The Thief

Cussler, Clive. (2012). The Thief. (Isaac Bell #5) New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

ISBN: 9780399158612

pages: 408

genre: suspense/thriller, historical fiction

annotation: Detective Bell becomes involved with a potentially world changing invention.

Summary: Isaac Bell is happy to be returning home to America after a successful case. He becomes embroiled in another one when he saves two fellow travelers from being kidnapped. His good deed causes the travelers to reveal they are two inventors who are close to perfecting aligning pictures with sound. Bell can see the importance of this to entertainment, but the kidnapping attempt makes him wonder if someone else has a more sinister use for “talking pictures”. He comes up against an intelligent foe who wants to use “talking pictures” to change the course of history.

Evaluation: very good read

I liked the ‘feel’ of the early 1900s I got from the book. We take long distance calling and movies for granted. With this book I felt what it could have been like to see both of those as innovations people saw the possibilities of and heatedly worked, and fought, to attain. For instance, the portrayal of Edison’s attempts to control the emerging movie industry brought home how ‘talking pictures’ were a to be fought over marvel. I wish the authors mentioned where they got their information from, so I take this as more speculative than factual. Still, it makes me curious about the history of movies, the transfer from telegraphs to phone for long distance calls, Edison and the early 1900s in general (the year most of the action is set in is not mentioned). The book also alludes to tensions leading up to the ‘Great War’ (WWI) which causes curiosity about that as well. I also liked the characters. Isaac Bell expects a lot from his employees, but he is also fair and has a strong sense of justice. The villain is a good villain: unusual, intelligent and crosses metaphorical swords well with Bell. What annoys me is that Bell wonders if some decisions he makes could be dangerous, but he makes them anyhow and the reader has to wait for the fallout. He has reasons why he makes them, but it still seemed like maybe alternatives should have been explored more. I did find the plot, and the book, enjoyable except for that. Otherwise, it is a good read for those interested in U.S. history 1910-1920 (or just the elements mentioned earlier) and suspense/thrillers.

What else to read:

Other books by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott.

Randall E. Stross The Wizard of Menlo Park for more about Thomas Edison.

Wheeler Winston Dixon and Gwendolyn Audrey’s A Short History of Film for more about films.

Time Life Books The End of Innocence for more about U.S. history 1910-1920.

The Grand Sophy

 Heyer, Georgette. (2009 reprint). The Grand Sophy. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca.
ISBN: 9781402218941
Pages: 372
genre: Regency romance

annotation: Sophy repays her cousin’s hospitality by reordering his household.

summary: Sophy comes to London to stay with family while her father is on assignment in Brazil. She sees a household in chaos: her cousin's fiancee Eugenia is disagreeable and her cousin Cecilly's potential fiancee is an oblivious poet. She decides to repay them by straightening out these tangles. In the process she might end gaining something unexpected. 

evaluation: very good read

One caveat keeps me from giving this book an excellent rating. Charles and Sophy being cousins and then having other feelings besides familial can be a bit uncomfortable. I think it might have been better for her to be a family friend instead. Otherwise I liked this book a lot. Sophy is irrepressible, intelligent and determined. She doesn't leap into situations without thinking things through. Her solutions can be unorthodox, but they get the job done: the reader cheers for her and also laughs at the fallout especially at the end. The other characters add to the story too: endearing and/or ridiculous. The plot is enjoyable: Charles and Sophy's relationship develops at a believable pace and the events (especially at the end) had me laughing. Like False Colours and The Convenient Marriage, Heyer proficiently brings readers into her world. This is an excellent read for Regency romance fans and those wanting a fun romance. 

what else to read: 

This book reminds me of Shakespeare's comedies in some ways: witty dialogue and a funny road which must be traveled before the couples get arranged the correct way. 

I decided to read Georgette Heyer after finding her heavily recommended during research for a Regency Romance bookmark. For what else to read I'll post other titles I came across. Not all of the titles are "sweet" romances, but they have been rated well in print and/or online reading sources.

Slightly Married by Mary Balogh. 

Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase. 

Allegra by Clare Darcy. 

Crossed Quills by Carola Dunn. 

A Garden Folly by Candice Hern. 

The Lady's Companion by Carla Kelly. 

The Rake's Rainbow by Allison Lane. 

A Debt to Delia by Babara Metzger. 

Princess Charming by Elizabeth Thornton.

Sunshine

McKinley, Robin. (2010). Sunshine. New York, NY: Berkley Books.

ISBN: 978-0142411100

Pages: 405

Genre: supernatural

Annotation: Sunshine must ally with a vampire for their mutual survival.

Summary: All Sunshine wanted when she drove out to the lake was a break from her routine. She did not want to be kidnapped by vampires in order to be another vampire’s meal. She did not want to think about her past, or make an alliance with the vampire she was imprisoned with. That is what she has to do, and overcome hundreds of years of hatred while doing it, or both of them will die.

Evaluation: very good read

The characters feel very real. Sunshine feels human. Her fears, doubts and determination made me emphasize with her. Constantine comes across as very, to use of a term from the book, other. He is not a super-powered human, but something from another branch of existence entirely. I appreciated that he is not portrayed as attractive. Sunshine, for instance, compares his skin to mushrooms. There are some sparks between them later, but that comes from circumstances and not him being handsome. The villain Beauregard is a vampire as well, but he feels very evil in a way Stoker could appreciate. Sunshine’s feelings of being unclean around him were gut-wrenchingly plausible to me.  The other characters, with their own secrets, are worth getting to know. The storyline was interesting. Sunshine has to figure out who trust while working against hundreds of years of well-earned hatred towards vampires and figuring out her own past. What keeps me from giving this book an excellent rating is that I think why Constantine is more than the typical evil vampire should have been explained more. He alludes to having made different choices than Beauregard, and I would have liked to have read more about that. We see differences in his actions, of course, but more about why and how those choices have made him strong would have been interesting. The pacing of the story is well done: I did not feel rushed or impatient. Sunshine provides a good view onto how her society works and its feelings on the Others. Her explanation of sense differences, like vampires only appearing to see but it being different from human sight, was very descriptive. This book is an excellent read for those who like vampires. It also works well for those who want to read a vampire book to see what the hype is about. It is also recommended for those who like strong heroines.

Additional note: To my mind, vampire books are various ends of extremes. On one end are books like Twilight which glorify vampires. On the other end are books like Stoker’s Dracula which portray vampires as evil. In between are books like the Sookie Stackhouse series and this book. Sookie is more Twilightish in my opinion because she thinks well of vampires before she meets Bill. Sunshine is more like Dracula in that humans are unofficially at war with vampires for good reason. Constantine is an exception which maybe could change things if more vampires were like him.

What else to read:

Other books by Robin McKinley.

Those Who Hunt the Night (James Asher series) by Barbara Hambly also does not focus on vampire romance but ethics.  

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris is another good choice for those beginning in the supernatural genre.

Carpe Jugulum (Discworld series book 23) by Terry Pratchett for those who, whether they like vampires or do not, want a more satirical look at them. Has strong heroines.

True Grit

Portis, Charles. (2010). True Grit. New York, NY : Overlook Press.

ISBN: 978-1590204597

Pages: 335

Genre: western

Annotation: Mattie Ross tries to avenge her father’s murder.

Summary: Mattie Ross wants justice when her father is murdered in cold blood. Against their wishes, she joins a Federal Marshal and Texas Ranger in seeking the murderer. They find he has joined a gang of robbers and seek to bring him, and the gang, to justice.

Evaluation: very good read

The characters are not as nuanced as I would have liked. Mattie runs into several situations where some self-doubt would have made her feel more believable, but she does not feel it. The federal marshal, Rooster, shows some ambivalence about his past but I would have liked to see more about what makes him tick. Besides that, this book was very good. The characters are engaging: the determined Mattie, the world-wise Rooster and the quick-tempered LaBouef. Portis portrays the West through Mattie in a way that feels authentic. Events, such as a hanging, are discussed bluntly and in an understated way that makes them feel every day, and real, versus romantic. Slang terms are scattered throughout the book giving an authentic vibe to how the story is recounted. How the murderer is trailed does not feel unbelievable. The writing style is concise and the plot fast paced: both features keep the reader’s attention. This is a good read for those like Westerns, strong heroines and adventure.

What else to read and watch:

Other books by Charles Portis.

The book was made into films of the same name in 1969 and 2010.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium series book 1) by Stieg Larsson, translated by Reg Keeland, for a strong heroine wise beyond her years.

The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark for a Western involving justice.

Dead until Dark

Harris, Charlaine. (2001). Dead Until Dark. New York, NY: Ace Books.

ISBN: 9780441008537

Pages: 292

Annotation: Sookie Stackhouse’s vampire boyfriend is suspected of murder.

Summary: Sookie Stackhouse can read minds and this has kept her from having a love life. She wants someone she can’t read. Then she meets Bill Compton: the first vampire to come to Bon Temps. She can’t read him, he is handsome and he likes her too. Happily ever after is disrupted by her co-workers being murdered. It doesn’t help that meeting Bill gets her introduced to other vampires who exemplify the not so pleasant aspects of vampire society. If Sookie can’t figure out how to navigate both she’ll be out one boyfriend and perhaps also her life.

Genre: mystery, supernatural, romance

Evaluation: very good read

Some places got to steamy or violent for me, so I wouldn’t give it an excellent rating. I tend to like less of those aspects the better, so another reader might keep from giving this book an excellent rating because there isn’t enough of them. That aside, I enjoyed this book. Sookie is a relatable character: she wants, like so many of us, someone who understands. She cares about her family, her job and the people she interacts with. Her determination to be fair, especially to someone different like her, endears her to the reader and to Bill. I liked how Harris portrayed vampire society. Getting involved with it solves some human problems, like having to worry about unsavory humans bothering you at work, but then there are vampire problems such as unsavory vampires wanting your allegiance or wanting you dead. I haven’t lived in the South, but her portrayal of that also interested me: the locale, the details of society such as the descendants of the glorious dead, etc.  The mystery was gripping: I could feel the danger and tried to figure out who was after Sookie. The person behind the murders is plausible, so the identity does not feel unrealistic.  This book is a very good read for fans of vampires and maybe those who want to take a journey into vampire book territory.

What else to read and watch:

Other books by Charlaine Harris.

The HBO series True Blood is based off this series.

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson series) by Patricia Briggs for a heroine with a supernatural ability coming into contact with the supernatural.

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress series) by Jeaniene Frost for a heroine with a supernatural ability coming into contact with the supernatural.

Undead and Unwed (Undead series) by MaryJanice Davidson for a heroine who becomes involved with vampire society.

The Desert of Souls

Jones, Howard Andrew. (2011). The Desert of Souls. New York, NY: Thomas Dunne Books.

ISBN: 9780312646745

Pages: 309

Genre: fantasy, adventure

Annotation: A scholar and a guard captain fight to save Baghdad.

Summary: The smooth lives of a brilliant scholar, Dabir, and guard captain, Asim, are interrupted when a Greek spy steals two ancient artifacts. Tasked by the magistrate with retrieving the items they find the Greek spy has joined forces with an evil sorcerer. This duo plans to use the artifacts to gain possession of an object which could leave their city cursed forever. The scholar and the captain must save Bagdad while also confronting forbidden love.

Evaluation: very good read

 The characters are excellently portrayed. The members of the heroic duo are equals: each is loyal, brave and possessing their own strengths (Dabir’s knowledge and Asim’s fighting skills). The sorcerer, who is the main villain, has turned to evil but the reason why makes the reader feel empathy for him while still wanting his defeat. The storyline is pretty good: believable and interesting, but it seems like the heroic duo encounter too many setbacks. The flow of events keeps the story flowing smoothly and is not too fast or too slow. The story does an excellent job of evoking the feel of its Baghdad: the control of those in power, the appreciation for marvels and descriptions of locale believably recreate an Arabian Nights like world. This book is for those who want an Arabian Night like tale of adventure, magic and love of different types (romantic, friendship, family).

What else to read:

Other books by Howard Andrew Jones .

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights, translated with a preface and notes by Richard F. Burton and introduction by A.S. Byatt, for Arabian Nights tales.

Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz , translated by Denys Johnson-Davies, takes off where the Arabian Nights tales left off.

Throne of the Crescent Moon (The Crescent Moon Kingdoms #1) by Saladin Ahmed for another Arabian Nights like world.

Lion of Babylon

Bunn, Davis. (2011). Lion of Babylon. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House.

ISBN: 0764209051

Pages: 378

Genre: Christian, suspense/thriller

Annotation: Marc Royce goes to Iraq to rescue a missing friend.

Summary: Marc Royce left the intelligence world behind and has no plans to ever return. When he learns a friend has gone missing he goes back into that world, and to Iraq, to rescue him. His determination to save his friend and innocent lives brings him friends and enemies on various sides of the political and religious divides. As he searches for his friend, he learns his friend’s abduction, and that of others, is closely tied to Iraq’s future. As he and his allies go on the quest they also find a religious movement composed of Muslims and Christians who respect Jesus. If he and his allies succeed then the kidnapped will be free and there will be hope for political and religious peace. Unfortunately, he faces enemies who do not like the idea of an Iraq at peace and will do all they can to stop him.

Evaluation: very good read

The characters are excellently portrayed. Marc Royce’s determination to the right thing and his pain about his past capture the reader. Having characters from all sides (U.S., Iraqi, Iran, Christian and Muslim) shows that people are not good or evil based on group, but on the choices they make. Two characters, Walton and Duboe, are very realistic by being grey: mostly pragmatic but also giving credit and trust where it is due. The storyline works well for the most part. The reader cares if the abductees will be rescued and what is going to happen in Iraq’s future. The only caveats I had were that sometimes clues came too quickly or events flowed too smoothly. A note on the Christian element in the story: it is interwoven into the storyline, but is not, in my opinion anyways, overbearing. The conversations and feelings about faith center on peoples’ feelings about faith versus conversion to Christianity. The pacing is excellent for a suspense/thriller. Events happen fast enough to keep the reader’s attention but no so fast as to be implausible. The pragmatic and under the table aspect of government dealings came across very clearly. Iraq, and Iraqis, are portrayed respectfully: people with a rich past they feel is very connected to the present. A very good read for those who want a suspense/thriller, a look into Iraq and/or intelligence agencies.

What else to read:

Other books byDavis Bunn.

Vigilante by Robert Parrish for suspense/thriller.

The Snake Eaters: An Unlikely Band of Brothers and the Battle for the Soul of Iraq by Owen West for more about the war in Iraq.

Voices from Iraq: A People's History, 2003-2009 by Mark Kukis for different Iraqi perspectives on the war.

Understanding Iraq: The Whole Sweep of Iraqi History, from Genghis Khan's Mongols to the Ottoman Turks to the British Mandate to the American Occupation by William R. Polk for an overall view of Iraq’s history.

Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to al-Qaeda by Robert Wallace, H. Keith Melton, Henry R. Schlesinger for more about the CIA.

Pride and Prescience

Bebris, Carrie. (2004). Pride and prescience, or, a truth universally acknowledged: A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery. New York, NY: Forge.

ISBN: 9780765318435

Pages: 287

Genre: mystery

Annotation: The newly-wed Darcys encounter accidents and murder.

Summary: After their wedding, the Darcys want nothing more than to go home to Pemberley. Instead, they become caught up in the whirlwind wedding of acquaintance Caroline Bingley. After that they really want to go home, but instead remain with Caroline, her husband and an American professor due to accidents and murder.  The Darcys have to figure out what is going on or they may never get to Pemberley.

Evaluation: very good read

Overall, as a Pride and Prejudice fan I enjoyed this book. Elizabeth and Darcy felt mostly true to their portrayal in Pride and Prejudice. I had some idea who the villain(s) could be, but had fun questioning my conclusions to the end. Each event, even the small ones, got me thinking about how it tied into the whole mystery. The qualm that keeps me from giving the book a higher rating is the use of a supernatural element. Austen’s Northanger Abbey parodied Gothic novels which involve the supernatural, so having the supernatural fit into an Austen book does not quite feel right to me.  A more Jane Austen like path, to me, would be to have an element that appeared supernatural but actually has a logical explanation. Also, Elizabeth’s openness to believe in a supernatural cause seemed too fast.  Besides the supernatural element I liked this story. It was filled with small details which made the story feel ‘real’ such as the Darcys going to see a particular play because they needed its humor. This book is a good read for its plot and immersion into 19^th century London and specifically rejoining the world of Pride and Prejudice.

What else to read:

Other books by Carrie Bebris.

Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen Mysteries series for more on Austen and the time period.

Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and other writers who lived and wrote in 1800s England.

The writer's guide to everyday life in Regency and Victorian England by Kristine Hughes can provide more information about this era.

An elegant madness: high society in Regency England by Venetia Murray can also provide more information about this era.

In the Heart of the Canyon

Hyde, Elisabeth. (2009). In the Heart of the Canyon. New York, NY: Knopf Publishing Group.

ISBN: 9780307263674

Pages: 316

Genre: adventure

Annotation: A rafting trip changes the lives of a tour group.

Summary: JT is a river guide celebrating his milestone 125^th trip. Little does he know each person in this group has their own secrets which will affect the trip. One secret in particular has the power to lead to great change or tragedy.

Evaluation: very good read

The reader can tell Hyde is writing from experience: the details of rafting are crystal clear and feel authentic to the reader even before looking into her background. Rafting is fun, scary, stressful and relaxing depending on the moment. The characters are a diverse group which captures the reader’s attention: married, single, young, old, etc. With such a diverse group the reader is likely to find someone they identify with. Some characters are focused more on than others, but all characters are developed enough the reader can get into their point of view somewhat. Hyde gives commentary on social interaction without writing a paper on it: the differences in how people see themselves and how others see them are very interesting. The storylines keep the reader’s attention right to the end of the book. One storyline seemed over the top to me which keeps me from giving the book an excellent rating. This could be my own perspective, others felt it was not too unusual, which means the book could be excellent in another’s eyes. Regardless, this book is a very good read for adventure lovers, people coming to realize truths about themselves, rafting and the Grand Canyon.

What else to read:

Other books by Elisabeth Hyde.

Grand Ambition by Lisa Michaels for another book involving the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide by James Kaiser for learning about the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon Reader by Lance Newman for more stories about the Grand Canyon.

Sarah's Key

Rosnay, Tatiana de. (2007). Sarah’s Key. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.  

ISBN: 9780312370831

Pages: 294

Genre: historical fiction

Annotation: World War II events change a present day journalist’s life.

Summary: Julia Jarmond is a French journalist given an unexpected assignment: research the deportation of French Jews during World War Two. She finds that many people do not want to remember this part of French history. Why her husband’s family is among them haunts her. Determined to find closure, she embarks on a journey which will put her at odds with her husband and change the course of her life.

Evaluation: very good read

The two main characters, Julia and Sarah, are very well done and capture the reader’s attention. De Rosnay is very good at bringing the reader into their point of view. One part that bugged me, however, was Julia’s determination to find Sarah, or a relative, and speak with them.  This bothered me because I think Julia should have thought about the impact this would have on who she spoke with. The storyline is excellently done. Sarah’s story shows the different stages of a hellish journey that grabs the reader’s emotions and horrifies the mind. The reader is with Sarah going through the inhumane conditions and heart wrenching loss. It is not possible to totally understand something like this unless one experiences it, but the writing style makes it a close second. The reader sees the different types of reactions: denial, collaboration and justification.  Julia’s storyline causes the reader to wonder what they would do in her shoes. This book is a very good read for those wanting to learn more about Jews during World War II, French history or family secrets impacting the present, or brave heroines faced with difficult situations. 

What else to read:

Other books by Tatiana de Rosnay.

Murder in the Marais by Cara Black for another book in which events from World War II in Paris tie into the present.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum for World War II secrets changing the lives of the next generation.

The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff for a Jewish heroine during World War II.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank for learning more about the lives of Jews during World War II.