MYSTERY
The
Girls In the High-Heeled Shoes – Michael Kurland
Cross
Justice – James Patterson
The
Crossing – Michael Connelly
Husband
in Hiding- Karina Bartow
COOKING
Brownies,
Blondies and Bars – Stephanie Brubaker
FICTION/LITERARY
Fall
of Poppies – Edited by Heather Webb
The
Girls In the High-Heeled Shoes
Alexander
Brass Mysteries – Book II
Michael
Kurland
Titan
Books
23
February 2016
ISBN-13:
9781783295388
Mystery/Historical
Rachel
A Hyde
rachela.hyde@virgin.net
Reviewers
Note: None
New
York World’s top writer, the urbane Alexander Brass, and his
sidekick Morgan DeWitt are on the trail of a missing woman.
Two-Headed Mary can usually be found collecting for a charity outside
the Broadway theatres, but nobody knows where she is, or do they?
Also missing are chorus girls Billie Trask and Lydia Laurent from the
hit show Lucky Lady, along with a large sum of money. The
intrepid pair are soon dealing with more than one dead body, a total
that is set to rise….
This
is the sequel to Too Soon Dead (also reviewed on this site),
and now the scene of New York in 1935 has been set the fun can really
start, and start it certainly does. Once again Kurland has evoked the
world shown in black and white films; the world of the Depression
with people down but most assuredly not out. Broadway shows,
grifters, oil barons and nightclubs filled with famous people make up
the New York inhabited by the innocent but energetic Morgan and his
sophisticated boss.
This is all described in an almost tactile way by
narrator Morgan, up from the country and feeling lucky to be a part
of such a full-blooded time and place. This is a real page turner in
what is shaping up to be one of the more enjoyable (and best written)
new historical mystery series, but still for me the best thing is
being able to read such an evocative description of a time and place.
The next best thing to being there, I look forward to the next case.
Cross
Justice
Alex
Cross Series #23
James
Patterson
Read
by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
9781478928041
11/23/2015
Little,
Brown & Company / Hachette Audio
Suspense
/ Washington DC / Detective / Audiobook – Unabridged
Brenda
Weeaks
In
Cross Justice, Alex Cross, Special Investigator of the
Washington Police, goes home. It begins with a chilling prologue; a
fashionable killer heading to Palm Beach and another victim.
Throughout the book, the storyline shifts back and forth between the
fiendish killer, Coco, who is in Florida, and Alex Cross in North
Carolina. The North Carolina storyline stayed with me long after the
audio stopped.
The
story shifts to Alex and his family heading to Starkville, North
Carolina. The return sparks emotional memories for Alex and Nana
Mama. Alex left Starksville after his parents died. Nana Mama is a
former English teacher in Starkville. The family is coming home to
assist Alex’s cousin, Stefan Tate, a gym teacher accused of
torturing and killing a student. Alex’s niece, Naomi Cross, is
defending Stefan. Naomi is Alex’s late brother’s daughter. After
they arrive, Alex is greeted at gunpoint by the local police. Later
that night, they witness older boys pulling younger boys with ropes
around their neck down the road. Alex is frozen in time and doesn’t
assist. The stage of racism and entrapment is set, but does everyone
have it wrong? Alex isn’t sure, but he didn’t come to set a man
free, if he’s guilty. Cross wants to make sure Justice is served to
the right person. Cross and his niece head the investigation. They
follow all avenues and realize what they’re up against when a
friend is killed due to mistaken identity. There are some tense
scenes throughout which trigger frightening memories for Alex, but he
decides to shake them off, which gives us the impression that either
he can’t piece them together or he’s afraid to. Eventually,
information about his own father leads him to Florida where he is
asked to help with a case involving the socialite murders. Cross is
about to step into his second nightmare… That deadly fashionista.
All I can say on that is expect a cliff-hanger…
Patterson
gives fans another mind-blowing Cross novel. Readers/listeners
discover Alex’s and Nana Mama’s lives in North Carolina, and come
to understand Alexeven more. Patterson draws deep on the Southern
history, both good and bad, to make his readers react. Once they are
emotionally spent, he sets them up for the next Alex Cross novel.
Cross
Justice is a fascinating listen. I couldn’t turn it off.
The
audio version is narrated by seasoned actor and narrator Ruben
Santiago-Hudson. Hudson delivers this complex storyline with the
strength and patience of Alex Cross. I believe this is the best Alex
Cross narration, so far. Hudson recently starred in the movie Selma.
He also played Lt King in the 2015 TV series “Public Morals,” and
as Captain Roy Montgomery on the TV series “Castle.”
Brownies,
Blondies, and Bars
Stephanie
Brubaker
9781462116942
Cedar
Fort
11/10/2015
Cooking
/ Desserts
Brenda
Weeaks
If
you enjoy making desserts from scratch you’ll love Brownies,
Blondies, and Bars by Stephanie Brubaker. First the author tells
us about her love of baking, offers eight important baking tips, then
she moves on to those mouthwatering desserts. And quite honestly,
when, I leafed through the book I thought: I can’t do this. I’ll
mess it up. Well, I found my confidence in the Coconut Macaroon
Brownies (I love coconut). The recipes are so easy to follow; they
are presented on two different pages – Ingredients &
Directions. The font style and color are pleasing to the eye. The
recipe directions are short and sweet; easy enough for a beginner (or
a nervous baker) to comprehend. I love how Brubaker’s recipes go
well beyond the typical brownies, blondies and bar treats. Stuff your
brownies with Chocolate Chip cookies? Who knew! I didn’t.
The
photographs included in the cookbook show what Brubaker’s recipes
can deliver. The Lemon Blueberry Cream Bars, Neapolitan Cookies bars
and Eggnog Mettaway Bars had me salivating. The author includes the
whole family in this cookbook. There are plenty of recipes for the
kids, such as Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Cups or the NoBake Peanut
butter bars with Oreo crust. Some of these may even become your
seasonal favorites - Spring: Mint Fudge Brownies. Summer: Toasted
Coconut Lime Cheesecake Bars. Fall: Cranberry Orange Blondies.
Winter: Peppermint Mocha Bars. So, do you want to show your friends
and family you love them? Pick up a copy of Brownies, Blondies,
and Bars and get busy.
You’ll
also find more recipes at Stephanie Brubaker’s website
backforseconds.com
The
Crossing
Harry
Bosch Series #20 & Mickey Haller Series #6
Michael
Connelly
Read
by
9781619694224
Hachette
Audio
11/03/2015
Suspense
/ California / Detective / Lawyer / Audiobook – Unabridged
Brenda
Weeaks
If
you’re a Michael Connelly fan, then you know Homicide detective
Harry Bosch and Defense attorney Mickey Haller each have their own
series. Recently, the two discovered their lives were intertwined;
both were married to the same woman and both have a daughter by her.
Professionally, Bosch is the one who arrests the suspects, and Haller
sets them free. The two have teamed up in past novels The Brass
Verdict and The Reversal.
Bosch
has experienced some changes since the last in series, The Burning
Room. He’s retired – well, sort of; he was forced to retire.
Haller is handling his lawsuit against the city and the LAPD. These
two might be connected in their personal and professional lives, but
Bosch still doesn’t agree with Haller’s cliental (criminals).
Haller needs Bosch to investigate a current case. Haller presents the
usual: a client who was “setup.” Bosch looks into the case but
refuses to commit, until he reads the Case Murder Book and interviews
those involved. That’s when Bosch realizes he’s getting closer to
“the crossing” -- the place where the victim tripped the
preverbal wire that resulted in her death, and now he wants find out
who did it.
The
Crossing does not disappoint. With a guilty criminal, damning
evidence and the author’s bestselling duo trying to prove
otherwise, Connelly successfully gives fans a complex storyline.
Actor Titus Welliver narrates the audio version. It’s a persuasive
narration that keeps listeners engaged. If Welliver’s deep,
well-spoken voice sounds familiar, that’s because he plays
Detective Bosch in the Amazon.com series.
Bosch
links
http://myshelf.com/mystery/14/burningroom.htm
Husband
in Hiding
Karina
Bartow
Blue
Boot Books
9780996676137
Mystery
/ USA / Deaf Detective
http://www.splashingcowbooks.com/the-undeafeated-detective-series.html
Brenda
Weeaks
Karina
Bartow’s main characters are husband and wife Wes and Minka. When
the author shares their background throughout the storyline, readers
will find they’re a likeable couple who are meant to be. Minka is a
detective in Ocoee, Florida. She’s deaf and uses a Cochlear implant
to hear. Her partner, Detective Cael, is Wes’ brother. Wes wants to
teach in Texas. Minka’s not sure; she really enjoys her job. Her
current case is a kidnapped point guard from the Florida Basketball
team, Magic. We discover from the time he was young, Wes has had this
inner need to protect Minka, so he decides to play amateur detective.
He keeps it secret and puts his life in danger. Minka doesn’t take
it well. Minka may be deaf but she speaks quite well, and when she’s
not happy with Wes she reverts to Sign Language. When the case
becomes even more dangerous, the couple is forced to make the
ultimate sacrifice. Once you get to know the characters and their
story, you can’t help but feel for them. In the end, only a miracle
or great detecting can save them.
Husband
in Hiding is a rare treat for those who enjoy a clean mystery.
It’s well- written, the storyline flows and the characters are
well-developed. If you like Hallmark mystery movies, you will feel
right at home with Husband in Hiding.
Fall
of Poppies
Edited
by Heather Webb
William
Morrow
Fiction/literature
March
1, 2016
9780062418548
Fall
ofPoppies is an anthology that has settings and writings related
to World War I. These historical fiction stories delve into unique
experiences that are told from both the female and male point of
view. Nine authors share stories of hope, strength, and renewal. The
plots are insightful and interesting. Readers get a glimpse in
understanding what the civilian and military population had to
endure.
Heather
Webb, the editor and brainchild behind this anthology, described the
process she went through. “As a former teacher it was a natural
skill for me to keep people on tab. It started out with a brainstorm
about Armistice Day, the idea that tied all the stories together. The
guidelines were any country touched by WWI with the time period
either beginning on Armistice Day or ending on it. I contacted
authors I knew who either wrote about this era or were interested in
it, and they joyfully came on board. Anyone who loves history will
find this time period perfect to explore.”
One
of the most gripping stories is “All For The Love Of You” by
Jennifer Robson. Through a heartwarming plot, she describes what an
American Captain had to endure when his cheekbones were shattered and
right eye lost. He was able to have a mask fitted by the American Red
Cross Studio for Portrait Masks, a civilian based organization that
allowed wounded warriors to get fulfillment, flickers of hope, and
protection from those who might react negatively to the deformities.
But it is also a love story, which emphasizes the importance of a
person’s inner beauty, rather than their physical appearance.
Another
wonderful story that also shows how facial prosthetics gave a wounded
warrior confidence to venture outside again is “The Record Set
Straight” by Lauren Willig. Inspired by the pioneering aviator,
Denys Finch-Hatton, Willig writes the character, Nicholas Frobisher,
an “Aviator with the Iran Mask.” This story examines how two
brothers react to losing a part of themselves, Nicholas his face, and
Edward his leg. With the help of his friend, who became his wife,
Nicholas was able to realize his worth and regain a sense of purpose.
The theme emphasizes how peoples’ personal life is tested during
war, and the realities they must live with as peace arrives.
Willig
commented, “The tin masks were designed for the maimed soldiers so
they would not have to go out in the world and be thought of as
freaks. For me, this was the birth of organizations that pioneered
reconstructive technologies. I thought how today’s society is
isolated from this current war and compared that to England during
WWI where most everyone was touched in some way. Many of us have less
understanding of our soldiers because we are removed and do not
comprehend the day to day challenges those fighting must face.”
Readers
will also be drawn to the Gone With The Wind comparisons.
Willig took that story and beautifully applied it to the World War I
time period. There are many of the same elements: an epic war,
soldier casualties, and a love triangle where the female lead is in
love with one person, but marries someone else. It also has the
Carrington house that becomes a central theme to the plot as the
classic book does with Tara.
Another
notable chapter, “An American Airman In Paris” by Beatriz
Williams, brings to life an American pilot, Octavian. Her fans should
appreciate how she delved into writing a story that takes place
during wartime. Through her characters, people come to understand the
effect World War I had on those who fought it. Readers get into the
pilot’s mindset and can relate to his struggles. As with all of her
books, Williams explores the historical significance of the era,
showing how this war, unlike WWII, did not have stand out heroes or
villains amongst the leadership. In addition, she always centers the
plot around an object, in this case, a photograph. This story
highlights how the effect of WWI brought about the loss of innocence.
According
to Williams, the photograph represents “Octavian’s childhood, his
emotional purity and naivety. Just as he loses that photograph, all
of this is lost in the war, when his ideals were crushed. This
included the romantic notion that the war could enable someone rather
than debase them, when in actuality it was just the opposite.”
One
of the most relatable stories to today’s world is “Hour of the
Bells” by Heather Webb. There are a lot of time metaphors as this
author plays off the famous quote, “On the eleventh hour of the
eleventh day of the eleventh month...November 11, 1918.” But more
powerful is how she speaks for the military families and the effect
the war had on one in particular. Having lost a husband and a son to
the brutality of the Germans, Beatrix Joubert allows her grief to
turn into a desire for revenge. This story has a woman seeking
retaliation against the Germans who she sees as having no moral
backbone. She decides to become a suicide bomber to blow up those
that killed her family.
Webb
noted, “I hoped to communicate how warfare in the past does relate
to the present. I wanted to tap into and draw a parallel between
something that happened a hundred years ago and what is happening
today within an intense story. I wanted to focus on a woman who was
completely devastated, but instead of becoming down trodden, she
turns her emotions of grief into anger.”
Fall
of Poppies has riveting stories related to World War I. This
anthology of historical short stories allows readers to gain an
understanding of the war, its aftermath, and how those on the front
lines along with the civilians in harm’s way deal with loss, hope,
and reconnecting in what appeared to be a new world.
