Shannon's Review - Red Wolf by Liza Marklund

Title: Red Wolf
Series: Annika Bengtzon #5
Author: Liza Marklund
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Jill Putorti
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Series
Publisher: Atria
Received: Free from the publisher for an honest review
Release Date: February 2011
Pages: 400
Rating:




Author Liza Marklund’s Official Websites:


(borrowed from lizamarklund.com)

Website:
http://lizamarklund.com/

Blog:
None Found

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LizaMarklund

Twitter:
None Found

Instagram:
None Found



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Annika is a journalist who writes at a tabloid. After a journalistic friend is killed Annika is slowly uncovering what could be a serial killer.

This the 5th book in the Annika Bengtzon series. I had not read any of the previous books so I was missing some back story. I enjoyed some of the characters and felt bad for some, I did not care for others.

In most thriller books you can jump in any book in the series and get the gist of what happened in previous books. This book did not do that for me. I was lost until about 50 pages in, then we are reading about Annika and her husband’s relationship problems. Once that scene was over we are then reading about Annika’s friend and her husband's problems. All could think is why should I care about these characters. The friend couple really did not advance the story for me. I was also confused about why Annika would sometimes hear angels. I don’t know if that was supposed to be real or she was off her meds.

This book was hit and miss for me. I was more interested in Annika’s relationships than the mystery/thriller part. I had to really force myself to finish. I will not continue reading this series.

Shannon's Review - To Fetch A Thief by Spencer Quinn

Title: To Fetch A Thief
Series: Chet And Bernie Mystery #3
Author: Spencer Quinn (aka Peter Abrahams)
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Anna Dorfman
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Atria Books
Received: Free for an honest review.
Release Date: September 2010
Pages: 307
Rating:



Author Spencer Quinn’s (aka Peter Abrahams) Official Websites:




Website:
https://www.peterabrahams.com/

Blog:
http://www.chetthedog.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ChetTheDog

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/chetthedog

Instagram:
None found



Shannon’s Thoughts:

This is the third installment to the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Chet, the dog is the best at narrating their stories. Bernie and Chet are working on a case for a circus. A missing performer and his elephant are missing. The leads do not come easy and they are traveling farther than they would like to crack the case.

Even though this is the third book in the series, it is the first one I have read. I did not feel lost and felt very connected to the characters. I love the way Chet’s voice is described and how he takes in information. Since he is a dog he gets distracted sometimes but not most of the time because he is a good dog.

I wish I had more of the books to read but I will have to remedy it another day. The end of the story did not come together as cleanly as I hoped. It seemed like things had gotten so out of hand (or paw) the author wasn’t sure how to get it back to a resolvable ending. Things got too lucky in the final chapters.

I will definitely be reading another Chet and Bernie mystery. I could see these characters as a tv series or movies. Worth the read and I am happy reading out of order if I read more.

Shannon's Review - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Title: Piranesi
Series: Not At The Moment
Author: Susanna Clarke
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Unknown
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Received: Free For Honest Review
Release Date: August 2020
Pages: 272
Rating:



Author Susanna Clarke’s Official Websites:




Website:
None Found

Blog:
None Found

Facebook:
None Found

Twitter:
None Found

Instagram:
None Found



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Piranesi’s home is not a normal home. It is hallways of labyrinths, statues, and oceans. He has a journal to keep track of the tide in some hallways and rejoices in the art of others. He is not alone either there is “The Other” who is looking for a way out or back to his home. Soon Piranesi learns that “The Other” is hiding things including Piranesi memories.

I had not read Susanna Clarke’s first book, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell but it was a favorite of my husband. I requested it as the description was intriguing. I have to say I loved it from the beginning. The way Piranesi viewed the world and the living things in it just kept drawing me in.

I am not sure how I feel about the ending. It could have gone so many ways and I still had questions that were not answered. I hope that maybe we will see the characters again.

I would recommend this highly to anyone who likes fantasy or mythology.

Shannon's Review - The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

Title: The Yiddish Policemen’s Union
Series: No
Author: Michael Chabon
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins
Received: Bought through Life’s Library Book Club
Release Date: May 2007
Pages: 414
Rating:






Author Michael Chabon’s Official Websites


Website:
https://www.harpercollins.com/authors/michaelchabon/

Blog:
None found

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michaelchabonauthor/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/michaelchabon

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/michael.chabon/



Shannon’s Thoughts:


Meyer Landsman is a police detective. He and his partner are investigating a murder in the Jewish community. The farther they dig the more strange this murder seems. Some believed the man who was murdered was the savior. As Landsman struggles with finding leads he makes connections with what went wrong with his own marriage and how he's dealt with negative events that have happened in his life.

This was a book recommended in the Life’s Library group. I probably would not have read it otherwise. I really did not know what to expect when I started it. I had heard of author Michael Chabon but have never read anything by him. I wish I could say that I want to read more by him, but alas.., No. The fact that I finished this is a great feat because I am still not sure I understand what was completely going on. Here is what I gather… The area it takes place in Alaska is mostly Jewish neighborhood who like to play chess. There is a murder and the detective isn’t a great detective nor a sober one. They spend most of the book trying to find out why the victim was murdered which apparently doesn’t matter because the character never finds out and neither does the reader.

This is the first book that I wished I had read as an ebook because of all the Yiddish words. I had no idea what characters were talking about some times. I sorta flipped to the back looking for a glossary and I did not see one my first look( which is my bad because there was one). I had just missed the glossary my first flip through but on a second look when I more than halfway through there it was. Everything in this book never has a payoff. The people annoyed me, and the fact that Meyer’s sister was suddenly thrown into the mess at the end.

The book was just very frustrating for me. The not understanding of the words and the fact that by the time I was connected with the characters we get a cliffhanger and instead of thinking, “I need the sequel” as I would with a book I liked. I instead thought, “f this author and characters” and threw the book across the room.

Shannon's Review - Louisana Fever by D.J. Donaldson

Title: Louisiana Fever

Series: Andy Broussard/Kit Franklyn Mystery #5

Author: D.J. Donaldson

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions

Received: From Author For Review

Release Date: March 2013

Pages: 301

Rating:

Author D.J. Donaldson’s Official Websites:

Website

http://dondonaldson.com/

Blog

N/A

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/medicalthriller

Twitter

https://twitter.com/medicalthriller

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Kit Franklyn gets mysterious phone call to meet someone who dies at the beginning of their meeting. Finding out who he was eventually leads to her kidnapping and the spread of a nasty killer virus. As her friends fight to find her, others have to fight for their own lives as well.

I have not read any books from this series before and did not feel that they have to be read in order. From the first moment the book grabs you as the deadly virus spreads through town. You biting your nails waiting as they try to determine how the virus spreads and then adding on to the tension there are kidnappings.

I give this three stars even though the story grabs you there is a big no no for me.  As the kidnapped escapes it is glazed over by saying it would take to long to explain how one of the characters got free.  It is literally describes “It would take to long to explain”. I understand it may be hard to get the story where you want to but that just seems lazy.    

Even though I have that one beef with the story I still enjoyed most of it and I would consider reading another from the series.

Shannon's Review - The Missile Game by Glenn Shepard

Title: The Missile Game

Series: A Dr. Scott James Thriller #1

Author:  Glenn Shepard

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Mystery House

Received: From Author For Review

Release Date: January 2015

Pages: 287

Rating:

Author Glenn Shepard’s Official Websites:

Website

https://www.glennshepardauthor.com/

Blog

N/A

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013236575621

Twitter

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Our main character Dr. Scott James, a plastic surgeon, finds out after a minor surgery on his secretary that murder is afoot and not just one. The police and his wife believe he is the murderer as he was the only one there.  He hides and searches for answers on who is framing him.  Through this hunt he is going to find out what is going on and that terrorism ties into it all.

I do not read thrillers often.  That being said, this one did keep me interested for a while. I did like the thought of the main character Dr. Scott James falling for Elizabeth especially after his wife immediately believe the worse in her husband once second after hearing about it.  What A B.I.T.C.H.! It is funny but even though she was a background character I think I hated the wife the most.  

The thought that everyone was blaming the doctor for every murder that kept happening seemed far fetched.  The police barely did any investigating once they got to the seen and then would start barking at Dr. James that he did it.  I had to go back and reread chapters because sometimes I did not realize I was reading another person or what they had to do with the story I was already processing.

Sometimes the book was too over the place other time there was just enough thrill to keep me reading. Would I read another from this series? My answer would be maybe. It was not bad it was not great.  It was just a typical thriller.

Celebrate Books For The Week - 10/23/2017- 10/27/2017

Books For The Week - 10/23/2017- 10/27/2017

It seems like everyday has some new holiday or theme to celebrate so I thought it might be fun to see what kind of interesting books I can find  (new, old, or coming soon) for everyday holidays.  

Monday October 23rd 2017

National Mole Day

Solving Mole Problems by Melanie Fine

Genre: Non-Fiction, Science, Chemistry

What’s It About?: A quick guide teaching what a mole in chemistry is, along with what it weighs

and how many particles are in one.

TV Talk Show Host Day

Title: The Morning Show Murders by Al Roker, and Dick Locthe

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

What Is It About?: Start of a cozy mystery series.  Talk show host Billy Blessing is accused of murder.  He searches for the real killer before he becomes the next victim or ends up in prision.

 

Title: Stephen Colbert’s Midnight Confessions by Stephen Colbert

Genre: Humor

What Is It About? Based on skit that US talk show host Stephen Colbert does on his nightly talk show.

Tuesday October 24th 2017

National Bologna Day

Title: Farming, Friends, And Fried Bologna Sandwiches by Renea Winchester

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Food and Drink

What Is It About?: A memoir on growing up on a farm and how times have changed.

Title: Melvin Beederman Superhero: The Curse Of The Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine

Genre: Children, Fantasy, Comic, Superhero

What Is It About?:  Melvin is a superhero saving Los Angeles even though a little clumsy. His only weakness is bologna.

United Nations Day

Title: The Parliament Of Man : The Past, Present and Future by Paul Kennedy

Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Politics

What Is It About? History of how the U.N. came to be and what is now.

Wednesday October 25th 2017

Punk For A Day Day

Title: Punk Avenue: Inside The New York City Underground 1972 - 1982 by Phil Marcade

Genre: Non-Fiction, Music, Biography

What Is It About?: The author, Phil Marcade, time in the punk scene told sometimes humorously..

Title: Legends Of Punk: Photos From The Vault by Rikki Ercoli

Genre: Non-Fiction, Music Photography

What Is It About?: Photos from Punk concerts around world.

World Pasta Day

Title: Homemade Pasta Made Simple by Manuela Zangara

Genre: Non-Fiction, Cookbook

What Is It About?: How to make fresh pasta.

Title: Pasta Wars by Elisa Lorello

Genre: Fiction, Romance

What Is It About?: A successful CEO, Katie Cravens, is on the brink of greatness at work and about to marry. Then everything falls apart.  

Thursday October 26th 2017

National Mincemeat Day

Title: Mincemeat: The Education Of An Italian Chef by Leonardo Lucarelli

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir

What Is It About?: Chef Leonardo Lucarelli shares about his life behind the scenes of the Italian restaurant world.

Title: The Unknown Courier: The True Story Of Operation Mincemeat by Ian Colvin

Genre: Non-Fiction, History, World War II

What Is It About?: About a true operation that misled Hitler to divert forces.

Friday October 27th 2017

Frankenstein Friday

Title: The New Annotated Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Genre: Fiction, Classic, Horror

What Is It About?: A scientist creates a monster from dead body parts.

Title: Frankenstein Dreams: A Connoisseur’s Collection Of Victorian Science Fiction by Michael Sims

Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Anthology

What Is It About?: A group of science fiction short story from authors Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe and more.

National Tell A Story Day

Title: How To Tell A Story And Other Essays by Mark Twain

Genre: Non-Fiction, On Writing, Essays

What Is It About?: Mark Twain’s humor filled essays on what not to do as a writer.

Title: Tell Me A Story: An Inspirational Book For Creative Writers by Emily Bannister

Genre: Children's, Picture Book,

What Is It About?: A book encouraging children to create stories and write.

Navy Day

Title: The U.S. Navy by Jennifer Reed

Genre: Non-Fiction, Juvenile,

What Is It About?: Learn about the U.S. Navy and where they protect and the equipment they use.

Title: Way Of The Warrior Kid: From Wimpy To Warrior The Navy Seal Way by Jocko Willink

Genre: Fiction, Juvenile

What Is It About?:  Marc struggles through middle school as he is bullied.  His Uncle, a navy seal, comes to stay for a while and promises to turn Marc into a Warrior.

Shannon's Review - Nursing A Grudge by Diana Orgain

Title: Nursing A Grudge

Series: A Maternal Instincts Mystery #4

Author: Diana Orgain

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services Inc.

Received:  Purchased

Release Date: October 2013

Pages: 230

Rating:

Official Websites of Author Diana Orgain:

Website

http://dianaorgain.com/

Blog

http://dianaorgain.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DianaOrgainAuthor

Twitter

https://twitter.com/DianaOrgain

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Kate Connelly, a new mother and a  private investigator in training,  gets a mysterious case from a friend. This only being her 4th case and she is still learning with the help of an official P.I./ ex-cop.

As she looks for a killer she has to watch her step or she will be the next in a growing pile of bodies.

This series by author Diana Orgain is the first cozy mysteries I have ever read.  I did not even know cozy mysterious were exactly what they were called but yet cozy was what I immediately felt with them.  This is a book you just want to curl up with some tea or cocoa and read until there is no tomorrow.  The characters well defined.  I never get confused at who is who, like other mysteries I have read and I am always cheering for the good guys.

There is not much wrong with the series or this book.  One thing I was not happy about was that our apprentice in investigating reacted as if this were her first case and not 4th.  There were things I swear she had done in previous books but she seemed to have forgotten.

I love the series.  I hope it continues and I have found other mysteries written by Mrs. Orgain that I hope to get too soon.