KINDRED IN DEATH

TITLE: KINDRED IN DEATH
AUTHOR: J.D. ROBB
Pages: 374
Date: 13/02/2010
Grade: 5
Details: no. 29 In Death Mystery
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I really, really love this series of mysteries and its main characters, Eve Dallas and Roarke. I also like the way in which the books in this series have been progressing. With every subsequent book it seems to be more about the mystery and less about the sexy. The latter is (thankfully) still there, it wouldn't be an Eve and Roarke story without that aspect, but the balance is definitely shifting towards to crimes and how they're solved.
And, as always, Robb drew me into the story, made me feel the pain, the anger, the pleasure and the joy. She kept me turning the pages, desperate to find out how it ends yet sad that it would have to end at all. This book left me eager for the next one which, much to my joy, is already available in the shops.
In this book the victim who's crime scene Eve is called to, even though she's supposed to be off duty, is the daughter of a colleague and good friend of Captain Whitney's. The sixteen year old girl has been sexually abused in a most brutal way before being murdered; all in her own bedroom. 
Although resources are not an issue, Eve and her team can't pick up any useful clues about the murderer and his motives, until just before a second victim is discovered.
When all becomes clear, Eve will have come face to face with parts of her past once again, and will have discovered that, although it will never be easy, she's getting better at dealing with it, always sure of the love and trust of those around her.

A TOUCH OF DEAD

TITLE: A TOUCH OF DEAD
AUTHOR: CHARLAINE HARRIS
Pages:192
Date: 12/02/2010
Grade: 4-
Details: "The Sookie Stackhouse Stories"
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I'm not a huge fan of short stories. I like all the detail you get in a novel and miss it in short stories.
But this was a nice series of visits with Sookie Stackhouse, and I can't help wondering if short stories maybe work better in this, paranormal, genre. How much character description and development can you give a vampire, werewolf or fairie? Surely their being dictates a lot of their behaviour and therefore limits the author's options?
Anyway, these stories all fit nicely in between the books in the series, and Harris kindly explains exactly where and how in the introducion.
The stories are fun and deal with every aspect of the paranatural in Sookie's life and feature several of the regulars from her books.
Reading "A Touch of Dead" left me feeling that it's probably time to bring another one of her novels home. Which fact in itself proves that I enjoyed reading this book.

THE STING OF JUSTICE

TITLE: THE STING OF JUSTICE
AUTHOR: CORA HARRISON

Pages: 356

Date: 11/02/2010

Grade: 4.5

Details: no. 3 Burren Mystery

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It is 1509 and Mara, Brehon (Judge) of the Burren, is attending the funeral of a priest. Outside the church the body of a man is found who died as a result of bee stings. The dead man was a silver-smith and owner of the local silver mine. He was also very rich and very unpopular. 

Mara is convinced she dealing with an "unlawful and and secret murder" and starts an investigation.

Finding out who killed the man won't be easy though,since there is no shortage of people with reasons to want the man dead. His (former) wife, his son, a disgruntled neighbour, to name but a few all have grievances against him. There is also the question as to who should inherit the man's wealth. And to complicate matters even further, there is a connection between King Turlough Donn O'Brien, who Mara is engaged to, and the dead man.

I love these books. Ireland, a short time before the English took complete control is a fascinating place, with interesting customs and laws and a way of looking at life that really appeals to me.

Mara is a wonderful character, a clever investigator and a compassionate but just judge.

I really hope there will be a lot more books in this series.

THE CROWNING GLORY OF CALLA LILY PONDER

TITLE: THE CROWNING GLORY OF CALLA LILY PONDER
AUTHOR: REBECCA WELLS
Pages: 391
Date: 08/02/2010
Grade: 4
Library

This book tells the story of the first 31 years in the life of Calla Lily Ponder. Born in 1953 in La Luna, Louisiana she has an idylic childhood with her beloved mother, M'Dear, her father and two brothers. It is in La Luna that she meets Renee and Sukey who will be life-long friends. It's also where she meets Tucker, a boy she starts of hating, becomes friends with and finally falls deeply in love with.
Her life takes a tragic turn when her mother dies when she's just a teenager, but the sure knowledge of her mother's love and the support from her friends and close knit family and community see her through.
High school graduation brings more heartbreak, but also the chance to go out into the world, spread her wings and learn her craft, sure in the knowledge that this is what her mother wanted for her and that La Luna will always be home and waiting for her.
This was an enjoyable read, but nowhere near as good as DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA YA SISTERHOOD. The story of the Ya Ya's really touched me, whereas this book evoked little to no emotions in me. I felt detached from the characters and the story, and couldn't help feeling that it must have been the same for the author at the time of writing.
Still, it was a pleasant reading experience, and very easy to keep on turning the pages and I do not regret having picked up this book.

"Keep your heart open, keep your head on your shoulders, and don't be afraid." 

BLOOD ORANGE BREWING

TITLE: BLOOD ORANGE BREWING
AUTHOR: LAURA CHILDS
Pages: 354
Date: 06/02/2010
Grade: 4
Details: no. 7 Tea Shop Mystery
            Large Print
Library

The ocassion is a fund raiser for a run-down Victorian home donated to the Heritage Society in Louisiana, and Theodosia Browning and her crew from the tea shop are delighted to provide tea and tasty treats. But, before anyone can pick up a cup of tea the evening is brutally interupted when Duke Wilkes, a populair local politician, is murdered.
Although Burt Tidwell, the local Chief of Detectives, has warned Theodosia not to get involved in the investigation, she can't help agreeing to have a look when asked by Wilkes' heartbroken widow.
For a long time her investigation appears to be going nowhere, and even a second murder doesn't clarify the case.
But, once she does find a clear direction in which to look, and has to save her dog, Theodosia finds herself in a whirlwind of developments and revelations and in grave personal danger.
This is a typical cozy mystery. I love the tea shop setting and all the recurring characters with their individual quirks.
An easy to read book with a decent mystery and a satisfying solution. 

WALKING IN PIMLICO

TITLE: WALKING IN PIMLICO, a novel of Victorian murder
AUTHOR: ANN FEATHERSTONE
Pages: 305
Date: 05/02/2010
Grade: 3.5
Library

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this book. Although it is definitely a story of murder, it isn't a mystery since it's perfectly clear fairly early on who commited the murder. In fact, the murderer is one of two narrators in this book.
It is obvious that the author is very knowledgable about the Victorian entertainment industry, but I could have done with fewer details about that particular aspect of Victorian society.
And finally, I couldn't feel any sympathy for any of the characters in this book. The only character who appeared to have redeeming characteristics, is also the character that features least in the story.
So,although the book was good enough for me to never feel like not finishing it, there wasn't a lot there to make me excited about it. And I couldn't help feeling I might have enjoyed it more if it had been written as a proper mystery.
The book starts with the murder of Bessie Spooner, show girl and whore, with both her friend Lucy and comedian Corney Sage seeing the murderer before he gets away.
Fearing for their lives, Lucy and Corney take themselves off to other parts separately. But, wherever Corney, the other narrator of this story, turns the murderer turns up too, even if Corney isn't always aware of it.
I want to end this review with a warning. 
With the story set in the Victorian era, and mostly among the poor and down-trodden cruelty and lack of sentimentality are rife. And there is also one instance of blattant cruelty to a dog. Not a book for the feint hearted.

CURSE OF THE SPELLMANS

TITLE: CURSE OF THE SPELLMANS
AUTHOR: LISA LUTZ
Pages: 407
Date: 03/02/2010
Grade: 4
Details: no. 2 The Spellmans
Library

Before I get into the story in the book, I have to address the cover of the copy I read.
Who designed it? Did they read the book before coming up with the picture? (Probably not.) Did they even bother to find out what the story was about? (Unlikely). For those who tend to  judge a book by it's cover let me say the following: no investigations are conducted on a bicycle, and no dogs are part of the investigation. I can't believe nobody involved in the publication of this book picked up on these, rather obvious, flaws.
With that off my chest, I can now focus on the story.
When Izzy Spellman is arrested for the fourth time in three months it is her elderly lawyer friend, Morty, who bails her out. It is also Morty who points out to her that this time it is serious and she'll have to explain herself in court and maybe face jail. Morty however is more than willing to defend her, provided Izzy gives him the full story.
And as Izzy tells her story we learn about four months filled with suspicious behaviour.
There is her father who is constantly coming home with wet hair, her mother's mysterious midnight excursions, and her brother's sudden and radical change in behaviour. But most of all, there is the very suspicious new neigbour of her parent's, John Brown (a very suspicious name to begin with), who won't give any details of his past and is behaving in a most suspicious way overall.
Izzy being Izzy can't help herself and has to investigate, finding herself at the wrong end of many sticks and in no end of trouble.
This really is an outrageous book, with a story that has very little to do with life in the real world. And there were times when I just wasn't sure if I even liked the book. 
But... I had a hard time putting this book down. The characters and the absurd story captivated me, and I'm now looking forward to reading the third instalment fairly soon.