DEATH UNDER THE DRYER

TITLE: DEATH UNDER THE DRYER
AUTHOR: SIMON BRETT
Pages: 361
Date: 31/01/2009
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 8 Fethering Mystery
Own

Simon Brett writes wonderful cozy mysteries, and knows how to keep his readers guessing by introducing a variety of motives and suspects. The contrast between the two main characters, the uptight and conservative Carole Seddon and Jude, the free spirit, adds an interesting dynamic and ongoing story line to this series.
In this instalment, Carole is visiting a local hairdresser for the first time, when the body of the hairdresser's assistant is found in a back room. The young girl having been strangled.
Never able to resist a mystery, Carole and Jude start their investigation, which at first seems straight forward enough since the girl's boyfriend has disappeared. But the boys family seems strangely unconcerned about his disappearance, and there is an abundance of other suspects.

THE MURDER STONE

TITLE: THE MURDER STONE
AUTHOR: LOUISE PENNY
Pages: 312
Date: 30/01/2009
Grade: 5+
Details: no. 4 Inspector Gamache Mystery
Library

Inspector Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, are on holiday at Manoir Bellechasse, a beautiful hotel in the middle of nowhere. Also staying in the hotel are the Finney family, a group of people who appear to actively dislike each other.
Then, in the aftermath of a terrible storm, one of the Finney siblings is found murdered, crushed to dead under the statue of her father.
Gamache, already at the location, takes charge of the investigation, the biggest mystery of which is not the who and/or the why but how the heavy statue came of its pedestal.
This was a wonderful mystery, well plotted and intriguing, even if I did figure out the how fairly early on.
Louise Penny is one of those rare and very special authors who not only produce a great mystery but also a fabulous novel, filled with a setting and characters that feel real and I would love to know better.
On a side note; although this mystery wasn't actually set in Three Pines, that lovely village does feature, as do some of its inhabitants.

THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND

TITLE: THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND
AUTHOR: JEFFREY DEAVER
Pages: 439
Date: 28/01/2009
Grade: 5
Details: Stand-Alone
Library

When an emergency phone call to a sheriff's department in a small town in Wisconsin is cut short, deputy Brynn McKenzie goes to investigate. Not really expecting to find anything, she is shocked to find the bodies of the couple who own the house, murdered.
But worse is to come. The two men who are there don't want any witnesses and Brynn finds herself fleeing into the woods together with a woman who has survived the murders.
Without her phone or her weapon, in woods she barely knows, in the middle of the night with a woman who is more of a hindrance than a help, Brynn has to trust her instincts just to survive.
But are her instincts good enough, or is there too much going on she doesn't know anything about?
This turned out to be a very good thriller. I didn't think I was going to like it very much, initially though. The whole track through nature reminded me a bit too much of an earlier Deaver book: THE EMPTY CHAIR. And the expected twists and turns didn't really kick in until later in the story. But, when they did, they took all my reservations away and made me once again, love a Jeffrey Deaver thriller.

THE SHADOW IN THE NORTH

TITLE: THE SHADOW IN THE NORTH
AUTHOR: PHILLIP PULLMAN
Pages: 279
Date: 25/01/2009
Grade: 4+
Details: no. 2 Sally Lockhart Mystery
Youth Fiction
Library

A good view years have passed since the adventures in the first book and Sally has set up her own business as a financial adviser, as well as running a detective agency with Frederick.
When one of her clients comes to Sally because the company she invested in on Sally's advice has gone bust under suspicious circumstances, Sally decides to investigate.
At the same time, Frederick and Jim get involved with a magician whose life is being threatened.
Soon it turns out that the two cases are connected and the three friends find themselves facing an opponent who won't stop at anything, leading to injury, death and heartbreak.
Although this is Youth Fiction, it is definitely isn't a cozy mystery and not for the feint-hearted.
The historical setting of Victorian England is once again brought to life vividly, bringing extra character to the story.

PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG

TITLE: PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG
AUTHOR: BORIS AKUNIN
Pages: 295
Date: 24/01/2009
Grade: 4
Details: no. 1 Sister Pelagia Mystery
Own

This was a very different mystery.
About 20 years ago I went through a stage in my reading when I read quite a few classic Russian novels. The style in which this mystery is written really reminds of those novel in that the story telling is unhurried, expansive and filled with philosophical issues.
On the other hand, this book also has a lot of the characteristics of a classical mystery as written by authors like Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. And so we have a relatively small cast of characters from whom to pick our murderer and some of the clues not being shared with the reader.
This book was not an easy read. The Russian novel characteristics combined with the confusing way in which names are used in Russian, slowed the reading process right down.
Yet, it was a good and interesting historical mystery with a charming and at times surprising main character.
Sister Pelagia is a somewhat clumsy but very perceptive young nu who is occasionally asked by the Bishop of Zavolzhsk to investigate mysteries.
In this first mystery, Pelagia is asked to travel to the estate of the Bishop's aunt to find out who is killing her much loved and very rare white bulldogs. She does very successfully find the answer, but knows that this is not the end of the affair. And indeed, a short while later, Pelagia is investigating the murder of a man and fighting for her own life.
I will continue with this series and start Akunin's other one, but I will make sure to place those reads in between two lighter, easier books.

THE MASTER

TITLE: THE MASTER
AUTHOR: COLM TOIBIN
Pages: 555
Date: 21/01/2009
Grade: 4
Details: Large Print
Library Reading Group book for January.
Library

This book was hard work, and I'm not sure if I would have finished it if it hadn't been the Reading Group book for this month.
"The Master" of the title is Henry James, and although the book declares itself "a novel" on the cover, I found it an easier read once I started to treat it as if it were a non-fiction book. I expect my fiction to be entertaining in a different way then I do non-fiction. And seeing it in such a way made the "wordiness" of this book and its descriptive nature less irritating.
I've got a feeling that I might have enjoyed this book more if I had known more about Henry James and/or had read some of his work before starting this novel.
I'm less likely to do so now though, since I did not like the person described in this book. Maybe it is necessary to be selfish in order to be a great writer, I don't know, but Mr. James was far too obsessed with himself and his comforts and the impression he made on others (in this book anyway) for my liking.

THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB

TITLE: THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB
AUTHOR: KATE JACOBS
Pages: 491
Date: 17/01/2009
Grade: 4.5
Details: Large Print edition
Library

Georgia Walker has been running her knitting store and raising her daughter Dakota single-handedly for over 10 years. Over time, some of her regulars have started gathering at her store on Friday nights, a get-together that soon turns into a regular event, and the knitting club is born.
Starting of as a collection of mainly unconnected and apparently mismatched women with very little in common, life changing events, both positive and negative, soon bring the women together into a close knit bond, one that will last and one they will need to see them through.
This book wasn't noticeably different from most of the other "women friendship" books I've read. But it was a story well told, kept me turning the pages, brought tears to my eyes once or twice and made me smile after reading the last words.
I'm even thinking about finishing that jumper I started knitting a year ago.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Jacobs wrote a follow up to this book. I'm not quite sure how that could be possible or would work out, considering how this book ended, but I will check it out. And if there is a second book, I will read it.
(Discovered since writing this that there indeed is a second book called KNIT TWO, published in January 2009)

MY LIFE AMONG THE SERIAL KILLERS

TITLE: MY LIFE AMONG THE SERIAL KILLERS
Inside the mind of the world's most notorious killers.
AUTHOR: HELEN MORRISON M.D.
Pages: 274
Date: 16/10/2009
Grade: 4.5
Details: Non Fiction
Library

For more than 25 years Dr. Helen Morrison has been studying and profiling serial killers in an attempt to understand why they kill and whether they are insane or just plain bad.
I'm not going to go into her theories and conclusions here, mainly because any attempt by me to summarize them would do her work no justice.
This is a fascinating, be it gruesome book. And although I realize it is necessary, I don't know how anybody could do this research for so long without becoming emotionally involved or emotionally withdrawn, while staying objective.
What I really appreciated about this book is that although some of the murders are described, this is done in a non-sensational way. The reader can keep their distance from the horror, to some extend at least.

THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE

TITLE: THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE
AUTHOR: PHILLIP PULLMAN
Pages: 209
Date: 15/01/2009
Grade: 4
Details: no. 1 Sally Lockhart Mystery
Library

Sally Lockhart is 16 years old when her father dies in a shipwreck near India. Shortly afterwards, she receives a strange anonymous letter. When she tries to find out what the message in the letter means, one of her father's former associates dies before her eyes from fear.
Convinced that there is more to her father's death than meets the eye, Sally sets out to discover the truth. A journey that will bring her new friends, dangerous enemies and to a deadly, blood soaked jewel.
This was an integrate mystery and definitely not a cozy one. The setting of Victorian London is well described and gives the story an extra edge.
I will be continuing with this series.

BRIDA

TITLE: BRIDA
AUTHOR: PAULO COELHO
Pages: 244
Date: 12/01/2009
Grade: 4
Library

"I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."

W. B. Yeats

This is the story of Brida, a young Irish woman looking for her path in life and finding it in witchcraft.
On her journey she has two teachers; a man and a woman representing two different paths towards the same enlightenment. Through them she learns about love, past lives, soul mates and continuing on your path despite fears and doubts.
This book did not touch or inspire me as much as most of Coelho's previous ones did. Maybe because I don't want to believe that enlightenment is compatible with doubt, fear and jealousy.
I strongly feel that this book is somehow connected to The Witch of Portobello, although I can't put my finger on the reason why right now.

BLACK CAT BLACK DOG

TITLE: BLACK CAT BLACK DOG
AUTHOR: JOHN CREED
Pages: 283
Date: 11/01/2009
Grade: 4+
Details: no. 3 Jack Valentine Mystery
Library

Another action packed thriller, set in Northern Ireland featuring Jack Valentine & co.
The whole adventure starts innocently enough when a set of dog tags washes up on a beach in Northern Ireland. They belong to the brother of a neighbour of Jack's who has been missing since the 1950's, and jack accompanies the neighbour to the inquest. When a barrister from London gets the inquest stopped and a young journalist trying to cover the story dies in Jack's arms, he knows he has to return to his undercover past to find out why events from the 50's should remain secret and so dangerous in the present.
Soon he discovers that not just the past holds mysteries and finds himself working with old and new allies against old enemies and facing betrayal from unexpected sources.
This book, like the previous two, was fast moving and filled with twists and turns.
The reason it scored a 4+ is that for me the amount of violence was a bit too much, and the odds against the "goodies" (which characterisation itself is up for discussion) were just too great to make the outcome even remotely believable.
Mind you this still was a fast, thrilling and easy read. Never a boring moment with Jack Valentine.

MISSING JUSTICE

TITLE: MISSING JUSTICE
AUTHOR: ALAFAIR BURKE
Pages: 352
Date: 10/01/2009
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 2 Samantha Kincaid Mystery
Library

Samantha Kincaid is back to work as assistant district attorney, and has been promoted to the Major Crimes Unit. Her very first call out is to the house of a judge who has gone missing. But what starts as a simple hand-holding / making her office look good job soon turns into a murder investigation.
But when the case appears solved, with a man arrested and awaiting trial, Samantha can't help digging deeper. An action that could cost her much more than just her job.
I'm enjoying Burke's mysteries. They are very well plotted and exciting. Kincaid is maybe a bit more independent and persistent than appears realistic, but is fiction and it does make for a good story.

THE SUGAR QUEEN

TITLE: THE SUGAR QUEEN
AUTHOR: SARAH ADDISON ALLEN
Pages: 276
Date: 08/01/2009
Grade: 5
Library

This is an absolutely charming book. Maybe not quite as good as her first book, "Garden Spells", but not far off that mark either.
It is the story of Josey, who at 27 years of age has her whole life being dominated by her unloving mother. And while her mother has her convinced that she is fat and ugly, Josey takes her only comfort from sweets, travel brochures and romance novels, which she keeps hidden in her closet.
It is in that same closet that she one day finds Della Lee Baker hiding. Della is everything Josey isn't, flat out refuses to leave the closet and soon starts instigating changes in Josey's life.
Through Della, Josey meets Chloe, who's life is in ruins after her boyfriend admits that he has cheated on her. Josey and Chloe soon become friends, and with Della directing things from the closet, both their lives undergo amazing changes.
This is a story of love and friendship, with some magic thrown in.
I love the way books just appear for Chloe, and always on a topic she needs to know more about.
For me that (unfortunately) doesn't happen in the literal sense, but it is amazing how often I randomly look at a book in a bookshop or library, and it is exactly what I need to read, even if I didn't know that before seeing the book.
On that topic, one quote from the book:
"Books can be possessive, can't they? You're walking around in a bookstore and a certain one will jump out at you, like it had moved there on its own, just to get your attention. Sometimes what's inside will change your life, but sometimes you don't even have to read it. Sometimes it's a comfort just to have a book around."

THE PRIVATE PATIENT

TITLE: THE PRIVATE PATIENT
AUTHOR: P.D. JAMES
Pages: 395
Date: 07/01/2009
Grade: 5+
Details: no. 14 Adam Dalgliesh Mystery
Library

On very rare occasions I read the last page of a book, turn over the cover, look at its back and say: "Thank you". Finishing this book was such an experience.
Mrs. James writes such wonderful prose, while plotting an excellent mystery with characters both likable and realistic that each of her books is a treasure.
In this story, Adam Dalgliesh and his team are called in when Rhoda Gradwyn an investigative journalist is murdered while recovering from an operation to remove an almost lifelong scar from her face.
Both the operation and the murder have taken place in a private clinic in a beautiful manor house in Dorset, and the cast of suspects is small. However, the investigation isn't easy or straightforward. And neither is its conclusion entirely satisfactionary for the investigators.
P.D James is now 88 years old, and although I don't want to be morbid, I couldn't help fear that this might well be the last new Adam Dalgliesh mystery. A thought that may have crossed the author's mind as well, considering how she tied up the main characters private lives.

THE SWEET SCENT OF BLOOD

TITLE: THE SWEET SCENT OF BLOOD
AUTHOR: SUZANNE McLEOD
Pages: 363
Date: 04/01/2009
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 1 Spellcrackers.com
Library

I found myself a new series about vampires and other mythical creatures. And it's not a series for the faint-hearted, considering the sex and violence that feature. Not that either is described in graphic detail, but they are undeniably there.
On the cover of the book are the following two statements by Charlaine Harris:
"A happy little vacation between two covers"; and
"One of my favorite reads of the past month".
Although the book did remind me a bit of both the Anita Blake and the Harry Dresden series, I enjoyed this read a lot; it was very fast paced and thrilling, a real page turner and easy to read.
The main character in this book is Genny Taylor, who is Sidhe Fae and works for Spellcrackers.com as a spell cracker.
In her version of London, vampires have reinvented themselves to the point where they are celebrities, and joining their ranks is thought desirable by a lot of humans.
When a girl is found dead, apparently killed by a vampire and her boyfriend, a vampire known as Mr. October is accused of the killing, Genny is asked to investigate. And even though the witches for whom she works don't allow her to work for or with vampires, she has reasons to do just that. Of course this leads to lots of problem as Genny soon finds herself caught between rivalling vampire groups. And with a few secrets of her own to protect, Genny is in for a thrilling but dangerous adventure.

THE BLOOD PIT

TITLE: THE BLOOD PIT
AUTHOR: KATE ELLIS
Pages: 346
Date: 04/01/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 12 Wesley Peterson Mystery
Library

Kate Ellis does write very good mysteries, and her descriptions of the procedures, wrong turns and false leads are realistic. There are no inspired guesses and no major sudden flashes of insight to take the reader to the solution. Wesley Peterson and his colleagues have to work hard and dig deep to come up with answers, and the reader is there for every step of the way.
This investigation starts when a man is found murdered in his home. He has been poisoned and paralyzed with hemlock before being stabbed and left to bleed to death. The man in question is described as evil by those who know him and the police has no shortage of suspects.
The case gets more complicated though when a popular local vet is killed in the same way, and there are no obvious links between the victims.
At the same time, Neil Watson, Wesley's archaeologist friend, starts receiving anonymous letters about bloodletting practices in medieval monasteries, letters which are filled with gruesome details. Both Wesley and Neil fear that the killer could be the letter writer. Is Neil in danger?
As things get increasingly complicated, the solution to all questions will have to be found in the past.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN

TITLE: THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
AUTHOR: GARTH STEIN
Pages: 321
Date: 02/01/2009
Grade: 4
Library

I really wanted to love this book and was hoping that I would start the year of with a solid 5. Based on the reviews and enthusiastic reports I had heard about this book, I was in fact fully expecting to adore this book.
But, as my grade indicates, I did not end up loving this book. I didn't dislike it either, but for me the story was a bit too sentimental. And the last chapter of the book just pushed that sentimentality right over the top. In fact, without that last chapter, the book might have scored higher.
The narrator in this book is Enzo, a dog. He tells the story of his life, as he lived it with Danny, an aspiring racing driver, his wife Eve and their daughter Zoe.
When Eve dies, way too young, it sets in motion a chain of events that nearly destroys Danny, and almost separates him from his daughter. And all of that story is realistic enough, except for the fact of Enzo being the narrator.
I adore dogs and firmly believe they are more intelligent than most people give them credit for, but this book took that concept way too far for me.
I did love the analogies between racing and life though.

2008 AN OVERVIEW

Now that 2008 is over and we're three days into 2009 it is time to give an overview of my reading last year, before I post the first of my reviews for 2009. So, this is was 2008 looked like for me:
BOOKS READ: 186
BOOKS NOT FINISHED: 3
BOOKS WITH A SCORE OF 5 OR HIGHER: 38
OWNED BOOKS: 62
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR: CROSS COUNTRY by James Patterson
TOP 10 FOR 2008 (in no particular order):
* THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH by Simon Becket
* THE ALIENIST by Caleb Carr
* THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini
* NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON by Paul Mercier
* THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
* THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN by Kate Morton
* THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer
* THE SECRET SCRIPTURE by Sebastian Berry
* REVOLUTIONARY ROAD by Richard Yates
* DEAD COLD by Louise Penny

And because it was so very hard to limit myself to these 10 books, I'll also list the following nine books, which nearly made the top 10:
* THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon
* THE SAVAGE GARDEN by Mark Mills
* THE LIKENESS by Tana French
* THE BLOOD DETECTIVE by Dan Waddell
* THE SUM OF OUR DAYS by Isabel Allende
* MY LADY JUDGE by Cora Harrison
* A GATHERING LIGHT by Jennifer Donnelly
* EAT PRAY LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert
* TESTIMONY by Anita Shreve.