Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
In the fourteenth installment of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, readers find the town of Drim, Scotland, center stage for a television adaptation of Patricia Martyn-Broyd's book. Rumors surface that the scriptwriter for the television adaptation, Jamie Gallagher, has completely changed Martyn-Broyd's character from a respectable woman to a wild hippie from the 1960s. Police Constable Hamish knows trouble when he sees it, and he can only think of bad things happening in Drim. Tempers flare on the set, and pretty soon three deaths take place, making Hamish hard at work again finding the killer or killers.
I absolutely love the Hamish Macbeth series. Over the years, patrons have recommended the series to me, and when I started reading the books a few years ago, I have been hooked since. Each book in the series is a quick read and a very interesting and at times comical look at the townsfolk of Lochdubh. Hamish seems to have a brilliant mind, though he is a self-proclaimed unambitious soul with no intention of making his mark in the police world. Beaton has created a delightful mystery series, one that cozy mystery readers will adore. If you are not familiar with the Hamish Macbeth series, I would suggest starting with the very first in the series, Death of a Gossip. Beaton also writes the Agatha Raisin mystery series and books under her real name, Marion Chesney.
Reviewed by Jessica
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Cambridge, England in the 12th century is rocked by a serial killer targeting young children. The people of Cambridge, thinking no one else is to blame, target the Jews of the town, killing the most prominent moneylender and his wife. The other Jewish townspeople are locked up in the castle, guarded from the mob by the sheriff. King Henry II, hearing of the childrens' deaths, asks the King of Sicily to send his best "minister of the art of death," or coroner. Unknown to Henry II, the best "minister" is actually Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, a doctor from the well-known medical town of Salerno. As tensions mount in Cambridge, Adelia, along with the help of Simon of Naples and Mansur, uses her skills to track down the murderer. She also crosses paths with Sir Rowley Picot, a knight whose demeanor and attention to her every move makes her wonder about his true intentions. Can she discover the murderer's identity before he or she strikes again? Filled with twists and turns, this captivating historical novel will keep the reader guessing until the very end.
I really enjoyed the intriguing mystery of the book. With so many plot twists, I was pretty surprised with the the novel's outcome. The storyline was engaging, with some very unique characters. There are some anachronisms (or using a person, place or thing in a time period when it did not exist) thrown into the storyline. The language at times was a little hard to follow, and I found myself slowed down a bit in the reading. Franklin's research of 12th century England becomes apparent in the novel; if you are not a historical novel reader, you may not like this novel.
For a taste of CSI in the 12th century, read this book!
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Cambridge, England in the 12th century is rocked by a serial killer targeting young children. The people of Cambridge, thinking no one else is to blame, target the Jews of the town, killing the most prominent moneylender and his wife. The other Jewish townspeople are locked up in the castle, guarded from the mob by the sheriff. King Henry II, hearing of the childrens' deaths, asks the King of Sicily to send his best "minister of the art of death," or coroner. Unknown to Henry II, the best "minister" is actually Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, a doctor from the well-known medical town of Salerno. As tensions mount in Cambridge, Adelia, along with the help of Simon of Naples and Mansur, uses her skills to track down the murderer. She also crosses paths with Sir Rowley Picot, a knight whose demeanor and attention to her every move makes her wonder about his true intentions. Can she discover the murderer's identity before he or she strikes again? Filled with twists and turns, this captivating historical novel will keep the reader guessing until the very end.
I really enjoyed the intriguing mystery of the book. With so many plot twists, I was pretty surprised with the the novel's outcome. The storyline was engaging, with some very unique characters. There are some anachronisms (or using a person, place or thing in a time period when it did not exist) thrown into the storyline. The language at times was a little hard to follow, and I found myself slowed down a bit in the reading. Franklin's research of 12th century England becomes apparent in the novel; if you are not a historical novel reader, you may not like this novel.
For a taste of CSI in the 12th century, read this book!
Reviewed by Jessica
Monday, July 2, 2007
Trigger by Susan Vaught
Age Level: Teen
Format: Book
Jersey Hatch can remember very little about his life before the accident. He has spent the past year of his high school life in a rehabilitation center, trying to put his shattered existence back together, piece by painful piece. He can't remember how to hold a conversation. He can't remember why his best friend hates him. He can't remember why he tried to kill himself. Now the true test has come. It's finally time for him to leave the rehabilitation center and head back into as normal a life as is possible for him. Somehow he needs to relearn algebra, repair lost friendships and graduate high school.
The reader travels with Jersey as he tries to piece his life back together. The reader sees the struggles he goes through and struggles along with him. It navigates the triumph of family, depths of despair, and humor in life's most mundane details.
It's a very compelling read.
Reviewed by Sara.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Warning: this book contains strong language. Stephanie Plum is at it again, this time tracking down what happened to her ex-husband Dickie Orr. After a shouting match at his law office, Stephanie becomes the prime suspect in her ex's disappearance. To make matters worse, Stephanie's nemesis Joyce Barnhardt feels Stephanie is responsible for Dickie's disappearance and will stop at nothing to make Stephanie pay. Meanwhile, Stephanie has to make a living and puts her bounty hunting "skills" to work tracking down FTAs, including a taxidermist with the art of booby trapping stuffed animals. With her whacky sidekicks, Stephanie cannot waste too much time finding the answers to the disappearance before she becomes the next victim.
Evanovich writes a mystery series that is so funny with the strangest/whackiest characters imaginable that I really read her Stephanie Plum series for the punch lines and the characters rather than the mystery. Lean Mean Thirteen, in my opinion, was not the funniest Plum mystery, but there were moments of laugh-out-loud humor. Anytime Grandma Mazur is in a scene, watch out! As I stated above, there is a lot of strong language in this book, as in others in the series. For those who do not like reading the strong language, do not pick up this series. Evanovich's books are very fast reads - I am a slower reader, and I can finish her books in one evening. I do not want to put the books down until I am finished!!
I recommend starting the series with the first book, One For the Money. This way, readers are introduced to the main characters and grow with the characters throughout each book. Each book also introduces new characters who have recurring roles in subsequent books.
If you are looking for a book that provides laugh-out-loud fun, look no further than Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Warning: this book contains strong language. Stephanie Plum is at it again, this time tracking down what happened to her ex-husband Dickie Orr. After a shouting match at his law office, Stephanie becomes the prime suspect in her ex's disappearance. To make matters worse, Stephanie's nemesis Joyce Barnhardt feels Stephanie is responsible for Dickie's disappearance and will stop at nothing to make Stephanie pay. Meanwhile, Stephanie has to make a living and puts her bounty hunting "skills" to work tracking down FTAs, including a taxidermist with the art of booby trapping stuffed animals. With her whacky sidekicks, Stephanie cannot waste too much time finding the answers to the disappearance before she becomes the next victim.
Evanovich writes a mystery series that is so funny with the strangest/whackiest characters imaginable that I really read her Stephanie Plum series for the punch lines and the characters rather than the mystery. Lean Mean Thirteen, in my opinion, was not the funniest Plum mystery, but there were moments of laugh-out-loud humor. Anytime Grandma Mazur is in a scene, watch out! As I stated above, there is a lot of strong language in this book, as in others in the series. For those who do not like reading the strong language, do not pick up this series. Evanovich's books are very fast reads - I am a slower reader, and I can finish her books in one evening. I do not want to put the books down until I am finished!!
I recommend starting the series with the first book, One For the Money. This way, readers are introduced to the main characters and grow with the characters throughout each book. Each book also introduces new characters who have recurring roles in subsequent books.
If you are looking for a book that provides laugh-out-loud fun, look no further than Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
Reviewed by Jessica
Still as Death by Sarah Stewat Taylor
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
This fourth installment in the Sweeney St. George mystery series finds Sweeney getting ready to open her exhibition on funerary art at Boston's Hapner Museum of Art. While putting together her exhibtion, Sweeney, an art historian, discovers paperwork for a piece of Egyptian jewlery that she desires. However, no one can find the jewelry. Meanwhile, Sweeney learns of a robbery that took place in the museum in 1979, which sheds some light on the jewlery's disappearance.
On opening night of the exhibition, tragedy strikes when one of the museum's staff members is found murdered in the museum's basement. Sweeney feels there is a connection between the present day murder and the robbery from 1979. With the help of her friend Detective Timothy Quinn, she tries to find the answers before someone else gets hurt. Mystery, lies, cover-ups and romance bring together a mystery that is enjoyable.
Those who love to read about art and art history will enjoy this mystery series. A former co-worker recommended the first in this series, O' Artful Death, a few years ago, and I absolutely loved it. To me, the plot lines are rich and unique with twists that combine past crimes/situations with contemporary or modern day happenings. A main character who works with funerary art seems so original and yet so fitting for a mystery. Readers will find that Sweeney has a very complicated life: she is the daughter of a famous artist who committed suicide when she was young; Her fiance was killed a few years ago in a terrorist attack in London; and, her current boyfriend wants her to move to London with him, though she has feelings for her friend Detective Quinn. Taylor combines all of these to make a character who generates sympathy and interest.
For those who like very unique characters, I would also recommend the genealogical series by Fiona Mountain, the fist titled Pale as the Dead. Set in England, this series follows Natasha Blake, a genealogist, as she solves genealogical mysteries and mysteries of modern day. Again, Mountain ties a modern day problem/mystery with a mystery of the past. Anyone who likes Sarah Stewart Taylor's series should try Fiona Mountain's genealogical series.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
This fourth installment in the Sweeney St. George mystery series finds Sweeney getting ready to open her exhibition on funerary art at Boston's Hapner Museum of Art. While putting together her exhibtion, Sweeney, an art historian, discovers paperwork for a piece of Egyptian jewlery that she desires. However, no one can find the jewelry. Meanwhile, Sweeney learns of a robbery that took place in the museum in 1979, which sheds some light on the jewlery's disappearance.
On opening night of the exhibition, tragedy strikes when one of the museum's staff members is found murdered in the museum's basement. Sweeney feels there is a connection between the present day murder and the robbery from 1979. With the help of her friend Detective Timothy Quinn, she tries to find the answers before someone else gets hurt. Mystery, lies, cover-ups and romance bring together a mystery that is enjoyable.
Those who love to read about art and art history will enjoy this mystery series. A former co-worker recommended the first in this series, O' Artful Death, a few years ago, and I absolutely loved it. To me, the plot lines are rich and unique with twists that combine past crimes/situations with contemporary or modern day happenings. A main character who works with funerary art seems so original and yet so fitting for a mystery. Readers will find that Sweeney has a very complicated life: she is the daughter of a famous artist who committed suicide when she was young; Her fiance was killed a few years ago in a terrorist attack in London; and, her current boyfriend wants her to move to London with him, though she has feelings for her friend Detective Quinn. Taylor combines all of these to make a character who generates sympathy and interest.
For those who like very unique characters, I would also recommend the genealogical series by Fiona Mountain, the fist titled Pale as the Dead. Set in England, this series follows Natasha Blake, a genealogist, as she solves genealogical mysteries and mysteries of modern day. Again, Mountain ties a modern day problem/mystery with a mystery of the past. Anyone who likes Sarah Stewart Taylor's series should try Fiona Mountain's genealogical series.
Reviewed by Jessica
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