"The Kingdom of Gods"

"The Kingdom of Gods" by N. K. Jemisin is her third book in The Inheritance Trilogy series and my favorite by far.  It took me some time to really get into the first two fantasy books but there must have been something that intrigued me because I kept reading even though it was difficult to keep all the characters straight.  However, I think it paid off in "Kingdom of Gods" because I felt like I knew who the author was talking about -- knew and finally "got" the characters and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this third book and am glad I persevered through the first two.  If you enjoy fantasy, check this out.  I've already put in a request for "The Killing Moon" which is Book One of Jemisin's Dreamblood series.   pazt

Rizzoli & Isles Season Two

Wow!  The second season of Rizzoli & Isles was fantastic -- I kinda wish I didn't have so much going on in my life so that I could start Season 3.  As often seems to be the case with a TV series, the last show of the season is a cliffhanger -- not as much as the end of the first season but still a cliffhanger!

Season Two consists of 3 DVD disks and, if, like my spouse, you're not a fan of Jane's arch enemy criminal, Hoyt, you might want to skip the last episode on the second disk, "Remember Me."  I had to watch it to see what happened and I think (but I could be wrong) that we've seen the last of Hoyt!

This season sees Jane's younger brother, Tommy, out of jail and he becomes quite a likeable character as well as a worthy chess opponent for Dr. Isles.  Jane's parents are divorcing so her mom is living in Maura's guest house and Tommy joins her there when he is released from prison -- until he can find a place of his own.  Maura's family also is more visible this season as well as the current love interests for Maura and Jane..

Jane's other brother is working on becoming a detective so there's more interaction at work between the two of them.  Their mom has taken a job in the precinct coffee shop truly making the precinct a family affair -- sometimes maybe too much of a good thing.  We also get a glimpse into Jane's partner's personal lives -- giving us a more well rounded picture of all the players.  All in all this was an excellent season to watch!  pazt

"The King of Lies"

John Hart's, "The King of Lies," was nominated in 2007 for a first novel by  the Anthony Awards, the
Macavity Awards, the Barry Awards and the Edgar Awards.  After reading this complex tale I can understand why.

Hart, who was born and raised in North Carolina has set this novel about an humble lawyer in the same state.  Hart himself practiced criminal defense law before leaving to write this first novel while working for a major Wall Street firm.  His bio says he used to do foolish things like flying helicopters and sailing small boats across large oceans but has left that behind to make his home in North Carolina with his wife and daughters.  He declares writing books is safer but harder.  You can learn more about him and his books by visiting www.johnhartfiction.com.

Our hero is Jackson Workman "Work" Pickens who is still recovering from his mother's death a year ago and his father's mysterious disappearance soon afterwards.  He has a sister, Jean, with emotional problems, a law practice left him by his father that is not doing well (mainly because he became a lawyer to please his father not because he had a passion for it), and a socialite wife, Barbara, who would prefer to spend her time at the country club.  Their marriage has long since lost its passion and they both seek solace either in other activities or other people. 

The novel begins with the discovery of Work's father's body and the female detective in charge of the case who has already set her sights on Work as the murderer.  As Work tries to discover who did kill his father, he also tries to protect those near him who he thinks might be guilty so everyone ends up suspecting everyone else and friendships/relationships suffer.  Time begins to run out for Work to prove his innocence as more people around him die and suspicions focus on him.  This is a twisty, turny exciting read - can't wait to start his next book, "Down River."  pazt 

"Comfort and Joy"

"Comfort and Joy" appears to be India Knight's third novel although it's the first one that I've read.  I picked it up at the library over the holidays because it was recommended as a light, funny holiday read.  The book starts on 12/23/2009, and ends on 12/25/2011, focusing just on each year's holiday season.  Clara Dunphy is a twice-divorced nother of three who always tries to get the holiday perfect even if it means her life is chaotic and filled with dysfunctional individuals as a result.  The people who populate her holidays include ex-spouses (sometimes with their current spouses or lovers), her mother and siblings as well as ex-stepfathers and assorted friends and relatives -- sometimes a pretty odd assortment of characters.  Although it did take me a little while to get into the story, once I did I really enjoyed it and had some laugh out loud reading moments so I will look for another one of her books to read in the future.  pazt

In addition to being a best selling novelist, India Knight is a columnist for "The Sunday Times" in London where she lives with her three children.

"Wicked Appetite"

Janet Evanovich's "Wicked Appetite" is the first of two books so far in the Elizabeth (Lizzie) Tucker and Diesel series.  Lizzie inherited a house from her eccentric Aunt Ophelia in Massachusetts so moves from New York City to her new home where she earns her living making sweets in a bakery.  Her life is disrupted, though, by the appearance of the evil Wulf who is on the search for the seven deadly sins represented by stones such as Envy, Pride, Greed, Gluttony, etc.  Good guy Diesel doesn't approve of Wulf's plans for the stones and shows up next to tell Lizzie she has special powers that can help him find the stones and keep them out of Wulf's hands.  They embark on an adventure that involves a rude monkey that won't go away and a ninja cat Lizzie apparently also inherited from Aunt Ophelia.  As they set out to find the stones and keep them from Wulf, Wulf does everything in his power to make sure he ends up with the stones endangering Lizzie and those around her.  Who will win this battle?  Read this fun caper to find out!  In the meantime, I've downloaded the second book in the series, "Wicked Business" on my kindle.  pazt 

"The Help"

Although I haven't read the best seller, "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett, my daughter did give me a copy after we saw the movie based on the book in the theater.  I recently checked out the DVD from the library and watched "The Help" with my spouse and boy did that start some discussions!

I graduated from a small town high school in Kansas in 1960 where there were whites only living in our town.  Although I remember my mother-in-law telling me that she'd been able to have help in Louisiana when her boys were small because "the help" was so inexpensive there, I'd never thought about what that meant to the people who were "the help."  This movie was a revelation as to what it must have been like to be black in Mississippi in the 1960's -- what an eye-opener it was!  I had read "Black By Me" when I was in my 20's but this movie impacted me in an entirely different way.

Emma Stone is the perfect pick to play our heroine and Viola Davis is superb as "The Maid" who agrees to be interviewed by Emma's character even though it's against the law in Mississippi for them to even meet to have these types of conversations.  The result of these interviews is a book exposing the seamier side of Mississippi life.  Nothing will ever be the same in Mississippi again and outside Mississippi the world is changing - thanks in part to stories like these.  pazt

"Killer Crab Cakes"

"Killer Crab Cakes" authored by Livia J. Washburn was the next "Fresh-baked mystery" on my reading list.  Phyllis Newsom and her friends are off to the Oak Knoll Bed 'n' Breakfast to watch her cousin's B & B while her cousin and husband are visiting their new grandchild.  One would think that Phyllis could take a vacation from murder, too, but when each day brings the unexplained death and/or murder of a guest, Phyllis and her now boyfriend, Sam, set out to help the local Police Chief and his Police chief assistant daughter solve the murders -- whether their help is wanted or not.  Phyllis doesn't want her cousin's livelihood threatened nor does she want the wrong persons accused or convicted of murder.  Oh...and, yes, there is a cooking contest for Phyllis and her friend, Carolyn, to participate in!  This was a quick, light read with some yummy looking recipes.  Enjoy..... pazt

"Blood Ties"

I just discovered Lori G. Armstrong and her PI Julie Collins series by reading the first book in the series, "Blood Ties."  Julie Collins has a lot to deal with in her past -- the death of her mother and the unsolved murder of her Lakota half-brother three years ago.  She's taken a clerical job in the Bear Butte County Sheriff's office in hopes of finding clues that might lead to her half-brother's murderer because she doesn't think anyone in law enforcement is particularly interested in solving the case.  She also works part-time as a PI in her off duty hours with her childhood friend, Kevin Wells.  He's involved in a relationship with a woman she doesn't like and she's involved herself in a dead-end relationship.  Julie seems more interested in having a warm male body in her bed than in making good choices on the romantic front.

Julie's life changes when the body of a 16-year-old white girl is discovered in nearby Rapid Creek and there are some similarities to her half-brother's death but this being a young white girl is certain to get more attention to getting it solved.  In the meantime, she and Kevin are working on the same case because he was hired by the girl's boyfriend to find her when she went missing.  As they continue their investigation, family secrets are uncovered putting additional lives at risk.

I've just downloaded "Hallowed Ground," the second book in the series on my Kindle because it's not available at my local library.  Although my preference is to sit down with an actual book, my husband's gift of a Kindle Paperwhite to me for Christmas has opened up a whole new world for me and I love having that second option!  pazt

"New Tricks" Season Two

The second season of "New Tricks," a BBC detective series,  finds Superintendent Sandra Pullman and her team of retired/veteran coppers (Jack Halford, Brian Lane, and Gerry Standing) taking on some pretty complicated unsolved cases.  Their old school detective work teamed up with some modern forensics leads to clearing up several unsolved crimes including what happened to an Asian bride and the identification of a murder victim's sparse remains leading to the killer.  For me the series is so great because this team not only solves unsolved cases but they get involved in each other's personal lives; show how much they really care about one another and they have fun along the way.  I can't wait until the third season arrives from the library!  pazt

"Voodoo River"

"Voodoo River" by Robert Crais is another in his Private Detective Elvis Cole series which I've been reading in order.  Although I did love this book, the pace didn't keep me up all night reading (like his other books) -- which is a good thing!  In "Voodoo River" Cole is hired to uncover the biological roots of adopted actress, Jodi Taylor, who stars in a hit TV series.  Everything needs to be hush-hush because it wouldn't do for any scandal to touch the much beloved all American girl she plays in her series.  The quest leads Cole to Louisiaiana where he's partnered with a female attorney, Lucy Chenier, who works for a very prestigious law firm that gives him access to people he might not otherwise be able to get to.  While working with Lucy, a romance develops but what Cole uncovers could be dangerous for not only Jodi Taylor but Lucy and himself.  If they survive this investigation, will their romance survive the distance between Los Angeles and Louisiana?  I hope it doesn't end here because they seem well suited to one another.

Crais was born in Louisiana and his knowledge of the state comes through in this novel.  pazt

"Creme de la Crime:

Janet Hutchings edited "Creme de la Crime" which is a collection of short stories by some of the winners of the world's top mystery awards.  Some of them I've heard of -- Anne Perry, Ruth Rendell, Lawrence Block, Joyce Carol Oates, Jeffrey Deaver, and Carolyn Hart. However, there were many I hadn't heard of and having had a taste of their writing I want to read more.  I love this type of book because it's easy to read a story at bedtime and not get caught up in a whole novel that I don't want to put down...... plus I discover new authors.

There are something like 27 authors featured and Jeffrey Deaver's "Triangle" was a real surprise.  Janet LaPierre's "De Capo" was another surprise that lead me to decide I must check out this author!  Melodie Johnson Howe is an actress turned mystery author and I'm going to look into her Claire Conrad-Maggie Hill novels which she describes as the female answer to Nero Wolf and Archie Goodwin.  So many authors and so little time but I certainly have a new list to choose from out of these 27.  pazt