The Family Game - Catherine Steadman

 The Family Game - Catherine Steadman

She read

Harriet, who has just published a wildly successful novel, has emigrated to the United States to be with the love of her life, Edward. Edward comes from a very wealthy “old money” family from whom he has been estranged. The family hopes that Harriet will bring Edward back into the fold. But, they are a family who likes dangerous games, starting with a tape that the patriarch gives her.  Will Harriet succeed at the games and will her long held secret remain just that….secret? 

A lot of readers really liked this book.  I liked the atmospheric writing and enjoyed that it was a quick, engrossing read.  However, I thought the storyline a bit much.  There is a saying “the rich are different”.  Are they really THAT different?  As the action spirals downward to the ending, which was not a surprise, I felt the entire story deteriorated.  And don’t get me started on Harriet’s careless treatment of the tape.

I have to point out that I am a reader who does not like to suspend belief when I read.  Those who are comfortable doing this will probably like the book much more than I did. I have enjoyed Steadman’s books in the past and will certainly seek out her next one.

Thanks to #netgalley and #ballentinebooks for the ARC.

***

The Last Chairlift - John Irving

The Last Chairlift - John Irving

He and she read

 Spanning 80 years, this is the memoir of Adam, a writer and his eccentric extended family.  He had an unusual childhood and throughout his life is surrounded by some vivid characters.   I can’t possibly summarize this sprawling book in a brief review.

There is humor and horror.  It is disturbing; it is  poignant; it is infuriating. Fans of Irving will recognize some of his favorite settings and themes. As Adam’s life unfolds, Irving chronicles political and cultural events of the times. 

The book is very long…more than 900 pages and there is a lot of repetition. Part of it is written as a screenplay. Initially, I read all day and hadn’t even made a dent in the story.  I felt as though it were a chore to get through it until I changed my tactic.  I spent a set allotment each day to take my time to read just a few chapters while also reading other faster paced books at other times during the day. That way I was able to savor the writing rather than being frustrated by seeming to be going nowhere.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandSchuster for the ARC.

****

A Heart Full of Headstones - Ian Rankin

A Heart Full of Headstones - Ian Rankin

She read

 This is #24 in the Inspector John Rebus series; it is the second one I have read, having only recently discovered  Ian Rankin’s Tartan noir works. Scotland is just coming out of Covid lockdown and the retired, ill Rebus is in jail on charges of murder.  How did he get here and is this end of him? The actions leading up to this arrest expose the underbelly of the Edinburgh crime scene as well as police corruption.

Well written and fast moving, the plot is a bit complex and there are a lot of characters.  It took a while for me to get them straight in my mind.   I think it would have helped in understanding some of them had I read more than just one prior novel in the series.  

Fans of Rankin’s John Rebus will enjoy this latest installment. For those just being introduced to it, you might want to go back and read some of the prior novels.  

Thanks to @netgalley and @Littlebrown for the arc

****

Cradles of the Reich - Jennifer Coburn

 Cradles of the Reich - Jennifer Coburn

She read

The Lebensborn Society in Nazi Germany was established as part of their eugenics program to increase the population of “racially pure” Aryan babies. Cradles of the Reich tells the story of one of their maternity homes through the eyes of three fictional women. The pregnant Gundi is the prototype for Aryan beauty…attractive, blond, blue eyed…but she harbors a secret. Hilde strives to be the perfect Nazi loyalist all the while promoting her own self interests.  Irma, older and childless, is a nurse at the home.

Many of the horrors of life in the Reich are here.  The children’s books that taught hatred of the Jews.  The destruction of Kristallnacht followed by fines placed upon Jews for “causing” it.  The kidnapping of babies.  The euthanasia program for children with disabilities. The work camps. With all this occurring, pure Aryan women were being taught how to manage the home, raise their children, and tend to their husbands.  

This is a fast, engrossing read.  The ending is a bit abrupt.  I would have liked to have known the rest of the stories of these three women. I really would have liked an epilogue.  Perhaps there will be a sequel?

Do read the author’s notes at the end discussing the historical research and accuracy of the book.

There are a lot of World War II era historical fiction stories; I like to find those with varying  foci.  What they all have in common, though, is that I see them as warnings for our time.  We need to never forget man’s inhumanity to man and atrocities committed in the name of hate. We need to be sensitive to the dangers of cult like figures, hatred, and how easy it is for the unthinkable to become reality or a nation to be led astray.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #sourcebooksLandmark for the ARC.

****

The Furies - John Connolly

 The Furies - John Connolly

She Read

Although this is the twentieth in the Charlie Parker series, I think it is the first one I have read.  It is comprised of two novellas. In the first, The Sisters Strange, Charlie is called upon by someone concerned about the welfare of two sisters from someone in their past who is back now, having stolen some ancient coins. The Furies sees Charlie working two cases, both involving protection of women in trouble.    

Well written and more literate than some novels in this genre, I liked the main character, especially his sense of justice and understanding of the world.  Both stories incorporate a bit of the supernatural, something I just learned is typical of Connolly’s books.  

I just couldn’t engage with the first story, the longer of the two.   It was well told, but kind of meh.   I enjoyed the second one more. Fans of this series will probably enjoy The Furies, but I’m not sure it will attract many new aficionados.  

Thanks to @Netgalley and @Atriabooks for the ARC.

****

The Maze - Nelson DeMille

 The Maze - Nelson DeMille

She read

Publication Date: Oct. 11, 2022

This is the eighth in the John Corey series.  Since Nelson DeMille is such a popular, best selling author and I hadn’t read any of his books since Plum Island, the first John Corey installment, I wanted to read The Maze. 

John Corey is retired from the NYPD due to being wounded in action and has worked for several federal agencies since.  Now relaxing at his uncle’s house on the north shore of Long Island, he is approached by a former girlfriend and the local chief of police, a longtime friend, and encouraged to take a job with a private investigation firm.  He wants no part of the job, but realizes there must be something more to this request and takes the position on a temporary basis to investigate just what is going on.  Is this agency tied to the deaths of at least nine prostitutes in the area?  And just what are some of the local police and politicians doing attending lewd “Thirsty Thursday” events at the agency? 

I was really put off by the main character.  Told from a first person POV, John does have a very funny, sarcastic sense of humor, but his misogynist, adolescent behavior and remarks made him insufferable. Oh, and he thinks he is the gods gift to women.  The story dragged.  It took to almost the halfway point for the plot to be revealed and nearly to the end for anything to really occur.  A lot of time was spent with endless talk about what he was going to do and only in the last chapter did the reader see some action, albeit a bit unrealistic. There really wasn’t much of a mystery and it wasn’t fully resolved.  

***

Dawnlands - Philippa Gregory

 Dawnlands - Philippa Gregory

He read

Release Date: Nov 8, 2022

The third in the epic Fairmile series, this continues the story of herbalist Alinor Reekie and three generations of her family, while paralleling the narrative of the fall of the Stuarts. 

It is the 1860s, James II is king and the country seems ripe for another civil war. Ned Ferryman returns from America with his companion, Rowan, a Pokanoket slave,  to fight for freedom. The devious Livia is back in the story as a confidante of the queen while pursuing her own best interest. Alinor’s son, Rob, gets caught up in the drama as he seeks to help Ned avoid execution and Rowan avert deportation to Barbados. 

There are different storylines, told from various POVS of royals, tradesmen and slaves.

The reader is provided insight into not only the history of England during that period,

but also the horrors of slavery and the sugar plantation economy in Barbados.

Well written, readable,  parts were a bit fantastical. For history lovers, more in depth focus on  historical events would have been appreciated.  As in Tidelands, there is another abrupt ending to this book, with questions left unanswered.  Another sequel?  

Thanks to @netgalley and #atriabooks for the ARC. 

****

A Song of Comfortable Chairs - Alexander McCall Smith

 A Song of Comfortable Chairs - Alexander McCall Smith

She read

This is the twenty third in the simple but charming No. 1 Ladies Detective series.  All the familiar characters are here.  Instead of being hired by a client to investigate a case, Mma Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi set out to solve two problems close to home.  Grace’s old friend’s son is sabotaging her relationship with a good man.  Grace’s husband is worried about losing his furniture business because there is a new player in town undercutting his prices.  

The two ladies put their heads together and come up with clever and successful solutions to both issues.  All the familiar characters are here lending audience and support to the good hearted ladies.  And, yes, the talking shoes do make a cameo appearance!

A fast read, this is another feel good addition to the series.  Nothing too sinister or evil.

Just a nice afternoon or evening read while curled up with a pot of tea.  Fans of McCall Smith’s gentle prose and perceptive musings will welcome this latest endeavor.

*****'

1989 - Val McDermid

 1989 - Val McDermid

Release Date: Oct. 11, 2022

When last the reader saw Allie Burns, in the first book of this series, it was 1979 and she was a fledgling reporter chasing her first big scoop.  Ten years later, she is a decent journalist stuck working for the tabloid Sunday Globe. She has settled in to a loving relationship with Rona and is now living in Manchester.  Her boss is the disreputable Ace Lockhart, in a race with Rupert Murdock to see how low journalism can sink.   There are a few storylines here that center around these main characters along with Lockhart’s daughter, the very spoiled Genevieve.  

The book is quite atmospheric in giving a good sense of the time, highlighting some of the historical events.  It was a fun trip down memory lane for those of us who do remember the first “mobile” phones being the size of a car battery with a handset on top!  I recall using one of those!

1989 was a time of tragedies as well including the Lockerbie explosion and the poor treatment of HIV/AIDs patients due to ignorance, fear, and discrimination.  But it was also a time of hope as Glasnost seemed to be the harbinger of the break down of the Iron Curtain.  The book was at its most compelling near the end as a murder occurs and Allie tries to track down the truth about both the victim and the killer.

Thanks to @netgalley and #groveatlantic for the arc.

****

Many are Invited - Dennis Cuesta

 Many are Invited - Dennis Cuesta

She read

Publication Date: Oct. 6, 2022

As the book opens, something tragic had occurred at a housewarming party  (the reader doesn’t know what yet) and the story backtracks to reveal the events leading to it. It is 1999 and Steve and John work to resolve issues related to the Y2K “bug”.  Personal and professional jealousies are a recipe for disaster.  

This is a very fast read, but it just didn’t resonate with me.  It was interesting learning about startups, dot com billionaires, and all the furor about Y2K.  But the personal stories didn’t particularly appeal.  

I didn’t find anything appealing about any of the characters and I wasn’t sure what the point was.  

Thanks to @netgalley and #celestialeyespress for the ARC.

***