Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Completion Date: September 24, 2013
Reason for Reading: Fun and RIP VIII

Brilliant, haunting, breathtakingly suspenseful, Night Film is a superb literary thriller by The New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster debut Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova—a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than thirty years.

For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself.

Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.

The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more.

Night Film, the gorgeously written, spellbinding new novel by the dazzlingly inventive Marisha Pessl, will hold you in suspense until you turn the final page.

This book has been on my radar a lot lately. It seemed to be making the rounds and I saw people talking about it on Twitter and their blogs. It was also on lots of R.I.P. lists. I usually buy myself a few books for my birthday and I decided this would be one of them. It may have come a bit before my birthday... And, I didn't wait to read it. It just took me forever to read it because I had a hard time finding reading time when I was away for two weeks. It was nothing against the book itself! I had originally planned to go the audio route with this one because I heard good things about it on Audible. I am sure it would still be a good audio; but there is all sorts of interactive material that I am not sure would work well on audio. It's a really pretty book and I am glad that I went the hardcover route. I may reread it in the future by audio, though. I just think it is a book that should be read initially because you lose something otherwise. I would skip on the e-book also, but that's just me.

I have to admit I don't read a lot of thriller-type books. I have to limit my reading a bit or I would be completely overwhelmed. That's not to say I don't like thrillers, though. There have been many that I have read an enjoyed over the years. This book is also a mystery novel. Another genre I sort of neglect. For these reasons I am not sure if I would have read this book on my own. My interest was peaked by first seeing a mention on Audible, and then catching a conversation on Twitter, and then seeing it popping up on blogs when I actually took the time to do the rounds. There seemed to be overwhelming positive remarks for it and I knew I was going to have to see what the buzz was about. I think one of the main reasons I avoid thrillers/mysteries for the most part is because it is so easy to be predictable. I find myself reading just to find out if I am right and less because I love the book.

Night Film was different, though. You never really knew what was true or false. There were many twists and turns. And with this came surprises. I was very happy for the surprises. I read this book because I got caught up with the stories and the characters and wanted to know what was going to happen next. You can't help wanting to know how everything is going to play out. The novel mostly centres around Scott McGrath, but there are many secondary characters that come alive on the page. It was really well done. Throughout the whole novel there is essentially the ghost of Ashley Cordova. She seems very much alive throughout so that even though you never actually see her alive in the novel; she is alive on the page. You get to know her as Scott McGrath grows as a character. And then there is her father. We assume he is alive, but we don't necessarily have him as a character. We just get to know him as the novel progresses and we witness aspects of his mind. It leads to the books creepy aspects.

I find it harder and harder to write about books. I just don't blog enough any more, so I am all over the place and keep taking 'breaks'. I really should blog more and get back in a groove. Essentially I just want to say that I really like this book and hope others will check it out. It was out of my general reading zone and I am glad I took a chance on it. I am planing to read her other book because I think she has great talent. And, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I enjoy a book that takes many different elements to bring the story alive. It is original and sets the book above the rest. I really haven't read a lot of books this year, so this competition is small, but this definitely one of the best books I have read in a while. You should check it out if you haven't all ready.

A Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery (Book 1) by Charles Todd

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

Completion Date: March 3, 2012
Reason for Reading: Bess Crawford Read-Along

The daughter of a distinguished soldier' Bess Crawford follows in his footsteps and signs up to go overseas as a nurse during the Great War' helping to deal with the many wounded. There' serving on a hospital ship' she makes a promise to a dying young lieutenant to take a message to his brother' Jonathan Graham: "Tell Jonathan that I lied. I did it for Mother′s sake. But it has to be set right." Later' when her ship is sunk by a mine and she′s sidelined by a broken arm' Bess returns home to England' determined to fulfill her promise.

It′s not so easy' however. She travels to the village in Kent where the Grahams live and passes on to Jonathan his brother′s plea. Oddly' neither Jonathan' his mother' nor his younger brother admit to knowing what the message means. Then Bess learns that there′s another brother' incarcerated in a lunatic asylum since the age of 14 when he was accused of brutally murdering a housemaid.

Bess rightly guesses that the dying soldier′s last words had something to do with the fourth brother. Because the family seems unwilling to do anything' she decides that she will investigate. It′s her own duty to the dead.

I had never heard about this series, but Jen at Devourer of Books posted about a read-along that was being hosted by Book Club Girl. I am not a huge fan of mystery series, but I do have a few exceptions. The fact that this one was centred around a female nurse, Bess Crawford, during WWI immediately caught my attention. I am a huge fan of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series, so I am always looking for series of that same nature. Plus, I don't read as many books set during WWI as WWII and that is something I really need to remedy. I actually missed the first discussion for the read-along because I was doing up my Titanic posts, but I am finally taking the time to talk about this book.

Here are the questions that were posted for the discussion I missed:


1) Was this the first book that you read by Charles Todd, or, the first book set in this time period? I first encountered WWI-era-England with Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series, and then, of course with the tv sensation Downton Abbey. If you have read more in this time period, what other books do you recommend?
- Yes, this was my first time reading Charles Todd. I have noticed his other series while browsing the second-hand bookstore, but I hadn't heard enough to pick anything up. I also have read Jacqueline Winspear's series. I have read other books centred around WWI, but not very many and none that immediately jump to mind. There are just more books centred around WWII...

2) What was your first impression of Bess Crawford? Were you surprised by the independence she enjoyed as a woman in this time, and that her parents afforded her so much freedom? Did your opinion of Bess change throughout the novel?
- I actually think as far as her independence goes, she is probably more realistic than Maisie Dobb's. Her parents are constantly checking up on Bess and there is Simon, a friend of the family, who is around the rest of the time. She still does move around a fair bit, but not without some restrictions. I also think that her being a nurse in WWI and the changes that brought for women opened up some of the freedom for her. As to my first impression, I wasn't sure what to make of Bess. I enjoy the setting and all that, but I am not so sure about Bess herself. I don't dislike her, but she is not my favourite literary character ever. There is just something about her that is keeping her at a distance (and I have read two books in the series at this point).

3) Bess has an interesting back story, growing up as she did in India. How did the authors use that part of her life to help define her character, and that of her parents and their relationship?
The India connection was interesting. I enjoyed learning about her life there and such, but unfortunately with everything else happening in the book the details haven't really stuck with me. I think I am going to skip this question...

4) Did you know that large ocean liners, such as the Brittanic, which was a sister ship to both the Titanic and the Olympic, were called into service as hospital ships during the war? Brittanic was indeed sunk as well, just as the Todds write it in the book. Did you know that so many of the men who died on the hospital ships were buried at sea? Of course it makes sense, but I hadn't realized the number and that those men's families were left with no grave at home to visit, as Bess reflects, "In the sea there were no markers for the dead. No place in the deep to mourn, no place to leave flowers."
-I have always been fascinated with the Titanic, but with that comes interest in the sister ships. The Olympic was also used as a hospital ship during the war and there is a historical picture of it docked at the Halifax Harbour. I think this might be the first fictional book, though, that contained the Britannic. That I have read anyway. How quickly the ship sank considering all the modifications that were made to it following the Titanic surprised me the most each time I read about it. It just goes to show there is no such think as an 'unsinkable' ship. I was not surprised about the bodies buried at sea. That was something that was just done even if it wasn't an incident during the war. It is just the naval way.

4) What did you think of Arthur's message? Do you think it was fair of him to ask Bess to deliver it? Why do you think she was so committed to not only delivering it, but to making sure it was followed by the Graham family?
-I was a little surprised by the message in the beginning. You find out about it early in the novel and I wasn't sure what to expect. We still didn't really know Bess, so it was hard to entirely say how she would handle things. I thought it was nice that she made sure the message was delivered, but I was a bit surprised by how obsessed she was about things. Obviously if she hadn't the book would be rather short, but I think it might be her need to get wrapped up in other people's affairs that is making her so hard to grow on me. I am not entirely sure if it is believable.

5) What did you think of Mrs. Graham and her sons? I was struck by how much Bess was at their mercy and whim while staying in their house. Do you think they abused her kind nature in asking her to care for Peregrine?
- I couldn't get over the Graham family. Arthur seemed so normal, but wow, when you get into things there is a lot going on there. I went back and forth on Mrs. Graham. I sometimes was very sympathetic about her, but then there were other times where I just didn't like her at all. Her sons were no different, but I think I knew more clearly how I felt about them when everything played out. And, yes, I was both surprised by how it was well Bess was staying with them and how they treated her in regards to Peregrine. Again, I was a bit hesitant to find it believable.

6) Did you guess who the real killer was before he was revealed? I confess I went back and forth a few times, wondering.
- I went back and forth, too. I would think I had it solved and then I wouldn't be so sure any more. I wasn't surprised by the ending, though. I do think the Todd's did a good job of keeping things mysterious.

7) What new word did you learn in A Duty to the Dead? For me it was "ratings," which refers to "a classification according to grade; specifically: a military or naval specialist classification, or more precisely: "chiefly British: a naval enlisted man." (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition).
-hm, I am sure there was something, but again, been a while since I read the book...

In conclusion, I do enjoy this series, but I have a few reservations about this book.

This read counts for the War Through the Generations and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenges.

Bess Crawford Series:
A Duty to the Dead
An Impartial Witness
A Bitter Truth
An Unmarked Grave

James Patterson - A 4-in-1 Review Spree

7th Heaven, The 8th Confession, The 9th Judgement, and 10th Anniversary by James Patterson
Women's Murder Club Novels


Reason for Reading: Catch-up in the series.
Date Completed: February, 2012

Lindsay Boxer, Cindy Thomas, Claire Washburn and Jill Bernhardt, the stars of 1st to Die and 2nd Chance, are the founding members of the Women's Murder Club. Later, in 4th of July, Yuki Castellano joins the Club. Together, they solve crimes in their home city of San Francisco, and often meet up to talk about clues and life over Mexican food and drinks at Susie's.

I don't think I have ever managed to read a series one right after another like this. It is not even my favourite series out there, but they are quick reads and I was very excited when I finished book 10 and could consider myself caught-up in one of my many series. I am not going to write a review of all four of them, but I thought I would share my random thoughts about these four books and the series as a whole. If you have any plans to read this series be warned that there will likely be spoilers for the series as a whole and for these individual books.

• My biggest pet peeve about this series is Claire Washburn. She is a fun, vibrant, loving character but I think way too much of a big deal is made of the fact that she is overweight. Actually, they take it one step further and tell you several times that she is a Size 16. I have no idea what size clothes the other women wear, or the men for that matter, but over and over again there are little comments about her size. Even when Lindsey is thinking about Claire there are mentions of how her clothes strain or how she hasn't lost all of her weight from her latest baby. I just think WAY too much attention is given to this. She is also black, which I actually forget about because her size is the more important piece of information. So, I think it is great to have characters that are not toothpicks in books, but don't shove that info down people's throats.(That being said... Did you see the show? There is no way the person cast to play Claire is overweight. (see picture above) We have issues in this world, people.)
• Another thing that baffles me is throughout these books there are mentions of great losses. They never once mention the death of founding member Jill Bernhardt. I would think considering how close they were to her and how she died it would be mentioned once in a while. It is like she never even existed.
• I was a bit sad when they introduced a transgendered character and went on about how a relationship would not be possible between him and Yuki because he used to be a girl. I know there are lots of misgivings about this in society, but it is up to media to try and put a different spin on it. I think there was a great opportunity in a very popular series and it was missed out on. It doesn't help that she is now with a cop who is 'perfect' for her. So, I have some mixed feelings about how this was handled.
• I don't want anyone to think that I hate this series. I obviously have read 10 books from it, so that is saying something. I do enjoy that it is a series about women working in what is predominately considered a man's world. Lindsey is a cop, Claire is a forensic anthropologist, Yuki is an ADA, and Cindy is a newspaper reporter. It is nice to see a series about women.
• I am rather iffy about the fact that Lindsey HAD to have a baby. I am trying to figure out how that will work for the series. I almost feel that it is sexist in thinking that children are so vital to women, but that could be because I have no plans to have children myself. I am pretty sure that I read some where that when Eve Dallas has children that will be the end of J.D. Robb's series, but I could be imagining things. I suppose that is why I am a bit hesitant about how this series is going to work now that there will be a baby in the mix.
• I wish the book was told from Claire's point-of-view once in a while. It might have been in previous books and I just don't remember, but not once in these four books do we see things from her. Lindsey's point-of-view is the predominant one, but Yuki and Cindy also have their time.
• That being said, I really enjoy seeing the world from the point-of-view of a female cop, ADA, and reporter. That is a view-point that is not shown very often.
• Overall, I do enjoy this series and look forward to book 11. It is not perfect, but it is a good diversion when you don't want to have to think too much.

(Don't mind the picture. I was having formatting issues and just gave up.)

The Series:

1st to Die (Not Reviewed)

2nd Chance

3rd Degree

4th of July

5th Horsemen (Not Reviewed)

6th Target (Not Reviewed)

7th Heaven

The 8th Confession

The 9th Judgement

10th Anniversary

A Lesson In Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs Series, Book 8)

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

Completion Date: January 23, 2011

Reason for reading: Received an ARC from Harper Collins through NetGalley (And, to carry on with series.)

“A detective series to savor.”—Time

In the summer of 1932, Maisie Dobbs’s career goes in an exciting new direction when she accepts an undercover assignment directed by Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and the Secret Service. Posing as a junior lecturer, she is sent to a private college in Cambridge to monitor any activities “not in the interests of His Majesty’s Government.”

When the college’s controversial pacifist founder and principal, Greville Liddicote, is murdered, Maisie is directed to stand back as Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane and Detective Chief Inspector Stratton spearhead the investigation. She soon discovers, however, that the circumstances of Liddicote’s death appear inextricably linked to the suspicious comings and goings of faculty and students under her surveillance.

To unravel this web, Maisie must overcome a reluctant Secret Service, discover shameful hidden truths about Britain’s conduct during the war, and face off against the rising powers of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei—the Nazi Party—in Britain.

A pivotal chapter in the life of Maisie Dobbs, A Lesson In Secrets marks the beginning of her intelligence work for the Crown. As the storm clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Maisie will confront new challenges and new enemies—and will engage new readers and loyal fans of this bestselling mystery series.

I really like this series! I bought the first book a few years back and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't until I joined the library again that I really got a chance to read the series. It is one of few series I am caught up in! I actually read 5 books in the series in 2009. That is pretty much unheard of for me and is a good indication about how much I enjoy the series. I am very picky about mystery series, but I really like the time in which this one is set. Winspear writes in such a way that the time really comes alive and the characters with it. Every time I open a book by her I expect to visit with new friends and I have not been disappointed yet.

This book is starting to deal with the dawn of World War II. Adolf Hitler is in power in Germany and people are starting to talk. Some people believe that he is what is needed for Britain. This is making the British government and Crown a bit nervous. There is one school that advocates peace in Cambridge and brings in aliens from all over the world to study there. The powers that be really start to become suspicious of this and call on Maisie Dobbs to pose as a teacher and determine if everything at the school is above the mark or if there really is cause for concern. I really believe Winspear caught this time very well. People may look back and say they never liked Hitler and were always suspicious, but the reality is that many people admired what he stood for in the beginning. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Then, there is Maisie. The modern woman. Her life changed drastically in the previous novel when the death of her mentor and teacher left her very well-off. In this book she is still coming to terms with that drastic change in circumstance and is using her change in status to help others out. She is also grappling with a new relationship with an old family friend. She is also a woman of the times. She has the chance to work for herself and be independent, but she also worries what falling in love and marrying will do to her future. I believe it is a very real concern that many woman had following the First World War and their changes in lifestyle. It would reappear again when the world is at war once again.

The book also includes some of the wonderful supporting characters. There is Billy, Maisie's assistant, who was injured during the war and is expecting his 4th child with his wife Doreen. He is one of those that Maisie is determined to help. Then, Susan, a woman a bit younger than Maisie who was in previous books reappears to add a bit of intrigue to an all ready full plate. There is Maisie's best friend, her lover, members of the police, and lots of new characters that Winspear manages to weave in expertly. She always finds a way for her supporting characters to have their time and develop their story. In this one we even learn that Maisie's father may be courting. I just really enjoy that the books are about more than just the cases. I don't think I would like the series if it was any other way.

Once again I recommend this series. It is one of my favourite historical mysteries on the market and I cannot wait until the next book!

This book is being released today, so rush out and buy it! I know that I will be!

The Series:

Maisie Dobbs (read in 2008)

Birds of a Feather (read in 2009)

Pardonable Lies (read in 2009)

Messenger of Truth (read in 2009)

An Incomplete Revenge (read in 2009)

Among the Mad (read in 2009)

The Mapping of Love and Death (read in 2009)

A Lesson in Secrets

***Note: The first book in this series is one of the books I challenged Marg, from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader, to read in 2011. I look forward to her thoughts!

This book counts for the Historical Fiction Challenge and the TwentyEleven Reading Challenge.

What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen

Under Certain Circumstances, No One Is More Suited to Solving a Crime than a Woman Confined to Her Bed

An invalid for most her life, Alice James is quite used to people underestimating her. And she generally doesn't mind. But this time she is not about to let things alone. Yes, her brother Henry may be a famous author, and her other brother William a rising star in the new field of psychology. But when they all find themselves quite unusually involved in the chase for a most vile new murderer-one who goes by the chilling name of Jack the Ripper-Alice is certain of two things:

No one could be more suited to gather evidence about the nature of the killer than her brothers. But if anyone is going to correctly examine the evidence and solve the case, it will have to be up to her.

I saw this book mentioned on a blog at some point and thought it looked interesting. It is entirely something that I would not have read if it wasn't for book blogging. I am really interested in the Jack the Ripper aspect of the book, but have no interest in Henry James. Actually, I have never read Henry James before, so while he is an aspiring author in the book and I know that he has written a few famous things, I didn't really know anything else about him until I read this book. I am not the person to ask if it seems true to form.

Anyway, I am not sure what I thought of this book. I didn't love it. There were times where I actually skimmed a bit because I wasn't too interested in what was going on. Sometimes knowing what is going to happen is interesting and works in a book, but with this book it didn't seem to be working for me. I thought it was great that the author imagined what Alice was capable of lying in bed watching the world go by, but we all know that the Jack the Ripper murders were never solved. It is this fact, and the brutality of the crimes, that makes people so fascinated with the man. I was curious whether the author was going to solve the crime and write a very fictional book, or whether they were going to think they solved the crime and then find out later that they hadn't. In the end, I think I was more interested in Jack the Ripper than the mystery. I only found the James family interesting when their characters were developing.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, though, is all the cameos from famous personalities from the time. There is Oscar Wilde, Samuel Clemens, du Maurier, etc. There are also famous painters, but I admit that I am a bit clueless when it comes to famous artists. The book did interest me enough to finish it, but I was disappointed in a way that I can't seem to put my finger on. Something just didn't work for me. I am not sure if it was her writing style, disinterest in the outcome in the plot, or something that I can't see. Also, my library claims it is an adult book, but to me, it seemed like a young adult book. Maybe that's it. I was look for adult reading because I am getting tired of young adult lately and this didn't really seem adult.

I don't even know what to say. I'd like to look at some of the details, but I don't want to ruin the book for anyone.

I really liked the cover, though. Isn't it great?

Has anyone else read this book? What were your thoughts on it?

This counts as another read for the R.I.P. Challenge.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell Series, Book 1)

In 1915, long since retired from his observations of criminal humanity, Sherlock Holmes is engaged in a reclusive study of honeybee behavior on the Sussex Downs. Never did he think to meet an intellect to match his own–until his acquaintance with Miss Mary Russell, a very modern fifteen-year-old whose mental acuity is equaled only by her audacity, tenacity, and penchant for trousers and cloth caps.

Under Holmes’s tutelage, Russell hones her talent for deduction, disguises, and danger: in the chilling case of a landowner’s mysterious fever and in a kidnapping in the wilds of Wales. But her ultimate challenge is yet to come. Soon the two sleuths are on the trail of a murderer whose machinations scatter meaningless clues…but whose objective is quite unequivocal: to end Russell and Holmes’s partnership–and their lives.

Today is a buddy review with Melissa from Book Nut. She asked me some questions, which I answered below, and then I asked her some questions which you can read the answers to on her blog.

You picked the book for the buddy read this time. How did you find out about this one, and what appealed to you about it?

I have seen this series mentioned on many blogs, but where it is a mystery I wasn't entirely sure if it was for me. I don't generally read a lot of mystery series. Lately, though, I have been reading a bit differently and have found a couple history mystery series that work well for me. This is another attempt in this new bookish-area. I wanted to try it because it is historical, but also because I was intrigued by a female perspective on Sherlock Holmes.

So, are you a Sherlock Holmes fan? If so: what did you think of this story, and the way it treated Holmes? If not, did it inspire you to go read some of Conan Doyle's stories?

I have always loved Sherlock Holmes, so this series appealed to me when it first came out. I just wasn't sure if it could be pulled off or if I wanted to give it a try. I don't mind a couple mystery series, but generally I don't read them. It's taken me a couple years to get around to giving the series a try, but I am very glad that I did!

Did you like Mary Russell? What did you think of the juxtaposition between her and Holmes?
I did like Mary. I was really worried in the beginning, but King does a really good job of writing a character that is believable in their interaction with Holmes. I enjoyed their relationship, but admit I am rather curious how she is going to have it all play out as the series progresses. There were a couple times when I wasn't entirely sure what the author was thinking, but she managed to redeem herself and writing an engaging character.

What did you think of the plot -- did it work for you?

I liked the plot. One thing that is very important to me is that there is the mystery, but also that there is a story. I need real characters. I need to know that when they are not solving mysteries they have a life. I don't want to read a novel and have the mystery be the entire focus. There was a nice mix in this book which gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the series.

Without giving away too much: what did you think of the ending?

The ending wasn't my favourite part of the book. That's not to say it was bad, but other parts of the book stuck with me better. I think it was satisfying enough, but nothing amazing.

So, this is a first in the series. Are you interested in reading any of the others?

Yes. I actually do think I will read at least book two. I don't want to commit to the entire series in this answer because you never know what can happen. Liking book one could even be a fluke!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The House at Riverton, a novel that takes the reader on an unforgettable journey through generations and across continents as two women try to uncover their family’s secret past

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-fi rst birthday, they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and very little to go on, "Nell" sets out to trace her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. A spellbinding tale of mystery and self-discovery, The Forgotten Garden will take hold of your imagination and never let go.

I am not entirely sure what led me to add this book to my library holds. I have seen the book around the blogging world since it came out last year, but only just recently decided to give it a try. I have been reading a fair amount lately, but I needed something a bit different. When I asked Swapna from S. Krishna's Books for some recommendations she suggested this book, so I started it right away. Between her blog and random conversations on Twitter I have come to the conclusion that when she really likes a book, there is a really good chance that I am going to like it, too. So far, anyways! This book was no exception. Actually, I think it is safe to say that this book will make it on my best of list at the end of the year.

I was a little worried about this book to begin with. I really didn't know what it was about at all, but knew there was a mystery involved and some connection to fairy tales (which is why it appealed to me). If mystery novels are done in a certain way I really like them, but if they are very formulaic I can do without. This book is also historical fiction, of a sort, so I really liked that connection. I have been reading a lot of good historical fiction novels so far this year. I have to say that reading this book and watching all the pieces come together was really well-done. There were times where I thought I had everything figured out, but then something else would happen and I would question my results.

When a book travels back and forth across several time frames and has several different narrators, it can be really hard to pull off, but I think that Morton did an excellent job. The novel is set in the early 20th century, around 1975-76, and then in 2005. The move through the times is done very well. You feel like you are experiencing each new time and learning new things about all of them. This is a book about a group of women and their connections. It all starts when a little girl shows up in Australia with no adult present. A young man finds her, and since they are having trouble having children of their own, brings her home and makes her part of the family. For 21 years she believes that this is her real family, but then her father decides to tell her the truth and changes her life forever. That admission of truth on her 21st birthday is the real starting point for all the events that follow.

I really enjoyed all the women in this book. The circle they are caught in is really fascinating as it is revealed. There is Eliza, a little girl that has lost both her mother and her brother, but is found by her uncle and taken to live at Blackhurst Manor to escape the workhouse. She lives with her sickly-cousin, Rose, and the two become very close. Then, there is Nell who shows up in Australia in 1913 with no memory of who she is. When she is in her 60's she begins a detailed search into who she is, but events conspire to change things and it is not until 2005 that all the questions are answered. Nell is deceased, but her grand-daughter carries on to find the truth of who her grandmother really was.

There is so much that I want to say about this book, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I think you should just read it yourself to see how great it is! I know that I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading another book by Morton in the future.

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs Series, Book 7)

In the latest mystery in the New York Times bestselling series, Maisie Dobbs must unravel a case of wartime love and death—an investigation that leads her to a long-hidden affair between a young cartographer and a mysterious nurse.

August 1914. Michael Clifton is mapping the land he has just purchased in California's beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, certain that oil lies beneath its surface. But as the young cartographer prepares to return home to Boston, war is declared in Europe. Michael—the youngest son of an expatriate Englishman—puts duty first and sails for his father's native country to serve in the British army. Three years later, he is listed among those missing in action.

April 1932. London psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs is retained by Michael's parents, who have recently learned that their son's remains have been unearthed in France. They want Maisie to find the unnamed nurse whose love letters were among Michael's belongings—a quest that takes Maisie back to her own bittersweet wartime love. Her inquiries, and the stunning discovery that Michael Clifton was murdered in his trench, unleash a web of intrigue and violence that threatens to engulf the soldier's family and even Maisie herself. Over the course of her investigation, Maisie must cope with the approaching loss of her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and her growing awareness that she is once again falling in love.

Following the critically acclaimed bestseller Among the Mad, The Mapping of Love and Death delivers the most gripping and satisfying chapter yet in the life of Maisie Dobbs.

This is the seventh book in the Maisie Dobbs series. I read the first book in the series in 2008 and then read the next five in 2009. When I do something like that it usually means that I really like a series, so I was looking forward to this latest book in the series. I really enjoy books set during the early part of the 20th-century and Winspear has done an excellent job writing a series that captures the history of the time. I really enjoy the setting, historical notes, and Maisie as a character. When I finish a book in the series I am always left satisfied and looking forward to the next one. This was no exception.

The best part of this series is that while the author comes up with new cases for every book that are engaging; you also learn more about Maisie and the other characters that make up her world. Maisie grows as a character throughout the series. She was fragile following WWI, so she needed a little bit of aid to develop into the strong character she is in this series. This novel shows another progression in her character. She has moved on in the romance department; which is something she has been hesitating in for a long time. I will be interested to see how this develops in future novels. This book also brings a conclusion to a relationship she has maintained for many years. I found it really sad, so that must mean that I am engaging with the characters by reading the series. I won't say anymore because I consider it a spoiler.

Generally I am not a fan of mystery novels, but I think this book works so well for me because the cases solved are not entirely what I take away from the book. Sure they play a central role in the stories, but looking back it is always Maisie's story and that of the other characters in the series that stick with me. As long as the detectives have depth and there is more to the book than just the mystery, I am finding that I like mystery series more than I originally thought. Plus, Maisie has a really interesting 'detective' style that is different from many of the other books on the market. Then, there is the fact that this is the period between the wars and she is a woman, so for her to be a success at all was pretty amazing for the time. Whether or not she is something that was possible for this period is hard to say, but Winspear makes it seem like it could happen.

Overall, this is another great edition to the Maisie Dobbs world. I look forward to book 8!

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Grave Goods: A Mistress of the Art of Death Novel by Ariana Franklin (Book 3)

Books Completed: 49
Completion Date: February, 2009
Pages: 288
Publication Date: February 17, 2009

Reason for Reading: Series Challenge, 2009 Pub Challenge, Next in the Series

Two years after the events of The Serpent's Tale, the Celts continue to fight Henry's rule, believing that King Arthur will return to repel the invading Saxons. When two bodies are discovered, Henry calls on Adelia to prove they are those of Arthur and Guinevere. If she does, the Celts should fall into line. In her third mystery featuring King Henry II's mistress of the art of death, Ariana Franklin delivers another perfect mix of history, legend, mystery, and thriller.

I love this series! It is a must-buy when a new book comes out. Unfortunately, I now have to wait a year for the next book to be released! If there is a next book. I am not even entirely sure how many books there are supposed to be in the end. One of the things about these being must-buys is that I often have no idea what the book is about. I was reading the back of the book when I bought it and discovered for the first time that this book had a connection to Arthur and Guinevere. Considering Arthurian literature is one of my favourite types, I was very curious to see how Franklin was going to pull things off because Arthur (if he really existed) would have been dead for quite some time before the events in the novel took place.

As the description says, this series is a mix of 'history, legend, mystery, and thriller'. I think that is why I like it so much. Adelia is the mistress of the art of death. Her parents let her lead a very unconventional life for the times, so she is in essence ahead of her time. She has a good grasp of anatomy and this is how she figures out the secrets of those that are deceased. For our times, it is nothing quite so revolutionary, but for Adelia's time it was something that she had to keep almost entirely a secret. King Henry II knows the secret, though, and he calls on her to solve his mysteries for him. This time it has been revealed that it is entirely possible that Arthur and Guinevere were buried in Glastonbury. Henry has been fighting a war with the Saxons who believe that Arthur is in hiding and will come back and help them win. Henry very much wants these bodies to be the famous couple so that he can put an end to this disasterous war. As a result, Adelia is sent to Glastonbury to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Glastonbury has just recently suffered a great fire which destroyed most of the buildings and the town. Part of the mystery is figuring out just how the fire was set. In the midst of the fire and the bones, though, there is a lot more going on. Things are never straight forward for Adelia. The person that is believed to have set the fire is now deceased, but he had his followers. The followers believe that he was in fact innocent and want the Mistress to prove it. Then, there are the dark things that are happening in the woods that line the king's road. That aspect of the book is a little creepy. I read so much fantasy, though, that I think I was reading a bit too much into things. And, that is just the beginning of all the things that Adelia finds herself swept up in. Franklin never has just one story that she follows from beginning to end, there is always a lot going on amongst the pages. I think that is one of the reasons why her series is popular.

While I didn't like this book as much as the first book in the series, I am still a big fan of the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Adelia is a great main character, but I am also very fond of many of the secondary characters. I strongly recommend this series!

Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacquelin Winspear (Book 3)

Books Completed: 29
Completion Date: February 3, 2009
Pages: 384
Publication Date: June 27, 2006

Reason for Reading: Third book in the Maisie Dobbs series.

Agatha Christies Miss Marple. Sue Graftons Kinsey Millhone. Alexander McCall Smiths Precious Ramotswe. Every once in a while, a detective bursts on the scene who captures readers heartsand imaginationsand doesnt let go. And so it was with Jacqueline Winspears Maisie Dobbs, who made her debut just two years ago in the eponymously titled first book of the series, and is already on her way to becoming a household name. A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world. In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the warone of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton.

For those that read my blog, you would probably have noticed two things about me that I feel like mentioning. Firstly, I don't read a lot of mystery novels. They enter the picture from time to time, because I try not to be close-minded, but generally I don't read a lot. Secondly, I am terrible with finishing series. I start them and then months later might read the next book! This book is an exception to both of these commonly held opinions about me, though. This is a mystery book and I only read book two in the series last month! I am breaking rules this reading year, apparently.

I really like this series, though. This book takes place about 12 years after the end of the First World War. Maisie Dobbs was a nurse in the war and she knows many people that served in the war and were touched by the effects of the war. So, even though this book doesn't take place during the war itself; it is still necessary to draw on the events of the past. The first book set up what life was like for Maisie during the war, and then each successive book has built on it. In this novel, Maisie actually has to go back to France for the case that she is working on and finds herself facing the terrible place where she almost lost her life. I think the mentioning of the war is the main reason that I stick with this series, but I also really like Maisie. For her times she is considered a spinster, but she really does not let her unmarried status or the fact that she is female stop her from living her life. It makes her a very likable and intriguing character; which makes you want to read more about her.

There are three cases on the go in this book. Two of them are directly tied in with the First World War, so I enjoyed learning the details while Maisie worked to track down the information that she needed. Obviously I have read a bit on what it was like during the war, but these men lead lives that I had never really read anything about before. They were very brave, not that everyone wasn't back then, and lead very interesting lives. Since they were not your typical wartime stories, though, it left me wondering if there are not more books on the subject. In any case, this was another good addition to the series and I cannot wait to read more!

Birds of a Feather: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Book 2)

Books Completed: 23
Completion Date: January, 2009
Pages: 360
Publication Date: June, 2004

Reason for Reading: Book Two in the Maisie Dobbs series. I read book one last year, but apparently never reviewed it.

Jacqueline Winspear's marvelous and inspired debut, Maisie Dobbs, won her fans from coast to coast and raised her intuitive, intelligent, and resourceful heroine to the ranks of literature's favorite sleuths. Birds of a Feather finds Maisie Dobbs on another dangerously intriguing adventure in London "between the wars." It is the spring of 1930, and Maisie has been hired to find a runaway heiress. But what seems a simple case at the outset soon becomes increasingly complicated when three of the heiress's old friends are found dead. Is there a connection between the woman's mysterious disappearance and the murders? Who would want to kill three seemingly respectable young women? As Maisie investigates, she discovers that the answers lie in the unforgettable agony of the Great War.

I can't believe I never reviewed book one in this series! I really was slack on the reviewing front last year. Anyway, I actually really like this series, even if it is a mystery series. I am not big on ones set in a more modern period, but I have enjoyed several with historical settings. This series takes place in between the First and Second World War. The Depression years were just about to set in, actually, which is something that was mentioned throughout the book.

My favourite thing about this series, so far, is how there is of course the mystery, but Winspear also works a lot of historical elements into the novel. Maisie might be a bit revolutionary for her time: being a detective and having her own business, but she also is plagued with the same problems that other women of her age and class experienced during the early to mid-twentieth century. Things were going to change again with the declaration of war, but for now, everyone is trying to come to terms with what happened during the first major war and get on with their lives. To solve this case, though, Maisie has to go back to the events of World War I, which I found really interesting.

So, maybe I should mention the case a bit. A local businessman has employed Maisie's services to search for his missing daughter. She has run off before, but this time he really has no idea where she is and wants her back safe and sound in his house. Maisie is not sure what to make of the case or the missing heiress, but it turns out to be quite the chase when other wealthy women starting turning up dead. Could the missing heiress be next, or has she already been murdered? These are just some of the things that Maisie has to wonder as she chases down the truth.

I really like this series so far. There are lots of interesting return characters, not just Maisie. Maisie also is shown to have a life, it is not only about the case with no character development. The same could be said for many of the secondary repeat characters, they also are given time to develop. It makes for a really interesting series, I must say! I am looking forward to reading more!

One for the Money - Janet Evanovich [June/06]

I have heard of a lot of people who have read the Stephanie Plum novels, so when the second hand store had a whole bunch of them one day, I decided to get book 1. They are not challenging reads, but they are highly entertaining. If the second hand store gets book two I can see myself reading it.

First things though, the back of the book:

One Fine Mess
Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and eve bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a depatment store). Stephanie needs cash-fast-but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family...

One False Move
Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time her first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water - wanted for muder...

One for the Money
Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight- and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man...

That is a very detailed back to a novel, so I don't think I have to say much more about it. It is interesting to watch Stephanie try and fight crime as a bounty hunter when she really has no background in it. While she is entertaining, I found her potentially annoying. Have to see what happens as the books go along. For right now I found Morelli to be the more interesting character, but we will see what book two brings. An entertaining first novel, though. I have high hopes for the later ones.

3.5/5

Jane and the Wandering Eye - Stephanie Barron [March/06]

Jane and the Wandering Eye is part of a mystery series by Stephanie Braddon that covers Jane Austen's life but imagines her as a detective. Jane and the Wandering Eye is the third book in the series, actually, but it was all the store had at the time and I wanted to see if I was going to like the series before searching out books 1 and 2. I am very picky about my mystery novels, I rarely ever like ones set in contemporary times and prefer ones with a historical background. I really enjoyed this novel, though, so I am glad I took the chance on it.

The novel takes place around the Christmas period of 1804 with the conclusion of the case occuring on Christmas Day. Jane is bored with the town that her parents have decided to take up residence in, Bath, and is looking for an adventure, presumabley a new case because by the time she was in this novel there had been two before it. Jane has a sort of lover in the novel, it is nothing formal but she is often seen with Lord Harold Trowbridge. In this novel, he is the reason that her adventures begin. The Lords niece, Lord Desdemona, has arrived in Bath so as to avoid the attentions of her suitor, Earl of Swithin. Jane is asked to keep an eye out for Desdemona and see if there is another man that has caused her to so hastily turn away from the Earl.

The novel takes a deadly turn, though, because while Jane is at a party at Desdemona's grandmothers, a man is stabbed to death. There is a man found standing over him that the police believe is the guilty party, but Jane and Lord Harold think otherwise and decide to take the law into their own hands. Specifically because the suspect is Lord Harold's nephew, Lady Desdemona's brother. I originially thought it would be strange to have a mystery series centred around Jane Austen, because obviously her life is well-documented and it makes you wonder how Braddon would choose to use the facts. Upon reading, though, I found that everything that happened did not overtly break with the times and never really showed Jane Austen any different than she would presumably be. The novel is written as if Jane Austen herself were writing in her diary and telling what adventures she had the day before. I think this style fits with the novel quite nicely.

I recommend this series quite adamently. You will feel like you are in 19th century England, an experience that you will enjoy immensely and then there is the case keeping you guessing who the guilty party is.

4/5

The first two novels in this series are:
Jane and the Unpleasentness at Scargrave Manor
Jane and the Man of the Cloth