Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear
Massie Dobbs mystery - 4th in the series
Set in 1930's England just before WWII is going to begin. Georgiana Bassington-Hope, a pioneering female war reporter who was a classmate of Maisie's at Girton College (Cambridge), asks Maisie to investigate the death of her twin brother, Nicholas Bassington-Hope, a WWI veteran and artist. The police have ruled Nick's fall from a scaffold at a Mayfair gallery before his masterpiece could be unveiled an accident, but Georgiana suspects foul play. As Maisie delves into the art world and the dead man's unusual family, we see that class divisions still abound and dangerous political undercurrents of homegrown fascism in early 1930s Britain.
Massie Dobbs books are more about psychological development versus a true mystery. A lot of this book has Dobbs evaluating her life and those around her. I enjoyed the development between her and Billie (her assistant) whose family suffers a tragedy. Dobbs suffers from a melancholy spirit and has to find if anyone can make her happy. But I love how we see an independent woman deals with society who tries to dictate what she can and can not do. I like how the author merges history with for me is an unknown time in history. I've heard her speak a couple of times and she spends a lot of time researching her books and keeping the characters as authentic as possible.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Hallowed Murder by Ellen Hart
First in the Jane Lawless series
After discovering a sorority sister drowned near her Alma mater, restaurateur Jane Lawless embarks on an investigation to untangle the events that led to Allison Lord's death. Because little evidence exists, the police assume Allison committed suicide; but Jane is somehow convinced that the young woman was murdered. Besides the mystery we see the many issues such as fundamentalism, homosexuality, bigotry and psychological that torment the characters. Jane is herself a lesbian but while she observes various behaviors the issue is never brought up except with her good friend, Cordelia Thorn. Cordelia is really the more interesting of the 2 as she is an actress and loves food. We find out that Jane's partner died several years ago and she has isolated herself off and is trying to find her back.
It was an interesting story and it was kind of refreshing to read a lesbian story that didn't focus so much on the sex but rather the relationships. I'm intrigued enough to want to read more books that feature Jane Lawless.
First in the Jane Lawless series
After discovering a sorority sister drowned near her Alma mater, restaurateur Jane Lawless embarks on an investigation to untangle the events that led to Allison Lord's death. Because little evidence exists, the police assume Allison committed suicide; but Jane is somehow convinced that the young woman was murdered. Besides the mystery we see the many issues such as fundamentalism, homosexuality, bigotry and psychological that torment the characters. Jane is herself a lesbian but while she observes various behaviors the issue is never brought up except with her good friend, Cordelia Thorn. Cordelia is really the more interesting of the 2 as she is an actress and loves food. We find out that Jane's partner died several years ago and she has isolated herself off and is trying to find her back.
It was an interesting story and it was kind of refreshing to read a lesbian story that didn't focus so much on the sex but rather the relationships. I'm intrigued enough to want to read more books that feature Jane Lawless.
Friday, August 13, 2010
44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
First in the series, this book comprises of 110 sections was originally serialized in the Scotsman. We follow the lives of residents of an Edinburgh boarding house. We're first introduced to Pat, 21, who is on her second "gap year" (her first yearlong break from her studies was such a flop she refuses to discuss it). She is employed at a minor art gallery and newly settled at the eponymous address, where she admires vain flatmate Bruce and befriends neighbor Domenica. A low-level mystery develops about a possibly valuable painting that Pat discovers, proceeds to lose and then finds in the unlikely possession of Ian Rankin, whose bestselling mysteries celebrate the dark side of Edinburgh just as Smith's explore the (mostly) sunny side. The possibility of romance, the ongoing ups and downs of the large, well-drawn cast of characters, the intricate plot and the way Smith nimbly jumps from situation to situation and POV to POV.
I can see how this was written as a serial as each section has a bit of an ending with a bit of a cliffhanger so you want to read the next installment to find out what happened next. I love all of McCall Smith's works and enjoyed this as much as his other series. I listened to this on CD in the car and it was something I looked forward to every day while driving. I'm so glad that there are more out there to read.
First in the series, this book comprises of 110 sections was originally serialized in the Scotsman. We follow the lives of residents of an Edinburgh boarding house. We're first introduced to Pat, 21, who is on her second "gap year" (her first yearlong break from her studies was such a flop she refuses to discuss it). She is employed at a minor art gallery and newly settled at the eponymous address, where she admires vain flatmate Bruce and befriends neighbor Domenica. A low-level mystery develops about a possibly valuable painting that Pat discovers, proceeds to lose and then finds in the unlikely possession of Ian Rankin, whose bestselling mysteries celebrate the dark side of Edinburgh just as Smith's explore the (mostly) sunny side. The possibility of romance, the ongoing ups and downs of the large, well-drawn cast of characters, the intricate plot and the way Smith nimbly jumps from situation to situation and POV to POV.
I can see how this was written as a serial as each section has a bit of an ending with a bit of a cliffhanger so you want to read the next installment to find out what happened next. I love all of McCall Smith's works and enjoyed this as much as his other series. I listened to this on CD in the car and it was something I looked forward to every day while driving. I'm so glad that there are more out there to read.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley
It is February 1940, San Francisco's Chinatown, fireworks explode as the city celebrates Chinese New Year with a Rice Bowl Party, a three day-and-night carnival designed to raise money and support for China war relief. Miranda Corbie is a 33-year-old private investigator who stumbles upon the fatally shot body of Eddie Takahashi. The Chamber of Commerce wants it covered up, and the cops acquiesce. All Miranda wants is justice--whatever it costs. From Chinatown tenements, to a tattered tailor's shop in Little Osaka, to a high-class bordello draped in Southern Gothic.
I've read quite a few reviews so was excited to read it. I enjoyed a lot of it but did feel that I was given too much information about the main character. She's a PI who used to be a callgirl who used to be a nurse in the Spanish war. We just kept getting more layers that it almost overwhelmed the story for me. But she's a tough cookie, she drinks with the boys and doesn't give up when she gets beaten up. Plus she is out to find the answers no one wants to even ask the questions for.
Interesting storyline and characters and the ending was done well. I'll look for the sequel.
It is February 1940, San Francisco's Chinatown, fireworks explode as the city celebrates Chinese New Year with a Rice Bowl Party, a three day-and-night carnival designed to raise money and support for China war relief. Miranda Corbie is a 33-year-old private investigator who stumbles upon the fatally shot body of Eddie Takahashi. The Chamber of Commerce wants it covered up, and the cops acquiesce. All Miranda wants is justice--whatever it costs. From Chinatown tenements, to a tattered tailor's shop in Little Osaka, to a high-class bordello draped in Southern Gothic.
I've read quite a few reviews so was excited to read it. I enjoyed a lot of it but did feel that I was given too much information about the main character. She's a PI who used to be a callgirl who used to be a nurse in the Spanish war. We just kept getting more layers that it almost overwhelmed the story for me. But she's a tough cookie, she drinks with the boys and doesn't give up when she gets beaten up. Plus she is out to find the answers no one wants to even ask the questions for.
Interesting storyline and characters and the ending was done well. I'll look for the sequel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)