B Reviews - Not in Alphabetical Order
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Man of the Cloth
I was very excited at the thought of another Jane Austen mystery! If you've read my previous review on the first Jane Austen mystery, The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, then you know how impressed I was with Ms Barron's knack and skill with the syntax and the whole feeling of the environment of late 1700's and early 1800's British society. She has been able to continue the feeling of authenticity very well with this second story, and I must say I was once again able to suspend disbelief and felt as if I were actually reading Jane Austen's own words. I have to once again highly recommend this book! Ms Barron takes her knowledge of Jane Austen, her research about pirates, France, and English society, and weave a telling and suspenseful story. Just who is The Reverend? Is he a good guy? A bad guy? And will Jane be safe in a dark cave in the middle of the night? Being properly improper in her thoughts and actions in trying to solve the death of one of the characters, the character of Jane rings true. You must read this book if you love mysteries, and I do recommend that you start with the first.
Rhys Bowen - Evan and Elle
This series follows the investigations of a local small town constable, Evan Evans. He is likeable enough and there are plenty of colorful characters. He is faced with Welsh nationalists, drug runners, arsonists and French chefs, while trying to decide if he is ready to settle down in a small village with the schoolteacher. There are scenes of colorful characters, and their Welsh village way of life. But I did get the feeling she was just painting pictures for us, some of them didn't come through to me and make me feel as if they were alive. But the writing is enjoyable enough and it was a good story with some good twists and turns.
David Baldacci - Saving Faith
I read this one practically stratght through! Baldacci has another great story here! I think it is a little bit different than the others. This one has a lot more human emotion in it. The human relationships I thought were very well-developed and a lot stronger than in the others. The title is an excellent choice, not only is the story about saving the character named Faith, but also about saving faith in right and wrong, and in our country. We see a man who started out, I am sure, with the very best of intentions and ideals, and what he becomes when those ideals are distorted and a true perspective is lost. There are great characters in here, we see them pretty fully. Of course, the person who is responsible for certain things, is the person least suspected, and very plausible. There is a lot of excitement in the telling of this story. I think it would make a great movie. Of course, I think his others would too, but haven't seen anything about them being turned into movies since Absolute Power. Hopefully someone will pick this one up! I recommend this one a lot! Read it in one weekend!
Stephanie Barron - Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
This mystery story is written as if it were being written by Jane Austen! I must admit, when I first picked up this book at the bookstore, I was a bit dubuious on how good it could really be. However, I needn't have worried. It is done very well indeed. If you have read any Jane Austen, or even any 19th or 18th century British literature, you will find yourself feeling as if you are actually reading something from that era. Ms Barron's grasp of the syntax, vocabulary and "sensibility" of the era are perfection. However, I did think the words "sense and sensibility" a bit overused. If you would like a cultural lesson on the proprieties of "proper" British society, then this is a great book for you. She includes footnotes at the bottom of a page, much easier for keeping the continuity of the story going than if you had to thumb to the back of the book to find out what a word means or an explanation of the difference between house and manor. Being a Dickinsian, I did enjoy this story, for the cultural background and for the great mystery story. I think you will enjoy it also and I recommend it!
Emily Brightwell - The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries
This is another Victorian set novel. Unfortunately I didn't take to it as I thought I would. The characters are actually very stereotypical Victorian era stock characters. The idea behind the series, which I think it is a rather well-known series, is quite catchy. The housekeeper is really the brains behind the Inspector's successes. There could be a lot of "deep" social comment here, but I'm afraid for me it didn't quite make the mark. If you have read others, and like the series, then you have seen something in the stories that I have missed. This is one that I can't recommend.
David Baldacci - The Simple Truth
This is a great story! I have just finished it and had to get my thoughts written down ASAP! David Baldacci is truly a masterful storyteller. But, it is not just the story, it is the subjects he picks to tell a story about that are so riveting. This novel delves into the questions of the military, the Supreme Court, and the evil that men do. His characters, both the good guys, and the bad, are well developed and well drawn - they are people you could know, they are people you see around you. I highly recommend this book! Not only does he bring up justice, right, and wrong, but he explores human relationships, and our perceptions that can lead to the breakdown of our relationships. And how can we redeem ourselves? If you have not read his others, you must. His first novel, Absolute Power, was picked up as a Clint Eastwood movie. In fact, that is how I found out about David Baldacci in the first place. Can you imagine your first published novel being picked up for a Clint Eastwood movie? How wonderful for Baldacci! I heard about the movie coming out and that it was from a very good book. I picked the paperback up in an airport and read the whole thing on a plane! Now, after reading it, I wondered what changes they would make in the film, because the two are different, and after all, it was going to be a Clint Eastwood film. If you haven't seen the movie, or read the book, I recommend you read the book first, and then see the movie. It is very good, but things had to be changed a bit for the film. It sill works. But you will love the book. Also, read Total Control and The Winner.
Edna Buchanan - Suitable For Framing
Now this is a good story! This is my first Edna Buchanan novel and my first encounter with Britt Montero. I like her! She is tough, yet so very human. The characters are real people you might know. The story was honest. What I mean by that is that everything was important to the story and she stayed on course. Everything, each detail, was relevant and played a part in the drama. I will definitely read Buchanan again and look forward to reading more about Britt Montero. I highly recommend this book. However, I don't know that I want to ever go to Miami, what with all the crime!
James Lee Burke - Sunset Limited
This book is just a little bit different from most of the "little murder mysteries" I've reviewed so far! It is very dark and dredges up some very dark happenings and episodes from the South's past. I've not read any other Burke novel, and am not sure if I will read any others. It would depend on my mood and if I found one in the shelves. An early civil rights activist is killed in a town, New Iberia, Louisiana, and 20 or so years later his children come back to the town. For justice? For revenge? The lead character is Dave Robicheaux and sometimes I'm not sure if I really like him enough. He's okay, not an outstanding hero, but does have a since of right and wrong. There are some interesting and colorful characters in the story. They're fairly believable, a bit outrageous, and some of the good guys you don't know if they are really the bad guiys, or just plain stupid. If you like stories that have themes of "moral justice" and societal rights and wrongs, along with a pinch of self-knowledge, this may just be the novel for you. Burke does bring a strong sense of the bayou and those who people it. You do sometimes feel as if you are looking through a window at another part of life. The title, Sunset Limited, is really the name of the train that goes to California. If you want to know how that all ties in, you will have to read the book!
Lilian Jackson Braun - The Cat Who Saw Stars
I have a read a couple of the other books in this series and they are generally good stories. Since I like cats, I usually like the books. Koko and Yum Yum are the two Siamese cats in the story and they have the usual cat antics that I do adore in my own cats. I like the main charcter, Qwill, he seems an ordinary enough guy, just kinda muddling through life with two cats. I also like the characters that make up Pickax (400 miles north of everywhere) and Mooseville. However, I didn't feel quite as satisfied with this story as with the others. There are three deaths in this story, the first one, as far as I'm concerned, was never fully explained nor reconciled. The second death is explained by the third death. I won't give away, hopefully, too much of the story, if you decide to go ahead and read it yourself. To me it just didn't come toghether at the end, when all was said and done. It is almost as if after a couple of chapter, Braun started writing another book, and the two became confused. Although I can't wholly recommend this particular book, the others that I've read have been good reads. All in all, I think you could still enjoy this story.
If you read a review of a book, and would like to read it, I've put in a link to Amazon.com for your convenience. Yes, I do get a percentage of sales, and all proceeds, if any, will be donated to the Animal Companion Village animal shelter in Long Beach, California.
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Updated December 26, 2001