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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated Cozy Up to Christmas in Books

Dec 15, 2022  
Cozy Up to Christmas
Cozy Up to Christmas
Colin Conway | 2021 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Being a Mall Santa Turns Complicated
Ed Belmont has landed a job as a mall Santa at a run-down mall in Pennsylvania. He’s managed to hold on to the job for a month, and is looking at his final week on the job. Unfortunately, dealing with kids, not Ed’s strong point, isn’t his biggest worry. Someone has been robbing convenience stores dressed as Santa, and the police think Ed might be the culprit. Then Santa robs the mall after hours. Can Ed figure out who is really behind these thefts?

Those familiar with the series will immediately recognize that Ed is the latest identity of our protagonist, who is in witness protection. I knew seeing him playing Santa would be fun, and I was right. Unfortunately, a sub-plot intended to also be funny made me more uncomfortable. I do like Ed and enjoy watching him deal with his newest struggles. The rest of the characters are a bit thin. The plot does wander a bit at times, but it comes together for an interesting climax. I do enjoy watching Ed solve things. And this is a fast read. Fans will enjoy seeing what Ed gets up to in this holiday entry in the series.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Storyteller of Auschwitz in Books

Jul 16, 2023  
The Storyteller of Auschwitz
The Storyteller of Auschwitz
Siobhan Curham | 2023 | History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh my word, I am an emotional wreck after reading this book!

Let's be honest, books about the Holocaust are always difficult to read and although this is a work of fiction, the story is inspired by a mix of real authors from that time and real events that actually happened which are taken from the witness statements from the people who were there and survived that horrendous period. It has been said before many times but we can never let something like this happen again ... we just can't!

I fell in love with all the main characters in this book but admit to Solly and Danielle being my favourites apart from Etty of course and became totally immersed in their stories and I am not ashamed to say that I cried on more than one occasion and had to actually put the book down and stop reading as I couldn't read the words for the tears in my eyes but there were also parts that made me smile.

The Storyteller of Auschwitz is a powerful story of hope and friendship, bravery and survival and how powerful stories can be.

Many, many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this fantastic book that is a must-read.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated Dance Hall of the Dead in Books

Jun 19, 2024  
Dance Hall of the Dead
Dance Hall of the Dead
Tony Hillerman | 1973 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Crosses Tribal Lines
It’s early December on the Navajo reservation. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, who works for the Navajo Tribal Police, has been called to work on a case involving two missing boys. There is a huge pool of blood at the last place they were scene. One of them, a Navajo, was seen the next morning and is wanted as a witness, although some suspect he might be the killer. The other is a Zuni youth, and that just complicates the case for Leaphorn since that tribe has their own police department. As Leaphorn investigates further, he finds many things that just don’t add up for him. Can he make sense of it, find the missing boys, and catch a killer before the killer strikes again?

Leaphorn is much more of the main character this time around, but we still haven’t met Chee. It’s interesting to see how this series evolves over time. The mystery is strong here, especially since there is a thriller element to it that kept me engrossed. I did feel the discussion of Navajo culture slowed things down at times; those passages can be a double-edged sword. Still, this is a book that fans old and new will find entertaining.