years ago, it's not surprising that some of the information is rather dated. However, the main idea, that Christmas has become too commercial and overwhelming, remains intact, if not more relevant than ever. Sure, some of the 100 tips aren't current, but most of them are, sadly, still very much current. I checked this out of the library, but really need to buy a copy to have on hand for when the "Christmas season" starts next September, or will it be August?
I hope the author comes out with an updated version some day.
4 stars.
Since this was written 15 years ago, it's not surprising that some of the information is rather dated. However, the main idea, that Christmas has become too commercial and overwhelming, remains intact, if not more relevant than ever. Sure, some of the 100 tips aren't current, but most of them are, sadly, still very much current. I checked this out of the library, but really need to buy a copy to have on hand for when the "Christmas season" starts next September, or will it be August?
I hope the author comes out with an updated version some day.
4 stars.
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