TITLE: DEVIL BONES
AUTHOR: KATHY REICHS
Pages: 304
Date: 13/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 11 Tempe Brennan Mystery
Own
Working in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tempe is called to a dilapidated house where a disturbing sight has been uncovered in a cellar. Tempe finds the remains of a chicken and a goat, two cauldrons as well as a skull with the bottom jaw missing.
When a few days later a body is found with signs of satanic rituals, all hell breaks lose in Charlotte with one politician especially using fear of the unknown to advance his career.
Tempe has problems with both her temper and her imagination while she and the police try to make sense of all the different finds and clues.
With her personal life in chaos and threats being made against her, Tempe faces a stressful and uncertain time.
Although this was a good and exciting read, it wasn't quite up to the standard of previous books for me. Especially since when the mysteries were resolved I had little or no idea who the main perpetrator was and where he had featured in the story.
This could be partly due to careless reading on my part, but not completely, I think.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
THE POISON THRONE
TITLE: THE POISON THRONE
AUTHOR: CELINE KIERNAN
Pages: 368
Date: 11/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 1 The Moorehawke Trilogy
YA / ARC
Borrowed from author.
Celine Kiernan is a member of my library in Bailieborough and has written a most wonderful novel.
The story is set in a fantasy version of 14th century Europe and centers around 15 year old Wynter Moorehawk, apprentice carpenter and daughter of Lorcan Moorehawk, Lord Protector and close friend of King Jonathan.
When Wynter and her father return to the kingdom and the royal courts they find a changed world to the one they left five years earlier. Gone is the tolerant and multi-cultural society they knew, to be replaced by one ruled by Jonathan, the once tolerant king, through fear and oppression.
The king has exiled the crown prince, Alberon and is forcing Razi, his bastard son into that role, much against the young man's wishes.
With Alberon and Razi both having been friends of Wynter all their lives, the turmoil is very close to her heart.
But with Jonathan becoming ever more paranoid and oppressive, Razi, his mysterious and charming friend Christopher and Wynter are in real danger of becoming pawns in a political game that might easily kill them.
This book was thrilling, full of realistic details and characters.
As Tara (my 14 year old daughter) said, the only problem with reading an ARC this good is that the wait for part two is even longer then usual.
AUTHOR: CELINE KIERNAN
Pages: 368
Date: 11/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 1 The Moorehawke Trilogy
YA / ARC
Borrowed from author.
Celine Kiernan is a member of my library in Bailieborough and has written a most wonderful novel.
The story is set in a fantasy version of 14th century Europe and centers around 15 year old Wynter Moorehawk, apprentice carpenter and daughter of Lorcan Moorehawk, Lord Protector and close friend of King Jonathan.
When Wynter and her father return to the kingdom and the royal courts they find a changed world to the one they left five years earlier. Gone is the tolerant and multi-cultural society they knew, to be replaced by one ruled by Jonathan, the once tolerant king, through fear and oppression.
The king has exiled the crown prince, Alberon and is forcing Razi, his bastard son into that role, much against the young man's wishes.
With Alberon and Razi both having been friends of Wynter all their lives, the turmoil is very close to her heart.
But with Jonathan becoming ever more paranoid and oppressive, Razi, his mysterious and charming friend Christopher and Wynter are in real danger of becoming pawns in a political game that might easily kill them.
This book was thrilling, full of realistic details and characters.
As Tara (my 14 year old daughter) said, the only problem with reading an ARC this good is that the wait for part two is even longer then usual.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
THE FAIRY-TALE DETECTIVES
TITLE: THE FAIRY-TALE DETECTIVE
AUTHOR: MICHAEL BUCKLEY
Pages: 284
Date: 08/09/2008
Grade: 4
Details: no. 1 The Sisters Grimm
Library
A year and a half ago, the parents of Sabrina (aged 11) and Daphne (7) Grimm disappeared without a trace, and since then the girls have had a miserable time in care. Now they're being send to Ferry-port to go and live with the Grandmother who they were told had died before they were born.
While Daphne is more then happy to accept this turn of affairs, Sabrina is very distrustful and immediately starts preparing to run away.
Ferry-port is nothing like teh world the girls are used to though, and the girls have to adjust to the fact that they are direct descendants from the Brothers Grimm, that fairy-tales are actually factual histories and that their new home is inhabited by exiled "ever-afters". If they don't adjust they won't be able to safe their gran from a giant and take up their role as fairy-tale detectives.
This book was great fun.
AUTHOR: MICHAEL BUCKLEY
Pages: 284
Date: 08/09/2008
Grade: 4
Details: no. 1 The Sisters Grimm
Library
A year and a half ago, the parents of Sabrina (aged 11) and Daphne (7) Grimm disappeared without a trace, and since then the girls have had a miserable time in care. Now they're being send to Ferry-port to go and live with the Grandmother who they were told had died before they were born.
While Daphne is more then happy to accept this turn of affairs, Sabrina is very distrustful and immediately starts preparing to run away.
Ferry-port is nothing like teh world the girls are used to though, and the girls have to adjust to the fact that they are direct descendants from the Brothers Grimm, that fairy-tales are actually factual histories and that their new home is inhabited by exiled "ever-afters". If they don't adjust they won't be able to safe their gran from a giant and take up their role as fairy-tale detectives.
This book was great fun.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
DEATH AT LA FENICE
TITLE: DEATH AT LA FENICE
AUTHOR: DONNA LEON
Pages: 349
Date: 07/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 1 Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
Large Print edition
Library
When world famous conductor Maestro Helmut Wellauer dies halfway through a performance of La Traviata in La Fenice in Venice, it is soon clear that the cause of death is cyanide poisoning. To Commissario of Police Guido Brunetti falls the task of finding out why the man died and who caused the death.
He soon discovers that Wellauer was not a nice man and that he made a lot of enemies during his life. The big question is, who hated the conductor enough to cause his death.
This was a good and well plotted mystery with central characters I'll enjoy finding out more about.
AUTHOR: DONNA LEON
Pages: 349
Date: 07/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 1 Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
Large Print edition
Library
When world famous conductor Maestro Helmut Wellauer dies halfway through a performance of La Traviata in La Fenice in Venice, it is soon clear that the cause of death is cyanide poisoning. To Commissario of Police Guido Brunetti falls the task of finding out why the man died and who caused the death.
He soon discovers that Wellauer was not a nice man and that he made a lot of enemies during his life. The big question is, who hated the conductor enough to cause his death.
This was a good and well plotted mystery with central characters I'll enjoy finding out more about.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
BREAKING DAWN
TITLE: BREAKING DAWN
AUTHOR: STEPHENIE MEYER
Pages: 754
Date: 06/09/2008
Grade: 5
Details: no. 4 Twilight Saga
Own
As Bella and Edward get married and start their future together, it should have been a time of bliss. But and unexpected turn of events shakes their world and future, as well as the same of those around them.
A child born to a vampire of a human mother is unheard of, but happens to our couple. A child, very unlike any human baby, and nearly killing Bella when she's born, Renesmee seems to have the best of both species. And while she manages to fully unite wolves and vampires and make anyone who sees her love her, she may also turn out to be the reason for the destruction of the Cullens.
These books just got better as the series progressed, and I'm sorry it has now come to an end. I hope Meyer will at some point take advantage of the fact that there is room for further instalments.
AUTHOR: STEPHENIE MEYER
Pages: 754
Date: 06/09/2008
Grade: 5
Details: no. 4 Twilight Saga
Own
As Bella and Edward get married and start their future together, it should have been a time of bliss. But and unexpected turn of events shakes their world and future, as well as the same of those around them.
A child born to a vampire of a human mother is unheard of, but happens to our couple. A child, very unlike any human baby, and nearly killing Bella when she's born, Renesmee seems to have the best of both species. And while she manages to fully unite wolves and vampires and make anyone who sees her love her, she may also turn out to be the reason for the destruction of the Cullens.
These books just got better as the series progressed, and I'm sorry it has now come to an end. I hope Meyer will at some point take advantage of the fact that there is room for further instalments.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
LOTTERY
TITLE: LOTTERY
AUTHOR: PATRICIA WOOD
Pages: 305
Date: 02/09/2008
Grade: 5
Library
I'm so glad that I went back to reading this book after a short interruption halfway through. For some reason I couldn't quite get into the story at first, but I knew that this is the sort of book that I normally love. So, I took a break, read Tribute, and returned to Lottery to find that I had been right; this is a wonderful book.
The story:
Perry's IQ is 76, but that doesn't make him retarded, just slow. Raised by his grandparents and abandoned and/or ridiculed by the rest of his family, he's managing just fine.
When his gram dies, Perry is alone, but with everything she told him, including whom to trust, firmly fixed in his mind he gets on with life.
When he wins millions in the lottery, his world suddenly changes, and the lessons in whom to trust proof more important then they ever were.
Powerful and inspiring.
AUTHOR: PATRICIA WOOD
Pages: 305
Date: 02/09/2008
Grade: 5
Library
I'm so glad that I went back to reading this book after a short interruption halfway through. For some reason I couldn't quite get into the story at first, but I knew that this is the sort of book that I normally love. So, I took a break, read Tribute, and returned to Lottery to find that I had been right; this is a wonderful book.
The story:
Perry's IQ is 76, but that doesn't make him retarded, just slow. Raised by his grandparents and abandoned and/or ridiculed by the rest of his family, he's managing just fine.
When his gram dies, Perry is alone, but with everything she told him, including whom to trust, firmly fixed in his mind he gets on with life.
When he wins millions in the lottery, his world suddenly changes, and the lessons in whom to trust proof more important then they ever were.
Powerful and inspiring.
TRIBUTE
TITLE: TRIBUTE
AUTHOR: NORA ROBERTS
Pages: 451
Date: 01/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: Stand-alone
Library
Cilla McGowan was born into a Hollywood dynasty but at 30 has turned hr back on the world of showbiz that has left her alone and insecure.
She moves to Little Farm, the now rundown farmhouse that used to belong to her grandmother, Hollywood legend Janet Hardy, who died under mysterious circumstances.
While she is renovating the farmhouse she gets to know and grow close to her neighbour, Ford Sawyer. As the work progresses, friendships develop, attraction turns into love and Cilla starts to feel like she may have found the place she could call home.
But someone doesn't want her there and is attacking both the house and those connected to it in an effort to drive her away.
It's up to Cilla and Ford to uncover the secrets from the past and who is so desperate to keep them, before the manage to kill Cilla.
Nora Roberts as I know and love her, although for me the book could have been about 50 pages shorter.
Still, the combination of suspense, love and sensuality rarely fails to seduce me.
AUTHOR: NORA ROBERTS
Pages: 451
Date: 01/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: Stand-alone
Library
Cilla McGowan was born into a Hollywood dynasty but at 30 has turned hr back on the world of showbiz that has left her alone and insecure.
She moves to Little Farm, the now rundown farmhouse that used to belong to her grandmother, Hollywood legend Janet Hardy, who died under mysterious circumstances.
While she is renovating the farmhouse she gets to know and grow close to her neighbour, Ford Sawyer. As the work progresses, friendships develop, attraction turns into love and Cilla starts to feel like she may have found the place she could call home.
But someone doesn't want her there and is attacking both the house and those connected to it in an effort to drive her away.
It's up to Cilla and Ford to uncover the secrets from the past and who is so desperate to keep them, before the manage to kill Cilla.
Nora Roberts as I know and love her, although for me the book could have been about 50 pages shorter.
Still, the combination of suspense, love and sensuality rarely fails to seduce me.
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