Win by Harlan Coben
Normally I’d start a review with a brief plot summary. I know opinions are divided on this, but personally I appreciate not having to go to another website to look up the plot when someone raves about a book. But I honestly don’t remember much about this book. Something with two stolen paintings, a dead hermit, and a rich guy. Because Winford Something III would very much like you to know that he is rich. Very rich. Private jet rich. Helicopter rich. He can’t help […]
A Liaison with Her Leading Lady by Lotte R. James
Desperate to save her beloved father’s theatre, actress Ruth seeks out famed dramatist Artemis in an attempt to coax her out of her self-imposed exile from the English stage. This is a delightful and unusual historical romance, following as it does two women who live on the fringes of respectable society in Regency England. The author has worked in theatre herself, and her experience and understanding of stagecraft shines through during the whole story, aided by plenty of research into the changing theatre scene at […]
Collected Millar: The First Detectives by Margaret Millar
This is a collection of five novels, written by Canadian author Margaret Miller in the 1940s. The last two were Inspector Sands novels, but I’m afraid he is rather bland, although the second one, The Iron Gates, was a nifty puzzle. But the first three, the Paul Prye Mysteries, were some good stuff. Let’s let Prye explain his vocation. “I’m a kind of cosmopolitan quack. If a lady in San Francisco wants to know why her husband has taken to eating paper bags, she might […]
The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub
While Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy were stumbling around in their awkward courtship, it seems there was another story playing out in the background – that of Lydia Bennet, witch, her familiar/sister Kitty, and the literal demon Mr. Wickham. Reader, I love Pride and Prejudice. It was one of the first classic books that I read in its original form, and I’ve reread it numerous times over the years since. But I’ve usually avoided Pride and Prejudice retellings, doubtful of how they might add their […]
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
I’m now two books into my much-belated journey into the world of Harry Potter and still very much enjoying the ride. Chamber of Secrets is a very typical second entry in many ways, opening with a bit of a recap of the events of the previous book, introducing some new characters, and increasing the level of danger facing our heroes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are no longer first-years at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but they still have a lot to learn about […]
Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky
Boys Weekend is Horror 101 with Comedy 102. The mix of GLBTQ themes, friendship, love, family, and an odd cult-religion all play together with first the idea of humanity, society roles and more that is taking front stage. You can take the action as a straightforward horror/thriller story or take it for a deeper meaning, but however you take it know there are possible triggers, such as violence, guns, sexual situations, visual gross-outs and blood. Lots of blood. Totally not for everyone, but everyone might […]
