TITLE: FREE FALL
AUTHOR: ROBERT CRAIS
Date: 25/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no.4 Elvis Cole Mystery
Audio: 8 Cd's/ 7 hours, 59 minutes
Narrator: William Roberts
Library/Own
When Jennifer Sheridan walks into Elvis Cole's office wanting to hire him, he has several good reasons to say no. But he doesn't and finds himself checking out Jennifer's fiance, Mark, a LA cop with an elite undercover unit.
What at first appears to be a simple case of love gone sour, soon turns into something far darker and nastier. Soon, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are running from a gang as well as the police.
Fast paced and full of action, this was easy to listen to, although at times Cole is a bit too smart for me.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
SEPULCHRE
TITLE: SEPULCHRE
AUTHOR: KATE MOSSE
Pages: 544
Date: 25/06/2008
Grade: 4+
Own
Another novel by Mosse, set in two different times, with two stories that flow into each other.
In 1891, Leonie Vernier and her brother Anatole flee Paris for Domaine de la Cade, near Carcassonne, only to find that they can't flee their twisted and obsessed tormentor. And in the dark woods surrounding the isolated house, Leonie finds a Visigoth sepulchre and a deck of Tarot cards which both hold secrets and strange and dangerous powers.
In 2007, Meredith Martin comes in contact with the same deck of cards just before she visits Domaine de la Cade while trying to find out about her heritage. But it turns out that the way to her ancestors lies through Leonie and the mysteries she left, and that Meredith has her own battle with an obsessive opponent to face.
This book was nowhere near as good as LABYRINTH. I don't know why Debussy had to be part of the story, and couldn't help feeling that Mosse used magic and mysticism whenever she got stuck in a story line. I just couldn't follow the conclusions, especially Meredith, would come to which appeared to be based on nothing. It would also have helped if an explanation had been given for the obsession in the modern story.
Still, it was an interesting read, if not a page turner.
AUTHOR: KATE MOSSE
Pages: 544
Date: 25/06/2008
Grade: 4+
Own
Another novel by Mosse, set in two different times, with two stories that flow into each other.
In 1891, Leonie Vernier and her brother Anatole flee Paris for Domaine de la Cade, near Carcassonne, only to find that they can't flee their twisted and obsessed tormentor. And in the dark woods surrounding the isolated house, Leonie finds a Visigoth sepulchre and a deck of Tarot cards which both hold secrets and strange and dangerous powers.
In 2007, Meredith Martin comes in contact with the same deck of cards just before she visits Domaine de la Cade while trying to find out about her heritage. But it turns out that the way to her ancestors lies through Leonie and the mysteries she left, and that Meredith has her own battle with an obsessive opponent to face.
This book was nowhere near as good as LABYRINTH. I don't know why Debussy had to be part of the story, and couldn't help feeling that Mosse used magic and mysticism whenever she got stuck in a story line. I just couldn't follow the conclusions, especially Meredith, would come to which appeared to be based on nothing. It would also have helped if an explanation had been given for the obsession in the modern story.
Still, it was an interesting read, if not a page turner.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
AN UNHALLOWED GRAVE
TITLE: AN UNHALLOWED GRAVE
AUTHOR: KATE ELLIS
Pages: 232
Date: 20/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 3 Wesley Peterson Mystery
Own
Wesley Peterson is investigating a string of burglaries when the body of Pauline Brent is found hanging from a Yew tree in a graveyard. Almost immediately suicide is ruled out and Wesley and his colleagues find themselves trying to figure out why anybody would want to harm this very private and well-liked woman.
Meanwhile, Neal Watson is starting on an archaeological dig near by, only to find the remains of a young woman, hanged over 500 years previously.
Soon the two investigations start to show remarkable similarities, with the question being whether or not that is pure coincidence.
As always, a good and well plotted mystery, even if, for once, I did have the solution before Wesley.
AUTHOR: KATE ELLIS
Pages: 232
Date: 20/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 3 Wesley Peterson Mystery
Own
Wesley Peterson is investigating a string of burglaries when the body of Pauline Brent is found hanging from a Yew tree in a graveyard. Almost immediately suicide is ruled out and Wesley and his colleagues find themselves trying to figure out why anybody would want to harm this very private and well-liked woman.
Meanwhile, Neal Watson is starting on an archaeological dig near by, only to find the remains of a young woman, hanged over 500 years previously.
Soon the two investigations start to show remarkable similarities, with the question being whether or not that is pure coincidence.
As always, a good and well plotted mystery, even if, for once, I did have the solution before Wesley.
MURDER IN THE MUSEUM
TITLE: MURDER IN THE MUSEUM
AUTHOR: SIMON BRETT
Pages: 372
Date: 19/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no 4 Fethering Mystery
Own
Carole Seddon has recently joined the board of trustees of Bracketts, the former home of celebrated poet and writer Esmond Chadleigh, but is already regretting the decision. The board is a hotbed of rivalry and mistrust, and Carole is ready to resign her position when a skeleton with a hole in the head is discovered in the garden of the estate. This of course triggers her and Jude, her neighbours', investigative streak. And when the old remains are joined by a fresh murder, it is all systems go, although Jude has another issue to deal with and Carole finds herself facing her usual jealousy.
A good, old fashioned British mystery, well set up and easy to read.
AUTHOR: SIMON BRETT
Pages: 372
Date: 19/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no 4 Fethering Mystery
Own
Carole Seddon has recently joined the board of trustees of Bracketts, the former home of celebrated poet and writer Esmond Chadleigh, but is already regretting the decision. The board is a hotbed of rivalry and mistrust, and Carole is ready to resign her position when a skeleton with a hole in the head is discovered in the garden of the estate. This of course triggers her and Jude, her neighbours', investigative streak. And when the old remains are joined by a fresh murder, it is all systems go, although Jude has another issue to deal with and Carole finds herself facing her usual jealousy.
A good, old fashioned British mystery, well set up and easy to read.
LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS
TITLE: LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS
AUTHOR: DIANA GABALDON
Pages: 302
Date: 17/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: third book in the Lord John series
Library
This book is a collection of two novella's and one short story.
In THE HELLFIRE CLUB Lord John Grey witnesses a murder and determined to right the wrong infiltrates a dubious secret society, the Hellfire Club.
THE SUCCUBUS takes place in Germany where Lord John is a liaison between the German and English armies. He finds that not only does he have to deal with the threat from the French and Austrian armies but also with a ghostly and murderous appearance upsetting the troops and keeping them awake at night.
Finally, in THE HAUNTED STORY Lord John finds himself under investigation about the canon that exploded while he was in charge. Feeling he might be used as a scapegoat he investigates the matter himself and is soon finding that both love and hate as well as rivalry between the various sections of the armed forces nearly lost him not only his life but also his reputation.
Although I'm not usually a fan of short stories, I did enjoy these and remain grateful that Gabaldon decided to expand on the character of Lord John.
AUTHOR: DIANA GABALDON
Pages: 302
Date: 17/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: third book in the Lord John series
Library
This book is a collection of two novella's and one short story.
In THE HELLFIRE CLUB Lord John Grey witnesses a murder and determined to right the wrong infiltrates a dubious secret society, the Hellfire Club.
THE SUCCUBUS takes place in Germany where Lord John is a liaison between the German and English armies. He finds that not only does he have to deal with the threat from the French and Austrian armies but also with a ghostly and murderous appearance upsetting the troops and keeping them awake at night.
Finally, in THE HAUNTED STORY Lord John finds himself under investigation about the canon that exploded while he was in charge. Feeling he might be used as a scapegoat he investigates the matter himself and is soon finding that both love and hate as well as rivalry between the various sections of the armed forces nearly lost him not only his life but also his reputation.
Although I'm not usually a fan of short stories, I did enjoy these and remain grateful that Gabaldon decided to expand on the character of Lord John.
THE WATER ROOM
TITLE: THE WATER ROOM
AUTHOR: CHRISTOPHER FOWLER
Pages: 400
Date: 15/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 2 Bryant and May Mystery
Library
The Met's Peculiar Crimes Unit is only starting back up again and awaiting the official allocating of cases when a dead woman is discovered in one of the houses on Balaklava Street. Her death would have been noted as natural, if it weren't for the river water unexpectedly found in her throat. Fascinated, Arthur Bryant decides to investigate.
At the same time, May is asked to prevent an academic he knows from destroying his reputation with an ill-advised search through London's forgotten underground rivers.
Neither investigation appears to be making progress, but more people in Balaklava street die under suspicious circumstances.
And just when it appears that the investigations have run out of time without any answers, Bryant's quirky methods not only safe a life, but also provide more answers then they were expecting.
This is a fun series with a very unusual investigator in Bryant and a wonderful relationship between him , May and the rest of the team, as well as lots of fascinating facts about London.
AUTHOR: CHRISTOPHER FOWLER
Pages: 400
Date: 15/06/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 2 Bryant and May Mystery
Library
The Met's Peculiar Crimes Unit is only starting back up again and awaiting the official allocating of cases when a dead woman is discovered in one of the houses on Balaklava Street. Her death would have been noted as natural, if it weren't for the river water unexpectedly found in her throat. Fascinated, Arthur Bryant decides to investigate.
At the same time, May is asked to prevent an academic he knows from destroying his reputation with an ill-advised search through London's forgotten underground rivers.
Neither investigation appears to be making progress, but more people in Balaklava street die under suspicious circumstances.
And just when it appears that the investigations have run out of time without any answers, Bryant's quirky methods not only safe a life, but also provide more answers then they were expecting.
This is a fun series with a very unusual investigator in Bryant and a wonderful relationship between him , May and the rest of the team, as well as lots of fascinating facts about London.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
THE HOLLOW
TITLE: THE HOLLOW
AUTHOR: NORA ROBERTS
Pages: 318
Date: 13/06/2008
Grade: 5-
Details: no. 2 The Sign of Seven
Own
After Fox, Caleb and Gage, Layla, Quinn and Sybel hurt the demon at The Pagan Stone, their strength grew, but it appears to have strengthened the demon as well. And while the demon's attacks on the six become stronger, they continue their search for a way to beat it once and for all and end the curse on Hawkins Hollow.
Layla, now working for Fox finds herself growing closer to him, a fact that scares her as much as she can't resist it. Both of them being able to see with their minds what's happening in the present, means that she knows more about him and he about her then is comfortable and it makes their intimacy deeper then anything either has known.
And through it all, the fight continues.
A real Roberts book, thrilling, sexy and exciting. A real pleasure to read.
AUTHOR: NORA ROBERTS
Pages: 318
Date: 13/06/2008
Grade: 5-
Details: no. 2 The Sign of Seven
Own
After Fox, Caleb and Gage, Layla, Quinn and Sybel hurt the demon at The Pagan Stone, their strength grew, but it appears to have strengthened the demon as well. And while the demon's attacks on the six become stronger, they continue their search for a way to beat it once and for all and end the curse on Hawkins Hollow.
Layla, now working for Fox finds herself growing closer to him, a fact that scares her as much as she can't resist it. Both of them being able to see with their minds what's happening in the present, means that she knows more about him and he about her then is comfortable and it makes their intimacy deeper then anything either has known.
And through it all, the fight continues.
A real Roberts book, thrilling, sexy and exciting. A real pleasure to read.
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