The Less Dead by Denise Mina
As I am often so critical of stories that use adoption and/or foster care as a plot device for tragedy or a reveal as to why the Big Bad is so Bad with their Badness, allow me to sing the praise of one that does adoption mostly well. At least from my point of view, which is not one of an adoptee. I’m the parent of an adoptee so it provides me some insight but, obviously, that doesn’t compare. Still, from what I do know, […]
The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh
Read as part of CBR14 Bingo: holiday. I was gifted this book for Christmas a few years ago and used this Bingo as an excuse to finally read it. Again, all love to book bingos for helping me find gems that are lingering on my very own shelves. I used the holiday square as an excuse to get to this one. I had considered donating it a few times, seeing as how the reviews were good but not exactly rapturous. I have a lot of […]
Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton
February's Son by Alan Parks
By coincidence, I just finished two different mysteries set in Scotland. Both were okay, both should have been better, both merit three stars, and I have more to say about one than the other… Death of a Gossip It’s fine for what it is: a Scottish cozy mystery Agatha Christie rip off. But it spends way too much time on the boring, awful side characters and not nearly enough time on the wonderfully cantankerous Hamish MacBeth. February’s Son Cn. Abuse, horrible depictions of […]
In the Cut by Susanna Moore
The Papers of Tony Veitch by William McIlvanney
Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke
The Devil in Her Way by Bill Loehfelm
In sleep debt and haven’t had time to write reviews like I’ve wanted to the last few weeks so here are a few things I’ve read lately… In the Cut **** It’s tough to talk about this one. The writing is superb, bordering brilliant. The scenes are rich. The ending…good but not good? I don’t know. I liked it a lot but I can’t really say why except to say it’s well-written and thrilling. Erotic in a messy way. It addresses the way physical attraction […]
Laidlaw by William McIlvanney
Read as part of CBR11 Bingo: First in a series. This is perhaps the best 3-star book I’ve ever read. A quick explanation of my star system: 5 I give out semi-frequently to books I genuinely consider to be great. I’m not snobby with it, plenty of 5 star books are better than others but it’s my ratings system and I can do what I want. 4 is my most frequently distributed number, that’s for books that simply rise to the level of good. 3 […]
Bloody January by Alan Parks
There’s so much to like about Alan Parks’ Bloody January that I’m almost willing to forgive its many faults. Almost. Not quite. 4-stars is my standard for what I consider a “good read.” 4-stars means the book met the minimum standard for entertainment (and/or education) and quality. I give out 4-stars like its candy. Bloody January should easily slot into a 4-star read. And yet, it pulls hard on every cliche. The drunk detective with a dark past. The hooker with a heart of gold who can’t shake the […]
