This book is part of a series, but I wasn’t aware of that when I picked it up at the library. The premise sounded intriguing, a blend of romance and mystery, set in Vienna, which I thought would be a nice change from the usual London scene. As per a publisher’s blurb about the book: A murdered Russian princess creates a diplomatic imbroglio in this magnificent mystery set in the midst of the glittering palaces and ballrooms of the Congress of Vienna. As the heads […]
Just because you can write a 1000 page book doesn’t mean you have to…
El laberinto de los espíritus (literally, The Labyrinth of the Spirits) is the fourth book in the saga of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. This saga started in 2001 with The Shadow of the Wind, followed by The Angel’s Game and The Prisoner of Heaven. All three books take place in Barcelona, in the aftermath of the Civil War. If you are not familiar with them, I recommend you get your hands on a copy of The Shadow of the Wind […]
An Unclear Circus Farewell
I have to admit, the timing here is almost ironic. I finish this book just when Ringling Brothers announces their closure. Anyways, Night Circus has a lot going for it. An interesting premise, mystery, magic, and a great cast of characters in an intriguing setting. The language is also unusually detailed, which matches well with the mysterious artsy tone. I should have loved this, but I only liked it. I had 3 main problems with Night Circus. First and foremost, I hate present tense narrative, […]
The Winter Over
Would you go to Antarctica for nine months, where it would be dark for two-thirds of the time you are there? A place that you would not be able to leave unless it was in an emergency? This is where we meet our characters. They have just spent the past three months in Antarctica and a small group is preparing to stay for the winter, for what is called the “Winter Over.” Most of the people at the base, only forty are staying behind. Just as […]
Norway can keep its lutefisk, but I’ll happily take any mystery novels it wants to hand over
This was my first foray into Norwegian fiction and didn’t know what to expect. This mystery was a complete sucker punch and I loved it. Apparently Karin Fossum is called the Norwegian queen of crime. I didn’t know that until after I finished Eva’s Eye, but I can definitely see why she has the nickname. Her plot kept me guessing right up until the end and then left me shocked and disconcerted. Eva and her daughter, Emma, spot a dead body floating in the river […]
Don’t you forget about me
I’ve been meaning to read some Liane Moriarty for the longest time. Everyone said they were unputdownable books about suburban drama and they weren’t wrong. What Alice Forgot was completely addictive reading and just what I needed. Moriarty tackles hard topics in an easy to digest way. The premise is a bit far-fetched but works once you just buy into it. Alice Love hits her head in the gym one day and wakes up thinking it’s a decade earlier. At 40, she’s a completely different […]
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