Judith Reveal

Judy Reveal is a freelance editor, writer, and book indexer. She also writes freelance articles for regional magazines and newspapers. She is the author of Around Greensboro, a pictorial about Greensboro Maryland, and Cheating Death and The Music Room, the Eastern Shore Mystery Novels, published by Chase Publishing of Cambridge, Maryland. In 2014, her nonfiction title, The Four Elements of Fiction: Character, Setting, Situation, and Theme, was released. Her latest novel, Crossroads, was released in 2020.

Ms. Reveal teaches creative writing classes and fiction workshops and has published short story fiction in local and national magazines. She has served the Maryland Writers’ Association as President and Secretary; Eastern Shore Writers’ Association as President; and is an active board member for Bay to Ocean Writers Conference.

Book Reviews by Judith Reveal

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“Fans of mythology will find The Little Encyclopedia of Mythical Horses clever and educational—a book to be read over and over again.”

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“Opanike’s book is small . . . but each page is filled with interesting detail, some humor, and some dark descriptions, proving that small can be as valuable as large.”

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If the reader is looking for a cozy murder with a single plot throughout, Debbie Macomber’s 44 Cranberry Point is not the answer.

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“Connelly has created a labyrinth of twists and turns with suspects who are strong contenders one moment and drop to the bottom of the list the next.”

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Jillian Cantor’s novel The Fiction Writer starts out with this premise: Olivia Fitzgerald is a writer—a once successful writer, but her most recent story, Becky, is a takeoff on D

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“Baldacci fans will find this new series to be as exciting as his previous stories and will certainly look forward to the continuing adventures of Travis Devine, the ‘6:20 Man.’”

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“a warren of heroes, villains, and hidden antagonists that initially set the reader to scratching their heads until the last page when the resolution makes sense.”

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“Gilbert has presented a good, well-paced story with strong characters and lots of clues for the reader to follow.”

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“The reader familiar with Margolin’s stories will carefully pick through the clues that he drops, and may or may not make their own decisions on whodunnit and why.”

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“Matlin has woven together a story of conflict, tension, action, and suspense on every page.”

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“Mentink has designed a story that will keep the reader wondering, and then knowing, and then wondering again, as the suspects and victims keep changing places.”

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“The worst part about finishing A Thursday Murder Club Mystery is waiting for the next one to be published.”

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“Lloyd’s story has myriad twists and turns—enough to keep the reader entranced.”

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In her most recent book, Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld, author Catherine Lloyd sets the stage for a fast paced, well-written walk through London’s high society in 1838.

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“This book belongs on the shelf until the next library book sale.”

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Eugenics, seances, disappearances, and multiple murders. What more could one want in a mystery?

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“Total Control is difficult to put down. The clarification of who’s who at the end is beyond satisfying.”

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Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law—Julia married Sienna’s brother Jason—but they are more than that. They are BFFs.

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“The use of two first-person narratives gives Tapper the opportunity to tell two parallel stories that eventually grow together at the end of the story.”

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“Kelly Rimmer’s scenes in both eras are fraught with anxiety, urging the reader to keep turning the page, anxious to learn about each character’s experiences, right up to the very end.”

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“Butterflies is a small book . . . to be picked up again and reread—always finding something new in the poems, essays, and pictures.”

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“Polito does a good job of laying out the information for the reader to follow, but the reader won’t be the first at the finish line.”

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“Weaver has a knack for tying up her readers with thin threads of clues—just enough to let the reader unwind and believe they know what the outcome is, only to be tied up again in a new cha

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“Cooney pulls a creative twist out of the story and surprises the reader with the true meaning of The Wrong Good Deed.”

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Shakespeare’s Book by Chris Laoutaris is a must read for anyone with even a slight passing fancy for Shakespeare.”

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“Kincaid provides some good clues and foreshadowing with books, journals, handwriting, and broken hearts whose purpose becomes clear at the book’s end.”

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“Move over David Baldacci, a new thriller author is in town.”

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“Harris is to be congratulated on her ability to build a story with a maze full of twists and turns, memories false and true, and a totally unexpected ending.”

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Emily George’s debut novel A Half-Baked Murder has all the right stuff for a good cozy: a female main character who returns home after five years and a broken heart, a dead body, a falsely

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“Fellowes’ goal is to give the reader enough clues to consider who the killers are without giving away too much . . .”

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“Each story with its holiday thread will be well received by cozy fanciers.”

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“Stokes-Chapman’s writing is strong; her story travels a direct line from beginning to end with no distractions or excessive backstory.

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Misfire is a good story that makes turning pages quite easy.”

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“From the beginning Morrissey designs numerous situations through foreshadowing, red herrings, and solid clues calculated to grab the reader by the neck and not let go until the end of the

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“This story carries a good premise but is difficult to follow.”

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“Whether one is interested in cold case puzzles or genealogy, or just curious about solving crimes, The Forever Witness should be read and reread until it becomes a dog-eared part

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“Hannah’s major characters are well developed, the plot has some merit, but the writing is not tight and tends to wander, making for a confusing storyline.”

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Author Cherie Priest in her latest cozy novel Flight Risk takes the cozy mystery down a somewhat different path.

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“Anyone who is even remotely familiar with the Lindbergh kidnapping case knows how it ended, but Fredericks’ take on the story from the viewpoint of the Lindbergh nanny provides new insight

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“Writing from an animal’s point of view cannot be a simple thing to do, but Quinn seems to have nailed it. It would be hard to imagine this story from any human perspective.”

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“Fans of Baldacci’s ‘memory man’ character will be highly satisfied with Long Shadows and anxiously await the next installment in the series.”

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“Osman’s resolution of the various crimes and his manner of letting his team uncover the murder(s) are clever and captivating.

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“Sikes has got a good start on a fast-moving series.”

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“Readers who are not familiar with Eileen Brady’s work will become big fans. Let’s hope there is something more in the works for Dr. Kate Turner.”

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“Without the dog’s thoughts, the story would still be a good one, but as told through his eyes, the story takes on depth as it wheels us through the tangle of investigations, wrong turns, a

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“Throughout the book, O’Rourke mixes positive with negative as he discusses where the country is and how it got here, primarily with his focus on history in Texas.”

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“Early 20th century writing, especially translated from one language to another, can be challenging to read, but Nèmirovsky’s story and Smith’s translation make Master of Souls

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“What makes this an exceptionally good read is that Schellman does not distract or deviate from the premise of the story.”

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“There is a realization that comes with reading Trees: that while the collection brings with it an appreciation of Hesse’s work, each essay, each poem can be taken away and treasur

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“Lee Hollis does a good job of dispersing red herrings and keeping true identity under wraps until the requisite climactic scene at the end of the story.”

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“If one can get around the two, three, and four paragraphs often written on how to prepare and make something . . . the story is a good one, and the premise holds water.”

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“For anyone looking for a new cozy this book will be a disappointment.”

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“Hillier develops characters who are three dimensional and feel real to the reader. . . . [creating] questions that demand the reader turn the page to get the answers.”

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“One of Baldacci’s strongest skills is inserting a multitude of coincidences into the story while keeping it on track and not deviating or distracting the reader.”

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“It will be interesting to see where Fleishman goes with his future writings. His style, his vocabulary, and his ability to engage the reader leave no page unturned.

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“A Face to Die For is primarily a well-structured story with lots of action. Iris Johansen fans will enjoy it.”

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“It’s easy to get wrapped up in Weaver’s storytelling skills as she carefully unfolds her story.”

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Fans of Ellen Byron’s previous cozy mysteries will be disappointed in Bayou Book Thief, her latest endeavor.

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Kali Mähoe, a detective with the Maui Police Department, is summoned to a scene on Lana’i island where a corpse has been found stuffed in a refrigerator that was buried on the grounds of a now defu

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“The Woman in the Library is a page-turner from beginning to end.”

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“Whether they find the true culprit or not, the reader will have fun with this hard-to-put-down book.” 

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“Schellman’s fans will, no doubt, like Last Call at the Nightingale in spite of it not being her best story.”

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“It should be noted that Murphy constructed this story in the first person for the three major characters—a point of view that can be difficult to follow.

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“The story is filled with tension, conflict, and explicit details to make it an enjoyable as well as educational read.”

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“Whether you have a story to tell, or just think you have something to share—How to Tell a Story belongs at the top of your reading list. “

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“Adams provides the red herrings, the foreshadowing, and the clues we need to pick out the murderer, and yet she turns some sharp corners that cause us to question their decisions.”

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Once a Thief is a good read and moves at a good clip.

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Roscoe Conklin, (R to his friends) retired from the Rockford, IL, police department, has settled into a new life on Bonaire, a small Caribbean Island.

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If you are looking for a strong K-9 presence in David Rosenfelt’s newest novel, Citizen K-9, you won’t find it here.

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“Margolin is a wizard who creates a story that brings all the issues to a neatly trimmed head.”

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“Taylor takes the reader on a good journey before letting the truth of the story unfold, and the reader will be grateful for the ride.”

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“Danvers’ writing is good; she brings the reader right into the story through her description and use of tension.”

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“While the story may seem convoluted it really is a good read with intricate twists and turns that only add to the tale.”

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“Abrams maintains a good flow with strong characters the reader will identify with.”

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“Cates provides a story that moves along at a good pace while educating the reader on all thing’s witchery.”

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“Although Burdette wanders back and forth between the Scottish history and the actual attempted murder and the real murder, she does so with clear writing and enough clues and action to kee

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“Reyes does well when creating her primary characters.

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“Daly’s research and vibrant writing provide the reader with a clear understanding, especially through the two men he selected to honor, of what police work is supposed to be.”

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“Lush has done a good job of developing strong characters and a good premise.”

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“Belle’s writing style is a major draw to her ability to present a story that one is unable to put down.”

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“One of Connolly’s writing assets is his ability to end each chapter with a short sentence that drives the reader to turn the page and not put the book down.”

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“As a biography of the title character, Miss Dior falls short, but as an exceptional discussion on France during WWII and the couture industry, it is fascinating reading and will n

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“Odden’s character development is strong, her narration is vivid and places the reader in the right place at the right time, and her locations are descriptive pictures of London in the Vict

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Fans of Lynne Truss may find her newest mystery, Psycho by the Sea, both entertaining and amusing. But not so much for anyone who has not read her work before.

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“The most disturbing part of this story is how close it could be to reality.

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“On the whole, Vortex is perhaps not Coulter’s best effort.

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“Wright has done substantial reference on her subjects and skillfully taken large amounts of information and boiled it down to readable facts and comprehensible material.”

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“Colleen Cambridge has done her homework on English society and provides us with a clear picture of her characters, where they live, and how they act.”

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“Marton’s prologue and epilogue sum up Merkel’s astounding political life, and yet all the chapters in between are what provide the immaculate details of how she came to be Angela Merkel.”

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“Beard’s writing brings the premise of each chapter to life, allowing the reader to become the protagonist of the moment, experiencing the situation in which she finds herself.”

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“Archer proves once again that he is a creative storyteller who moves his tale without distractions or asides that create diversions.

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“Echoes of the Dead is a real page turner with all the requisite red herrings, missed opportunities, and wrong paths.”

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“keeps the reader guessing who the real culprit is, and the reader will be satisfied with the outcome. The required dramatic climax is harrowing and well written.”

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“the required tension-filled dénouement is well done and keeps the final pages turning.”

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“If the story followed the traditional journey of a cozy, the premise would be a good one.

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“Schellman produces a good premise and a strong cozy.

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“The Personal Librarian is a good, well-paced creative nonfiction book about a real person that will snag the reader and hold his or her attention from beginning t

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“It’s difficult to share the finite details that rise to the surface as Matthews takes the reader from his youth through his life experiences.

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“Gilbert presents a good story, a fast read, and enough clues, red herrings, foreshadowings, and questions to keep the pages turning.”

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“Deadly Delights moves along at warp speed, and just when the reader thinks s/he knows who the killer is, Walker throws a speed bump on the highway.”

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“Greenwood’s fans will be satisfied as Miss Fisher uses her cunning and wit to solve another crime and keep her reputation intact.”

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“For the reader who expects an exciting spy thriller, this book does not deliver. The plot is less exciting, but Starford’s premise holds water.”

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“If you have two days that you’re not using for anything in particular—well, even if you have plans, put them away, pick up this book—they will be two days well spent.”

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“Korelitz is skilled at dropping the clues and fixating Jake [the protagonist] on his uncontrolled desire to move forward.”

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“Once one gets past the first half of the story, the pages begin to turn in more rapid succession.”

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“As cozies go, this one is on top of the list. A quick read, a strong protagonist, good characters, and strong writing.”

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In Marisa Silver’s book, The Mysteries, she tackles the conundrum of relationships—of family, of friends, of children, of adults. And therein lies the mystery of the title.

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“In 1883, English intellectual Francis Galton coined the term eugenics (meaning ‘wellborn’) to advocate a selective breeding program among humans.”

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“If you have nothing to do over a nice, rainy weekend, pick up this book. You won’t put it down until Monday rolls around.”

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“For the reader who is intrigued by America’s romance with gangsters, Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid is definitely worth spending time with a couple who, for just a short time, lived

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Creative nonfiction, that is, nonfiction with lots of fiction blown into it, has a double benefit for the reader: learning more about a real event, but enjoying the characters and dialogue made up

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“Gaps of time notwithstanding, Charlier puts forth an interesting take on an historical event.”

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“As all good mysteries, and especially thrillers, move toward the end, there is an exciting scene that concludes in a race between good and evil, and although we all know who wins in the en

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“Patterson is a better writer than this, and it is hard to say if he is mentoring a writer new to the series, or not, but The Russian is a disappointment.”

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Peter Ibbetz is an old man with old memories, and they haunt his dreams with increasing clarity and repetition.

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“Rowland is good at designing strong tension and conflict scenes that keep the pages turning. Her ending conflict scenes are especially well written.”

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“Preston and Child have designed an intricate thriller that takes several twists and turns, but never totally diverts from the crux of the story.”

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“Lindsay’s clear description of locations and people provides the reader with a sense of ‘being there’ and accepting these people as real.”

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“In spite of a few weak spots, for those who enjoy a cozy with its fast read, this one works. All things considered—a good read for a chilly weekend indoors.”

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“As cozies go, this one is well written with some good twists and turns to keep the reader turning the page.”

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“The story is alive; it breathes; every paragraph brings the reader a sense of being there, of being Carver.” 

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“Lovegrove has taken familiar characters from a much-loved story and created an intriguing maze with twists and turns and dead ends that all culminate in a surprise ending.”

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“Grisham has a knack for throwing curves into the story that, with any other writer, could be distracting, but with Grisham every curve is woven into the story and builds the tension throug

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“Osman has done an outstanding job of bringing his characters to life and making them as individual as if they were real.”

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“Becoming familiar with the Elizabethan language is not easy, but Edmondson and Wells have taken it to a new level with their detail and final explanations.”

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“Gates does a particularly good job of setting clues and red herrings for the reader to deal with and ties up all the loose ends.”

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“Cannell’s telling of this story is page turning. His research is unquestionable, his descriptions chilling, and his character development is absolutely visual.”

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Chasten Buttigieg does have a story to tell and he does it well in his new book, I Have Something to Tell You: A Memoir.

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“This is a very fast read, regardless of how one feels about the current administration.”

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“The premise in The Silent Conspiracy is a good one, the tension is high, and the characters are well developed.”

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“This is a very good read, especially at introducing writers at all levels to authors they may want to know more about.”

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“Blackburn has created a clever mystery that follows a direct path to revelations about the killer, as well as Summer’s growth and acceptance of her inheritance—a bookstore that she never l

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“Throughout the story, Maxwell weaves new and enticing situations that make the reader turn the page.”

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“Throughout the story Austin attempts to make a point of women’s lives during the 19th century presumably using this tactic to make Lydia appear as an independent woman with the desire to s

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“Montclair does a good job of keeping the reader on his or her toes until the very end."

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“Anna Gerard’s cozy mystery, Peachy Scream, is a fun read. . . . Her writing style flows easily with some humor sprinkled throughout the story.”

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“Two Jews = Three Shuls is a small book, and Sandra Tankoos does a good job of guiding the reader through twists and turns until the real murderer is uncovered.”

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“If you can get around . . .

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“Regardless of one’s political beliefs, Still Standing is a good read with a fast pace; it’s informative, at times humorous, and tells the story of a man who is willing to recogniz

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“Mather’s chaotic scenes that place Del in life-threatening situations, and of which she expertly extricates herself, are well written and page turning.”

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“a page-turner.

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“Butch Cassidy is a fast read, and Leerhsen’s writing style is engaging and believable—a good way to spend a quiet weekend and learn the truth about the Old West.”

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“Although the multiple first-person points of view (written in different print fonts) can at times be distracting, Sager has laid out an exciting story that is hard to put down.”

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“Regardless of one’s knowledge of any of the 50 writers discussed, Cult Writers is intriguing and informative.”

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“Spain lays out a good story plot and every clue follows a path to the end of the story with no deviations, no short cuts, just good detective work.”

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“Perhaps the first three stories in the series provide the reader with a more definitive sense of characters and story, but Rigged fails to make the grade.”

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“Weir is a respected historian, an expert on the Tudor line, and she applies her creative imagination to present a novel that is hard to put down.”

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“Meyerson does an admirable job of answering the question she posed to herself, and by the end of the story, ties up all the loose ends that she tossed out to the reader from the beginning.

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The Body in the Garden has a good story, is well researched, and employs good writing.”

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“If the creative writing technique failures don’t bother the reader, they may enjoy the story itself. Otherwise, it is a three-star book.”

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In Essie Lang’s second book in her Castle Bookshop Mystery series, Death on the Page, protagonist Shelby Cox is settling into life as the co-owner, with her aunt Edie, of Bayside Books.

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“Be warned: Once you pick up the book, you won’t put it down until the end.”

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“James McBride fans will add Deacon King Kong to his list of successes.

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“The premise that Graves lays out for her readers is a good one. The writing? Not to be unkind, but Graves could have used a good editor.”

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“This is not a fast read, nor is it a satisfying ending to a confusing story.

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“The story is a good cozy read, and the reader will be challenged to ride along with the characters and try to learn who the criminal is before Sammy does.

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“Although there are times when Chong gets a bit wordy and perhaps repetitive, her overall take on book reviewers and their work is well organized and informative.

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“Chiavaroli does a good job of tying up the various loose ends she has created.

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“Chuck Palahniuk writes short . . . that is to say, his message is concise, given to us in few, well-chosen words that get the point across without a lot of fuss.”

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“Huie has taken this story and twisted it like a pretzel. And like a warm pretzel with lots of salt and mustard, this one is satisfying to the very end.”

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“This is a fun book to read. It moves quickly and logically in spite of the many clues Penney throws in Iris’ path.

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In his memoir, I Was Hitler’s Pilot, Hans Baur provides more insight into his love of flying than he does discussing his role as Hitler’s pilot.

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“A prolific writer and award-winning actor, John Lithgow has penned a laugh-out-loud picture of American politics at its worst.

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“Simpson’s depiction of the south after the Civil War is chilling, with lynchings, beatings, voodoo, and hidden secrets sprinkled throughout that keep us turning the pages.”

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“Wilson has fashioned a good follow up to Crichton’s Andromeda Strain. It’s a fast read and well-constructed.

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John Connolly’s recent book, A Book of Bones, is difficult reading for several reasons—its extreme length, its wandering story arc, and its disappearing protagonist, just to name a few.

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“Barker creates tension and suspense through strong chase scenes and face-to-face conflict with good and evil . . . even with good and good!

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“Crombie lays before the reader a maze with stops and starts at every turn.

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“Berry takes her protagonist down the path to discovery, and the perpetrator turns out to be the least likely character. It is a very satisfying ending.”

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“Arianna Dagnino is to be complimented on her storytelling ability. She describes the beauty of South Africa through the careful choice of words, providing a cultural educa

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“At times Stealing the Scream is laugh-out-loud funny, but it is always filled with enough mystery to encourage the reader to keep turning the page.”

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“One murder, four confessors . . . what more does a good mystery need?”

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“Cumming, an art critic, journalist, and author, has a grasp of the language that flows through a number of twists and turns that the story takes.

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“This may require rereading to absorb some of the mathematical terms, but the book is fun, and interesting, and a challenge on many levels.”

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“Buzzelli presents a good story with lots of twists and turns but enough clues to keep the reader turning the page to meet the next part of the conundrum.”

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“It does not take long for Marlena to realize that her loving husband is a man of many demands, and she wonders if tragedy happens in threes.”

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“Mason introduces myriad characters, almost too many to follow, but with a careful reading the story unfolds the underpinnings of a good plot.”

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“Weir’s presentation of Anna is interesting, intense, filled with myriad crises, and a fast read.”

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“Jessica Fletcher experiences numerous crises, a lot of tension, and a multitude of unexpected events as she falls down this rabbit hole while investigating two murders and attempting to pr

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“The techniques, key steps, and commentary that Wolf provides in each chapter as he blends music and meditation together will prove beneficial to the reader who wants to cross these bridges

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“In When Brooklyn Was Queer, Ryan digs deeper into both the history of Brooklyn, and its queer community . . .

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In The Ghost Manuscript Frieswick’s protagonist, Carys Jones, a rare book authenticator who works for an auction house on Boston, is hired by billionaire John Harper to review a rare manus

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“While Pasulka’s theory joining religion, technology, and UFOs should not be discounted, it is at times a difficult read, and may put off the reader who is not totally convinced.”

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“If the other stories in this series are this enjoyable, they all belong in the reader’s library.”

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“In The Trial of Lizzie Borden, Robertson displays her writing and researching skills in this piece of creative nonfiction that reads almost as a novel.

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“Anyone who likes a good mystery will find Secrets of a Marine’s Wife an intriguing and satisfying read.”

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“Marcantonio really does an excellent job of keeping her protagonist one step ahead of the reader, . . .”

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“the story holds water and reads well from beginning to end.”

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“a good series to follow and a fast read.”

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“This is a book that is read once, and then once again, and again—each time gaining new insight into a true maestro.”

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“To say that this book is a small gem of understanding China’s history would be a major understatement.”

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At first read, Diane A. S. Stuckart’s new book Fool’s Moon is a questionable read, with most of the story written from a cat’s point of view.

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“In spite of the depth and detail of this book, it is a fast read and worth sitting with a cup of tea by a warm fire from first page to last.”

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In Paula Daly’s new mystery, Open Your Eyes her protagonist, Jane Campbell is a wife, a mother, and a would-be author. The first page of the story is a rejection letter . . .

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“For a little book, it is a veritable wealth of information. . . . A Sidecar Named Desire belongs with your booze!”

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For those who have been debutantes, this book will bring a knowing smile to your face; for those who have never been debutantes, it will cause a roaring guffaw to explode from your depths.

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Fans of the Murder, She Wrote TV series and made for TV movies will enjoy Murder, She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder. It takes the reader right back to where the series left off, wi

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“for Sherlock Holmes fans, it is a perfect edition to sit next to Conan Doyle on the library shelf.”

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The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor is a journey into the past . . . and then again, further into the past.

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Evan Fallenberg’s novel The Parting Gift takes the reader through the emotional turmoil of love, lust, trust, and mistrust that often accompanies affairs of the heart.

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For fans of David Handler’s Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag series of the 1990s, The Man Who Couldn’t Miss” will sweep them right back to the original series—for new fans not familiar with Hoagy and

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In Murder at Ochre Court author Alyssa Maxwell once again reveals her skill at creating a well-planned mystery with all the clues, foreshadowing, and red herrings needed to engage the read

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In Sandra Block’s new book, What Happened That Night, Dahlia, a paralegal wrestles with an event that happened to her five years earlier, and the memories of that event rush back when a vi

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“a beautifully written, thoroughly researched tale of family, friends, and history. It is an easy read, with humor, pathos . . .”

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For fans of John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series of paranormal mysteries, his most recent book, The Woman in the Woods, will probably meet their expectations.

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In Little Shoes, author Pamela Everett has chronicled the events of a 1937 California murder of three little girls with lawyerly skill.

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Robert Gleason’s new book, The Evil That Men Do, is a jumble of confusing ideas.

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Christina Dodd’s latest book Dead Girl Running has an interesting premise: a woman is looking for a home, a job, and her own history.

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For fans of the TV series, Murder, She Wrote, this latest entry in the written series by the same name has everything they will need to travel back in time and revisit Cabot Cove.

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In his book, Read This If You Want to Be a Great Writer, author Ross Raisin emphasizes his theme of “experiment” in every chapter.

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Alan Hollinghurst’s novel, The Sparsholt Affair, presents a bit of a conundrum.

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Although slender in scope, Eventide by Therese Bohman scales one woman’s life experience in three dimensions.

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Jason Matthews’ The Kremlin’s Candidate is the finale in his Red Sparrow series. The story is very “today” with action and events pulled from current headlines.

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Con Lehane, in his recent mystery Murder in the Manuscript Room has enough twists and turns to keep any reader interested.

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Randall Silvis, in his new book, Walking the Bones, has placed his protagonist, Sgt. Ryan DeMarco, in the precarious position of questioning his own mental stability.

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In Teresa Trent’s novel, Murder of a Good Man (A Piney Woods Mystery), her heroine, Nora Alexander, has a simple task: deliver a letter from her recently deceased mother to a man she’s nev

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Alyssa Maxwell’s A Devious Death is the third in her A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries.

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In A Case of Syrah, Syrah, author Nancy J. Parra sets the scene for a good cozy mystery.

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“Matthews does an excellent job of pulling Bobby out from behind any family shadows to give us an in-depth portrait of what could have been.”

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“For anyone who enjoys reading about American history, this book is most enjoyable, informative, and belongs on the library shelf.”

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"This slender little book . . . is a treasure."

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Emma Cross is an independent woman—more independent than anyone in 1897 Newport, Rhode Island, wants to admit.

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“a fascinating read.”

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Although many consider that the modernist period of literature began just prior to the start of the 20th century and continued into the 1960s, and included many familiar names, it is the year 1922

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It’s hard to believe there is crime in Washington, DC’s upper crust society, but Colleen J. Shogan’s Calamity at the Continental Club brings it front and center.

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For the non-aficionado, war stories can be dry and slow reading, buried in the minutiae of fact, but Bill Sloan’s approach with Their Backs Against the Sea does not fall in that category.

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Mary V. Dearborn’s biography of Ernest Hemingway takes him apart in minute pieces. To say that he was a complex character is an understatement.

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In Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession, author Alison Weir takes well-known figures from history and offers their story in a fictional presentation.

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It must be said up front that Jessica Shattuck is a genius at character development and narrative description.

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Sir John Halberd is found dead in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London.

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Claretta Pitacci, although not the only mistress to Italian Prime Minister and dictator, Benito Mussolini, is possibly best known as the one who died with him.

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In 1938, while a guest at the home of John “Jack” Jessup, Portia Blake, a beautiful actress of limited talent, falls victim to a horrific murder.

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another exciting Sigma Force adventure.”

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Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae is the first in the new Highland Bookshop Mystery Series.

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I Loved Her in the Movies, Robert Wagner’s remembrances of the many actresses he has worked with, gives snapshots into the world of films and female stars from as far back as the silent sc

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The emergence of the comic book to a more mature graphic novel can easily be equated to a butterfly rising from a cocoon.

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This anthology of short stories, The Mistletoe Murder, is a collection of four short stories by P. D. James.

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Drink it in with a cup of Earl Grey Tea on a cold winter evening.”

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There is something about a machine named the “bestseller-ometer” that has a snake oil feel to it, and yet The Bestseller Code by Jodie Archer and Matthew L.

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Ross King does an exemplary job of bringing Claude Monet back to life.”

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As World War II sinks further into history and people from that era begin to pass, one would think the interest in that period would wane exponentially.

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All good writers who treasure their craft adhere to some technique guidelines that will help them produce their best writing. One of the first techniques they learn is observation.

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The Shattered Tree is an enjoyable and quick read—well worth the time.”

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Mysteries come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and The Darkness Knows by Cheryl Honigford is a perfect fit for the “cozy” mystery category.

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" . . . grabs the reader by the throat and does not let go until the very last page!"

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It is hard to wrap one’s mind around a thirteen-year-old child in Victorian England killing his mother, and yet in Kate Summerscale’s book The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murde

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Silva lives up to his reputation as a foremost writer of spy thrillers. This book turns its own pages!”

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Mary Mallon, “Typhoid Mary” as she was best known, was an Irish immigrant who worked as a cook in several well-to-do homes, but that was not what she was best known for.

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ANGST and DISPAIR, in all capitals, are clearly the driving forces behind Robin Wasserman’s latest novel, Girls on Fire.

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“a fast read about a ghastly situation and its effects on myriad people.”

The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson is a republication of her original work from 2007.

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Adam Hochschild’s book, Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 gives us a different take on reporting about wars and their effect.

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In David Baldacci’s newest thriller, The Last Mile, he opens with a hook that grabs the reader and doesn’t let go for over 400 pages.

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Goodbye to the Dead is drop dead good.”

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W. B. Belcher’s first novel Lay Down Your Weary Tune is the kind of book you start reading and don’t put down until you reach the last page.

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Charles Moore’s second volume biography of Margaret Thatcher, Margaret Thatcher at Her Zenith: In London, Washington and Moscow addresses her rise to the top and her stay there for eleven

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Tricky Twenty-Two is the most recent in the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Her heroine, Stephanie Plum, is a bounty hunter who works for her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman.

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a good, solid, page-turner . . .”

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All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke is the second in the Under Suspicion series and features Laurie Moran as the hard-hitting producer of the popular reality TV se

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"The story is breathtakingly laid out . . ."

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Death in Hollywood is always more interesting if it hints at murder, and The Ice Cream Blonde by Michelle Morgan does just that.

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“a great read, fast moving . . .”

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Something may have been lost in the translation, but The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen is flat.

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In her book The Lake House, author Kate Morton takes three stories about children—a missing child, an abandoned child, and a child given up for adoption—and braids the stories together.

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Tightrope by Simon Mawer tells the story of Marian Sutro, a World War II heroine who fought behind the lines to assist the Allies.

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brings everything about this time in American history bubbling to the top, to be relished and reread.”

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MI6 and CIA be damned! The Vatican and Pope Pius XII during World War II could have put any espionage agency to shame.

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Donald Bain has picked up the mantle of Margaret Truman’s Washington, DC, based mysteries and does her proud.

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There is something voyeuristic about reading personal correspondence between two people when you are not one of those people. And yet, you are compelled to continue, you can’t stop.

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A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd is another intriguing story featuring heroine Bess Crawford. Set in 1918, the story revolves around an event that occurs two years earlier.

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Meera Subramanian, in her book A River Runs Again, poses the problem of the state of India’s ecology and its decline since the 1950s and the Green Revolution.

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In his book The Cost of Courage author Charles Kaiser brings the horror of existing in occupied France during World War II front and center.

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"special style of storytelling . . ."

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As the dust of World War II appears in the rearview mirror of our memories, it takes a special book to explain the inner workings of the Washington, DC, establishment of the late 1930s/early 1940s

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In Spinster by Kate Bolick, we are taken on a journey of learning.

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“the story wandered far afield through dead-ends, unnecessary characters, and false starts.”

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“a fine storyteller.”

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“DeAngelis’s ability to tell an engaging story that draws the reader in makes this quirky read a real page-turner.”

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Author Joakim Zander’s writing style in The Swimmer is difficult to describe.

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“On a scale of one to five stars, this book gets six stars. The precise detail throughout lets the reader experience the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, not just read about it.”

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“This book is not for everyone but for the reader who enjoys finding the mystery in the mystery, it might be enjoyed.”

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Andrew Gross is a skilled storyteller, and he drives the tension to its climatic point, pulling the reader along.

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Indexing is an art. Not everyone will find it interesting . . .

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This book is rich in detail not only about Billy Mitchell, but also about the many steps taken to finally bring a third military arm into existence.

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“. . . this book will grab them by the scruff of the neck and hold them spellbound from beginning to end.”

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“. . . fascinating as it lays open the background of two intriguing personalities . . .”

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Lucien Bernard is a conflicted man.

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“. . . so interesting that is it well worth the read.”

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“Find a place for it on your bookshelf, regardless of what you might have to remove to make room.”

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Susan Rebecca White’s A Place at the Table introduces the reader to three troubled characters, each with a heartrending story.

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The years just prior to World War II were fraught with tension, and in Those Angry Years Lynne Olson provides extensive detail on the players, both major and minor.

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“Daniel Silva is an excellent storyteller.”

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“You will not be disappointed.”

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In The Other Typist Suzanne Rindell takes the reader on a journey deep into the recesses of the mind of the main character, Rose Baker.

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“Anyone who owns a pocket watch handed down through generations should read this book and take a close look at the history behind their family heirloom.”

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As a journalist stationed for many years in Jerusalem, author Lesley Hazleton is not unfamiliar with religious research and writing.

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“. . . belongs on one’s library shelf.”

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“If Ms. Huber continues writing her ongoing adventures in the same manner as The Anatomist’s Wife she is sure to have a successful career as a mystery writer.”

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“The book’s blurbs give insight into where the story is supposed to go, but it is a long time in getting there—and the way it gets there is less than compelling overall.”

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“John Saturnall’s Feast belongs in every library and perhaps even in the kitchen—just to remind the reader just how important a feast is.”

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“. . . packs a powerful punch: Ms. White covers every possible topic the up-and-coming female executive will need to tuck into her Prada portfolio.”

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“. . . a failed history lesson.”

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“. . . yet another exciting race through the byways of the spy community . . .”

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“. . . the first of a series, each focusing on a different daughter . . .”

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“The authors have mastered the skill of pacing . . .”

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“. . . a task of gargantuan proportions . . .”

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“The reader doesn’t read this book, but experiences it. Ms.

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“Ms. Zimmerman infuses life into these characters through her detailed research.

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“As with any good mystery, the tension ramps up as the story progresses, pulling more and more characters into the fray, weaving three murders flawlessly into a tight tale. Mr.

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“There are some interesting twists and turns as the story winds down—and yet the resolution of the child abduction seems to take the reader on a separate path away from the original story o

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“. . . while many of the stories in Life Upon These Shores give us pause, Mr.

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“For the reader interested in the specific history of one set of tales, or the complete story of Arthur, his knights, his queen, and Camelot, The Death of King Arthur is a great re

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“In all, this is a graceful story about a talented woman whose poetry and prose have, for the most part, survived for over 200 years. Mr.

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“Although noir was once a genre dominated solely by male writers, Ms. Faust’s liberating writing brings new substance to pulp fiction.

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“On the credit side, Mr. Drvenkar’s narrative and dialogue are strong and move each section of the story along. He selects his words with care . . .

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“It’s difficult to do justice to the 750 recipes and the overall presentation, except to say that this book never goes on the shelf—it never leaves the countertop, where it is always within

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“Just one title in a series of Bess Crawford mysteries, A Bitter Truth is a definite keeper.”

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“Jean-Philippe Toussaint uses words as a painter uses his palette, the colors carefully chosen and applied to the canvas, evoking emotions, perhaps raising questions, but always luring the

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“[Spycatcher] is timely in its topic and credit should be given to Mr. Dunn for applying his experience to designing a suspense thriller.

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“Daniel Silva writes with a clarity not seen by many of today’s writers. He has designed a delicious plot that moves with the speed of light.

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One, two, three. One, the pain of losing a child to an accident; two, the confusion of losing a child to a suicide; three, the fury of losing a child to murder.

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“. . . when Ms.

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“With red herrings, foreshadowing, and hidden clues added in, A Spark of Death leads us on a . . . breathless journey from beginning to end.”

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Quirky and edgy—the yin and yang of a good story. These two words give the concise description of The Brick Murder: A Tragedy, an anthology of short stories by Kurt Jose Ayau.