April 2003 Blog Posts (22)

EBMRG - 1 April 2003 Meeting Recap

The East Bay Mystery Readers' Group -

1 April 2003 Meeting Recap

WALKING THE PERFECT SQUARE (Det. Fiction) - Reed Farrel Coleman - Good

"Moe, an ex-cop forced to retire because of a knee injury, is to find the son of another cop, a young man who left a party one night and hasn't been seen since. So many people have been searching for Patrick Mahoney in the 20 years since his disappearance that Moe doesn't…

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Added by LJ Roberts on April 29, 2003 at 1:30am — No Comments

Bowen, Rhys – Evan Only Knows

Bowen, Rhys – Evan Only Knows – G+

Less light than some of the previous offerings in the series. Evan investigates a man who served time for killing his father and is now accused of rape and murder. It also touches on the impact on the community of Mad Cow disease. This is a very enjoyable…

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Added by LJ Roberts on April 19, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Brown, Dan – The Da Vinci Code

Brown, Dan – The Da Vinci Code – VG+

I loved it! Any book which captures me on page 1 at 4 p.m. and doesn’t let me go until the last word at 11 p.m. on the same day works for me. It was a fun, intriguing ride.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 18, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Corley, Elizabeth – Fatal Legacy

Corley, Elizabeth – Fatal Legacy – Okay

A wealthy businessman dies and leaves his estate to his nephew and wife. I would like to have seen more character development. There was only one character for whom there was a real backstory given. I shan’t give it away, but the ending was one I…

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Added by LJ Roberts on April 17, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Deverell, William – Trail of Passion

Deverell, William – Trail of Passion – Okay

Not a murder but a legal “mystery” of a Canadian barrister brought back from recent retirement to defend a university professor against a charge of raping one of his students. Certainly the protagionist was the most interesting part of the…

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Added by LJ Roberts on April 16, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Dobyns, Stephen – Saratoga Bestiary

Dobyns, Stephen – Saratoga Bestiary – G

He’s no Dick Francis but does write an enjoyable series set in Saratoga, NY. This entry deals with a stolen painting of Man-O-War, a dead bookie and dog fighting.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 15, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Harstad, Donald – Code Sixty-One

Harstad, Donald – Code Sixty-One –VG

House of young people, one of whom is killed by a “vampire.” Harstad writes wonderful police procedurals whose characters are very “real”; an obvious result of his many years’ of police experience.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 14, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

King, Laurie – Keeping Watch

King, Laurie – Keeping Watch - G

I love her writing, loved “Folly” and really wanted to like this better than I did. The backstory of the main character’s time in Vietnam was superb where the story in present day almost seemed to be a side bar.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 13, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Lehane, Cornalius – Beware the Solitary Drinker

Lehane, Cornalius – Beware the Solitary Drinker – NR

Having lived, briefly, with a New York bartender, alcoholic, cocaine-user, this book was just not for me. Been there, done that (rather, witnessed that), don’t need to be reminded of it.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 11, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Masterton, Graham – A Terrible Beauty

Masterton, Graham – A Terrible Beauty – VG

A old mass grave is discovered in Ireland with the bones of eight women, but new deaths are starting to occur. Masterton is a writer of horror, and there is one… Continue

Added by LJ Roberts on April 10, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Parker, Robert B – Back Story

Parker, Robert B – Back Story – VG

I am a fan of his and do think he is the master of dialogue. In Back Story, Spenser investigates a 28-year-old murder for the daughter of the victim. Classic Parker.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 10, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Parker, T. Jefferson – Silent Joe

Parker, T. Jefferson – Silent Joe – VG

Young man, whose face was burned by his father having thrown acid on it, witnesses the shooting of his adopted father, a local politician. It was the first I’ve read by him and definitely won’t be the last.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 9, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Peale, Cynthia – The White Crow

Peale, Cynthia – The White Crow – VG

Having lived in Boston, I do love books set there. Peale does a wonderful job of conveying the period and developing her characters. I really like the way this series is progressing.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 8, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Raphael, Lev – Little Miss Evil

Raphael, Lev – Little Miss Evil – Okay

The killing of a college professor. It was okay but just took a long time for anything to happen.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 8, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Roberts, Nora – Birthright

Roberts, Nora – Birthright – VG

An archeologist discovers she was kidnapped as an infant and sold to another family. This is a mystery/romance, with a bit more mystery than her usual fare. I do admit to being a fan of hers.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 6, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Ross, Kate – A Broken Vessel

Ross, Kate – A Broken Vessel – G+

Tragically, there are only four books by Kate Ross. This is the second of the Julian Kestrel series in which a woman of quality does in a shelter for prostitutes. Dipper, Julian’s “man”, goes undercover.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 6, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Simmons, Dan – Darwin’s Blade

Simmons, Dan – Darwin’s Blade – G

An action-packed story of an insurance investigator. Not as good as Hardcase or Hard Freeze, but enjoyable.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 5, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Spencer-Fleming, Julia – In the Bleak Midwinter

Spencer-Fleming, Julia – In the Bleak Midwinter – G-

A female Episcopal priest, a local cop, an abandoned baby and a murdered mother. I did enjoy the book in spite of Clare’s blindly rushing off without thinking and my doubts of her realistically being included in as many parts of the…

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Added by LJ Roberts on April 4, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Todd, Charles – Watchers in Time

Todd, Charles – Watchers in Time – G+

Rutledge call to investigate the murder of a priest. Such a well-done series. I really enjoy these.

Added by LJ Roberts on April 3, 2003 at 5:30am — No Comments

Mini-Reviews - April 2003

Bowen, Rhys - Evan Only Knows - G+

Less light, man who shot Evans father accused of rape and murder



Brown, Dan - Di Vinci Code, The - Ex

2003 Top Ten - Holy Grail, cyphers, straight-through read…



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Added by LJ Roberts on April 2, 2003 at 10:00am — No Comments

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