April Book Club -- My Cousin Rachel

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

My enjoyment rating: 4 of 5 stars

My book hangover rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source:  Personal copy

Genre:  Classic fiction; mystery

Objectionable material: None

April Book Club choice

 

 

 

My Cousin Rachel…the original Gone Girl.

Rachel Ashley has buried 2 husbands…now she is after the wealth and trinkets of her deceased husband’s cousin…or is she?

Daphne du Maurier does what no other author can do – keep you guessing until the very last word.

She creates tension, doubt, atmosphere, and character tone that changes instantly.

More than once I wanted to vocally scream at the page – “Philip Ashley – are you crazy? What are you doing?” How many authors have the literary power to evoke such audible emotions?

This was a psychological thriller, with the beauty of a Cornish estate. Or possibly…Gone Girl meets Downton Abbey.

Final word of caution…be wary of your house guests and their tea.

 

May Book Club choice:

 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

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Book Review -- Mr. Churchill's Secretary

Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Source:  Personal copy

Genre:  Fiction (not quite historical fiction, not quite mystery)

Objectionable material:  language, including the F-bomb (infrequent at best, though, and totally unnecessary).

Maggie Hope – American, Wellesley grad, gifted mathematician, expat in London, and working directly for Winston Churchill – what more could a girl ask for?

But Maggie’s life is far more complicated: on the eve of World War II, Maggie’s position as typist (well beneath her intellectual capabilities – but she was a WOMAN, after all) provides her access to many of the intimate details of the Battle of Britain. It also puts her in harm’s way – as a potential target for enemy sympathizers. When an innocent “advert” appears in the daily news, Maggie’s keen eyes, and penchant for secret code, puts her at the center of a conspiracy to bring down not only Winston Churchill, but one of London’s most visible landmarks, St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Susan MacNeal has written a spot on period piece, featuring a spunky sleuth, and vivid detail of WWII London. Although a work of fiction, the author used autobiographical details from secretaries who worked for the prime minister, as inspiration.

However, as much as I appreciated her central character and foggy London streets, I thought the “mystery” of the novel was elementary at best: a missing father, an IRA spy roommate, a dead co-worker – with Maggie saving the day in the end – was all rather MacGyver-ish, at best.

But, I did like Maggie enough that I would be willing to read author MacNeal’s second installment in Maggie Hope’s escapades: Princess Elizabeth’s Spy.

 

For those who love Maisie Dobbs or Bess Crawford, Maggie Hope would be a comparable read.

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Book Review -- A Duty to the Dead

A Duty To The Dead by Charles Todd

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book Source: Library copy & Nook

Genre:  Mystery, World War I

Objectionable material: None

#7 on my Top Ten Summer TBR Books

Bess Crawford’s nursing responsibilities become more serious when one of her patients, WWI Vet Arthur Graham, proclaims a dying confession and asks Bess to profess his thoughts to his family.

Armed with courage and duty, Bess makes her way to Owlhurst, the family’s estate, where much to her amazement, the Graham family seems unconcerned about Arthur’s final wishes. Once there, she further discovers that the family has seems to be hiding other family secrets, including their brother Peregrine’s commitment to an insane asylum.

Little does Bess know, that Arthur’s dying confession would lead to escape, kidnapping and murder.

My interest in Charles Todd’s A Duty to the Dead, was piqued when I saw it listed as a, “if you liked ‘Downton Abbey’…you’ll like this” reading list. I’m obsessed with the WWI miniseries with their manor house, and servants, cast against the background of WWI.

Overall…this was a satisfactory mystery.

I loved Bess. Her “duty” and English grace made for the best part of this book. The author (it’s really authors as Charles Todd is a mother/son writing team – Charles & Caroline Todd) really outdid themselves when creating such a spunky, enjoyable character.

The author also created a wonderful sense of era surrounding WWI. With the opening scenes aboard the Britannic (which historical existed during WWI as a hospital ship, and was sunk off the coast of Greece) really set the tone for a “Downton Abbey-like” atmosphere. The theme was successfully carried through to the end.

However, the other characters – the Graham family (brothers Jonathan, Timothy, and their mother) were rather one dimensional. And Peregrine, a man who was institutionalized for much of his life – it was hard to accept that he would be as emotionally functional as he was, once he encountered Bess.

The “mystery” portion of the book was a bit awkward and complicated: missing family members reappearing, characters introduced in the final scenes for no apparent reason, and no concrete motive for the mayhem.

Ultimately, it was an easy read – and I learned a lot (I did quite a bit of extra credit WWI reading – did you know that sanitary napkins/Kotex were developed as a result of WWI?! Me either!), and even though I really liked Bess, I’m not sure I will continue the series (there are 3 more books).

 

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Book Review -- The Murders of Richard III





The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Source:  Nook

Genre:  Mystery

Challenge:  Just for Fun Reading Challenge

American librarian, Jacqueline Kirby, has arrived at an English manor house for a weekend of research, debate, and all things surrounding the legend of Richard III of England. She has been invited to join a group of scholars to determine whether a letter, that purportedly vindicates Richard in the deaths of his two nephews, is authentic.

When accidents start occurring to the guests, in the order of Richard’s past victims, suspicion is heightened that they have a “comedian” in their midst. But determining who it is, and their motivation, is left to Jacqueline to solve.

This was a very entertaining “mystery.” As a closet Anglophile -- I LOVED all the “Ricardian” history. I had no idea that there were societies and conspiracy theorists who still met and discussed Richard’s evil deeds. I thought author, Elizabeth Peters, did a fantastic job with her research in bringing 600 year old history to life.

However, the overall story line was convoluted and confusing. Even as I read the last page, I still had NO idea who each of the characters represented and I didn’t even care. And the motive behind the accidents and ultimate attempted murder, made no sense.

But, even with all those failures, I thought Jacqueline was a spunky, witty, middle aged, sleuth and again, the Ricardian history made up for the lack of cohesive plot.

I’d be willing to give Elizabeth Peters another go around.

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Book Review -- Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin


My enjoyment rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Source:  Personal AUTOGRAPHED copy -- makes it even more disappointing

Sensitive reader:  Vulgar language

Larry Ott is his own version of Boo Radley – loner, taunted by neighborhood kids as “Crazy Larry”, misunderstood by his late parents. He only has one friend – Silas “32”Jones — and their shared history includes the mystery of a missing high school girlfriend and the mystery of their true relationship.

I was so disappointed in this book – no mystery, no suspense, only one suspect, no multiple layers to keep you guessing, a few manipulative toys to make you think there was intrigue, when in fact, the author was just blowing smoke.

This was a week of wasted reading. So I'm not going to waste anymore time on a review.

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June Book Club and Book Review -- Hold Tight

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book Source:  Public library 

Parenting is the most difficult when trying to support your teenage son after the suicide death of his best friend. But when the son’s behavior starts to mirror that of the deceased friend, panic sets in and parents will do all most anything to keep their son alive – including spying.

Mike and Tia Baye have “doctored” their son Adam’s gadgets – cell phone, computer, -- with spyware and tracking systems, all in an effort to learn where he is going and what he is doing in the aftermath of best friend, Spencer’s, suicide. What they don’t realize is their “protection” will start a domino effect of potentially fatal situations that none of them would have predicted. At the same time, a serial killer has taken the lives of two seemingly, unsuspecting women – are the Baye’s problems and these gruesome deaths related? In a sequence of twist and turns and dark alley altercations, the reader will soon find out the truth.

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben was our book club selection for June. A murder mystery with modern day implications of teenage suicide and prescription drug abuse, Mr. Coben has written a fairly formulaic “whodunit” with the angst of parenting in the 21st century.

This is not a book I would have chosen on my own – and I’m not sure I would read any of this again.

Using multiple story lines in alternating chapters, Mr. Coben weaves the fear of the Baye’s against the back drop of a series of unexplained murders. Although I was kept guessing as to how these converging story lines would finally resolve themselves, it was an unsatisfying conclusion: Crazy brother in law turned serial killer; bar bouncer and little sister to the rescue; police chief getting married – it was all very odd in various places.

I can see why Mr. Coben is very popular – he keeps you guessing until the end – but it wasn’t particularly satisfying for me.

Our July book club choice is:

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Summary:

In her charming debut novel, Simonson tells the tale of Maj. Ernest Pettigrew, an honor-bound Englishman and widower, and the very embodiment of duty and pride. As the novel opens, the major is mourning the loss of his younger brother, Bertie, and attempting to get his hands on Bertie's antique Churchill shotgun—part of a set that the boys' father split between them, but which Bertie's widow doesn't want to hand over. While the major is eager to reunite the pair for tradition's sake, his son, Roger, has plans to sell the heirloom set to a collector for a tidy sum. As he frets over the guns, the major's friendship with Jasmina Ali—the Pakistani widow of the local food shop owner—takes a turn unexpected by the major (but not by readers). The author's dense, descriptive prose wraps around the reader like a comforting cloak, eventually taking on true page-turner urgency as Simonson nudges the major and Jasmina further along and dangles possibilities about the fate of the major's beloved firearms. This is a vastly enjoyable traipse through the English countryside and the long-held traditions of the British aristocracy.

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Book Review -- The Rosewood Casket

The Rosewood Casket by Sharyn McCrumb

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book source:  Loaned to me by a friend

The Stargill boys have all returned home at the news that their father, Randall, is dying. During the time they wait for “the end” they confront past sibling conflicts, rivalries, and unanswered family questions. They must also solve the mysterious appearance of a “box of bones” given to them by a neighbor. Thus begins a story of ghostly legends, family secrets, and a dying man’s shrouded history.

The Rosewood Casket was a nice blend of historical fiction (the history and botany of Appalachia, and Daniel Boone), ghost stories, and family strife.  And the prologue had me shaking in my slippers!

I thought the author got a little heavy handed with characters -- too many wives, sisters-in-law, girlfriends, past girlfriends, children of girlfriends – to keep track of. And although I was completely immersed in the story until the end, when the mystery was finally solved, the author only devoted a brief two paragraphs to its resolution, which was very disappointing.

But, overall, an entertaining book.

I would NEVER have read this book on my own, so I was glad it passed along to me by a friend.

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