Average Reader

Mary Mary

Usually when reading a novel it is not recommended to start somewhere mid series. Prior to this novel, I had never read a James Patterson novel, and I must say it was one of the better crime novels I have read in a long time. I don’t feel as though I have missed out on anything with regard to learning about the main players in the book. I got this book on Sunday, by Tuesday night at 3 a.m., I was done. I couldn’t keep my hands off this book.

The novel begins with FBI Detective Alex Cross who is attempting to vacation with his family in Disneyland—although with most great detectives, a true vacation is either short lived or not possible. Much like the way things go, Alex is called off to business. A young Hollywood Actress has been murdered. The plot seems to thicken when other victims emerge—and killer becomes labeled a serial killer, although not just any random serial killing is happening here. The victims of this individual are all tied to Hollywood Studios and all parents of young children. In this novel, Alex works in conjunction with the LAPD, who just as he is, finds themselves puzzled and perplexed by a series of strange clues left behind at every crime scene.

The reader is drawn in through depictions of the crime at the crime scenes and the resulting investigations performed both by Alex and the LAPD, and through the eyes and voice of the killer. The killer is one of intrigue and mystery as they attempt to lead investigators down a winding path of possibilities including the fact that the killer could be a woman named Mary.

This novel was a great introduction for those who haven’t read a Patterson book in the past. It leads this average reader to want to read more of his books. It is a well written, evocative, captivating portrayal of a crime spree in Hollywood. I highly recommend picking up this novel.

Editors note:  This post is from Guest writer: Neta Schutt

S is For Silence

I’d love to say this was an interesting read—a page turner, one that I couldn’t put down…but I can’t.  I put this book down more than I put any of my textbooks down in my last two semesters of college. 

In this, the 19^th edition of Sue Grafton’s alphabetical crime novel series, another crime has apparently been committed.  It is one less obvious than those of her previous editions, but one all the same.  Again we find ourselves in the ranks of crime solving with Detective Kinsey Millhone, although fortunately this time not reliving all of Ms. Kinsey’s past in the attempt to get to know her character.  The crime less subtle than those of prior crime novels, leads the reader on a path of suspicions, beliefs, and what ifs.  It is the kind of crime—a disappearance of one woman, that one might expect to see on any one of the cold case based television series.  This is the story of woman who disappeared over thirty some years prior to Ms. Kinsey’s getting the case and a quest for information on her disappearance by her daughter—Daisy Sullivan.

While the story is interesting, it lacks the veracity and sensation of a crime novel to keep this reader’s attention.  The novel jumps from present day to varied days in 1953, which helps the reader understand the characters—but is only done with certain characters, seemingly in the hopes to keep the reader guessing about whether the woman of the suspected disappearance—Violet Sullivan, really did disappear or was she the victim of murder.  Although there are many characters in this novel, with their vivid recollections of the summer of 1953, the same verse becomes repetitive and drab throughout the novel.  Despite the irregular shifts in time, after one interview and recollection by one of the characters it was easy for this reader to conclude the story—sadly this was about three eighths of the way through the novel, which as stated above made reading the rest of the novel tedious. 

Unlike Grafton’s previous novels, this novel lacks the wit, sarcasm, personality of the detective involved.  It is merely the story telling of the detective from start to finish of the information received when it is received.  Additionally the ending was quite lacking, in that there was no wrap up, no final thoughts into the solution of the crime or how the crime ended up affecting the many people that seemed to be affected by Violet Sullivan.

Editors Note-This post comes from Guest writer-Neta Schutt.  Please delve further into the site for some of Neta's original poetry.

Site update

Hello all.  I apologize for not writing sooner but we are in the middle of a site redesign.  The goal is to get a better looking site that is easier to navigate and involes less scrolling.  We hope to have that live very soon.  This weekend I will try to post some reviews on Paris Hangover & Daughter of Fortune.  Keep an eye out for those.

A Historic Journey

The paper where I work has seasonal book sales for charity. We all go crazy. Pleople bring boxes to carry their literary booty home that night. The tables are piled high with a biliophile's favorite treat, cheap books. You have to search but can always find plenty. That is how I came across The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
Having never heard of this book, or the author before I scanned the first few pages and tucked it under my arm. Since that day I have read the book twice. It is addicting, so much so that I started researching the areas visited so I too would know what the characters knew.
The story centers around a highly intelligent and sheltered girl and her father. Her father unhappily leads her into his life long search, which is also his terrifying curse.
I won't go too much further because the book slowly unfolds, layer by layer and that is the best way to read it. It is not scary, or morbid. I found it to be extensivly researched, well thought out and easy to follow.
Of course you all ready know I liked it well enough to have read it twice, but I recommend The Historian to anyone who likes history, vampires, or exotic travels.

Coming Soon

Hey all.  This week I will review The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova and 'Tis Herself: A Memoir by Maureen O'Hara.  Both of these promise to be incredibly interesting.  Look for both of these reviews this weekend.  I look forward to reading your comments.  Have a great Wednesday.