The High House starts slowly but stick with it. Greengrass soon builds her story and pulls a variety of threads together in this lovely and sad and believable portrayal of a time when it is dramatically foreseeable that human habitation of earth will end due to climate change. Francesca is Caro's stepmother. She is a … Continue reading The High House – Jessie Greengrass
Author: Emily Leader
I have been an avid reader since Dick and Jane met Sally. At age 7, I read my parents' first edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I am a retired lawyer and so read almost only fiction for pleasure. I'm adding in nonfiction these days, largely on social justice matters but also history, biography, and weird topics that catch my imagination. I used to read only serially, one book at a time. Presently, I read paperbacks, hardcovers, listen to audible, listen to CDs and read online through Net Galley. Covid-19 has caused me to read a lot so I have re-upped my Goodreads challenge for 2021 and am starting to review at least my favorite finds annd, perhaps, some stinkers.
A Poisonous Page – Kitt Crowe
In any mystery genre, I look for a well written book, a good plot, and characters I can relate to. A Poisonous Page checks all the boxes. When I opened this cozy and found it was about a town named "Confection" and the owner of a bookshop called Sweet Fiction with a dog named Cookie … Continue reading A Poisonous Page – Kitt Crowe
A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons- Kate Khavari
In this delightful debut, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons introduces us to Saffron Everleigh, the only female working in the University College London Biology Department. She is the assistant to Professor Maxwell, a botanist. He is an old family friend, who assigns Saffron substantive work and mentors her, an unusual experience for many … Continue reading A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons- Kate Khavari
Orphan X SERIES – Gregg Hurwitz
What are Orphan X's ten commandments? Assume nothing. How you do anything is how you do everything. Master your surroundings. Never make it personal. If you don't know what to do, do nothing. Question orders. One mission at a time. Never kill a kid. Always play offense. Never let an innocent die. Book 11 involves … Continue reading Orphan X SERIES – Gregg Hurwitz
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America’s Forgotten Capital of Vice – David Hill
The Vapors is entertaining, well-written, incredibly well-researched and personal to the author: His sixteen year old grandmother Hazel ended up in Hot Springs in 1935 when her traveling horse trainer father ditched her there to live with 22 year old Hollis Hill-- never mind Hollis was still married. Hot Springs was a tourist town with … Continue reading The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America’s Forgotten Capital of Vice – David Hill
The Last House on the Street – Diane Chamberlain
How does Ellie, a twenty year old pharmacy student at University of North Carolina, born and raised the daughter of a pharmacist in Round Hill evolve into a freedom fighter, voter registration worker, civil rights activist in 1965? What does this mean to everything she ever took for granted in life? A personal note: I … Continue reading The Last House on the Street – Diane Chamberlain
Well of Rage: Murder in Mobile – Lynne Hesse
In 1974, a black high school football player in a recently desegregated school in Mobile Alabama went missing. It's now March 2000. J.C. Grey is stuck with the task of training (and, read between the lines, making her want to quit or forcing her out) rookie officer Carly Redmund. He's unhappy with the assignment but … Continue reading Well of Rage: Murder in Mobile – Lynne Hesse
A Thousand Steps – T. Jefferson Parker
This is a slightly quirky, dysfunctional family, mystery set in 1968 Laguna Beach California. Matt Anthony is the strangely stable kid with a brother fighting in Vietnam, soon to come home, and an older sister Jazz who is still in high school. At sixteen, he can drive his Mom's van but usually travels by bike … Continue reading A Thousand Steps – T. Jefferson Parker
When You are Mine- Michael Robotham
Philomena McCarthy, daughter of a highly successful mobster is a rebel and, against all odds, has made a career with the Metropolitan Police force in London. During a domestic violence check, she meets Tempe Brown, a woman who was a few years ahead of Phil in school. Unfortunately, the man who is violently abusive to … Continue reading When You are Mine- Michael Robotham
The Mitford Vanishing; and The Mitford Secret – Jessica Fellowes
The Mitford Vanishing -2021 For all of you who already have read Jessica Fellowes' five Mitford family murder mysteries featuring former nurserymaid turned sleuth, Louisa Cannon, why didn't somebody tell me about them?! The Mitford Vanishing finds Louisa married to former D.I. Guy Sullivan and mother to their baby Maisie nearing a year old. Louisa … Continue reading The Mitford Vanishing; and The Mitford Secret – Jessica Fellowes
They Called me Bookworm 