Review: The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths

The House at Sea's End (Ruth Galloway, Book #3)
by Elly Griffiths
Release Date: January 10, 2012
2012 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Ebook Edition; 352 Pages
ISBN13: 978-1-547-50614-2 (Hardcover, 284 Pages)
ASIN: B005CNOHY0
Genre: Murder / Mystery
Source: Review Copy from Netgalley

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

Ruth Galloway has just returned from maternity leave and is struggling to juggle work and motherhood. When a team from the University of North Norfolk, investigating coastal erosion, finds six bodies buried at the foot of the cliff, she is immediately put on the case. DCI Nelson is investigating, but Ruth finds this more hindrance than help - Nelson is the father of her da...moreRuth Galloway has just returned from maternity leave and is struggling to juggle work and motherhood. When a team from the University of North Norfolk, investigating coastal erosion, finds six bodies buried at the foot of the cliff, she is immediately put on the case. DCI Nelson is investigating, but Ruth finds this more hindrance than help - Nelson is the father of her daughter, Kate. Still, she remains professional and concentrates on the case at hand. Forensic tests prove that the bodies are from Southern Europe, killed sixty years ago. Police Investigations unearth records of Project Lucifer, a wartime plan to stop a German invasion. A further discovery reveals that members of the Broughton Sea's End Home Guard took a 'blood oath' to conceal some deadly wartime secret. The more information they uncover, the more elusive any explanation becomes. When a visiting German reporter is killed, Ruth and Nelson realise that someone is still alive who will kill to keep the secret of Broughton Sea's End's war years. Can they discover the truth in time to stop another murder?

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My Thoughts

The House at Sea's End was an entertaining Ruth Galloway Mystery, but I enjoyed it more due to Ruth's anguish over the difficulties of being a working single parent rather than for the actual murder / mystery that was in this novel.  As always, I truly appreciate the sense of atmostphere that Ms. Griffiths is able to bring to these novels as there is always a feeling of tension in the air, whether she is describing the beauty of the aftereffects of a snowstorm, or describing the wonders and dangers of doing archaeological work withing the confines of the sea.
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Because I have read the first two novels in this series, I had the benefit of knowing background information that was often referenced in this novel.  While you could read this novel as a stand-alone, it would definitely help if you had read the first two novels before beginning this one because the author does assume you have read them when making references to the preceding events.  In this one, Ruth Galloway is returning from maternity leave and is dealing with the frustrations of working full-time and being a full-time mom.  She is definitely turning out to be one of my favourite characters in this series, and I love the fact that she is full of imperfections as I can totally relate to her as a mom dealing with both work and motherhood.  I understood her frustrations when people around her were telling her she should be at home with her baby, yet she was conflicted as she really enjoyed her work and wanted to be something more than just a mom.  I found her personal conflicts to be rather more interesting than the mystery, to be honest.
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I also liked the fact that the secondary characters had the benefit of a lot of character development as well, and I got to learn more about their personal lives and some of the problems they were dealing with.  There is one situation in particular I am really curious to see where it goes as it could create a lot of problems, and yet is so common today.  I don't want to give it away, but the situation will carry into the next novel and I am really, really curious, and it was completely unexpected.  All I will say is that it involves Cathbad - the druid who amuses me to no end.
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As for the mystery itself, I found it quite interesting at first, but it sort of petered off for me and although I did not figure out who the murderer was, I did find it to be a bit of a letdown.  It seemed to lack that dramatic twist that it was leading up to and I was a little disappointed.  I do have to say however, that Ms. Griffiths did a great job portraying the time period during the Second World War, the fears, the expectations, the betrayals, and the impulsiveness that would have existed during that time period, and I enjoyed learning what life was like at that time.  The terror and the fear came through, and I couldn't imagine what it was like to have to live like that all of the time.
 

Verdict

The House at Sea's End was an enjoyable third addition to a series that I thoroughly enjoy.  I thought the author did a remarkable job in developing her characters in this novel, and the atmosphere definitely portrayed the English countryside in a way that made me feel like I was right there.  I was not overly impressed with the murder / mystery in this one however, and I didn't really see the purpose of Tatjana's visit other than to show another aspect of war, and Tatjana's attitude irritated me to no end, even to the coincidental "just happen to be around in the nick of time" towards the end of the novel.  While convenient coincidences grate on my nerves, there are enough wonderful aspects to this novel that I still enjoyed it tremendously and am looking forward to book four, A Room Full of Bones.

Review: Nine Man's Murder by Eric Keith

Nine Man's Murder
by Eric Keith
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
2011 Random Note Press
Softcover Edition: 229 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-9773787-7-7
Genre: Murder / Mystery
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Nine graduates of Damien Anderson's Detective Training Agency assembles at an isolated vacation home in northern California for a class reunion.  But their host remains elusive...until he is found dead in a closet.  Soon thereafter, the murders begin.  One by one, the graduates are eliminated by a mysterious person who has decided to pit his wits against the guests'.  As a snowstorm traps the party, the survivors come to realize that the murderer must be one of them.  Yet despite the guests' attempts to protect themselves, the killings continue.  What is the killer's motivation?  Is an old grudge at work?  Could the explanation be related to a series of mysterious accidents on the set of a film titled Nine Man Morris, which the classmates had investigated fifteen years earlier?

My Thoughts
With elements of Harper's Island, Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, and the game Clue, Nine Man's Murder was a fun murder mystery that tested the abilities of the reader to deduce the clues and to see what was basically lying right in front of you the entire time and to see if you caught it or not.  Mr. Keith creates a mystery based on facts, betrayal, and deceit, and leads you through a murder mystery that is interesting and reminds me of the old-style mysteries that I used to devour when I was younger. 

I read this novel twice for when I reached the ending, and did not figure out the who-dun-it, I was somewhat upset with myself, so I read it again more slowly to see exactly what I missed.  I've come to the conclusion that if I were one of the players on the island, I would probably have been one of the first to go as I missed some pretty obvious clues and the murderer would have had no problem getting to me.  I rather enjoyed it a lot more the second through as well, putting the pieces together, and using the map of the house rather effectively.  I wished I had used it the first time through as things would have made more sense and I'm sure I would have figured it out if I had used the map that was provided with the book, and penciled in some of the clues as I went along. 

This is not the type of book where you become close to the characters, and some of them you don't really have time to empathize with as they die fairly early on, but what I liked is that they didn't do silly things in the face of their fear, like in the movies.  As fully trained detectives, the characters analyzed the clues in front of them, without giving any of the plot away, a rather effective tool on the author's part as I looked back in hindsight, and went about methodically trying to solve the crimes.  It was only towards the end that you could feel the tension building as there were fewer and fewer left alive.  While not on the level of Agatha Christie, it was still effective in its own right. 

Verdict
Nine Man's Murder was a rather clever who-dun-it that I enjoyed, filled with characters who have secrets and are tied by bonds that go back fifteen years, it's also a story of whom can you actually trust when you have to?!?!   Written by an author who delights in creating mind-bending logic puzzles and games (try out his Zedix Square when you have a chance and you may never play Sudoku again), I hope he continues to write his suspense-filled novels in the future.

Review: Dead of Wynter by Spencer Seidel & Giveaway

Dead of Wynter
by Spencer Seidel
Release Date: May 24, 2011
2011 Publishing Works
Softcover Edition; 292 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-935557-69-2
Genre: Mystery
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
"Dolly, it's your mother.' Dolly. Jackie Ruth Wynter had called Alice that for years. The conversation that followed led her right back to the place she had run from for years. Her twin brother, younger by just a minute or so, had been fading, transforming into an image of their drunken, narrow-eyed father. Now her father was dead, and her brother, Chris, missing.


Alice resigns herself to return, helping her mother and the local police with the mystery surrounding the crime. But there are some family secrets her mother would sooner take to the grave than reveal. As the authorities come closer to solving the mystery of the men in her family, she begins to realize her past life as Alice Wynter is the missing part of the puzzle. But who is searching out the former Alice?

My Thoughts
One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel was the author's use of descriptive language; it swept me into the story rather quickly and seemed to grip me with a ferocity that wouldn't let go until the very end.  As usual, I thought I had the who-dun-it figured out rather early on in the novel, but with some rather interesting twists and turns, everything got turned on me, and I learned how wrong I was to assume and how easily I was led by some very clever writing. 

Dead of Wynter had some rather unique twists to it that I really enjoyed, one of them being the jump back to 1984 when the events first started.  While some people don't enjoy these shifts from one time period to another, they have never bothered me, and I liked learning about the characters and their motives and what drove them to be the way they are in the present.  The boys and what they did was a real exercise in psychology and I definitely reminisced about my own high school days and what would cause people to do some of the things that they do, and what would be the catalyst to send someone over the edge to violence.  It's so easy to lose communication with someone you love and thought you knew, then realize you never really knew them at all; it's how so many miscommunications begin in the first place.  The way a family can fall apart due to so many secrets and lack of communication as well as total mistrust is frightening; what was seething beneath the surface, just waiting to explode, made me leery and made me question my own life and my own communication with my own family.   I have to give credit to Mr. Seidel and to his writing ability, as the time shifts felt completely natural and occurred in places in the novel that seemed totally appropriate to advance the events in the novel.

While I enjoyed the story very much, and definitely enjoyed the interaction between the characters, I couldn't personally warm up to the characters in the way I think was intended.  Even in a thriller, I need to connect with the main characters, and although this doesn't distract me as much as it would in other genres, I did think of it off and on as I was reading.  I remember wondering, Now shouldn't that bother me a little bit more for that character?  or Shouldn't I be empathizing for him/her? and I didn't. Some of the characters were dark and cruel and vindictive, and I wanted a little something more from them.  I was also somewhat disappointed in the ending as I felt it was rather drawn out and didn't quite have the suspense and thrill the rest of the novel had.  While the setting was pretty interesting, deteriorating snow conditions in Maine, something I could picture rather well living in a snow belt myself, there was just something missing in the ending. 

Verdict
Dead of Wynter was a great debut novel from a fantastic writer.  The storyline gripped me right from the start, and I really enjoyed the twists and turns of a plotline that definitely caught me off guard from what I thought was the obvious solution.   While I thought the ending was lacking a little something, and I didn't feel that connection with the characters, this was still a dark murder/mystery that was enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little darker.  I am looking forward to reading his next novel, Lovesick, to be published in 2012.

You can visit Spencer Seidel at:
http://www.spencerseidel.com/
Twitter @SpencerSeidel

Giveaway

One of my lucky readers will have the chance to win a copy of Dead of Wynter by Spencer Seidel, courtesy of Erin McNichols.

Contest closes 15 June 2011.  Contest is open to residents of Canada and the United States.

Mandatory Entry: Comment on this post, and don't forget to include your email address. 

Review: Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb

Indulgence in Death (Book 31, In Death Series)
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: November 2, 2010
2010 G.P. Putnam Books
ISBN: 978-0-399-15687-8
Hardcover Edition; 384 Pages
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
Lt. Eve Dallas of the New York Police and Security Department returns home from a long overdue Irish vacation to a string of bizarre murders. The crossbow killing of chauffeur Jamal Houston in his limo in a La Guardia parking lot is followed by the death of high-rent prostitute Ava Crampton, found at Coney Island's House of Horrors stabbed with a bayonet. Other victims include Luc Delaflote, a celebrity chef who's harpooned, and Adrianne Jonas, "a facilitator for the rich" strangled with a handmade bullwhip. Eve, assisted by her trustworthy sidekicks, Det. Delia Peabody and husband Roarke, uncovers a wicked game that grows increasingly macabre.

My Thoughts
When I first started reading this book, I thought J.D. Robb had returned to the writing style of the earlier books of this series and I really enjoyed the set-up and interaction between Eve and Roarke and Roarke's Irish family.  Eve and Roarke were in Ireland taking a much-needed holiday and it was fun seeing Eve out of her element in the countryside attempting to deal with nature and countryside and animals.  There was a softer side to the book which had been present in the earlier books in the series where we first met Eve and Roarke as they dealt with their horrible childhoods and fell in love.  Even the presence of a murder in Ireland did not really take away from the softer side of the story, and I was enthralled, enjoying the novel as well as the interesting plot and character developments.  Unfortunately, that 'aura' to the book did not stay when Eve and Roarke returned to New York and I was not really immersed in the novel from that point on.

Don't get me wrong as I enjoyed the novel and I enjoyed reading how Eve and Roarke and Peabody and the various other characters worked together to solve the mystery and the crimes as it was interesting, but there was something lacking in the plot and in the character development whereby I was not as immersed as I was in the earlier novels in this series.  I felt like Ms. Robb was perhaps trying too hard looking for a good story and trying too hard to make it really interesting and it showed.  I have always been interested in the development of Eve and Roarke's relationship and how she 'softened' over the years, yet except for the wonderful beginning to the novel, I really didn't feel that connectedness between she and Roarke that I felt in the earlier novels which was a shame. 

I was a little disappointed in the type of villain in this novel as well.  In the past, her villains have always been so interesting and full of character, with many reasons as to why they did the crime.  I really felt let down in this novel with these villains, particularly as I know how well-written her villains have been in the past.  Maybe I was expecting too much, but there was little anticipation and little climax in this novel and I felt somewhat let-down towards the end.  Knowing how good many of her previous novels in this series have been however, I am definitely not ready to give up on this series quite yet, but would like to see a return to a more complicated villain with more justifiable reasons for doing what they are doing. 

As usual, one of the strengths of the book is always the witty and interesting dialogue between the characters.  There were some funny and comical moments between the characters that did have me laughing out loud, and I particularly enjoyed the rooster scene at the beginning of the novel.   Seeing the serious Eve acting it up is always a treat and I always enjoy those moments when she comes out of shell and does something completely unexpected;  it definitely keeps things interesting. 

Verdict
While Indulgence in Death is not my favourite novel of the series, I am definitely not quite ready to give up on this series as of yet.  I would like to see more of the personal sides to Eve and Roarke which would make it more interesting than the formulaic writing that has already been done to death (sorry for the pun, it was unintentional!). 

Review: The Lies That Bind by Kate Carlisle

The Lies That Bind (Bibliphile Mystery, Book 3)
by Kate Carlisle
Release Date: November 24, 2010
2010 Obsidian Mystery
Paperback Edition; 294 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-451-23169-7
Genre: Mystery
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
When it comes to rare books and antiquities, Brooklyn Wainwright is a master.  That's why she has returned to San Francisco to teach bookbinding class at Bay Area Book Arts.  Unfortunately, BABA director Layla Fontaine is a horrendous host who pitches fits and lords it over her subordinates.  With the help of her beau, Derek Stone, Brooklyn manages to put on a brave face and endure.

But someone else is not so forgiving.  Layla is found dead from a gunshot wound, and Brooklyn is bound and determined to investigate.  But when Layla's past ends up intertwined with Derek's, Brooklyn realizes that the case is much more personal than she thought - and the killer might want to close the book on her for good.

My Thoughts
This third installment to The Bibliophile Mystery Series, The Lies That Bind, was very interesting and a lot of fun.  I enjoyed the variety of characters and learned a lot about the intricacies of bookbinding and restoring precious old books along the way.  Who knew working with books could be so dangerous?

Although touted as a mystery story, I certainly enjoyed this novel for many reasons.  The humour and witty sarcasm made me laugh and the continuous interruptions to our lovebirds, Derek and Brooklyn, as they tried to get together for date after date was comical.  There did come a point in the novel though, where I was feeling like the interruptions were overdone and wanted to get the romance going.  There's only so much of that a reader can take in one novel.  Brooklyn was a sympathetic character who was feeling like someone was out to get her as she always seemed to be around to discover the bodies.  Her cries of "Why me?" certainly found a sympathetic ear in the gorgeous Commander Derek Stone, who returns in this novel as Brooklyn's love interest.  Maybe in the next book, these two will actually get to have a complete date.  Brooklyn does send out some sparks, some not so friendly, as she decides to investigate on her own.  I personally love the scenes where she and Derek discuss some of the risks she has taken and why she should not do that anymore as it's not good for his heart.  How funny!!

I also loved Brooklyn's hippie family, especially her mother, whose various interests change on a continuous basis.  I just found the humour that surrounds the darker elements in this novel, really lightens the mood and makes the novel, which could be dreary, into something fun and entertaining.  And the body count does add up in this novel where it would seem that one should be afraid to go to work at BABA as it would not be safe.  While I did find some elements to be predictable, it did take me a little while to guess the murderer in this who-dun-it and even then, I wasn't sure until the end.  It was a clever little novel with a lot of funny moments that tend to steer you in the wrong direction. 

Verdict
I really enjoyed this novel, especially Brooklyn's family and the ever-so-sexy Derek Stone.  There were a lot of humourous moments and its quirky characters made it fun and entertaining.  Although it could be classified as a stand-alone novel, I highly recommend reading the first two novels in this series, Homicide in Hardcover and If Books Could Kill, before reading this one.  I am definitely looking forward to reading Murder Under Cover when it releases in  May 2011.

Review: The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

The Sherlockian
by Graham Moore
Release Date: December 1st, 2010
2010 Twelve
ISBN: 978-0-446-57259-0
Softcover Edition; 355 Pages
Genre: Fiction
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
In 1893, Arthur Conan Doyle takes delight in killing off his greatest creation.  Soon Doyle finds himself investigating a real crime with his friend Bram Stoker - an undertaking he records in his journal, which later disappears.

In 2010, the world's top Sherlock Holmes scholar announces he's finally found the missing journal.  But shortly thereafter, the scholar is found dead - and the journal is nowhere to be seen.

My Thoughts
What I personally loved about this book is the jump between the two time periods. I found the parallel story lines to be intriguing, and as each chapter ended with a cliffhanger, it certainly helped to keep the reader engaged and committed to finding out the truth. As the intertwining stories go back and forth through time, the reader is engaged in a deep philosophical debate about the worth of knowing the ending to a story and the ramifications of knowing and the impact it has on one’s life. I found it an interesting conundrum and spent some time really thinking about our species and our search for truth, the need to know, and whether the truth actually helps or inhibits our lives.


Harold is an interesting character, and definitely not one I would consider to be a hero in any sense of the word. He is what I consider to be bungling, yet possesses a courage and dare-to-do that is admirable as he searches for the lost diary. I find it ironic how someone can be willing to do anything in their search for the truth, including breaking the law. Arthur Conan Doyle, long one of those people who have made my list of the most fascinating, certainly lived up to his reputation in this book, and I was not surprised by the events and the path he took. Although certainly a work of fiction, Mr. Moore gives Doyle’s character a certain attitude that can only be given to one who can create a character such as Holmes. And the reasons for returning Holmes to the world is certainly plausible, although no one really knows the real reasons why Holmes was resurrected the way he was. The two mysteries, although paralleled in the two time periods, have very different motives behind them, and were equally fascinating because of this.

Mr. Moore’s literary ability is definitely what makes the book so enjoyable, as I didn’t necessarily find all of the characters to be as developed as Harold and Arthur Conan Doyle. I would have liked to have seen more of Bram Stoker and Sarah in this story, and learned more of their personalities and their motives. While there are the usual stereotypical characters in this novel, there are enough quirky and intriguing personalities to keep the venture interesting.

The story, though fascinating and fun, was somewhat predictable. This is not what interested me however, as it was the ending that really intrigued me. For many who are looking for that super-charged ending expected in many murder-mystery novels, that you will not get in this novel. However, you will be left wondering the eternal question: Are you happier knowing the truth, or is it the path to discovery that makes you the happiest? What do you do when you have finally discovered the one thing you are searching for, and will it make you happy?

Verdict
I am looking forward to reading more novels by Graham Moore. I found The Sherlockian to be enjoyable, fun, and intriguing. It certainly made me take note of my Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and I am longing to delve into them once again to see what I have missed the first time through them. This novel is definitely well worth the effort and the time, even if you don’t know anything about Sherlock Holmes or Arthur Conan Doyle.

About the author:
Graham Moore is a twenty-eight-year-old graduate of Columbia University where he received his degree in religious history.  He is from Chicago and lives in Los Angeles.

Blog: The Sherlockian

Review: Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy

Grace Under Pressure (Manor of Murder Mystery Series, Book 1)
by Julie Hyzy
Release Date: June 1st, 2010
2010 Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-0-425-23521-8
Trade Paperback Edition: 310 Pages
Genre: Murder/Mystery
Source: Review Copy from Kaye Publishing

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Everyone wants a piece of millionaire Bennett Marshfield, owner of Marshfield Manor, and letters are coming in daily fromthose claiming to be poor relations.  The elderly, reclusive heir trusts no one but his aged curator, Abe.  But when Abe is killed in a case of mistaken identity, the tide changes...

Although shaken by the murder, Grace Wheaten, whose lifelong dream has been to work at the manor, steps up to the challenge of assuming Abe's job.  But now some of the letters arriving for Bennett have taken a nasty turn, demanding millions - or else.  When an uninvited stalker shows up at the manor and at Grace's home, she and handsome groundskeeper Jack Embers must protect their dear old Marshfield.  But to do this, they'll have to investigate a botched Ponzi scheme, some torrid Wheaton family secrets - and sour grapes out for revenge...

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed Grace Under Pressure, the first book in her new series, Manor House Mysteries.  There was drama, a burgeoning romance, mystery, old family secrets, disgruntled relatives, secret rooms and staircases, disgruntled employees, and general mayhem that usually go with these types of murder mysteries.  All in all, all the kinds of things that I love and enjoy in a murder mystery romp that was fun to read and had me engaged right from the beginning.

Grace Wheaton is a heroine/character in whom I can identify.  She is determined, efficient in her job as Assistant Curator, organized, yet vulnerable and needy, something that I greatly admired.  I know that may seem silly, but I admire people who can fall apart, have their weak moments, then pull themselves together and get the job done.  I've always thought it shows great character in a person and I usually admire that; I don't have a lot of admiration for people who just quit and don't try.  There is definitely some romantic entaglement developing between Grace and Jack Embers and hopefully we'll see more of that as the series continues.  I am also curious as to the history of his name as Marshfield Manor is in Emberstowne, the place where both Grace and Jack live, and there was some teasing by the author as to the connection between Jack's last name and the name of the town, but no further explanations were given.  Hopefully this will also be cleared up in future books as I am really curious.

The plot itself moved very quickly from one event to another.  The story begins with a disturbance during tea time to the murder to one development after another.  I actually looked forward to the scenes between Grace and her assistant Frances, a busybody who loves to gossip, eavesdrop, is somewhat prickly, but provides some entertainment for the reader.  Grace's roommates were also very interesting, and I hope will become principal characters in future novels.  They did help out with some secondary plot lines in this story, but I was intrigued enough that I wanted to learn more about them and their story.  This definitely helps when you know there will be more than one book in a series.

Verdict
Grace Under Pressure was an enjoyable first novel in a new series for Julie Hyzy.  While I did figure out who the murderer was fairly easily, there was enough interesting things going on around the murder that kept me intrigued and interested.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series and learning more about Grace and Jack and Marshfield Manor.