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| --The Easy Radio Book Club-- |
 "The
Columbus Affair" by Steve Berry is an almost perfect
historical mystery thriller. Christopher Columbus a Jew? Christopher
Columbus secreting treasure in Jamaica? Christopher Columbus hiding
ancient Jewish relics? "The Columbus Affair" is set in contemporary
time, across Florida, Prague, Vienna, Jamaica, Cuba and more, with
reflections back to the era of Christopher Columbus. It's chock full
of true history, and mixed with a bright imaginative perspective on
what might have been! Thoroughly engaging. (sr-5/12) |
 "The
House of Velvet and Glass" by Katherine Howe. From the
author of the acclaimed and popular "Physick Book of Deliverance
Dane". Sybil is a survivor. A survivor of family loss, emotional
attachments, and tragedy. The novel begins on board the Titanic and
continues to the opening days of WWI. She attends seances, and
learns she can "see" through a "scrying glass". Beautifully written,
wonderfully descriptive of the era, "Velvet and Glass" is not a
novel packed with action, but rather a novel of how we view life and
our ability or inability to alter destinies. It is a captivating
novel, but less a mystery than her previous book. (sr-5/12) |
 "The
Gods of Gotham" by Lyndsay Faye. A deep, dark, deliciously
descriptive novel of New York City in the late 1840's. Two events
converge in this marvelous novel. The formation of the first ever
NYC Police Department, and the potato famine in Ireland resulting in
a huge influx of immigrants. Timothy Wilde is one of the first
"Copper stars" for the city, and he is immediately thrust into a
horrific mystery involving poor young children. The prose is
absolutely luscious, but the story is not for the faint of heart. It
is truly a captivating novel! |
 "Heartstone"
by C.J. Sansom - A "Matthew Shardlake" mystery, this is the
5th in the series, but my first exposure to this exceptional
collection of historical fiction. Matthew Shardlake is a lawyer at
the court of the King and Queen of England, in the 1500's, an era of
constant war between the British and the French, and a time of
intense politics and at times, murder. Shardlake is described as a
"hunchback" and it lends a much different perspective to his
personality that what we might normally find in a hero. He's not
handsome, athletic, physically incapable of many things, but he is
honest and driven, with an exceptional sense of truth. Fans of
historical fiction based on true life events will thoroughly enjoy
this book. |
 "Anatomy
of a Murder" by Imogen Robertson.
The second in a series set in revolutionary war London, featuring
Harriet Westerman and Gabrial Crowther, an unlikely murder solving
duo! Mystery surrounds an opera star, London Society and the
possibility of french spies. Character, mood, and setting are all
strengths of "Anatomy" and Robertson's writing, and we look forward
to more in the series. |
|
 "Down
the Darkest Road" by Tami Hoag. Set again in Oak Knoll, CA,
"Down The Darkest Road" is Hoag's latest and most intense,
emotionally raw suspense thriller. What do you do when you know with
certainty a kidnapper/murderer is in your midst, but no evidence
exists allowing the Police to do something, or anything? Detective
Tony Mendez struggles to help Lauren, who's daughter was kidnapped
four years ago. The primary suspect moves to the same community,
taunting and stalking? A splendid way to kill a couple of nights
buried deep in good book! |
 "Field
Gray" by Phillip Kerr. The continuing story of Bernard
Gunther, a military policeman in Germany during WWII. Fascinating
perspective of a German and his views of America after the war. Set
in the late 1940's, and reflecting back to pre-war Germany as well
as the war years. Not all Germans were members of the Nazi party,
and not all Germans were fans of Hitler. This solid mystery is dark
and brooding, and casts a truly unique light on life in Germany
under a facists regime. |
 "Explosive
Eighteen" by Janet Evanovich. If she keeps writing 'em, we'll keep
reading 'em! Stephanie Plum, bail bondsman from Trenton, NJ is back,
finding herself in a pickle because she somehow ended up with a
photograph that everyone wants. Stephanie Plum's life is full of
colorful characters. Razzle Dazzle, Buggy, Lula, Lahonka, Lance Lancer
and Sly Slasher are just a few that inhabit the latest from Evanovich.
These books are pure fun, and funny. Enjoy... |
 "Instruments
of Darkness" by Imogen Robertson. Georgian England meets CSI,
Sherlock Holmes, and Charles Dickens! Introducing Gabrial Crowther, a
solitary doctor of anatomy and Harriet Westerman, a new estate dweller
who discovers a body one early morning. Murder, political intrigue, and
American/British history make this a thrilling debut novel. Vivid
settings, remarkable characters, and a complicated, multifaceted story
line provide a compelling book experience. |
 "The
Affair" by Lee Child. This is the "how it all began" story of
Jack Reacher. Child writes with a clear idea of his characters. There's
nothing mysterious about Reacher. He carries no emotional baggage, no
dark and tortured past. Jack Reacher is a good guy and extremely good at
what he does. Set in a small Mississippi town, Reacher is on hand as a
somewhat undercover Army Major hoping to clear up a murder near an
important military base. One of Child's gifts is writing with enough
detail to provide credibility, but not so much that arcane information
bogs down the story. A great introduction to the character, and a
completely engrossing and enjoyable read! |
 "One
More River" by Mary Glickman. Set between the 1920's and
1960's, this is the story of Mo Levy and his search for the true history
of his father, Bernard Levy. "One More River" is a wonderful adventure,
a story of southern Jewish families clinging to tradition, and the often
complicated truth of ancestors. Compelling and intriguing, this is a
passionate book. |
 "Washington-A
Life" by Ron Chernow. Highly readable Pulitzer Prize winning
biography of our first President. Washington has been portrayed a
certain way, stiff, stoic, and formal, but this biography shows a far
more complex man. It is not only a fascinating portrait of the man, but
a fascinating study of the era and the birth of America. |
 The
Lady of The Rivers by Philippa Gregory. The NY Times best
selling author has created yet another winner set in the court of old
England. This is historical fiction at its finest, with romance,
intrigue, betrayal, and substantial amount of human cruelty, both
physical and emotional. |
 Edith's
War" by Andrew Smith. Set alternately during World War II in
Great Britain, and 2002 in Venice, Italy, "Edith's War" is the story of
a single homefront in England and the internment of Italians by the
British Government. Edith is pregnant, staying with her Mother in-law,
and living next door to an English/Italian Family. Her husband Joe is at
war, a man she knew little of before marrying him on the eve of his
departure. In modern day Venice, two brothers wander the city and wonder
why their mother, "Edith" asked them to vacation with her. "Edith's War"
is a tragic story of war without battlefield life. It is a thoughtful,
completely fresh story of how everyday lives are impacted during war,
and how the impact lasts for generations. |
 "Defensive
Wounds" by Lisa Black. I have a bone to pick with someone
who would prefer a tv forensic mystery rather than a taught, well
written suspense novel like Lisa Black's latest featuring
every-woman/forensic investigator, Theresa MacLean. There is so much
more detail in here, so much more uncertainty requiring human
thought and processing than any television show could ever develop.
The book starts with a murder at The Ritz in Cleveland; a murder at
the convention of Defense Attorneys. The murder victim is one of the
most hated but successful attorneys in town. She didn't leave anyone
shedding a tear when her body was discovered. The solution to the
crime is both forensic in nature and in traditional means of
detection. No sloppy narrative, no goofy plot twists, no sappy
introspection badly out of place. Just a solid, satisfying novel.
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