Monday, December 31, 2007

2007, AN OVERVIEW

Total books read: 152
Of which DNF: 0
Of which marked 5 or higher: 35
Books with 5+ or more were:
* BROTHER GRIMM by Craig Russell
* THE COLD MOON by Jeffrey Deaver
* THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield
* SAME SWEET GIRLS by Cassandra King
* THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
* THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEATH by Kevin Brockmeier
* RAVEN BLACK by Ann Cleeves
* PARDONABLE LIES by Jacqueline Winspear
* JULIA'S CHOCOLATES by Cathy Lamb
* GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen

My favourite book of the year was THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak, the only book I ever awarded a 6.

GARDEN SPELLS

TITLE: GARDEN SPELLS
AUTHOR: SARAH ADDISON ALLEN
Pages: 288
Date: 31/12/2007
Grade: 5
Library

The Waverley women and the Waverley garden have always been magical, which makes the Waverleys stand apart from the general community.
Claire Waverley has embraced this Waverley-ness ever since she was six, and has now reached the stage where anything outside her small world doesn't seem to fit.
Sydney has fled Bascom and the Waverley legacy as soon as she could. But now, a violent relationship brings her and her young daughter back home.
Reunited, Claire and Sydney have to redefine their lives, while getting to know each other as they didn't do when they were children.
Claire has to learn to trust other people and their feelings as well as herself and her emotions. And Sydney has to learn that being a Waverley is a good thing, that home is a safe place and not all people out to get her.
A common enough story, set in magical surroundings making it anything but common.
A fabulous read to end the year on a high.

"You are who you are, whether you like it or not, so why not like it?"

THE KEEPER OF SECRETS

TITLE: THE KEEPER OF SECRETS
AUTHOR: JUDITH CUTLER
Pages: 343
Date: 30/12/2007
Grade: 4.5
Library

It's 1810 and young parson Tobias Campion is about to start his ministry at the parish of Moreton Hall. He spends his first night there at his distant cousin's stately home, where he has to safe a beautiful young servant, Lizzie Woodman from a brutish attack.
Tobias soon befriends the local doctor, Edmund Hansard and settles into his work. But he can't help feeling disquiet about the goings on in his parish.
Then young Lizzie disappears, only to be found murdered and Tobias and his friend Edmund set out to find out exactly what happened to her and why. A quest that endangers not just themselves, but other locals as well.
Maybe not a great mystery, but a very well written book, full of historical detail yet very easy to read.
I wouldn't mind if this turned out to be the first book in a series.

THE CRUELLEST MONTH

TITLE: THE CRUELLEST MONTH
AUTHOR: LOUISE PENNY
Pages: 311
Date: 29/12/2007
Grade: 5
Details: nr. 3 C.I. Armand Gamache Mystery
Library

In the village of Three Pines a woman dies during a seance, apparently scared to death. But, as Gamache and his team investigate, it soon becomes clear that what appeared super natural is in fact, brutal murder.
The murdered woman appeared to be loved by all, but as secrets emerge it becomes clear that so much love can lead to resentment, and an abundance of suspects surfaces.
And while the investigation progresses, there are those among his colleagues who will stop at nothing to bring Gamache down, destroy him.
And with his enemies having infiltrated his team, and the leader being someone Gamache would never suspect, he has to be careful before both his career and his life are destroyed.
A mystery written in the time honoured tradition of Agatha Christie, but better plotted, more involved and with an apparent simplicity that makes it all the more brilliant.

GRAVE PERIL

TITLE: GRAVE PERIL
AUTHOR: JIM BUTCHER
Pages: 426
Date: 27/12/2007
Grade: 4+
Details: nr. 3 Dresden files
Library

The ghosts of Chicago have gone crazy. They're causing mayhem and disturbances everywhere. And not the sort of mayhem you'd expect from ghosts; these disturbances could have deadly consequences.
Harry and his friend Michael have their hands full trying to keep the tormented ghosts under control, and trying to work out what makes the ghosts behave the way they do.
And then trouble spreads, and humans are being attacked in the same way as the ghosts. And all the humans affected are somehow connected to Harry.
Harry has very little time to work out what's going on and who's causing it, before those close to him and even he himself become the next victims.
A thrill a minute read, as expected.

HIDDEN DEPTHS

TITLE: HIDDEN DEPTHS
AUTHOR: ANN CLEEVES
Pages: 384
Date: 26/12/2007
Grade: 4+
Details: nr. 3 Inspector Vera Stanhope Mystery
Library

Vera and her team are called to the scene when a young man is found death in a bath, surrounded by flowers, murdered.
The set-up intrigues the investigators, but when a young woman is found in a similar set up in a rock pool, their fascination turns into deep worry.
Their investigation soon centres on the group of bird watchers who found the girl, but doesn't appear to throw up any real clues.
Until, that is, the younger sister of the first victim disappears and a race against time starts to prevent a third murder.
Good mystery, although I didn't like Vera Stanhope very much. Why must main characters be either very beautiful or not beautiful at all?

THE GHOST ORCHID

TITLE: THE GHOST ORCHID
AUTHOR: CAROL GOODMAN
Pages: 453
Date: 24/12/2007
Grade: 5
Library

Ellis Brooks is staying at Bosco, a beautiful artist's retreat to write a novel about an event that took place there in it's early days. An event involving three dead children, their grieving mother, a medium, a seance with a tragic ending and a fourth child gone missing.
But once she's started her writing it appears that those events aren't as distant as they should be. The house and garden seem to be holding memories of the events and those seem to be affecting, not just Ellis, but all the residents.
As the past and present become ever more intertwined, it appears that Ellis is holding the keys to solving past mysteries and laying restless ghosts to bed. A task not without danger.
Great, thrilling read. Goodman is back to her best.

A WEDDING IN DECEMBER

TITLE: A WEDDING IN DECEMBER
AUTHOR: ANITA SHREVE
Pages: 325
Date: 21/12/2007
Grade: 4.5
Own

Twenty six years after being in high school together, a group of 40-somethings get together for the wedding of two of them.
They meet in the Inn owned by one of them, Nora, who has had to reinvent her life after her husband's death.
Bill, the groom had to leave his wife in order to marry his high school sweetheart, leading to friction with his daughter. Bridget, the bride is undergoing treatment for cancer.
All of the guests carry some sort of baggage with them, long held secrets are revealed and people and relationships are re-evaluated.
By the end of the weekend everybody seems to have lost some illusions, and gained some insight and/or love.
Not Shreve's best book, but still a very satisfying read.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

MESSENGER OF TRUTH

TITLE: MESSENGER OF TRUTH
AUTHOR: JACQUELINE WINSPEAR
Pages: 319
Date: 15/12/2007
Grade: 5
Details: nr. 4 Maisie Dobbs Mystery
Library

It's 1931 and Maisie is asked by Georgina Bassington Hope to investigate the death of her twin brother, Nick.
The police have ruled the death an accident, but Georgina is convinced he was murdered.
As Maisie investigates, she has to delve into London's art world, and the strange but wonderful environment of Georgina's family as well as smuggling.
Still struggling after her breakdown and away from Maurice, Maisie is fragile. And Billy and his family face a tragedy of their own.
Once again an insightful book, giving great insight into England between the wars.

"I've come to the conclusion that liking a person we are required to have dealings with is not of paramount importance. But respect is crucial, on both sides, as is tolerance, and a depth of understanding of those influences that sculpt a character."

CREATION IN DEATH

TITLE: CREATION IN DEATH
AUTHOR: JD ROBB
Pages: 337
Date: 10/12/2007
Grade: 5
Details: nr. 25 Eve Dallas & Roarke Mystery
Library

Eve is enjoying some well deserved time off with Roarke, when she's called in on a case. It soon becomes clear why her time off has been cut into; a murderer who she, Feeney and others failed to capture nine years ago, has returned. And he's repeating his old behaviour; abducting brunettes, torturing them and killing them when they can't take the torture anymore, carving their lasting power into their corpses.
This time Eve is in charge of the case and determined to close it. But this time, the murderer is making it personal.
As expected a thrilling, fun, sexy and emotional read. Bring on the next one.

A KILLING NIGHT

TITLE: A KILLING NIGHT
AUTHOR: JONATHON KING
Pages: 287
Date: 08/12/2007
Grade: 4.5
Details: nr. 4 Max Freeman Mystery
Library

Max's ex-lover, Sherry Richards, asks him to check out a former colleague of his from Philadelphia, now also living in Florida, whom she suspects of stalking and killing women bartenders.
And, although Max is reluctant to return to his past, he does as she asks. He does find that Colin O'Shea is a volatile character, but doesn't believe him to be a killer.
And while Sherry tries to prove O'Shea's guilt and Max his innocence, the killer has found himself a new girl who may well end up death.
Again, the book would probably have been better (for me) if O'Shea's innocence or guilt had been a mystery for longer. But the writing is so good that it doesn't matter too much.

ICED

TITLE: ICED
AUTHOR: CAROL HIGGINS CLARK
Pages: 306
Date: 05/12/2007
Grade: 4
Details: nr. 3 Regan Reilly Mystery
Library

Regan and her parents and friend have been invited to Aspen over Christmas.
Upon arrival, their hosts discover that their caretaker is missing as is a valuable painting.
Eben, the caretaker turns out to have a criminal past and the automatic assumption is that he must be the thief, but Regan isn't so sure.
With another friend of hers planning the official opening of his restaurant, also involving a valuable painting, Regan is up against it to prevent another theft and her friend's ruination.
Fun cozy mystery with nice characters, but I probably would enjoy them more if the culprits weren't out in the open from the start.

BAD BLOOD

TITLE: BAD BLOOD
AUTHOR: LINDA FAIRSTEIN
Pages: 397
Date: 02/12/2007
Grade: 5-
Details: nr. 9 Alexandra Cooper Mystery
Library

Alex Cooper is starting a court case where she's prosecuting a man for having his wife murdered while he was conveniently out of town. The chances of getting a conviction aren't great.
Then, a few days into the case, an explosion in one of New Yorks subterrainian water tunnels kills the brother of the accussed, revealing old fueds between families. And when an old, unsolved, case is also linked to the accused, the waters seem to be getting murkier rather then clearer.
As Alex, Mercer and Mike unrafel all the threads, the accussed makes a violent escape and with the solution to all the mysteries comes a terrifying underground manhunt.
Good mystery and read, as always, but not as thrilling as some in this series.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

THE THIN WOMAN

TITLE: THE THIN WOMAN
AUTHOR: DOROTHY CANNELL
Pages: 273
Date: 01/12/2007
Grade: 4+
Details: nr. 1 Ellie Haskell Mystery
Library

When Ellie Simons is invited to a family gathering she despairs. She's over-weight and single and knows that her family will be only too happy to point out all her short comings.
Enter Eligibility Escorts and Bentley T. Haskell, hired to be Ellie's fiance for the weekend.
Shortly after the weekend, Ellie's uncle dies, and it turns out that she and her make belief fiance are to inherit the bulk provided they can solve a mystery and uncover a treasure within 6 months as well as achieve some other goals.
But it appears that someone is determined to make sure they fail. And while their fake romance could turn real, there appear to be obstacles to that as well.
A mystery without a murder, but several attempts. A fun read with good characters. I will read more.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

TITLE: NORTHERN LIGHTS
AUTHOR: PHILLIP PULLMAN
Pages: 399
Date: 29/11/2007
Grade: 4.5
Details: nr. 1 His Dark Materials
Own

Lyra has had a relatively trouble free childhood in Oxford, when her friend Roger disappears. He is one of many children being abducted for reasons nobody seems to know, but everybody speculates about.
Lyra herself turns out not to be who she thought she was and unbeknown to herself she has a very special destiny.
And she takes the first step towards that destiny when she sets out on a quest to find her friend.
Set in a world and universe quite similar to but not the same as ours, this is a great adventure story. What takes it beyond a simple adventure for children, is the criticism aimed at organized religion and the lack of completely black and white characters.

HEARTSTOPPER

TITLE: HEARTSTOPPER
AUTHOR: JOY FIELDING
Pages: 387
Date: 26/11/2007
Grade: 4.5
Library

Somebody is killing young women in Torrance, Florida, and as nobody knows who or why, panic is slipping in.
Sandy Crosbie has recently moved to Torrence with her husband and two teenage children. However, soon after arriving, her husband leaves her, and now she's facing not only her life falling apart, but also a killer targeting girls like her daughter.
In a town like Torrance, everybody knows everybodies business, but the identity of the killer remains a mystery.
In the book, journal entries by the killer alternate with descriptions of town life, which should make for a chilling read.
However, I had the killer pegged about half way through and didn't find the book as thrilling as it could have been

LEAVE THE GRAVE GREEN

TITLE: LEAVE THE GRAVE GREEN
AUTHOR: DEBORAH CROMBIE
Date: 23/11/2007
Pages: 304
Rating: 4.5
Remarks: nr. 3 Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James Mystery
Library

Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma Jones are asked to look into the suspicious death of Connor Swann, who was found floating in the Thames.
Swann was the son in law of Sir Gerald and Dame Caroline Asherton, being married to but living separately from their daughter Julia.
It soon turns out to be a family with a lot of issues, quirks and secrets, especially the death from drowning 20 years previously of Julia's brother Matthew; an event that's never talked about.
And while Kincaid finds himself attracted to Julia, and Gemma is struggling with her feelings for Kincaid, the case appears to be going nowhere, until a surprise revelation brings clarity.
Good mystery; I will continue with this series.