Tag: mystery

Mini-Reviews: Bride, Mink, Undercutting

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Anne Gracie, Bride by Mistake

Eight years ago, young soldier Luke Ripton was fighting Napoleon’s forces in Spain when he stumbled across a girl, Bella, being attacked by bandits. He rescued her and learned that she was running away from her vicious cousin, who planned to marry her and steal her fortune. Luke’s only course of action was to marry Bella himself, bring her to a convent for safekeeping, and have the marriage annulled later. In the present, Luke learns the annulment didn’t go through, so he has no choice but to retrieve his Spanish wife. But Bella is far from the demure, obedient bride he expected. Despite the implausibility of the plot, which veers into soap opera territory near the end, I had a lot of fun with this book! Bella is a strong heroine who’s determined to do the right thing, and Luke is unwillingly charmed by her. I also liked the book’s unique setting, focusing on Spain during and after the Napoleonic Wars. Overall, though it’s probably not a keeper for me, I found this an enjoyable historical romance.

James Anderson, The Affair of the Mutilated Mink

Another house party goes wrong at the English stately home of Alderley. This time the earl, who has recently become a film enthusiast, invites an American movie producer who’s thinking of using Alderley as the setting for his new project. The writer and leading man also attend, as well as an Italian actress who may become the leading lady. Then the earl’s wife invites her cousin and cousin’s husband, while the earl’s daughter, Gerry, asks two of her boyfriends so she can make up her mind between them. The stage is set for another murder, and while all the evidence initially points to one of Gerry’s suitors, the case soon becomes more complicated. This Golden Age pastiche is just as enjoyable as The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy and has a lot of fun with the genre’s tropes, including a Great Detective who comes in to “assist” the local police with the investigation. I especially enjoyed the references to fictional detectives such as Peter Wimsey and Roderick Alleyn, who are real people in this universe. Looking forward to reading the third and final book next month!

Megan Bannen, The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam

Tanrian marshal Rosie Fox doesn’t mind taking on the most difficult and dangerous jobs. As an immortal demigod, she can’t die, so her motto is “Act first, think never.” But she may be in over her head when the portals between Tanria and Bushong start malfunctioning, threatening the lives of everyone inside Tanria. Her boss calls in Adam Lee, the inventor of the portals, to see if he can repair them; instead, he and Rosie end up stuck in Tanria. As they search for a way out, they also grow closer, but Adam is keeping some pretty big secrets about his past. I love the creative fantasy world of this series, with its complex theology and quasi-Western vibes. But this book, I think, relies a little too much on the world-building and not enough on characterization or plot. Not a lot happens in the book till the last hundred pages or so, and the romance between Rosie and Adam also feels a bit forced. There’s a mismatch between the darker subject matter (the weight of immortality, the meaning of death, complicated family dynamics) and the light, breezy tone. I did still enjoy the book, and it certainly gives some good closure to the series, but I don’t ever need to read it again.

Mini-Reviews: Bloodstained, Famous, Bellwether

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James Anderson, The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy

This historical mystery novel has all the trappings of a Golden Age detective story: a country house party, hidden identities, political machinations, a secret passage, a famous jewel thief, a staged car accident, and multiple suspicious deaths. Based on the title, I was expecting the book to be humorous, but it isn’t particularly, though occasionally a character will toss off a witty line. Overall I think this is a great read for Golden Age mystery lovers. All the tropes are present in abundance (sometimes superabundance), yet the book still manages to subvert reader expectations in interesting ways. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because it’s more fun to experience it as it unfolds. Suffice it to say that I liked this one quite a bit and am looking forward to the other two books in the Inspector Wilkins series (I have an omnibus edition that contains all three). Apparently they’re all set at the same country house, so I’m interested to see which characters will recur!

Mary Balogh, The Famous Heroine

The daughter of a wealthy merchant, Cora Downes would normally have no reason to mingle with London society’s upper crust. But when she (sort of) rescues from drowning a relative of the Duchess of Bridgwater, the duchess is so grateful that she decides to sponsor Cora for a Season and help her find a husband. The unconventional Cora is nervous and awkward in this new environment, so Lord Francis Kneller (a friend of the Bridgwater family) takes her under his wing. They soon become friends, but when Francis inadvertently “compromises” her, neither one expects the ensuing marriage to bring true love. This book was a reread for me, and I enjoyed revisiting these characters. Cora is a lovable klutz, and Francis is a kind hero with a sense of humor. Some aspects of the plot don’t quite work; for example, Cora’s mistaken assumption that Francis is gay, based on his colorful attire, persists for far too long. There are also plentiful references to the previous books in the series, Dark Angel and Lord Carew’s Bride, which I found slightly tiresome. But overall, I enjoyed my reread—Mary Balogh is reliably entertaining!

Connie Willis, Bellwether

Dr. Sandra Foster, a researcher at HiTek Corp., is studying the origin of fads, and it’s not going well. As she sorts through articles on hair bobbing and crossword puzzles and the Hula Hoop, she’s forced to deal with out-of-touch management, “sensitivity exercises,” and the world’s least competent assistant. As her world grows increasingly more illogical and frustrating, Sandra meets Dr. Bennett O’Reilly, a fellow HiTek scientist who seems strangely resistant to fads, if his terrible clothes are any indication. Could he somehow be the key to her research? I adore Connie Willis, especially her lighter and more comedic novels, of which this is one. It’s actually a bit stressful to read at times, because Sandra’s work frustrations are entirely too realistic! The satire of life in a corporate environment is spot-on, though, and I really liked the progression of the story and the romance. The book came out in 1996, so some aspects of it are dated now (no one researches anything on the computer), but overall I think it holds up quite well. Highly recommended if the premise interests you!

Mini-Reviews: Something, Captivity, Reluctant

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Julie James, Something About You

Assistant US attorney Cameron Lynde just wants a peaceful night in a posh hotel while her floors are being refinished. Instead, she’s kept awake by a late-night sex marathon in the room next door—followed by a murder. And unfortunately, because the case has federal implications, the person in charge of the investigation is FBI agent Jack Pallas, with whom Cameron has a contentious professional past. Since Cameron is a key witness with a high-profile job, she’s put in protective custody, which forces her and Jack into much closer proximity than they’d prefer—that is, until their mutual attraction complicates things even further. Julie James was one of the first romance novelists I ever read, and her books were a great gateway into the genre for me. This one is a fun read with likable leads; both Cameron and Jack are smart and good at their jobs, and they have great chemistry. The book isn’t destined to be a new favorite, but it was definitely an enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Michael Gilbert, Death in Captivity

This mystery has the unique setting of an Italian prisoner-of-war camp. An unpopular prisoner is found dead in a tunnel that some of the POWs had been digging to escape. But was his death an accident or murder? And how did he get into the tunnel, whose entrance is disguised by a heavy slab that takes four men to lift? One of the British prisoners, Henry “Cuckoo” Goyles, is tasked with solving the case, but his investigation is complicated by a potential informer within the camp, as well as by the eventual necessity for a prison break. This is a fascinating variation on the “impossible crime” mystery, where the circle of suspects is limited to camp guards and prisoners. Gilbert himself was a POW who escaped from an Italian camp during World War II, and his experience undoubtedly informed many details of the novel. The murder mystery is interesting—and several aspects of the solution surprised me—but it’s secondary to the vivid, personal depiction of this specific time and place. Recommended, but more for those interested in WWII history than for mystery lovers.

Eloisa James, The Reluctant Countess

Giles Renwick, the earl of Lilford, always does the proper thing. He needs an appropriate countess to uphold his social position, so it’s too bad that he’s continually lusting after Lady Yasmin Régnier, whose gowns and reputation are equally scandalous. Yasmin is attracted to Giles also, though she’s reluctant to admit it, as they seem to argue every time they’re together. Eventually they surrender to their mutual passion, but when Giles wants to marry Yasmin, she hesitates, unsure that they are truly well matched. I have really liked some works by Eloisa James, but this book was not one of them. I didn’t really believe in either of these characters or in the conflicts that kept them apart. Giles’s younger sister, who throws some obstacles in their way, also doesn’t seem to have a very clear or consistent motivation for her actions. I’ll try a few more of James’s books in hopes of finding one I really like, but this one was not it.

Mini-Reviews: Trespasser, Afternoon, Hero

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Tana French, The Trespasser

Antoinette Conway has fought hard for her place on the Dublin Murder Squad, and she’s determined to hold onto it despite the race- and gender-based harassment she endures from most of her colleagues. She and her partner, newbie Stephen Moran (last seen in The Secret Place), get all the most boring cases; but their newest assignment, apparently a standard domestic violence case, soon becomes more complicated and hints at possible corruption within the Murder Squad itself. One of my favorite aspects of The Secret Place was the development of Stephen and Antoinette’s professional relationship, and I was thrilled to see that continue in this book. Their partnership is tested, and I was on the edge of my seat hoping that they would come out stronger on the other side! The actual murder case wasn’t my favorite; I felt the victim’s personality and actions strained credibility. But overall, I enjoyed this book, and while I’m not sure it was intended to be the last Dublin Murder Squad novel, I think it works well as a finale.

Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

Christopher Phelan is a dashing military officer who enjoys his position at the peak of high society and has just begun a flirtation with one of its reigning beauties, Prudence Mercer. But when he’s called to serve in the Crimea, he is deeply changed and shaken by the horrors of war. His only solace is his correspondence with Prudence, with whom he’s fallen deeply in love. What he doesn’t know is that Prudence’s letters were actually written by her friend Beatrix Hathaway, an unconventional animal lover whom Christopher barely knows. Lisa Kleypas is a big name in historical romance, but this is my first encounter with her work. The plot drew me in; I love a good romance by letters, especially with a mistaken identity thrown in. That said, the big secret is revealed about halfway through the book, which means the second half kind of fizzles. I also found Beatrix a bit of a manic pixie dream girl—she brings hedgehogs to parties! She wears breeches to call on the neighbors! I did like her and Christopher together, though. Overall, I mildly enjoyed this one and am curious to read more by Kleypas, but I wasn’t blown away.

Gail Eastwood, An Unlikely Hero

Gilbey Kentwell is surprised and dismayed when his friend Nicholas invites him to a party at the estate of his father, the wealthy and powerful Duke of Roxley. Gilbey is “only” a viscount, and not a rich one, so he feels out of place amid the aristocratic guests. Moreover, the house party’s purpose is to marry off Nicholas’s twin sisters, sweet Vivian and feisty Venetia, but Gilbey has no interest in marriage. He soon finds himself drawn to the twins despite himself, but their confusing behavior may be hiding important secrets. This book was such a pleasant surprise! I think I’d seen Gail Eastwood on a list of steamless historical romance authors, so I grabbed this one at random, but I ended up really enjoying it. It’s not reinventing the wheel in any way, but it’s a solid, sweet example of a traditional Regency with a plot that’s fairly believable and realistic for the time. There are a few too many characters, and there’s a villain whose identity comes out of nowhere. But aside from those quibbles, I liked the book a lot and will definitely seek out more by Eastwood!

Mini-Reviews: Shippers, Corpse, Brides

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Katherine Center, The Shippers

JoJo Burton’s love life is a train wreck—a fact that becomes abundantly clear when she leaves her rich, “perfect” fiancé at the altar. JoJo thinks her problem may be rooted in unresolved feelings for her childhood crush, Finn Turner. Fortunately, her sister’s about to get married on a cruise ship, and newly divorced Finn is one of the guests. With several days of forced proximity and her sister’s help, JoJo is determined to attract Finn and thus fulfill her romantic destiny. The only problem is JoJo’s best friend, Cooper, who thinks her plan is ridiculous. As her attempts to lure Finn meet with disaster, JoJo eventually begins to question where her romantic destiny truly lies. This is a fun, fast-paced read with some cute banter, but I have to say that the romance drove me crazy! JoJo is implausibly blind to what’s right in front of her, and I don’t buy that Cooper would have kept his feelings a secret for so long. I also found the ending a bit anticlimactic after all the buildup. The book is still a fun, breezy summer read if you like this premise, but for me it’s not one of Center’s best.

Delano Ames, Corpse Diplomatique

Jane and Dagobert Brown are traveling through France when they encounter a violent death, about which Dagobert immediately suggests Jane write another mystery novel. While staying in Nice, they meet a diplomat from “Santa Rica” who is terrified of being assassinated. His fears seem justified when a bullet whizzes by his head, narrowly missing him but killing Major Hugh Arkwright instead. Who was the true intended victim, and who among the Browns’ new acquaintances at their French hotel is the killer? This series is enjoyable mainly for Jane’s snarky running commentary on the various people and events she’s writing about. The characters are largely well drawn, and I enjoyed the touches of humor, but the mystery itself is a bit lackluster; it kind of plods along without any real forward motion until the very end. Overall I liked this book fine, and I’d read more in the series if I came across them, but I don’t feel compelled to seek them out.

Amy Barry, Seven Brides for Beau McBride

After Junebug McBride found wives for two of her four older brothers, she’s been strictly forbidden from advertising for any more mail-order brides. But the third McBride brother, Beau, thinks Junebug had the right idea and places his own ad for a bride. Naturally, Junebug has to be involved and bets Beau that she can find a better wife than he can. But when she writes to six women instead of one, and they all come out West hoping to marry Beau, she has a problem on her hands. Especially when one of her brides, Ellie Neale, turns out to be best friends with Beau’s own pick, Diana—and Ellie soon falls for Beau herself! I enjoyed this fun Western romance, with its nonsensical yet enjoyable plot and over-the-top characters. Junebug is a lot and would be insufferable in real life, but she’s a lot of fun to read about. I liked that the seven potential brides were all decent and kind women, rather than being catty rivals. Beau and Ellie’s romance was sweet and had some funny moments due to Ellie’s melodramatic nature. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

Mini-Reviews: Waltz, First, Apprentice

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Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness

Louis Durand, age 37, is a prosperous but lonely businessman in 1880s New Orleans. Unable to bear his solitude, he begins corresponding with Julia Russell and proposes to her sight unseen. To his delight, the woman who arrives is younger and more beautiful than he expected. They marry immediately, and Louis is happy at first, but eventually he begins to notice some worrisome behaviors in his new wife. This novel is the literary equivalent of a train wreck: You know it’s going to be a disaster, but you can’t look away. I felt awful for Louis from the very first chapter, which reveals his aching loneliness and his hope that it’s finally about to end. I wanted things to work out for him, even though it was always obvious that they wouldn’t. The book is well written but painful! Ultimately, I’m just not a noir person; but if you are, I highly recommend Cornell Woolrich.

Lynn Painter, First and Forever

Duffy Distefano and her family are huge fans of the Minnesota Coyotes football team. But when the team’s mascot gropes Duffy at a game—and her retaliation is caught on camera—she becomes a target for Coyotes fans. She’s invited to tell her side of the story on a local morning TV show, only to be confronted by a Coyotes player, Connor Cunningham, who’s there to do damage control for the team. Their on-air conversation, which reads as flirtatious banter, creates good PR for the Coyotes, who suggest that Connor ask Duffy out to further improve the team’s image. But as they get to know each other better, they both develop real feelings. I really like Lynn Painter’s romances, which are fun and light with great banter, and this one is no exception. I’m not a sports person at all, so I felt like I was getting a little peek at a new-to-me subculture. I did find the plot a little bland, and the third-act breakup was both predictable and unnecessary, though at least it didn’t last too long. But overall, I liked this one and will be interested to see if there’s a sequel, as there did seem to be some chemistry between Duffy’s brother and her best friend!

L.C. Tyler, The Herring-Seller’s Apprentice

Ethelred Tressider is a mediocre mystery writer and a bit of a sad sack. His wife, Geraldine, left him for his best friend years ago, and now he has neither a romantic partner nor any close friends. The only person he seems to interact with regularly is his literary agent, the abrasive Elsie Thirkettle. But when Geraldine goes missing—along with a fortune she obtained by scamming investors—it’s up to Ethelred, with unwanted assistance from Elsie, to solve the case. This book is a light, humorous mystery that has some fun playing with the conventions of the genre. I loved Elsie’s no-nonsense voice and the way she bullies Ethelred—for his own good, of course! That said, while I’ll definitely read book two because I own it, I’m not sure I’m invested enough to commit to the whole series.

Mini-Reviews: Spindle’s, Portent, Nowlan

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Robin McKinley, Spindle’s End

In this retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Katriona attends the baby princess’s name-day, where she witnesses the evil fairy lay her curse on the infant. In the ensuing fear and chaos, Katriona is charged with taking the princess away and keeping her safe. Not knowing what else to do, she takes the baby back to her small backwater village, where she and her aunt raise “Rosie” as their own. But as Rosie grows up, she gradually becomes aware of her true identity and the terrible fate that awaits her. Robin McKinley’s novels are books of my heart, and this one is no exception. The pacing is very slow, but that just gives readers time to immerse themselves in Rosie’s world, in the homely little village community among the people and animals who love her. The book follows the fairy tale pretty closely while creating very specific characters and putting a unique spin on the ending. In short, I can’t be objective about this book; I love it and enjoyed this reread immensely.

Elizabeth Bailey, The Deathly Portent

Ottilia Fanshawe and her husband, Lord Francis, are on a journey when their carriage breaks down near the village of Witherley. They attempt to summon the blacksmith to repair the carriage, only to discover that the man has just died in violent circumstances. The locals are blaming Cassie Dale, who allegedly had a vision of the blacksmith’s death and who they believe is a witch. Tillie is convinced there’s a more rational explanation for the crime, and as she and Francis linger in town to investigate, they discover many people in the village with possible motives for murder. I liked this historical mystery, but I think I enjoyed the historical bits more than the mystery bits. I was able to guess the killer, even though the person’s motive was extremely farfetched, and there were maybe a few too many suspects. I did like Tillie and Francis’s dynamic, though, as well as the secondary romance between Cassie Dale and the vicar. I’d be interested to read more in this series, but I’ll get them from the library rather than buying.

Alden Nowlan: Selected Poems

Several years ago, someone on LibraryThing (I wish I could remember who!) posted a poem by Alden Nowlan that intrigued me enough to pick up a book of his poetry. Nowlan was a 20th-century Canadian poet from rural Nova Scotia, and his poems often deal with themes of poverty and the natural world. I doubt most of the poems will stay with me, but almost all had at least one image or phrase that struck me as interesting. Here’s one of my favorites from the collection:

“Canadian Love Song”

Your body’s a small word with many meanings.
Love. If. Yes. But. Death.
Surely I will love you a little while,
perhaps as long as I have breath.

December is thirteen months long,
July’s one afternoon; therefore,
lovers must outwit wool,
learn how to puncture fur.

To my love’s bed, to keep her warm,
I’ll carry wrapped and heated stones.
That which is comfort to the flesh
is sometimes torture to the bones.

Mini-Reviews: Educating, Joyful, Lucky

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Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline

Lady Caroline Linford is shocked and dismayed to discover her fiancé in the arms of another woman. Feeling unable to break off the engagement, she decides she needs some lessons in seduction so that she can keep her betrothed from straying. And who better to teach her than the “Lothario of London,” Braden Granville? Braden is surprised by Caroline’s proposal, since she’s such an innocent and proper young lady, while he’s a self-made man from the slums of London. But he’s also intrigued—and finds himself giving her a much more hands-on tutorial than either of them expected. This is one of the first historical romance novels I ever read, and I was curious to see if it would hold up to my fond, nostalgic memories. By and large, I still found it an enjoyable read! It’s almost a parody of the genre, which made me willing to overlook the book’s sillier elements, and there’s a decent suspense plot alongside the main romance. It’s not great literature by any means, but if you’re in the mood for a light and fluffy historical romance, this one is a fun time.

Ellis Peters, Death and the Joyful Woman

Sixteen-year-old Dominic Felse meets the beautiful 22-year-old Kitty Norris and falls immediately, painfully in love with her. So when she is arrested for the murder of Alfred Armiger, an enormously wealthy but not very popular local entrepreneur, Dominic knows she must be innocent and attempts to find the real killer. Is it Armiger’s estranged son and his wife, who lost out on the dead man’s fortune? Or could the murder have something to do with a tavern sign of dubious artistic merit? I’m really enjoying these Felse novels, not just for the vintage-mystery charm but for the lovely characterizations, especially of George and Dominic. Their relationship is loving but complicated now that Dominic is on the verge of adulthood. The solution to the mystery is almost irrelevant to the central conflicts of the novel, but that’s a minor quibble when the book is this enjoyable. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series at some point!

Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star

When Derek Whittaker rescues Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam from the unwelcome attentions of another man, it’s love at first sight for them both. Derek immediately plans to court Cynthia, but at their next meeting she rebuffs him. Hurt and angry, Derek tries to forget about her; but when they meet again three years later at a house party, he’s annoyed to find that he is still drawn to her. Meanwhile, Cynthia struggles with her attraction to Derek, since she feels duty-bound to marry a very rich man to support her family. Diane Farr is a good writer, and I’ve enjoyed some of her books, but this one frustrated me. I’m not a fan of insta-love generally, and in this case it felt like Derek and Cynthia kept having the same argument over and over again. But I did like that Cynthia’s scheming mother gets her comeuppance in the end! Overall, this book is a quick and pleasant read, but it just wasn’t the right story for me.

Mini-Reviews: Regency, Eyes, Spellman

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Georgette Heyer, Regency Buck

Judith Taverner and her brother Peregrine travel to London to meet their guardian, Lord Worth, who they assume is a curmudgeonly old man. In fact, Worth is relatively young, a leader of fashionable society, and friends with Beau Brummell. His autocratic manner immediately offends strong-willed Judith, and their frequent arguments comprise the most dramatic parts of the book. Meanwhile, someone is trying to kill Peregrine, but is the villain Worth or someone else? I love Heyer, but this is not one of my favorites by her, and now I remember why. It’s one of her earliest Regency romances, and it seems like she dumped all her research here. We get so much detail about Beau Brummell, the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, prizefighting, and so on that there’s no space for the romance. The hero treats Judith badly, and we don’t get enough insight into his feelings or motives. If you want a detailed window into the Regency era, this novel is great, but it’s not very satisfying as a romance.

Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

Janie Crawford is a young black woman living in Florida in the early 20th century. Her grandmother, who was born in slavery, has a specific vision for Janie’s life: She should marry a well-to-do man and let him take care of her, so that she never has to work or struggle. But Janie has an adventurous spirit and wants to see more of the world. Some of her choices don’t work out—she meets men who want to stifle and control her, and she endures poverty and great suffering. But she also finds true love and spiritual freedom despite her circumstances. This is a beautifully written novel with a compelling protagonist; Janie felt like a real person to me, and in the end I was convinced that she’d be okay no matter what happened next. I also liked the portrayal of Janie’s community, which felt vivid and true to life. The characters all use a specific dialect, which means you have to pay close attention while reading, but I think that’s a feature rather than a bug. Overall, I can see why this book is regarded as a classic and would definitely recommend it.

Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files

The Spellmans are a loving but dysfunctional family of private investigators. They tail each other around town, record each other’s private conversations, and break into each other’s locked rooms. Twenty-eight-year-old Izzy, who narrates this novel, is the screwup of the Spellman children and wants to leave the family business. But her parents make her take on one last case before they’ll allow her to quit, and Izzy’s questionable investigative tactics cause even more family drama. This is a really clever book with a fun premise—I enjoyed Izzy’s deadpan narrative voice and the various hijinks she and her family get into. At the same time, it all requires a huge suspension of disbelief, and you can’t think too hard about the reality of this family or you’ll realize how truly tragic and dysfunctional it is. This is the first book in a series, but I’m not sure I’ll be continuing…I did enjoy it, but I don’t think I need more.

Mini-Reviews: Lions, Correspondent, Bank

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Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions

Holger Carlsen is a Danish engineer who joins the underground to fight the Nazis during World War II. When he’s injured and loses consciousness in battle, he wakes up in an unfamiliar environment: in the middle of an ancient forest, next to a stallion decked out as a medieval warhorse. Though unsure of what’s occurred, Holger soon realizes that he has a role to play in his new surroundings. Along with the warhorse, a dwarf, and a beautiful girl who can transform into a swan, Holger sets out to find his way home, fighting various forces of evil along the way. This is an entertaining fantasy tale in the vein of an Arthurian legend. Holger meets all the expected foes: evil Faeries, dragons, trolls, a werewolf, and even Morgan le Fay. Every woman in the story tries to sleep with him, which I found annoying, but the book at least acknowledges that it’s strange! And I liked his instinct to try and understand his predicament scientifically. Overall, there’s nothing particularly unique about this novel, but it’s a good yarn.

Virginia Evans, The Correspondent

This epistolary novel comprises the correspondence to and from seventy-something Sybil Van Antwerp. She spends a significant amount of time writing letters, and her correspondents range from close friends (her brother Felix and best friend Rosalie) to pen pals (author Joan Didion) to complete strangers (the customer service representative at a DNA analysis website). Through these letters, Sybil is revealed as an intelligent, flawed, complicated woman who reflects on her life and discovers it’s not too late to change. I can see why this book has gotten so much good buzz – it’s a really fascinating portrait of an ordinary life. I genuinely did both laugh and cry as I read it. That said, I didn’t like Sybil as much as I think I was supposed to; while the book acknowledges her flaws, it also has more patience for her abrasiveness and unkindness than I did. The subplot about her trying to audit classes at the University of Maryland drove me crazy! I know others’ mileage will vary, however, and I’m excited to pass the book on to my mom, who I think will enjoy it.

Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief

Ernie Cunningham and his fiancée, Juliette, have just entered Huxley’s Bank, hoping to get a loan to start a private detective business. But their plans are interrupted when an armed, masked individual enters the bank and takes everyone inside hostage. Strangely, the robber doesn’t seem very clear on his or her demands, and Ernie soon discovers that his fellow hostages all have something to hide. Throw in a missing person, multiple murders, and what looks like spontaneous combustion, and Ernie is on track to solve another sensational case—if he doesn’t get killed first. I’m continuing to enjoy this series. I always like a good heist narrative, and while Ernie isn’t always the most likable narrator, the other characters (especially Juliette) do call him out for his questionable decisions. I’d recommend this book to mystery fans, but the series should be read in order, starting with Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.