Quentin and Margo have lived next door to one another since they were toddlers. As they grew older their paths diverged as Margo became part of the poQuentin and Margo have lived next door to one another since they were toddlers. As they grew older their paths diverged as Margo became part of the popular high school crowd while Q hung out with his two best friends playing video games. Q has had a crush on her for years but knows they don't move in the same circles until one night she climbs through his window and asks him to help her with a 'revenge' tour. She is ready to pay back those she feels have wronged her and needs a cohort to drive her. Although he is reluctant at first, Q would do anything for Margo so he readily agrees. The two travel around Orlando as Margo vents her frustration and anger on former friends with not a small amount of vandalism. Q believes their relationship has entered a new phase and he eagerly awaits the next day. The next day...Margo is gone. Q and his friends spend weeks following obscure clues left by the mysterious Margo. Not sure is she is alive or dead, they travel hundreds of miles in their search, never sure what they will find at the end.
I believe this is the first John Green book that I did not particularly care for. I didn't like Margo at all. Her character is self-absorbed, entitled and oblivious to her devoted friend Q. Q is a bit too obsessed with this girl who really has shown him nothing for more than a decade. Needing to get away from a life you don't enjoy is fine in itself but at least contact those who care about you....more
Miami Police Detective Manny Alvarez is investigating the murder of a college student whose body was found in a dumpster after what was an obviously pMiami Police Detective Manny Alvarez is investigating the murder of a college student whose body was found in a dumpster after what was an obviously painful, torturous death. The young woman, Gabriella, had met a charming man in a local bar and left with him willingly or so it seemed. Camera footage from the bar shows the handsome man holding tightly to Gabi as he escorted her out to his car. He is subsequently identified as the son of a wealthy family from the area and his vehicle is found to have evidence that Gabi had been with him. Her autopsy showed that she was heavily drugged and the young man is arrested. Assigned as prosecutor is Daria DeBianchi, a no-nonsense lawyer who is focused on putting this man behind bars. She will work closely with Detective Alvarez to make it happen.
The case has serious connections to that of a former serial killer known as "Cupid". He is currently on death row having been sent there by a previous female prosecutor C.J. Townsend. She and her husband, the lead detective on the case, had made sure Cupid was found guilty by whatever means necessary even if they were not necessarily legal. Cupid had attacked C.J. many years ago and he still haunts her dreams every single night. Cupid had always asserted that there was a secretive group of men who enjoyed watching the torture and murder of young women, a 'snuff club', but his warnings went unheeded. Until, that is, the murder of Gabriella and the ultimate finding of many other young women whose bodies were found similarly abused and murdered. C.J. has since fled the Miami area and changed her name.
Alvarez and DeBianchi decide to try to connect the latest murder with Cupid and his strange claims. When Cupid is brought back to Miami to speak to a judge about his inside knowledge, a Category 4 hurricane causes great confusion and Cupid escapes. It is obvious that he will try to find C.J. and exact his revenge. Meanwhile the man accused of Gabi's murder has been acquitted by the judge and he just may have his sights set on the pretty little prosecutor Daria DeBianchi.
Although the crimes in this book are particularly heinous the suspense and tension are unrelenting. It kept me reading for much longer than I normally do at one sitting. There is definitely material for another book but it seems that this is the last of a heart-pounding trilogy....more
Mrs. Olinsky, recently returned to Epiphany Middle School after a car crash that left her a paraplegic, has been pondering who to choose from her 6th Mrs. Olinsky, recently returned to Epiphany Middle School after a car crash that left her a paraplegic, has been pondering who to choose from her 6th grade class for the Academic Quiz team. She quickly settled on three students: Noah, Ethan and Nadia. The fourth was one she had not originally considered but eventually chose: Julian. Why she chose these 4 is a question she would be asked constantly and she had many answers but could not pinpoint the exact reasoning. It would turn out that the children had chosen her just as much as she had chosen them. Their amazing performance against the other Epiphany 6th grades, then the 7th grades and finally the 8th grade sent the team to the New York state finals.
Each of 4 students are given their own short story within the book giving the reader insight into their lives and that of their families. While completely different in personality, they bonded and surprisingly became fast friends on the team they called "The Souls". This is definitely a feel good middle grade book with likeable characters and a satisfying story....more
Florida Board of Judicial Conduct attorney Lacy Stoltz wants nothing to do with the case presented to her by an extremely frightened woman named Jeri Florida Board of Judicial Conduct attorney Lacy Stoltz wants nothing to do with the case presented to her by an extremely frightened woman named Jeri Crosby. Jeri insists that a sitting Florida judge is guilty of murdering her father several years ago and her father was just one of many. She has spent years and most of her money investigating suspicious deaths that all shared the same m.o.. Each victim had been strangled with a nylon cord which was tied with an intricate knot. Jeri does not have absolute proof but she knows that the judge, Ross Bannick is the killer. Once she officially filed the complaint with the BJC Lacy has no choice but to pursue the case. Jeri has found a connection between Bannick and each victim even though the judge seems to have immeasurable patience. One murder was committed 23 years after the slight Bannick felt he was dealt by the people on his 'list'. Jeri is terrified he will find out who filed the complaint and come after her. Lacy unwittingly puts herself in danger as well because what the women don't know is that Bannick is a tech whiz and has hacked into the BJC, police, FBI and just about anything else he needs to know. His 'list' is about to grow longer.
I really enjoyed this one and read it in 2 days; couldn't put it down. This judge is one creepy but extremely intelligent serial killer. Jeri is rather awesome herself in that she was able to uncover the name of the murderer on her own. This was a wild ride, suspenseful and intriguing, and I recommend it....more
Camino Island, Florida, is in the direct path of killer hurricane Leo. Mandatory evacuation orders are given but Bruce Cable, local bookstore owner anCamino Island, Florida, is in the direct path of killer hurricane Leo. Mandatory evacuation orders are given but Bruce Cable, local bookstore owner and dealer in rare editions, decides to ride it out. Unfortunately, one of his friends, Nelson Kerr is killed during the storm. At first it appears that Nelson died accidentally, felled by flying debris. When Bruce and a few of his friends see Nelson's body it seems suspicious that he would be outside during the windstorm or that he would have been hit so many times. The police agree and an investigation into the death is opened.
Nelson had been a best selling author of suspense novels and it appears that his latest draft is still in the typewriter on his desk. Bruce wonders if the story might lead to a murderer and once he reads it he knows he is on the right track. Although the story is fiction, Bruce believes it is based on an appalling truth, enough so that someone wanted to stop Nelson before publication.
I barely remember the first book in this series but I know it was definitely not one of my favorite Grisham novels. This one rates slightly below that one. The meat of the story - the secrets Nelson was basing his book on - was good. The rest just kind of blurred for me....more
In the second book of the series, Alex (Barney) Barnaby and her off/on love NASCAR driver Sam Hooker are once again involved in a murder. During a racIn the second book of the series, Alex (Barney) Barnaby and her off/on love NASCAR driver Sam Hooker are once again involved in a murder. During a race, Barney believes that one of the drivers is using illegal technology and her suspicions are seconded by Gobbles, an employee of the winning team. Barney and Hooker are contacted by a frightened Gobbles telling them he is hiding in a hauler, a huge tractor trailer that carries 2 race cars and tons of automotive gear. Barney and Hooker 'borrow' the hauler releasing Gobbles but finding something they did not expect: the body of another employee shot in the forehead and wrapped in plastic film. Suddenly they are suspected of murder and have become the targets of a sinister group of people who know that Barney has taken their computer chip with the cheating technology. It is a race to see who will apprehend the couple first: the good guys or the bad guys.
This series is not bad but it certainly has not held my interest the way Stephanie Plum has done. It's a fun ride with lots of humor, sarcasm, sexual innuendo and a great big lovable Saint Bernard named Beans....more
Elwood Curtis has always been a good boy. Brought up by his grandmother to value education, this young black man is about to enter a local college in Elwood Curtis has always been a good boy. Brought up by his grandmother to value education, this young black man is about to enter a local college in Tallahassee in the 1960's when he is arrested for riding in a stolen car. Elwood had been hitchhiking and was completely innocent but he was sent to the Nickel Academy, a juvenile reform school. In reality the school fronted as a home run by a sadistic staff who beat, sexually abused and tortured the young men, especially the black ones. Elwood tries to believe that he will swiftly and quietly serve his sentence as his friend Turner tries to show Elwood just how wrong he is about Nickel. Many a young man has been taken outside to the "White House" and never returned. The two make a decision that will change their lives forever.
I found myself very confused at times while listening to the audio of this story. I'm not sure why but it didn't seem to flow well. It felt a bit choppy, but that may just be me. The ending was quite a surprise and that was very good. It is also frightening to know that this book is based on a real juvenile detention home that housed young men for more than a century. That is horrific and heartbreaking....more
Walt Disney was born in 1901, into a world that was just beginning to test the bounds of photography and stop-action photos that were the beginnings oWalt Disney was born in 1901, into a world that was just beginning to test the bounds of photography and stop-action photos that were the beginnings of animation. He began his craft at the Kansas City Film Ad where he basically produced commercials. He began to create short animations called "Laugh-o-Grams" which became popular enough for Disney to hire staff and expand his enterprise. Eventually Walt moved to California and started his business that would become more lucrative than his wildest imaginings.
Mickey Mouse made his debut in 1928, quickly followed by Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck who became so popular he nearly eclipsed Mickey's star. The greatest success of Walt's early years was the 1933 production of the "Three Little Pigs". Experimenting with animation, Walt began dreaming of making feature length films and in 1937 "Snow White" opened at a star-studded premiere. Countless successes would follow as well as a few films not quite so warmly embraced by the public. Two of his most famous titles, "Bambi" and "Dumbo", suffered from the unfortunate timing of being produced at the beginning of WWII. Disney Studios shelved animated films for several years as they produced short instructional films for the government. Once the war was over, Disney again began feature length animated films; Peter Pan, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp and Sleeping Beauty were only a few of his well-received titles.
Live action films began in the 1940's with "Song of the South" and "So Dear To My Heart". In the 50's Walt began producing "True Life Adventures", a series of films dealing with nature. In 1964 the Disney Studios reached their pinnacle with their most popular movie yet: "Mary Poppins". As Walt began to feel the effects of age and ill-health he turned his talents and vivid imagination to the building of Disneyland. Walt did not live to see his dream of Disney World fulfilled but his legacy lives on in everything he touched. This book was published in 1975 and the next big Disney venture was only in the development stage: Epcot Center....more
Cullen Post is a lawyer/Episcopal minister who works for the non-profit Guardian Ministries. The Guardian's goal is to help wrongfully convicted peoplCullen Post is a lawyer/Episcopal minister who works for the non-profit Guardian Ministries. The Guardian's goal is to help wrongfully convicted people gain justice and a release from incarceration. Quincy Miller has been in jail for 22 years after being charged with the murder of a Florida lawyer named Keith Russo. Russo handled a contentious divorce for Quincy and, after the lawyer's brutal murder, Quincy was the perfect fall guy for what appeared to be a corrupt police chief and his cohorts. The lies of witnesses intimidated by the police helped seal Quincy's fate. Now the Guardians have taken on his case and Post is positive Quincy is innocent. Proving it may turn out to be no only difficult but lethal to Post as some very powerful people do not want the past dredged up.
As usual, Grisham has written an engrossing legal thriller that held my attention from start to finish. Post is a great character with amazing determination. My only problem with the book is that there are so many characters to keep straight. Quincy is not the only Guardians client and quite a few of their stories are covered as well; it got a bit confusing at times. Another solid hit for Grisham....more
Although Amy Whey has moved beyond a tragic mistake she made as a young teen, the memory has never completely left her mind. Now very happily married Although Amy Whey has moved beyond a tragic mistake she made as a young teen, the memory has never completely left her mind. Now very happily married to Davis with a 15-year-old stepdaughter Maddie and an adorable toddler Oliver, Amy's life is near perfect. She loves her job as a dive instructor and relishes any time she is able to be underwater. Her best friend Charlotte hosts the neighborhood book club meeting and walks daily with Amy. Life is good....until the beautiful Angelica Roux rents a house in their well-to-do neighborhood and instantly takes charge of everyone's life, most especially Amy's. During a well-liquored book club, Roux coaxes the women into a game about telling their shameful secrets. Immediately Amy's radar is on full alert as she realizes Roux knows Amy's horrible shame. In the days that follow, Roux lays out her game rules to Amy: pay up or Roux will go to the police, to Davis and everyone else to blow Amy's peaceful world apart.
Angelica Roux has never met a competitor like Amy Whey. The only Achilles' heel Amy can find in Roux is her handsome teen-aged boy Luca. Amy is determined to fight fire with fire and she desperately begins a search into Roux's past. Obviously Amy is not her first mark as Roux is extremely straightforward in her blackmail attempt. She even likes Amy's feisty personality but Roux will stop at nothing to get money. Amy is just as determined to stop the game. Who will be the ultimate winner?
Angelica Roux has got to be one of the nastiest characters in story history. She is totally ruthless, hardhearted and unbelievably egotistical. Amy is a fighter and, despite what happened in her past, I was rooting for her from the beginning. The novel is a suspenseful tale of cat and mouse with the two women changing roles throughout. I liked the ending but there is a coincidence within the story that was a bit hard to swallow. Other than that, it's another hit for Jackson....more
Valentine's Day 2018 became infamous for another horrendous school shooting, this time in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen were killed and seventeen more Valentine's Day 2018 became infamous for another horrendous school shooting, this time in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen were killed and seventeen more were injured before the gunman was caught. Although grief was overwhelming to all who survived, several students decided that it was time to do something to stop these senseless tragedies and formed a group that would become known as MFOL (March For Our Lives). Their focus was to unite youth and their families against gun violence and to try to change laws that had been on the books for centuries. They also desperately wanted to inspire people to register to vote and to use their votes against those supported by the wealthy and powerful NRA. Their march in the nation's capital and sibling marches throughout the world drew nearly 2 million participants. Much of the media frenzy fell on only a few of the young activists causing rifts in old friendships and bitterness from other students. However, their agenda was heartfelt and honest and started a dedicated action to ensure the future of all students.
This book was exhaustively researched by Cullen who also did a masterful job with "Columbine" several years earlier. I did feel it bogged down at times and became a bit tedious, but the message is a strong one....more
Jane Young and her 8-year-old daughter Ruby have a peaceful life in small-town Maine; Jane is a popular event planner and Ruby, while not exactly quitJane Young and her 8-year-old daughter Ruby have a peaceful life in small-town Maine; Jane is a popular event planner and Ruby, while not exactly quite as popular, is a smart elementary school student who helps her mother's business whenever possible. Of course Ruby's main question is where and who is Daddy? Jane only says he is not in the picture anymore. As Ruby grows to a young teen she knows her mother is hiding something and she is determined to find out what! Some subtle hints from adults around town lead Ruby to an internet search of a woman named Aviva Grossman. Hmm; looks very much like her Mom. Fifteen years ago a young woman named Aviva had an affair with a married Florida congressman and the ensuing scandal rocked the political stratosphere. As often happens the congressman got a slap on the wrist and remained in his marriage while Aviva was slut-shamed and crept out of town. Ruby, suitably stunned, immediately heads for Florida to confront the congressman=Daddy? It is especially important to Ruby now that her mother, "Jane Young", is launching a campaign to become the mayor of their tiny Maine town. If Ruby can do a Google search, so can everyone else.
I have been a fan of Zevin's for quite a few years and this book is another good one. It is delightfully quirky and humorous while dealing with some heavy subject matter. There are a few plot devices that wore thin after awhile but the story rose above them. I loved all of the characters including the wife of the congressman. There are great interactions between all of the women and I enjoyed the story quite a bit....more
The theft of original manuscripts penned by F. Scott Fitzgerald have been stolen from Princeton University's library. Of the 5 men involved in the heiThe theft of original manuscripts penned by F. Scott Fitzgerald have been stolen from Princeton University's library. Of the 5 men involved in the heist, 2 are caught fairly quickly but refuse to cooperate with authorities. The other 3 decide to leave the country until it seems safe to return.
Mercer Mann is a struggling novelist with one book under her belt but unable to come up with a second. In the meantime, she is teaching creative writing (a job she loathes) to high school students trying to get herself out of crushing student loan debt. She is approached by a woman named Elaine and offered an extremely lucrative job to work undercover searching for the Fitzgerald manuscripts. At first reluctant, Mercer agrees to return to Camino Island, Florida, the place she spent many happy years with her grandmother. A local bookseller/collector named Bruce Cable is suspected of being in possession of the stolen items and Mercer is tasked with infiltrating his inner circle. Mercer is immediately accepted into the society of writer's who frequent the island and before long she becomes friendly with Bruce and his wife, Noelle. Already nervous about her agenda, Mercer becomes even more so when she finds that she truly likes the Cables and is not sure what she will do should she find out that they are part of the black market trade.
This was a pleasant enough book with some interesting characters. I had thought there would be much more suspense than there was. The ending was a bit of a letdown but it won't keep me from reading the next Grisham novel....more
Bill Tasker, Miami cop, has been working with the FBI on a robbery task force. When a highly controversial court case is settled, demonstrations breakBill Tasker, Miami cop, has been working with the FBI on a robbery task force. When a highly controversial court case is settled, demonstrations break out all over the city. An unscrupulous group of people decide this would be a great diversion for the theft of money that had been been embezzled from the Committee for Community Relief and deposited in a run-down bank with low security. The bank manager, a shady FBI agent, the CCR minister and his ex-con lawyer, all want the money. Unfortunately for Bill Tasker, one of the robbers points the finger at Tasker and he suddenly becomes suspect number one in the theft. As the thieves constantly steal the loot from one another, the bodies begin to pile up and Tasker is either headed for prison or the cemetery.
This was a pretty good story with a really fast moving story line. It did get a bit confusing at times but Tasker is a very likeable character so it's worth the muddle. I think this would make a better movie than it did a book because the visual of the constantly disappearing money would be rather comical. Just a thought....more
Janie Crawford, a beautiful young black teen, was brought up by her maternal grandmother in Florida. Hoping to keep Janie from making the shameful misJanie Crawford, a beautiful young black teen, was brought up by her maternal grandmother in Florida. Hoping to keep Janie from making the shameful mistake that Janie's mother made, her grandmother turns Janie over to an aging preacher to be his wife. Janie is pitifully unhappy and once she meets the handsome Jody Starks she leaves her preacher husband behind and starts life in a newly established African-American town of Eatonville, Florida. Jody quickly becomes the prosperous man he promised Janie he would one day be. Jody's jealousy made life difficult for the outgoing, story-loving Janie and she finds that her marriage is not quite what she had hoped. After Jody dies Janie is smitten by the younger-by-a-decade Tea Cake and she follows him to the Everglades to work the bean fields. Finally Janie has found a deep and lasting love with her newest husband. A devastating hurricane causes a great tragedy as Janie and Tea Cake struggle to survive. What an amazing story this is and I am certainly glad that I read it. I did have terrible difficulty with the dialect, however, which made it a very difficult book to read at times. I just couldn't get a flowing rhythm with the speech which caused me to reread sentences several times to understand the meaning. But I loved Janie's character and her optimism. Great book. Highly recommended....more