The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

A killer stalked the Florence countryside for nearly two decades, preying on young couples in parked cars. The killer, nicknamed the Monster by Italian journalist Spezi, used the same weapon, ammunition from the same two boxes, and left no incriminating evidence at each murder scene. Italian authorities were baffled; Italian citizens were terrified. When Preston, a best selling mystery/thriller author, moved to Italy in 2000, he met Spezi, whose interest in the Monster case had not waned in the passing years. Together, Preston and Spezi tell the story of the Monster investigation, from the first crime scene Spezi visited in the early 1970s, to the various theories introduced by the authorities. Their quest to discover the Monster of Florence's identity leads both of them into danger from the Italian authorities.

The Monster of Florence , simply put, is a hard book to put down. Preston and Spezi's story brings to light an investigation full of corruption and hidden agendas. Some of the characters in the book are so hard to believe, until I remembered that these characters are in fact real people. It is an amazing story, and one of the best true crime investigative stories I have read. I think I will have to read one of Preston's mysteries soon!

Readers who enjoy this book may also want to try Patricia Cornwell's Portrait of a Killer. Cornwell, also a well known mystery/thriller author, conducted her own investigation into the murders attributed to Jack the Ripper and came to a very interesting conclusion.

Reviewed by Jessica

Sleepless by Terri Clark

Age Level: Teen

Format: Book

 

Trinity has a secret.  She has the ability to walk through other people’s dreams.  Many would think that this would be a fun and cool ability, but for Trinity it’s a curse.  This ability has made her grow up far faster than she would have liked, especially when, through her dreams, she is told that a girl she knows, named Kiri, is going to die if Trinity can’t find her.  Now Kiri’s murderer is out to kill Trinity . . . through her dreams.

 

This is not just a typical piece of fluff.  Yes, there is romance in the book between Trinity and a guy named Dan, but there’s more to this story than meets the eye.  The story brings to mind the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.  The action is very fast-paced.  And there’s also quite a bit of suspense.  

 

All in all, Sleepless is a quick read that will keep you turning the pages to see how Trinity will manage to survive when a killer is stalking her dreams.

 

Reviewed by Sara.

Night World #1 (Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder) by L.J. Smith

Age Level: Teen

Format: Book

 

There are three different books in Night World #1.

 

In Secret Vampire, we meet Poppy and James who are best friends.  But James has a secret – he’s a vampire.  And when Poppy is diagnosed with cancer, James offers her a chance at eternal life.  

 

In Daughters of Darkness three vampire sisters run away to live with their aunt and among humans.  Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.

 

And finally, in Spellbinder, two witch cousins fight over the same crush.  It’s a battle of white magic vs. black magic.

 

I highly enjoyed all three of these stories.  They’re fun, and they pulled me into a world where those that live in the Night World (vampires, witches, shape shifters, etc) are not allowed to really have any interaction with humans – at the very least, they’re definitely not allowed to date.  All three stories are intertwined.  The main characters in all three of the stories are somehow related.  Any fan of vampire/paranormal fiction would probably enjoy these titles.  I can’t wait until Night World #2 is released!

 

Reviewed by Sara.

Sweetsmoke by David Fuller

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Note: This book is officially published in September 2008. It is on order in the Adams County Library System catalog; it may be placed on hold.

Cassius, a slave on the Sweetsmoke Plantation in tobacco country Virginia in 1862, has no idea what it means to be free. He does have a little bit more leeway than other slaves; he is his master Hoke Howard’s carpenter, which saves him from toiling in the tobacco fields like the other slaves. When Cassius learns Emoline Justice, a kindly freed black woman who helped Cassius through a very difficult period in his life several years before, is found murdered in her home, Cassius feels justified to find her killer. He soon discovers Emoline’s connection to the spy network in the area and begins a list of suspects. His obsession to find Emoline’s killer leads him to places he had never dreamed of before and allows him to slowly start thinking about the world outside slavery and what it means to be free.

This historical fiction novel by Fuller brings together elements of mystery and romance to create a fantastic historical account of slavery on a Virginia plantation. It is quite clear from the beginning of the novel that Cassius is not a regular slave – besides having fewer restrictions at Smeetsmoke than any other slave owned by Hoke Howard, he can also read and write. Though written in third person, the reader experiences everything through Cassius’ eyes as he witnesses scenes at times heart wrenching and at other times horribly graphic. I could feel his pain and suffering, his grief and his triumphs, his fears and his satisfactions. The mystery aspect of the novel has a little twist at the end, which left both Cassius and me surprised.

Fuller’s choice of writing style, providing no quotations around the slaves’ words, is very interesting. For me, it made the narrative very moving. This choice further shows the separation of slaves from whites and even freed blacks.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who has read a slave narrative or has an interest in Civil War fiction. Though it took me a little bit longer to read than some books I have read lately, Sweetsmoke is indeed a wonderfully powerful novel and one of the best books I have read this year.

Reviewed by Jessica

Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell

Age Level: Adult

Format: Book

 

Jill Breck was simply doing her job when she saved the life of Lane Faroe, the son of two very important people associated with St. Kilda’s Consulting.  When a string of malicious events - beginning with the suspicious fire that killed her great-aunt - culminates in a threat on her life, Jill reluctantly calls in the favor that Faroe promised her.  Enter Zach Balfour who works part-time as a consultant for St. Kilda.  He is an effective bodyguard that will race with Jill to uncover a murderer,

 

This is the third book in Lowell’s St. Kilda Consulting series.  It’s pretty much a standalone, however it wouldn’t hurt to read the first two (The Wrong Hostage and Innocent as Sin) simply to learn who the major players in St. Kilda are.  The main characters, Jill and Zach, are very strong and are simply the best part of the book.  

 

This isn’t my favorite book of Lowell’s.  Some parts, especially the end, seemed far to rushed to me.  However, it’s a great beach read and has just enough suspense to keep you hooked.  All in all, it was a pretty good read.

 

Reviewed by Sara.