X — X, written by Sue Grafton; reviewed by Debi O’Neille.

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons 

The 24th Kinsey Millhone novel (of Grafton's 25-book alphabet series).

I promised in my A-Z theme to give honest reviews, so in all honesty I have to say—I

Did

Not

Like

X.

I want to be fair, so I’ll point out a few positives as well as my dislikes.

First, let me tell you that I feel I was misled. Partway through X, I realized I was reading a cozy mystery. A female private investigator trying to be hard-nosed but a little softer, more like a sleuth. And since Grafton set this alphabet series of mysteries in the 80s, she was true to the times and wasn’t always politically correct. Okay, fine. I squared my shoulders and braced myself for that education, considering the story wouldn’t have been authentic otherwise.

What I’m saying is that Grafton was writing the supposedly hard-boiled detective, but being a female of the 80s, the character was made only semi-hard-boiled (soft-boiled? Medium boiled?). In the 80s, women were considered incapable of being as hard as men. I’m sure that’s often true, but today I would challenge that with a few women I’ve met over the years. But all in all, considering the constraints of the times Grafton was under, she did a pretty good job with her main character. Still, the plot was a cozy mystery, and because of the dust jacket blurb, that’s not what I was expecting.

I read the Amazon description of the book before buying it. I’m almost positive that description must belong to some other book, not this cozy, soft-boiled, female detective story.

The description reads “… Perhaps Sue Grafton’s darkest and most chilling novel, X features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes.”

Huh? What serial killer?

Leaves no trace of his crimes?

How could I not want to read that?

I expected intense tension. A law-escaping serial killer. Excitement. I expected to be sitting at the edge of my seat. This book failed on each of these levels.

Unfortunately, because of the misleading description, when I should’ve been concentrating on what was happening in the book, I was skimming ahead to see when the action would start. It seemed to be taking forever, since Grafton explained every detail of parking a car, unlocking the car door, opening the door, getting out, etc. in minute detail. It would have created more tension had she shortened the delivery.

Never in this book did I feel the tension of a character holding his or her breath. Or a character nervously looking up and down the sidewalk, watching for suspicious-looking people. I never felt any sense of urgency anywhere in this book. This was a sit curled up on the couch and read book, not an edge of your seat thriller. I never felt the need to keep reading to find out what happens next, yet I honestly think that had I gone into reading this novel with the expectation of reading a cozy mystery, rather than nail-biting pages with a serial killer, I would not have felt so impatient for something to happen. I would’ve sat back and relaxed in the mode of watching “Murder, She Wrote.” And I do enjoy that show at times. But I never watch it when I’m in the mood to watch “Kiss the Girls.” (Serial killer mayhem)

Wrong book description or not, I can’t help but wonder about the editor. Putnam and Sons is a respectable publisher. Why didn’t the editor catch more of the overwritten areas and tighten them to give more tension?

But I haven’t written a cozy. Maybe they’re supposed to take their time describing every single movement. Maybe cozies never feel tense. I don’t know.

But because I was curious, I did read up a bit on this author. I did a search and found out that due to health problems, she only got to the “Y” in this series. That is so sad, and a loss to the world. She passed away from a two-year battle with cancer before she finished the “Z” mystery. Maybe with that, the editor did not want to change any more of Grafton’s words than absolutely necessary. I’d probably feel the same. Anyway, X is no doubt a good read if you consider it a cozy.

Here’s the link to other reviews. They’re mostly positive from the author’s fans, but if you read the review from John E Mack, he pretty much covers my thoughts exactly. Then again, scroll down a couple more reviews and read the one by Serena. There again, she admits to checking the dust jacket often (I did at least a half a dozen times) to make sure she wasn’t reading a knockoff by some other writer.

So it wasn’t just me who thought the description and the novel were somehow mismatched.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good read for those of you who like slower paced mysteries.

You can always go to Amazon, and click into the Kindle, which lets you read the first few chapters for free before buying.

Thanks for allowing me to be honest.

Best wishes and happy reading!

W — WINTER GARDEN, written by Kristin Hannah; reviewed by Debi O’Neille

Published by St. Martin’s Press.

If you don’t like to cry from time to time, don’t read this book. If you don’t like to feel a lot, don’t read this book. If you have a weak stomach when it comes to graphic turmoil, don’t read this book. But, if somewhere inside you there is a fairy-tale heart waiting to be stroked, read this book. Don’t wait, because as WINTER GARDEN will prove, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

It’s a story of love as much as it is of war, and about hope as much as fear and oppression. Mostly, it’s a story of acceptance, forgiveness, and moving forward. It’s a literary work of living in its best and worse sense. The plot glides back and forth between a Russian history and current day life in America, showing one woman’s struggle to get through the past and the thawing of her lost fairy-tale heart as she brings her family together again.

There were times I wanted to throw the book across the room, but I didn’t. Couldn’t. I had to know how these people got to where they are today. I’m so glad I stuck with it. It was never a dislike for the story or the writing that tempted me to toss WINTER GARDEN. It was the strong emotions it triggered that had me worried whether or not I could continue reading. Could I find even a fraction of the strength these characters needed, these characters who lived it? Yet this skilled author made me live it too. You can’t read this story and not feel every piece of it. The writing is excellent. The characters are real. The story is powerful. Don’t give up on reading it regardless of the emotions it triggers. You’ll be glad you stuck with it.

Happy reading!

V — VERITY, written by Colleen Hoover; reviewed by Debi O’Neille

 

Published by Grand Central Publishing, a home of such authors as David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, Sandra Brown and  Nicholas Sparks.

This is the psychological thriller that made me the Colleen Hoover fan that I am. VERITY is the first of Hoover’s books I ever read.  I plan to read it again, and again.

I love mysteries, love a little romance, love MG and YA, and, I live for suspense. Tension? Won’t read without it. But I usually don’t like to be scared or pushed into s studying the shadows on my walls, or to force my dog to walk everywhere with me all through the night. But I did, after and during this book. (Poor, Teddy!)

Character Lowen is a novelist who isn’t doing too well, career-wise, and she’s not big on self-promotion or marketing. Add to that a few other circumstances, and she takes a job finishing a few planned novels for the well-known author—Verity—who was in an accident and is now unable to complete her series. Verity’s husband, Jeremy Crawford, convinces Lowen that she is the best writer for the job, because Lowen’s writing style matches Verity’s.

Sounds like the perfect scenario. And possibly, it is, until Lowen finds a manuscript that may not be meant for the public. It’s personal and horrifying. It’s an autobiography.

Lowen convinces herself to read the secret pages by telling herself that knowing Verity’s story will help her understand the woman whose writing she’s trying to emulate. It will help Lowen in finishing the series. That’s her job, after all. But naturally, unexpected relationships come into play, as well as a wealth of unexpected discoveries.

Twists and surprises await you in this haunting reality that will surely stay with you and make you, too, a Colleen Hoover fan. Happy reading!

U— UGLY LOVE, written by Colleen Hoover; reviewed by Debi O’Neille

Published by Atria Books.

UGLY LOVE isn’t my favorite of Colleen’s books, but it’s a good read if you’re looking for romance. In this particular book, Hoover writes a hot lovemaking scene much like Stephen King writes a setting—lo-o-ong, and extremely detailed. That may appeal to some, not to others. Either way, the storyline is good. It’s solid. As always, Hoover's characterization is top-notch. You really feel you know these characters. You can smell the air where they live and feel the heat of any given moment.

The backstory is excellent. Though we don’t get to know much about the female main character, Tate, through her youth (we do later), we get to know a lot about Miles, the young adult male character. Good plan, considering in present day he’s one of those quiet, mysterious types. That can be  romantic, for a while, but it’s not hard to understand how a relationship with Mr. Quietly Mysterious would get old, frustrating.

And that’s where I had the problem. Despite liking the book a lot, because I did, I was disappointed to find out that I was more interested in Miles’s story back when he believed in communication than I was in his present-day life. I kept wanting to rush through the present day sections of the novel and feel my way through his life as a young adult. Luckily, his young adult self grabbed me enough to get me to read the book as a whole. I’m so glad I did. UGLY LOVE was worth the wait to see these characters figuring out their lives.

Happy reading!

T — THE CASE OF THE VANISHING CONMAN, written by Mithran Somasundrum, and THE FAMILY ACROSS THE STREET, written by Nicole Trope, reviewed by Debi O’Neille and Amanda Ruzsa, respectively.

THE CASE OF THE VANISHING CONMAN, published by Joffe Books, LTD.

I first read Mithran Somasundrum’s writing fifteen or twenty years ago through an online (writing) critique group. We haven’t kept in touch, but I do remember how his writing stood out among many members. I always scanned the list of submissions for his name, knowing that if I critiqued his story, he’d likely critique mine. The truth is, even if he hadn’t (and polite as he is, he always did), my time would’ve been well spent reading his work. So when I was recently browsing through titles for something to read and saw his name on a book, excitement rose up in me as if I had just won a Pulitzer.

Mithran has had many short stories published over the years in well-known publications such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, The Sun, and one close to my home turf, The Minnesota Review, and I’ve enjoyed every one that I’ve read. I could go on and on raving about his writing and accomplishments, but for now, let me tell you about his book THE CASE OF THE VANISHING CONMAN. Talk about attention to detail, Mithran takes it to a new level. His story takes place in Bangkok, and the way he mentions different Thai foods and paints vivid pictures of teak trees and noodle carts, Mithran puts you right there—comfortable in an unfamiliar culture—with his main character, Vijay, who pounds the streets looking for the truths.

Owing some nasty people a lot of money, Vijay plans to pull himself out of debt by serving the area as a translator. But he’s just starting out and the money isn’t coming in fast enough, so he doubles as a private investigator. He ends up with three cases going at once, not knowing until later that they are interrelated.

Between translations and detective work, Vijay is a master juggler. He’s working for a crime boss who wants his name cleared since a soon-to-be published book shows him in a bad light, and at the same time, the crime boss’s wife hires Vijay to do a little snooping into her husband’s love life. Working both sides of a marriage involving a crime boss? What could possibly go wrong?

And then there’s the case leading Vijay from one character to another trying to uncover what happened to the conman.

But crime bosses, jealous spouses, and missing people aren’t all that will keep mystery lovers turning the pages; Mithran also throws in a murder to be solved. THE CASE OF THE VANISHING CONMAN offers excellent tension, striking detail, and just enough humor to keep the story lively. Vijay, the translator — detective, is an absolutely lovable character with a great sense of humor. I sure hope to see him in more stories.

Mithran has two other books out, which I haven’t read yet, but I most certainly will soon. THE CALCULATOR AND OTHER STORIES is his collection of short stories (currently free on Amazon Kindle format), all previously published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. THE MASK UNDER MY FACE: A Novel is also ready for your enjoyment. I can’t wait to read every page. I’ll be reviewing these works sometime in the future.

AND NOW…

THE FAMILY ACROSS THE STREET, written by Nicole Trope; reviewed by Amanda Ruzsa, Blood of My Pen

Published by Bookouture.

I finished reading this psychological thriller in just one day, and I was absolutely immersed in it. The unexpected twists continuously took me by surprise, and I'm sure it will have the same effect on you. The imagery is so well-written that pieces of this story crept into my dreams!

I highly recommend giving THE FAMILY ACROSS THE STREET a read. It had me on the edge of my seat throughout, evoking unease, anxiety, and intense mental battles. The characters are so vividly portrayed that I found myself connecting with them as if they were real people. This book ignited a sense of fear and anguish in me that cannot be ignored. Trust me, you won't regret picking it up.

Enjoy the read! Amanda Ruzsa, Blood ofMy Pen

S — SHE SAID: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

 SHE SAID is the story of the investigation that Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, Pulitzer prize-winning reporters for the New York Times, led when they broke the news of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assault. 

Published by Penguin books and reviewed by Debi O’Neille.

Though most of my reviews have been on fiction, this book is the true story of two brave and determined reporters covering what many did not want told. The book includes private interviews, off-the-record information, and facts of the turmoil many women suffered during and since their victimization.

Parts of this novel literally made me sick to my stomach, and yet I never doubted a word of it.  SHE SAID is  hard to read because each disgusting and horrifying event mentioned really happened. Much of it angered me, as I’m sure it will you, but don’t turn away from reading it. It’s history. It’s important. Only by knowing facts can we begin to understand how to reshape our futures.

Hopeful reading!

 

c

R —RUBY IN THE SKY, written by Jeanne Zulick Feruolo; reviewed by Debi O’Neille.

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

The first third of the this book rose midway up the ladder to stardom, not boring nor exciting but somewhere in the middle. The next chunk had me more intrigued. The back story now created more questions, making me curious. I enjoyed the book a lot through here, yet I was pretty sure I knew the answers to the major questions. I read the last third of the book to see if I my guesses were right and to see how the author delivered the answers.

There were sad things mentioned in the early and mid-portions of the book, but nothing really created the kind of immediate sadness that wraps around you when you read, and makes you feel as though you’ve just been through a tremendous loss or hit by a truck. Still, this author put subtle grip-holds on me that I didn’t even realize until the last hundred pages. That’s when this story brought me to tears.

After the first time RUBY IN THE SKY had me crying, I didn’t expect tears again until the very end, if at all. Boy, did I get that wrong. Most of the last hundred pages had me in tears. (Prepare in advance for that; grab the tissues!) I didn’t cry just once or twice. I cried closer to six or seven times with one stream rolling into another.

I’m not saying that a book’s ability to trigger tears defines whether or not it’s a good read—no one can say that tears make a story all happy or all sad, because to put it in Ruby’s words, “Sometimes when people cry, it’s out of joy, not sadness, and there’s no way to know that until you know the whole story.”

And that quote sums up Ruby’s story.

Don’t skip this book. Even if you don’t think the beginning is grabbing you as much as you’d like, keep reading. The author is working her magic in building a case for this book, deep inside you, without you even knowing it. Trust me. Keep reading.

Happy and sad reading!