The Waiting is the 39th book in the Harry Bosch World. I have read all of the books and this one was the latest. Most of the author’s books are police procedurals featuring Harry Bosch, but in recent years, he has added books in the Lincoln Lawyer series, and books featuring Renee Ballard and Maddie Bosch, his daughter. They are sequential, but stand-alone books … Continue reading →
Yellowface is a literary thriller told in the first person narrative by an author. The plot leads to uncomfortable moments for the reader as the author immerses us in psychological anxiety, guilt, ambition, betrayals, and threats. Interlaced into the narrative are themes of racism, cultural appropriation, artistic integrity, fame, misfortune, social media trolling, white privilege, censorship, greed, and the wages of fame. The story … Continue reading →
First Frost is the latest book in the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson. The 26 books are western mysteries set in the (fictional) Absaroka County in Wyoming. After growing up on a ranch, he goes to University, then serves in the Marines as a military police officer, doing a tour of Vietnam. After his discharge, he works on an oil rig in Alaska before … Continue reading →
The Return of the Dancing Master is a Swedish-noir novel by Henning Mankell, published in the year 2000. It has been translated from Swedish into English in 2003. Mankell is best know for his Kurt Wallender stories, a detective series with lots of followers, both in book form and on television. This is also a police-procedural story, following a new protagonist, Stephan Lindemann. … Continue reading →
Fairy Tale was published in 2022 and, as with all of his books, landed on the best sellers list. It is indeed a fairy tale with direct and indirect references to well-known stories from the Brothers Grimm and other authors, but also to classics in the horror genre. The 600 page book has three distinct parts. The first section follows a coming-of-age story of Charlie, a … Continue reading →
P.D. James’ novels are part of a classic British tradition crime authors. The Murder Room was published in 2003 when she was in her 80’s. It is her 12th book in the Inspector Dalgleish series and is set in London, specifically at the Dupayne Museum, a Gothic mansion dedicated to the Interwar Years. It was built by the now-deceased father of the Dupayne Family siblings. The … Continue reading →
Children of Ruin is the second book in the Children of Time series, science fiction stories set far into the future. Earth is part of the history of these tales, but the events are on interstellar craft and distant planets. In the first book scientists attempt to terraform a planet to make it habitable for humans. In addition, they provide a virus that accelerates evolution … Continue reading →
The Cider House Rules tells the story of the child Homer Wells raised in an orphanage in Maine. It is a coming-of-age story, but the lives of the Director, Dr. Wilbur Larch, the nurses, and the other children are also part of the story. Some of the orphans are adopted and go on to normal lives, some like Homer and Melony are not, and … Continue reading →
Set in Darkness is the eleventh book in the Inspector Rebus series. Ian Rankin’s crime novels are all set in Scotland, mostly based near Edinburgh. The books are sometimes referred to as “tartan noir.” All of the books are dark, with layers of criminal enterprises, violence, and murders to be investigated. Rebus himself is a little enigmatic, a dogged detective, but also with many … Continue reading →
Remains of the Day is novel written in 1989 by Kazuo Ishiguro. It is narrated by Mr. Stevens, a butler at Darlington Hall. He decides to take a 6-day motoring trip across to the west and shares numerous thoughts and anecdotes along the way. He reflects on his profession, his long-term service to 2 masters, spanning two wars, political upheaval, and many staff at the hall. … Continue reading →
