Search

Search only in certain items:

Before She Was Helen
Before She Was Helen
Caroline B. Cooney | 2020 | Mystery
8
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Having read Caroline B. Cooney's Janie Johnson series, which many people call The Face on the Milk Carton series, I was thrilled to read her latest novel, Before She Was Helen.

While Cooney is well-known for her YA novels, Before She Was Helen, is not categorized as young adult, but as adult fiction. Her main character is Clemmie, a still-working but living in a retirement community teacher, who intentionally built a bland and quiet life for herself. Everything changes when she does a wellness check on her next-door neighbor. She photographs a stunning and beautiful object. Thinking her family would enjoy it, she shares the photo with them. The picture quickly makes its rounds on the internet, and Clemmie's life changes in a blink, and all her carefully kept secrets are threatened.

For anyone who has read Cooney, you can identify her writing style. Her words word flow in an easy and distinct manner. It is as if she writes how she talks and does not change her vernacular or style. Reading Before She Was Helen was like reading a familiar book that I never read before.

Goodreads does not list any other books set for publication as of yet.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/8/20.
  
Bad News Travels Fast
Bad News Travels Fast
Gar Anthony Haywood | 2013 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Capital Crimes
When Joe and Dottie Loudermilk sold everything to enjoy their retirement on the road, one advantage was that it would make it hard for their kids to drag them into difficult situations. However, when they arrive in Washington DC, Dottie arranges for them to have dinner with their son Eddie. The next morning, Eddie is arrested for killing his former roommate. The murder weapon is Eddie’s knife, and the victim was killed after Eddie had a very public fight with him. Despite all of this, Joe and Dottie believe Eddie when he claims to be innocent. But can they prove it?

I’m glad I got to revisit these characters this year because this was a delightful mystery. It was a fast read, but there wasn’t a wasted word as Joe and Dottie track down one lead after another. The twists and turns kept me engaged the entire way through. Joe’s temper is toned down a bit from the first book, and Dottie is a strong narrator of the events. The rest of the cast is just as sharp. While travel is a theme of the series, the little bit of sightseeing that Joe and Dottie do always also serves the plot. I could have done without the smattering of foul language scattered throughout the book, but that is worth nothing mainly in passing. Everything is mixed together with a dash of humor that I enjoyed. If you’ve missed this book, I’ve got great news – you’ll enjoy it.
  
40x40

Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated The Reaper in Books

Feb 17, 2023  
The Reaper
The Reaper
Rae Scott | 2022 | Contemporary, Crime, LGBTQ+, Mystery, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


Mel is a detective who is one month away from retirement she cannot wait for! She's then lumbered with Nat, a rookie on a high-octane case with a lot at stake! As she gets to know her new partner/trainee, she likes the way she works and thinks. She reminds Mel of herself so finds herself guiding her in any way she can in trying to discover the true identity of The Reaper.


I enjoyed this story from start to finish. I was gripped from the start and was second-guessing all the way through. I genuinely hadn't got a clue whodunit it was a great surprise. I don't want to say too much about it as I don't want to give anything away but I was certainly confused. There is a lot of detail in this book that helps you make a picture of what is going on not enough to give you the answers but to get the finer details.


Rae Scott has got a way of writing that has captivated me from the start and kept me right through to the end. I'm hoping that there will be a second book and this can be made into a 2 part series or even more. It was fantastic!


A recommended read.


** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

 

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
  
The Burning Room (Harry Bosch, #17; Harry Bosch Universe, #26)
The Burning Room (Harry Bosch, #17; Harry Bosch Universe, #26)
Michael Connelly | 2014 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bosch Has a New Case He’s Burning to Solve
As this book opens, Harry Bosch is still working in the cold case unit of the LAPD with a year left until his second retirement. He and his new partner have caught a cold case with a fresh corpse. The victim, Orlando Merced, was hit with a stray bullet ten years before. His shooting was never solved, and he has finally died due to complications from his injury. Bosch is hoping that the bullet, which wasn’t able to be removed before now, will be the break they need to solve the crime. However, Bosch still finds himself dealing with a lack of clues or evidence. Will he get lucky and find a new lead? Meanwhile, there is a second case in this book involving a crime from twenty years before that involved Bosch’s new partner, Detective Lucia Soto. Will they be able to solve it as well?

With two storylines, there was plenty of keep the story moving forward. I enjoyed seeing Bosch’s relationship with his new partner, which wasn’t a cliché from previous entries in the series. Unfortunately, there were still plenty of recycled things I did see coming. Don’t get me wrong, I still got caught up in the story, and old fans will still want to read it. But hopefully, we can get some fresh complications moving forward. Both stories were wrapped up well, and that left me feeling satisfied when the book ended. Even with some familiar plot points, fans will still enjoy this book.