Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Where Serpents Lie by T. Jefferson Parker

Started: 5/13/19
Finished: 12/29/19
Year: 1998
Pages: 557
Genre: suspense
Grade: B
Reason for reading: TBR pile
Blurb (from back cover): "Terry Naughton has come up against his share of heinous criminals in his years on the force-but nothing has prepared him for the Horridus, the brilliant madman who is terrorizing the children of Orange County.
"As he races to stop the Horridus before his crimes escalate, Naughton learns the that the Horridus many not be the only enemy. When shocking accusations put his career on the line, he is forced to confront his own dark and violent past in his search for the truth. Who is behind the setup? And even if he can clear his name, can he do the same for his conscience?
Opinion: Even though it took me several months to read this, it was an enjoyable suspenseful book with 2 plot lines that are intertwined. I've always enjoyed T. Jefferson Parker's books and this one does not disappoint.

Clobbered to Death by Rosemarie Ross

Started: 11/30/19
Finished: 12/29/19
Year: 2019
Genre: mystery
Grade: B
Pages: 312
Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway book
Blurb (from back cover): "Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter...despite the fact that she's actually a pediatrician's daughter. Now she's signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself-and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn't part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes...
"During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool, But the next morning, it's Mick's body that's cooling-right next to Courtney's pan, now classified as a murder weapon."
Opinion: If you're a fan of the The Great American or British Baking Show then you will probably get a kick of this murderous take on them. Definitely a lot of suspects with different motives to want Mick dead. For the first in a new cozy mysteries series, I'm looking forward to future ones.

Monday, December 09, 2019

Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge by Jim Schutze

Started: 10/5/19
Finished: 12/8/19
Year: 1997
Pages: 304
Genre: True Crime
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "Bobby Kent was a bully-a steroid-pumped 20-year-old who dominated his peers in their comfortable, middle-class Ft. Lauderdale beach community through psychological, physical and sexual abuse. But on a summer night in 1993, Bobby was lured to the edge of the Florida everglades with a promise of sex and drugs...and was never seen alive again. The tormentor had become the victim in a bizarre and brutal act of vengeance carried out with ruthless efficiency and cold-blooded premeditation by seven of his high school acquaintances-including his lifelong best friend-and instigated by one overweight, underloved teenager who believed her life would be perfect...if only Bobby Kent were dead."
Opinion: This was one of the strangest murder stories that I've read. Hard to believe that with as many people that were told that a small group of people wanted Bobby Kent dead that this even happened. I'm not at all surprised about how quickly the suspects were arrested.  Bullying is definitely frowned up and in a way he did deserve what happened due to the severity of the bullying but murdering him and thinking that they could get away with it is ridiculous.

Saturday, December 07, 2019

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

Started: 8/3/19
Finished: 11/28/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 344
Genre: Literature
Grade: B
Reason for reading: Goodreads book giveaway
Blurb (from back cover): "Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint southern town of Dove Pond, North Carolina, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl name Grace Wheeler.
"If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents-Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book."
Opinion: This was a sweet book about a small Southern town and its newest resident. Friendship and family are the focus and addressed in a charming way. Will be checking out more Dove Pond books.