"Slash and Burn"

Matt Hilton's "Slash and Burn" features Joe Hunter again who is enjoying some much needed time off but when Kate Piers approaches him requesting his help in finding her missing sister it's hard for him to turn her down.  After all her dead brother once served with Joe plus there's also the fact that Kate is a pretty great looking woman.

When Kate and Joe go to Imogen's Kentucky home and are attacked by thugs, they know they're on to something -- but what?  What has Imogen got herself into and can they find and help her.?  When they discover links to organized crime, they may have bitten off more than they can chew.  This is a fast paced engrossing thriller -- don't miss it!  pazt

"A Gate At The Stairs"

"A Gate At The Stairs" is a novel by Lorrie Moore.  When a friend asked what I thought of it, I had a difficult time coming up with an answer.  Ms. Moore is a wonderful prose writer with great descriptions but sometimes I felt like the story got lost in the multitude of words and, no -- I have nothing against words!

The protagonist is 20 year old Tassie Keltjin who is off for her first year of college post 9/11.  Tassie has an unusual family consisting of her mother, father, and younger brother.  One of my favorite family dynamics story came on page 42 of the hardback when Tassie's brother brings a report card home with 4 F's and a D.  His father looks at the card and says, "Well, Robert, what can I say.  Four Fs and a D: it looks like you're spending too much time on one course!"

As Tassie goes off into the college world, she finds a job on her own as well as a relationship.  She has a roommate she shares an apartment with but her roommate has already abandoned her to live with a boyfriend so she sees her only occasionally.  Tassie divides her time between her job as a nanny, her boyfriend, and schoolwork.

The book is about relationships, love, and loss but they're odd relationships for the most part and how one young woman could be embroiled in so many strange scenarios is beyond me.  However, as the end of the book shows us, there is some learning going on with Tassie.
 
Although getting through this book was slow for me, I won't give up -- I will give the author another chance by trying another of Moore's books.  pazt

"When You Give A Duke A Diamond"

"When You Give A Duke A Diamond" is Shana Galen's first book in the Jewels of the Ton series.  Although this historical fiction is a love story, it does have murder, mayhem, and mystery to recommend it.  The Duke of Pelham has a very orderly life and he likes it that way.  However, on the eve of his announcing his engagement to Elizabeth, a proper young woman from a good family, his life is turned upside down.  His name is linked with Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance, and his fiance disappears.

What the Duke (or William) didn't expect was that Juliette would claim to have seen his fiance murdered by a man named Lucifer and come to him for protection because she feels her life is in danger.  William doesn't take this seriously until the Magistrate confirms there is a Lucifer who runs a gambling house and is known to be very dangerous.  He also confirms that Elizabeth's parents have reported her missing.  He urges William to take Juliette to the country for their safekeeping until Elizabeth is found and the threat from Lucifer is gone.

What no one expected was that Juliette would discover William's family childhood secrets and totally upset his schedule and his life and that they would fall in love.  But....how can a Duke marry a courtesan?

In my younger days I would have read every word of their lovemaking episodes but it has little interest for me these days so I skim those sections.  After all, I have true love in my life!  I found this book pure fluff and an easy read -- perfect for lying in bed and recovering from a slight illness.  pazt

"Howl's Moving Castle" DVD

The DVD, "Howl's Moving Castle," is an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki bringing the children's book of the same name to the big screen.  The voices bringing it to life are provided by Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal. 

Sophie is a young woman quietly running her family's hat making business after the death of her father.  Her sister has opened a bakery and her mother is not around at this time for some vague reason.  On her way to visit her sister's new shop she runs into some strange creatures on the street and is rescued by a handsome and mysterious wizard named Howl.  After Howl sees Sophie safely returned home she receives a visit from the scary Witch of the Waste who puts a spell on Sophie turning her into an old woman.  The spell also doesn't allow her to tell anyone what has happened.

Since she can't stay around the shop where no one will know who she is in her present state, she takes off to find Howl and discovers his magnificant flying castle and begins an adventure of her own.  Sophie is a strong female role model who perseveres in the face of adversity while dealing with some pretty strange events.  In the end who saves who?   pazt 

"The Devil's Code"

John Sandford's "The Devil's Code" is his third novel in the Kidd Series.  In a postscript "Author's Note" section, Sandford reveals that hacker/artist Kidd was his first "thriller anti-hero" and not his very popular Lucas Davenport. When the Davenport series started selling so well, Sandford put Kidd in storage but he kept getting requests to bring Kidd back.  One very persuasive plea came from his son Ros, who knows a lot about computers himself, so Sandford told Ros he'd write another Kidd novel if Ros would help him brainstorm some ideas.  The result is "The Devil's Code" and it's an excellent read.

When a friend of his is killed, Kidd doesn't buy the story about why or even how so he and LuEllen decide to investigate.  As a result, both their lives and the lives of anyone who helps them are put at risk.  This is another Sandford action packed, fast moving novel that is hard to put down!  It didn't even matter that I didn't understand a lot of the computer "stuff."  pazt

"The Corpse Had A familiar Face"

"The Corpse Had A Familiar Face" is Pulitzer Prize winning author Edna Buchanan's autobiography recounting her 18 years as a reporter working the police beat for the Miami Herald.  I've read the first two books in her Britt Montero mystery series and reading this book gives me a hint as to where she got the ideas for her fictional mysteries.

Buchanan's autobiography is a fascinating read by itself -- as good as any novel.  One of the keys to her reporting was in the details -- details that bring victims to life and help them be remembered.  She also has a great sense of humor.

I look forward to reading the rest of her fictional books, too, and just ordered the third Britt Montero mystery delivered to my Kindle.  pazt

"The Guards"

I watched the brief season of "Jack Taylor" on Roku which made me crave more so I checked out Ken Bruen's first book in the Jack Taylor series, "The Guards."  It is a lot like the TV series so seemed familiar but I love his use of quotes at the beginning of most chapters and his style of writing brief chapters.  It's hard to describe what is so appealing about his work but author David Means is quoted as saying "If Elmore Leonard got together with James Joyce to write a Spencer novel, this is what you'd get.!"  I think that might be the best description of Bruen's writing style.

I just spent a couple of days lazing around reading while recovering from a sinus infection and this was the third book I read and my quickest read.  I'm already looking for the second book in the series.  pazt

"The Ottoman Cage - A Novel of Istanbul"

Barara Nadel's second novel in the Inspector Cetin Ikmen mystery series is "The Ottoman Cage" and is set in Istanbul.

When a young man's body is found in a secret apartment without any identification, Ikmen and his staff have their work cut out for them trying to learn who rented the apartment and who the victim is.  Forensic pathologist, Arto Sarkissian, and his good friend, Ikmen, have worked closely together in the past and this case has them not only mingling socially but spending a lot of time together on the job trying to discover the victim's identity as well as why he appeared to be so well cared for then so callously killed and discarded.

Ikmen has his own personal problems with a wife in pain from fibroids at home who not only has responsibility for their nine children but is caring for his father and the latter is causing her more and more challenges each day.  That seems reason enough for Ikmen to be glad of work to keep him busy and away from home.

His staff have their own challenges on the home front and this novel weaves a tale of their private and professional lives that adds human interest to solving the murder.  As I read the story, I wished I was more knowledgeable about Armenian and Turkish history.  Nadel weaves a fascinating tale involving this culture.  pazt

"Death By Deep Dish Pie"

Sharon Short's second Stain-Bustin Mystery is "Death By Deep Dish Pie" and our heroine, Josie Toadfern, is looking forward to the upcoming July 4th Founders Day celebration and taking her cousin, Guy, to the fireworks display.  However, events at the annual Breitenstrater Pie Company's pie-eating contest tend to overshadow the whole celebration when the company's owner dies and Josie is once again thrown into a police investigation trying to clear those that she loves.

This is another delightful and light mystery -- an easy read.    An added bonus -- Josie's stain busting hints at the end and info about the author who can be contacted at sharon@sharonshort.com.  pazt