Started: 12/24/16
Finished: 12/29/16
Year: 1995
Pages: 352
Grade: B+
Genre: mystery
Reason for reading: TBR pile, fan of author
Blurb (from back cover): "Upon examining a dead woman fond in snowbound Central Park, Scarpetta immediately recognizes the grisly work of Temple Brooks Gault, a bold, brilliant killer from her past. Soon she realizes that Gault's murders are but a violent chain leading up to one ultimate kill: Scarpetta herself. Now she must stay her own fears and keep step with a psychopath who is always one step ahead, both everywhere and nowhere. but even with the help of her FBI and police comrades, Scarpetta knows the endgame is hers alone to play. Having repeatedly plunged into the madness of Gault's mind, Scarpetta must finally descend into his terrifying home in the subway tunnels beneath New York City. And confront the one killer who would not be caught..."
Opinion: Having read some of Cornwell's more current works, it is interesting to go back in time in Scarpetta's past relationships and cases. This, like her other works, is fast paced and a delight to read.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Friday, December 23, 2016
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Started 12/7/16
Finished: 12/23/16
Year: 2011
Pages: 1128
Genre: Fantasy
Grade: B
Reason for reading: borrowed from Dave
Blurb (from back cover): "Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daeneyrs, mistress of the only three dragons left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others-a supernatural army of the living dead whose animates corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords..."
Opinion: Reading only to finish the series. Some characters are very likable and I'm reading to see what happens to them. Others are so hated that I'm reading to see if they get killed like they should.
Finished: 12/23/16
Year: 2011
Pages: 1128
Genre: Fantasy
Grade: B
Reason for reading: borrowed from Dave
Blurb (from back cover): "Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daeneyrs, mistress of the only three dragons left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others-a supernatural army of the living dead whose animates corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords..."
Opinion: Reading only to finish the series. Some characters are very likable and I'm reading to see what happens to them. Others are so hated that I'm reading to see if they get killed like they should.
Tuesday, December 06, 2016
At What Cost by James L'Etoile
Started: 12/4/16
Finished: 12/6/16
Year: 2016
Pages: 295
Genre: mystery/suspense
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from book cover): "When West Sacramento Police Department Detective John Penley and his new partner, Detective Paula Newberry are tasked with leading the investigation into a local serial killer, it's business as usual-if gruesome business. The killer has dumped three bodies in the past sex weeks-and all of them are missing their internal organs. But while pursuing a lead, the detectives tumble upon a personal message the killer left behind for Penley. And it's attached to a human kidney.
"How could the killer know Penley's son is on the kidney transplant waiting list? Now Penley's baited into an impossible trap that could jeopardize his entire career. Will the detective take down the killer and place his faith in the medical establishment to heal his child? Or will he make a deal with the devil for the transplant organ his son needs to live?"
Opinion: A good fast paced mystery but a couple of medical procedures have me scratching my head. And no real connection to why the person who did these heinous murders did them and went after Penley.
Finished: 12/6/16
Year: 2016
Pages: 295
Genre: mystery/suspense
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from book cover): "When West Sacramento Police Department Detective John Penley and his new partner, Detective Paula Newberry are tasked with leading the investigation into a local serial killer, it's business as usual-if gruesome business. The killer has dumped three bodies in the past sex weeks-and all of them are missing their internal organs. But while pursuing a lead, the detectives tumble upon a personal message the killer left behind for Penley. And it's attached to a human kidney.
"How could the killer know Penley's son is on the kidney transplant waiting list? Now Penley's baited into an impossible trap that could jeopardize his entire career. Will the detective take down the killer and place his faith in the medical establishment to heal his child? Or will he make a deal with the devil for the transplant organ his son needs to live?"
Opinion: A good fast paced mystery but a couple of medical procedures have me scratching my head. And no real connection to why the person who did these heinous murders did them and went after Penley.
Saturday, December 03, 2016
The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Edited by Stephen Jones
Started: 11/29/16
Finished: 12/3/16
Year: 2001
Pages: 542
Genre: Short stories/horror
Grade: D
Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR shelf
Blurb (from back cover): "The multiple award-winning Best New Horror series reaches volume 13-lucky for fans of contemporary dark fantasy and the supernatural! To mark the event, this latest edition of the world's premier annual showcase devoted exclusively to excellence in macabre fiction includes only the very best short stories and novellas by today's finest exponents of horror fiction.
"Among the contributors to this volume are: Dennis Etchison, Charles L Grant, Elizabeth Hand, Paul McAuley, Chico Kidd, Kelly Link, Richard A Lupoff and Conrad Williams."
Opinion: As a horror fan, I was very disappointed in this collection. None of the stories were scary. None of them suspenseful. None of them I would really classify as horror. I gave it a D because I finished it. Some of the stories were well written and some were just eh.
Finished: 12/3/16
Year: 2001
Pages: 542
Genre: Short stories/horror
Grade: D
Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR shelf
Blurb (from back cover): "The multiple award-winning Best New Horror series reaches volume 13-lucky for fans of contemporary dark fantasy and the supernatural! To mark the event, this latest edition of the world's premier annual showcase devoted exclusively to excellence in macabre fiction includes only the very best short stories and novellas by today's finest exponents of horror fiction.
"Among the contributors to this volume are: Dennis Etchison, Charles L Grant, Elizabeth Hand, Paul McAuley, Chico Kidd, Kelly Link, Richard A Lupoff and Conrad Williams."
Opinion: As a horror fan, I was very disappointed in this collection. None of the stories were scary. None of them suspenseful. None of them I would really classify as horror. I gave it a D because I finished it. Some of the stories were well written and some were just eh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)