Review: Murder by Misrule by Anna Castle

Murder by Misrule
by Anna Castle
Release Date: June 8th, 2014
2014 by Anna Castle
Ebook Edition; 350 Pages
ISBN: 978-0991602506
ASIN: B00J9TABYS
Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery
Source: Review copy from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
Francis Bacon is charged with investigating the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray's Inn. He recruits his unwanted protégé Thomas Clarady to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a privateer, Clarady will do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder. Bacon's powerful uncle Lord Burghley suspects Catholic conspirators of the crime, but other motives quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend for the murdered man's legal honors and wealthy clients. Highly-placed courtiers are implicated as the investigation reaches from Whitehall to the London streets. Bacon does the thinking; Clarady does the fencing. Everyone has something up his pinked and padded sleeve. Even the brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss — and in danger — until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule.

My Thoughts
Murder by Misrule looks to be the first book in a new series featuring Francis Bacon, an influential philosopher, statesman, and author.  I have long been a fan of Bacon, who is known for his empirical method and his planned procedures for investigations.  I was drawn to this book as I was curious to see what an author would do with a character such as Bacon.

To begin with, I found the descriptions of this time period to be quite vivid and interesting.  I was drawn into the story immediately and felt a keen sympathy for Bacon right from the beginning.  The author definitely has a soft spot for this character and you can tell in her writing, something which makes the reader feel sympathy and empathy for him as well.  He can be arrogant though, and he definitely possesses a bit of that spoiled attitude we tend to see in the nobility, that whininess that comes when you are not immediately served or have to wait for something.  I found it intriguing as I liked how Ms. Castle tended to portray the lives of the nobility and I found her descriptions at court quite perceptive.  

The other characters were interesting as well; I took a particular liking to Trumpet and I found out why towards the end.  I am hoping Tom Clarady will grow into his character in the next book as he was rather annoying; there were times when I wished that Ms. Castle had actually written the book without him in it.  And the constant bickering between spoiled Stephen and Tom began to get on my nerves, so enough already.  I'm sure Stephen has his reasons for suddenly behaving the way that he did, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why in this novel, and it definitely wasn't explained.  A rather little annoying side-story that either could have been eliminated or develops so we know what is going on.  I understand the element of the prickly dynamic that exists between two people who are from different social classes, and the conflicts that may erupt between them as they try to figure out their roles within those social classes, but it just seemed like it didn't quite fit into the story very well.  And having Francis watching it all with those knowing eyes kind of convoluted everything.  Don't get me wrong, some of it was fun, but some of it was eye-rolling too.  Bacon wasn't exactly at the top of the accepted list during this time either, having been banned from court for his philosophical views, and investigating crimes wasn't exactly the way back to the Queen's heart, but who was he to refuse a direct order?  Francis' contemplations about his problems, and whether anyone else was paying attention to him, was probably at the heart of the book for me.

Having stumbled across a dead body on Queen's Day came as a complete shock to Bacon, and he was tasked with finding the killer of the lawyer by none other than his uncle Lord Burghley.  He recruits the boys to help him with tasks that he has difficulty performing and the boys' antics add a liveliness to the storyline.  I've already mentioned that I wasn't overly crazy over Tom, and his constant romantic outpourings over a woman he met once, and who was a witness to the murder, were rather annoying.  I'm not even sure that Clara had more sense than Tom, but she did tend to resist him for a while longer, even being dragged into the whole sordid mess herself.  I don't think the mystery was that challenging, and I did figure it out, although I did change my mind once or twice before coming to the conclusion I did.  I did appreciate Bacon's inductive method of investigation though, especially as it's what he's historically known for; it lends a rather nice touch.

Verdict
Murder by Misrule was an interesting foray into the life of Francis Bacon, one which I enjoyed quite a bit.  I liked the various characters and thought they were quite fun, each adding their own touch to the story.  I did have problems accepting Tom, but I'm hoping his character will develop and mature in upcoming books as he could be rather annoying.  I liked the dynamics at Gray's Inn as well as the interactions between the characters, including the political dynamics, and liked learning more about the court of law during this time period.  The jabs and humour were fun and made the various characters come alive.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Death by Disputation, when it is released later this year.   

Review: Death on Blackheath by Anne Perry

Death on Blackheath (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, Book #29)
by Anne Perry
Release Date: March 25th, 2014
2014 Ballantine Books
Hardcover Edition; 320 Pages
ISBN: 978-0345548382
ASIN: B00FIMYZF6
Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery
Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
As commander of the powerful Special Branch, Thomas Pitt has the job of keeping Britain safe from spies and traitors. So there’s no obvious reason why he is suddenly ordered to investigate two minor incidents: the blood, hair, and shards of glass discovered outside the home of naval weapons expert Dudley Kynaston, and the simultaneous disappearance of Mrs. Kynaston’s beautiful lady’s maid.

But weeks later, when the mutilated body of an unidentified young woman is found near Kynaston’s home, Pitt realizes that this is no ordinary police investigation. Far from it. Is Kynaston—one of Britain’s most valuable scientists—leading a double life? Is Pitt saddled with a conspiracy so devilishly clever that it will ruin him?


My Thoughts
Death on Blackheath is the latest in the long-running series featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.  I have been of Anne Perry for a very long time now, and have read every single book that she has written.  The Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series and the William Monk series feature some of my favourite books and I have enjoyed immersing myself in the time periods that she writes with such flair.  And while I definitely enjoyed this latest offering featuring Charlotte and Thomas, and was very interested in the issues that developed throughout the novel, it is not my favourite one of the series as I found the mystery portion to be lacking in development and a bit boring.


As always, Ms. Perry seems to understand the world in which Charlotte and Thomas live and her research comes through very well in the triumphs and frustrations of her characters.  This has always been one of the things that has drawn me to these novels over and over again; Ms. Perry is able to highlight many of the issues of the Victorian Era so well and things haven't always gone well for the various characters over the years.  Lately, she has been focusing on the women and their frustrations to the limitations imposed on them; in this one we see a bored and frustrated Emily trying to be more and do more than just be an ornament on her husband's arm, we learn more about how frustrated even Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould has been over the years through different discussions, and even Charlotte is getting bored as she can't help Thomas with his 'secret' cases any more.  And what happens to a woman whose beauty is beginning to fade in society's eyes and is looking to be a more meaningful contributor?  And what happens to a woman who is searching for her identity?  All of these questions and more were discussed and tossed about and I found them fascinating, especially as no real answers were forthcoming.  What I found particularly interesting was Lady Vespasia's discussion on owning real-estate (even though I already know about it), but it was her take on the matter I found fascinating; it is not too often we see her frustrated at society and its limitations as with her great wealth and influence she has had it better than most women.  The discussions over women and how they can contribute to society, despite the limitations, was definitely a highlight for me.  Even Thomas had a contribution to the discussion as he often found himself reminiscing over his daughter and how she would fit into a society that doesn't really appreciate women the same way as men, and how he could help her grow into a confident woman, with more options available to her.  


So, where did I have difficulty with this novel?  The mystery, of course.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between the characters, and the difficulties each character was experiencing in their personal and professional lives, this is a mystery novel, and this is where it fell flat for me.  To be thoroughly honest, I actually thought the premise was a bit absurd, and how it would involve Pitt, as head of Special Branch, I didn't really buy it.  It just felt like the author was asking too much of her authors to forgive her for involving Pitt in the way that she did, and swallow up the reasons as nonsensical.  Not me.  What I did find interesting is the political convolutions and games that are being played out on the big boys' floor; in particular, how Pitt was being given information on a need to know basis and how frustrating this would be for someone in charge of defence of one's country.  We are at that point in time when the whole Arms Race is happening, leading to World War I in roughly twenty years, and there was a lot of stuff happening around the world, and you would think that your head of Special Branch would be let in on a few things.  I get that some things should not be revealed to the public at that time due to panic, but I thought it was just a bit too much in this novel.  The mystery was not such a great mystery in my eyes, although if you are not a history afficionado, and don't know anything about the arms race, and about the political situation in the United Kingdom during this time period, you might miss it.  


Verdict
Death on Blackheath is the latest entry in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.  While not my favourite of the series, there are some interesting social elements to it, as there are to any of Ms. Perry's novels.  Although I did enjoy the interactions between the various recurring characters and their problems, I wasn't overly keen on the mystery and Pitt's involvement with the issue, especially in the beginning.  It's only inevitable that characters change and develop, so I am curious as to where and what Ms. Perry intends to do next with this series, especially as the ending was a bit different than usual, so I will more than likely pick up the next entry in this series.  Will we see more international involvement and bigger things?  I certainly hope so.

Book Blast: The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden

Please join author Jenny Barden as she tours the blogopsphere for The Lost Duchess from May 26-June 20.


Paperback Publication Date: June 5, 2014
Ebury Press
Paperback; 448p




An epic Elizabethan adventure with a thriller pace and a high tension love story that moves from the palaces of England to the savage wilderness of the New World.

Emme Fifield has fallen about as far as a gentlewoman can.

Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America where nobody has ever heard of the Duchess of Somerset.

Emme joins Kit Doonan's rag-tag band of idealists, desperados and misfits bound for Virginia. But such a voyage will be far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to the mysterious Doonan inconvenient to say the least.

As for Kit, the handsome mariner has spent years imprisoned by the Spanish, and living as an outlaw with a band of escaped slaves; he has his own inner demons to confront, and his own dark secrets to keep...

Ever since Sir Walter Raleigh's settlement in Virginia was abandoned in 1587 its fate has remained a mystery; 'The Lost Duchess' explores what might have happened to the ill-starred 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke.

Buy the Book

Amazon (AUS)
Amazon (UK)
Book Depository

About the Author

I've had a love of history and adventure ever since an encounter in infancy with a suit of armour at Tamworth Castle. Training as an artist, followed by a career as a city Jenny (Portrait 2)solicitor, did little to help displace my early dream of becoming a knight. A fascination with the Age of Discovery led to travels in South and Central America, and much of the inspiration for my debut came from retracing the footsteps of Francis Drake in Panama. The sequel centres on the first Elizabethan 'lost colony' of early Virginia. I am currently working on an epic adventure during the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada.

My work has appeared in short story collections and anthologies and I've written for non-fiction publications including the Historical Novels Review. I am active in many organisations, having run the 'Get Writing' conferences for several years, and undertaken the co-ordination of the Historical Novel Society’s London Conference 2012. I am a member of that organisation as well as the Historical Writers' Association, the Romantic Nevelists' Association and the Society of Authors. I'll be co-ordinating the RNA's annual conference in 2014.

I have four children and now live on a farm in Dorset with my long suffering husband and an ever increasing assortment of animals.

I love travelling, art, reading and scrambling up hills and mountains (though I'm not so keen on coming down!).

Author Links

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Jenny Barden's Blog
English Historical Fiction Authors Blog

Also by Jenny Barden

Publication Date: June 20, 2013
Ebury Press
Formats: Paperback, Ebook



 
Mistress Cooksley may be a wealthy merchant's daughter, but she blushes at my words and meets my eyes look for look. Yet I cannot hope to court her without fortune, and a dalliance with a pretty maid will not hinder me from my path.

Captain Drake's endeavour might bring me gold, but I, Will Doonan, will have my revenge.

The Spaniards captured my brother and have likely tortured and killed him. For God and St George, we'll strike at the dogs and see justice done.

I thought I'd left Mistress Cooksley behind to gamble everything and follow Drake, and here she is playing the boy at the ends of the world. She's a fool with a heart as brave as any man's. Yet her presence here could be the ruin of us all...

Virtual Tour & Book Blast Schedule

Monday, May 26
Book Blast at Reading the Ages
Book Blast at Literary Chanteuse
Book Blast at Bibliophilia, Please

Tuesday, May 27
Review at A Bibliotaph's Reviews
Book Blast at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at To Read or Not to Read

Wednesday, May 28
Review at Carole's Ramblings and Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

Thursday, May 29
Book Blast at The Maiden's Court
Book Blast at Cheryl's Book Nook
Book Blast at Book Reviews & More by Kathy

Friday, May 30
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Book Blast at The Mad Reviewer
Book Blast at Curling Up by the Fire

Saturday, May 31
Book Blast at From L.A. to LA
Book Blast at Gobs and Gobs of Books

Sunday, June 1
Book Blast at Lily Pond Reads
Book Blast at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, June 2
Review & Giveaway at The Tudor Enthusiast
Book Blast at The Bookworm
Book Blast at CelticLady's Reviews

Tuesday, June 3
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Book Blast at West Metro Mommy
Book Blast at bookworm2bookworm's Blog

Wednesday, June 4
Review at The Wormhole
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Book Blast at Kelsey's Book Corner

Thursday, June 5
Book Blast at Books and Benches
Book Blast at Book Lovers Paradise

Friday, June 6
Interview at Dianne Ascroft Blog
Book Blast at Kincavel Korner
Book Blast at Caroline Wilson Writes

Saturday, June 7
Book Blast at Royal Reviews
Book Blast at History Undressed

Sunday, June 8
Book Blast at Book Nerd

Monday, June 9
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Book Blast at The Musings of a Book Junkie

Tuesday, June 10
Review at She Reads Novels
Book Blast at Just One More Chapter
Book Blast at History From a Woman's Perspective

Wednesday, June 11
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Book Blast at Books in the Burbs

Thursday, June 12
Book Blast at Big Book, Little Book
Book Blast at Historical Fiction Notebook

Friday, June 13
Review at Susan Heim on Writing
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Saturday, June 14
Book Blast at Hardcover Feedback
Book Blast at One Book at a Time

Sunday, June 15
Book Blast at Passages to the Past

Monday, June 16
Review at Layered Pages
Review at Starting Fresh
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Tuesday, June 17
Review at The Lit Bitch
Book Blast at Griperang's Bookmarks

Wednesday, June 18
Review & Giveaway at Luxury Reading
Book Blast at Princess of Eboli

Thursday, June 19
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at Little Reader Library
Book Blast at Girl Lost in a Book

Friday, June 20
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Review: The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry

The Lincoln Myth (Cotton Malone, Book #9)
by Steve Berry
Release Date: May 20th, 2014
2014 Ballantine Books
Hardcover Edition; 448 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-345-52657-1
ASIN: B00F1W0DBI
Genre: Fiction / Suspense
Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
In Utah, the fabled remains of Mormon pioneers whose nineteenth-century expedition across the desert met with a murderous end have been uncovered. In Washington, D.C., the official investigation of an international entrepreneur, an elder in the Mormon church, has sparked a political battle between the White House and a powerful United States senator. In Denmark, a Justice Department agent, missing in action, has fallen into the hands of a dangerous zealot—a man driven by divine visions to make a prophet’s words reality. And in a matter of a few short hours, Cotton Malone has gone from quietly selling books at his shop in Denmark to dodging bullets in a high-speed boat chase.

From the streets of Copenhagen to the catacombs of Salzburg to the rugged mountains of Utah, the grim specter of the Civil War looms as a dangerous conspiracy gathers power. Malone risks life, liberty, and his greatest love in a race for the truth about Abraham Lincoln—while the fate of the United States of America hangs in the balance.

My Thoughts
The Lincoln Myth is the ninth book in the Cotton Malone series, and this one focuses on Abraham Lincoln and the exploration of ideas behind the truth to the Civil War and the Mormons.  I have been following this author since his first novel, The Templar Legacy, was published, and it has been a true pleasure getting to know Malone and the variety of characters involved in the various novels.  I was definitely looking forward to this latest installment, wondering how a retired Cotton was going to get involved in yet another international incident.  Despite the enjoyable writing style and the historical lessons I received from this one, I have to admit that it was my least favourite of the novels in the series thus far.  

What I have always like about Steve Berry's books are the historical puzzles.  I have been fascinated by how he manages to put together complex ideas and uses them to create new thought patterns that make you think, So it could have played out this way, or, I never thought about it that way.  And naturally, as I've said so many times before, I love secrets.  Throw that word around in a blurb and combine it with the word 'historical' or 'ancient' and you've got me hooked.  And these books are always about the secrets that have been kept hidden for however many centuries. In this one, I learned quite a bit of history about the Mormons, an area of history with which I am not very familiar, and I am ashamed to admit I have been to Utah without realizing this historical significance, and I like to learn.  After visiting Gettysberg, I have also developed a fascination for anything to do with Abraham Lincoln, so I did find the information in this novel quite interesting.  As a Canadian, we don't learn a lot about the Constitution in our history classes, so I liked reading about a lot of this.  I did wonder though, if the book would have had a similar impact on someone who was American, and already familiar with the history, and if it would be rather boring to them.  Not sure what to think about that.

As always, I enjoy Cotton and his quick switches from easy-going bookseller to deadly hitman.  Although retired, he seems to spend an awful lot of time helping out the Justice Department and it makes me wonder how long Steve Berry can come up with plausible excuses to use a retired person to do a job that I'm sure active agents can do as well.  That being said, I've always found Malone's world to be rather engrossing, and downright believable, and this novel was no different.  My problem had to do with Cassiopeia Vitt.  She has been featured in several previous novels so I had been familiar with her personality and in this one, she was...different.  I can't quite put my finger on it but I didn't particularly like her very much.  You just don't change that drastically from one book to another and I couldn't quite buy into it, which soured the plot for me somewhat.  I am wondering if the author just couldn't figure out how to create some drama in the novel and this was the best he could come up with, but I didn't like it and I didn't like how things ended either.  And it doesn't have anything to do with cliffhangers or other such things, it just rang false in my eyes.  

One of the interesting things that did cross my mind, and wouldn't quite leave it after finishing the novel, is the whole concept of secession.  I know this idea has caused a furor in the United States with regards to Texas and some comments made by Rick Perry.  And I know there are some issues in Northern California with a couple of counties wanting to form a 51st state.  The big argument in this novel is whether the Founding Fathers included a 'perpetual union' at the signing of the Constitution that prevents any state from seceding from the union.  Historians have debated this issue for many years, and I understand that the author does take some historical freedoms when creating the novel, but the idea is to force the reader to think about the possibilities about what could happen if secession actually occurred.  In Canada, this is a concept that does come up quite regularly with the Quebec separatist issue so it was interesting to read about the American side of things.

Verdict
The Lincoln Myth was an interesting novel in terms of historical facts and puzzles.  I enjoyed learning more about Abraham Lincoln and some of the reasons for the Civil War.  As always, the story flowed along nicely, with an interesting plot line that definitely has relevance to many issues  we are facing.  I did have issues with some of characters, and there were times when I felt the plot dragged on, as interesting as it was.  It was not your typical Malone novel in that the usual pile up of dead bodies, the escapes, and daring rescues were not evident in this novel, almost to the point where there was too much talk and not enough action.  I also felt like the closure was somewhat lacking.  Even with all of these issues, I am still curious enough about Malone and what trouble he could possibly get himself into next to want to read the next book in this series.  Hopefully, Cassiopeia will hit her head or something and go back to normal as the one in this novel, I didn't particularly like, and I want her back.

Guest Post: David Litwack

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack has launched! This fabulous title is available now on all online retailers and in your local book stores. You aren't going to want to miss this new literary journey exploring the clash between reason and faith, and the power of hope and love.

The Book

After centuries of religiously motivated war, the world has been split in two. Now the Blessed Lands are ruled by pure faith, while in the Republic, reason is the guiding light—two different realms, kept apart and at peace by a treaty and an ocean. Summary: A mysterious nine-year-old from the Blessed Lands sails into the lives of a couple in the Republic, claiming to be the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky. Is she a troubled child longing to return home, or a powerful prophet sent to unravel the fabric of the Republic? The answer will change the lives of all she meets… and perhaps their world as well. Author: David Litwack Genre: Fantasy/Speculative Literary Fiction Publisher: Evolved Publishing

Guest Post - The Greatest Thing I Learned in School

In the seventh grade, I began a six year college preparatory school, the elite school in the city and accessible only via an entrance exam. Ninety-nine percent of its graduates went on to college, many to Ivy League schools. But only one in three graduated. I felt pretty confident. I had a good education to date and all the skills to succeed. But I had never read for pleasure. The kids in this school were very competitive—what we used to call “grade grubbers”—even at such a young age.


On the first day of English class, our teacher, Dr. McNamara, hit us with a stern warning. We were all failing and would get an ‘F.’ No studying would help, no exam would change it. There was only one way we could improve our grade. Dr. McNamara was a bear of a man, with a big round face, jowls and the almost expected wire-rimmed bifocals. He glared at us through them and drew us all to the edge of our seat. “For each book you read,” he said, “I will raise you one grade. If you read five books in the term, you will get an ‘A.’” Our marking term was one month long. I suspect none of us read that much in six months. But then, like a magic salve to the wound, he handed out “the list.” The list consisted of about three hundred wonderful books, and not the stodgy classics, all of them books to delight the young.

That year I read the complete works of Sherlock Holmes and wanted to be a detective. I read The Saga of Andy Burnett and dreamed of running off to become a mountain man. I read The Lord of the Rings and pictured myself as the ranger, Strider, and someday, if I was worthy, king of the men of Numenor. I was twelve years old. Of course I never become any of these, but I’d been given the lifelong gift of reading and have never stopped. The most important thing I learned? Through books, I could experience other worlds, be in the minds of other people. And though fiction may never translate directly to reality, I learned something even more important—the power of possibility. David Litwack, author of There Comes a Prophet, Along the Watchtower, and The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky www.davidlitwack.com

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour

Follow along at Novel Publicity Events

Review: Beneath the Abbey Wall by A.D. Scott

Beneath the Abbey Wall (Joanne Ross, Book #3)
by A.D. Scott
Release Date: November 13th, 2012
2012 Atria Books
Softcover Edition; 352 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-4516-6577-2
ISBN: 978-1-4516-6578-9 (ebook)
ASIN: B007EE5622
Genre: Fiction / Murder
Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
In a small Scottish town, the local newspaper staff doesn't see much excitement. But that all changes when their no-nonsense office manager Mrs. Smart is found murdered one dreary autumn night. For the staff of the "Highland Gazette," the investigation becomes personal when the deputy editor, is accused of the crime.

It's the late 1950s, the decade of rock n' roll and television, and change is coming, but slowly. It's up to budding reporter Joanne Ross to step into Mrs. Smart's shoes and keep the newspaper office running, all while raising two girls alone. But newcomer Neil Stewart proves a major distraction for Joanne.

And what does the tragic tale of children stolen from the Travelling people more than thirty years previously have to do with this murder? In a mystery with twists and turns and no clear-cut solution, the secrets of the past must be unravelled before justice can be found.

My Thoughts
Beneath the Abbey Wall is the third book in the Joanne Ross series, and as I haven't yet read the other two, I can't really compare them at all.  However, I did enjoy this one, but more for the character development rather than the actual mystery which I found rather easy to solve despite the author's attempts at misdirection.

What I did like in this novel is the setting: it contained all of the usual elements that I adore such as the rain, the gothic atmosphere, the Scottish tight-knit community where secrets just abound, the time period where things were very turbulent and constantly changing, and the secrets, secrets, secrets.  I like the appeal of having my characters walk down rainy streets at night, through historical areas where they can be tight and narrow, naturally walking pas a church or cemetery, and the lights are dim or almost non-existent.  Nothing like it to curl the toes or keep the heart pounding.  It's too bad the actual story line didn't take advantage of the setting as the mystery was rather ho-hum and easily solved.

My biggest problem lies with the murdered woman, Mrs. Smart, around whom the story centers.  To be honest, I never felt a shred of sympathy or empathy towards this woman as I never really felt like I got to know anything about her real personality other than she "was a good woman'.  Even learning her story when she was young didn't really endear me to her and my sympathy was rather non-emotional.  It's not that I didn't feel compassion towards her situation, it's just that I couldn't muster up the compassion towards the situation and put it on Mrs. Smart's shoulders and feel compassion for her.  And that's why I couldn't understand McAllister's downturn in his personal life where he let himself go and didn't take care of himself because Mrs. Smart's death affected him so much; I just couldn't make the connection as I just didn't feel it between them.  I did like Joanne's character and the struggles she had with her relationship with the newcomer Neil.  It is the 1950s after all, and a young mother who is not divorced should not be seen around town with another man without destruction to her personal reputation. I really liked the emphasis that the author puts on women's issues and their lack of rights and freedoms during this time period, and how it highlights their plight when they are married to abusive men or when things go badly wrong.  I found Joanne's struggles to be quite interesting, even though I did want to strangle her at times.  Some of this was me though, as an independent women of the new century, it is kind of hard to understand what women struggled with during this time period.  I found Joanne to be the most sympathetic character of the lots and identified with her rather strongly.

Verdict
Beneath the Abbey Wall is one of those books that I enjoyed for the characters themselves, but found myself turning the pages or becoming bored at times as I was waiting for the mystery to pick up and do something.  I think there is a fine line between character development and plot development, and the author spent too much time on the character side, and while somewhat interesting, lost focus on the mystery aspect to this novel.  I found the descriptions of the setting to be very interesting, loved the atmosphere of this novel, really enjoyed the making of newspapers in the 1950s, but felt the mystery was lacking.  The Low Road has an expected publication date of September 2014, and despite some of the flaws concerning the mystery in Beneath the Abbey Wall, it was interesting enough that I will pick up the new entry to this series when it is published as I am curious enough to find out what is going on with the characters.
 

Review: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Maybe One Day
by Melissa Kantor
Release Date: February 18th, 2014
2014 HarperTeen
Hardcover Edition; 384 Pages
ISBN: 978-0062279200
ASIN: B00DB3A8Y6
Genre: Fiction / Young Adult
Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary
Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

My Thoughts
Maybe One Day is one of those books that I definitely had mixed feelings towards.  I really wanted to like it, really, really wanted to like it, but I just had to admit to myself that I had some serious issues with the plot and one of the main characters, and it was too much to ignore. 

When I first read the plot, I thought there would be a bit more ballet in it as I am a huge ballet fan, but I was to be seriously disappointed in this.  While I could actually live with this, as a teacher, I had a hard time with the way the girls were dismissed from the school and it nagged at me like a fly that just won't leave you alone.  I just couldn't imagine an institution like the New York Ballet Academy dismissing the girls in such a manner, together, without their parents, without a probationary period, especially having spent so many years training there.  And before I get flack from this, I do have a couple of friends who went to the National Ballet Academy in Toronto so I am a bit familiar with the process simply because I drilled them mercilessly about it.  So when I asked my friend about it, she laughed out loud and said it was unrealistic.  And that's how the book started, with that sitting in my mind.

I really enjoyed Olivia's character, simply because she was the least annoying of the bunch.  She was sweet and gentle, and took the time to really connect with ALL of her friends while she was sick, as well as her large, extended family.  She just seemed genuine to me, and I had a lot of sympathy for her situation.  Where I had a problem is in the speediness of her diagnosis and treatment.  Everyone has had an experience with cancer and probably has a lot of different stories to tell, but it just seems so unlikely that I had a hard time buying it.  I had a student diagnosed with leukemia a long time ago, and it definitely didn't occur in one day.  The amount of tests this student had to undergo during the diagnosis process was staggering, and took weeks to complete before a complete treatment plan was set in motion. Perhaps some hospitals are different?  But this was a Sick Children's Hospital too.  I also really liked her older brother Jake as he seemed very kind, asking how Zoe was doing every day and giving her special treatment, not that she really deserved it as she kind of wished he was the one dying and not Olivia.  Zoe and Olivia together were okay and I liked a lot of their scenes together; it was probably the most genuine parts of the book and the parts where Zoe actually seemed nice.

Zoe is the one with whom I had the most issues as I couldn't seem to connect with her character although I really tried.  I tried to be sympathetic and understanding, knowing she is just sixteen years old, and going through a really difficult time, losing both ballet and possibly her best friend.  However, that is really no excuse for treating people the way she did and I was ready to throw the book against the wall several times.  I am supposed to excuse the fact that she stereotypes everyone and treats people like crap?  Especially when they are being kind and considerate for her feelings?  It just kept lowering her on the rung of decency for me, and I almost didn't finish the book at one point. That would be the point when she suddenly decided she liked Calvin as he was her way of "escaping" the situation.  What?!?!  You're using this guy so you won't have to think about your problems?  Another step down the decency ladder for me.  And there was actually no connection between them for me as they didn't actually have a conversation about their relationship that I could see, they just seemed to make out all the time.  It was far more interesting when they were arguing and disagreeing as it seemed more realistic.  

Verdict
Maybe One Day just didn't quite meet the mark for me and came rather close to be a DNF.  I managed to finish it and was glad I did as it was probably the best part of the book, rather bittersweet, but for the first time, Zoe was real and I saw a glimmer of someone I could possibly like.  I have a funny feeling many readers will probably like this one a lot more than I did, but I just couldn't connect with Zoe and thought she was selfish and spoiled, which ruined a lot of it for me.  Furthermore, while I enjoyed the scenes at the hospital with Olivia and her family (rather bittersweet), I had a hard time getting past some of the hospital routines and procedures that pushed that skeptic button inside me.  Growing up with a nurse for a mother who worked with cancer patients, I had a hard time buying into some of it.  I also found the writing to be stiff and contrived, and sometimes rushed, as if the author forgot to add something and absolutely had to add it at that moment (hence the romance, which was not needed and actually turned me off this novel). This author does have a lot of talent and the ability to draw a reader in, but I almost felt like she tried too hard.  Would I recommend this novel?  Yes, as I think a lot of people would enjoy it, just not me.  Would I read another book by this author?  Yes. 

Guest Post: On Killing Characters by Jaleigh Johnson

The Mark of the Dragonfly

by Jaleigh Johnson

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Ages 14 and Up

ISBN: 978-0-385-37615-0

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers

In the scrap towns, a day’s pay depends on what you find in the Meteor Fields. Storms rain down objects from other lands, and ever since Piper’s father died, scavenging is the only way for her to survive. Until the day she strikes gold. Unconscious, lying in the fields amid the rubble, is a girl. She’s beautiful and well-dressed . . . and has a dragonfly tattooed on her wrist. The mark of the dragonfly means the girl is from the Dragonfly Territories. If Piper can get her back there, she might get a reward and be able to start a new life.

 
The 401 train is the safest way to get to the Dragonfly Territories, but Piper will have to sneak aboard, and convincing the girl to join her seems unlikely—until there’s a knock on Piper’s door and she learns that the girl is more valuable than she could ever have imagined. There are people who want her back, and they won’t stop until they have her. Piper wants a new life, but running for it isn’t how she thought she’d get there. And the race to the Dragonfly Territories looks like it might be impossible to finish alive.

With a cast of characters who stand up and walk off the page, THE MARK OF THE DRAGONFLY has an action-packed plot, a page-turning pace, and a vivid, unique setting that will charm girls and boys who want to escape into another world.

JALEIGH JOHNSON is a lifelong reader, gamer, and moviegoer. She loves nothing better than to escape into fictional worlds and take part in fantastic adventures. She lives and writes in the wilds of the Midwest, but you can visit her online at www.jaleighjohnson.com or on Twitter @JaleighJohnson.

On Killing Characters

“As soon as Character X is no longer useful in the story—BAM—I drop a piano on his head.”  --some author somewhere, probably

I’ve heard variations of this quote often over the years, and in some ways, I envy authors who know exactly when to kill off Character X by dropping a piano on his head or having him be eaten by rabid squirrels.  Character deaths, if done well, are an emotional gut punch and can change the course of the novel.  The stakes skyrocket.  Suddenly, the reader’s asking herself, jeez, if Character X got the axe, then who’s to say my favorite Character Y won’t be fed to the squirrel horde next. Now she’s turning pages and sweating bullets over Character Y’s fate. She’s invested.  That’s wonderful.

And yet…

Confession: as a writer, I’m not always sure when I should hoist the piano and let it fall.

Death, at least in my novels, is permanent.  Once I write that character off the page, he’s gone for good, and any stories he might have left to tell will die with him.  Maybe that’s why I haven’t killed many characters up to this point in my writing.  I always have that desire to tell more of their story.  They never stop having potential for growth and development, to find redemption or to go bad.  In fact, most of the characters I’ve killed in my stories were deaths that I planned from the beginning.  I knew their stories had a fixed endpoint. 

One exception to this happened in my second published novel Mistshore.  One of the characters, Sull, got into a fight late in the novel, a fight to the death, and I knew that there were legitimate story reasons to have Sull not survive that battle.  For one thing, he was fighting to protect his friends, and I knew his character well enough to know that he wouldn’t hesitate to give his life for them.  He was also clearly outmatched in the fight, so at the very least he was going to come away gravely injured.  The more I wrote, the more convinced I became that this was the logical end for poor old Sull.

And yet…

I just couldn’t do it.

Yeah, I know.  Maybe I’m a wimp.  But hear me out.  Part of my justification for saving Sull was that the hero of the story had already lost too much.  Losing one of her closest friends would send her over the edge, and that wasn’t where I wanted her to go.  When a character dies, it causes a ripple effect that touches all the characters surrounding him.  As a writer, I have to be mindful of that and weigh the consequences as I write.  I had to do that when I was writing The Mark of the Dragonfly too.  A certain character (I can’t say which one for spoilery reasons) died in an early draft of the novel, only to be brought back in a later draft because the ripple effects of the death were too great.  And I’ve never regretted that decision.

But there were other reasons I saved old Sull, if I’m honest. 

The thing is I get attached to my characters.  Authors do that.  True, it doesn’t stop me from making them suffer, have them make bad choices, embarrass themselves, or confront the squirrel horde in a death match.  Suffering is a necessary part of the story, of the characters’ journey and growth.  But sometimes they surprise me too, let me know that the stories they have left to tell are more important than a heroic end.  Sull’s story wasn’t finished; he had more to contribute—and I liked him!  So I snatched him from the jaws of death.

Okay, I maimed him a bit, but he’s fine.

So, yes, it’s hard for me to kill characters.  Doesn’t mean I won’t do it if the story truly calls for it.  But it’s never easy, and I think that in the end that’s a good thing.

Note:  No squirrels were harmed in the making of this post.