Damaged - Lisa Scottoline

Damaged - Lisa Scottoline

She read

Another in the Bennie Rosato novels featuring Mary Di Nunzio.  A fast read, good mystery, happy ending.

Three Sisters Three Queens

Three Sister Three Queens - Philippa Gregory

He read

Historical fiction about Katherine of Aragon, Mary and Margaret of Scotland.
He felt that this was Gregory's best novel yet.

Two Days Gone - Randall Silvis

Two Days Gone - Randall Silvis

Publication Date:  January 10, 2017

She Read

A well known writer/college professor’s family is found slain and he appears to be on the run.  An emotionally damaged detective who has had prior (noncriminal) dealings with the professor investigates.  As part of his investigation, he tries to get inside the writer’s mind, particularly as it relates to the novel he is presently writing.

There are literary references that I enjoyed and the book is well written, with the story being told from the points of view of these two.  Unfortunately, despite the grave circumstances for the professor, I felt no affinity for him. Although it took me a while to get into it, the story held my attention.  It is worth a read.  

Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

She finally read it!

I've put off reading this but figured since the film will be out in October, I should probably read it.

I didn't have much feeling for the main character, Rachel.  In fact, I found her somewhat annoying.  But, the story did hook me and it was a good read.

Missing, Presumed - Susie Steiner

She Read

This is a decent British police procedural. Told from the various points of view of the main characters, this places more emphasis on character development than actual police work.  A fairly quick read, it held my attention throughout.

He also read

He liked it also.  Discusses the British investigative services.

Surrender, New York - Caleb Carr

She read

Publish date: Aug. 23, 2016

Having enjoyed reading Carr's previous novels, I looked forward to this one. What a disappointment.  I felt as though I plodded through it, reading it in short installments near the end just to be able to get through it. I didn't have a problem with the prose, it was the story that seemed to miss the mark.  I got the feeling that Carr fancied his two protagonists as modern day Sherlock Holmes and Watson or perhaps I looked at that as an excuse for what I thought was very unrealistic behavior by professionals.  I am not one who tries to figure out "who did it"  when I read a novel; I just like to let a story unfold.  Unfortunately, the "who did it"  was obvious early on.

Killer Look - Linda Fairstein

She read

The eighteenth in the Alexandra Cooper series, this story picks up soon after the last one.  Alex isn’t her old self as she tries to recover from an abduction that was the the focus of the last book.  You don’t have to have read the prior novels, although if you have it’s like visiting old friends which is why Alex’s PTSD behavior was a bit unsettling.  

An apparent suicide that is not, an interesting overview of the NYC rag trade and world of designer fashion, and family intrigue that Alex cannot resist makes this a quick and absorbing read. 

I always enjoy Fairstein’s use of familiar New York locations, along with some historical perspective and I love the Final Jeopardy questions, a trademark of the Alex Cooper series.

The twist at the end leaves readers hungry for the next in this series.