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Death and Glory: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel (A Barker & Llewelyn Novel, 16)
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Helpful Score: 1
Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, along with his partner Thomas Llewelyn, has a long, accomplished history - he's taken on cases for Scotland Yard, the Foreign Office, and even the crown itself, fulfilling them all with great skill and discretion. None of those cases, however, are as delicate and complicated as the one laid before him by a delegation of men who, thirty years before, fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. These men want to revive the Confederacy with a warship promised to the Rebels from the British Government in 1865. To get it now, they're threatening to reveal the long-secret treaty with the Confederacy. Barker is hired to use his connections to discreetly bring their threats to the Prime Minister.
With a web of prominent, if secret, supporters throughout England ready to through their support to their efforts to wage war anew on the United States, the delegates are just waiting for the warship to begin their plans. But some of the men are not who they claim to be, and the American government has their own team watching, and waiting, for the right moment to take action.
As this fuse on this powder keg of a situation grows ever shorter, it's up to Barker & Llewelyn to uncover the real identities and plans of these dangerous men.
This is the first book of the Barker & Llewelyn series that I have read. It has made me want to go back and read the whole series. It has showed us a relationship between the U.S. and Britain where a ship was bought by the Confederacy but never delivered because of the end of the Civil War. I now look forward to reading the series in order. If you love mysteries about U.S. and Britain relationships then you will love this book.
With a web of prominent, if secret, supporters throughout England ready to through their support to their efforts to wage war anew on the United States, the delegates are just waiting for the warship to begin their plans. But some of the men are not who they claim to be, and the American government has their own team watching, and waiting, for the right moment to take action.
As this fuse on this powder keg of a situation grows ever shorter, it's up to Barker & Llewelyn to uncover the real identities and plans of these dangerous men.
This is the first book of the Barker & Llewelyn series that I have read. It has made me want to go back and read the whole series. It has showed us a relationship between the U.S. and Britain where a ship was bought by the Confederacy but never delivered because of the end of the Civil War. I now look forward to reading the series in order. If you love mysteries about U.S. and Britain relationships then you will love this book.
Mary H. reviewed on
Helpful Score: 1
I felt the story unfolded like the petals of a flower. Slowly, a layer at a time , until the completion of the story was revealed like a flower in full bloom. Some parts were sweet and tender like a new bud. Other parts of the story were painful like thorns on a stem. Eventually, the whole plant was seen and was beautiful.
The Countess's Forgotten Marriage (Harlequin Historical, No 1779)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. Anthony was a widower when he met Mary at a house party. She was the paid companion of an unpleasant old woman. They married quickly, but though she worshipped him, Mary never felt as though she belonged in his world. Meanwhile, thanks to the disaster of his previous marriage, Anthony kept himself back, reluctant to trust his feelings.
When Mary disappeared, Anthony believed the worst - that she had run away with another man - and wrote her off. In truth, Mary and the groom with her had been attacked by highwaymen. In the melee, Mary was injured and lost her memory. The story of what happened to her was heartbreaking, and her loss of memory was understandable. Three months later, after being taken in and cared for by a troupe of actors, Mary found herself back at her home with her memory returning. Anthony is shocked by her return and suspicious of her story. He is torn between throwing her out and taking her back.
I liked Mary very much. Because of her memory loss, her time away allowed her to develop skills and strength she'd never had before. No longer is she the meek, quiet, and biddable mouse she had been. She stands up to Anthony's suspicions and unwelcoming attitude. I ached for her and the hurt she felt when she discovered that he hadn't bothered to search for her when she disappeared. I enjoyed seeing her channel her "Perdita" identity as the countess.
I had a tough time liking Anthony. Though he began well by marrying Mary, who stirred unexpected feelings in him, his "I know best" treatment of her was too controlling. It was countered by him neglecting to help her fit in and oblivious to how others treated her. But I lost all respect for him when he didn't bother to look for her after she disappeared. Even after he had proof, his constant questioning of her story irritated me and hurt Mary. He redeemed himself somewhat at the end, and I liked seeing him finally admit his mistakes, but it will take work for him not to backslide.
#netgalley
When Mary disappeared, Anthony believed the worst - that she had run away with another man - and wrote her off. In truth, Mary and the groom with her had been attacked by highwaymen. In the melee, Mary was injured and lost her memory. The story of what happened to her was heartbreaking, and her loss of memory was understandable. Three months later, after being taken in and cared for by a troupe of actors, Mary found herself back at her home with her memory returning. Anthony is shocked by her return and suspicious of her story. He is torn between throwing her out and taking her back.
I liked Mary very much. Because of her memory loss, her time away allowed her to develop skills and strength she'd never had before. No longer is she the meek, quiet, and biddable mouse she had been. She stands up to Anthony's suspicions and unwelcoming attitude. I ached for her and the hurt she felt when she discovered that he hadn't bothered to search for her when she disappeared. I enjoyed seeing her channel her "Perdita" identity as the countess.
I had a tough time liking Anthony. Though he began well by marrying Mary, who stirred unexpected feelings in him, his "I know best" treatment of her was too controlling. It was countered by him neglecting to help her fit in and oblivious to how others treated her. But I lost all respect for him when he didn't bother to look for her after she disappeared. Even after he had proof, his constant questioning of her story irritated me and hurt Mary. He redeemed himself somewhat at the end, and I liked seeing him finally admit his mistakes, but it will take work for him not to backslide.
#netgalley
Helpful Score: 1
This is the second book using Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train as a stepping stone that I have read this year, and I wondered what my reaction would be. It is a testament to Highsmith's iconic story and Cavanagh's skill that I finished Kill for Me Kill for You with a big smile on my face.
This fast-paced, plot-driven book may leave you feeling as if you're strapped in a car on a wild and woolly roller coaster ride. However, where most plot-driven books fall short in characterization, Kill for Me Kill for You doesn't. It's all too easy to put yourself in the shoes of the grief-stricken Amanda, Ruth, and Scott, and all too easy to hope that Farrow, the homicide detective, will put all the pieces together for some sort of justice to triumph.
Since so much hinges on the marvelous plot twists, I can't say much about this book without giving something away, but I will say this: Read it, and don't be surprised if it puts a smile on your face, too.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
This fast-paced, plot-driven book may leave you feeling as if you're strapped in a car on a wild and woolly roller coaster ride. However, where most plot-driven books fall short in characterization, Kill for Me Kill for You doesn't. It's all too easy to put yourself in the shoes of the grief-stricken Amanda, Ruth, and Scott, and all too easy to hope that Farrow, the homicide detective, will put all the pieces together for some sort of justice to triumph.
Since so much hinges on the marvelous plot twists, I can't say much about this book without giving something away, but I will say this: Read it, and don't be surprised if it puts a smile on your face, too.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
Helpful Score: 1
Evelyn Finch is twenty-nine years old and has decided to face the truth: She is a spinster. When a child in the family embarrasses Evelyn by commenting on her unmarried state, Mr. Finch decides to take action. He asks Gideon Payne to conduct a short courting with his daughter.
Gideon has black marks against him. A young woman was compromised through none of his doing, and Gideon was blamed. The girl's family knew the truth, but Gideon must remain silent to protect the young lady's good name. People know he's unsavory, but they don't know why. Now that Gideon has taken over his father's bank, he has difficulty because of the rumors.
Lewis Fitch, Evelyn's father, sees a potential solution to both Evelyn's singlehood and Gideon's tarnished reputation. He believes that the two can help each other and, thus, proposes the idea to Gideon. After a brief internal debate, Gideon agrees to meet Evelyn. Their first encounter is set at a party, an event orchestrated by Mr. Fitch to bring them together.
Of course, like all previous M A Nichol books, characters grow and evolve. This story was beautifully written. This leaves me to grieve the loss of Ms. Nichols. I await her latest novel (A Light in the Dark -- due on May 24, 2024). Then, I will have read her whole backlog of stories at least once. She is a wonderful writer.
Finches
The Jack of All Trades (2021)
Tempest and Sunshine (2022)
** 3. The Christmas Wish (2022)
Gideon has black marks against him. A young woman was compromised through none of his doing, and Gideon was blamed. The girl's family knew the truth, but Gideon must remain silent to protect the young lady's good name. People know he's unsavory, but they don't know why. Now that Gideon has taken over his father's bank, he has difficulty because of the rumors.
Lewis Fitch, Evelyn's father, sees a potential solution to both Evelyn's singlehood and Gideon's tarnished reputation. He believes that the two can help each other and, thus, proposes the idea to Gideon. After a brief internal debate, Gideon agrees to meet Evelyn. Their first encounter is set at a party, an event orchestrated by Mr. Fitch to bring them together.
Of course, like all previous M A Nichol books, characters grow and evolve. This story was beautifully written. This leaves me to grieve the loss of Ms. Nichols. I await her latest novel (A Light in the Dark -- due on May 24, 2024). Then, I will have read her whole backlog of stories at least once. She is a wonderful writer.
Finches
The Jack of All Trades (2021)
Tempest and Sunshine (2022)
** 3. The Christmas Wish (2022)
Romney: A Reckoning
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Politics & Social Sciences
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Politics & Social Sciences
Book Type: Hardcover
Helpful Score: 1
In the last year I have read this book and Liz Cheney's book and they were both 5 star reads to me. Go figure.
Helpful Score: 1
An absorbing read -- told from three different viewpoints of people living in the small Texas town during WWII. It's not really a murder mystery, although one of the three narrators is the local sheriff investigating some deaths. The first two thirds of the book meanders along as you gain insight into the three people and how the town reacts to its German citizens; the last third races to a shocking conclusion that makes this book one of those can't-put-down books, which frequently aren't.
Glenn S. reviewed on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Much as I like Philip Wylie's books-- particularly "When Worlds Collide" and "After Worlds Collide," there is a reason he never won the Nobel Prize for Literature. His aim is not to create art, but to express his views on the social, sexual, and political issues of his time. The narrative is simply a framework on which to hang his ideas. Not a lot of narrative craftsmanship is devoted to that framework, with results that are often clunky and creaky. In this book, written in the midst of 1950s angst about the Communist menace and atomic weapons, his aim is to argue that nuclear war is survivable, but only if proper civil defense measures are put in place. The story takes place in two Midwestern cities located in two states sitting across a river from each other. One city takes civil defense seriously, the other considers it a waste of time, believing that nuclear war is not survivable. Then both cities suffer a nuclear attack, allowing Wylie to show how each fares. What is strange is that the first four-fifths of the novel is a soap opera about the lives of several families in each of the towns, including Wylie's usual fascination with sexual, emotional and psychological tension that results from a love triangle. Only in the final section of the novel does the nuclear attack occur. This buildup up is long and often boring, making the apocalyptic conclusion seem rushed and perfunctory. Overall, the book is a long, boring slog. Wylie has done better, including "Triumph" the post-nuclear-apocalypse novel he published nine years later.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh my, how I loved this book. It isn't your average haunted house story. I loved all of the scary and humorous parts and the shocking twists and turns. It was an enjoyable read through and through.
Married couple, Margaret and Hal, finally find the house of their dreams. No matter if there was a murder in the house. They don't even care that multiple people died in there. Why bother?! It is the house that is important. Yet it doesn't take long for things to happen in the house. Especially in September. That month is the worst. Walls bleed, there is constant moaning and screaming, the ghosts are in their prime. Get through September and then it's not so bad. You either have to adjust or move out and Margaret is all about adjusting. Yet, when Hal disappears and their daughter, Katherine, comes looking for answers, Margaret's life and her little haunted house start to unravel.
Like I said... too much fun! I took a half star off because there was way too much cursing. I'm not opposed to bad words but it did get a bit excessive.
Can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future.
Married couple, Margaret and Hal, finally find the house of their dreams. No matter if there was a murder in the house. They don't even care that multiple people died in there. Why bother?! It is the house that is important. Yet it doesn't take long for things to happen in the house. Especially in September. That month is the worst. Walls bleed, there is constant moaning and screaming, the ghosts are in their prime. Get through September and then it's not so bad. You either have to adjust or move out and Margaret is all about adjusting. Yet, when Hal disappears and their daughter, Katherine, comes looking for answers, Margaret's life and her little haunted house start to unravel.
Like I said... too much fun! I took a half star off because there was way too much cursing. I'm not opposed to bad words but it did get a bit excessive.
Can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future.
Helpful Score: 1
Eskens is a phenomenal writer. It doesn't take much to get immersed in his stories and it is so easy to settle in for the duration.
In this book, we have some of the characters from his previous book, The Heavens May Fall. You could easily read this book without the other but may find reading the first one will put you more attuned to the characters.
There are two stories happening with this one. On one hand, there is the story of Boady and Dee's ward/daughter, Emma, and on the other is a case that Boady takes on for the innocence project. Both stories build into a crescendo where they come together and explode into a bunch of craziness.
Great characters with a wonderful story!
In this book, we have some of the characters from his previous book, The Heavens May Fall. You could easily read this book without the other but may find reading the first one will put you more attuned to the characters.
There are two stories happening with this one. On one hand, there is the story of Boady and Dee's ward/daughter, Emma, and on the other is a case that Boady takes on for the innocence project. Both stories build into a crescendo where they come together and explode into a bunch of craziness.
Great characters with a wonderful story!
Helpful Score: 1
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a quick read that kept me engaged throughout, and I enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Jessica Clarke.
Content warning: girls experience childhood trauma in the foster care system.
Set in Australia (of course), this is told in dual time (Then and Now) with rotating points of view. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia bonded as "sisters" when each was placed into foster care with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows farm. Twenty-five years later, a tragic discovery is made at the farm, and local law enforcement requires the women to return for questioning. As the investigation moved forward, long-held secrets are revealed.
It was interesting to meet the women as adults and learn how their relationships developed in childhood. I wonder if the author was in a dark place in life as she wrote this because all of the characters seemed more 'troubled' than in her previous novels I've enjoyed.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the review copies of this novel.
Content warning: girls experience childhood trauma in the foster care system.
Set in Australia (of course), this is told in dual time (Then and Now) with rotating points of view. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia bonded as "sisters" when each was placed into foster care with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows farm. Twenty-five years later, a tragic discovery is made at the farm, and local law enforcement requires the women to return for questioning. As the investigation moved forward, long-held secrets are revealed.
It was interesting to meet the women as adults and learn how their relationships developed in childhood. I wonder if the author was in a dark place in life as she wrote this because all of the characters seemed more 'troubled' than in her previous novels I've enjoyed.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the review copies of this novel.
Helpful Score: 1
Historical fiction. Based on the real life friendship between Teddy Roosevelt's daughter, Alice, and Booker T. Washington's daughter, Portia. The two met when attending an event and struck up a life-long friendship although very different in personality and beliefs. Neither had an easy life in the time of women being second class citizens. Resilient, strong women forging a friendship across racial barriers in a time that was not conducive to interracial interaction.
Marcia C. reviewed on + 624 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Worth ten stars!
Original, suspenseful, believable, intelligently written - what more could you want in a crime thriller?
Will keep you guessing, especially in the second half of the book. Who is really conning whom?
Original, suspenseful, believable, intelligently written - what more could you want in a crime thriller?
Will keep you guessing, especially in the second half of the book. Who is really conning whom?
The Terminal List (James Reece, Bk 1)
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Marcia C. reviewed on + 624 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I read a lot of thrillers, but I decided to quit this one halfway through for two reasons.
First, the main character was much too bloodthirsty for my taste. And second, the whole premise of the book involves an unrealistic view of government power and rightwing justifications of lawlessness, which I found politically objectionable.
First, the main character was much too bloodthirsty for my taste. And second, the whole premise of the book involves an unrealistic view of government power and rightwing justifications of lawlessness, which I found politically objectionable.
Pat W. (3ladybug) reviewed on + 531 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A novel written about 1942 during WWII and the Jews across France. Claude Pelettier, a talented seamstress falls in love with A Jewish man seeking shelter at the castle where she works. From the romance she finds herself pregnant, and escapes to Spain for her and her unborn child's safety. Later during 1968,Sharon Bloomenthal is recruited by an Israeli naval office for a secret naval operation in Cherbourg,France. The naval officer is the target of her investigation. Bloomenthal tracks her boss's extraofrdinary jouney as an orphan in a small Village, immigrating to Isreal. Bloomenthal faces challenges to solving the puzzle she investigates. A great read!
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Robert K. R. (rikker) reviewed on + 283 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A very interesting story for a small space. It still includes nice recalls about life.
The Mountain in the Sea
Author:
Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Hardcover
Helpful Score: 1
This is an amazing novel that I think (sadly) many readers will not experience due to its structure. In many ways it is beautiful and thought provoking. But it can be a difficult journey to get there and to fully absorb the joy and meaning that lies within. I struggled along the way. I think it should possibly have been 3 different wonderful books rather than one wonderful yet difficult book. One theme that is explored is AI and what defines consciousness, what makes one "human". Another theme is the care of our oceans, our world and all species within. Then we have the exploration of loneliness, empathy, connection and community. Mixed in with all these hefty themes is a huge dose of science but also a vast amount of wisdom. I really liked Ha's character and her interactions with Evrim. Evrim will always have a place in my heart! This is a book that takes some patience so if you are reading and struggling to get through-the pay off IS worth it-hang in there. The final sprint to the extraordinary ending is an experience not to be missed. I will go back and reread on kindle at some point in order to highlight and savor the wisdom. Until then I will be pondering this book often.
The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History
Author:
Genres: History, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Science & Math, Medicine, Medical Books
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: History, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Science & Math, Medicine, Medical Books
Book Type: Paperback
Helpful Score: 1
As an entomologist who used to write and lecture about how insects affected history, I found this book to be of great value. It's not the only book about Yellow Fever in America, but it is one I recommend for others to read.
At least one review here offers some interesting trivia from the book. Another interesting item the book explains is why the responsibility for the medical supervision of our ports was taken away from cites and states and assumed by the national government. If this had occurred earlier, then maybe the city of Memphis would not have experienced such a devastating experience.
At least one review here offers some interesting trivia from the book. Another interesting item the book explains is why the responsibility for the medical supervision of our ports was taken away from cites and states and assumed by the national government. If this had occurred earlier, then maybe the city of Memphis would not have experienced such a devastating experience.
Finding perfect: a novella (Hopeless series, 4)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Parenting & Relationships, Romance, Politics & Social Sciences
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Parenting & Relationships, Romance, Politics & Social Sciences
Book Type: Paperback
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoy books that include closire for all characters.
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