A Murder for Miss Hortense

This is the most frustrating book I have not finished. To be fair, I read 200 pages and still could not keep all the characters or the chronology of events straight. This book by Mel Pennant offered a look into the Jamaican diaspora in England and I was looking forward to that. But the dialogue was thick with word usage I didn't recognize and could not altogether figure out from the context. I have absolutely no idea what it means to "cuss your teeth" and she used the phrase dozens of times. Nevertheless, the reviews I found were uniformly positive.

Booklist says, "Pennant's debut is both a gripping mystery and an eye-opening portrait of life for the Jamaicans who immigrated to England as part of the Windrush generation, emphasizing the discrimination and mistreatment they suffered as well as their close community bonds...Pennant perfectly captures the Jamaican patois in this quirky, witty tale with an unconventional cast of characters, a dark edge, and a satisfying ending." Similarly, Library Journal offers this recommendation: "Infused with humor and heartbreak, playwright and screenwriter Pennant's delightful first novel is for readers who enjoy community-based mysteries led by amateur detectives of an older generation..." 

Publishers Weekly offers this summary and positive review: "British playwright Pennant debuts with a lively cozy centered on the indomitable Miss Hortense, a Jamaican nurse who’s been living in Birmingham’s Bigglesweigh neighborhood since 1960. In the decades since Miss Hortense emigrated from Jamaica, she and her friends and neighbors have started an unofficial investigative service to look into local crimes. One case that has remained unsolved is that of “the Brute,” a man who, in 1970, brutally attacked a series of women in Bigglesweigh and left them for dead. Now, in 2000, Miss Hortense’s nemesis, Constance Brown, has turned up dead. Authorities believe she died of a heart attack, but Hortense fears murder. Then the body of a mysterious stranger is placed inside Constance’s house with a Bible verse taped to it, and Miss Hortense becomes convinced that the Beast has returned. Pennant populates Bigglesweigh with colorful, well-drawn characters and strikes an appealing tone halfway between sweet and melancholy. It’s a promising start." 

Kirkus also gushes: "Pennant’s debut mystery is written with a playwright’s deft pen; the scenes are neat, the action direct. What stands out most is the care with which characters are written, in how they move, dress, and—most notably—speak. As a bonus, traditional recipes are peppered throughout with great effect. Surrounded by the smells of turmeric and cinnamon, Hortense does her best thinking while in the kitchen.A memorable cozy with lots of depth." 

Marble Hall Murders

Anthony Horowitz has returned with protagonist Susan Ryeland, book editor, who has just separated from her Greek boyfriend and the hotel on Crete that they ran together. She wants to re-establish herself in the publishing community so reluctantly agrees to take on a project she would just as soon avoid--a continuation of the Atticus Pünd series that she formerly edited for her previous employer. She knows the author, Eliot Crace, who is the grandson of a deceased children's books author. He has been a troubled youth and his marriage hasn't seemed to be the stabilizing force that many had hoped for. It quickly becomes apparent that the book he is now writing is intended to stand in for what he believes was actually the murder of his grandmother. He has captured the series' author's knack for inserting anagrams, tricks and clues in the text of the book and Susan fears he will put himself in danger by pursuing this. "Desperately, Susan tries to prevent Eliot from putting himself in harm's way--but his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. Another murder follows . . . and suddenly Susan finds herself to be the number one suspect. Once again, the real and the fictional worlds have become dangerously entangled. And if Susan doesn't solve the mystery of Pünd's Last Case, she could well be its next victim"--" (Library Journal). 

Publishers Weekly open with this praise: "Horowitz dazzles with the brilliant third entry in his Susan Ryeland series..."  (see also Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders), and closes with this: "Horowitz throws down a gauntlet for the reader: will finding the killer in Eliot’s novel, which takes up a solid chunk of this book’s page count, translate to a conviction in the frame story? Horowitz is at the top of his game here, linking past and present in a virtuoso finale worthy of Agatha Christie. Fans will clamor for the sequel." Kirkus also recommends the books suggesting the challenges that readers will find within: "Sharpen your mental pencils. Editor Susan Ryeland is taking on her most baffling mystery-within-a-mystery....Susan’s third metafictional whodunit is Horowitz’s most extended and intricately plotted yet—at least until next year." 

Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Getting Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered

You can tell from the title that 90-something Judith Viorst is not going to take aging altogether seriously, but she does delve into very serious topics and reports what she finds from interviewing dozens of he oldster cohort. Her chapter deal with leaving one's home for a "sensible safe retirement community," with the fact that we are all "losing it," our ardent wishes for a loved someone to "stop being dead," questions about an afterlife, thoughts on happiness and loneliness and the importance of community. A short and easy read that is still thought provoking and definitely worth your time.  

The Huntress

Another historical novel from Kate Quinn. Although the woman in question is the titular killer during WWII, she is not the narrator of any of the three braided stories. We have Jordan, a teen and aspiring photographer who lives with her widowed father. She has suspicions about her father's new love interest Anneliese but she falls in love with the woman's 4-year-old daughter Ruth and her father is so happy again that she keeps her worries to herself. The we have Englishman Ian Graham, a former war correspondent who has seen the worst that humans can do. He now spends his time hunting down Nazi war criminals even though the public taste for punishment has waned. He has a special focus on the Huntress because she killed his younger brother. Finally we have Nina, raised in the wilds of northeastern Russia by a father who drank himself unconscious on a regular basis and, at one point, tried to drown Nina in Lake Baikal. Nina leaves at the earliest possible moment, learns to fly and becomes a member of the Russian women's bomber squadron known at the Night Witches. She was witness to Ian's brother's murder and is the only one who can identify the Huntress. She is technically married to Ian in order to have British citizenship.  Booklist says that the secondary characters: "... from Nina's anti-Stalinist father to Jordan's pilot boyfriend, feel three-dimensional, and the coldhearted Huntress is a complex villain."

Publishers Weekly describes this as an "exciting" and "suspenseful' thriller, although I agree with them that the book was "longer than it needs to be." I would much rather the author had chosen to focus on a single strand or maybe two, and the shifting perspectives--although clearly labeled in the chapter headings--were disruptive. Still, as Library Journal concludes, "A great choice for historical fiction fans, particularly of World War II-set novels, mystery readers, or anyone seeking well-crafted stories in which good triumphs over evil." Kirkus notes "That Jordan’s suspicions are so easily allayed strains credulity, especially since the reader is almost immediately aware that Anneliese is the Huntress in disguise. The suspense lies in how long it’s going to take Ian and company to track her down and what the impact will be on Jordan and Ruth when they do. Well-researched and vivid segments are interspersed detailing Nina’s backstory as one of Russia’s sizable force of female combat pilots ..., establishing her as a fierce yet vulnerable antecedent to Lisbeth Salander. Quinn’s language is evocative of the period, and her characters are good literary company.

Dead Money

What a twisty techno thriller from Jakob Kerr. Even the title contributes to the subtrefuge. There are deceptions within deceptions. Publishers Weekly offers this summary and review:

"Kerr puts his background as a lawyer and tech executive to good use in his impressively unpredictable debut. Mackenzie Clyde, an attorney from humble beginnings, now works as an investigator for Hammersmith, one of San Francisco's hottest venture capital firms. When Trevor Canon, head of tech startup Journy, is discovered dead in his office and the SFPD fail to make headway on the case, the founder of Hammersmith--whose firm made a $5 billion investment in Journy--uses his influence to bring in the FBI. Mackenzie joins FBI agent Jameson Danner, the son of a U.S. senator, in leading the investigation, and the pair soon discovers that, before Trevor's death, he inserted a clause into his will freezing his assets (including Hammersmith's investment) until his murderer is caught. It gradually becomes clear that only a Journy executive would have had the access necessary to kill Trevor, but each one has an airtight alibi--except for the chief technology officer, who's just disappeared. After setting the stage for a standard, albeit glitzy, murder mystery, Kerr takes the narrative on a series of hairpin turns before arriving at a jaw-dropping finale. "

Booklist says of Kerr's character development of the female protagonist, "flashbacks take the reader through Mackenzie's past. She is a confident rebel, and these vignettes show just how far she'll go to get what she wants. Kerr's writing in the main story is fast paced and straightforward; it's in the flashbacks where the story shines, giving the reader insight into Mackenzie's character." Kirkus opens their review by saying, "Tech insider Kerr’s twisty, propulsive debut explores Silicon Valley’s dark side through the eyes of a wily outsider heroine." They go on to conclude, "This surprising nesting doll of a thriller, in which no one is who they appear to be, layers one story inside another within another...Kerr has created one of the most memorable female thriller protagonists in recent years. Striking not only because of her unusually tall height, the independent Mackenzie is determined to control her destiny in a male-dominated industry. A sharply observed portrait of the tech world and the role ambitious women play in it."

The Diamond Eye

 Another great historical novel from Kate Quinn featuring a strong female protagonist. Here is the summary and review from Publishers Weekly:

"Quinn ... draws on a historical female sharpshooter from WWII in her exciting latest. In 1937, Mila Pavlichenko studies history at Kiev University and raises her five-year-old son, Slavka. She's estranged from her husband, Alexei, a surgeon whom she met when she was 15. When the Germans invade Russia, Mila, who's already trained at a marksmanship school, enlists in the army, is assigned sniper duty, and earns the nickname "Lady Death" for her high number of kills. In battle, Mila is steadfast about completing her missions with her partner, Kostia, and also finds time to write letters to Slavka. In 1942, Soviet leaders send Mila with a delegation to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Roosevelt in a bid to seek American support... Mila unexpectedly develops a friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, but faces a threat from a misogynistic male marksman who sends her threatening notes. Quinn humanizes Mila by showing how she and Kostia use humor--along with a healthy amount of vodka--to cope with their risk-taking, and she convinces with her description of Eleanor's political savvy and influence on the president. Historical fiction fans will be riveted. " 

Library Journal also praises with these additional observations: "There's so much packed into this book, from subtle, complex characters who grow and change throughout to lessons about this the real history behind the book. The relationships build an emotionally engaging foundation as tension builds on battlefields and danger tracks Mila in Washington. Quinn (The Rose Code) specializes in centering strong women; each of her books exceeds expectations set by the previous title." Booklist calls the book "thrilling" and concludes, "Recommend it to... all lovers of smart historical fiction....[Quinn's] inspiration for the hero of this powerful WWII tale, a librarian-turned-military-sniper, will appeal to an even greater audience."

Assassins Anonymous

This book with a somewhat preposterous premise by Rob Hart, is nevertheless filled with the kinds of struggles faced by those in any 12-step addiction recovery program. The book jacket gives an accurate flavor of the storyline. "Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life's work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind, and joined a twelve-step group for reformed killers. When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who's after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle." 

Publishers Weekly opens their review with this, "A legendary assassin joins a support group of murderers hoping to cure themselves of their addiction to violence in Hart's nail-biting latest..." and concludes, "Mark's continued efforts to stay "clean" from violence provide welcome humor to the otherwise breakneck proceedings. Strong characters and rattling suspense lift things further above par." Kirkus generally concurs, saying "Despite Mark’s insistence that 'being an assassin is nothing like John Wick,'  Hart’s latest wears its myriad cinematic influences on its sleeve. Escalating stakes and precisely choreographed action sequences keep the pages turning, but a slew of increasingly gonzo twists skew the tone toward camp—a vibe underscored by Mark’s droll yet angsty first-person-present narration. Though Hart often mistakes quirk for character development, the scenes Mark shares with his fellow recovering murder addicts impart some nice emotional resonance, helping to ground the tale and lend it heft. Bombastic whiz-bang fun."

The Frozen River

This historical mystery by Ariel Lawhon is based on the real life midwife, Martha Ballard, who in the late 1700's delivered over 1,000 babies and never lost a mother. When the rape of a friend and a murder occur in her small town, Martha is determined to seek justice. Here is the plot summary and review from Booklist: 

"Spanning the winter of 1789--90 in Hallowell, Maine, from the freezing of the Kennebec River to its late thaw, Lawhon's outstanding sixth novel is based on the actual life of frontier midwife Martha Ballard, who recorded daily diary entries about her household and career. Called to examine the body of Joshua Burgess after it was retrieved from icy waters, Martha recognizes the telltale signs of hanging. Burgess and another man, a local judge, had been accused of raping a young pastor's wife four months earlier, and Martha believes her account unquestioningly. She also guesses the two crimes are connected. A sage, strong presence at 54, Martha is an extraordinary character. Devoted to her patients and her six surviving children, mostly young adults with complicated love lives, she battles subjugation by a Harvard-educated doctor who dares to think her incapable. Although this isn't a traditional detective story, Martha's narrative will capture historical mystery fans' attention with its dramatic courtroom scenes and emphasis on justice, particularly for women. Flashbacks to Martha's past add context and generate additional suspense. Martha's enduring romance with her supportive husband, Ephraim, is beautifully evoked, and details about the lives of the townspeople make the post-American Revolutionary atmosphere feel fully lived-in. Lawhon's first-rate tale should entrance readers passionate about early America and women's history." 

Publishers Weekly concurs, concluding, "Lawhon combines modern prose with the immediacy of her source material, making for an accessible and textured narrative. This accomplished historical powerfully speaks to centuries-old inequities that remain in the present day." Highly recommended.

Pro Bono

Thomas Perry is the author of almost 2 dozen books. Kirkus calls this a "lumpy but irrisistible thriller" and summarizes the plot as follows:

"Three years after George Ellis left a party he was hosting and never returned, his wife, Vesper, notices that some of his investment accounts have been shrinking instead of growing. Suspecting fraud, she consults Charles Warren, who’s been recommended by a mutual friend. Charlie turns out to be an excellent choice for several reasons. He’s both an attorney and accountant, so he’s good with numbers. He’s hard to bully, as any number of bankers and potential assailants learn to their cost. And he has both sympathy for the victims of fraud and extensive criminal experience, which began long ago when he raced after his fleeing stepfather, Mack Stone—who’d plundered the accounts of Charlie’s mother—running him off the road into a fatal crash that’s never been tied to Charlie except by Andy Minkeagan and Alvin Copes, two convicts who turned up at the scene of Mack’s accident ahead of the police, ran off with his financial papers, and are still bent on finding a way to cash in on their discovery. In fact, Charlie and Vesper are surrounded by so many lowlifes in pinstripes that it’s a good thing they have each other. As the story goes on, though, the obstacles to Charlie’s legal victories seem to fall away, and readers familiar with Perry’s knack for steering his tales in new directions they never saw coming may wonder what will happen during those last hundred pages. A series of completely new threats against a completely different person, that’s what. A model of suspense, though not of construction."

The Wall Street Journal praises this latest work: "Few crime-fiction authors are as skilled as Thomas Perry at keeping readers off balance and in suspense. Mr. Perry’s “Pro Bono,” a cutthroat caper of embezzlement and revenge, repeatedly shifts direction as its unpredictable plot unfolds." 

 

The Dark Maestro

This is Brendan Slocumb's "impressive third thriller" (Publishers Weekly). Here is the plot summary from Library Journal:

"Slocumb's (Symphony of Secrets) new novel, a musical literary thriller, illustrates the shady side of a life of crime but also the beauty of the strings in the symphony. Curtis Wilson is a child prodigy on the cello who received his instrument through a free school program. His father, Zippy, is a low-level drug dealer in Washington, DC, who doesn't have much time for his son. But Zippy's girlfriend Larissa sees and encourages Curtis's musical potential while gifting him the comic books he devours. While, Zippy's boss moves Zippy into a higher but sketchier business position, Curtis earns a spot at Julliard and is becoming known nationwide as a star cellist. Then his father turns state's evidence and the family is moved into witness protection, putting a hold on Curtis's skyrocketing musical career. The family comes together, however, while in hiding to create an online comic book called The Dark Maestro and to pick up where the FBI has left off on a quest for justice. VERDICT The twists of the story keep coming, and the thread of superhero comics and the Dark Maestro bring readers along on a journey that comic book fans will appreciate." 

Publishers Weekly concludes their favorable review by saying, "Slocumb effectively incorporates issues of class and race into the well-paced story, for example by prompting readers to wonder if Curtis would have to go so deep undercover if he were white instead of one of the few elite Black cellists. Though the narrative requires more than a little suspension of disbelief, it’s worth sticking around for the nerve-jangling climax. This is as stimulating as a well-played sonata."  Similarly, Kirkus offers thiese favorable closing comments: "This is an intricately plotted novel, paced perfectly by Slocumb, who keeps the book moving at a breakneck speed—but not at the expense of his beautifully drawn characters. Curtis, shy and sweet, is especially memorable; Slocumb paints a beautiful picture of the young man’s internal life. The final act of the book strains credulity, but who cares when you’re having so much fun? This novel should catapult Slocumb into the upper echelon of thriller authors. A virtuosic thriller."

Fever Beach

What to say about Carl Hiaasen's new book? It is the very definition of schadenfreude -- taking pleasure in the suffering of others. And we get to indulge this as Dale Figgo, ardent white supremacist, and his merry --and usually drunk or high-- band of brothers take a drubbing from the weather, a group of transgender performers, and wealthy eco-warrior Twilly Spree. Additional cast members are described by Booklist : "Dale Figgo, a right-wing nutcase who was too crazy for the Proud Boys; Viva Morales, who's renting a room from Dale, and whose bosses, a pair of alleged philanthropists [the Minks], are almost certainly up to no good; an ambitious and deeply corrupt congressman [Clure Boyette, "an apparent caricature of Matt Gaetz, though somewhat tame by comparison" according to the NYT]; Dale's mom, who isn't thrilled about what her son is doing with his life; and a bunch of other delightfully weird characters." They go on to close their review: "There is a serious story to be told about right-wing conspiracists, corrupt politicians, and shady philanthropists, and Hiaasen is sort of telling that story, but mostly he's making us laugh... This could be his funniest book yet."  Boyette plans to use the grant money received from the Minks to fund Figgo's group in a voter intimidation scheme, hiding this behind the public face of a phony home building non-profit using child workers. The New York Times notes that Florida beat Hiaasen to the punch  as "the satire arrives pre-obsolesced by a reality even stupider and more depraved than the author dared imagine: The Florida Legislature recently considered a bill to legalize child labor to replace the holes in the work force left by waves of deportation." was somewhat more measured in their review, saying the book is "both feverish and beachy: a bottomless margarita...'Fever Beach' becomes finally a test of the reader’s own appetite for sanctimony and schadenfreude. As with the bottomless margarita, you’ll have to decide for yourself when enough is enough." Kirkus values what the book has to offer: "The perfect antidote for anyone who doomscrolls daily headlines: more crazed, rollicking, sharply written sendups like this." And Publishers Weekly concurs, "This funhouse-mirror satire offers welcome opportunities to laugh at the absurdities of 21st-century politics. It’s Hiaasen at his finest."

 

Wild Dark Shore

In this speculative climate fiction by Charlotte McConaghy, the story takes place on the sub-Antarctic island of Shearwater, home to the world' largest seed storage vault. Modeled on the actual island of Macquarie Island, located halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica, which does have a similar research station but no light house. The Salt family--father Dom, oldest son Raff, daughter Fen and youngest son Orly--are the caretakers of the island and have been ordered to prepare for evacuation as increasingly violent storms and rising sea levels are rapidly eroding the shoreline and taking the research facilities with them. During the worst storm they have ever experienced, they find a woman, Rowan, washed ashore and barely alive. As she is nursed back to health and becomes more integrated into the routine life of the family and the island, she forever alters the family dynamics. But everyone in this story is keeping secrets, secrets that may tear apart their newfound sense of hope. We don't get all the answers until the very end of the book. A predictable romance arises between widower Dominic and Rowan, but the ending is a surprise. The book is filled with delightful bits of obscure knowledge about plants and animals compliments of avidly curious Orly, and each member of the cast contributes their own viewpoints and experience in dedicated chapters. 

Library Journal closes their review with "As lush as it is taut with tension, this novel is filled with both the joys and ravages of nature." Publishers Weekly offers this: "McConaghy ratchets up the tension as the characters' paranoia and mutual suspicion increases and their motives are revealed,...McConaghy blends entertainment with a sobering message about conservation and the impacts of geographic isolation. Readers of climate fiction ought to check this out." The New York Times focuses on this observation: "In 'Wild Dark Shore,' we’re shown why a person might withdraw from the messiness of life after tragedy and trauma...The novel also offers its injured characters a path back to connection and community, a risk McConaghy argues must be worth taking, no matter how fraught the future, no matter how temporary the family. As Rowan reflects later in the novel: 'What is the use of safety if it deprives you of everything else?'" Kirkus opens their laudatory review with this, "The reality of climate change serves as the pervasive context for this terrific thriller..." and concludes by noting "While McConaghy keeps readers guessing which suspicions are valid, which are paranoia, and who is culpable for doing what in the face of calamity, the most critical battle turns out to be personal despair versus perseverance. McConaghy writes about both nature and human frailty with eloquent generosity. Readers won’t want to leave behind the imagined world of pain and beauty that McConaghy has conjured."

The Nowhere Man

This second installment in the "Orphan X" series by Greg Hurwitz turns the tables on our hero who becomes the victim rather than the rescuer in this episode. A very wealthy man with endless resources kidnaps Evan and demands access to the millions he has stashed away in a secure bank account. Meanwhile the calls for help from Evan impose an inexorable deadline on making his escape from the seemingly airtight and luxurious prison where he is being held. 

Library Journal concludes their short review by saying, "Though the loner-on-a-quest story line isn't new to thrillers, Hurwitz excels at writing smart characters and plots. His latest continues his track record. Fans of Jack Reacher will love Evan Smoak, a man who will do anything to aid the innocent..." Booklist gives this "brilliant sequel" a starred review and gushes with this praise: "Though the loner-on-a-quest story line isn't new to thrillers, Hurwitz excels at writing smart characters and plots. His latest continues his track record. Fans of Jack Reacher will love Evan Smoak, a man who will do anything to aid the innocent..."  Publishers Weekly also recommends this book, closing with these words: "Despite meticulous efforts to maintain his cover, Evan faces many enemies who wish him grievous harm. One of them is Charles Van Sciver, the most brutal of the Orphans, who’s now running the program and is on a mission to hunt down former members of the organization. Evan’s efforts to elude Van Sciver and company will keep readers on the edge of their seats, but it’s Hurwitz’s engaging, sympathetic characters who place this thriller above the pack."

The Mystery of the Crooked Man

This mystery by Tom Spencer (pseudonym for Tom Perrin) starts out slow but eventually pulls you into the twisty plot. The main character is a bit of an anti-hero and the ending is a surprise. Here is Publishers Weekly's review in full: 

"Spencer... serves up an affectionate homage to Agatha Christie that seamlessly blends satire and fair-play mystery. Crotchety archivist Agatha Dorn is an expert on Gladden Green, author of a bestselling mystery series featuring the Poirot-like Père Flambeau. After she's passed over for a promotion, Dorn discovers the manuscript of an unpublished Flambeau novella by Green. She convinces Green's publisher to let her write an introduction to the text, which she insists she's vetted, and quickly becomes a literary sensation. Her achievement is marred, however, when her best friend and ex-lover, Amy Murgatroyd, dies--ostensibly by suicide, but Dorn suspects foul play. Then the novella turns out to be a fake, and a disgraced Dorn starts catching glimpses of a shadowy figure who resembles a villain from another Green novel. Bruised and grieving, she sets out to solve the mystery of Murgatroyd's death. Dorn is a refreshingly acerbic and misanthropic lead, and Spencer ushers the plot through a series of wild swings without sacrificing plausibility. This witty whodunit will delight fans of Anthony Horowitz. " 

And here are excerpts from the New York Times short review: "Sometimes you know immediately that a book is going to get under your skin and stay there...Spencer’s tart debut... vaults the reader into the world of Agatha Dorn, an irritable archivist and passionate devotee of mystery fiction — particularly the work of Gladden Green (think Agatha Christie through a fun-house mirror.) ...Is Agatha 'a crazy woman, haphazardly but unmistakably drifting down and out, sick, unemployed, drunk, obsessed with solving a murder that had never occurred?' Or 'a maverick, pursuing truth and justice … even at the cost of [her] own well-being?' Maybe she’s both."

The Briar Club

This historical novel by Kate Quinn had me from the first chapter. I previously read her book The Alice Network, which was also based on some actual people as well as actual events-- the reason I love historical mysteries.  This one is set in Washington D.C. in the early to mid-50's, during the height of McCarthy's "red scare" terror campaign. Several women who live in a down-at-the-heels women's boarding house are converted from strangers passing in the night to a tightly knit group of friends by the actions of one woman, Grace March. We are provided chapters from each woman's point of view with information about their histories, their dreams and their insecurities. Nobody is fully who they appear to be and the characters are ones you will cheer for--for the most part. Also the two children in the house, Pete and Lina, mistreated by their mother and apparently abandoned by their father, are taken under Grace's and then everyone else's care. We know from the beginning that a murder or two has been committed--this current situation is being narrated by the house itself--and the rest of the book provides the backstory to the present events. Wonderful characters, rich settings, and a twisty surprise at the end. Highly recommended.

Here is Publishers Weekly's summary of plot and characters: "when widowed 30-something Grace March arrives at Briarwood. She meets Fliss, a harried new mother; Bea, a former pro baseball player; Claire, a file clerk for Sen. Margaret Chase Smith; Nora, an employee of the National Archives; and Arlene, a secretary for the House Un-American Activities Committee who’s fully embraced the hysterical rhetoric of her boss, Sen. Joseph McCarthy. As the women bond, clash, and pursue various romantic entanglements, they remain committed to holding weekly dinner parties in Grace’s room. As Quinn gradually steers the narrative back toward the violent opening scene, she elegantly explores issues of race, class, and gender, and brings the paranoid atmosphere of McCarthy-era Washington to vivid life."

 

Murder at Gull's Nest

This cozy mystery, set in 1954 along the southern coast of England, is a first in what will be the "Nora Breen Investigates" series by Jess Kidd.  Nora has recently left her vocation as a nun after 30 years in order to find out what happened to a novitiate that she cared for at her former monastery (not a convent according to Nora). She is dealing with the loss of structure that being a sister provided her as well as the overwhelming freedoms and choices presented by the outside world. Nevertheless, she has taken up residence at a run-down boarding house in Gore-on-Sea called Gulls Nest, which is where her friend Frieda last lived before apparently vanishing one night. Nora is convinced that Frieda would not have voluntarily broken her promise to write to Nora and wants the local police to treat this as a missing persons case, which they are unwilling to do. When a resident at Gulls Nest dies from strychnine poisoning, DI Rideout concludes it's a suicide but Nora and the deceased's wife are sure it was murder. Of course Nora is relentless in interviewing the motley assortment of boarders at the Gull's Nest and uncovers secrets that the police have missed. She gradually earns the respect of DI Rideout with her results and they develop a warm working relationship.

Kirkus opens their review by saying "An undercover nun tracks the fate of a lost friend and solves a dastardly murder in an English seaside town." and recommends this as "A delightful series kickoff in a cozy community primed for more murder."

Publishers Weekly calls this a "delightful series launch" and concludes their review by saying "Elegant prose, vivid characterizations, and a fascinating protagonist add up to a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. Readers will be eager for the sequel." I totally agree.

How the Penguins Saved Veronica

I've read so many good things about this 2nd novel from Hazel Prior that I was pleased when one of my book groups picked it to be on our reading list this year. Also my sisterhood fellowship decided to read it together as well. It was slow to start but then you definitely come to care for the characters and, of course, for the Adelie penguins in Antarctica. Veronica McCreedy has hardened her heart after a life full of heartbreak and loss. She is financially secure thanks to a short earlier marriage but is now alone in the world with no known living relatives. When her housekeeper, Eileen, suggests she use a service to track down possible relatives, Veronica discovers she has a here-to-fore unknown grandson, Patrick. Who turns out to be a slovenly, shiftless, drug using disappointment--or so it appears upon their initial meeting. While watching her favorite nature show on the telly one night, Veronica becomes enthralled with the threatened existence of Antarctic penguis--the Adelies. She decides she will leave her legacy of several million pounds to the research and conservation effort but first wants to see first hand what she's giving her money to. Through Eileen, she lets the small science station on Locket Island in the Antarctic Shetlands know that she is coming to visit. And she does make the long arduous trip from Scotland, in spite of the scientists attempts to discourage her. She falls in love with the penguins "joie de vivre" and then falls particularly hard for an orphaned chick which she convinces the others to take in and care for.

Booklist closes their review by saying, "A charming journey of a stubborn old lady hoping to counter her many hardships with an altruistic act...Prior's done her homework on Adélie penguins and Antarctic research conditions, immersing readers in a captivating world that's otherwise hard to reach." Kirkus offers this: "Prior...has written a story about the importance of family and love and how memories might remain long buried but, once they surface, can be just as distressing or joy-inducing as when they first occurred. The narrative, partially told by Veronica, partially by Patrick, and partially via emails, blog posts, and diary entries, explores the complicated emotions that guide people’s decisions, in both good and bad ways. Drug use, addiction, and depression are touched on, but Prior ensures that readers understand the underlying goodness of her characters and their ability to survive despite loss. While some might view the story’s proselytizing about climate change and the redemptive love of animals onerous, others will agree wholeheartedly. A light but enjoyable, optimistic tale." 

Definitely an encouraging story in these dismal times.

The Angel of the Crows

This is the 3rd book I've read by Katherine Addison and I found it equally as satisfying as the other two (The Goblin Emperor and The Witness for the Dead).  This is set in 1880's London and is a take-off on the Sherlock Holmes body of work. However, in this alternate version of London, supernatural creatures are an accepted part of the culture and vampires and werewolves have long-standing treaties with the human population that allows them to function fairly normally in society--within their own limitations. Angels are commonplace guardians of buildings but the Holmesian figure is the Angel for the entire region of London since his building was destroyed. He is often called in to consult for the police. He has the wings of a crow and is called the same. His new flatmate is Dr. Doyle who has some significant secrets to hide but needs a living space he he can afford on a retired military doctor's stipend. Dr. Doyle quickly gets involved with Crow's cases, especially the murders of prostitutes in Whitechapel.

Library Journal says of this book, " A twisting, surprising Sherlock bend in a world of angels, hell-hounds, and other supernatural beings. Readers may know the names and the stories, but here is an original tale. ...Addison ... enthralls readers with her character-driven action, intriguing expressions of identity and sexuality, and a world set in an alternate 1880s London that captures the imagination. " Similarly, Booklist concludes, "Supernatural versions of classic Holmes stories take place alongside the Ripper murders, with Doyle and Crow in the thick of them. While very different in tone from her last work, Addison's adept characterization and world building elevate The Angel of Crows above the run-of-the-mill Holmes pastiche. Highly recommended for ... anyone looking to be immersed in a well-wrought alternate historical fantasy world."

Kirkus offers a favorabld review as well: "Supernatural versions of classic Holmes stories take place alongside the Ripper murders, with Doyle and Crow in the thick of them. While very different in tone from her last work, Addison's adept characterization and world building elevate The Angel of Crows above the run-of-the-mill Holmes pastiche. Highly recommended for fans of Kim Newman's Anno-Dracula (1993) and Ian R. MacLeod's The Light Ages (2003) or anyone looking to be immersed in a well-wrought alternate historical fantasy world." 

I reallly like Addison's characters and world building and will seek out anything else she has written.

Crossing to Safety

Having already won a Pulitzer for Angle of Repose and a National Book Award for The Spectator Bird, Wallace Stegner crafted this loving reflection on friendship and the vicissitudes of life. I read this book decades ago, have recommended it to many and, in the process, lost my own copy. So I re-purchased the book and re-read it for one of my book groups. The lyrical language and the portrayal of the main characters grabbed me as firmly as they did the first time around. The first sentence is illustrative of his magic with words: "Floating upward through a confusion of dreams and memory, curving like a trout through the rings of previous risings, I surface. My eye open. I am awake."

Two couples meet in Madison Wisconsin through their husbands who are novice faculty/ instructors in the university's English department. Sid and Charity Lang come from east coast social class and money. Larry and Sally Morgan are poor westerners, yet somehow they bond, largely through the effusive and generous efforts of Charity. Both Charity and Sally are pregnant, due to deliver at the same time and so the baby delivery derby is on. Sid and Larry share long walks to talk over the multiple obstacles they face to find permanent employment in the middle of the Depression (1937). Both feel the university offers promise. Sid wants to write poetry but his wife drives him to write academia; whereas Sally supports Larry fiction writing passion. They both have to teach to earn their chops. During the good times they share, the two couples feel they are the "four in Eden.'' But, in Eden, there was also a serpent in the grass and in this case it is Charity's drive to make her husband into something he is not. "...headstrong, insufferably well-organized Charity tries to bully the passive Sid into a more aggressive mold. Charity is one of the most vivid characters in fiction; if she is arrogant, she is also kindhearted, enthusiastic, stalwart and brave--an ardent liver of life. Her incandescent personality is both the dominant force and the source of strain in the enduring friendship Stegner conveys with brilliant artistry (Publishers Weekly).

Publishers Weekly calls the book "a meditation on the idealism and spirit of youth, when the world is full of promise, and on the blows and compromises life inevitably inflicts..." and goes on to assert that Stegner "has created a believable human drama the dimensions of which reach out beyond the story's end and resonate in the reader's heart." Library Journal closes their review by saying, "This is a wonderfully rich, warm, and affecting book. Highly recommended." To be fair, I include the comments from Kirkus' less than laudatory review which opens and closes with the following: "Stegner takes a long look back—at four decades of a foursome's life—in a novel that at moments is beguiling, though at others it labors for its theme... Stegner clings to his theme of undying friendship beyond the point where his material keeps it alive, leading him to an often visibly artificial and conventionalized effort to push things along to their end. In all, less moving as a whole piece than highly remarkable for the fine penetration and achievement of some of its moments." I still thought the journey was worth it, precisely because of those moments.

The God of the Woods

This book  by Liz Moore (see also my post on Long Bright River) is on so many "recommended" and best seller lists that it's hard to know where to start. The basic plot line is that at a summer wilderness camp for the rich kids, a teenage girl, Barbara, goes missing who just happens to be the daughter of the camp owners. She is a troubled girl who has threatened many times to run away and that is what most people assume has happened. Nevertheless, because of the political pull of the family, it's all hands on deck and the state police are brought in to search for her. This in turn revives the case of the same family's young son who went missing 14 years ago and was never found, although the disappearance and presumed death are blamed on a staff member who died before he could exonerate himself. There is a fair amount of ill will in the nearby communities toward the family as a result. The two story lines are relayed from multiple perspectives including the girl's mother Alice, the camp director T.J., the state investigator Judy, Louise the camp counselor, Tracy who was Barbara's bunk mate and friend, and occasionally Jacob, a serial killer who was on the loose when Bear disappeared and has escaped prison in the present context. The book jumps back and forth in time from the disappearance in 1961 of Bear to the present summer in 1975. There is a timeline at the head of each chapter to provide the appropriate chronological context.

Publishers Weekly calls it a "gripping and revelatory tale... [that] astonishes." Library Journal concludes their review favorably: "The novel's artfully described setting and the intricately interwoven plots and perspectives of its many players--some innocent and others monstrous--result in expert storytelling that is equally fascinating and devastating...Moore's novel is wild yet delicate, with complex characters and an immersive reading experience that will draw audiences. Its explorations of class, crime, and family dynamics, in addition to Moore's incredible storytelling, will appeal to readers of Lisa Jewell, Tana French, and Lucy Foley." Kirkus also provides a favorable close to their review: "Picking up on the themes of families in search of themselves she explored in Long Bright River (2020), Moore draws sympathy to characters who have been subjected to spousal, parental, psychological, and physical abuse. As rich in background detail and secondary mysteries as it is, this ever-expansive, intricate, emotionally engaging novel never seems overplotted. Every piece falls skillfully into place and every character, major and minor, leaves an imprint. 'Don't go into the woods' takes on unsettling new meaning in Moore's blend of domestic drama and crime novel." The New York Times notes, "But Moore’s novel is more than just a mystery about children lost in the woods. It concerns the relationships between parents and children and haves and have-nots." Maureen Corrigan, writing for the Washington Post, says, transports readers so deeply into its richly peopled, ominous world that, for hours, everything else falls away...Rather than a straightforward sensational yarn, Moore’s story jumps around non-sequentially from the 1950s through the 1970s and is crowded with characters: campers, counselors, the Van Laars and their tony houseguests, townspeople, and local police. Throughout, Moore’s language is unflaggingly precise...As wise as it is about the vulnerability of adolescence, “The God of the Woods” is also chillingly astute about the invisible boundaries demarcating social class...it too offers strong social criticism. As it unfolds, “The God of the Woods” becomes more and more focused on how its female characters break free — or don’t — of the constraints of their time and social class. Whatever the case, breaking free of the spell Moore casts is close to impossible."

Orphan X

I really liked this initial entry in the "Orphan X" series by Gregg Hurwitz. The character is Evan Smoak (a nom de guerre), an orphan taken in as a 12-year old to a clandestine program to train untraceable killers. He is accomplished at his job, paranoid about privacy and security, and also empathetic to human pain and suffering When the Orphans program is terminated and his mentor killed, Evan becomes a pro bono free-lance helper--a bit like "The Equalizer"-- taking on one new client at a time referred strictly by previous clients.  But suddenly he finds himself the target of another former Orphan and it will require every bit of his resourcefulness and determination to stay alive. 

Booklist gives this a starred review, concluding with "Knowing that this is the start of a series reduces tension only a sliver in this high-tech, nonstop thriller. Hurwitz, known for this kind of adrenaline-producing fiction ...adds enough humanity to the action to make this a standout, and readers should get in at the start." Publishers Weekly offers this summary and review: "Bestseller Hurwitz ... melds nonstop action and high-tech gadgetry with an acute character study in this excellent series opener. Evan Smoak, who was trained to be an assassin under the government’s secret Orphan Program, is now a rogue operator known as the Nowhere Man with a mission to help those in need. As payment, each of his clients refers him to another innocent person in trouble. But Evan becomes the hunted when he tries to help Katrin White, whose father will be killed unless she pays gambling debts. A sense of authenticity permeates the story, no matter how outlandish the tech toys or over-the-top the action. Evan is an electrifying character who chooses daily to do good. Run-ins with his L.A. condo board add a bit of levity while a growing relationship with neighbor Mia Hall and her eight-year-old son, Peter, reinforce that a normal life is just out of Evan’s reach." Kirkus is more measured in their review, concluding, "Hurwitz closes with an unexpected narrative left turn, but even though he’s painted Evan adequately, including vague hints of possible romance with neighbor Mia, a widowed single mother, Evan will need another adventure or two before he grows into an empathetic hero. With his digital-age The Avenger, Hurwitz races by minor plot holes and spins a web of relentless intrigue with bursts of tensely sketched violence." The Guardian recommends the book by saying, "Orphan X is weapons-grade thriller-writing from a modern master."

Movie rights have already been sold. I look forward to reading further installments.

Deadly Animals

This debut thriller by Marie Tierney kept me engaged and rooting for the 14-year-old protagonist, Ava Bonney. Ava is an auto-didact, widely read and filled with arcane information about a wealth of things after reading her father's collection of crime and psychology magazines. Her innate curiosity has taken a macabre turn as she is fascinated by the processes subsequent to the death of animals. She has her own little Potter's field where she studies rates of decomposition of various animals that she finds. One night on her regular clandestine rounds of dead creatures she discovers the badly decomposed body of a classmate, a bully named Mickey. This begins a series of abductions and murders of young boys and of Ava's cat and mouse game with the investigating officers as they seek to find the killer. Ava provides valuable leads and clues anonymously using a mimicry of a posh older woman as she knows no one would take a teen's ideas seriously enough. Ava is an engaging character as are her best friend John and DS Delahaye. Publishers Weekly agrees in their assessment of Ava: "Ava earns readers' investment in this macabre procedural--she's a clever, compassionate, and resourceful protagonist with series-carrying potential." Set in a relatively poor part of Birmingham, England, the details about life in such a community add color to the evolving plot.

Booklist offers a glowing review, "Tierney's debut novel is a dark, twisted story featuring a unique heroine and a haunting mystery...the book's 1980s setting lets the mystery unfold without the help of DNA or more modern forensics. Ava's relationship with the detectives is a bright spot in an otherwise intense story (even if her involvement in the case at times comes across as unbelievable). Thriller fans who like their stories on the darker side will adore this book." Likewise, Kirkus praises, "In this chilling novel, Tierney pairs the precocious Ava with an open-minded police detective named Seth Delahaye to create an unlikely—and memorable—crime fighting duo. An “eternal student” gifted with the willingness to learn from everyone he meets, Delahaye appreciates Ava’s intelligence and preternatural ability to read between the lines of physical evidence, which he witnesses firsthand when she begins anonymously calling the police station with information about the murders. Her observation that the murderer is a deeply disturbed young person who suffers from clinical lycanthropy goes against what Delahaye expects to find. But the closer the two get to uncovering the killer, the more it becomes clear that Ava’s shocking conclusions hold more truth than anyone could want or imagine. By turns terrifying and heartbreaking in its depictions of the bloodthirsty killer—and, by extension, the brutality that lies at the heart of every human being—this eloquent, darkly suspenseful debut novel will haunt the reader’s imagination. An edge-of-your-seat thriller with a savage twist."

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

I read this book by prolific and award-winning horror author Stephen Graham Jones on the basis of several glowing reviews. Here is the plot summary from Publishers Weekly's review:

"Bestseller Jones ... astonishes in this ingenious, weird western reimagining of the vampire tale. In a frame narrative set in 2012, academic Etsy Beaucarne learns of the discovery of a 1912 manuscript hidden in the wall of a Montana parsonage, written by her great-great-great-grandfather Arthur. Within lies Arthur's transcription of the personal history told to him during confession by Good Stab, a Blackfeet warrior. Decades earlier, Good Stab was bitten by a being he refers to as "the Cat Man," a caged, feral creature transported by an ill-fated expedition of white settlers. That bite endows Good Stab with supernatural powers of healing and regeneration, but also a voracious thirst for blood, which he slakes by preying on the white hunters ravaging the frontier through their profligate slaughter of buffalo herds. Good Stab's horrifying ordeal offers a dark window into the history of conflict between America's Indigenous inhabitants and its white colonizers, with Jones incorporating details of the real-life Marias Massacre of Blackfeet by the U.S. Army into the plot. Jones heightens the impact of the massacre's recounting through Good Stab's narrative voice, whose easy incorporation of lore and myth into his vernacular makes the supernatural seem believable. It's a remarkably well-wrought work of historical horror that will captivate Jones's fans and newcomers alike." 

Booklist concludes their review with this "A riveting story of heartbreak, death, and revenge, this remarkable work of American fiction, a thought-provoking tale filled with existential terror, unease, and a high body count, transforms, in Jones' deft hands, from the unapologetic horror novel it most certainly is into a critique of the entire idea of the United States--a critique that, despite the horrors, both real and supernatural, is forcefully infused with both heart and hope."

Library Journal's review and recommendation: "Etsy Beaucarne is a professor under pressure to publish more, thereby securing tenure. When a dayworker finds a 1912 manuscript written by Arthur Beaucarne, an unknown relative, she may have found a way. Arthur's journal tells of his life as a pastor while transcribing the account of Good Stab, a man from the Blackfoot Nation who says he is a vampire. These three distinct narrative voices are layered within the novel, and each voice contributes to a compelling story that draws readers forward, even as the terror increases. The horrors of historical atrocities are described while also bringing readers along in a deep exploration of identity, revenge, guilt, and the potential for hope. While this is a unique vampire story, it is also grief horror, portraying the mourning of a land and a people, inscribing profound sorrow for what was and what can never be again. VERDICT Jones... holds up past atrocities and their impact into the future. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical horror with family history..." 

NPR calls this "Jones' masterpiece...because the prose is gorgeous and the plot is complex, engaging, and multilayered..."  The New York Times offers that Jones "...has created a novel that invites us to reflect on how the stories we tell about ourselves can be at once confessions and concealments..." Kirkus closes their review with this, "A weirdly satisfying and bloody reckoning with some of America’s most shameful history." 

Although this book is about and partially told from the perspective of a vampire, that word is never used in the book. I found the narrative of Good Stab (the native American vampire) to be very slow and even tedious in spite of the graphic depictions of his vengeful and life-preserving kills.

Fan Service

Okay, I am rarely interested in romance novels but this one was well-written and I was a bit tired of heavy reading. Rosie Danan is the author of several other steamy romance novels. I agree with Library Journal's recommendation, "This quirky, humorous romance is well-written and plotted, and readers will quickly fall in love with its interesting characters." Booklist concurs, concluding that the book is a "well-written twist on the appealing fish-out-of-water trope. Even readers who don't normally enjoy paranormal romance will find it hard to resist Alex and Devin." Kirkus also offers a positive review, "The paranormal elements in this story are fun, and Devin’s wolfishness makes the spicy scenes extra delicious. These are flawed characters and the ways they become better because of their relationship is endearing...Both playful and thoughtful, with extra appeal to readers involved in fandoms."

The book jacket provides this storyline summary: "The only place small-town outcast Alex Lawson fits in is the online fan forum she built for The Arcane Files, a long-running werewolf detective show. Her dedication to archiving fictional supernatural lore made her Internet-famous, even if she harbors a secret disdain for the show's star, Devin Ashwood. (Never meet your heroes-sometimes they turn out to be The Worst.) Ever since his show went off the air, Devin and his career have spiraled, but waking up naked in the woods outside his LA home with no memory of the night before is a new low. It must have been a coincidence that an ultrarare Wolf Blood Moon occurred last night. The claws, fangs, and howling are a little more difficult to explain away. Desperate for answers, Devin finds Alex-the closest thing to an expert that exists. If only he could convince her to stop hating his guts long enough to help . . . Once he makes her an offer she can't refuse, these reluctant allies lower their guards trying to wrangle his inner beast."

 

Nobody's Hero

C.W. Craven, an author with whom I had no previous experience has created a unique character and an engrossing plot. This  book is a sequel to Fearless, the first in his series featuring former U.S. Marshal Ben Koenig. Due to a brain anomaly, Ben is physiologically unable to feel fear, which means he is much more likely to walk into dangerous situations than even a courageous man would. He has been living under the radar ever since a peeved Russian oligarch put a $5 million bounty on his head. His CIA handler pulls him into investigating an apparent double murder and kidnapping near Hyde Park. It turns out that Ben helped the perpetrator "disappear" several years back by faking her death. Publishers Weekly goes on to say: 

"Though he still doesn't understand the full scope of that mission, he knows she's privy to ultrasensitive American intelligence. Ben and his brutally efficient CIA handler race to find the woman, unwittingly getting in the way of father-daughter assassin duo Stillwell Hobbs and Harper Nash, who have been tracking down and killing everyone involved ... Craven effectively mixes the unvarnished brutality and high body count of Lee Child with the black humor of Mick Herron (one character bludgeons another until "his skull was softer than warm ice cream"). With style, wit, and plot twists to spare, Craven cements this series as a must-read."

Booklist concurs: "Koenig is a compelling protagonist. He can kill without a second thought, yet is guided by a moral compass of his own, making this a good read for fans of Dennis Lehane's Darkness, Take My Hand (1996), Jeff Lindsey's Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004), and Peter Swanson's Nine Lives (2023). Koenig's acerbic wit plays well off his reluctant partner Draper's brand of sarcasm, bringing lightness to a book riddled with graphic murders. Fans of complex thrillers with an intriguing antihero will enjoy Craven's latest Koenig adventure."

Starship Troopers

In spite of the movie based loosely on this book, it is considered one of Robert Heinlein's best and a classic of science fiction. It's basically the story of a young man who defies his father's wishes and joins the army. This is the future, of course, and war is fought very differently, technologically speaking, against a race of insects with a hive mind which is trying to destroy the human race. The focus is on Juan Rico's journey from a "boot" to eventually becoming an officer. It is, in a sense, a coming-of-age story as his experience in the military shapes his character and his views on life.  It is heavy on descriptions of the tech and on the way that battles are fought. Along the way, we are offered some significant chunks of Heinlein's opinions on morality and human nature. Fore example, "The human race is too individualistic, too self-centered, to worry that much about future generations." Or this, "Citizenship is an attitude, a state of mind, an emotional conviction that the whole is greater than the part...and that the part should be humbly rpoud to scrifice itself that the whole may live." This is in reference to having the ability to vote vs. staying in the military and protecting society even though it meant that he would never get to vote. And this, "Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination--devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues--which a man must develop himself; if he has them forced down him, he will vomit them out."

Playground

I could not finish Richard Powers Pulitzer Prize winner The Overstory; it was just too many characters with different storylines although ostensibly they all tied together somehow in the end. And I have to say that this book also left me profoundly confused at times. The narrator is a genius programmer, Todd Keane, who has recently been diagnosed with Lewy Bodies dementia and he retrospectively tells the story of his relationship to another main character, Rafi. Inititally, it's not clear who is actually doing the narrating--is it the man who turns out to be mega-millionaire Todd Keane or is it his deep learning alter ego. And then there is Evelyne who, since the age of 12, has only ever been truly happy when she's underwater, specifically in the ocean--any ocean.  We have an account from Todd that Rafi died of a heart attack, but then he is still alive in the present time and is in fact there to witness the death of Todd. And how did Ina, the love of Rafi's life, after falling out of his life with what he sees as a irreconcilable betrayal, end up being his wife and the adoptive mother of two children they have adopted on the island of Makatea? 

Publishers Weekly introduces their review with this description of the characters and the main themes: "Powers ...delivers an epic drama of AI, neocolonialism, and oceanography in this dazzling if somewhat disjointed novel set largely on the French Polynesian island of Makatea, where a mysterious American consortium plans to launch floating cities into the ocean. The story centers on three characters: Rafi Young, a former literature student from an abusive home in Chicago who has moved to Makatea with his wife; Rafi's onetime friend Todd Keane, the billionaire founder of a social media company and AI platform whose connection to the seasteading project is revealed later; and Evelyne Beaulieu, a Canadian marine biologist who has come to Makatea just as the island's residents must vote on whether to let the project proceed. "

I think Booklist provides a good summary of the storyline: "Powers does for oceans in Playground what he did for forests in The Overstory (2018). He again assembles a cast of evocatively nuanced characters obsessed with nature, science, and games. Canadian Evelyne becomes a pioneering oceanographer (à la Sylvia Earle) who writes a book that transfixes Todd, a lonely boy in an Evanston "castle." In nearby Chicago, brainy Rafi suffers a family tragedy just as he receives a fellowship to attend an elite Jesuit high school. There he and Todd forge a competitive friendship over chess, then ascend to the more mysterious game, Go. Todd accrues enormous wealth with his social media platform, Playground. Rafi sets aside his considerable academic achievements to live a quiet Pacific island life with artist Ina. Powers tacks back and forth in time in this encompassing saga punctuated by Evelyne's marveling over the stunning inventiveness of undersea life as, now in her nineties, she dives off the coast of Makatea, in French Polynesia. Still struggling to recover from a decimating 1960s phosphate-mining frenzy, the island now faces a new threat--a seasteading startup. Throughout, Powers reflects on how innate play is to many species as a way of learning and bonding and how human technology has turned it catastrophic. Rhapsodic with wonder, electric with cautionary facts and insights, Powers' profound and involving novel illuminates the conundrums of human nature and the gravely endangered ocean deep...Readers rely on Powers to dramatize the confounding paradox of our utter dependence on and rampant destruction of nature." 

Kirkus opens "A story of friendship, technology, oceans, and a small island. Powers juggled nine lead characters in The Overstory (2018), his Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. Here he wrangles just four, but the result is almost as complicated." And closes with "This is a challenging novel, fragmented but compelling, with fine writing on friendship and its loss and on the awe and delight the ocean inspires. Along with its environmental warnings, the book carries an intriguing look at the ways people and animals play, as in the boys’ competitive chess, the antics of manta rays, the allure of computer games, and what a meta-minded author might do with his readers. An engaging, eloquent message for this fragile planet."

Rave reviews are abundant: "Soaringly imaginative yet firmly grounded in the real world, unabashedly intellectual but deeply felt, Richard Powers’ fiction deals with the most pressing issues of our time in the most wrenchingly human terms" (National Book Review). "Prepare to be awed" (Washington Post). "Powers' descriptions jump out of the water" (NPR). But the reviewers also acknowledge the flaws: "Challenges remain, though, especially for the skeptical or distracted reader. Darting among these various storylines, “Playground” can feel like the pages of several compelling novellas that fell down the stairs and were quickly gathered up" (Washington Post). "There are some audible creaks in the storytelling machinery as Powers labors to bring his multiple narrative strands together. Still, he manages to pull off a sly — and disturbing — twist in the novel's profoundly affecting climax" (NPR).

The Last One

After reading 131 pages, I still wasn't engaged with the characters and so I gave up.  The premise is that a 20'ish woman wakes in the woods near a small destitute town, nearly naked and with no memory of how she came to be there. She tracks down the thief only to be arrested for attacking the woman and demanding the return of her belongings. Scattered and strange memories start to return, e.g., her name is Kai, along with even stranger magical powers. 

Both Library Journal and Booklist gave this mixed reviews, suggesting that hard-core genre fans will  be enamored in spite of its flaws. Booklist concludes, " Intriguing themes of redefining monstrousness and owning past mistakes are marred by opaque character motivations and slipshod world building. Even so, ardent romantasy fans will devour it." Referring to the characters, Library Journal concurs, "Her [Kai] importance is found only in the last few pages, following enough twists and reversals that it's difficult for readers to know what the narrative wants from her. Romance ...is teased but is saved for upcoming books... An ambitious romantasy opener, best for dedicated fans of the genre."

The Witness for the Dead

This book by Katherine Addison is set in the same world and slightly subsequent time period as her fabulous book, The Goblin Emperor. I loved the earlier book and really liked this one as well. Character development, world building, well-woven plotting make this sequel equally enjoyable to read. The protagonist here is a small but significant character from the first book, Thara Celehar, who is a Witness for the Dead. He can, within certain time and circumstance parameters communicate with the recently dead to determine last wishes, reveal those implicted in suspicious deaths, and settle family disputes. He is now the resident Witness in the city of Amalo, distant from the royal court but unfortunately not removed from local politics, which is often more a hindrance than a help. 

Library Journal says of the book: "...Multiple well-paced plotlines weave together in a delightful story, and Celehar's personal insights and issues bring a contemplative tone that further supports the work. ... The follow-up to the acclaimed The Goblin Emperor brings back a favorite character and expands the elaborate world Addison has created.. readers--will find this novel delightful and immersive." Booklist also offers a recommendation: "...Addison's welcome return ...reintroduces readers to Thara Celehar, the titular Witness for the Dead, in a new role in the city of Amalo ...The story is an unusual blend of slice-of-life and murder mystery as Celehar... goes about his daily business in Amalo while also investigating the murder of an opera singer. There are just enough links between the murder investigation and several subplots to prevent the book from seeming disjointed. The urban underbelly setting and mystery plot of this book give it a very different tone from the imperial court intrigue of its predecessor, but the simple pleasure of reading about a kind and quietly competent character who always aims to do the right thing will enchant..." Publishers Weekly concludes their review, "...Addison’s steampunk-infused scene-setting and assemblage of characters from all walks of life combine to create a vibrant fantasy world. The story is driven more by character than plot, with Celehar’s personal and professional relationships, and unwavering duty to his calling as a Witness, taking center stage. This is more spin-off than sequel, and returning fans and new readers alike will find it easy to be swept up in Celehar’s story."