The Cadfael stories are medieval mysteries set in England in the mid 12th century. Brother Cadfael, a Benedictine Welsh monk, is the central character. Before entering the life of a monk in his 40s he was a soldier and a sailor, lived in Palestine, had relationships with several women, and had a wide range of experiences from his travels. When … Continue reading →
Michael Connelly’s books have given us over 30 crime books in the last 30 years with central characters like Detective Harry Bosch and lawyer Micky Haller. He has also written books featuring Jack McEvoy (crime writer), Terry McCaleb (criminal profiler), and more recently Renee Ballard (detective), all set in Los Angeles. His books can be described as crime-related procedural novels, … Continue reading →
Writing this book must have been a daunting task. The Bonaparte Plateau area is a sprawling area with limited access. With extensive logging there was access, but it changed every year. The author had the task of starting from scratch,since there was almost nothing in print about the area. Forestry companies, fly fishermen, hunters, trappers, and a few explorers had … Continue reading →
Project Hail Mary is a sustained, entertaining science fiction novel. There is lots of science and engineering, many quips and lots of banter, several plot twists, and some excitement, providing ongoing tension throughout. Best of all, there is a pervading sense of wonder, following a “what-if” premise developed by the author. The story starts with Ryland Grace waking up, alone … Continue reading →
Stephen King likes to start with an unlikely premise and then develop an engaging story around it. This is another one of his “what-if?” stories that starts with an unusual event – a transparent dome appears over the town of Chester Mills. Every attempt to get through it ends up in disaster and the casualties mount. Some air and some … Continue reading →
An Officer and a Spy is a historical thriller, retelling the story of the Georges Piquart, an officer in the French Military intelligence Service, who believes that Alfred Dreyfus had been wrongly convicted and sent to Devil’s Island. The novel follows the actual historical accounts and people who were implicated in the “Dreyfus Affair”, the most famous military-government scandal of … Continue reading →
An Officer and a Spy is a historical thriller, retelling the story of the Georges Piquart, an officer in the French Military intelligence Service, who believes that Alfred Dreyfus had been wrongly convicted and sent to Devil’s Island. The novel follows the actual historical accounts and people who were implicated in the “Dreyfus Affair”, the most famous military-government scandal of … Continue reading →
The Guest List is a mystery novel written in the tradition of Agatha Christie and a series of subsequent cozy-mystery writers. The setting is on an isolated island off the coast of Ireland. The events are part wedding for the central characters. Friends, family, and associates are invited and have to be transported by a private boat to the Island. … Continue reading →
American Dirt is a harrowing tale of the journey of a Mexican woman and her son fleeing from narcos in Aculpulco. It has a straightforward driving narrative of the dangers they face in an attempt to migrate to America. The story is a compelling one that was very successful. It has many admirers, but some detractors too. The author … Continue reading →
Red Rising is a dystopian science fiction story set on Mars more than 700 years after mankind has colonized the Solar System. It is the first book in a series which starts with our main character working in the mines under Mars. We soon find out that he is a member of the lowest “caste” of humanity, the Reds. There … Continue reading →
Educated is a fascinating memoir about a young girl brought up in a Fundamentalist Mormon family who live in a remote mountain valley in Idaho. In a home where the father makes all the decisions, mental health, fanaticism, paranoia, and deep mistrust all play a role in shaping Tara’s life, her education, her relationships, and her understanding of the world. … Continue reading →
Billy Collins is the most popular poet in North America, publishing collections of verse and filling seats at live readings throughout the year. His poems are quite accessible and personal. A few resonate; a few are just passing thoughts. He published Horoscopes for the Dead in 2010. The title comes from this poem – Horoscopes for the Dead. … Continue reading →
Neverwhere is a fantasy about an everyday man who helps a girl in distress, then finds himself pulled into the alternate London, a world of creatures, angels, assassins, merchants, nights, and bizarre characters. London Below is the setting for the story, an alternate world of a feudal class structure, commerce, and tribalism. Richard Mayhew has to make sense of why … Continue reading →
As a long term fan of Stephen King, I look forward to each new publication. I have read all of his recent books going back to 2012 and I have been filling in (and enjoying) some of the missing earlier ones, including Misery, Pet Semetary, and Under the Dome. My favorite Stephe King book is It. This is a seminal … Continue reading →
Do not read book reviews or synopses of the book beforehand. Dive into the book and allow yourself to be surprised. Walk with Piranesi down the halls, aware of the rhythm of the tides, and the calls of the seabirds. There will be a mystery to unravel, but let it be revealed slowly. There are some moral dilemmas to understand, … Continue reading →
Eye of the Needle is a spy thriller set in World War Two England. Henry Faber (Die Nadel) is a long-term spy in England who is called on to find out about the British preparations for the D Day Invasion. Historically this is Operation Fortitude in which Churchill and military leaders prepared a military deception to look like the invasion … Continue reading →
