Book Review: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Sandwich by Catherine Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very honest look at life through the lens of a peri-menopausal mid-50s wife/mother/daughter.  She is spending the week in a cottage rental on Cape Cod with her husband, her two adult children (plus one significant other) and her parents.  Welcome to the sandwich generation.  We discover family secrets, backstories, opinions, loves, hates, and more. 

Her internal monologues often actually get spoken out loud.  She is very opinionated, and the book deals very frankly with sexuality and menopause.  I laughed...I cried...often on the same page of the book.  It was a very poignant read and brought back a lot of memories from my life.  It's also a very quick read (226 pages) and I polished it off in two days.  It could have easily been read in just one day, but life intruded on reading.

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Book Review: Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder #1)

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kate Burkholder is the chief of police in the small town of Painters Mill, Ohio, in Holmes County which has the largest population of Amish in the U.S. There have been three brutal murders of young women, which bring back memories of similar murders from 16 years ago.  Chief Burkholder has a small but committed group of officers and dispatchers, but they are not equipped to handle a serial killer of this extent.  State FBI and local sheriff personnel are called in to help catch the killer.

This book is intense, the violence towards women is graphic and gory, and I really didn't want to read it before bed.  That being said, I was on the edge of my seat turning pages, wanting to find out exactly 'who dunnit.'  There's a large cast of law enforcement characters, so once again I made my trusty list to keep track of them.  

Kate Burkholder is an incredibly strong female character and her intelligence, strength and commitment to her job help her solve these crimes.  This is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series, and I am definitely going to be following this author and reading more of Chief Kate in the future!  I'm not sure that I would have picked up this book to read on my own, which is the joy of so many of the book club selections -- reading books not necessarily in my wheelhouse!

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Book Review: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The setting is a very upscale mansion and the summer camp that the Van Laar family owns in the Adirondack Mountains.  The story takes place between the mid-1950s and 1975, and is told from multiple points of view.  An 8-year old boy has gone missing in 1961, never to be found, and then a 13-year old girl goes missing in 1975.  The book is an incredible family drama, and has multiple mysteries, secrets and red herrings before you reach the end. 

The structure of this book is very unique, but works quite well in the telling of the story.  There is a very large cast of characters, both main and peripheral characters.  The chapters are short and the point of view changes with each chapter.  On top of this, the timeline of the book is not at all linear.  I ended up keeping a running list of the characters in order to keep them all straight in my mind.  In addition, I kept flipping back and forth to keep the timeline clear.  All this to say, reader, pay attention when you are reading!  And I'm not sure how it would work if you are listening to the audio book.  Bonus feature is the map of the compound, the summer camp, and the surrounding area.  It's always helpful when an author includes a map so that the reader can get the lay of the land.

This was quite a page turner, and I raced through the 476 pages in three days.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Liz Moore.  And I can certainly see why it was chosen as Jimmy Fallon's Summer Book Club Pick for 2024!

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Book Review: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (Neapolitan Novels #1)

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of two best friends - Elena and Lila - living in the slums of Naples, Italy during the 1950s.  It is the first in a series of four books - The Neapolitan Novels.  The girls both live in the same run-down area of Naples and the book begins when they are in 1st grade and continues until they are 16 years old.  Lila is the strong-willed troublemaker and Elena is the studious and introspective follower.

Reader, be prepared!  There is a Index of Characters at the beginning of the book, however I found it very difficult to keep all the characters and their families straight.  There are nine different families with a total of 47 characters listed, and this doesn't even include other children in each of the families and additional peripheral characters.  

I love the ambiguity of the title - My Brilliant Friend.   Through the majority of the book, we assume that it refers specifically to one of the girls.  However, towards the end of the book , it’s actually the other girl who says it to her friend - “Not for you,” Lila replies ardently, “you’re my brilliant friend, you have to be the best of all, boys and girls.”  Looking at the book as a whole, this phrase can be used to describe each of the girls.

This author and book series kept popping up as recommended, and I had to wait months for the Kindle version from my library.  I started reading it as soon as I downloaded it, but it took me at least 30-40% of the book before I got into the story and the characters.  I was ready to abandon the book several times.  I plugged away at it and finally got caught up with the story, and I'm giving it a strong three stars.  However, I'm not sure whether I'll be reading the three other books in the series.  Time will tell.

Content warning for violence. 

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Book Review: The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Evan Friss has written an incredibly comprehensive and compelling history of bookstores in the United States, ranging from Benjamin Franklin's printshop/bookstore in the early 18th century to Ann Patchett's independent bookstore in Nashville, Parnassus, opened in 2011.  In between he includes early bookmobiles (bookstores on wheels), Marshall Field, the Gotham Book Mart, The Strand, specialty bookstores, Barnes & Noble, sidewalk booksellers in NYC, and Amazon -- and how they have shaped bookstores and reading today.

As the back book flap indicates, Friss has written a "love letter to bookstores," and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a love of reading and bookshops.  It is riveting narrative non-fiction, and incredibly well-researched.  The notes at the back of the book cover 70 pages!  And in the introduction, he admits "To you, dear reader, who thumbs through the index and finds no mention of your beloved bookstore:  I'm sorry....While this book covers a lot of ground, it hardly covers everything.  Word-count restrictions, ticking clocks, my own blind spots, and the availability of sources imposed limits."  Run, don't walk, to your local bookstore or library and read this book immediately!  You will not be sorry!

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Book Review: Italian American Forever: Classic Recipes for Everything You Want to Eat: A Cookbook

Italian American Forever: Classic Recipes for Everything You Want to Eat: A Cookbook by Alex Guarnaschelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Alex Guarnashelli's latest cookbook and is truly a combination cookbook and memoir of her family life growing up in Manhattan.  Both of her parents were great cooks and many of the recipes included are family recipes or inspired by childhood memories at the "red-checkered tablecloth joints" of NYC.  The recipes are definitely targeted to the home cook, with detailed instructions and beautiful photographs.   She includes two pages of "My Italian American Pantry" where she even mentions her favorite brands (un-sponsored!) 

I had the good fortune of eating at her restaurant, Butter, when I was in New York City in October 2024.  It was a delicious and lovely dinner, from start to finish.  She mentions several Little Italy shops which are her favorites -- grocery (DiPalo's), pasta (Piemonte), and pastry/bakery (Ferrara).  I'll definitely be visiting those the next time I'm in NYC!

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Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow - this book was incredible and I'm still thinking about it several days after finishing it. Definitely five stars!! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in a man's world in the 1950s and 1960s. After being fired for being pregnant without being married, she stumbles upon a job hosting a cooking show on the local TV channel. The show becomes wildly successful due to the way she approach cooking (like a chemistry experiment) and the support that she gives her audience of housewives. She has a very precocious 4-year daughter and a dog named Six-Thirty (the time he followed her home from the market). In my opinion, if you take Dr. Temperance Brennan from the Bones TV show, make her a chemist in the 1960s, and throw in Wes Anderson along with some quirky characters, and you've got Lessons in Chemistry. This is the author's debut novel, and I didn't want it to end. Looking forward to more from Bonnie Garmus in the future.

UPDATE:  I re-read this book in January 2025 after recently watching the Apple TV+ streaming version.  There were a lot of similarities to the book, but also content unique to the TV series.  Both were both entertaining and poignant.  Brie Larson was spot-on in her portrayal of Elizabeth Zott, and I was also very impressed by Lewis Pullman in the role of Calvin Evans.  I would definitely recommend watching this series, especially if you enjoyed the book!

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Book Review: La Paella: Recipes for Delicious Spanish Rice and Noodle Dishes by Louise Pickford

La Paella: Recipes for delicious Spanish rice and noodle dishes by Louise Pickford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We received a paella pan for Christmas so I was looking for instructions on how to use it and various recipes.  In addition to several basic paella recipes, it also includes various rice dishes, noodle dishes, soups and sweet treats.  There is a helpful section called The Spanish Storecupboard, which details and describes all the ingredients you will need. 

I was able to get this book from my local library, not in print, but from Hoopla.  I read it on my iPad so I was able to see the beautiful photographs.  It was simultaneously published in London and New York, and includes both American and British (metric) measurements.  Overall, I would recommend it as an excellent book of paella and related recipes.

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Book Review: The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Perveen Mistry #1)

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The setting is Bombay and Calcutta between 1916-1921. Preveen Mistry is one of the first female solicitors (lawyers) in India. By Indian law, she is not permitted to try cases in court, but she works with her father, an esteemed lawyer in Bombay. Omar Farid, a long-term client of her father has died and left three widows. These widows live in isolation and cannot come in contact with men, so it falls to Perveen to talk to them and discover why they have left their inheritance to a charity.

This book is part mystery and part historical fiction. Someone in the Farid household is murdered and a child a missing. Perveen questions everyone, investigates, and assists the local police. More riveting than the mystery is the historical information about the role of women in India in the early 20th century. It is amazing how they were treated and the expectation that their fathers or husbands would make decisions for them in all aspects of their lives.

I read this as a Kindle book, which was very helpful in getting the definitions of many of the Indian terms. When I finished the book, I discovered a glossary in the back; it would have been much more helpful if the publisher had put it in the front so the reader would be aware of it! There are two maps showing various portions of Bombay, so it’s easy to see where the action takes place.  This is the first in a series of four books. 

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Book Review: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first cookbook written by Ina Garten (published in 1979), and based exclusively on the recipes she used at her Barefoot Contessa shop on Long Island.  At that point, she had owned the shop for 20 years. 

A couple of interesting notes about this cookbook.   Ina uses a LOT of butter in virtually all of her recipes, but that's no surprise to those of us watching her on Food Network and reading her other cookbooks.  Because the recipes are based on her cooking and baking at her gourmet shop, most of the recipes are designed to feed 8-10 (or 12!) people, and not very useful for those of us trying to cook for our smaller families.  She mentions that quite a few of the ingredients are available at food specialty stores, which was definitely the case in 1999; however, most of these ingredients are now available at any grocery story (progress!!).

The photographs are beautiful, but not every recipe has an accompanying picture.  In fact, some of the more complex recipes should have had a photograph, but didn't.  She does give instructions (and photos) of how to make a platter -- fruit and cheese, roasted vegetables, crudites, fresh fruit, and desserts.

It's a beautiful book to look at, but the only way that I'm going to try any of these recipes is if I cut it in half or more!

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Book Review: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This small Tokyo coffee shop is famous for its ability to allow patrons to travel back in time - but only until their coffee gets cold and then they are abruptly transported back into reality.  However, there are quite a few very strict rules about time travel, the first being that the only people you can meet while in the past are those who have visited the cafe.  The book is divided into four sections, each the tale of a different person and a different reason for visiting the past -- The Lovers, Husband and Wife, The Sisters, and Mother and Child. 

This book was recommended to me by a couple fellow readers whose opinions I trust, and it certainly didn't disappoint!  A little fantasy, a little time travel, a little magical realism, all taking place in this small out-of-the way Tokyo coffee shop.  This is a very quick read, but I wanted a chance to savor it so I brewed a cup of tea and took my time reading it.  And I just discovered that this is the first in a series of what is now five books, so I'm very anxious to read the next in this wonderfully transporting series!

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My Year in Books - 2024!!

Apparently I have read 91 books so far this year, according to Goodreads.  I've got one more that I need to add and write a review, which will probably happen tomorrow.

You can see the details of my 2024 reading life -- https://www.myyearinbooks.com/user/1991998.

91 books
29,964 pages
50,939 minutes
Mystery was my top genre - 53 books (no surprise there!)
April was the month I read the least amount and December I read the most
I read 4 Louise Penny books this year (also not a surprise)

The website that generated this data was developed by Grace D. Li's younger brother.  She is the wonderful author of Portrait of a Thief - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57021127-portrait-of-a-thief.   From her recent newsletter -- "For the second year in a row, my younger brother has coded his own version of a Goodreads Wrapped (available to all!). I am delighted both as a reader and as his sister, obviously — you can check it out at myyearinbooks.com for some fun + personalized reading stats."

And here's the summary; click on this link to view additional information  -- 
https://www.myyearinbooks.com/user/1991998

Book Review: Persuader by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #7)

Persuader by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally read this Jack Reacher book (#7 in the series) back in 2016, and I gave it 5 stars.  I wanted to read it again just prior to Reacher Season 3 launching on Prime Video on February 20, 2025.  It's always interesting to compare how books transfer to the screen (either movies or TV) and I also wanted to familiarize myself with the story again.

Once again I'm giving this book 5 stars!  It is a heart-pounding, page-turning, whirlwind of a ride.  The publisher's dust jacket synopsis doesn't give the reader much to go on regarding the storyline.  And it's probably better if I don't try to describe the plot.  But this is Lee Child at the peak of his writing.  The book is written in the first person and I'm right there with Reacher, along for the ride and the non-stop action and violence.  

There are parallel plots -- the current one set in heavily guarded mansion on a remote peninsula in Maine.  The second one is Reacher remembering a time ten years ago when he was in the military and the utter disappointment and grief when a subordinate's case doesn't go as planned.  These two interspersed situations work to generate every more anticipation and suspense.  

I'm really looking forward to Reacher Season 3!  The good news is that it has already been renewed for Season 4.  The bad news is that we have to wait for it.  Be patient, Reacher fans; it's definitely worth the wait!

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Book Review: The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails: The Best Nogs, Punches, Sparklers, and Mixed Drinks for Every Festive Occasion by Nick Mautone

The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails: The Best Nogs, Punches, Sparklers, and Mixed Drinks for Every Festive Occasion by Nick Mautone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short book, but filled with wonderful holiday cocktail recipes.  I originally downloaded it because we were looking for a hot buttered rum recipe, but discovered quite a few others to try during this Christmas season!  Pictures are included for most of the recipes.  One really helpful thing is that each recipe indicates the glass that it should be served in.  My only quibble is that they indicate that champagne or prosecco should be refrigerated for 30 minutes prior to serving.  In my honest opinion, I think it should be refrigerated for at least 4-8 hours before serving!

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Book Review: Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten

Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was inspired to read this book after finishing Ina's recent memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens.  She described the time she spent camping in France during the summer 1972.  Her descriptions of the open air markets, fresh produce, and French wines wanted me to read more of her writing and French recipes.

I am very impressed with the ways that she modified traditional French recipes so that they are more approachable for the home cook with a limited amount of time.  Examples include an easy blender hollandaise sauce, brioche loaves, various soups and stews, a souffle, and creme brulee.   She also includes information on French wines, cheeses, cookware, how to set a table, and how to arrange flowers.  There are luscious color pictures of almost every recipe.  

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Book Review: How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armande Gamache #9)

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas in Three Pines.  What a peaceful and truly wonderful setting at Christmas!  And all of our favorite Three Pines residents are front and center.  This is the 9th book in the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, and I wanted to read it before Christmas. 

This is definitely one of her best books that I've read so far.  There's a lot of heartbreak, trauma and suspense -- ranging from the murder of an elderly woman with ties to Three Pines to the dismantling of Gamache's detective team.  Armand isn't sure who he can trust in the Surete de Quebec, which leads to new liaisons.  All of this is balanced with holiday preparations, food, friends, quiet contemplation and introspection.

Penny's writing is always a joy to read.  She has a wonderful mixture of literary descriptions, dialog, and humor.  This book references events from previous books, and I would recommend reading her books in order to fully appreciate the ongoing story lines.  

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Book Review: Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating "eco-thriller" / psychological thriller set in New Zealand which is difficult to describe. A rogue non-profit gardening group called Birnam Wood is busy planting crops on abandoned or uncultivated property. Their leader discovers a large abandoned farm and investigates it as a possible site for development. She meets an American billionaire who has plans of his own for the property. Neither of them is truly forthcoming about their goals, and their deceptions and hidden agendas propel the story forward.

I read this book for one of my book clubs. It's definitely not a book that I would have chosen, but I'm really glad that I read it. The description at the beginning of the book made it difficult for me to get into it, but once we get the back story on the main characters the story just pulled me in. The book is divided into three very large sections, similar to a 3-act play. Each section is not broken down into chapters which was a little unsettling at first, however reading the Kindle version seemed to alleviate this feeling of very LONG chapters. All in all, it was quite a page turner.

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Book Review: The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose (Molly the Maid #2.5)

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another book in the Molly the Maid series by Nita Prose.  This is a charming novella just in time for Christmas reading.  It revolves around Molly Gray and her boyfriend Juan Manuel, who both work at the Regency Grand Hotel and are busy preparing for the holiday season and the employee Secret Santa Party.  Several events cause Molly to doubt some of the people in her life, but of course everything works out well in the end.

If you are looking for a quick read before the holidays (about 100 pages), this one is for you.  You don't need to have read either of the previous books in the series, but you'll fall in love with Molly and her world.

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Book Review: Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over by Alison Roman

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over by Alison Roman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I typically rate cookbooks based on the number of recipes that I absolutely must try myself. To be honest, there are not that many recipes in this book that I'm anxious to try. However, I absolutely love Alison Roman's approach to cooking for people. You can tell this by the book's sub-title - Unfussy Food for Having People Over! And the book starts out by her saying that "This is not a book about entertaining."

The book is divided into five sections: Snack Time (NOT appetizers!), Salads, Sides, Mains, and After Dinner (dessert or after-dinner drinks). I'm very intrigued to try her recipe for Overnight Focaccia, Tonight, which only requires a few hours! She also describes the Perfect Herby Salad, which seems so simply yet complex and delicious.

Both her recipes and her writing style just seem so approachable. I would love to be invited to some of her dinner get-togethers.

"Roasting a nice chicken for people is such a good way to say, 'I love you.'"

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Book Review: What I Ate in One Year [and related thoughts] by Stanley Tucci

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely wonderful food memoir and the title tells you everything you need to know.  It's basically Stanley Tucci's journal throughout 2023, chronicling what he cooked, what restaurant he went to, where he traveled, who he was with, and what he ate.  A fascinating individual and an enviable life!

Full disclosure, I love Stanley Tucci - both his writing and his films.  He has such an interesting life and a very dry wit which really comes through in his writing.  I read the print book, but I also have the audiobook on hold at the library and have been waiting very patiently for several months.  

Stanley, I keep waiting for my invitation to your London house for Thanksgiving dinner with your wonderful family and in-laws (Emily Blunt and John Krasinski).  I would love for you to make me one of your wonderful martinis!

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Book Review: Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves by Sephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert

Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves by Stephen Colbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An absolutely hilarious cookbook, created by Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evie. If you have seen them do their 'bit' together on his show (First Draft Greeting Cards!), you will enjoy this book even more.

They are both from Charleston, South Carolina and the majority of the recipes are traditional or updated ones from this area of the country. They have created (or adapted) some of the recipes, and the rest are favorites from their family and friends. Each of the recipes is introduced by both of them and Stephen's brand of humor consistently comes shining through. Beautiful photographs of both the food as well as Stephen and Evie are included for virtually every recipe. Highly recommended!

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Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (The Housemaid #1)

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I've read by Freida McFadden, and her books were recommended to me by a friend.  I have to say that I'm HOOKED!  What a chilling, unsettling page-turner.  I finished it in less than three days.  I read late into the night last night and finally put it down.  But I shouldn't have because my heart was pounding for the next two hours!  I couldn't get to sleep -- I should have just stayed up WAY too late and finished it last night!  Needless to say, I picked it up first thing this morning and read it until the wonderful end.  I needed to find out what happened to all the characters!

The plot is about Millie, a young girl who is trying to find a job after being in prison for ten years since she was 17.  She ends up working for Nina, a rich wife on Long Island with an extremely handsome husband and a 9-year-old daughter.  The story is told from two different points of view, and there are red herrings and plot twists galore along the way.  Just when you think you know what's happening and what will happen next, there's a pivot and the reader is surprised!  None of the characters are exactly who the reader things they are; the author keeps us guessing all the way through.

I am definitely planning on reading more by Freida McFadden in the very near future.  Absolutely love her writing and story lines!

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Book Review: Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten

Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have been watching Ina on the Food Network for years and also enjoy reading her cookbooks.  Therefore, I was looking forward to reading her new memoir.  However, if you have watched any of her TV appearances or read any of the print interviews for her book tour, you already know the highlights of the book -- her challenging childhood with difficult parents, meeting Jeffrey as a teenager and marrying when she was quite young, buying the Barefoot Contessa shop in the Hampton's with no food, retail or business experience, etc. 

I really enjoyed reading about the 1972 summer that Ina and Jeffrey spent camping in France -- visiting the open air markets to buy very fresh and cheap food, tasting the French wine, visiting the boulangeries, and bistros.  And it was interesting to read about her foray into filming a TV show in her own house, along with her adamant denial to never do it again after the first 13 episodes!  However, the rest of the book seemed to be a re-hash of the same thing over and over.

Many other reviews  have mentioned how privileged both she and Jeffrey are, coming from very wealthy families, having excellent educations at well-known universities, and not having to struggle or worry about money.  This theme comes through continually throughout the book -- buying the Hampton's shop, purchasing and renovating a house, dumping all of their furniture and belongings on the curb when they moved to a new house, buying and renovating another house, hiring architects, hiring decorators, searching for the perfect Paris apartment, and various business deals.  She admits that she does a lot because she is bored in a job -- buying real estate, taking flying lessons, getting a graduate degree.  She also seems very controlling and always wanting to get her way, which became obvious in all her business dealings.  It's easy for the luck to happen when you are financially secure and have the bank balance to back it up.  

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Book Review: A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #2)

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I re-read this book for my Mystery Book Club.  I originally read it 7 years ago, and it was amazing that I remembered virtually nothing about the story details.  It's set in the small Quebec village of Three Pines (as many of her books are) at Christmas. 

I'm reading her books in order.  Up next is #9 - How the Light Gets In.  A perfect selection for the month of December!  Another book set in Three Pines at Christmastime.

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Book Review: Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar

Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating, extensively researched and documented non-fiction book about parking and how it impacts city development.  Henry Grabar is a writer for Slate and he presents quite a few case studies of various city's parking laws, problems, and outcomes, which include housing prices, city expansion, parking availability and pricing, traffic patterns, and the decline of downtown areas.

I read this for one of my book clubs and have to admit that this was an incredibly lively discussion!  Everyone had something to say and an anecdote to report.

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Book Review: The Waiting by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch #25 and Renee Ballard #6)

The Waiting by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read all of of the Harry Bosch books in the series, and always look forward to a new one.  This one doesn't disappoint with lots of action, but the focus is primarily on Renee Ballard as it's been for the past couple of books.  Harry is retired, but plays an important role for Renee as an undercover operative in one of her investigations.  The pleasant surprise in the book is that Harry's daughter, Maddie, joins Renee's Open Unsolved squad so we get to see her in action.

There are three story lines, each following one of Renee's cases.  We get to see more of her team, see how they work each of the closed cases, and also get to find out more of Renee's backstory.  I'm always looking forward to another Michael Connelly book and hope he doesn't ever decide to retire.

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Book Review: Hot Blooded by Lisa Jackson (New Orleans #1)

Hot Blooded by Lisa Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The setting is New Orleans during a hot summer.  A serial killer has been killing women.  Dr. Samantha Leeds is a psychiatrist / radio talk show host.  She has been receiving phone calls and mail from an unknown individual who knows way too much about her past.  Everything comes together in this atmospheric thriller. 

New Orleans police detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya work together to find the killer.  It was these detectives and their work together that I really enjoyed about this book.  I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.  

I'm not sure whether it was just my Kindle version, but the formatting was very screwy throughout the entire book, especially when it came to quoted dialog.  The dialog from different speakers was all run together, making it very difficult to determine who was actually speaking.  

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Book Review: The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (Nantucket Series #3)

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summer in Nantucket.  The setting is a glamorous ocean front mansion and the occasion is the wedding of Benji and Celeste.  Friends and family are gathered for the event, but tragedy strikes the morning of the wedding and the local police are called in to investigate.

Everyone is harboring their own dark secret and as the story unfolds, we slowly discover the secrets and how they affect the other wedding guests.  

In true Elin Hilderbrand fashion, each short chapter is devoted to a different character in the saga.  In addition, the timeline is not linear, jumping from present day to several points in the past to fill in the backstory.  However, each section is clearly identified with the character's name along with the date and time, so it's easy to keep on track.  

This was an incredible book, both a romance and a mystery.  Hilderbrand always immerses the reader in such a sense of place with all of her books.  I'm very anxious to watch the Netflix streaming version of this book!

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Book Review: The Final Twist by Jeffery Deaver (Colter Shaw / Tracker #3)

The Final Twist by Jeffery Deaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Colter Shaw / Tracker series, and it focuses on Colter trying to follow-up on his father's investigations and clues.  He hasn't seen his older brother Russell since his father's funeral years ago, and hasn't been able to track his whereabouts.  However, Russell steps in to save Colter early in the book and they work together to track down information on Blackbridge, the company their father was investigating. 

I really loved the interplay between the two brothers.  It's obvious that their father trained them well, and they make a very good team.  It's non-stop action, safe houses, clues, leads, interviews, escapes, and plenty of bad guys.  I also enjoyed reading their father's "rules" which are interspersed throughout the book.  I was reading the Kindle version of this book and highlighted 33 of these rules:  
--Information was the best weapon a survivalist could have;
--Never assume your conversations are private;
--Never resort to violence unless you have no alternative

It looks like there is one more book already published (Hunting Time, #4, published in 2022) and another book to be published May 6, 2025 - South of Nowhere, #5.  You know I'll be reading these two in the near future.

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Book Review: Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (An American in Paris #1)

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paris...great food...wine...cooking...Julia Child...and MURDER!  What a combination!  Tabitha is a 20-something young woman from Michigan who travels to Paris to live with her grandfather and uncle.  She discovers that she lives across the street from Julia Child.  The day after attending a party at Julia's apartment, they discover that a woman has been murdered in the basement of the building.  Tabitha turns amateur detective to solve this murder along with several other mysteries in this cozy tale.

This was a charming book to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Apparently it is the first in a series, so I'll look forward to reading more by this author.

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Book Review: Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie (Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James #12)

Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars. This is the 12th book in the Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series set in London. One of Gemma's friends, a Jewish refugee from Germany during the war, discovers that a valuable jewelry piece created by her father and stolen during the war has come up for auction. Gemma and Duncan work together to determine where it came from and also to solve several murders.

The story line is actually set in two different time periods - 1952 and present day. It was difficult to determine which time period I was reading especially because one character figured in both time periods. I can imagine that if I were listening to the audio book it would be even more confusing.

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Book Review: Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Lone Women by Victor LaValle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow - Reading this book was quite a roller coaster of a ride!  The year is 1915 and Adelaide Henry's parents are dead, their house and farm have burned in a fire, and she has packed all her belongings in order to move to Montana to homestead a piece of property.

This book is a little of everything -- a strong woman experiencing a challenging life in rural Montana, historical fiction, suspense, thriller, Western, fantasy, magical realism, and much more.  I don't want to go into much detail because you need to experience it for yourself.  I read this for one of my book clubs, and we really had A LOT to discuss at our meeting!  Listening to the other members really helped clarify some of the plot points and character development.  

I found it very interesting that this author is male, but was able to write the novel with the insight of a very strong female character.  I'm anxious to read more of his books after this experience!

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Book Review: Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams (Avery Keene #2)

Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Avery Keene is back again for the second in Stacey Abrams series, and it's another roller coaster of a ride.  She's in the midst of congressional hearings concerning the events from the first book in the series.  This legal thriller involves murders, conspiracies, secret government organizations, terrorism and much more.  There are a lot of characters and a lot of details to keep track of, so pay close attention.  Even if you don't pick up on all the minutia in the book, it's still quite a page-turner!

I just heard that the third book in the Avery Keene series of due to be published 5/27/2025 - Coded Justice.  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697037/coded-justice-by-stacey-abrams/ .  I'm looking forward to it!

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Book Review: Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Suspend your disbelief, buckle your seat belt and hold on – you are in for a page-turning thrill ride with the latest book from T.J. Newman. This book is very similar to her other two books in that it involves a plane. However, the book starts out when the pilot experiences a widow-maker heart attack and the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant in suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul. The rest of the book revolves around the situation with the damaged power plant.

Reader, please realize that there are a lot of characters, various plot lines, and quite a lot of technical information. Pay attention and it will pay off. Also, be prepared for some shocking text about the plant crash and lots of tears. Overall, an incredible page-turner and un-put-downable thriller! I'll look forward to both her next book and her previous two books as movies!

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