Surgeon Weather Karkinnen doesn’t think anything about the guy she saw in the elevator one morning on her way to work, a scheduled separation of conjoined twins.  Unfortunately for her, that man is directly connected to the pharmacy robbery, the one that shut the hospital down and postponed the surgery.  It takes a while for everyone to make that connection; Lucas Davenport is very unhappy with the implications once that connection is made.  Weather is a witness, the only surviving witness.  The robbers want to make her go away.

Sandford has written another page-turning thriller.  The robbers are, every single person, a stupid lot.  Their stupidity, individually and collectively, results in a great many people dying.  Some of them fairly painfully.  The whole novel takes place in, I think, under a week.  The pace is furious.  The characters breathe – some of them for far longer than they should.  It’s scary to read about so much violence coming out of so much stupidity; this makes a scary world even scarier.

My biggest problem?  The robbery scene is SO totally wrong.  I work in a small hospital pharmacy.  One of my best friends works in a hospital pharmacy in a hospital much like the Minnesota Medical Research Center.  We agree.  The robbery scene could not, would not have happened as Sandford wrote it.  Once I got past that, the book was wonderful.  Maybe it won’t bother anyone else, except pharmacy folk.

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren, July 2010.

Times are tough in Depression-Era America. Eleven-year-old Turtle’s Mom keeps losing housekeeper jobs and getting her heart broken by no-good men. When her Mom gets a job with an old lady who doesn’t like children, she has no other choice but to send her daughter Turtle home to Key West to live with her sister, Minerva. Turtle really isn’t sure how her Mom is going to survive since she’s the sensible one of the two of them, but hard times call for desperate measures.

Turtle arrives with her cat, Smokey, only to discover she’s going to be living in a house with boys, a dog, and nobody wears shoes on the island. At least, she’s not the only one to have a nickname, there’s Beans, Too Bad, Slow Poke and others.

She rides along with the Diaper Gang, a bunch of boys who babysit for candy, and learns the secret family formula for diaper rash.

While in the Conch Republic, she learns about alligator pears (avocadoes), rum running, sponge fishing and most importantly, that she still has a Grandma.  Prior to this, her Mom had told Turtle that her Grandma was dead. Oddly, the hard-shelled Turtle is one of the few people that Nana Philly actually likes. She also meets Key West’s most famous denizen and advises him he should be writing for the funny papers.

Jennifer L. Holm is a descendent of one of those first dwellers on Key West.  ”Turtle in Paradise” is based upon old family stories that have been passed on through the generations.  The tale’s full of good-humored fun and a few hard lessons.  It’s not just a book that young adult readers will enjoy, though.  Anyone who wants to take a quick trip to the Conch Republic is going to love this one.

Reviewed by Rebecca Kyle, July 2010.

Roman citizen I might be – indeed I was born a nobleman in my own tribe – but I was also an ex-slave and a tradesman, and the gulf between myself and Marcus was as great as that between me and the bath-house attendant himself. Without the most explicit instructions I would never have dared to come seek my patron here.

In late second-century Glevum (modern Gloucester), a body is discovered in a shrine to the Emperor Commodus, living embodiment of Hercules. The mere fact of the crime is shocking enough, but complicating matters are the facts that the emperor is not one to take sacrilege of his divine person lightly and that the victim appears to be an ambassador from Rome.

Then the body disappears, and there are reports of unearthly wailing and phantom bloodstains.

As the highest-ranking magistrate in Glevum, Marcus Aurelius Septimus is responsible for finding and dealing with  the perpetrator(s) of the crime, but it is his client, pavement-maker and freed former slave Libertus, who assumes the actual task of  solving the mystery. Upon receiving news of the imminent arrival of another imperial legate, Libertus must do so quickly, even as rumors spread through the city that he committed sacrilege against the emperor.

I’ve read several of Rosemary Rowe’s Libertus mysteries in the past year, so it follows that I enjoy them. I do, though not for the mysteries themselves, which I find rather thin. Rather, it’s her attention to historical detail, in particular the incredibly complex nature of ancient Roman society and interactions between patron and client, patrician and ordinary citizen, free and slave, and Roman and Celt, that pulls me in and holds my interest.

As a student of history I’m wary of historical fiction in general because it tends to fall into two categories: those that include every imaginable microscopic detail in the name of authenticity, but fail to produce a narrative structure sturdy enough to support all that detail; and those that throw in a few historical details to make the story seem authentic, but the wildly anachronistic characterizations undo any potential realism. When I do read historical fiction it’s usually set in Britain during the Roman occupation because it falls within the general purview of my historical interests but doesn’t land right in the center of my specialization. That way I can enjoy the story and the efforts at authenticity without being too bogged down by details I know are wrong.

Rosemary Rowe is, in my opinion, the best – as in most authentic – writer of this particular subgenre precisely because of the attention she gives to the way Roman society functioned back then. (For the record, I find Ruth Downie’s Medicus mysteries more enjoyable as a casual reader, but Rowe’s make my inner historian wriggle with delight at the details she includes.) In truth, Rowe loses me with her use of the first-person narration, which has rarely ever not annoyed me in long-form fiction.

Libertus, however, is an appealing and sympathetic protagonist; his efforts to re-establish a relationship with his former wife, with whom he has recently been re-united after they were separated and sold into slavery twenty years before are especially moving. Marcus is likeable as well, in his own privileged and self-centered way; it helps that he occasionally reveals glimmers of self-awareness, in that he recognizes, if not acknowledges, who’s actually driving the cart. Ultimately, it is their relationship and the many challenges they must negotiate in accordance with Rome’s arcane beliefs and traditions about one’s place in society, that truly makes these books worth reading.

Reviewed by Laura Taylor on Beyond the Blurb; reprinted here with permission.

Pepper Martin does not want her current assignment.  It’s the 179th birthday of President James A. Garfield; there is a Garfield memorial at Cleveland’s Garden View Cemetery.  Of course, there will be some celebration of this anniversary.  Unfortunately for Pepper, she has to plan this celebration with Marjorie Klinker, a volunteer with an unpleasant personality and a major jones for Garfield.  Marjorie tends to assume that she is in charge and that she knows more than anyone else on any given topic, and very specifically about James Garfield.   Pepper tries to get out of this, but is not successful.

Somebody else isn’t happy with Marjorie.  Someone else pushes Marjorie off the balcony in the Garfield memorial and kills her.  Pepper has several reasons to track down this killer, and she can be as determined as Marjorie can, if not quite as unpleasant.  Her ex-boyfriend the police detective might disagree, but Pepper isn’t inclined to pay him any mind.

There are a surprising number of suspects, and as many motives.  Pepper has a lot to work with, although the ghost of Garfield is not as helpful as Pepper hoped he would be.  His chief concern seems to be having enough peace and quiet to run the government.

Daniels has quite a nice little series going with Pepper Martin and the ghosts in her life.  Pepper is young, smart, and adventurous.  This doesn’t mean she takes foolish chances, but she is willing to go out on a pretty sturdy limb once in a while.  The background on Garfield is interesting, and fed to the reader slowly and painlessly.  Tomb with a View is an enjoyable read that should hold one’s interest without demanding a great deal.  Take it to the beach, maybe?

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren, June 2010.

A double killing has taken place in the Cambodian community of a town in Washington. Gathering evidence and information from the community is going to be very difficult, given the reluctance of the Cambodians to talk to the police, so Bridget O’Hern is asked to act as liaison.

Bridget is a consultant with the Southeast Asian Assistance Agency and, although her knowledge of the language is limited, she has gained the trust of many of the Cambodians and is familiar with their customs and cultural behavior. Detective Jack Patrewski resists her help at first, considering her more of a nuisance than anything, and his new partner, Consuelo Morales, dismisses her participation.

Interwoven throughout the initial murder investigation is the element of Asian teenage gang activity and their apparent attempts to recruit the children of the murdered couple. In addition, there are hints of illegal activities by some of the leaders of the community. Bridg and Jack must work through the various possible motives of the killings and the people who might be involved while also trying to protect the children, against great odds.

The author has created a fascinating tale, not only in the mystery of the murders, but in the story of the refugees from the Khmer Rouge. To many westerners, the entire Asian culture and history are mysteries in themselves, and none more so than the Cambodian. Ms. Harrington worked for many years with the Cambodian refugee community in the Puget Sound region and her experience and knowledge are readily apparent. The murder mystery by itself is very good and the additional benefit of gaining a little understanding of the people makes this a book that will have great
appeal.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, 2001.  Slightly revised 2010.
Review first published on murderexpress.net in 2001.

Of course, it had been the coldest night of the year when librarian Vicki Myron opened the book depository one morning to find a kitten shivering inside. The staff of the Spencer, Iowa library helped nurse the kitten back to health and gave him a suitable name, “Dewey” after the system by which libraries arranged their books.

Dewey wasn’t just a dust collector on the shelves, though.  This cat got out and interacted with the library patrons often selecting someone lonely and in need of company to tend to.  He increased visits to the library and got many people reading who otherwise might not have done so, according to Myron.

Dewey isn’t the only library cat around, but in his eighteen year lifespan, he was definitely the most famous with people coming from all over the world to visit the feline.  His life-story’s well told with a lot of heart.

Reviewed by Rebecca Kyle, June 2010.

Somehow, helping vampires catch a rogue of their own isn’t quite what Madison Rose had in mind when she left Boise for L.A.  Apparently, there is a lot more going on in L.A. than most people realize.  The vampire culture is more prevalent than we suspect, and that’s just how the vampires like it.  The vampires are quite happy that there is a large supply of wanna-bes, aching to serve on the off-chance a conversion will be their reward.  They just want people to be discreet.  This is becoming difficult, since someone is killing people in a way guaranteed to draw attention to the culture.

Madison is rescued from almost certain death by two vampires, and ends up working as their Renfield, helping them figure out who is killing people and why.  The Dedhams are cooperating with a policeman, who is working secretly because there is a confessed murderer in custody.  The Dedhams and the detective don’t believe this guy is the killer and they want to find the real one before things get really bad.

Murder in Vein is the first in a new series for Jaffarian; it should do well.  The characters are good, the plot is good, and the vampire theme is quite hot right now.  Madison Rose is a woman with a bit of a past, working on changing her life.  Working for vampires is a departure for her, and it should be interesting to see where this new life takes her.

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren, June 2010.

There are now less than a handful of authors whose hardcovers I will pick up without reading at least to Chapter Two. Emma Bull is one of that handful. She’s only produced a few books in her literary career, but I find her writing to be as finely honed as Damascus steel–with a terrible beauty to match. If I had checked and realized that Territory was a Western, I might not have even read it.

That would have been a big mistake.

Most people who know my book habits would describe me as a voracious reader. If I like a book, I’ll devour it in one sitting. In this case, I took a week to drink in the setting and the people and to occasionally read back.

Territory takes place in Tombstone, AZ, circa 1881. The town is barely in its toddler stage, born of greed and men’s need to find a new life.

Bull’s point of view characters are Mildred Benjamin, a recent widow, who works as a typesetter for the local paper and writes serial fiction on the side. Jesse Fox is an Eastern educated drifter who started out training to be a mining engineer til he discovered he had a talent for horse training. Fox has been told by a Chinese physician, Chow Lung, that he has a gift for magic and should use it. Til now, Fox has postponed that suggestion.

Mildred and Fox both discover there is dark magic afoot in Tombstone. More than one magician is fighting over the land rights. For certain, they know that one of those dark magicians is Wyatt Earp, brother to the Deputy US Marshal, Virgil Earp.

Along the way, we experience Western life firsthand. Ironically, fire breaks out in one of the hotels while the town’s mayor is away trying to purchase a fire wagon for the town. The mining company is fighting folks with claims in town (including Mildred Benjamin) so they can acquire more space. As an aside note, President Garfield is assassinated. News comes via the telegraph–not the ‘up close and personal’ media of the television.

There’s a mystery woven tightly into this fantasy landscape. Characters are well-written and the descriptions literally take you there–to the point of tasting smoke and dirt when the fire first breaks out. The story’s spin is one that’s not commonly told–and an interesting one.  Territory is hard to put down, but I found myself doing that and re-reading a bit earlier than I’d left the book because I actually did want to make this one last. This is one of the best fantasy novels I have read in a long time.

Territory is not the first fantasy depiction of Tombstone, AZ during the OK Corral era. “Spectre of the Gun” (an original “Star Trek” episode) had Captain Kirk and his landing party inadvertently cast in the role of the Clantons and McCourys.

History purists:  Territory doesn’t quite match the historical accounts; however, we all know that history is written by the victors. Clanton (who survived the OK Corral) unsuccessfully tried to prosecute Wyatt Earp and companions for murder. There are two sides to the story and Bull’s version definitely paints Earp with a dark brush.

Reviewed by Rebecca Kyle, July 2007.
Review first published on amazon.com in 2007.

Movie for Dogs by Lois Duncan is a later installment in the popular “for Dogs” franchise.  Before getting to the review I need to note two things.  The first is that I haven’t read the previous books in the series or seen the movie (Hotel for Dogs).  The second comment is that I do enjoy juvenile fiction.  Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books.  I even enjoy an occasional offering by Dr. Seuss or a Little Golden book (The Pokey Little Puppy is seriously underappreciated as a work of literary fiction).  O.K. – on to the review.

In Movie for Dogs, Bruce and his sister, Andi, have entered a dog themed film contest.  Those who have read the previous books will not be surprised to hear that Jerry Gordon and his dog also make an appearance.  What I believe are the usual supporting characters – parents, aunts, etc. – are again present.  The not-quite-perfect children and the appropriate social messages present in the previous stories are here again, as well.  Plans are made, the villain tries to derail them and then … well, you know the rest of the story. In spite of my fondness for juvenile fiction, I can’t say that I enjoyed this book.  The plot is a bit too predictable and I didn’t fall in love with the characters.  Scholastic suggests that this book is appropriate for ages 8 to 12.  I think if you liked the previous offerings, you will be safe with this one.  I also think that if you have a young friend who likes dogs and is at the earlier end of that 8 to 12 age range, or even a bit younger, then this is an excellent choice.

Reviewed by Alva Hughes, May 2010.