Review: THE THIRD VICTIM, by Phillip Margolin.

THE THIRD VICTIM, by Phillip Margolin

Audiobook

MacMillan Audio - 2018

Narrated by Therese Plummer

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Margolin is a veteran in the world of legal thrillers. He delivers another solid story in THE THIRD VICTIM.

A woman is found crumpled on the highway, bloodied, battered, bits of duct tape clinging to her wrists and ankles. She tells her horrific story of confinement and eventual escape. Her injuries and evidence of confinement are consistent with two unsolved murders in the area. When she identifies the house she escaped from, the legal community is turned upside down. The house belongs to a prominent lawyer, Alex Mason. Alex is now the defendant in a death penalty case.

Of course Alex protests and claims innocence, but what might be most damning of all, is the testimony of his wife. Her stories of his sexual sadism paint Alex as the type of predator capable of these heinous crimes. As the evidence piles up, it does not bode well for Alex.

They say that only  a fool represents themselves in court, and Alex is no fool. He hires the best in the business. Regina Barrister, known in the legal community as "The Sorceress" due to her impressive record of court room wins.

Robin Lockwood is a fresh new lawyer finishing up her clerkship at the Oregon Supreme court.  Everything about her indicates she is a fighter.  She helped finance her law school costs by fighting in the MMA. Now she is ready to learn how to do battle in a courtroom instead of an octagon.  When the opportunity presents itself to work for and learn from Regina she jumps at the opportunity.  Immediately she becomes a team player in the Alex Mason case - as second chair.  Soon, Robin is noticing things and questioning Regina's judgement.

Phillip Margolin has been writing for a long time. i can remember reading his books far longer ago than I care to admit.  His experience shows.  The story is taut and edgy, with plot twists that that spin things in a different direction , just as you are getting comfortable in the direction it is going. The characters are well defined and believable.

Narration was clear, with a pleasant cadence, and had an appropriate range of characters and emotions. 

This may not be Margolin's best novel, but it is a solid good one nonetheless.

Happy Reading,

Christine

    
 

Review: HANNAH GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE, by Michael Marshall Smith

HANNAH GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE, by Michael Marshall Smith

HarperCollins - Available November 6, 2018

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Delightfully whimsical!

Hannah Green is growing up in Santa Cruz.  Just a regular kid in a regular family.  But like so many "regular" families, her parents are headed for divorce.  Packed up and sent to stay with her grandfather for a period, she discovers that maybe her family isn't so "regular" after all.  

Her grandfather, as it turns out, is on friendly terms with The Devil, and has been for a very long time. Her grandfather built a machine that converts mankind's evil acts into energy for the the Devil. When it stops working, The Devil needs help finding and fixing the problem before an evil force (yes, more evil than The Devil) ends the world as we know it (or thought we did at least).

Hannah and her Grandfather head off with The Devil and a surprisingly likeable demon resembling a mushroom, on an epic adventure (quite literally to Hell and back) to find the cause and fix it before it is too late. 

Despite the lightness of the story, and the quirky characters, there is a subtle message for young readers in the background - no matter what happens if your parents divorce, you will be okay, you will be loved and cared for, you are strong and you can overcome. When all the upheaval has settled, life will once again become "mundane".

This is one of those books that perhaps is targeted for a younger demographic, but really can be enjoyed by all ages. Marshall Smith's writing rings faintly with a wry humor, reminiscent of Gaiman, yet remaining his own. 

A light and fun filled read!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: THE CHILD FINDER, by Rene Denfeld

THE CHILD FINDER, by Rene Denfeld

Audiobook

Harper Audio - 2017

Narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Denfield delivers on two fronts with this book as a taut thriller with all the sensitivity and depth of literary fiction. The writing is quite powerful and delicate at the same time.  

Naomi Cottle has a knack for finding lost children. She understands these children, she was once one of them. Her successes have earned her the name "Child Finder".  With determination, a little luck, and incredible insight, she is able to take the tiniest clues and turn them into results. The endings aren't always happy ones, and sometimes all she can offer is closure. Her memories of her own "lost" time have remained locked just below her consciousness, but her latest case seems to be thinning the veil hiding her own past from her.  

Maddison Culver went missing in Skookum National Park one day while on a family outing to collect a Christmas tree. Three years later, unwilling to give up hope, her parents find Naomi and ask for help.  Naomi heads to the mountain area where Maddison went missing, scouring the harsh and unforgiving winter forest, determined to find out what happened to little Maddie despite the dangers both seen and unseen.

The setting is the perfect eerie backdrop for the story. It is cold and harsh, dangerous and unforgiving. The author is able to evoke a real sense of despair and hopelessness. In perfect juxtaposition to the setting is the cast of characters, - strong, loving, hopeful, with seemingly endless empathy and compassion. Denfeld seems to be very insightful about human nature, especially the innocence of children.

A sequel is in the works, but no reliable word on a release date yet. I have seen everything from October 2018 to November 2019.  Unless something changes it will be called THE BUTTERFLY MUSEUM.  I will be keeping a watch for this one.

Alyssa Bresnahan was the perfect choice of narrator for this story. She provided a performance that was very much on point with the mood of the story, with excellent emotional and character range. I hope that she returns for the sequel! I really cannot imagine anyone else reading it now. 

It is unusual to come across a thriller that keeps you hovering on the very edge of your seat, and yet demand such emotional commitment from the reader.  A stunning, heartbreaking, breathlessly beautiful novel.  I can't wait for the next!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary October 14 to 20, 2018

Sunday Summary 

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

As we quickly slide through October with Pumpkin Spiced Everything, Halloween will soon be upon us.  I am thinking that if I can find a bookish or literary template within my skills, I might do a pumpkin carving in that theme.  Have you ever carved a bookish pumpkin? Do you have favorite ghostly stories that you enjoy this time of year?  Drop a comment and let me know!

Books Reviewed:

FOREVER AND A DAY, by Anthony Horowitz. You can see what I thought of the latest James Bond/007 installment HERE.

STILL WATER, by Amy Stuart. I reviewed this suspense novel in THIS POST.

THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB, by Craig Davidson. Now one of my favorite books of 2018, you can read about it HERE.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

While there were no blog posts in this category,, there were social media posts that were fun!  On Monday I took part in #MondayFunday with a meme/post in which you took the title of your current read, and added "In Your Pants". This post earned some pretty entertaining responses in Instagram - you can see them on MY INSTAGRAM PAGE. 

On a sad note, Todd Bol the creator of the Little Free Library Movement died at the age of 62 this past week.  What a legacy though, to share literature with the world! Credit for this info to GoodReads through THIS TWEET. RIP Mr. Bol

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

Nothing to report in this category this past week.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I am currently reading HANNAH GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE, by Michael Marshall Smith, and I am currently listening to THE CHILD FINDER, by Rene Denfield.  Next up to read is what may very well be my most anticipated novel of the year - a dark fantasy entitled VITA NOSTRA, by Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko.  This is a translation of their book which has already done very well amongst Russian and Ukrainian markets.  I am quite excited to be reading this one next!

Happy Reading,

Christine

THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB, by Craig Davidson

THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB, by Craig Davidson

Penguin Random House -  2018

Narrated by Corey Brill

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I simply cannot express how much I enjoyed this story. 

The summer Jake Baker turned twelve years old, he spent a lot of time with his eccentric and quirky uncle Calvin, proprietor of the local occult shop. It is also the summer he met some of his closest life-long friends and the summer that he fell in love for the first time. Together they created the Saturday Night Ghost Club, and explored local landmarks in their town of Niagara Falls - A.K.A. Cataract City (a nod to Davidson's previous work short-listed for the Giller Prize), and the ghostly legend attached to them. Jake learns much about life that summer, including the fact that even urban legends sometimes contain a grain of truth.  

This book is so much more than it appears on its cover.  Told in alternating time lines between the young Jake and the grown up Jake who became a neurosurgeon, it explores the relationship between mind, memory, and the delicate nature of the organ that holds them. it  is testimony to both the strength and fragility of the human spirit.  It is filled with heartbreak and hope. 

This is one of those stories that i picked up for one reason, but will carry with me as part of my being for many more.  I am not surprised that this book is shortlisted for the Roger's Writer's Trust Award this year. The writing is powerful, yet delicate. 

Narration was provided by Cory Brill - who has an impressive list of acting and narrating credits to his name. His performance was on point and his voice was the perfect match for this breathtaking story. 

This beautiful story has secured a place in my favorite reads of 2018. I cannot recommend it enough.

Happy Reading,
Christine

Review: STILL WATER, by Amy Stuart

STILL WATER, by Amy Stuart

Simon and Schuster - 2018
Narrated by Madeleine Maby

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐

A good thriller with a solid story line, 

Clare was an abused woman who escaped her husband, and ends up working for a private investigator, searching for other missing women.  She finds herself in the town of High River acting the part of the worried friend of Sally - a runaway battered woman and her son who have gone missing from a home that offers refuge to women fleeing abusive relationships.  As Clare investigates she learns that she is not the only one hiding from her past, and most of the people she meets in High River are well practiced at the art of deception.

While the story line was solid, and the writing was generally good, my one complaint would be that it very much felt like the "middle" book it was.  The characters seemed to be a little too dependent on the last book - STILL MINE, and could have done with a little more development to reunite character and reader, and while the basic answers of this book were resolved, there is no real sense of closure.  Not that there was a little, teasing, sniglet to carry forward and tempt you to read the next book (as is common), just a general sense of "not done". I suspect that this series might be more enjoyable back to back than after long periods between books. 

A good sophomore effort.

The narration was clear, pleasant, and had suitable range in characters and emotions.

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review: FOREVER AND A DAY, by Anthony Horowitz

FOREVER AND A DAY, by Anthony Horowitz

HarperCollins Canada - Available November 6, 2018

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the Advance Reading Copy which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

 My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

FOREVER AND A DAY is the exciting prequel to Ian Flemming’s CASINO ROYAL, this book was filled with all the thrills and chills we have come to expect from the James Bond/007 franchise.

When his predecessor is found dead and floating in a French waterway, James Bond sets off on his first mission as a newly promoted “00” agent - to find those responsible and take them down.

I have never read any of the previous James Bond books, but I have seen all of the movies over the years. I can only imagine that writing in the style of another author, in another era, would be difficult, but if the movies are at all true to the previous books, Horowitz does a fine job of it.  

It is no secret that the movies tend to follow a formula of standard motifs. Many of those standard “Bond formula” features were present in this book (British spy in an international setting, the thrilling high speed chases, the extraordinarily imposing villain, the drawn out and failed attempts to kill Bond, etc.), but, much like the movies, the book was never dull.

James Bond is one of the most iconic literary characters of all time. The original author died 54 years ago, and we are not only still enjoying books and movies featuring the character he created, but they are still being produced!  Since his death, several authors have contributed to legacy - this is Horowitz second contribution to the James Bond series, and everyone seems to have a “favorite Bond actor”. 

 It was interesting to read a novel based on a character as iconic as this, but that I have never read before.  For me, while reading it, my mind’s eye placed Roger Moore in the role. Probably because the first time I was introduced to the character of James Bond, it was while my father watched one of the movies in which Moore was cast as 007.

This book was well worthy of not only adding to the legend of James Bond, but creating his beginning as well.

Happy Reading, 
Christine

Additional Notes:

As life-long, born-and-bred Winnipeg resident, I have a certain affection for the character of James Bond.  It is said that Sir William Stephenson (Code name Intrepid) was a major inspiration to Flemming in the creation of the character.  Stephenson was born in Winnipeg and spent his early years here.  He left as a young man to join the war effort.  Winnipeg has honored the war hero in several ways - even one of its library branches named after the war hero!

Sir William Stephenson Public Library - City of Winnipeg

Sculpture of Sir William Stephenson by Leo Mol in Downtown Winnipeg

Mural titled "A Man Called Intrepid" by Dave Carty in Winnipeg's West End.

Sunday Summary: October 7 - 13, 2018

Sunday Summary, October 7-13, 2018

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the past week.

Not much going on around here, so let's dive right in!

Books Reviewed:

UPROOTED, by Naomi Novik - This grown up fairy tale with the "old-world" feel was reviewed by me Here

CAMINO ISLAND, by John Grisham - A bit of an anomaly as unlike Grisham's other works, this book does not focus on law offices and courtrooms. This story revolves around the theft and movement of priceless book manuscripts. You can read my review Here.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

This past week, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada.  I posted my bookish list of things I am thankful for in this post. 

I also posted my  responses and tags for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I was tagged by Katie of Kati's Bookaholic Rambling Reviews.  You can read my replies and see who I tagged in turn in this post. 

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

Nothing to report this week. Stay tuned! 

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

Right now I am reading FOREVER AND A DAY, by Anthony Horowitz.  This is a James Bond book, and is the prequel to CASINO ROYALE.  It was used in my "First Line Friday" social media posts this past week

I am currently listening to STILL WATER, by Amy Stuart

Next on deck I have HANNA GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE, by Michael Marshall Smith.  This book was "bumped" by my current read, which will be released sooner, and I try to read my advance reading copies in order of their release.  There are some exciting looking titles which I will be reviewing that are being released in November - so stay tuned!

Hope you have something to read that makes you smile, or think, or feel! 

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review: CAMINO ISLAND, by John Grisham

CAMINO ISLAND, by John Grisham

Random House Audio - 2017

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Grisham's name is synonymous with thrillers set in the courtrooms and law offices of America.  Camino Island is a bit of a diversion for Grisham, as this book is not primarily set in the legal community.  Instead, this book is centered in the world of books.

Normally when we think about  books and the book trade, we don't really picture a seedy underground.  In CAMINO ISLAND, Grisham spins a story around that seedy underground and the trade of rare books and manuscripts.  

In a daring heist, a group steals five priceless F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts. The story follows the thieves and their accomplices, and also a young woman who is enlisted to help recover the manuscripts - despite not having a law enforcement or investigations background. Sprinkled with all the twists and turns you would expect from a seasoned storyteller, it was an interesting and entertaining read.

Grisham has long ago built a reputation as a talented story teller, and he does not let us down with this work.

The audio book edition was narrated by January LaVoy, herself a seasoned narrator with an impressive list of credits. Her delivery was as smooth and as engaging as ever.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: UPROOTED, by Naomi Novik

UPROOTED, by Naomi Novik

Narrated by Julia Emelin

Random House Audio  2015 

My Rating (out of 5)

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

"Our Dragon doesn't eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley.

   
Every ten years, The Dragon - the wizard in the valley - picks one girl who is turning seventeen and takes her; and while he doesn't eat them, they are, in a manner, consumed.  The women who return after ten years, appear only for a brief while before leaving the town again, to settle elsewhere to live a solitary life. In return for the girl he takes every ten years, The Dragon keeps the dark forces of The Wood at bay and protects the village.

The Dragon always chooses someone who has a special quality.  This year, Agnieszka knows he will choose her best friends Kasia, and everyone else in the village knows it too.

But everyone is wrong, and the choosing does not go as expected. 

The dark force of the woods is creeping into the village

I came to this book by way of Novik's more recent work SPINNING SILVER. After enjoying it, I went looking for more of Novik's work. Novik's writing (in my opinion based on these two books) has a certain darkness and "old-world" style to it. These darkly beautiful works have a certain "earthy" quality to them - as if the tales themselves were born of the lands of the eastern regions of Europe.  They feel like they have a life of their own.

Another thing that these two books share in common is the style of narration. By having the book read in a Slavic accent to further add to the "old-world" air.

This book was narrated by Julia Emelin, and her narration was pleasant, well delivered, and well suited to the story. 

Enchanting, bewitching and engrossing, this book is why you are never too old for fairy tales!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunshine Blogger Award Post

I was recently tagged/nominated by Kati of Kati's Bookaholic Rambling Reviews For the Sunshine Blogger's Award - head over and check out her lovely blog!

This is a fun way for bloggers to learn about each other and cross-promote each others blogs, and I am delighted to take part!  So with no further ado...

The Sunshine Blogger Award Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and links back to their blog.

2. Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

The Questions I was asked and my answers:

1. Did you design your own blog design or did you get help/who was the blog designer that help you?

     I did it myself, so it's not very fancy. I don't currently have the budget to to pay for professional help.  Maybe one day I will be able to have it professionally polished, but for now this will have to do. My Logo incorporates my love of all book formats.  It is a stack of print books, with an e-book reader leaning against them, surrounded by earphones.  My blog name is curved red font to signify the smile I get from books in all their formats.  Kind of corny I know, but that's me 😊.

2. What is your color schemes on your blog? 

     Lots of blues to go with the background I chose out of the standard issue blogspot backgrounds/themes.

3. What is the web host that you use for your blog?

     I am on Blogspot.  I sometimes wonder if I chose the right platform, but usually I am pretty happy with it. Easy to use for those of us with limited technical ability.

4. What is your favorite style on your blog?

     I like to post ramblings on notable dates and trivia that I think are interesting.  I like finding out more about them and trying to pare down the information into a short(ish) blog post to share. 

     
5. What kind of graphics do you like on your blog?

     I like to include a grab of the cover art for books I review.  I think people are often visual creatures, and including the cover art will make people recognize books that they have read good things about on social media. Also when people are standing in line for coffee etc. they may be scrolling idly until something catches their eye.  When I post "ramblings" or a "Sunday Summary" they usually include memes or relevant art/pictures etc.

6.  What is your Goodreads challenge/reading goal for this year?

     This year was a real return to reading for me. My son (now 6) had kept me too busy to do much reading in the past. Now that he is more independent, and has finally grown out of the constant nightmares, I finally felt like I could read (at least a little) again. When I set up my challenge, I thought that one book every ten days would be doable given the current demands on my time.  However I didn't factor audio books into the equation. I keep my own stats, and 31/69 shown on my challenge board are either print or digital, the rest are audio - so i was pretty close. I know there will always be a debate about whether audio books count, but I think next year I will adjust my goal to match how GoodReads counts. 

     

    
7. What is the longest book series you own?

     GAME OF THRONES, by George R. R. Martin on Audible, HARRY POTTER in print (albeit a mish-mash of editions/styles - working on replacing all with Hufflepuff editions).  I don't do well with really long series.  I end up abandoning series after more than about 5 or 6 books. I don't know why.  I usually find Trilogies are the perfect length for me. The other thing is, I don't keep all my books - so I would have read some series and then passed them on and no longer own them.

8. What is your favorite book series?

     That is a tough question.  To pick one book, or one series of books is always difficult. I did really like Charlie Holmberg's PAPER MAGICIAN SERIES, Lev Grossman's THE MAGICIANS, the aforementioned GAME OF THRONES, by George R. R. Martin, of course Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling, THE FIONAVAR TAPESTRY, by Guy Gavriel Kay, THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, by Douglas Adams, I could go on.....too many, I can't decide. Sorry I know that is kind of cheating.

    
9. Who is your favorite book character/s?

     Winnie the Pooh (WINNIE THE POOH, by A. A.  Milne). That sweet portly little bear doesn't have a mean bone in his little body, I aspire to be more like him 😊

10.  Do you have any favorite book turned movie? 

     Like a large portion of the population, I enjoyed the Harry Potter books/movies and the Robert Langdon books/movies. For the most part, I am usually disappointed by the movies when I read the book first, and I don't often read the book after seeing the movie because..well now I basically know how it ends!

    

11. What else do you get besides books at a bookstore?

     I bought a nice book bag, and a rechargeable clip-on book light. 

Thank you for reading and thank you to Kati for the Tag!

My questions for the Eleven bloggers I am tagging are as follows:

1. How old is your blog?
2.  If you were to write a blog post about your home town or region's literary claim to fame, what or who would it be about?
3. What would be the number one piece of advice you would give to a new blogger?
4.  If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be? 
5. Do you like;
• Print, 
• e-book, 
• Audio, 
•  all of the above
6. What is your favorite gadget, accompaniment or accessory for reading?
7.  What is your favorite regular feature or blog prompt (besides reviews)?
8. Do you ever DNF books, or do you always power through?
9. What recently released book (last year or two) would you like to see made required reading in schools?
10. What book from the past would you like to see get renewed attention?
11. Do you prefer short series, long series, or stand alone books?

My 11 nominations/tags are:

1. Gigi from  The Beachy Reader  @beachyreader on Twitter
2.  Kelly from Kelly Well Read Reviews @kellywellread on Twitter
3. Beth from About a Book Club  @aboutabookclub on Twitter
4. "Paper Pages" from Paper Pages @paperpagesph on Twitter
5. Betty from The Geeky Bibliophile @geekbibliophile on Twitter
6. Anna from The Bursting Bookshelf @thebbookshelf on Twitter
7. "Princess" from Princess of Pages @PrincessofPages on Twitter
8. Kaleena from Reader Voracious @kalventure on Twitter
9. Rae from Thrifty Bifliophile @thriftybiblio on Twitter
10. Bethany from Beth and Books  @beth_and_books on Twitter
11. Destiny from Howling Libraries @howlinglibrary on Twitter