Saturday, December 29, 2012

A Good American by Alex George

This was a good book.  The story of two German immigrants who settle in Missouri and try to be 'good Americans'. They open a restaurant, have kids, have grandkids, go to war.   It was interesting and a good read. 

Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness



GO GET THESE BOOKS NOW.  This is a post-apocalyptic series not unlike the Hunger Games or the Maze Runner trilogies.  Here's the storyline:  Todd lives on a distant planet.  His people arrived there to be farmers.  They encountered an alien species that they slaughtered.  Also on this planet, everyone can hear each other's thoughts or 'noise'.  Well, except for the women.  They are quiet, which leads to a lot of problems.  In Todd's town, which is completely isolated from any other settlements, all the women are dead.  And then Todd meets a girl.  They flee trying to save themselves and the future.  SO GOOD.  Also, suitable for teen readers. :)

The titles are The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and The Answer, and Monsters of Men.

True Sisters by Sandra Dallas


I am obsessed with religious beliefs.  Also, I (head bowed in shame) watch Sister Wives.  So this book was FASCINATING to me.  I knew some of the story of Mormon history.  Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, the trek across the country.  I did not know that hundreds of Mormons traveled halfway across the country PUSHING HANDCARTS.  Elderly, ill and pregnant women, little kids, walking day after day, allowed 17 pounds of belongings, pushing handcarts.  Through the heat, the snow, without adequate medical supplies, food, or clothing.  This is the story of 4 women who made the journey.  It was good but emotionally difficult to read. 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Pure by Julianna Baggott

If you liked the Maze Runner or the Hunger Games, you should read this book.  It's the first in a planned trilogy about life in a post apocolyptic world divided into those who live outside of the dome and those who live within, the Pures.  The second book is scheduled to be released February 2013.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist

My month of spooky books continues with The Harbor.  This book was written by a Swede so it's a bit cumbersome what with all the names and locations. Anders is from an island.  He is married to a girl who used to vacation on the island.  One day they skate across the frozen ocean with their 6 year old daughter Maja to see the lighthouse.  Maja disappears.  It's now a few years later and after an exile, a divorce and a lot of alchol, Anders has returned to the island where a bunch of weird stuff is happening.  The sea is a major charecter in this book and it's wordy and a bit slow in parts.  It was good though, but not a book for those who like constant action. 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

In the Night Room by Peter Straub



I got this book by chance.  I went online and did a search for spooky books and found one by Peter Straub so then I just reserved a bunch of books by him.  This is kind of the sequel of lost girl lost boy.  In fact, the book lost girl lost boy is a charecter in this book.  Which is confusing and awesome.  About halfway through this book I was shocked and then wanted to stop and reread the first half.  It was thought provoking and scary and good.  It's one of those books that really makes you think and rethink and then think, 'but what about...OH!'. 
It's about a bunch of stuff that I can't really tell you without giving everything away but this is a great thinker's book.  :)

Thursday, October 11, 2012

lost girl lost boy by Peter Straub

This time of year, I love to read creepy books.  So I did a search and this is one I came up with.  It won the 2003 Bram Stoker Award for best novel and it is GOOD.  Here's the story:  Tim is an author.  His sister-in-law has killed herself.  He goes home for the funeral and becomes reacquainted with both his brother and his nephew, Mark.  No sooner does he get home, that he finds out that Mark has disappeared.  It seems there is a serial killer in the area targeting teen boys.  Also, Mark had recently developed an obsession with the house behind his.  He thinks it killed his mom.

Oh it's good a spooky and scary.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Vacation by Matthew Costello

This book is scary and good.Here's the synopsis from Amazon: 
In the near future after a global crisis causes crops to fail and species to disappear . . . something even more deadly happens. Groups of humans around the world suddenly become predators, feeding off their own kind. These “Can Heads” grow to such a threat that fences, gated compounds, and SWAT-style police protection become absolutely necessary in order to live.

After one Can Head attack leaves NYPD cop Jack Murphy wounded, Jack takes his wife and kids on a much-needed vacation. Far up north, to a camp where families can still swim and take boats out on a lake, and pretend that the world isn’t going to hell.

But the Can Heads are never far away, and nothing is quite what it seems in Paterville. . . .

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

This is a memoir from a woman who could NOT be more different than me and it was fascinating and I loved it!  Cheryl Strayed has had a rough few years and is failing badly.  She decides to go on a trek through the mountains that run from Mexico to Washington.  She is ill prepared but goes, all alone for months with just a ridiculously large backpack and the hope that her present packages show up on time.  This is a great book.

Honolulu by Alan Brennert

Earlier this year my book club read Moloka'i by the same author and it was fabulous.  This book is about a young Korean woman who travels to Hawaii as a 'picture  bride' to marry a man she has never met.  It then follows her family through the decades.  It was fascinating and informative and really entertaining.  So go read this and then go read Moloka'i!

In Lucia's Eyes by Arthur Japin

This is the book that explains why Cassanova became Cassanova.  Cassanova was a real person and he wrote a book about his life.  This author takes one detail from that book and weaves this story.  It is about Lucia, a young woman who is stricken with smallpox and lives, but is horribly disfigured.  In order to survive, she dons a veil and become a courtesan.  It's a good book and an interesting story.

Defending Jacob by William Landay

 


Now this is a goooood book.  It's a legal thriller/mystery. The book opens with a man being deposed in front of a grand jury.  He is describing the death of a teen boy in his community and how his family came to be wrapped up in the case.  I can't say too much more about it but if you are looking for similar books, I would recommend Serena by Ron Rash, Before I go to Sleep, We have always lived in the Castle, The CountessA Reliable Wife, or An Absolute Gentleman.  Perfect fall spooky books.  Enjoy!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Tag Man by Archer Mayor

Ehh.  This book was alright.  It is a series about a police department.  It was alright.  There were parts that were pretty suspenseful but then there were parts that were confusing (don't know if it was poorly written or if I was just bored).  AND it was another of those books were the jacket notes are not only not really related to the book but just plain WRONG.  So stupid and annoying.  Pick a different book.

Run by Ann Patchett

This is the story of family and the weird twists of life that seem to be fated.  Bernard is the father to 3 sons.  His oldest is estranged due to an accident that he was involved in.  The younger two are adopted and brilliant and do not want the life that their father has laid out for them.  Bernard wants them to be politicians.  So he drags them to see every democrat that comes to the city for speeches, community events, and protests.  One night they all go out to hear Jesse Jackson.  Upon leaving, one of the sons is in an accident.  The story then proceeds to all those involved.  On a side note, this is another of those books that the jacket notes make you wonder, did the person writing this READ this book?  Hate that.  Oh, and this is not the best book I have ever read.  Of course, I don't love this author as her books must be too deep for me (so deep that I think they are shallow and wonder WHO CARES???)  See also:  State of Wonder by the same author which I disliked so much I didn't blog.

New York by Edward Rutherford

If you like a saga, this is a good one.  It starts in the times of the Indians and Trappers and goes all the way through modern times in the city of New York.  It primarily follows the descendents of a few families throughout the wars, fires, corruption and mayhem that formed the city.  If I was a literary-type, I would no doubt add that the main character is the city herself.  Did you like that?  It was good and very informative and I am now an expert on the history of the city.  Probably a better book for winter when you have time to tackle the 880 pounds. Oh, and if you liked this book, also try The Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck both by Erik Larson.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

Anne Rice's werewolf book.  Ehh.  Apparently going to be the first in a series.  Some people will love this book (if you like her, if you liked Twilight, etc.)

The Proposal by Mary Balogh

This is a somewhat silly romancey type novel.  It was good but you have probably read a million books with the same plot line. 

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott


This book takes true details from the Titanic disaster and adds fictional details to flesh out a story.  Normally that really bothers me but this time it seems to work.
Tess works as a maid but wants to start a new life as a dressmaker.  She decides that she will get hired by the Titanic and get free passage to the United States where she will face endless opportunities in a new country.  She arrives too late and is instead hired by the famous designer Lady Gordon.  She and Lady Gordon both survive the sinking of the ship and become embroiled in the aftermath.  There are hearings both in America and in Britain regarding who knew what, who did what and why no one helped all those who died.
This was a good book and I learned a lot about the Titanic that I never knew.  I would recommend it but it won't make any of my favorite lists.  Overall, a good book.

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Meyes

I hate the title of this book.  I LOVED everything else about it.  It is the 1960s in London and Jennifer is a young married woman.  She has been in a car accident and doesn't remember anything.  She is reunited with her family, her husband and friends and has no memories of them.  Her life seems lacking, she doesn't identify with the woman everyone expects her to be and then she finds a letter.  Signed "B" it is from someone who evidently loves her with a passion.  She sets out to figure out who B is and what happened to them.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.    It's not silly, it's not graphic, it is just lovely.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book is not for everyone but I liked it a lot.  It reminds me of Neil Gaiman's Star Dust.  It is a fantasy.  It is beautifully written but until you get used to the prose can be a bit of a struggle to get into.  It's about the battle between two magicians.  They have each selected an apprentice to compete against each other.  I can't describe much more without it coming across as confusing so this is stolen from Wikipedia:The Night Circus is a phantasmagorical fairy tale set near an ahistorical Victorian London in a wandering magical circus that is open only from sunset to sunrise. Le Cirque des Rêves, the Circus of Dreams, features such wonders and "ethereal enigmas" as a blooming garden made all of ice and a fire-breathing paper dragon. The circus has no set schedule, appearing without warning and leaving without notice; they travel in a train disguised as an ordinary coal transport. A network of devoted fans who style themselves "rêveurs" develops around the circus; they identify to each other by adding a splash of red to garb that otherwise matches the characteristic black and white of the circus tents. The magical nature of the circus is occluded under the guise of legerdemain; the illusionist truly transforms her jacket into a raven and the fortune teller truly reads the uncertain future, and both are applauded for their ingenuity.
The circus serves a darker purpose beyond entertainment and profit. The magicians Prospero the Enchanter and the enigmatic Mr. A.H— groom their young proteges, Celia and Marco, to proxy their rivalry with the exhibits as a stage. Prospero teaches his daughter to hone her innate talents by holding ever larger and more complex magical workings in her mind. Celia takes her position on the game board as the illusionist, adding tents and maintaining wondrous aspects from the inside. Mr. A.H— trains his orphan ward with books in the ways of glyphs and sympathetic magic. Marco takes a position as majordomo to the producer of the circus; he works from the outside in, connected to the circus but not a part of it. The two generate nightly wonders for the circus and for each other, soon falling in love despite being magically bound to a deadly competition with rules neither understands; the magical courtship strains the fate laid out for them and endangers the circus that has touched the lives of so many and cannot survive without the talents of both players.

An Available Man

This book is about dating after the death of a spouse.  It was a great book, hopeful and beautiful.  Edward's beloved wife has died.  He becomes the target for widows, divorcees, friends of friends, etc. who are looking for an available man.  His adult stepchildren have placed a singles ad for him.  His former fiance has reappeared.  Edward just wants to be left alone, but slowly reemerges.  It is a great book. 

The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee

Lately, and not on purpose, I have been reading a lot of fiction that centers on China, Japan, North Korea, etc.  (The Buddah in the Attic, Nothing to Envy, the Shanghai Sisters, Dreams of Joy).  This book takes place in Hong Kong.  I am always confused about Hong Kong, is it China, is it not, so I googled it.  Here's what I found:  Hong Kong is a group of islands off the coast of mainland China.  While part of China NOW it is one of two 'special administrative regions' of China.  It runs itself in all areas except for foreign relations and military matters.  At one point it was a British colony and then was occupied by Japan during WWII. 
The book covers two time time periods.  The first centers around the occupation by Japan, the atrocities committed then and the interplay between the Chinese and the foreigners who made Hong Kong their home.  The second is that of 10 years (or so) later.  The reprecussions of what occurred during the war and the secrets that came out of that time.  The two main characters are Claire, the piano teacher who has been hired by a very wealthy, influential Chinese family, the Chen's, to teach their daughter and Will, the Chen's driver..  It turns out that Will used to be involved with a cousin of the Chen's.  This was a very interesting book and I learned a lot. 

Heft by Liz Moore

This is one of those books that I could NOT put down but wanted to just so that I could savor it and have it never end.  I really enjoyed the two main characters.  I rooted for them and wanted to help and fix them.  This author, who I haven't read before and haven't yet researched enough to tell you anything more about, did an amazing job of speaking for each of these two very different men.  This is primarily a book about missed opportunities and loneliness.  It also touches on mental health and the isolation it can cause.  I LOVED THIS BOOK.  Here's the basic outline:
Arthur Opps is obese and agoraphobic and hasn't left his slowly deteriorating house in 10 years.  The high point of his life has been his correspondence with his former student Charlene.  He hasn't heard from her in years, but he thinks of her often and keeps all her letters.  He has kept much from her.  The fact that he no longer teaches, that he is homebound and that he now weighs somewhere around 500 pounds.  Charlene is not well.  She has a son in high school, Kel Kellerman.  She has kept this fact from Arthur.  Kel is floundering under the weight of Charlene's problems.  One day she picks up the phone, calls Arthur and asks him to call and help Kel.
Such a great story, great characters and I want the author to write a follow up so that I can spend even more time with Arthur and Kel.  READ THIS BOOK!!

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Kill Shot by Vince Flynn

This is the typical rogue agent book.  Part of a series, this follows Rapp on his trip to kill all those involved in the Lockerbie bombing.  It's a good series but not that deep.  From goodreads.com:
INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR VINCE FLYNN DELIVERS THE YOUNG, HUNGRY, AND LETHAL MITCH RAPP AT THE ONSET OF HIS CAREER AS A CIA SUPERAGENT. In the year since the CIA trained and then unleashed him, Mitch Rapp has been steadily working his way through a list of men, bullet by bullet. With each swift and untraceable kill, the tangled network of monsters responsible for the slaughter of 270 civilians in the Pan Am Lockerbie attack become increasingly aware that someone is hunting them. Rapp is given his next target, and finds the man asleep in his bed in Paris. In the split second it takes the bullet to leave Rapp’s silenced pistol, the trap is sprung and he finds himself in the fight of his life. The next morning, nine bodies are discovered in one of Paris’s finest hotels—among them the Libyan oil minister. Back in Washington the finger-pointing begins in earnest as no one wants any part in what has become an international crisis and potential embarrassment for the CIA. Rapp’s handlers have only one choice—deny any responsibility for the incident and pray that their newest secret weapon stays that way. Rapp must avoid capture or die quietly. One person in the group, however, is not prone to leaving such important things to chance. Rapp has become a liability, and Stan Hurley will not allow Rapp to be taken alive by the French authorities, even if it means killing him. Operating on his own and outside the control of his handlers, it will soon become clear that nothing is more dangerous than a wounded and cornered Mitch Rapp. In Flynn’s newest page-turner, the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been as Mitch Rapp embarks on the journey that will turn him into America’s most deadly asset. The nonstop action in this shockingly realistic political thriller will keep your pulse pounding till the very end

No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie

I was initally interested in this book because it centers around a rowing crew.  (I have a friend who rows).  It was a good mystery and is part of a series which follows a group of dectectives from Scotland Yard.  I will be requesting the books from the library, starting with the first, A Share in Death.

From the author's website:
When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met—a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.
To further complicate the situation, a separate investigation, led by Detective Inspector Gemma James, Kincaid's wife, soon reveals a disturbing—and possibly related—series of crimes, widening the field of suspects. But when someone tries to kill the search-and-rescue team member who found Rebecca's body, the case becomes even more complex and dangerous, involving powerful interests with tentacles that reach deep into the heart of the Met itself.
Surrounded by enemies with friendly faces, pressured to find answers quickly while protecting the Yard at all costs, his career and reputation on the line, Kincaid must race to catch the killer before more innocent lives are lost—including his own.

Pirate King by Laurie R. King

This book is part of a series which follows the story of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.  At this point in the series, Russell is Holmes' wife.  These are great and if you are looking for a new book series, I would recommend this one.  Especially if you liked the Alexander McCall Smith books.
From the author's website:
In England’s young silent-film industry, the megalomaniacal Randolph Fflytte is king. Nevertheless, at the request of Scotland Yard, Mary Russell is dispatched to investigate the criminal activities that surround Fflytte’s popular movie studio. So Russell is traveling undercover to Portugal, along with the film crew that is gearing up to shoot a cinematic extravaganza, Pirate King. Based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, the project will either set the standard for movie-making for a generation or sink a boatload of careers.
Nothing seems amiss until the enormous company starts rehearsals in Lisbon, where the thirteen blonde-haired, blue-eyed actresses Mary is bemusedly chaperoning meet the swarm of real buccaneers Fflytte has recruited to provide authenticity. But when the crew embarks for Morocco and the actual filming, Russell feels a building storm of trouble: a derelict boat, a film crew with secrets, ominous currents between the pirates, decks awash with budding romance—and now the pirates are ignoring Fflytte and answering only to their dangerous outlaw leader, La Rocha. Plus, there’s a spy on board. Where can Sherlock Holmes be? As movie make-believe becomes true terror, Russell and Holmes themselves may experience a final fadeout

In the Absence of Honor by Jim Proebstle

I stole the synopsis from the author's website:When Jake Lorenz retreats to his family’s cabin in the North Minnesota woods for the winter, he’s looking for peace, quiet, and time to reflect on the loss of his wife and his job. But instead, he finds destruction and death—a gruesome murder scene on his very doorstep. The more he discovers about the death, the deeper he is drawn into a shadowy struggle for land, wealth, and power. There are forceful men who don’t want him to search any further: the corrupt tribal council that controls the nearby Ojibwe casino, the secretive and antisocial plutocrat who owns half the peninsula, and the ruthless Indian Mafia, to name a few. But to save the community he loves, which is set in this harsh and lovely wilderness, Jake must battle personal demons and the deadly forces of man and nature to learn the truth.
I liked this book, good back story and great mystery.

Agent 6 by Tom Rob Smith

A while ago I read the book Child 44 by the same author.  That was a great book.  This is the final book in the trilogy and also a great book.  If you like CIA-type thrillers, you will love these.  The main character is a Russian Secret Service Agent.  The books take you into the closed Soviet Union and provide fascinating insight into life behind the Iron Curtain.  LOVED this book.

The Buddah in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

This book is a collection of short stories or essays on the lives of women who came here from Japan as mail order brides.  It was interesting and sad and ultimately forgettable.

Inperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony by Jeff Ashton

I found this book disappointing.  I was quite obsessed with the case and the trial and just felt like it didn't answer all of the backstory details that I want someone to talk about.  Now, I understand why it doesn't (it's about the prosecution, after all) but I was still disappointed.  Worth reading, though.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

11/22/63 by Stephen King

This is Stephen King's time travel book.  Like all his books it is extremely well written, well thought out and a very easy read.  Unlike some other time travel books, it made complete sense, was not confusing and didn't require a complete suspension of disbelief (I didn't blog it, but I did NOT love the 13th Hour by Richard Doetsch).  Basically, a man discovers his friend has a time travel portal and he goes back to try and prevent the assasination of JFK.  It was a great read and very entertaining.  If you like time travel or JFK or Stephen King, you will enjoy this book.

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

You need to read this book.  Every person on the planet needs to read this book.  This  book will change your views of your life and what it means to be free..  It will make you feel guilty about what you have and every complaint you have ever voiced or even thought.  It is the story of ordinary people in Korea and what it is like to live under a Communist dictator.  It details the struggle to survive amidst a country-wide famine.  You will learn things you were never taught in school and that are never mentioned on television.  You will wonder why you had no idea that this is going on.  It is a great book.

The Zoo Keeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

This was February's Book club book.  I would say that most of the group really enjoyed it.  It is the true story of a Polish family who ran the Warsaw zoo and hid numerous Jews within the zoo to save them from the holocaust.  It was a fascinating story but was told oddly.  The author would spend page after page on the minutae of the animal world and then in one sentence would gloss over a story of human tragedy or courage.  So much of the book I found myself thinking, WAIT!  Tell me more about that!!  Overall it is well worth the read and would inspire me to read more about particular incidents.  A good gateway book.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda



This was January's book club book. I would say that 90% of us liked it. However, you have to be hardy and courageous to get past the first couple chapters. Then, it's all good. Well, it's not, but it's not harrowing.

This story is about an Indian infant who is given up for adoption and her birth family and her adopted family. It was really good and really educational and I liked it a lot.

Her adopted family consists of an Indian man who lives in America with his American wife. Really worth your time.

Northwest Corner by John Burnham Scwartz





This is the follow-up, yet stand-alone novel to Resurrection Road (which I have not read). I liked this book, but part of my enjoyment was waiting to find out what the crime of the main character was. As that is the subject of Resurrection Road, I am not sure I would have found this very exciting if I had read the first book.

So here's the story: This young man is involved in a viscious bar fight in Maine or Massachusets or Conneticut. He flees to his estranged father in California. His father is estranged because he was in prison for years and went to California upon his release. The book also deals with the victims of his father's crime and the young man's mother. Not much happens but it is very deep (I think?) Anyway, it was interesting and there would be a ton of stuff to discuss but I didn't love it.

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

Note to self: When I write a book (ha!) my name shall not be larger than the title.

This book has a really great premise. It is current day and a large portion of the earth's population is missing. It's kind of like the rapture occurred, only most of the planet is fairly certain it was not the rapture. Why? Because there is no real pattern to who vanished. Jews, Muslims, Christians, murders, football players, all kinds of people are gone. This book is about those who are still here, the Leftovers.

The book centers around Kevin, his wife and his daughter and how they each deal with this mind blowing event. It was such a good book and I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author.

EDITED TO ADD: OH MY! This is the man who wrote the book Election, later made into an indie movie staring that man that's married to Sarah Jessica Parker, oh! Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. I love that movie.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sybil Exposed by Debbie Nathan



Apparently, there are 5 people in America who don't know who Sybil was. (Yes, my husband is one.) This is the story of Shirley Mason a/k/a Sybil, her psychologist and the journalist who wrote their story. It is fascinating and contains many details that you have never heard of. It provides background on the mental health profession at the time and how Shirley came to be diagnosed. It delves into the background of all three women and exposes the real horror that lies behind the story of Sybil. READ THIS BOOK.

Ben Behind His Voices by Randye Kaye


Apparently, after reading all those Swedish novels, I am now reading about mental health. This book is a memoir written by 'Ben's' mother. Ben starts out life as a perfect little boy but somewhere in high school develops mental issues. After years, he is diagnosed with schizophrenia. A diagnosis, by the way, that he doesn't agree with. This book details the struggles of a mother, daughter and son to cope with the diagnosis. You should read this book. It is engrossing, enlightening and very educational.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Irma Voth by Miriam Towes



I finished this book a few days ago and since then I have been pondering. I am still not sure if I liked this book. It is the story of a young woman who is Mennonite and lives in Mexico. She is married to a young Mexican man and has been shunned by her family. However, her father has allowed Irma and her husband to live in a house on the family's ranch. A film crew arrives in the area to film an art film involving Mennonites and Irma is hired as a translator. The book was fascinating for it's brief insights into the Mennonite lifestyle. The book was disturbing and dark for no apparent reason through the beginning. I *think* I liked the book, but I still can't decide. The book jacket states that the author was born in a small Canadian Mennonite community and has written several books and a memoir of her father. I would LOVE to read the memoir just wondering if any of the father in THIS book was based on her father (and I really hope not!!). I think this book just wasn't Mennonite-y enough for me. I will check out her other books and think this would be a great book club book.

The Hand that Trembles by Kjell Ericksson


I should probably stop reading all these Swedish books. I am not chosing them on purpose, it's just one of those coincidences that happens in life. HOWEVER, you would think I would notice the author's name. I always find them a bit off. As if maybe something is missing in translation.
Anyway...this book is part of a series following a female police officer and her cases. In this book, a female foot is found. Also, a fellow police officer is troubled by a cold case. The story is interesting, but having not read any others in the series, I didn't love it. I liked it enough that if I easily came across others in the series, I would pick them up, but probably won't seek them out.