Buzz Books 2021: Spring/Summer - Publishers Lunch

 Buzz Books 2021: Spring/Summer - Publishers Lunch

This is a comprehensive listing of books being published spring/summer 2021, with excerpts from some of them.  It provides a great opportunity to construct a “to read” list for the coming months.

Before She Disappeared - Lisa Gardner

 Before She Disappeared

Lisa Gardner

She read

Frankie is a recovering alcoholic who has lost the love of her life and abandoned her life to devote herself to tracking down cold case missing people, especially minority women. All of her possessions fit into one small suitcase as she travels around the country and she has closed 14 cases.  Her latest brings her to Boston to search for a Haitian immigrant who had been living with her aunt and younger brother until she disappeared 11 months ago.  Frankie takes a job as a bartender in a bar in the dangerous neighborhood in which the missing girl lived and moves into a room above the bar, sharing it with a psycho cat.  

As she works to gain the trust of people related to the case, as well as the local police, new clues come to light and Frankie’s life is in danger. 

Lisa Gardner is a successful, prolific writer, and this is a good addition to her body of work.  I found it difficult at first to warm to the main character whom I found a bit unbelievable,  but as Frankie tells people, her personality did grow on me in time.  Fast paced, a quick read, with an ending suggesting that this may be  the beginning of a new series…….. 

****

Bone Canyon - Lee Goldberg

 Bone Canyon - Lee Goldberg

She read

This is the second in the Detective Eve Ronin series, but the first I have read.  Eve is a minor celebrity, as some of her actions in the past were caught on video, went viral, and, much to the consternation of some in the LA County Sheriff Department,  led to her early promotion to detective.

After the devastating fires in the Santa Monica mountains, a young woman’s skeleton is found.  Eve and her partner’s investigation lead to Eve finding a very charming quasi love interest and both of them finding ties to something evil in the sheriff’s department.  Eve’s pursuit of the crime finds her on the outs with many colleagues as well as putting her life in danger. 

Well written, fast moving, with good character development, I enjoyed this mystery/thriller/police procedural.  I was a little “meh” about the ending, but it did not take away from me rating this book 5*s  and looking forward to the next.

*****

Fortune and Glory - Janet Evanovich

 Fortune and Glory - Janet Evanovich

She read

Yes, the Stephanie Plum stories are silly, but they are fun, especially if you have ever been a Jersey Girl…and I have enjoyed all 27 in the series. In this one, Stephanie and her crew, with a new member, help Grandma Mazur search for the “treasure” her dead husband and his fellow gangsters hid somewhere. She has broken up with Morelli over this and teams up once again with the ever sexy Ranger. 

Stephanie realizes her life is going nowhere and wants to make some changes.  What will they be?  I hope this doesn’t mean the end of the series.  I look forward to them for some comic relief. I’ve tried some of Evanovich’s other books, but they just don’t have the same pizazz as this series…maybe it is the Jersey Girl thing…….

****

Deep into the Dark - PJ Tracy

 Deep into the Dark - PJ Tracy

She read

Although there have been some dozen books written by PJ Tracy (the pen name for a mother/daughter writing team), I have never read any of them before.

In this story, disfigured war veteran Sam Easton, suffering from and receiving treatment for PTSD is working as a back bartender.  When fellow bartender and friend, Melody, is abused by a boyfriend, Sam tries to help her.  Soon that abusive boyfriend turns up dead, as does Sam’s estranged wife.  LA detectives, who have also been trying to track down a sadistic serial killer, turn their attention to Sam and Melody.

After I finished this novel, I read that it was supposed to introduce a new series about Detective Margaret Nolan. that was a surprise to me as the central and best developed character was Sam. Perhaps this was just an introduction to Nolan and future books will focus more on her.  

Well written, with lots of colorful language, nothing was really a surprise and I did find myself skimming over some parts.  Yet, I enjoyed the story and would certainly read the next in the series.  

****

Transient Desires - Donna Leon

 Transient Desires - Donna Leon

Publication Date: March 9, 2021

He and she read

I am a huge fan of Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti series.  I look forward each year to a new one; this is her thirtieth.

The cases, while always intriguing, are almost secondary to the wonderful characterizations and musings and observations of life, especially Venetian life, by Brunetti. So nice to visit again with all the familiar actors,  flamboyant Signora Elletra, strong and wise Paola, philosophical Guido, comical Patta, capable Griffoni, loyal Foa.  

This case unfolds after two young American women injured in a boating accident are anonymously deposited on the dock outside the hospital. Is that all there is to it?  Ah, no, for this is Venice, and there is always more to the story.

I think this was one of my favorite of the series. It was a fast read, but I tried to take time to savor my time in Venice.  Leon is an excellent writer, sharing wit and wisdom. For anyone new to Brunetti, this certainly can be read as a stand alone, but why deprive yourself?  Go back to the beginning of the series and enjoy getting to know all of these memorable characters.

During these days of restricted travel, I enjoyed revisiting the landmarks of La Serenissima, stopping here and there for a coffee, brioche,  glass of wine, or, my favorite, an Aperol spritz. 

*****

He is also a big fan of this series and is currently reading this one.

The Art of Falling - Danielle McLaughlin

 The Art of Falling - Danielle McLaughlin

She read

Nessa’s life has become quite complicated.  She is curating a much anticipated retrospective exhibition by a late sculptor when a woman supposedly from his past makes an appearance and 

claims his most famous piece is actually hers.  Nessa has already been walking a tightrope between his elderly wife and not quite as elderly daughter, both somewhat difficult people with whom to work.  Her husband has had an affair with the wife of one of their daughter’s friends which has destroyed that friendship. Marriage counseling seems to be going a bit bumpy and old friends with old secrets show up.

The book started well, but soon it seemed to take a long time to tell not that interesting of a story.  There were many side dramas and characters, and I didn’t find any of them really very likable.  

***