This is about the 6th novel by Spencer-Fleming, and the experience shows in her ability to spin a gripping and compelling tale and to draw readers in to being concerned about her characters. The author is a multiple award-winner, and deservedly so.
Our heroine, Clare Fergusson, is an Episcopal priest and an Air Force reservist who toward the end of the book gets deployed to Iraq. This put a rather serious delay on the budding romance with the Millers Kill upstate New York Police Chief, Russ Van Alstyne.
The mystery revolves around discovering who is killing Mexican farm workers. It brings out deep-seated prejudice within the community that Clare needs to deal with inside her congregation. These issues are handled sensitively and make this book a more meaningful and deeper read than the average mystery.
I really look forward to reading more Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne mysteries.
Liz Nichols
Showing posts with label Police procedurals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police procedurals. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, October 27, 2008
"The Front" by Patricia Cornwell
This recent novel by Cornwell is fairly light weight compared to her Scarpetta crime scene investigation novels. She uses the same characters as those in "At Risk," D. A. Monique Lamont, and her assistant, Win Garano.
On first meeting, I can't say that I find these two as compelling as Kay Scarpetta and her staff. Lamont is the bright, but extremely self-serving D.A. of Middlesex County, headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Win Garano is an up-and-coming investigator who's heart is often in the right place, but his head tells him that he needs to stick close to his boss to prosper. This dual nature makes Win a fairly complex character, but weak in some respects. It cuts down on the respect he commands from others, and from the readers of his story.
In this story Win is shipped off to Watertown, a smaller community in the county to work on a case. He has to work with the crime lab set up by a coalition of the smaller communities in order to rely less on the over-booked state crime lab, and the CSI in that lab, named Stump. In the process they solve a 40 year old mystery and also help to clean up some of the current wave of crime in the small community of Watertown.
This is a fast read, and, hey, it's Cornwell, so it is certainly very well written. Just wish I liked the characters better. Maybe they'll grow on me over later books.
Liz Nichols
On first meeting, I can't say that I find these two as compelling as Kay Scarpetta and her staff. Lamont is the bright, but extremely self-serving D.A. of Middlesex County, headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Win Garano is an up-and-coming investigator who's heart is often in the right place, but his head tells him that he needs to stick close to his boss to prosper. This dual nature makes Win a fairly complex character, but weak in some respects. It cuts down on the respect he commands from others, and from the readers of his story.
In this story Win is shipped off to Watertown, a smaller community in the county to work on a case. He has to work with the crime lab set up by a coalition of the smaller communities in order to rely less on the over-booked state crime lab, and the CSI in that lab, named Stump. In the process they solve a 40 year old mystery and also help to clean up some of the current wave of crime in the small community of Watertown.
This is a fast read, and, hey, it's Cornwell, so it is certainly very well written. Just wish I liked the characters better. Maybe they'll grow on me over later books.
Liz Nichols
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
James Patterson's "3rd Degree"
I'm catching up on some mysteries I've had on my bookshelf for a few years.
The latest read was James Patterson's "3rd Degree," one of the books in the Women's Murder Club series. I got mildly interested in this series when a version appeared on TV this past year. The TV show, as usual, does not do the book justice. The characters are far more complex and interesting when explored in book form because there is so much more time to go over details in a book than in a television script.
In this particular title Lieutenant Lindsey Boxer of the San Francisco PD Homicide Squad literally runs into a bombing while on her Sunday jog around the neighborhood and uncovers a terrorist plot that is over 40 years in the making. She partners with a charming executive from Homeland Security, solves the serial killings with him and begins a long distance romance.
In addition to domestic terrorism we explore domestic abuse and the importance of developing strong friendship bonds to maintaining a satisfying life.
Patterson's books are particularly good for the ADD reader, and the reader who can only slip a few minutes of reading into the day. Each chapter covers one short scene or train of thought and is only two or three pages long. This way one can read for 5 minutes at a time and still feel as if something is accomplished.
Patterson is not my favorite mystery writer by a long stretch, but he does get the job done in an entertaining way that leaves one glued to the book. There are twists and turns that keep the plot from being predictable. Recommended
Liz Nichols
The latest read was James Patterson's "3rd Degree," one of the books in the Women's Murder Club series. I got mildly interested in this series when a version appeared on TV this past year. The TV show, as usual, does not do the book justice. The characters are far more complex and interesting when explored in book form because there is so much more time to go over details in a book than in a television script.
In this particular title Lieutenant Lindsey Boxer of the San Francisco PD Homicide Squad literally runs into a bombing while on her Sunday jog around the neighborhood and uncovers a terrorist plot that is over 40 years in the making. She partners with a charming executive from Homeland Security, solves the serial killings with him and begins a long distance romance.
In addition to domestic terrorism we explore domestic abuse and the importance of developing strong friendship bonds to maintaining a satisfying life.
Patterson's books are particularly good for the ADD reader, and the reader who can only slip a few minutes of reading into the day. Each chapter covers one short scene or train of thought and is only two or three pages long. This way one can read for 5 minutes at a time and still feel as if something is accomplished.
Patterson is not my favorite mystery writer by a long stretch, but he does get the job done in an entertaining way that leaves one glued to the book. There are twists and turns that keep the plot from being predictable. Recommended
Liz Nichols
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