This one is a 3.5 for me, and it was quite delightful to read. In this, the fourth of the popular detective series, Jackson Brodie is on the case agaiThis one is a 3.5 for me, and it was quite delightful to read. In this, the fourth of the popular detective series, Jackson Brodie is on the case again, trying to learn the origin of a client's birth family. But the closer he seems to get to the truth, the more obstacles that are placed in his way. As he sorts through clues, Tracy Waterhouse, a newly retired police officer working security, finds herself in possession of a small child, and as she seizes the moment and decides to keep the child for her own, she also follows a trail of bodies somehow linked to the girl. As usual with books by this author, the characters are nuanced, and the focus moves from one person to another in almost dizzying fashion. For those who prefer their stories told in linear fashion, this technique may be frustrating, but it only made the resolution that much more satisfying for me. Plus, I'm glad to see that Jackson now has a canine company, and that he might be ready to pick up where he left off with some of his own complicated relationships. ...more
Spanning a quarter of a century from 1975 to 2001, this well-written and emotionally compelling novel reminds readers that even great tragedies can giSpanning a quarter of a century from 1975 to 2001, this well-written and emotionally compelling novel reminds readers that even great tragedies can give rise to heroes, heroic actions and offer hope. Set in small-town Monta Clare, Missouri, the story follows two youngsters [Patch and Saint] whose unlikely friendship stands the test of time as well as testing their own beliefs and moral compasses. While parts of the plot may seem unbelievable and the author skips around a bit, trusting that his readers will be able to fill in the blanks, the main characters as well as some of the secondary ones, are multifaceted. By the time the final pages have been reached, it's clear that almost everyone in that small town has secrets, several of them shocking, and that redemption comes in surprising ways. To say too much about the plot or the surprises that await readers will spoil the book for them so I'll just say that this one with its rich descriptions of places, people, and things, including art and food made this one of my favorite adult books of the year--so far. Although the book is long--592 pages--it didn't seem that long, so invested was I in solving the mystery at its heart and watching these characters on their various journeys. There is darkness in this story, but there are also splashes of color that offer a way out of that darkness. ...more
This gifted storyteller takes readers back in time to Tehran, Iran, to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and then, briefly, to 2022. Those readers who onlyThis gifted storyteller takes readers back in time to Tehran, Iran, to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and then, briefly, to 2022. Those readers who only know about the revolution in Iran from news stories or concerns about hostages will have their eyes opened to the effects of political events and change on various individuals, particularly two young women. While clearly the Shah of Iran was problematic, his successor, Ayatollah Khomeini, and his followers instituted draconian restrictions on women. Through the eyes of two unlikely friends, readers are given a glimpse of this turmoil and the protests against both leaders. Ellie, a privileged child whose mother claims to have descended from royalty, meets Homa, when she and her mother are forced to move to a seedy neighborhood after the death of Ellie's father. Ellie is drawn to the warmth and comfort provided in Homa's home, and the two girls have a strong connection that seems unlikely to break. But fate intervenes, Ellie's financial situation improves, and they drift apart, only to be reunited during their senior year of school. Homa is politically active, involved in fighting for the rights of women while Ellie remains on the sidelines, interested in other pursuits. A careless comment or two leads to Homa's betrayal and arrest for her activities, something about which Ellie feels guilty for decades. This story of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness contains several reflective passages that will prompt readers to question some of their own decisions as well as being suffused with rich descriptions of the foods, scents, and sounds of Tehran. So vivid are these that readers' mouths will be watering for a taste of what's being described here. It's hard not to think about those individuals such as Homa who are willing to speak truth to power and stand up for what's right, no matter the cost. I loved every word of this important story. Pair this one with the excellent Only This Beautiful Moment by Abd Nazemian, which covers similar terrain. ...more
Although this mystery starts very, very slowly, and it took a while for it to hold my interest, in the end, the read was worth it, and I appreciated hAlthough this mystery starts very, very slowly, and it took a while for it to hold my interest, in the end, the read was worth it, and I appreciated how well plotted it actually was. There are references to and quotes from famous mystery writers embedded in the narrative, which made it fun to compare this one to those other ones, but I had to be patient and tell myself to keep pushing through, especially since this author has the penchant of using some vocabulary words that even those of us who are bibliophiles and consider ourselves word lovers won't recognize. The plot concerns the last months of life of Sebastian Trapp, a famous mystery writer who has been corresponding for years with Nicky Hunter, a fan and expert in detective fiction. Trapp invites her to stay in his San Francisco mansion to help tell his life story--and maybe solve the mystery of the disappearance of his wife, Hope, and son, Cole. But of course, all is not as it seems, and there are secrets being kept by various characters, of course. While there are quite a few twists and turns as well as eye-raising surprises, this one won't be for everyone. Mystery fans, especially those who prefer the classics along with splashes of humor along with their crime, are more likely to be enthralled by this outing than those who like the newer kinds of mysteries. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me. As is the case for many individuals, I have long been fascinated by serial killers and what makes them tick. I'm not particuThis one is a 3.5 for me. As is the case for many individuals, I have long been fascinated by serial killers and what makes them tick. I'm not particularly interested in the gory details of their crimes but more intrigued by how they manage to pull off those crimes and how they get caught. Since the moniker "serial killer" itself is fairly new, I often find myself wondering if this is a modern phenomenon or if there have always been serial killers out there. Plenty of books about these criminals abound, but rare, indeed, are those titles that tell the stories of those innocents who were unaware just how close they themselves may have come to death, brushing arms with these killers. Moving back and forth from memoir to a true-crime narrative, this book tells the story of Liza Rodman, whose mother left her in the care of charismatic Tony Costa among others while she partied and enjoyed herself on Cape Cod. Young Liza was lonely, confused, and felt unloved by her mother, who worked at and then eventually owned a motel in Provincetown. Tony, who drifted from job to job, seems to have been something of a Pied Piper, attracting a cadre of young teens to whom he supplied drugs and a place to hang out. While Liza was too young for that sort of activity, she rode with him all over the place, even to the Truro woods in Massachusetts, the girl was certainly vulnerable, and anything could have happened to her, especially when one considers that Tony's victims were women who were known to him, not strangers. Liza's story is haunting as is the description of Tony's actions and personality and how so many locals refused to believe that he was culpable, even lying to police to protect him. Both sections of the story ["Liza" and "Tony"] are well-written, immersive, and troubling as one considers what might have happened, especially when considering that Liza's mother left her with Tony without a second thought. This one will make readers' skin crawl and keep them awake at night, thinking about the dangers faced by young women then [late 1960s] and now. ...more
While I'm glad I read this mystery and really loved the cover, I finished it feeling rather disappointed after all the build-up. The author excels in While I'm glad I read this mystery and really loved the cover, I finished it feeling rather disappointed after all the build-up. The author excels in describing the setting, providing details about the protagonist's small cabin in the woods of Port Orchards, Washington, as well as the weather, scenery, and small-town life. The plot is interesting enough; a failed writer, Elijah Leith, returns home in 1988 after running out of money, and begins to live off the land. He ends up being accused of murdering a doctor, whose body was found hanging from a tree near the lake that is part of the property. The murder mimics one described in the book he published years ago but one that received only limited notice. The story moves back and forth in time, to present day 1994, back to 1992, and 1973, when he made a promise that he fails to keep to Nakita, his high school sweetheart. What makes this one fun [entertaining] to read is how the victim, Dr. Erin Landry, has described her relationship with Elijah in her diary. But there's something off about those entries. Unfortunately, I figured out what was happening pretty early on so there wasn't much suspense left for me. Still, it's worth a read and introduces a talented new writer to fans of this genre. ...more
This short story collection is a 3.5 for me. As much as I read, I'm always taken aback when I realize that I've missed the work of an author that has This short story collection is a 3.5 for me. As much as I read, I'm always taken aback when I realize that I've missed the work of an author that has been writing for decades and whose books are celebrated by so many. Thus, after seeing the New York Times list 100 "Best" books of the Twenty-first Century and marking the ones I'd read, I figured I should check out this title, which had received acclaim. Published in 2004, the book's stories--eight in all with three focusing on one woman--have both a dated and a timeless quality about them. Some are slightly stronger than others, and the endings of some leave readers asking questions and wondering what might happen next; other stories introduce characters at a particular point in their lives and then follow them to later points. But really, at their hearts, each one is a character study of a woman looking toward the future, sometimes taking risks, often facing disappointments or deluding herself that all is well and that she can survive what comes her way, even when it's at a high cost or when it's not the fate she had envisioned for herself. Each short story has a one-word title, which makes the reading and appreciation of the story itself that much more enjoyable. There are so many elegant turns of phrase within these stories as to leave most readers like me quite impressed. While I wish that I'd read her work when it was first published, I'm pleased to start exploring it now. ...more
Although reviews about this historical novel [4.5 for me!] are mixed with some readers considering the whole thing boring and others falling in love wAlthough reviews about this historical novel [4.5 for me!] are mixed with some readers considering the whole thing boring and others falling in love with the characters, I have to side with the positives. Just like the movie, Sliding Doors, does in pondering what might happen if a character chose one sort of life or another, only far more complex because there are many options and fates on offering here, this book follows Ursula Todd, born in the midst of a snowstorm in 1910, as she dies, lives again, dies again, lives again. Jumping back and forth in time, touching on WWI and WWII, the book offers so many possible fates for Ursula, including being raped, meeting Hitler, marrying a physically and emotionally abusive man, and helping to rescue survivors or dig out those who have died during the bombings of WWII, as to leave readers positively dizzy. In the opening pages, death is described as "darkness fell," which seems to me the perfect way to describe it. Ursula herself, in whatever iteration, could be one of us, and it fascinated me to note how she was portrayed over the years. Often, though, just as I came to care about her, the story shifted, and she was gone, only to appear somewhere else or at some other time. As much as Ursula is the centerpiece of this story, there are also reflective passages about various topics, including war, relationships, personalities, and being able to see into the future, that add an interesting layer to an already intense and original premise. All of the characters, especially members of Ursula's family, are complex and well-drawn, and even though I spent a great deal of time with them, I wanted to know more. And goodness, who isn't fascinated by the thought of what might have been or those paths not taken? This book offers glimpses into several fates. ...more
I've read several books focusing on the Civil War era and the trauma of war, most notably Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, but I'd never heard of the I've read several books focusing on the Civil War era and the trauma of war, most notably Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, but I'd never heard of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, where part of this story is set, or considered what might happen to those individuals, typically war widows, who were unable to surmount the trauma of war and loss. As the book opens, the narrator, twelve-year-old ConaLee and her fragile mother, Eliza, to be called Janet, are being left behind near he asylum by Papa. For reasons not made clear at the start, he's already divested himself of his other three children and aims to rid himself of Eliza and ConaLee as well with Eliza posing as a wealthy, upper-class woman and ConaLee her maid. Because the book begins in 1874, almost a decade after the Civil War ended, it is effective in showing the present condition of rural West Virginia, before moving backward in time to 1864 when a sharpshooter, perhaps Papa, perhaps someone else, is in the midst of the conflict. Truly terrible things happen to him as well as to Eliza even while a mysterious woman named Dearbhla tries to intercede when it's possible. To say much more would give away too much and spoil the pleasures of reading this well-researched historical novel, which moves around more than some readers will like. As for me, I learned quite a lot from reading it and being challenged by its structure as well as pondering the effects of racism and violence. While I might have included some transitions and made a few other changes, overall, this one kept me guessing and deeply engaged. It isn't for the light-hearted, however. ...more
The fifth in the popular Sisters Ever After series, this one is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and those who prefer theirs to be fractured or revThe fifth in the popular Sisters Ever After series, this one is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and those who prefer theirs to be fractured or revised. Focusing on the young sister left behind when Rapunzel disappears from her castle and ends up in the Realms, prompting years of attempts to find her and bring her back. Since she was supposed to rule the kingdom, her absence forces Cinna, to learn the ropes of being the future queen, something Cinna isn't sure that she even wants. Through the years, Cinna writes letters to Rapunzel, hiding them in hopes of someday sharing them with her when/if they meet. The author takes quite a few liberties with the original story, salting this one with humor, intrigue, and sly asides from Rapunzel, who is nothing like what Cinna imagined. There are some strange twists and turns, but fans of the series will lap the story up even while trying to sort out who is trustworthy. If singer Meghan Trainor declared that "it's all about the bass" when it comes to body shapes, in this delightful story, it's truly all about the braids since the hair of Cinna, Rapunzel, and their mother is magical, prompting interesting fighting scenes with magical beasts and descriptions of various kinds of braids. Those just might make those of us with thin or short hair wish for longer, thicker, more abundant locks. Alas! Failing that, we can read this book and sigh over the magnificence of Rapunzel's tresses. Add this one to a collection devoted to fairy tales. ...more
Originally published in Spain, this thoughtful examination of death and the afterlife [3.5 for me!] features a granddaughter whose grandmother teachesOriginally published in Spain, this thoughtful examination of death and the afterlife [3.5 for me!] features a granddaughter whose grandmother teaches her about the beauty of nature and the importance of observing the world around her. As she learns from the elderly woman, the girl, who is the book's narrator, comes to learn some of its secrets, including the distinct songs of birds as well as the different colors worn by the males and females of various species. She also makes note of the colorful butterflies and flowers in the nearby meadows, and the girl becomes increasingly skilled in distinguishing bird sounds, even hearing the call of an owl one evening. It's clear that her grandmother has very little time left as she's described as "very old by now, and could hardly hear, hardly see, and hardly move at all" (unpaged). Knowing her time is dwindling, she tells the girl that she will fly around her when she dies. When the time comes, she's preoccupied and at first thinks little about a swallow passing by. But then she realizes its significances, recalls all that her grandmother has taught her, and considers how she too will someday "fly with a butterfly's wings" (unpaged). This is a lovely homage to the connections between generations as well as the learning that is passed down from an elder to a child. The artwork consists of thin, misty outlines of shapes and faces as well as bountiful reds, pinks, and blues for the birds, flowers, and butterflies. There's also a red thread that links between the grandmother's sewing project and some of those birds. This picture book could offer comfort to someone grieving a loss since it contains lovely memories of time spent together and also offers hope or some expectation that life goes on, although it might take a different form. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me. This author's books always stick with readers because she creates characters that are believable, even if flawed, and then pThis one is a 3.5 for me. This author's books always stick with readers because she creates characters that are believable, even if flawed, and then puts them in circumstances that are entirely too real. In this case, eleven-year-old Hank Hooperman, who dearly loves his mother, must figure out how to take care of his little sister Boo after his mother disappears. When she still hasn't returned after a week, the cupboard is bare, and the youngsters are reduced to eating a Popsicle and saltine crackers for breakfast. Desperate and with nowhere else to turn, Hank boards a bus to seek help from the woman listed as the emergency contact on his school field trip form. The woman, Lou Ann Adler, runs a childcare service in her home and immediately falls for the precocious Boo, but she isn't as happy with Hank due to his age and some personal issues from her past. Still, it's all very temporary, Hank figures, and he can stand anything until his mother comes back. As tension builds between Hank and Lou Ann, Hank finds some acceptance at school with other basketball players, a possible romance, and a kind-hearted neighbor with a dog named CPU. But he also knows that the stakes are high and time is running out. When the youngsters' mother's whereabouts are finally revealed and she pops back in their lives, Hank makes a decision that has unforeseen ramifications, and everything changes. Middle-grade readers will fall in love with Hank and keep their fingers crossed for a happy ending while knowing just hard that may be to find. They'll also relate to Hank's dilemma about doing what his mother tells him to do even when part of him knows that this will be a mistake. While parts of Hank's journey seemed rather unrealistic--the quick acceptance by several classmates at his new school--others provide insight into addiction, the foster care system and family dynamics. Fans of How to Steal a Dog will want to read this one. And just like with that book, the main character sticks with readers long after the book has been finished, leaving them wondering how everything turned out and hoping hard that things will work out and that the protagonists have a safe place to stay--a home of their own. ...more
There's a lot to like about this middle-grade novel, which is reminiscent in some ways of the classic Wizard of Oz. Ten-year-old Beatrice (B) Corwell There's a lot to like about this middle-grade novel, which is reminiscent in some ways of the classic Wizard of Oz. Ten-year-old Beatrice (B) Corwell has a menagerie of adopted cats named after the planets--eight in all!--who are devoted to her and follow her around. But what she doesn't have is her best friend, Dianne of the Flame-Red Hair, who has moved to Florida, and her beloved grandmother, Glad, who recently died, or her father, who visits only on even years. She has a handful of wishes and figures that they might come true with help from a witch. Even while she tries to harden her heart or be without one, just like the Tin Man, readers can see that it remains soft as an unexpected friendship blossoms with Caleb, a new classmate who constantly refers to how rich his family is when nothing could be further from the truth. The novel contains several interesting characters, including the secondary ones, and more than a heaping of pain and disappointment as B.'s father turns out to be just the jerk and con artist readers might expect. The glimpses into how B. thinks are interesting even though they can sometimes be confusing, and there's quite a lot of shifting around from scene to scene as well as aspects of the plot that seemed rather far-fetched. My favorite part of the story was those cats who are described so lovingly and are a lot more reliable than certain adults in the novel. ...more
Like so many Goodreads reviewers, I've been a longtime fan of Stephen King, and I especially enjoy his short stories. I can remember being convinced tLike so many Goodreads reviewers, I've been a longtime fan of Stephen King, and I especially enjoy his short stories. I can remember being convinced that he was Richard Bachman before his identity was revealed and loving Carrie, Salem's Lot, and Pet Sematary as well as the addictive Dark Tower series. While it's clear that he still knows how to tell a story, slowly building tension and managing to say more in 10 pages than some authors can do in 100, this collection of 12 stories didn't strike me as particularly original or very dark, for that matter. Perhaps I'm simply jaded or have read too many similar stories or have grown out of this sort of thing, but I ended up feeling just okay about several of the stories and bored by some. My favorites were probably "The Answer Man," "Laurie," and "The Turbulence Man," but none of them made me sit up and pay attention or want to do a reread. Some such as "On Slide In Road" COULD have become favorites if the characters had been developed a bit much, but others such as "Two Talented Bastids" seemed far too familiar and ultimately disappointing. Even before reading the Afterword, I had the distinct feeling that several of these has been works-in-progress, stashed away somewhere and then unearthed and spruced up. Since the best part of this disappointing collection (for me) was the book's jacket cover, I'm glad that I borrowed this one from the library. ...more
This is yet another middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] by the always reliable Claudia Mills that will have high appeal for its intended audience. While This is yet another middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] by the always reliable Claudia Mills that will have high appeal for its intended audience. While parts of the plot will be familiar--a new transplant trying to find her way in a new school--others concerning family secrets and family history may seem fresh and new, especially in the hands of this gifted storyteller. Twelve-year-old Sonnet has moved to Indiana with her mother and little sister, Villie, to stay with her grandfather after the death of his wife. After an unpleasant encounter with Zeke, a neighbor boy who has been homeschooled until recently, Sonnet is decidedly not thrilled when she ends up working with him on a class family history project involving interviewing the elderly man. Sonnet prefers to stick to the script during the interviews while Zeke senses that he has stories to tell and allows Gramps to dictate the direction they take, even if it means that he'll have moments of sadness and cry. After all, life has both bitter and sweet moments, something that Sonnet and her mother seem determined to forget. When one of his memories is particularly painful and earthshattering, the revelation challenges what Sonnet knows about her family and her own mother's childhood memories. All of the characters are interesting although Sonnet's poem-writing mother is less developed than the others, and it's encouraging to watch the two neighbors stumble back and forth between enmity and friendship, especially after Zeke makes a very big mistake. The topics of loss and transplantation are woven into the narrative in appealing ways, and readers will recognize that running away from hard things doesn't make them go away. ...more
Working in her father's flower shop, Juhi has learned that flowers speak many languages--the language of love, the language of faith, and the languageWorking in her father's flower shop, Juhi has learned that flowers speak many languages--the language of love, the language of faith, and the language of celebration, and in this picture book, she also realizes that they can speak the language of grief in a way that words are unable to do. One of her favorite customers and neighbors, Mr. Potter, who has always been jovial, filled with life, and eager to tell stories about his life adventures, has died, and her father has made a flower arrangement for his family. Juhi decides to fashion a garland of all the man's favorite colors and flowers as a remembrance for his wife, choosing roses, sunflowers, hydrangeas, gladioli, marigolds, and heliconias. Of course, she is touched by this remembrance, which will remind her of her husband. The artwork, consisting of gouache and digital artwork, shows off the flowers and the characters in the story in stylish, expressive fashion. It's easy to see why his work has been recognized by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People. Readers will never see flowers in quite the same way after reading this book, which also features sumptuous arrays of flowers on the endpapers. ...more
As a child of the 'Sixties growing up during the times of JFK, RFK, MLK, LBJ, and Richard Nixon, I've been an outsider to many of the events describedAs a child of the 'Sixties growing up during the times of JFK, RFK, MLK, LBJ, and Richard Nixon, I've been an outsider to many of the events described in this engaging account of various historical moments from the points of view of two political insiders--Doris Kearns Goodwin and her late husband Richard Goodwin. Drawing from memory, notes, diaries, archival material, and interviews with relevant individuals, Goodwin weaves together history, biography, and memoir as she and Dick spend the last years of his life sifting through boxes of memorabilia from that decade. The narrative includes conversations between the two of them while they are reminiscing and sorting out their complicated feelings about JFK and LBJ, for whom Dick wrote speeches while Doris served as a White House Fellow and later wrote LBJ's biography. It's clear that the 1960s were a turbulent time, but they also were a period filled with possibility and promise with various civil rights legislation being passed by Congress, successful space travel, and youth feeling as though they could make a difference and be heard. Because so much of what was good about that time period was overshadowed by violence at home and abroad in Vietnam, it's easy to see how Dick could have become disheartened. But as this book shows, his was an unfinished love story with politics, and as it turned out, both Dick and Doris emerge from their labors with a renewed appreciation of those times as well as hope for the future. Readers trying to make sense of present-day politics will gain insight by reading this book, clearly a labor of love from a thoughtful historian who manages to simplify complex processes and unravel some of the mysteries behind complex individuals. Clearly, in their heyday, this was one heck of a power couple. I enjoyed every word, laughed at times, cried at times, and felt terribly nostalgic for that decade. ...more
This YA mystery is a 2.5 for me. As a couple of other reviewers noted, the book's cover is intriguing as is its title, promising plenty of suspense. AThis YA mystery is a 2.5 for me. As a couple of other reviewers noted, the book's cover is intriguing as is its title, promising plenty of suspense. And while it does deliver on suspense, there are simply too many plot holes and clunky passages as well as some odd transition from scene to scene to leave me satisfied. The character development is rather lackluster too as it seems that Bettina Holland, the narrator and daughter of The Smiley Face Killer, who is prison for killing her mother, has just suddenly started rebelling against the strict rules of her wealthy grandparents with whom she lives, and other characters seem either stereotypical or unbelievable. Bett's character and behavior just seem inconsistent, and not just because she's a junior in high school. For someone who loves drama, she spends very little time talking or thinking about it. This issue of character development includes Bett's father who had proclaimed his innocence ever since being accused of the crime. As things play out in the story, the resolution is hard to believe, and I couldn't wait to close the book and move on to a better one. ...more
It may be a platitude to say that life isn't fair, but this well-written, emotionally engaging novel hammers that message home. It starts off with a tIt may be a platitude to say that life isn't fair, but this well-written, emotionally engaging novel hammers that message home. It starts off with a tragedy in a small California town on the coast, then moving forward 30 years as it seems that a similar tragedy will befall the same family. Star Radley, the sister of the girl who died decades ago, is unable to take care of herself, often self-medicating to dull her pain, and leaving the responsibility for her family to her daughter, thirteen-year-old Duchess Day Radley, who tends to her mother and young brother, Robin. Duchess sees herself as an outlaw, quick to react and to seek retribution for any wrongs done to her mother, her brother, or herself. But she makes a mistake that will result in several acts of unnecessary violence. The character of Duchess is well-developed, and readers will often bite their nails in fear of what's coming for her and for her barely suppressed anger. She's had to be strong for much of her life, and she's become quite skilled at hiding her softer impulses. Just as well drawn is the character of Walk(er), the local police chief who keeps on an eye on Star and her family, partly out of honor for their youthful friendship but also out of a sense of guilt for his hand in sending his best friend and her boyfriend, Vincent, to prison. He's hiding a secret of his own, worried that his Parkinson's will keep him from doing his job properly. Several secondary characters are also quite interesting, but perhaps most important when considering this book is its title and the very notion that it's at the end of a terrible experience when it is possible to start fresh and begin again. It isn't necessary--or even healthy--to remain mired in thoughts of what might have been and all the mistakes that have been made. While reflection and atonement have value, they aren't enough, and for those broken individuals and wounded warriors among us, hard as it might be, it's important to begin again, to embrace new relationships and possibilities. Life just may surprise us, just as parts of this book are gifts that make us think more deeply about relationships and the assumptions we make about those around us. Perhaps also it's a testimony to the power nature and hard work have to help us heal. The descriptions of rural Montana and small-town Cape Haven are poetic, moving, and soul-soothing. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this book. ...more
Newly retired from the Chicago Police Department and newly divorced, Cal Hooper has impulsively moved near Ardnakelty, a small Irish village where he Newly retired from the Chicago Police Department and newly divorced, Cal Hooper has impulsively moved near Ardnakelty, a small Irish village where he purchases a rundown house with plans to restore it and live a quiet life. But when a local teen learns about his background in law enforcement, Cal finds himself drawn into the youngster's life and the mystery surrounding Trey's missing brother, Brendan. As he delves deeper into Brendan's disappearance, Cal realizes that a sense of justice in his newly adopted community may be quite different from his own moral code and that, try as he might to remain uninvolved, he has a responsibility to others. While some readers found this novel to be incredibly slow and the mystery not particularly interesting, that wasn't the case for me. I appreciated the slow burn, the growing tension and build up to the resolution, and the character development. While I wasn't surprised that trouble, violence, and secrecy exist even in a remote place, the pleasure in reading this one comes from the exquisite descriptive writing and the complexity of the characters, including Cal, whose reasons for leaving the Chicago PD are ruminated in interesting fashion. Tana French is an author who takes the time to set her scenes and allow readers insight into her characters and their world. I'm not sure how far she plans to take Cal, but both of the books I've read featuring him have impressed me. ...more