Category: Books

Genre: Book  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Richard Ford

Title: Woman with Men

Review: Ford has been called America’s best living writer, by some. I’m not sure about that. For one, he is not very prolific and he is also a bit Hemingway-esque, which is not for everyone. But, he is really, really good and this 1997 collection of short fiction fully embodies his style and texture. One of the modern masters of short fiction, these three novellas are set in Chicago, Montana and Paris (hmmmmm? Who does that sound like.? Exceedingly well written and engaging, you get the feel of these places while entering the tortured souls of the principles. Ford will never be accused of being Pollyanna- ish. Dark, intense, often gripping tales of struggles of the soul take you deep inside. Might be a good thing they are short. This is an essential author, whom I’m glad to reconnect with.

Genre: Book  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Frederick Forsyth

Title: The Odessa File

Review: got back to Vermont and discovered I had left the books I wanted to read back in Ohio and the ones I ordered from library here not in yet………so had to hit the shelves of the home library to check out the benefactress’ collection, which was more soft- smut than not. But, came up with this gem from 1972 that I knew of, had seen the film, but never read. Mistake corrected! Wonderful follow up novel (with a lot of real historical facts and characters) to Forsyth’s international bestseller “The Day of the Jackal”. Set in Germany at the height of the cold war, when a young German reporter finds a diary on the body of a suicide victim on the night of the JFK assassination. The diary reveals the story of the top secret Odessa, whose only mission is to protect and prosper former Nazi SS leaders. A wild goose chase across Germany follows. Filled with adrenaline, drama and insight into the post war collective guilt, it is a fascinating and hard hitting tale. I’d challenge the idiot deniers to read this one. A bit dated, but well worth the read.

Genre: Book

Grade: B+

Notable People: Thomas Perry

Title: Vanishing Act

Review: The first in Perry’s Jane Whitefield, published in 1995. Jane is a Native American guide who leads people out of the wilderness–not the tree-filled variety but the kind created by enemies who want you dead. She is in the one-woman business of helping the desperate disappear. She is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Seneca tribe in the northern Adirondacks and grown up to be trained to fool any pursuer or cover any trail, and is an expert at providing her clients with new identities, complete with authentic paperwork. This is an unusual series both in its cultural setting and very unique heroine, both of which I liked a lot and found fresh and new. The story itself started out like gangbusters, grabbing my attention, but waned a bit in the latter part of the book, though the twists, turns, and curves kept me interested. Perry is a good writer, who drifts into extend verbiage at times, but I am eager to try a few more editions in this unusual series.

Genre: Book  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Donna Leon

Title: Death at La Fenice

Review: The fist in this wonderful series. Begun, in the early 90s, featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice police. Recommended to me by my all-time book guru (and Freshman English Instructor at Ohio State in 1970!!!, Neil Berms. …..which makes it a given that it is going to be good. There are a lot of these books and I am eager to dive further into the streets and canals of this magical city as the Commissario, who is a bit like Martin Walkers’ Bruno of Southern France, fights the forces of evil with a twinkle in his eye and a shrug of his very, very Italianate soldiers. Great mystery story as an aside featuring the death of a famed Maestro at the Venice opera house. A definite keeper.

Genre: Book  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Christy Lefteri

Title: The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Review: Quietly moving book I got for my b’day from old friend Deborah, who now lives in the Michigan woods and frequents her local small town bookstore, and comes away with stuff like this. Lefteri is British from Cypriot refugee parents and has composed a heart wrenching second novel about a family feeling fleeing the ravages of war, hate and brutality in Syria- and their incredible journey across continents, and in the face of all odds, to get to England and safety. Not an easy book, and the I found the constant shifting back and forth in time a bit of a challenge, but the ultimate arc of people’s desire to survive and live in a humane way wins the day. This book took me quite a while to finish as its sometimes troubling and you just need to go in short bursts, but we should all be familiar with this, right?

Genre: Book 

Grade: A-

Notable People: Tana French

Title: The Searcher

Review: The Irish authors 2020 novel about a Chicago cop who retires and takes his disillusionment to very rural Ireland to live a quiet life amongst the sheep and the bogs but becomes embroiled in age old mysteries and clans. Seductively draws you in with the overlay of peaceful landscape and centuries of tradition juxtaposed with the tension of the intrusion of the modern world in the form of greed and secrecy. Loved the main characters and the descriptions of a place fixed in a long ago time. Surprisingly engaging.

Genre: Book 

Grade: A-

Notable People: Ken Follett

Title: Never

Review: Recommended to me by my friend and retired dentist, Kay H., this is one riveting read. I have never read the prolific Follett before, but will be delving into his long catalog of spy and political mysteries after reading this chronicle of a world on the brink of a third (Nuclear) World War. Set alternately in West Africa, Beijing and The White House as Pauline Green, the gritty successor to Trump tries to avert a global war with China. Absolutely fascinating behind the scenes look at how power, pride and insecurity can escalate to the worst possible outcomes. Extremely well written with great character development and an assortment go story lines merging simultaneously amid various global hot spots. Great read of 800 plus pages- that will go as fast as you let it.

Genre: Book 

Grade: A

Notable People: Louise Penny

Title: All the Devils Are Here

Review: Well, if you have not yet chosen to take my advice from the many, many Penny reviews I have done on the Gamache series for the last couple of years……well…. you should. Aft two years, I am also caught up with her which I really don’t want to be. This is her 2020 offering and the first set principally outside the magical town of Three Pies in southern Quebec. This one is solely set in Paris, which Penny lovingly bestows in the same way she has been drawing our fancies to Quebec for the last 20 or so editions. Full of drama, intensity and beautiful character studies, all anchored by the portrait of Chief Inspector Gamache with his rosewater and sandalwood calmness. This one is one of the best yet. The tour of insider Paris is masterful, and she never misses a chance for bit of wittiness in the midst of chaos. From the most amazing acknowledgement sections of a book to the fully developed characters and dead-on dialog, Penny is a master.

Genre: Book  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Robert Galbraith

Title: Troubled Blood

Review: If you’ve read Harry Potter to your kids, you know how good a writer this woman is, but for reasons I can’t fathom, she writes this series under the Galbraith pseudonym. Regardless, it is a unique London based mystery series featuring one legged private detective, Cormoran (CB) Strike, a taciturn and complex crime solver and his sidekick, Robin. Their years long unresolved flirtation is intense and the mysteries to be solved extraordinarily convoluted. This one takes almost at 1000 ages to resolve, which may be a bit much, but the story in quite enthralling and the characters wonderfully developed. Bonus is the story meandering all over the Isles. This series is already a brilliant serial on HBO that has masterfully captured the books. Luv’ me some Strike.

Genre: Book   

Grade: A-

Notable People: CJ Box

Title: Shadows Reel

Review: The 22^nd edition in the fabulous Wyoming Game Warden, Joe Pickett, series is masterful barn-burner of a mystery with all the craziness one could want from a book. It’s got Nazi memorabilia, Antifa, crazed mercenaries, cross country hauls and the inimitable Nate Romanowski, extraordinary the outlaw falconer, in a principle roll. These books continue to evolve and get better. Box is at the absolute top of his game and winning prestigious mystery writer awards left and right. Take a trip out to the range-you won’t regret it.