Something Missing

Something Missing

by Matthew Dicks

audiobook: 9 hours
narrated by Jefferson Mays

About the Book

Martin has made quite an interesting career for himself, stealing from the same "clients" for over ten years.  Through meticulous research he has learned about these couples in detail - their likes and dislike, their routines, their schedules - and he feels like he knows them even though he's never seen them face to face.  He usually steals small things (half-empty bottles of salad dressing, vegetables on the verge of going bad, drain cleaner from the back of the closet, etc.), but occasionally he'll take something bigger if he knows it won't be missed.  Through the years he's come to care about his clients, so when he suspects that one of them is in grave danger he knows he has to do something to protect her.


Why I Read It

This is not the kind of book I'd have picked up on my own, but I heard the author speak on a podcast and was totally captivated by him.  He's hilarious!  He talked about how he feels that more people should be writing because so many people have stories to tell.  At one event an 80-something year old woman came up to him and told him that one day she was going to write a book because she had a story inside of her.  His response? That she'd better hurry up and get started! LOL  You can listen to Matthew Dicks on the Books On The Nightstand podcast at this link: http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/04/botns-podcast-125-because-you-asked-for-it.html You won't regret it!


My Thoughts 

This book is quirky and unique and oddly fascinating.  It doesn't move quickly and not a great deal happens, but it is strangely enjoyable all the same.  I couldn't help but like Martin in spite of the fact that he is a criminal (and an OCD criminal at that!) and I was always hoping that things would turn out well for him.

One side effect of listening to this book? Whenever I can't find something in my house I immediately think that it could have been stolen by someone like Martin. Odd, right?!

If you want a book that is a bit out of the ordinary but still a great read (or listen), give this one a try.

Lots of Audiobook Mini Reviews

Between adjusting to the new routine of not having a job, getting ready for the holidays, and rearranging furniture I haven't had much time (or inclination) to write reviews lately.  I have been reading all your posts though, even if I haven't been commenting!  I can read on my phone while I'm waiting for Kiddo at hockey or at school, and that has been a lifesaver.

I haven't been reading a lot either, though I have finished a few books (reviews of those will hopefully come soon).What I HAVE been doing is  listening to tons of audiobooks!  They have been great companions for me while I move furniture from one room to another, or sweep all the detritus from under the couch, or gather boxes and bags of "stuff" to donate to the Salvation Army.

Here's a very brief look at eight audiobooks I've finished over the last two months.  Take special note of the last review - I think everyone needs to read or listen to that book!



November

The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle - narrated by David Case - 5.6 hours - I've read this at least twice before and really love it.  I revisited it this time so I could discuss Sherlock Holmes on the podcast "What's Old Is New" - check it out now if you missed it! (We had some issues recording the episode so I apologize in advance for the sound quality.)




The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexander Dumas - narrated by John Lee - 46.9 hours - I've wanted to read this one for years but was intimidated by the ridiculous length (something like 1300 pages!). I'm glad that I went with the audio; although I did enjoy it for the most part, it was really REALLY long and I think I might have given up on it had I been reading rather than listening.  I also realized that although I truly love the movie version, it is so different from the book that it really can't be called an adaptation ... I'd refer to it as a movie inspired by a book.



December

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card - narrated by too many people to list - 13 hours - So many people have recommended this book to me that I figured I really ought to check it out.  My husband and I have a hard time finding books to listen to on road trips but he thought this one sounded interesting as well, so we got it from the library for our drive to the Poconos.  It's the story of a boy (Ender) who has been chosen since before his birth to be part of an elite military training program.  The book follows his advancement through years of war games to become a battle commander.  Hubby and I enjoyed the book but we didn't think it was as fantastic as people made it out to be.  Maybe our expectations were just too high? We did like it enough to continue with the series, so that's saying something.


World Without End, by Ken Follett - narrated by Richard E. Grant - 14.2 hours - After completely falling for the mini-series based on The Pillars of the Earth (Medieval Bookworm reviewed the show in case you missed it) I wanted to check out this follow-up to the original story. It starts several hundred years after the end of Pillars and follows descendants of the characters from the first book. Although this book had some parts that were extremely similar to the storyline of the first book, I still enjoyed it very much. I'm not sure I'll go back and listen to Pillars but I might - I'm still very intrigued by this whole story.



Sarah: How A Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down, by Kaylene Johnson - narrated by Cassandra Campbell - 3 hours - I saw this while browsing the downloadable audio section of my library's website and I thought it might be interesting.  It follows Sarah Palin's rise through the Alaskan political system but stops before the 2008 presidential campaign.  Although brief, it helped me understand a bit of Palin's background and how she got to be the person she is.



Rescue Ink: How Ten Guys Saved Countless Dogs and Cats, Twelve Horses, Five Pigs, One Duck, and a Few Turtles, by Rescue Ink with Denise Flaim - narrated by Tom Weiner - 5.9 hours - Another book I found while browsing the downloadable audio section of the library.  It's a simple story about some very complex guys and their passion for animals.  The book was a good reminder that people are not always who they seem to be, and that under an intimidating exterior is often a truly kind heart.


Holiday Classics, by O. Henry - narrated by Katherine Kellgren, Oliver Wyman, and Jonathan Davis - .9 hours - This was a free download for the holidays from Audible.com to all their members.  It included three stories: The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and the Anthem, and The Last Leaf.  It was a quick and fun listen, but still didn't convince me to be a short story fan. I did enjoy it though!





The Sense of Wonder, by Rachel Carson - narrated by Kaiulani Lee - .5 hours - What a gorgeous little book! If you haven't read or listened to this before you absolutely MUST do it.  It is only a 30 minute audiobook so it won't take much of your time but it will inspire you for a lifetime.  Carson tells about the ways she encouraged her young nephew to explore and appreciate nature at all times and she shares ways that all people, no matter where they live, can do the same.  This little story has inspired me try to rediscover for myself that child's sense of wonder at the world that we all started off with, and has also given me ideas for things to do with Kiddo to ensure that he keeps that sense of wonder.  Highly, highly recommended.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson

600 pages

translated from Swedish

*** About the Book ***

Financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist is in trouble.  His magazine, Millennium, published an expose he wrote about a dirty industrialist named Wennerstrom.  Wennerstrom in turned sued Mikael ... and won.  Now Mikael has been convicted of libel and sentenced to 90 days in prison.  He's also taking a leave of absence from the magazine to allow it to recover. At this very low point in his life he's offered a freelancing job by a wealthy, retired industrialist named Vanger.  Vanger's beloved niece disappeared over 40 years ago, possibly at the hands of another family member.  Vanger is an old man and wants Mikael to find out the truth about the disappearance before he (Vanger) dies.

Then we have Lisbeth Salandar, a secretive 20-something who freelances as a background investigator.  Her work bring her into contact with Mikael and the other main players in the Millennium, Wennerstom, and Vanger dramas.


*** Why I Read It ***

I'd never have picked this up if not for my book club; it was chosen as our November book.  It was impossible to get it from the library considering that there were 224 people who'd reserved it prior!  So I purchased it via the Kindle App on my phone and read it that way.


*** My Thoughts ***

It is clear that this book was meant to be the start of a series.  Like many other firsts-in-a-series it spends a great deal of time setting up character background.  It was slow going for a while but when I looked at it as part of a series rather than an individual book I  was able to enjoy the journey.

That said, the story didn't really pick up until more than half of the book had elapsed, though at that point things began to happen very quickly.  I guessed the solution to one of the big mysteries long before the truth was revealed, which could be a good thing or a bad thing; it means that the climax didn't come out of nowhere but it also means that part of the story was a bit predictable.

The author's wording choices often seemed awkward to me, but this could be the fault of the translator rather than the author.  Still, some portions were consistently difficult to read. Lisbeth's dialogue is a good example.  One line reads as follows: "If you even try to hurt me I'll have to do you an injury. You'll be sorry."  See what I mean?  Can you actually imagine someone speaking those words? Also, the word "anon" was used quite often.  I wonder if the translation of that word is common in Sweden or if the translator could have picked a better word in English. 

I don't read a lot in the mystery/thriller genre so this is definitely not a book I'd have picked up on my own.  That said, it was pretty good (though slow to start) and I enjoyed it.  What I don't get is why this book is so wildly popular.  Is it really that different from others in the genre?  It didn't seem so to me, but again I don't read a lot in this genre. It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't a great book either.  I just don't get the reason for all the hype ...

WARNING: There is a fair bit of sexual violence in this book.  Sexual harassment of women is one of the main themes, and Larsson reiterates this fact by quoting crime statistics at the beginning of each book division in addition to includes it in the various plots.


*** The Movie Version ***

I haven't seen the movie yet but I do plan to.  Like I said in my warning above though, there IS a lot of sexual violence in this book.  I'm not sure how that will be played on in the movie and I'm very leery of it.  Here's the official trailer if you want to check it out:




*** Your Thoughts ***

• What, exactly, is it about this book that made it such a huge hit?  It is really that different from other mystery/thriller novels? 
• Did anyone have the same thoughts regarding the translation?  
• For those who have read the rest of the series, is it worth continuing? 
• For those saw the movie, what did you think of it?

A Morbid Taste For Bones

A Morbid Taste For Bones

by Ellis Peters

published in 1977*

audiobook: 9 hours

narrated by Patrick Tull

*** About the Book ***

In this first book in the lengthy 11th century Brother Cadfael mystery series, we meet Brother Cadfael at his monastery, tending the garden.  Cadfael is not your traditional monk, having chosen to take orders in his later years after a full life as a warrior.  Because of his background he sees the world around him - including the people in it - differently than his brother monks.

The adventure begins when the Abbot sends a delegation to Wales to retrieve the bones of a saint and bring them to the monastery.  The people of the Welsh village are not happy with this and there is some protest against the monks.  When a respected member of the community is murdered and the clues around the body don't add up, Brother Cadfael steps in to find the truth.


*** Why I Listened To It ***

It caught my attention while I was at the library so I figured I'd give it a shot.  Plus I saw that there is a tv series based on these books which is also available at my library.


*** My Thoughts ***

This book was just okay to me.  I'm not generally a mystery fan so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.  It wasn't overly predictable and the characters were pretty interesting, but I just couldn't get into it enough to really enjoy it.  It was easy to continue listening and at no point did I want to give up on it (I even laughed out loud a few times) but I don't see myself continuing on with this series.


 *** Your Thoughts ***

Have you read any of the Brother Cadfael books or watched the tv show?  What do you think of them?


* I include this info because that is the year I was born and of course I was happily surprised to find myself reading a book from that year.

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, Volume I

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

audiobook: 4.7 hours

narrated by David Timson

*** About the Book ***

This is part one (of two) of the final Sherlock Holmes stories written by the author. It contains six different cases.


*** Why I Read It ***

I needed an audiobook that was readily downloadable from the library onto my phone, and this was one of the few I could get immediately. Plus I love Holmes!


*** My Thoughts ***

I must admit that I was rather disappointed with these stories. They didn’t seem as interesting or as well put-together as others I’ve read or listened to previously. There was also more of a tendency toward the supernatural, or at least toward the “not natural” that didn’t work for me.

On the other hand, Holmes stories are never ALL bad, and there were a few cases that I quite enjoyed.

(I realize this review is VERY brief, but I listened to this before BEA and don’t remember much of it now.)

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

by Alexander McCall Smith

audiobook: 8.25 hours

narrated by Lisette Lecat

*** About the Book ***

After the death of her father, Precious Ramotswe uses the money he's left her to start her own detective agency - the very first ladies' detective agency in Botswana.  In this first book in the series, Mma Ramotswe hires a secretary and dives into her first cases; these include a wife who suspects her husband is cheating, another wife whose husband is missing, and an inconsistent doctor - just to name a few.



*** Why I Listened To It ***

I'd already seen the HBO miniseries based on this book series so I wasn't really planning to read it. But then my book club chose it for our May read, to bring something light and fun to kick off our summer.  So I checked it out from the library and gave it a shot.


*** My Thoughts ***

I think the fact that I watched the miniseries first may have ruined this book for me.  I loved the show - it was fun, sweet, amusing, and much more - and I was expecting to love the book just as much.  Unfortunately, I felt the the book was a bit slow.  It was still a great story with great characters, but things seemed to drag in places and the humor was much more understated.

The narrator did a fantastic job with this book; I'll definitely look for other books she's worked on!

Here's a preview of the show from HBO.  It doesn't capture all the best parts of the show but you can get an idea of what it was like:




*** Your Thoughts ***

If you've read the books and seen the show, which did you prefer?  Which did you first experience - the book or the show?  Have you ever found that you actually liked a tv/movie adaptation better than the book i was based on?

A Darker Place

A Darker Place
by Laurie R. King
audiobook: 14.5 hours

*** About the Book ***

Anne Waverly is a 40-something professor of religion, an unassuming, quiet, well-respected woman. She is also, occasionally, an undercover agent for the FBI. However this is not the adventure that it seems. Anne is usually drawn into an investigation of a suspected cult against her will, and this time is no different. Her current case involves a relatively new religious sect with branches in the US, Japan, and England. The FBI isn’t sure exactly what is going on with this group but they are suspicious that something unsavory is up. What will Anne find when she joins the Arizona group as a new member? Do the enigmatic leaders of the group truly believe the message they are preaching or are they charlatans, in it only for themselves? And what should Anne make of the foster program that brings new children into the group with the state’s approval?



*** Why I Read It ***

I’m already a fan of Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series and a follower of Laurie’s blog. Recently Laurie blogged about the genesis of each of her previous novels; her post about this book caught my attention.


*** My Thoughts ***

I really got into this book right from the start. I loved the concept of the story and found the main character, Anne, to be fascinating. The book was rolling along nicely for quite a while.

Then things got a bit … let’s say “odd”, okay? First there were some coincidences that, for me, pulled me out of the story. A few times I thought to myself, “now that would NEVER really happen.” And second, there is a plot development that rather creeped me out. I can’t discuss it without giving spoilers, so be aware that the section in italics below does include minor plot spoilers.

*** SPOILERS *** Anne developed a strange and passionate crush on Jason. This wouldn’t be bad except that Anne is in her late 40s and Jason is 14. Yes, you read that right. Of course, Anne does not know he is 14 (she thinks he’s 18). She immediately realizes that her crush is completely inappropriate and does nothing to act on it but that part still made me distinctly uncomfortable. Just because it isn’t an older man with a crush on a young girl doesn’t make it any less disturbing. Part of me wanted to stop listening to the story at this point but another part of me admired Laurie for her ability to make me feel so intensely about this. *** END SPOILERS ***

The first two thirds of the book were pretty good (aside from those coincidences I mentioned). I was getting pretty frustrated near the end though, and I was all set to not like the book. Then there were some plot twists that I totally didn’t see coming and that redeemed it quite a bit.

I’m thinking I should have had lower expectations for this book. I mean, I LOVE Laurie's Mary Russell books so I was really expecting a lot from this one. In the end, I can’t say that this was a favorite but I did enjoy it for the most part.


*** Your Thoughts ***

Have you ever been disappointed by a beloved author? Does that affect your enjoyment of that author's other books?

If you've read this book, what did you think of it? Am I alone in thinking the way I do?

Crocodile on the Sandbank

Crocodile on the Sandbank

book 1 in the Amelia Peabody series
by Elizabeth Peters
audiobook: 10 hours

*** About the Book ***

It is 1884 and 32-year old spinster (?!?!) Amelia Peabody has inherited a modest fortune from her recently deceased father. An independent and opinionated sort, Amelia decides to avoid a sudden spate of wealth-seeking suitors and heads off to explore Egypt. Along the way she meets Evelyn, a young woman in desperate circumstances, and takes her on as a companion. The two women head down the Nile to Luxor where they meet archaeologists Radcliffe and Walter Emerson. A romance begins to blossom between Evelyn and Walter while Amelia and Radcliffe butt heads. All this is interrupted however when a mummy begins to haunt the dig site each night. Is this the result of a curse on the ancient holy city or is there a more scientific explanation? Leave it to Amelia (and company) to figure it out!


*** Why I Read It ***

I've heard about this series before but it was a review of the 2nd book in the series over at Historical Tapestry that made me put this on my TBR list. I was excited that my library had it on audio - I needed something new to listen to while getting ready for work in the morning!


*** My Thoughts ***

I went into this book with some incorrect expectations. For some reason I was thinking (hoping?) it would be like Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell books. That is decidedly NOT the case. Once I got over that fact, I really enjoyed it. The plot is over-the-top ridiculous and somewhat predictable but lots of fun. But more importantly, I loved the main character; Amelia’s sharp tongue and brusque manner are fabulous, as are her interactions with the other characters (especially Emerson).

This book didn’t leave me hungering to pick up the next in the series RIGHT NOW but I do want continue on with it. I’ll likely read/listen to the next several books whenever I’m in need of a light, humorous read.


*** Your Thoughts? ***

Are you an Amelia Peabody fan? Which of the books in the series is your favorite? Is there another series you’d recommend that is like this one?

The Little Stranger

The Little Stranger
by Sarah Waters
463 pages

*** About the Book ***

It is just a few years after the end of WWII in England and society is in a state of flux. The Ayres family, formerly part of the high society that has all but disappeared from the countryside, struggles to hang on to their ancestral home, Hundreds Hall. But the three family members each have their own issues to deal with, and with only two servants to assist them it is impossible to keep the house and grounds in good condition. Doctor Faraday, a man of the lower class who had to work hard to earn his position, is called to Hundreds to treat one of the servants and so begins his association with the Ayres family.

But Hundreds Hall is not the only thing falling apart; the family seems to be doing the same, each in his or her own way. Is it mental illness, affecting each family member suddenly, or is it, as one of the servants suspects, that there is a "bad thing" infecting the house?


*** Why I Read It ***

I've had this book on my TBR list since I saw it mentioned on The Book Page. When it was chosen at the book club book for the Jan. 12 edition of That's How I Blog, I figured now was the perfect time to read it. I was extra excited because I'd just enjoyed another Waters book, AFFINITY, and was looking forward to reading more by her.


*** My Thoughts ***

This is a GOOD BOOK! I'm really coming to appreciate Waters' writing style. Her descriptions are very evocative; I can see the details of a scene very clearly as she describes it. I don't think I've read anything set in this time period before but Waters seemed to really capture the era: the sense of change, the aftermath of war, the modern vs. the traditional, and all of that crammed together in the English countryside. In addition, she took the prevailing sense of societal upheaval and turned it into the backdrop for what is essentially a gothic tale. VERY cool.

The story kept me on edge, constantly wondering what was going to happen, how things were going to be resolved. Things happen that make you wonder about the characters sanity and about the existence of a ghost, but you are never sure what to think.

As I got close to the end of the book I was extremely anxious to find out "the truth" about everything so I ended up staying up until 1am to read the final pages. Imagine my shock when there was no "solution"! I guess I should have remembered that this book was compared to THE TURN OF THE SCREW, a story notorious for it's ambiguous ending. I'll admit that I was really frustrated with this at first, but only because I didn't expect it; the longer I gave it to "settle in" the better I adjusted. In the end I can say that I completely enjoyed every part of this book. YAY!


*** Your Thoughts ***

If you've read this one or plan to shortly, try to tune in to the That's How I Blog show on Jan. 12 at 8pm EST to discuss it - it will be the topic of the 20-Minute Book Club near the end of the show. If you can't join in live, you can always listen to the recording at a later date.

And here are some other reviews in case you'd like differing viewpoints:

• Medieval Bookworm
• books i done read - I completely agree with everything she says!
• Fizzy Thoughts - it wasn't her favorite Waters book
  
• You've GOTTA read this!
• S. Krishna's Books
• an unusual take by Tor Books
• Shelf Love - I completely agree with their discussion of the ending!
  

So ... what say you? Is this a book you'd like to read? Why or why not? If you have read it, will you be joining in on the discussion on Jan. 12th? I'd love to know who else plans to participate!

The Language of Bees

The Language of Bees
by Laurie R. King
432 pages
the 9th Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes book

*** About the Book ***

This 9th book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series finds our investigative duo returning home from a lengthy trip abroad (most of which is covered in the previous 3 books). Upon arrival they are greeted with two mysteries: one of Holmes's beehives has gone mad and Holmes's long-lost son has appeared on their doorstep. As the story progresses, Russell finds herself alone in her efforts to discover the solution to both mysteries.


*** Why I Read It ***

I picked up the first book in this series somewhat by accident, at the prompting of a local indie bookseller. I loved the series so much that I read the next 7 books in one month. I was thrilled when I won a copy of the latest book (this one) just after it was released; I had planned to buy it anyway, so it was a win-win for me! I've had it sitting on my shelf since late Spring, and figured that now was the time to get it read.


*** My Thoughts ***

When I heard this book was going to include Holmes's son, I immediately had to figure out who that son was. According to King, the son is the product of Holmes's relationship with Irene Adler, a character introduced in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story A Scandal in Bohemia. Back in August I picked up an audio version of several Holmes stories which included Scandal; unfortunately I found that it was a radio dramatization and not technically an audio book so I returned it to the library. I did, however, listen to Scandal first so I would be familiar with the story. I found that it helped to have that background; it wasn't absolutely necessary, but it was good for me.

Although I did enjoy this book it was not one of my favorites in the series. I felt like it meandered at the beginning and got off to a slow start. It did pick up about halfway through though, and the pace was excellent after that. As always, King continues to develop the characters of Russell and Holmes in unexpected ways, and I definitely enjoyed the new aspects of their personalities in this book.

I do have one complaint that I hope someone can help me out with. If you've read the book, please let me know how you see the bee mystery relating to the other main mystery. For the life of me, I don't see how they relate nor why the bee mystery is so important. The only connection I can make is the theme of "madness", but I'm not sure that's what I'm supposed to be seeing here. If you have any thoughts on this, please let me know!


*** Your Thoughts ***

In addition to the question I've asked you in the paragraph above, I also want to know who out there is a Mary Russell fan. Have you read any of the series? What did you think of it?

I've not been able to find any reviews of this book by bloggers I know ... if I missed yours please let me know and I'll add it here.

And finally, here's a book trailer for you to check out. Actually, it is the author reading excerpts of the book along with video from the places she's describing. It's rather long, but if you are interested in this book then you'll enjoy it.

The Language of Bees from Laurie R. King on Vimeo.

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
audio book: 4.5 hours

*** Why I Choose It ***

Earlier this year I joined in the Baker Street Challenge to celebrate my love of everything Sherlock Holmes. A review posted during that challenge made me realize that I'd never read what seemed to be a classic Holmes adventure - A STUDY IN SCARLET. Now I've remedied that problem.


*** My Thoughts ***

This was the first introduction of Holmes by Doyle and I loved getting to know the detective from a fresh perspective. The story includes the first meeting of Holmes and Watson and is told mostly from Watson's perspective. Of course there is a mystery involved, but that is almost secondary to Holmes himself (at least it was for me).

I quite enjoyed this book although it was very different from the other Holmes stories I've read/listened to. The story begins with excerpts from Watson's journals. About halfway through it jumps to an omniscient narrator who gives the lengthy background story of the criminal and the cause of his crimes. The story concludes with a return to Watson's journal. At first the middle section really threw me off - it is so different from other Holmes stories - but once I realized what was going on I was fine. I don't think I'd like to have the majority of the stories written that way but this one time was good.


*** Minor Spoiler Alert (this section only) ***

If you've read this story you'll know that the middle section takes place in the American West and centers on a group of Mormons and Brigham Young. Had I not read THE 19TH WIFE I would have been clueless as to the history of the Mormon exodus and settlement in Utah. That knowledge was very helpful in keeping me connected with the story - without it I would have felt lost for a while. I love it when knowledge from other books comes into play in my current read!


*** The (Upcoming) Movie ***

I think it is likely that the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey, Jr. will draw much of it's characterization of Holmes from this story. Most of us tend to think of Holmes as an older man, highly intelligent, but not particularly tough physically. In this story however we learn that Holmes was an expert boxer and sword fighter, and that he had several other unexpected abilities. He is also a very young man in this story and is presented as such.

In his later life Doyle was very involved in spiritualism so I think the supernatural aspect of the film comes from Doyle's personal beliefs. To me it looks like the movie will pull together both Doyle and young Holmes to create their main character.



Personally I'm looking forward to it ... what about you?


.

Locked Rooms

Locked Rooms

by Laurie R. King
402 pages

This is the 8th book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. In this episode the couple travels to San Fransisco where they attempt to unravel the secrets of Mary's tragic childhood while navigating a city in the throes of the jazz age.

For me, this book wasn't as good as the others in the series. I know that many bloggers say it is their favorite but I just don't see it. I felt like the middle dragged and the plot was somewhat predictable. However I really did enjoy the final third of the book, so that's a good thing.

After giving it more thought, I'm sure the reason I didn't care for this particular MR/SH episode is that the focus is too much on Russell. Not that I don't like her - I do! - but the other books are more about intriguing cases and the relationship between Russell and Holmes.

Have any of you read this one? Do you agree or disagree with me? Which is your favorite in the series?

The Game

The Game

by Laurie R. King
368 pages

I mentioned this in my review of Justice Hall but I'll say it again here: King really know her historical settings! Her language puts the reader into the proper time period. I even learned what chilblains are - and that I definitely don't want them.

In this, the 7th Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book, the case bring our detectives to India. This is the time of declining British control in India, the time of Gandhi, the time of the Muslim League - a very exciting and turbulent point in India's history. It's also the time of flappers and Bolsheviks ...

In addition to a vividly created setting, King brings in the title character from Rudyard Kipling's novel KIM. I admit that I've never read KIM so I had to rely on wikipedia for the basic info. But what a story she creates!

I don't quote the book flaps often but this line was so appropriate that I had to include it:

Showcasing King's masterful plotting and skill at making history leap from the page, THE GAME brings alive an India fraught with unrest and poised for change - and an unpredictable mystery with brilliance and character to match.

How can you not want to read this book after that?!

This was not one of my favorites in the MR/SH series but it was still very good.

*** Other posts so far in my Month of Joyful Reading ***

• what it is
• author interview: Laurie R. King
• Book 1: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
• Book 2: A Monstrous Regiment of Women
• Book 3: A Letter of Mary
• Book 4: The Moor
  
• Book 5: O Jerusalem
• Book 6: Justice Hall
  
• guest post: Laurie R. King
• and one more review to come!

Justice Hall

Justice Hall
by Laurie R. King
352 pages

I LOVE the way King pulls so much history into the Mary Russell mysteries - it is almost like reading historical fiction!

Ok, so ... this is the 6th book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. This particular book deals with English inheritance law, World War I trench warfare and battlefield (in)justice, and it also brings back two characters from the 5th book, O JERUSALEM.

As with most of the other books in this series, the case doesn't really begin to develop until the 2nd half of the book (but of course, that is how things go in real life - you often don't know exactly what it is your are looking into and then suddenly things begin coming together*). The middle of the book is where it got REALLY interesting for me - I couldn't put it down and read until way too late at night.

Need I say that I really enjoyed this book? I've already started on the next book in the series - can't wait to see what happens next!


*** Other posts so far in my Month of Joyful Reading ***

• what it is
• author interview: Laurie R. King
• Book 1: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
• Book 2: A Monstrous Regiment of Women
• Book 3: A Letter of Mary
• Book 4: The Moor
  
• Book 5: O Jerusalem
• guest post: Laurie R. King
• and there are more reviews to come!
  

*As I wrote this I realized that Laurie's books reflect her writing process very clearly. You can read about how she writes here - then tell me you don't see a correlation.

O Jerusalem

O Jerusalem
by Laurie R. King
425 pages

In this 5th Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell adventure, we go back in time a few years. While working on the major case in THE BEEKEEPER'S APPRENTICE (the 1st book in the series), Holmes and Russell took a work-related trip to the Middle East. What exactly they did there was glossed over in that book ... and now we get the details.

*** The Plot ***

Holmes's brother Mycroft, who is something of a spymaster for the British government, has a task for Holmes and Russell. There is something going on in and around Jerusalem that Mycroft thinks needs some extra attention. That's all we know at the start of the book - and that is all Holmes and Russell know as well. Oh, and we also know that Russell is Jewish and that she's always wanted to visit the Holy Land.

*** My Thoughts ***

The case develops very slowly this time, as our main characters need to adapt to a new culture and gain the trust of the people they are working with. The different pace worked well for me - I enjoyed the cultural immersion, myself.

This book contains one of the most humorous favorite conversations between Holmes and Russell so far. I don't have the book in front of me so I can quote directly but the situation is like this:

Holmes's back has been seriously injured so he can't get around like he usually does. While exploring some dank, dark, and cramped underground passages, Russell continually has to climb into crevices, down tunnels, etc. Holmes remarks in an amused manner that he should have thought of this earlier, having a young apprentice around to do all the dirty work.

Ok, it doesn't sound so funny at the moment but it fits in so well with the rest of the book and it really IS funny at the time.

I read a review somewhere (sorry, can't remember whose it was) where the blogger said she didn't like this book as much because it went back to a time before Holmes and Russell's relationship developed. For her, the interaction wasn't as pleasing as in other books. This didn't bother me at all, but I think it is because I'm reading the books one after the other long after they were published. If I had been waiting for a new book to come out, anticipating the developments in the main characters' relationship, I would possibly have been disappointed when things seemed to be going backwards. But like I said, this didn't bother me at all, and I loved knowing what happened during those weeks that were glossed over in the first book.

*** My One Complaint ***

My only complaint - and this goes for all the SH/MR books, but I've just noticed it - is the abruptness of the endings. King's standard format seems go like this:

build up the case ... throw in red herrings ... tension ... Tension ... TENSION ... CLIMAX! ... the end ... brief epilogue

That formula is not necessarily a bad thing, but the speed with which the end of the book follows the climax of the case is a bit disconcerting to me. I'd like a bit more explanation of other characters' reactions to the case's solution, more info on the bad guy, etc. By no means does this ruin the book for me though - I have quite enjoyed each one in the series so far.


*** Other posts so far in my Month of Joyful Reading ***

• what it is
• author interview: Laurie R. King
• Book 1: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
• Book 2: A Monstrous Regiment of Women
• Book 3: A Letter of Mary
• Book 4: The Moor
  
• and there are more reviews to come, plus another guest post by Laurie!

The Moor

The Moor
by Laurie R. King
369 pages

When I’m reading books in a series I avoid reading the plot summary on the back cover until after I’ve read the book. Since I’m already into the story from the previous book I know I’m going to enjoy it and I don’t want any clues as to what is going to happen next. Does anyone else do that?

Ok, so … since this is the 4th book in the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series I didn’t read the back of the book. Because of that, I assumed that "The Moor" referred to in the title would be like Morgan Freeman’s character in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. (This makes lots of sense when you consider Russell’s Jewish background and her keen interest in the Middle East.) You can imagine my surprise when the book turned out to be about the actual moor – as in, a place in England –and not a “Saracen”. Oops.




*** The Plot ***

I don’t want to give anything away here so let’s just say that this SH/MR adventure has lots of links to the original Holmes tale, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. It takes place on the same moor, references some of the same characters, and even includes visits to Baskerville Hall.


*** My Thoughts ***

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES was always my favorite Holmes tale (I reviewed it on this blog way back when I first started reviewing) so the links between that book and this one make this my very favorite of the SH/MR books so far. This book also has more of the traditional Holmesian feel to it – it was much more like reading an Arthur Conan Doyle tale than King’s other SH/MR books.

Highly recommended, people – HIGHLY recommended.


*** Other posts so far in my Month of Joyful Reading ***

• what it is
• author interview: Laurie R. King
• Book 1: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
• Book 2: A Monstrous Regiment of Women
• Book 3: A Letter of Mary
  
• and there are more reviews to come!