Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

William Morrow

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Tom Franklin
2010

The Summary
"In the 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals in a small town in rural Mississippi.  Their worlds were as different as night and day:  Larry was the child of lower middle-class parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, black single mother.  But then Larry took a girl to a drive-in movie and she was never seen or heard from again.  He never confessed...and was never charged.

"More than twenty years have passed.  Larry lives a solitary, shunned existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion.  Silas has become the town constable.  And now another girl has disappeared, forcing two men who once called each other "friend" to confront a past they've buried for decades."

The Good
I enjoyed this book so much.

I typically do not read mysteries, especially mysteries that showcase dark secrets and some of the more unsavory aspects of small-town life.  (I live in a small Southern town, so it's a bit unnerving to see similarities between my hometown and the one pictured in Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.)  However, I was hooked by Tom Franklin's novel almost from the start.

The pace is excellent, as it doesn't dwell for long moments and it doesn't fly through the story; the tone it sets feels distinctly Southern, it feels like it's set in the heart of Mississippi; and the writing is excellent, so easy to read and yet descriptive enough to keep me interested.

While it does get a little too descriptive, particularly in respects to describing murder scenes, I found I enjoyed Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter for it's ability to conjure a setting.  When I was reading, I could really imagine Larry and Silas's town.  I could see the kudzu, envision the dirt roads and the mosquitoes swarming around the swamps, feel the stifling summer heat.  It was exciting to read a book that felt so real, that held such a visceral impact.

The Bad
No complaints.  It reads well and I enjoyed it immensely.

The Ugly
I felt so bad for Larry.

I mean, here's this smart, sweet, and socially awkward young man who's blamed for a murder he didn't commit and then he spends the rest of his life suffering under that dark shadow.  It's heart-breaking, especially as new light is shed on the case and you realize that Larry has been shunned by his entire community simply because he was different.

It's a bit sickening.

Oh, and fair warning, there's a number of murders and attempted murders in this book.  It's not for the faint of heart and it's doesn't shy away from the ugly topics of racism, infidelity, and abuse.  It's jarring how many dark secrets lurk under the facade of one, small Southern town.

Jane Steele: Revisited

G.P. Putnam's Sons

Jane Steele

Lyndsay Faye

2016

The Summary
"A sensitive orphan, Jane Steele suffers first at the hands of her spiteful aunt and predatory cousin, then at a grim school where she fights for her very life until escaping to London, leaving the corpses of her tormentors behind her. After years of hiding from the law while penning macabre “last confessions” of the recently hanged, Jane thrills at discovering an advertisement. Her aunt has died and her childhood home has a new master: Mr. Charles Thornfield, who seeks a governess.

"Burning to know whether she is in fact the rightful heir, Jane takes the position incognito and learns that Highgate House is full of marvelously strange new residents--the fascinating but caustic Mr. Thornfield, an army doctor returned from the Sikh Wars, and the gracious Sikh butler Mr. Sardar Singh, whose history with Mr. Thornfield appears far deeper and darker than they pretend. As Jane catches ominous glimpses of the pair’s violent history and falls in love with the gruffly tragic Mr. Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: Can she possess him--body, soul, and secrets--without revealing her own murderous past? 

"A satirical romance about identity, guilt, goodness, and the nature of lies, by a writer who Matthew Pearl calls 'superstar-caliber' and whose previous works Gillian Flynn declared 'spectacular,' Jane Steele is a brilliant and deeply absorbing book inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s classic Jane Eyre."

The Good
Not so very long ago, I actually picked up the advanced readers copy of Jane Steele and read it within a couple of days.  More recently, I found the audiobook of Lyndsay Faye's novel and, I have to say, I wasn't disappointed.  I enjoyed rereading Jane Steele and I found I liked the story just as much the second time around.

Susie Riddell does a pretty great job as narrator.  I liked the way she told Jane's story, the cadence and tone of her voice that created a character who felt real.  It was enjoyable, and I found myself finding new facets of the story to appreciate and admire.

Overall, it's a great audiobook.  Short and, while it's definitely not sweet, fun, Jane Steele is an excellent choice for any reader seeking an off-kilter romance or a deeply twisted take on a classic.  However, I will say I enjoyed reading the book more than listening to the audiobook.  For some reason, I just appreciated the feeling of the book in my hands than the earbuds in my ears as I listened to Jane's story.

But that's more personal preference than anything.

The Bad
Honestly, I had a few moments where I became annoyed by the accents.  Don't get me wrong, Susie Riddell does a great job of reading Jane Steele; however, I was always a little annoyed by Thornfield's voice.  It wasn't awful, but it did take me a little longer to acclimate to his character than usual.

Likewise, I never did warm up to Rebecca's voice.  She had a softness to her voice, a sort of whiny sound that I just didn't like.  Confidentially, I was glad when I moved beyond her story and found myself strictly accompanying Jane.

The Ugly
Blood and gore.

Jane, as she warns readers in the first pages of her "memoir," is a murderess.  She's not a gentle, tame individual like the Jane we know from Jane Eyre; rather, she's a rambunctious, foul-mouthed young woman who knows her way around a knife.  She's deadly and she can prove it, too.

Midnight Riot

Del Rey

Midnight Riot
Ben Aaronovitch
2011

The Summary
"Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police.  Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he'll face is a paper cut.  But Peter's prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost.  Peter's ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.  Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic."

The Good
Midnight Riot is a very interesting novel--and I mean that in the very best way.  Ben Aaronovitch's novel is dark, gory and spectacularly spooky; however, he manages to create a light, yet funny glimpse into the supernatural underworld existing beneath the very surface of London.  I especially liked the dynamic between Peter Grant and his partner, Leslie.

Peter and Leslie are hilarious together.  Their entire exchange at the beginning of the novel had me cracking up (I suppose because I understood their references).  They have an easy relationship, a way of joking and teasing one another that's fun and amusing.

Plus, I couldn't help but enjoy Peter's sense of humor most of the time.  He's not a very serious fellow and he almost always has some sort of quip to deliver that will leave you chuckling.  He's also incredibly capable.  He's smart, he's observant, and he's careful to put his talents and training to good use.

The Bad
I didn't always understand what was happening.  I know part of it was a language barrier, since I didn't always grasp the meaning of certain slang terms and I have zero familiarity with London's Metropolitan Police force, but I don't think all of it was a lack of understanding on my part.

Personally, I felt like I was always missing something.  The pace of the novel seemed so quick, and I always felt like I was missing some clue, something that should have been obvious but wasn't for me.  I don't know if it was the pace, the slang, or simply my own reading comprehension; whatever the case, I always seemed to be just a little behind with the story.

The Ugly
Gore.

When I say gore, I mean gore.  Despite its sense of humor and its endearing characters, Midnight Riot can be downright brutal when it wants.  It's a very interesting novel, yes; however, it also pushed at my personal boundaries when it comes to violence.  I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I didn't like imagining someone's face falling off or their head exploding.

Truthfully, it was a bit more than I could stomach.

Time's Up

Kensington Books

Time's Up
Janey Mack
2015

The Summary
"The police academy gave her the boot--and she knows how to use it.

"All her life, Maisie McGrane dreamed of following in her father and older brother's footsteps and joining the force.  But when she's expelled from the police academy, she's reduced to taking a job as a meter maid.  Now, instead of chasing down perps, she's booting people's cars and taking abuse from every lowlife who can't scrape together enough change to feed the meter.

"McGranes weren't put on this earth to quit, however.  When Maisie stumbles across the body of a City Hall staffer with two bullets in his chest, her badge-wielding brothers try to warn her off the case.  But with the help of her secret crush, shadowy ex-Army Ranger Hank Bannon, Maisie's determined to follow the trail of conspiracy no matter where it leads.  And that could put her in the crosshairs of a killer--and all she's packing is a ticket gun."

The Good
If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, you'll undoubtedly enjoy Janey Mack's series starring Maisie McGrane.

Headstrong and undeniably tough, Maisie is an intelligent and incredibly talented.  She was an ace at the police academy and she's completely overqualified for being a meter maid, but she takes on the job to prove a point to herself, her family, and the police academy that kicked her out.  She's smart, she's sassy--what's not to like?

The Bad
Time's Up just isn't my cup of tea.  I like tough, strong and intelligent female leads, but I struggled a bit with Maisie.  Part of it might have just been the treatment she faced (it bothered me how much people were willing to crap all over her, just because she was doing her job); part of it just might have been the style of writing; part of it might have been the romantic triangle.

Either way, it's just not for me.

The Ugly
Maisie cannot catch a break.  I mean, she's constantly enduring grief from her brothers and she's working as a meter maid, one of the most hated jobs in Chicago.  She's demeaned, she's bullied, she's abused, she's despised--and that's not even the worst of it.  She's constantly out maneuvered by one person or another, and she's consistently embarrassed by or shoved aside as just an accessory by other characters.

I realize that all the things that happen to her are supposed to show her toughness, her mental acuity, her physical strength, yet I couldn't help thinking it was just one disaster after another.  I like adventure and I like quirky, sassy heroines; however, I don't like seeing a character I'm supposed to like just suffering.

That's what it felt like:  suffering.

Sometimes, life is going to be crappy.  It's going to be tough, it's going to be a learning experience, but Maisie doesn't ever catch a break.  It's one long procession of crappy situations, and it's like there is no end in sight.  I mean, it feels like Maisie has no good days.  There's no light at the end of the tunnel, there's no hope for something better.

Personally, it makes me feel bitter and frustrated--and I'm not even the one dealing with it.  More to the point, I don't know how she can stand her family.  Her family loves her, don't get me wrong, but I feel like they make her life more difficult.

Take her brothers, for instance.  They're very protective of her, but it doesn't feel like there's any affection.  Maybe it's just the way the family is supposed to be portrayed (as in, they're not very good at expressing affection); maybe it's just the way they were written (as in, I'm not 100 percent sure the author did a great job of writing them).  I don't know, I just know I didn't like they way they treated their little sister.

Unfinished, Six

Bantam

I didn't get very far with Them Bones by Carolyn Haines.  I picked it up as an ebook and started reading it on my tablet, but I couldn't stay with the story.  It intrigued me, I won't deny, but I couldn't seem to invest myself in the plot or even enjoy the characters.  For some reason, it just didn't seem right for me and, honestly, I didn't feel like trying to force myself to fall for a book that obviously wasn't for me.

I don't think I even managed to make it past the first chapter, so I don't have much to say about it.

-

I am an avid reader of Jana DeLeon.  I've read almost everything written in the Miss Fortune Mystery series (which includes Louisiana Longshot, Lethal Bayou Beauty, Swamp Sniper, Swamp Team 3, Gator Bait, Soldiers of Fortune, and Hurricane Force) and a handful of other novels; however, I think I'm finished with Fortune Redding.  At least, for the time being.

Jana DeLeon

I tried to read Fortune Hunter, but after binge reading the Miss Fortune Mystery series, I can't say I was excited to return.  Fortune Hunter, like it's predecessors, is good, mindless fun.  It's a thrill-a-minute joy ride that takes you across the bayous of Louisiana at breakneck speed and it doesn't stop.  It's hilarious, it's fun, and it's packed with interesting--I'm being diplomatic here--characters.

Honestly, I had fun with Louisiana Longshot and I really enjoyed Gator Bait (it's probably my favorite), but I just can't take more of the sheer absurdity.  It's fun and it's funny, but, after a certain point, I just need a break from the insanity of Gertie, Ida Belle, and danger-prone Fortune Redding.

I might come back to the series one day.  For now, I just need some distance--and, maybe, an infusion of something more series.  Like Tolkien.  Or Tolstoy.

-

Feiwel & Friends

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente was an interesting book.  September, a very ordinary girl living in Omaha, Nebraska, finds herself transported to a mythical fairy world and throw into a not-so-ordinary adventure.  As I read the book jacket, it struck me as a fascinating story, especially when I heard about the villainous Marquess and the book-loving Wyvern and an array of strange, delightful creatures and characters, like the Green Wind.  I was uncommonly excited to read Valente's novel.

And then, suddenly, I wasn't.

I don't know if it just wasn't the right time for me to read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making or if I was simply distracted by all the other novels I had in my TBR.  Regardless, I couldn't disappear into the world of Fairy, like September does, and I didn't find myself enchanted by the wondrous things she saw.  I couldn't stay committed to the story, so I simply put it aside to read another day.

-

I started Perfume:  The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind with every intention of finishing it; however, it turned into a bit of a nonstarter, like Them Bones.  I didn't get very deep into Perfume, before I put it aside, but, honestly, I don't know why I did.  I mean, yes, it's a bit grisly at the beginning (and I don't imagine it gets any better), but, for some reason, I thought it had the most beautiful language.

That is, the most beautiful language considering it's about the makings of a homicidal maniac.

Penguin

If I hadn't had such a massive TBR (and another book on the back burner that I really wanted to finish) and if I hadn't had a due date, I might have spent a little more time getting to know Perfume.  Something about it enchanted me, something about the language and the dismal streets of eighteenth century Paris that had me hooked; however, I made the mistake of putting it down...and I didn't pick it back up.

It's a bit like Game of Thrones in that respect.  It's wonderfully detailed, it's fascinating, it's well-written, but I just can't seem to keep my attention focused on more than one book at a time.  One always ends up suffering.  In this case, it was Perfume.

I will note that I have every intention of finding Süskind's novel once more, after I finish reading I Am Malala and Julie and Julia and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry...among others.

Bonus: Hurricane Force

Jana DeLeon

Hurricane Force
Jana DeLeon
2015

The Summary
"A force to be reckoned with...

"During missions as a CIA assassin, Fortune Redding saw and overcame most every obstacle, but Sinful, Louisiana, keeps producing new challenges for her.  When a hurricane blows through, it brings a shower of counterfeit money raining down on the tiny bayou town.

"When the money is linked back to Ahmad, the arms dealer who issued the kill order on Fortune, everyone is worried that her nemesis is far too close for comfort.  When Ahmad's men turn up in Sinful, the situation becomes life-and-death for Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie, and Deputy Carter LeBlanc learns Fortune's new identity.

"As Swamp Team 3 rushes to locate the counterfeiter, Fortune hopes to take down Ahmad and free herself from her fake life.  But will her relationship with Carter make it now that he knows the truth?"

The Good
Same.  Absolute best thing was the fact that Fortune got the chance to be an agent again and kick some serious tail, which I really appreciated in this book.  Not much otherwise might have happened, but, at least, Fortune was finally given the chance to be a secret agent again.

The Bad
Same.  Literally, it's the same things all over again.

I'm kind of done with the Miss Fortune Mystery series.  I could use a long break from it.

The Ugly
I spent six books waiting for some kind of resolution, only to discover that there's not one here.  It's a short book, which is a plus, but it doesn't have much in it.  I mean, it's literally the same misadventures coupled with Fortune getting her cover blown to hell.  Instead of throwing me a bone and letting Fortune catch her man or, you know, at least, get to be herself again, I get nothing.  Just an escaped arms dealer and a break up.

Yes, I'm going to ruin the end, but, honestly, like we didn't expect things turn out this way.  I mean, there's another book for crying out loud!  Obviously, things weren't resolved.

Dovey Coe

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Dovey Coe
Frances O'Roark Dowell
2000

The Summary
"'My name is Dovey Coe and I reckon it don't matter if you like me or not.  I'm here to lay the record straight, to let you know them folks saying I done a terrible thing are liars.  I aim to prove it, too.  I hated Parnell Caraway as much as the next person, but I didn't kill him.'

"Dovey Coe says what's on her mind, so it's no secret that she can't stand Parnell Caraway.  Parnell may be the son of the richest man in town, but he's mean and snobby, and Dovey can't stand the fact that he's courting her sister, Caroline, or the way he treats her brother, Amos, as if he were stupid just because he can't hear.

"So when Parnell turns up dead, and Dovey's in the room where his body is discovered, she soon finds herself on trial for murder.  Can the outspoken Dovey sit still and trust a city slicker lawyer who's still wet behind the ears to get her out of the biggest mess of her life?"

The Good
Dovey Coe was an unexpectedly interesting and engaging piece of children's literature.  Featuring a tough, no-nonsense narrator and a story littered with hints of rural Appalachia, Frances O'Roark Dowell's novel is a fascinating little story about a young girl faced with a very big problem:  everyone believes she murdered Parnell Caraway.

Naturally, she didn't.  (Not that I would have minded.  Parnell was a cruel man who had designs on Dovey's sister and, eventually, Dovey whom Parnell blamed when Caroline wouldn't return his affections, and I grew to distrust him as much as Dovey did.  For good reason, too.)

In some way, Dovey Coe reminded me of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.  I mean, for one, you have a rambunctious female narrator, a convoluted court case, and a lawyer with a heart of gold (looking at you Atticus).  It's interesting to see the parallels and, while it's certainly not as ground-breaking as Lee's novel, it strikes much the same tone, using a familiar Southern dialect to convey the language quirks of the region.  It makes me think of Scout Finch and Huck Finn, which I enjoyed.

Plus, I liked that Dowell didn't succumb to the usual tropes when portraying Appalachia as riddled with illiterate hillbillies.  (Deliverance, anyone?)  I know the history of the region, I'm intimately familiar with it, so I was relieved when the author reflected the history, culture, and dialect of the region without poking fun or ridiculing.  I thought she did a wonderful job of portraying the mountain communities of the early 20th century, and she does a wonderful job of depicting Dovey.

The Bad
The conclusion seemed to wrap up rather quickly.  That might seem like an odd complaint, but I think it's a valid one.  You see, Dovey Coe took quite a while to build up to the trial.  It gave plenty of background information on Parnell and Dovey and their families, it gave context to the community and the rivalry between the Coe and Caraway families; more to the point, it showed the circumstances that lead to the final, fatal conflict.

But the trial seemed to last no time at all.

In the aftermath Dovey's trial, readers learn the truth behind Parnell's death, which doesn't take more than a couple of chapters.  I was surprised and a little disappointed by the sudden--and startlingly quick--wrap up after I spent chapters and chapters (literally) learning about Dovey and Parnell and Caroline and everyone else.  The ending seemed almost anticlimactic by comparison.

The Ugly
Parnell really was a piece of work.  It's terrible to see his unbridled cruelty inflicted on others.

Bonus: Soldiers of Fortune

Jana DeLeon

Soldiers of Fortune
Jana DeLeon
2015

The Summary
"When Celia Arceneaux was elected mayor of Sinful, Louisiana, Fortune Redding expected trouble.  The woman has an unmatched talent for making the worst of any situation, especially if it means getting revenge on her sworn enemies Ida Belle and Gertie.

"At the Fourth of July celebration, an explosion rocks Sinful and it's not from fireworks.  Most people assume it was a moonshine still, but when evidence points to a meth lab deep in the bayous of Sinful, Fortune realizes how dire the situation is for the tiny town.  With Carter on medical leave and no one left at the sheriff's department who can handle the investigation, Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie decide to take matters into their own hands.

"This is (another) mission for Swam Team 3."

The Good
Like other novels in the series, Soldier of Fortune is a fun, action-packed irreverent romp through the swampy bayous of rural Louisiana.  However, this book felt a little different from others in the series for one very important reason:  it's shorter and, if possible, more serious.

Oh, sure, it's full of the usual mishaps--like Gertie setting a car on fire, Ida Belle speeding through the swamp (as is her wont to do), Fotune finding herself caught in more compromising situations than is probably necessary (or healthy)--but it felt a little different.  I'm fairy certain they got into the same amount of trouble, as per usual, but I felt like the novel took a much more serious tone with the involvement of a meth lab.

Even the criminal organization Fortune and her crew inadvertently befriend finds the whole business of drugs in the swamp a distasteful business.

Besides which, I noticed that Carter was not nearly as involved as usual.  Since he was benched this time around--and the remaining officers at the police department are a poor excuse for law enforcement--he wasn't as prone to stepping right into the middle of Fortune's impromptu investigations.  Moreover, I think he might have been more inclined to be on her side if (well, when) he was involved.

The Bad
Soldiers of Fortune felt a lot shorter than any of the other novels.  As I was reading, I stumbled across the conclusion rather suddenly.  It was a bit of a strange sensation to realize I'd reached the end when I felt a few questions remained unanswered and some loose ends were left unresolved.

I suppose one good thing did come out of its unexpected conclusion:  I didn't have to worry about anymore crazy misadventures.

The Ugly
Meth.  And murder.

Oh, and Celia Arceneaux.  (You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it.)

Bonus: Swamp Team 3

Jana DeLeon

Swamp Team 3
Jana DeLeon
2014

The Summary
"What's a little arson between friends?

"Undercover CIA agent Fortune Redding spent her first three weeks in Sinful, Louisiana, dodging insults, makeup advice, guard dogs, bullets, and Deputy Carter LeBlanc, both professionally and personally.  But just when she thinks things are going to settle down in the small bayou town, someone sets her friend Ally's house on fire.

"Carter, who'd just started pursuing Fortune on a personal basis, goes back into cop mode and admonishes her to stay out of his investigation.  This time, he swears he won't issue any warning before arresting her.  But with her friend's safety hanging in the balance, Fortune can't resist taking matters into her own hands and calls on her partners in crime fighting, Ida Belle and Gertie, to help.

"This is a mission for Swamp Team 3."

The Good
Swamp Team 3 has many of the same qualities I liked in previous novels:  adventure, intrigue, mishaps, a hint of romance, and strong female protagonists.  Gertie and Ida Belle are back and better than ever, and I still think they're absolutely hilarious when they're throwing insults back and forth.  Gertie is as accident prone as usual, and equally ridiculous.  (I really wish she would just get a pair of glasses.)

And, I'm pleased to say, Fortune and Carter's relationship is finally developing.  Sure, their first date went a little awry what with the fire that burned down Ally's kitchen and the stalker that's caused no end of trouble, but, at least, it's a start.  Right?

Right.

But I really don't think poor Carter knows what he's getting into with Fortune.  I mean, between Gertie's and Ida Belle's antics, I don't think he's ready to handle Fortune who is just as strong-willed, hard-headed and a trained killer.  He's out of his league--he just doesn't know it yet.

The Bad
Swamp Team 3 also has many of the things I didn't like about the series:  crazy rednecks, unexpected mishaps, unnecessary tangents on why Sinful is suddenly imploding, and even more unnecessary situations that could have been avoided if Gertie would just get some glasses.

Seriously.

I can't take so many of these misadventures.  After a certain point, it's just too ridiculous to bear--and I usually start skimming.  There's not a lot of substance to Fortune's adventures.  It's just taking up time, because there doesn't seem to be anything else to say, and I'm really not a fan.

The Ugly
More murder.  But add in a dash of arson and you have a whole new recipe for disaster.

For a small town, Sinful definitely sees a lot of action.  Kind of like Cabot Cove, Maine, in Murder She Wrote or Sparta, Mississippi, in In the Heat of the Night.  It has a very small population that seems to be dwindling all the time with all the crazy things going on in town and on the bayou.

Bonus: Gator Bait

Jana DeLeon

Gator Bait
Jana DeLeon
2014

The Summary
"Things are starting to look up for Fortune Redding.  Even though her life was at stake, the CIA assassin had balked at taking on a new identity in Sinful, Louisiana.  But instead of hating it like she'd thought she would, Fortune now has friends she cares about and just finished up an incredible first date with the sexiest deputy in the state.  Sure, there's been a murder or two that she's gotten mixed up in since she arrived in town, but she's hoping all of that is behind her.

"But when someone almost kills Deputy Carter LeBlanc, Fortune tosses her dreams of peace and quiet into the muddy bayou and shifts back into being the deadly trained professional that she is.  With the help of Ida Belle and Gertie, Fortune launches a manhunt, intending to find a killer before he tries again."

The Good
In Gator Bait, Jana DeLeon finally throws her readers a bone and offers some development with Carter and Fortune's relationship.  It gives an added dimension to the story and, more importantly, gives Fortune a little more depth as she contends with her feelings for Carter and attempts to balance her new identity with her chosen career.  It gives the novel a little more emotional complexity, which I appreciated.

However, I also liked that Fortune doesn't have anyone making her look like a complete and utter fool.  Wait, scratch that--she encounters fewer compromising situations, let's put it that way.  Mishaps still arise and Fortune, Gertie, and Ida Belle are unexpectedly caught with their pants down (figuratively speaking), but it seems like a less frequent occurrence since Carter isn't overseeing a police investigation.

I like that Fortune is given a moment to shine.  I mean, yes, I can point out several instances where Fortune manages to save lives--like saving Gertie and Ida Bell, getting in the middle of a mob operation and rescuing an undercover agent, saving Allie, putting her life on the line (multiple times) as she explores the bayou with her co-conspirators--but she's never really been recognized.  Which I find aggravating.

Yes, I know she's not supposed to compromise her cover; yes, I know she really doesn't even want to take credit for the things she does (that's not the motivating factor for her actions); and, yes, I know she'd prefer not to be in the limelight.  But it's nice to know that she can be recognized for her heroic moments, rather than the ignominious mishaps that seem to define her stay in Sinful.

I like that she's pictured more as the incredible super-soldier she is, rather than the flighty, blundering former-beauty queen she's pretending to be.

The Bad
Pretty much the same old, same old.

Between criminals continuously slithering out of the woodwork and townsfolk asking why Sinful is suddenly imploding, each story has an air of familiarity, an almost repetitive quality that gets very old very fast.  And, speaking of Sinful, I keep wondering if DeLeon does have an explanation for why criminal activity has suddenly skyrocketed.

Can you even give an explanation for it?  I'm curious to find out.

The Ugly
Murder.

And it's unexpectedly perturbing.

Sure, people have been dying left and right in Sinful since Fortune arrived; however, it's usually something that Gertie, Ida Belle, and Fortune learn secondhand.  I mean, I know Fortune is a trained killer and, in some cases, she is forced to use her considerable skills to save other people (even if it means using deadly force), but readers don't really get to see it happen before their very eyes.

This book changes that.  Quite drastically, I thought.

Bonus: Swamp Sniper

Jana DeLeon

Swamp Sniper
Jana DeLeon
2013

The Summary
"When only a crack shot will do...

"In the two weeks CIA assassin Fortune Redding has been hiding in Sinful, Louisiana, she's been harassed, poisoned, and shot at...and that was the easy part.  Bu now, she's about to face her biggest challenge since setting foot int he tiny bayou town.

"When mayoral candidate Ted Williams is murdered, everyone is surprised.  Ted was a blowhole and a Yankee, but those usually weren't good reasons to kill someone.  When Sinful Ladies Society leader Ida Belle becomes the lead suspect in the crime, Fortune knows she's got to solve a murder and save one of the only friends she's ever had.

"But as the investigation begins, more and more secrets surface, and Fortune realizes that sometimes nothing is as it seems."

The Good
Swamp Sniper has many of the same qualities that I liked:  good characters, decent narrative, fun narrator, lots of adventure and mayhem.  I mean, what's not to love?

And I really don't know what else to say about it.  It's kind of a repeat of the last books, so, if you don't want to go back and rehash the story, you really don't have to.  Swamp Sniper is pretty much self-contained.  It fills you in on the backstory enough that you really don't have to backtrack, because I don't think they bring back any unexpected characters.

(Or, I suppose, you could skip it.  It doesn't really add anything much to Fortune's overall story.  At least, not that I remember.)

The Bad
Pretty much the same old thing:  Ida Belle, Gertie, and Fortune start investigating a murder (this makes three); they bumble their way through an investigation, narrowly avoiding getting shot by bad people or arrested by Deputy LeBlanc; they solve the murder and move on with their lives.  It's pretty much like reading the same books over again.

Not that I didn't enjoy it.  The Miss Fortune Mysteries is something of a guilty pleasure for me, I must admit.  However, I feel like I'm overwhelmed by all the embarrassing antics concocted by Gertie, their crazy excuses for Carter, and their wild excursions into the bayou that inevitably wind up with someone plowing into a bank or falling into the water.

It's the same recipe for disaster and, admittedly, I'm a little tired of it.

The Ugly
Pretty much the same thing, but, this time, the Mob gets involved.

The Anatomist's Apprentice

Kensington Books

The Anatomist's Apprentice
Tessa Harris
2011

The Summary
"In the first in a stunning new mystery series set in eighteenth-century England, Tessa Harris introduces Dr. Thomas Silkstone, anatomist and pioneering forensic detective...

"The death of Sir Edward Crick has unleashed a torrent of gossip through the seedy taverns and elegant ballrooms of Oxfordshire.  Few mourn the dissolute young man--except his sister, the beautiful Lady Lydia Farrell.  When her husband comes under suspicion for murder, she seeks expert help from Dr. Thomas Silkstone, a young anatomist from Philadelphia.

"Thomas arrived in England to study under its foremost surgeon, where his unconventional methods only add to his outsider status.  Against his better judgement he agrees to examine Sir Edward's corpse.  But it is not only the dead, but also the living, to whom he must apply the keen blade of his intellect.  And the deeper the doctor's investigations go, the greater the risk that he will be consigned to the ranks of the corpses he studies..."

The Good
I stumbled across The Anatomist's Apprentice purely by accident.  I was intrigued by the cover when I was skimming a list of audibooks and I clicked the thumbnail, which lead me, of course, to Tessa Harris's novel.  It's not usually the sort of book I would read:  a macabre medical thriller that's set at the tail end of the 18th century.  I mean, I like historical fiction, but medical dramas I'm a little less inclined to read.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by The Anatomist's Apprentice.  It has a good, solid story with an intricately crafted plot, complex characters, and wonderful historical detail.  I especially liked that the author put in the time and effort to describe her characters in such detail, giving them distinctive mannerisms and character quirks that made them instantly recognizable.

I mean, it's hard to forget the corpulent coroner who keeps meat pies hidden in his briefcase, or the egregious Matthew Farrell who flaunts his new wealth after the death of his brother, or the pale, timid creature known as Lady Lydia, who is a lady of perfect breeding (which, confidentially, made her rather boring).  And I certainly can't forget Thomas Silkstone and his mentor, Dr. William Carruthers.

Thomas Silkstone is a fascinating individual.  Although his skills border on the macabre (he is an anatomist, thus his greatest talents lie in the dissection of corpses and the identification of trauma to the human body), he's incredibly intelligent and, being an American caught in England during the American Revolution, he provides a different perspective on English culture and behavior.  More importantly, with his old mentor behind him, he has unique access to a wealth of knowledge--and someone to unceremoniously point out his follies.

Speaking of Thomas's mentor, I have to say I rather liked Dr. Carruthers.  He's practically ancient by normal health standards and he's blind, but he doesn't miss a thing.  He's quick as a whip, intellectually speaking, and he's an excellent sounding board for Thomas.  I loved Thomas' conversations with his old teacher, because they had such an easy rapport, a friendliness that created a unique and quiet lovely dynamic between them.  I grew to appreciate their relationship more than I realized.

One of the greatest things I appreciated about the audiobook, however, was the narrator:  Simon Vance.  Vance does an excellent job of bringing Harris' novel to life, giving a voice to all of the wonderful characters she fabricated.  He uses a variety of accents, playing upon the subtle differences in country and county to provide a broad range of voices that use both a soft, lilting cadence to a deep, rough timbre.  Truthfully, I found it fascinating to listen to him work and I enjoyed The Anatomist's Apprentice more for his narration.

The Bad
I supposed my greatest complaint was the pace.  Tessa Harris (and Simon Vance) do an excellent job of pacing the story, bringing each and every detail to light slowly; however, I found I was sometimes bored by how the story seemed to drag on forever.

Much like Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, The Anatomist's Apprentice takes multiple chapters to build and seems to unravel all within a few minutes.  While I enjoyed the story overall, I found I didn't like the sudden conclusion.  It had far too many twists at the end for my taste, and I found myself rather confused by the fact that the villain I thought had committed the crime wasn't actually the real mastermind.

It's a bit more convoluted than I would have liked.

As an aside, I do want to point out that I was rather annoyed by how often Lydia was considered to be "fragile," looking "more pale than he'd ever seen her."  Yes, I understand she's a fragile, delicate flower; however, I didn't like being reminded multiple times in the same novel.

The Ugly
Murder.

These people are incredibly inventive.  You think it's one thing, but it's actually quite another.  If it's not murder by bludgeoning, it's murder by drowning or poison or perceived suicide--or, in some cases, attempted murder by physical battery.  It's really very gruesome.

And, speaking of gruesome, I found the booming grave-digging trade to be sickeningly macabre.  Corpses are dug up from the graves and sold to nearby anatomists, who promptly dissect and dispose of the remains.  Even if Thomas does adhere to a set of ethics, which prevents him from taking advantage of the lucrative (if dubious) trade, he is still an anatomist and he still dissects human bodies.

I found myself feeling a bit squeamish from time to time as the narrator described autopsies in graphic detail.  It's more than a little disturbing.

Bonus:Lethal Bayou Beauty

Jana DeLeon

Lethal Bayou Beauty

Jana DeLeon

2013

The Summary

"No one in Sinful liked Pansy Arceneaux, but who hated her enough to kill her?

"When aspiring actress Pansy Arceneax returns to Sinful, Louisiana to head up the beauty pageant portion of the Summer Festival, CIA assassin Fortune Redding knows she's in for trouble.  Her undercover identity as a former beauty queen makes Fortune the perfect choice to chair the event with Pansy, but Pansy's abrasive personality makes it impossible to get through a single rehearsal without a fight.

"When Pansy turns up dead, Fortune is the prime suspect.

"Armed with only her wits and two conniving seniors referred to locally as The Geritol Mafia, Fortune launches an investigation to find the real killer before her cover is blown."

The Good
Lethal Bayou Beauty has many of the same qualities I found endearing in it's predecessor:  a strong, sarcastic narrator; wonderful characters instigating a variety of mishaps; hilarious character interactions; lots of action and adventure and butt-kicking females.  It's fun, it's easy-to-read in an afternoon or two, and, personally, I think it's definitely worth picking up for free on my library website.

Besides, I was intrigued to see how Fortune--who is a self-professed tomboy with zero experience with pageants or, you know, anything remotely feminine--would handle herself in the middle of the strange and exotic world of pageant shows.  It's hilarious to see one mishap after another; it's a rollicking good time.

And, honestly, I found it worth it just to see her deal with Pansy Arceneax.  It's easy to dislike (if not outright hate) Pansy.  She's horribly snobbish and vindictive, she's outright cruel, and she's not above blackmailing and/or threatening people to get her way.  She's a terrible person, so I thought it was nice to see Fortune knock her down a few pegs.

Even if there was some confusion about Lady Gaga that proved embarrassing.  (It's hard to explain.  Better to read the book to understand.)

The Bad
I still liked this book, but I couldn't help thinking that Fortune, Gertie, and Ida Belle endure way too many mishaps.  In the first book, Louisiana Longshot, I could understand why so many plans kept going awry.  Fortune is just getting her feet back on the ground and she's learning new names, meeting new people, and exploring a new terrain.

But Lethal Bayou Beauty is the second in the series, so I feel like it should settle down a little.  Yes, all these crazy adventures helps to propel the story forward, but too many run-ins with Deputy Carter LeBlanc and too many close calls at the wrong end of a rifle causes it to lose it's appeal.

I mean, there really is such a thing as too much adventure.

The Ugly

Murder.  Assault.  Attempted murder.  Poisoning.  Prostitution.  Blackmail.  Tax fraud.

I think the only thing missing is drug dealing.

(But, fear not, that comes later.)

Bonus: Louisiana Longshot

Jana DeLeon

Louisiana Longshot
Jana DeLeon
2012

The Summary
"It was a hell of a long shot...

"CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever--in Sinful, Louisiana.  With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world's largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element.  Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she's determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play.  Unfortunately, she hasn't even unpacked a suitcase before her newly inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard.

"Thrust into the middle of a bayou murder mystery, Fortune teams up with a couple of seemingly sweet old ladies whose looks completely belie their hold on the little town.  To top things off, the handsome local deputy is asking her too many questions.  If she's not careful, this investigation might blow her cover and get her killed.  Armed with her considerable skills and a group of elderly ladies the locals dub The Geritol Mafia, Fortune has no choice but to solve the murder before it's too late."

The Good
I enjoyed reading Louisiana Longshot.  Simultaneously fun and patently absurd, it's a quick and easy novel to read over a weekend--or, heck, even over a lazy afternoon.  It's full of adventure, action, and humor, and it's incredibly fast-paced so you're dragged into one wacky adventure after another.

Yes, I was often shaking my head at their crazy antics, but I can't say I didn't enjoy the ride.

Moreover, Fortune Redding is a fun, quirky narrator with a sarcastic streak and a enjoyable sense of humor.  She's one tough cookie and, honestly, she's pretty incredible.  She's a CIA assassin on the run from one of the world's most powerful and dangerous arms dealers, and she's a highly skilled operative with years of experience.  I found her rampant hostility and deadly skills incredibly charming, for some reason.

However, Fortune is not entirely acclimated to an average American life.  Things like dating, forging friendships, cooking, cleaning, and acting as a normal person are rather difficult for her.  Ask her to disassemble, clean, and reassemble a handgun while wearing a blindfold, and she could probably do it.  But ask her to name the most popular people on American Idol, and she'd be hard pressed to answer.

I've found I don't really mind.  I can't say I ever liked American Idol very much.

One of the things I liked best about Louisiana Longshot is the relationship between Gertie and Ida Belle.  Known as The Geritol Mafia, they are members of the Sinful Ladies' Society--i.e. a secret group of spinsters and widows who basically run the town--and they're a duo of incredibly capable if a little unusual ladies.  And their interactions are hilarious.

Lousiana Longshot--and the whole Miss Fortune Mystery series--is a fun, fast-paced adventure with quirky, but lovable characters.  It's full of action, intrigue, and explosive mishaps (and a little bit of romance), which is sure to appeal to a variety of readers.  It's just a lot of fun.

The Bad
Jana DeLeon's novel is more of a guilty pleasure than I'd like to admit.  It's lots of fun, but it doesn't have a whole lot of substance.  I'm not saying I didn't like it, but I don't think of it as a book that's going to make a big emotional impact on me.  It's a good book with decent characters, fine writing, and incredible adventures, but I wouldn't put it at the top of my favorites list.

The Ugly
Murder.

Granted, the original murder occurred long before Fortune arrived; however, she did have to deal with the leftover bones--and she was endangered by a pair of unexpected murderers.  It's not horrifically graphic, but it is a bit violent.

Jane Steele

G.P. Putnam's Sons

Jane Steele
Lyndsay Faye
2016

The Summary
"A sensitive orphan, Jane Steele suffers first at the hands of her spiteful aunt and predatory cousin, then at a grim school where she fights for her very life until she escapes to London, leaving the corpses of her tormentors behind her.  After years of hiding from the law while penning macabre 'last confessions' of the recently hanged, Jane thrills at discovering an advertisement:  Her aunt has died and her childhood home has a new master, Mr. Charles Thornfield, who seeks a governess for the nine-year-old ward in his care.

"Burning to know whether she is in fact the rightful heir, Jane takes the position incognita, and learns that Highgate House is full of marvelously strange new residents--the fascinating but caustic Mr. Thornfield, an army doctor returned from the Sikh Wars, and the gracious Sikh butler Mr. Sadar Singh, whose history with Mr. Thornfield appears far deeper and darker than they pretend.  As Jane catches ominous glimpses of the pair's violent history and falls in love with the gruffly tragic Mr. Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma:  Can she possess him--body, soul, and secrets--without revealing her own murderous past?"

The Good
As I am an ardent fan of Jane Eyre, I found myself equally enchanted by Lyndsay Faye's Jane Steele, but for entirely different reasons.  Unlike Jane Eyre, who lives with the hand she is dealt, who makes the best of a bad situation, who is uncompromising in her faith and her belief in herself (and, more importantly, holds herself to a rigorous moral standard), Jane Steele is a grievously flawed individual--and, most notably, a murderer.

She takes justice into her own hands, killing those who threaten and torment her.  She's a different sort of person from the quiet, plain Jane Eyre who wins the heart of Edward Rochester; rather, Jane Steele is tough and brazen, she's street smart and savvy, and she's a crafty, witty narrator who refuses to back down from a challenge.

I liked her.

Not as much as Jane Eyre, mind you.  There's something about Miss Eyre that makes her incomparable, something about her stalwart character that appeals to me on a personal level.  She remains true to herself and her heart.  And, for the era in which she lived, she's exceptional in that regard.

But Jane Steele was enjoyable in her own way, because, when she decides to make her own way in the world, she thwarts social convention.  Like Jane Eyre, she stays true to herself (even if it is her more "wicked" desires that manifest).  Perverse and humorous, Jane Steele is an interesting storyteller with a vicious wit and unflinching honesty.  She recounts every gory detail, letting you soak in the viciousness of her character--and the inordinate satisfaction of seeing justice served to those who believe they will suffer no consequence for their actions.

Jane Steele has a smart mouth and a strong (rather foul) vocabulary, and she has an unexpected knack for storytelling.  She's clear, she's concise, and she's candid, which makes her story all the more riveting and the mysteries surrounding her all the more interesting.  I enjoyed  watching her story unfold, enjoyed watching as the mysteries unraveled and the plot came to a bloody climax.

Overall, I was thrilled with the story.  It's certainly given me something to think about in regards to the pair of Janes who both adorn my bookshelf.  I've realized something very important about them:  Jane Eyre is the individual we aspire to be, while Jane Steele reflects who we truly are.

The Bad
Jane Steele falls into much the same category as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and Meowmorphosis.  It's a spin-off of a favorite classic, which reflects in the writing.  It has some similar qualities, maybe even familiar names and text; however, I will note that Jane Steele is unique enough and filled with original writing that makes it enjoyable without feeling the work borders on plagiarism.

The Ugly
Murder.  Blood and gore.

It's not really unexpected, since she's a serial killer and she makes a point of warning readers at the very beginning of the book.

Crocodile on the Sandbank

Grand Central Publishing

Crocodile on the Sandbank
Elizabeth Peters
1975

The Summary
"Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian Age, embarks on her first Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella.

"On her way, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been 'ruined' and abandoned on the streets of Rome by her rascally lover.  With a typical disregard for convention, Amelia promptly hires her fellow countrywoman as a companion and takes her to Cairo.

"Eluding Alberto, Evelyn's former lover, who wants her back, and Evelyn's cousin Lord Ellesmere, who wishes to marry her, the two women sail up the Nile.  They disembark at an archaeological site run by the Emerson brothers--the irascible, but dashing, Radcliffe and the amiable Walter.  Soon their little party is increased by one--one mummy, that is, and a singularly lively example of the species.  Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn.

"But no villain, or mummy, is a match for the doughty Amelia.  How she arranges all to her satisfaction is just one of the pleasures of this delightfully witty mystery."

The Good
At the recommendation of a co-worker, I read--or, rather, listened to--Crocodile on the Sandbank and I found it to be a fun, lively little novel with excellent characters and a high sense of adventure.  I loved the setting and the intrigue, the historical anecdotes that the narrator liberally sprinkles throughout her narrative.  It's wonderfully fun and fascinating.

And, speaking of narrator, I really enjoyed listening to Amelia Peabody.

Amelia Peabody is a daring, sassy female protagonist with a dynamic personality and a scorching wit that makes her wholly unique in 19th century society.  She's quite intelligent, incredibly daring, and she's certainly not afraid to speak her mind.  After spending years in spinsterhood, she doesn't much care to ruffle a few feathers and step on a few toes, especially when it comes to hot-headed Radcliffe Emerson.

It's just plain fun, which, I think, is why I liked it so well.  It's full of mystery, romance, adventure, and intrigue, but it has a narrator who's thoughtful and intelligent and, occasionally, belligerent.  It's so much fun to dive into the story and see what happens next.

The Bad
Eleanor is pretty much characterized as the stereotypical shrinking violet, the helpless swooning maid in need of a heroic man--or, in this case, Amelia--to save her.  She's made of sterner stuff, obviously, but, as readers, we don't always get to see that side of her which I found to be a bit of a disappointment.  Amelia is bold and robust, so she often overshadows the softer spoke, more timid Eleanor.

The Ugly
You think the mummy might be the worst of it, but you'd be surprised especially whenever Lord Ellesmere and Alberto get involved.  It's really quite a mess and, when the unmasking comes, it's a regular Scooby-Doo episode.

Unfinished (Part 4)

For every ten books I enjoy, I find myself stumbling across a book I simply don't like or one I don't care to finish.  Some books, I initially loved; others, not so much.  Regardless, I must sadly admit defeat and say I didn't finish a single book I have listed here.

-

Punk Planet Books

The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno was an interesting book.  I was initially intrigued by the  title and the cover, a gray cover with the white-and-blue image of a young boy (i.e. the boy detective) looking at what appears to be a severed arm.  It's a strikingly macabre illustration that made me first pick up the book; however, as I continued to read the novel, I was less enthusiastic.  While Joe Meno crafts an intriguing young adult novel about a boy still reeling from the loss of his sister to suicide, still struggling to find a new balance in his life and deal with his mental illness, I can't stay I stayed intrigued.

There's something about the tone of the novel that eventually put me off reading.  Part of it may have been the fact that Billy Argo, the Boy Detective, spent the majority of his adolescence in a mental institution, or the fact that Billy, once released, is dead set on finding out what happened to his sister, looking for killers who may or may not exist.  With facts like these, I couldn't help but predict one of two outcomes for the book:  one, Billy Argo is seriously deluded and ends up hurting and/or killing someone in the pursuit of "justice"; or, two, Billy Argo discovers his sister was murdered and then his world/case unravels.

I could have jumped the gun by predicting the outcome of the book.  I mean, I could be completely wrong about how The Boy Detective Fails ends; however, I wasn't ready to risk reading an entire book when my two options seemed so very unappealing.

-

Broadway Books

I really enjoyed Erik Larson's Thunderstruck.  As a lover of books and a lover of history, Thunderstruck seemed to hit all the right notes with me.  It helped me learn about an obscure part of history I simply didn't know and it introduced me to a startling new world of science and engineering, telling me about Guglielmo Marconi and his startling new invention, the wireless telegraph.  I mean, I really enjoyed reading Larson's book.

But I couldn't finish it.

Don't ask me why, but I couldn't seem to commit myself to more than a handful of pages at a time.  I'd read five pages, then stop; I'd read another six pages, then stop myself again, and promptly find myself distracted by another book.  (Like The DUFF by Kody Keplinger, or The Martian by Andy Weir--which I highly recommend, by the way--or A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.)  It was a frustrating cycle and, eventually, I just gave up.

I still intend to finish reading Thunderstruck.  I want to find out what happens with Marconi's machine, how a brutal murder in London is connected to the wireless telegraph--and how a mild-mannered physician became what he became.  One day, I'll have answers to these questions; one day, I'll finish reading Larson's book.

Today, however, just isn't that day.

-

Hyperion

The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor was an interesting novel.  Part mystery, part drama, it combines vaguely supernatural elements with human desperation and tragedy.  It's a strangely compelling narrative.  I'd liken it to watching a train crash: you simply can't look away from the devastation.

I listened to it as an audiobook, listening to John Holdsworth's personal tragedies as his life and story begin to unravel, listening as Holdsworth investigates the haunting at Jerusalem College at Cambridge--and, admittedly, I was hooked for several hours.  However, I hit a point in the story when I simply didn't want to hear anymore.  Perhaps, it was the antics of the Holy Ghost Club; perhaps, it was the macabre images of ghosts and corpses; perhaps, it was Frank Overshaw's imprisonment in a mental institution.

Regardless of the cause, I found I couldn't bear to witness anymore and I had to put the story aside and move on to something happier.  Something with a little less gore, I thought.  Something that wouldn't make my stomach squirm quite so much.

As a sidenote, I'll point out that John Telfer was an extraordinary narrator.  I loved how he gave a different tone, different voice to each and every character.  I couldn't help but enjoy how he managed to give each character a uniquely distinguishable voice.  It was wonderful, and I'd love to find another story narrated by him.

-

Bantam

Last, but not least, I must admit failure with one very special, very wonderful book:  A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

I absolutely loved reading George R.R. Martin's novel.  I loved the way the book felt:  heavy with stories, full of suspense, riddled with elements of fantasy--and don't forget the dragons.  But, for some reason, I just couldn't muddle through A Game of Thrones.  Like Thunderstruck by Erik Larson, I couldn't stay committed to just one book.

I became distracted by other books, by slimmer volumes that offered immediate gratification, by stories that weren't quite so...tragic.  It's a grim story, blood-soaked and twisted.  And after witnessing a number of harrowing misadventures and horrible deaths, I found myself less and less inclined to finish reading A Game of Thrones.

I suppose having the story ruined by the HBO show didn't help matters either.