Murder in Old Bombay

This debut and award-winning novel by Nev March was picked for our mystery book group last month. Anglo-Indian Captain Jim Agnihotri has been badly injured in a military skirmish at the Karachi border and is recovering in the hospital when he learns of the suspicious deaths of two young women in Bombay. This is supposedly based on true events. No longer fit for service due to his injury, he is at loose ends until he offers the widower of one of the victims--the scion of a prominent Parsee family-- to try and solve the mystery. Adi Framji was also the brother of the other victim, and although the official verdict was suicide, he's convinced neither of them would have done that. Captain Jim has filled his time in hospital reading Sherlock Holmes novels and is anxious to try out his deductive methods. Soon joined in the investigation by Adi's other sister, Lady Diana Framji, Captain Jim is smitten although he realizes the difference in their social classes make such a relationship totally out of bounds. 

Publishers Weekly has good things to say about the book, notably "March fills the story with finely developed characters, particularly Agnihotri, who proves a zealous investigator. She also presents an authentic view of India under British rule while exploring the challenges faced by a character of mixed race." Likewise, Kirkus offers "March’s crisply written debut combines fascinating historic details with a clever puzzle." The New York Journal of Books offers an insightful examination of the underlying system of British colonialism that effects both characters and actions.

Golden State

I just loved the premise of this book by Ben Winter,  i.e., "In a strange alternate society that values law and truth above all else, Laszlo Ratesic is a nineteen-year veteran of the Speculative Service. He lives in the Golden State, a nation standing where California once did, a place where like-minded Americans retreated after the erosion of truth and the spread of lies made public life and governance impossible." But I felt that it sort of fizzled out after a very confusing reveal. According to his website, Winter is a "data scientist working in the mobile technology industry..." who writes futuristic dystopias. 

Publishers Weekly offers a brief storyline which goes " in the near future, California is a sovereign state governed by absolute truth, and telling a lie can result in jail time or worse. Laszlo Ratesic, a veteran police officer whose innate ability to know when someone is lying helps him piece together unsolved crimes, investigates the death of a construction worker who fell off of a roof during a job. The seemingly accidental fatality is filled with anomalies, which leads Ratesic and the young female officer he’s mentoring to uncover a grand-scale conspiracy with staggering implications." One of those anomalies is a novel hidden inside the cover of a dictionary that Lazlo and partner find in the victim's apartment. Of course novels (being fiction) are strictly forbidden reading. Lazlo believes in the premise of the Golden State until he finds himself unexplainably drawn into reading the novel. I can't say much more about the plot without spoiling some of the surprising twists and turns. In the end, Publishers Weekly was disappointed, concluding that "Winters’s exploration into the nature of truth will grip many readers, but this ambitious novel misses the mark." Kirkus, on the other hand, offers a more favorable recommendation, "it’s still a skillful and swift-moving concoction. For those who like their dystopias with a dash of humor. No lie." I would agree with Kirkus' comparison to author Philip K. Dick's novels (e.g. he wrote the novels on which the movies Blade Runner and Minority Report were based.) Whereas the Library Journal compares his work to other famous dystopian authors, saying "VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of dystopian fiction, especially those who enjoy classics of the genre, such as George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World."

The Book of Lost Friends

This pair of interwoven storylines by Lisa Wingate is well written but often hard to read for a couple of reasons. The subject matter of slavery and the continuing horrors of the "post-slavery/ Reconstruction" period is emotionally stressful. The other aspect of the book I found annoying was the constant back and forth between the stories narrated by Hannie Gossett who is a freed slave in her late teens and the more contemporary story of Benny Silva, a new teacher in a small Louisiana town working at a poor and largely minority-student school. It's not that this is an uncommon approach to story telling, but the transitions seemed so frequent that I would just be getting engrossed in one storyline and then get jerked into the other.  Library Journal summarizes the starting point for this story: "After the Civil War, the Southern Christian Advocate, a newspaper for the African American community distributed throughout the South, included a column called "Lost Friends" that allowed individuals to advertise for information about missing loved ones, generally sold off or stolen before or during the war. That column is the inspiration for this enthralling and ultimately heartening new novel from Wingate..." They go on to praise this book, saying "Emphasizing throughout that stories matter and should never go untold, Wingate has written an absorbing historical for many readers." Similarly, Booklist states that Wingate "makes history come alive with the dual tale of formerly enslaved Hannie Gossett in 1875 and Benedetta "Benny" Silva in 1987...Historical fiction fans will appreciate the authentic articles and the connection between modern times and the past, while adventure lovers will enjoy a voyage reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn."

On the other hand, Publishers Weekly did not provide a positive review, concluding, "This underwhelming tale is sunk by its surfeit of deficiencies." To her credit as an author of historical fiction, Wingate offers sources for follow up, such as: over 2500 real-life Lost Friends ads in the Lost Friends Database: https://www.hnoc.org/database/lost-friends/index.html

Dead Dead Girls

This book by Nekesa Afia is intended to be the first of a series, "A Harlem Renaissance Mystery," featuring Louise -- AKA "Lovie -- Lloyd, a 26-year-old lesbian Black woman living in 1920's Harlem.  Louise is trying her best to escape the strictures of a too controlling home situation and her reputation as "Harlem's Hero," a title given to her when she was 16 and, not only escaped after being kidnapped, but helped free three of her fellow captive girls. She spends her days waitressing at Maggie's Cafe and her nights at the Zodiac speakeasy dancing her heart out with friend and lover, Rosa Maria Moreno. When an inebriated Louise intervenes in a racially motivated arrest by punching a white detective in the nose, she is given an ultimatum. She can either help the senior detective solve the murders of 3 young Black women or go to jail. But if you're a Black, can you ever really trust the police? If you're older like I am, you might get a bit exhausted following Lovie's high level of risky activity, but you will certainly feel that you've gotten a feel for the Harlem of the 20's. 

Publishers Weekly concludes that "Readers will root for intrepid, fiery Louise, who elevates the mystery despite a disjointed investigation and haphazard denouement. The author couples tender relationships with strong senses of era and place. Afia has made an auspicious start." Kirkus calls the setting "vibrant" and says "Louise’s fight for respect and dignity is depicted with infectious passion."

A Private Cathedral

This is an earlier book by James Lee Burke that still features Dave Robicheaux--this is the 23rd installment in that series. As with all his books (and I have read several), the writing is compelling and atmospheric, even though often very dark. This book has a bit of Romeo and Juliet plot that involves young lovers from two crime families that have been mortal enemies for decades. There is also an element of the supernatural here, as there was in Burke's most recent book, Every Cloak Rolled in Blood. It's a challenge for Dave and his troublesome but loyal sidekick and former detective colleague, Clete Purcel, to battles a time traveling assassin. 

Erik Larson (one of my favorite non-fiction writers) in his WSJ review calls this genre of Burke's writing "Louisiana gothic" and claims that this is his favorite book in the series.   D offers a mixed review, concluding "Whether or not you buy the metaphor of reincarnation here, it goes a long way toward explaining the thread that links Dave’s 23 grandly repetitive adventures." The New York Journal of Books has a much more detailed plot line in their review and offer these perspectives: "As usual in Burke’s books, Robicheaux faces his own guilt over killings in Vietnam and his on-again, off-again love affair with alcohol...Robicheaux is twice-widowed, which makes his loneliness and desire a poignant obstacle as he tries to do the right thing for people who are on a highway to hell...the story achieves a satisfying resolution, moral or divine justice where everyone gets what he or she deserves, whether or not the earthbound courts would agree." Publishers Weekly calls the book "superb" and rounds out their review by saying "An imaginative blend of crime and other genres, Burke’s existential drama is both exquisitely executed and profoundly moving."

Rituals

This is the sequel to the Mary Anna Evans book I read a few months ago, Plunder. Obviously I enjoyed the first one enough to read another. This is the 8th installment in the Faye Longchamps series. Amande Landreneau, the orphaned teenager that Faye and husband Joe Wolf Mantooth rescued and adopted in that previous book is helping Faye with a tedious project going through a private collection to identify is anything is of worth, and to catalog everything in the collection. While in this small town of Rosebower, NY, which was established by spiritualists, they encounter a colorful cast of characters. Of course there is a murder and maybe another in the offing if Faye cannot figure out who is cheating to gain power in the local community. 

Kirkus closes their brief review with this note: "The emphasis on the spirit world makes this a bit of a departure from Evans’ usual historical and archaeological themes (Plunder, 2012, etc.), but it’s certainly a well-plotted and enjoyable mystery." Similarly, Publishers Weekly says, "A superior puzzle plot lifts Evans’s eighth Faye Longchamp mystery...Evans pulls all the pieces nicely together in the end."

When Women Were Dragons

I really wanted to like this book by Kelly Barnhill...after all, who can resist that title?  And she has won numerous prizes and awards for her children's books, including the Newbery Medal for The Girl Who Drank the Moon. And I loved the premise--that every woman had some dragon in them, and when they reached for that power they could, in fact, become dragons. But overall the book felt like it dragged and ended on such a sticky sweet note that I can't wholly recommend it.

Set in a 1950's era America, math and science prodigy Alexandra Green (it's Alex for those who care) is abandoned by her favorite aunt, Marla, who is part of the mass dragoning disappearance of tens of thousands of women in 1955; by her mother who shortly therafter dies of cancer; and by her father, who quickly remarries the proverbial secretary to start a new family. Literally, he shoves teenage Alex and her young cousin, Beatrice, in a run-down apartment and sends them rent and food money once a month--until he, too, dies. Fortunately Alex has the support of the local public librarian, who is a force to be reckoned with.

Kirkus, on the other hand, extolls the storyline: "In lesser hands the dragon metaphor would feel simplistic and general, but Barnhill uses it to imagine different ways of living, loving, and caring for each other. The result is a complex, heartfelt story about following your heart and opening your mind to new possibilities. This novel’s magic goes far beyond the dragons." The New York Times offers a more thought provoking review. Publishers Weekly also closes on a positive note, "Barnhill makes palpable Alex’s sense of loss as well as the strictures of mid-century American life. This allegory packs a punch."

Cackle

I was in the mood for something a bit more frivolous and this book by Rachel Harrison certainly filled the bill. But there is also a strong flavor of feminism here. This is the review from Booklist:

"Annie's boyfriend was her world; then he dumped her. She can't afford to live in New York City without him paying half of the rent so she moves to a small town to teach. Right away, nothing is quite right. The town is magazine-perfect, but there are persistent spiders everywhere. Before she meets and befriends Sophie, Annie has no one, but then she quickly realizes there is something off about Sophie. The townspeople are terrified of Sophie, who talks as if she has lived quite some time. After she curses a boy in Annie's class, it is clear that Sophie is a witch. Still, Annie is not comfortable in her own company; if she's alone, she seeks solace in alcohol, texting her ex, and later on, a friendly spider. Annie is, at times, annoying, whiny, frustrating, endearing, and interesting. But she doesn't stay that way, with Sophie's help. Sophie's attention toward Annie is a psychological cat-and-mouse game as Sophie wants a witch friend. Annie's evolution from lonely teacher to witch will hypnotize readers." For an additional review, check out Publishers Weekly

Hurricane Girl

This short novel by Marcy Dermansky left me asking, what's the point? Here's the book blurb:

"Allison Brody is thirty-two and newly arrived on the East Coast after just managing to flee her [abusive] movie producer boyfriend. She has some money, saved up from years of writing and waitressing, and so she spends it, buying a small house on the beach. But then a Category 3 hurricane makes landfall and scatters her home up and down the shore, leaving Allison adrift. Should she go home from the bar with the strange cameraman and stay in his guest room? Is that a glass vase he smashed on her skull? Can she wipe the blood from her eyes, get in her car, and drive to her mother's? Does she really love the brain surgeon who saved her, or is she just using him for his swimming pool? And is it possible to ever truly heal without seeking some measure of revenge?"  None of these questions really seem to matter to me.

However, several reviewers liked the book, including my go-to source, Kirkus. They offer this assessment: "Small comic gems sparkle in their deadpan settings on every page. No matter how bad things get, Alison's running joke to herself—she still has her health—never ceases to amuse her, though at a certain point, 'she did not think anyone else would think it was funny.' She’s wrong about that. The only bad thing about this book is that you will likely finish it in one sitting." Library Journal says "The ending is satisfying, if unconventional." The New York Times says the book is "hilarious. Dermansky’s offbeat humor and spare prose make Allison’s mind a thrilling and wholly unusual place to be." and they go on to conclude, "This is a wickedly entertaining read from first to last."

On the other hand, Publishers Weekly agreed with me. "In Dermansky’s lackluster latest (after Very Nice), a young woman contends with a certain well-worn millennial malaise. Allison Brody, 32 [is]'sick of everybody and everything...There’s some deliciously dry humor...but the surreal aura doesn’t really develop into anything substantial or comprehensible. Readers are left with a Moshfegh-like vibe, but without a strong character or story. This one is safe to skip."

Two Nights in Lisbon

This twisty mystery by Chris Pavone was chosen by my mystery book group and had me guessing until the end. And the ending has made me and others in my book group feel like we need to re-read the book to see how the author tricked us about so many things. Kirkus Reviews delivers an admirable intro duction to the plot and provokes potential readers' curiosity. They conclude by saying, "This high-stakes drama grabs your attention and doesn’t let go." Publishers Weekly likewise gushes that the book is a "superior, elegantly crafted yarn."  The New York Times is more positive about the author than the book itself and concludes with these comments about Pavone and his writing: "this smart, calculating author remains many notches above others in his field. He is worldly and inviting when it comes to the book’s mostly European settings. His book captures a vacation’s escapism even as its heroine feels walls closing in."