There and Back Again - Spoilers
Oct. 24th, 2014 04:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vamysteryfanThis week’s books traveled the globe, then came home and got cozy.
Seven Wonders by Ben Mezrich
Blood Rubies by Jane Cleland
A Nip of Murders by Carol Miller
Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline
Seven Wonders by Ben Mezrich. When his twin brother is killed, Jack Grady vows to find out why. His brother’s research takes Jack around the world to visit the modern Seven Wonders and solve an archaeological mystery. Ben Mezrich is best known for his nonfiction books about whiz kids who gamble, create social networks, and take risks. Two of them became major motion pictures. The movie version of this book might be fun but you can skip reading it. It’s a mixture of Indiana Jones, the DaVinci Code and National Treasure, but not in a good way. It’s full of unbelievable coincidences and the writing is choppy. The MacGuffin is particularly unbelievable.
Blood Rubies by Jane Cleland. A chef known for her Faberge egg cakes is launching a new reality show. Josie Pigeon, local antiques shop owner, is called in to appraise a suspected Faberge snowglobe. This innocent beginning soon leads to a murdered financial guru, a suspicious stalker, and another murder. I was fortunate to receive an ARC for this book. I hadn’t read any of her books before. It was easy to get into the series and was perfectly fine as a standalone. She researched her topics thoroughly and tied together Faberge eggs, snow globes, financial wizards, and a pastry chef’s new television show in an engaging fashion. I enjoyed it and will likely look for more in the series.
A Nip of Murders by Carol Miller. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the book. It’s one of the cleverer and more creative cozies I’ve read this year. I waffled between three and four stars. Let’s call it 3 and 3 quarters? It’s a good second novel after a good debut. Definitely worth reading. It’s hard to discuss its virtues without spoilers. The use of geo-cachers to bring a bunch of suspects together has to be a first. The use of cream cheese to create a “situation” (for want of a better word) is also a first. Confederate treasure as a MacGuffin has been around for a while but this is one of the more creative uses I’ve seen. A lot of it had me baffled but she did wind everything up to a satisfying conclusion. I do like her cast of characters. The only part that bugged me was Daisy’s insistence on disbelieving everything Rick says or does. So far in the books he hasn’t been a liar.
Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline. Judy Carrier is an attorney with Rosato & DiNunzio. She’s handed a complicated asbestos case, her love life is crumbling, and she finds out her beloved aunt has cancer. Her aunt’s closest friend is murdered and in short order we are plunged into illegal immigrants, drug smuggling, and more. I received an ARC of this book (due to be published 11/25/14). I’m familiar with many of the characters but I don’t follow the series that closely – I was surprised that there are 13 of them. I’d call it suspense, rather than a mystery. I enjoyed the book, but there’s just one subplot too many. I think the one that finally drags down the book is the reveal that Mom is actually the aunt and aunt is actually Mom. It’s unnecessary and contributes nothing to the story. I even think the boyfriend thing is too much. We don’t care enough about Judy that it matters. Don’t read unless you’ve read some of the earlier books and have at least a passing familiarity with the situation and characters. Otherwise you’ll be confused.
Seven Wonders by Ben Mezrich
Blood Rubies by Jane Cleland
A Nip of Murders by Carol Miller
Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline
Seven Wonders by Ben Mezrich. When his twin brother is killed, Jack Grady vows to find out why. His brother’s research takes Jack around the world to visit the modern Seven Wonders and solve an archaeological mystery. Ben Mezrich is best known for his nonfiction books about whiz kids who gamble, create social networks, and take risks. Two of them became major motion pictures. The movie version of this book might be fun but you can skip reading it. It’s a mixture of Indiana Jones, the DaVinci Code and National Treasure, but not in a good way. It’s full of unbelievable coincidences and the writing is choppy. The MacGuffin is particularly unbelievable.
Blood Rubies by Jane Cleland. A chef known for her Faberge egg cakes is launching a new reality show. Josie Pigeon, local antiques shop owner, is called in to appraise a suspected Faberge snowglobe. This innocent beginning soon leads to a murdered financial guru, a suspicious stalker, and another murder. I was fortunate to receive an ARC for this book. I hadn’t read any of her books before. It was easy to get into the series and was perfectly fine as a standalone. She researched her topics thoroughly and tied together Faberge eggs, snow globes, financial wizards, and a pastry chef’s new television show in an engaging fashion. I enjoyed it and will likely look for more in the series.
A Nip of Murders by Carol Miller. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the book. It’s one of the cleverer and more creative cozies I’ve read this year. I waffled between three and four stars. Let’s call it 3 and 3 quarters? It’s a good second novel after a good debut. Definitely worth reading. It’s hard to discuss its virtues without spoilers. The use of geo-cachers to bring a bunch of suspects together has to be a first. The use of cream cheese to create a “situation” (for want of a better word) is also a first. Confederate treasure as a MacGuffin has been around for a while but this is one of the more creative uses I’ve seen. A lot of it had me baffled but she did wind everything up to a satisfying conclusion. I do like her cast of characters. The only part that bugged me was Daisy’s insistence on disbelieving everything Rick says or does. So far in the books he hasn’t been a liar.
Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline. Judy Carrier is an attorney with Rosato & DiNunzio. She’s handed a complicated asbestos case, her love life is crumbling, and she finds out her beloved aunt has cancer. Her aunt’s closest friend is murdered and in short order we are plunged into illegal immigrants, drug smuggling, and more. I received an ARC of this book (due to be published 11/25/14). I’m familiar with many of the characters but I don’t follow the series that closely – I was surprised that there are 13 of them. I’d call it suspense, rather than a mystery. I enjoyed the book, but there’s just one subplot too many. I think the one that finally drags down the book is the reveal that Mom is actually the aunt and aunt is actually Mom. It’s unnecessary and contributes nothing to the story. I even think the boyfriend thing is too much. We don’t care enough about Judy that it matters. Don’t read unless you’ve read some of the earlier books and have at least a passing familiarity with the situation and characters. Otherwise you’ll be confused.
