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.

Blood Flag - Steve Martini

She read; he is reading it.

Another in the Paul Madriani series.   This one could have been written a little better, but I enjoyed it.  I liked that he took what seemed a little far fetched and made it more plausible.

The Pursuit - Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

She read.

I do enjoy Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series...mostly, I guess because they make such fun out of New Jersey!  This is one of the "Fox and O'Hare" series.  I made myself read the one from this series.  I tried this one, but it was so silly (not funny...just silly) and blithely written that I quit after 50 pages.

The Last Time She Saw Him - Jane Haseldine

She read

Publication date: June 28, 2016

This is the author's first novel and it appears that it may be the first of a series.  It's difficult to write this review.  I liked the first 3/4s of this book.  Haseldine employs great use of descriptive language.  I really enjoyed her writing, feeling as though I were actually observing scenes.  I didn't want to put the book down initially, but I thought it unraveled as it got near the end and I did put it down because I needed a break from it.  It seemed to descend into a perverse, violent  Keystone komedy of actions.  That said, I thought it was a good debut and am looking forward to her next novel, hoping that style will win out over substance and her character's actions will become more realistic.

The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter - Malcolm Mackay

He read.

Another of Malcolm Mackay's novels.

THIS (not the one below)  was the first of an interesting trilogy dealing with Glasgow underworld. Excellent depiction of the characters and their positions. Introduces the main characters for the rest of series.Focuses on Calum,a hired gun for the mob and his exploits.   Still think the third. (which he read first) was the best of the trilogy. 

Kickback - Robert Parker

He Read

A Spenser novel.
Excellent read about corrupt juvenile judges and their relationships with private prisons.  Spenser uncovers a town where judges are shipping  juveniles off for little or no cause other than their personal gain.