Exhume - Danielle Girard

Exhume - Danielle Girard

She read

Even though the story was a little over the top, I enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down.  This was the first time I have read anything by Danielle Girard, but I will look into some of her other books.  Purported to be the first in a new series about medical examiner Annabelle Schwartzman, I look forward to reading the next one and hope that the story will  be a little more grounded.  

The Trespasser - Tana French

The Trespasser - Tana French

She read

I have read most, if not all of Tana French's other novels and have enjoyed them.  This one was not my favorite.  It seemed to get a little bogged down, taking a while to get where it was going.  I didn't feel particularly sympathetic to Antoinette Conway, the only female member of the Dublin Murder Squad.  But, still, this is an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys this author or police procedurals.  

Out of Bounds - Val McDermid

Out of Bounds, Val McDermid

She read

A Scottish police procedural, this is the fourth in the Inspector Karen Pirie series, and the 30th by McDermid; it is the first I have read.  I really liked it.  A member of the Historic Cases (cold cases) Unit, Pirie is a strong, intelligent, vulnerable, but not  overly flawed character.  I liked her better than many of the female protagonists who have inhabited other procedurals I have read recently. There are a few story lines here, but all could be followed easily and when they overlapped, they did so realistically. A gripping story, good character development and I liked the inclusion of topical issues/conversation such as Syrian refugees and the banter about Donald Trump. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/police procedural.  I'm glad I discovered this author!

Home - Harlan Coben

Home - Harlan Coben

He read; she read

I've read a few of Coben's novels that I have really liked; this one, not so much.  This is one in the Myron Bolitar series, the first in this series I have read.  Although the story held my attention and I was interested in finding out what happened, some of the main characters were a bit much.  I like realistic characters; Coben's character of Win, for example,  was a little too much of a "superhero" for me.  There were instances of humor throughout that I did enjoy.  I don't think I would read another Bolitar novel, but certainly look forward to other Coben works.