The Cellist by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. I'm a big fan but also its up to date. Some of the sections felt like they came right from the headlines and others probably should have been headlines.
I know that some claim that this is the same story over and over again but I disagree. The characters remain the same but the bad guy is usually a new twist on evil.
This story explores the problem of corruption in financial institutions. I guess he just made that up. One of the characters is a president of the US who is not trustworthy, and high government officials conspiring with Russians. Total nonsense.
I'd like to see Gabiel Allon retire and be replaced by a new main character. He hints that it might be a woman. Sounds good to me.


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The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I guess I'm a history nut. I love these excellent historical fiction novels. The Exiles is a story of the settling of Australia with convicts from England. More than that this is a story of female strength and the ability ot resist and survive.
The story is filled with sadness and dissapointment but I'm left quite uplifted. Knowing that the world has changed for so many people and with some ework may become a better place for more people.
It is remarkable that the struggles of the late 1800's on the other side of the world are akin to the struggles here, today.
Doesn't anything change.

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Red Lies by Cristelle Comby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked it because of the way it ended. I must add that it was an adventure and a kick to read. Just enough history to keep me interested and enough action to keep it from being boring. I love the fact that the protaginist is a woman and that the men are pretty much hollow and predictable. Read this, its fun.

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Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book. I like history and this book is historical. I like spy novels, this has that too. The story itself may or may not be too far fetched but the plot was so beautifully thick and unfolded so well that I was entranced from page one to the end.
I read this book because a friend likes Beatiz Williams books. My friend has good taste. This person can write and spin a tale.
Her prose made the story come to life and kept me reading feverishly until the end. I don't think its a spoiler to say that strong, interesting and intelligent women are often left out of spy stories, this one is an exception. Loved it.

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The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I went from liking this book to hating it. I'm not sure why. The characters were so transparent that I sensed what would happen and was usually right.
I guess they characters were all hard to like and had such major personality flaws that I had trouble feeling for any of them. Usually books give me images of the people, places and events but this one seemed just words on a page telling a story. I just could not get into it. No spoilers but I hated the ending.

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Ocean Prey by John Sandford


As usual, John Sandford never dissappoints. Easy to read and understand, lots of action, bad guys and good guys. I love a good crime story and this certainly was one of them. Like a good detective he teases clues from almost nothing and builds a case against the bad guys. His exploits are daring and exciting. He teams up with Virgel Flowers in this one and its a match made in cop drama heaven.

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The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this series of books. It has been a joy to watch the characters grow and change with the times. This was a period of history that we might learn from. The people of England plowed through the blitz and the hardships of war. So many stories in this episode. The plot might have been a little convoluted at times but the story never failed to keep me turning the page.
Ms Winspear is brilliant and I look forward to more adventures for our hero.

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The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a masterpiece. It has everything I love in a novel. The characters are strong, well developed and interesting. The plot is straight forward but not revealed immediatly. There is action, romance, intrigue and pain.
More important to me is that the characters are women, this is another story that exposes the problems of being a competent, intelligent and hard driving woman in a world controled by men. Often the me seem to fueled by arrogance and testosteone so I guess it is pretty accurate.
It spans a period of interesting history and the birth of some of our modern technologies.
Don't miss this book. I wait for Kate Quinn's next book with anticipation.

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Double Jeopardy by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just like Stuart woods to give me a delightful break from the world around me. Pure fantasy but a pleasure to read. Characters are rich in so many ways and yet they are fun to follow. He can never write enough books to please me, each is a trip down some odd escapist lane and seem to have no emotional downside for me. I hate the bad guys and love the good guys.

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Books Read Feb-March, 2021

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant. Not my kind of book. I read it for book club and I'm so glad I did. The author weaves a wonderful story and the characters and their emotions and trials are beautifully portrayed. Its just a joy to read and clearly shows the many ways that men have found to keep women down. I think this should be mandatory reading for mysinogists.

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The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love books about England that span several years. This book was perfection. Not a boring minute and yet, I was reading about gardens. What a talented writer. Characters that come alive giving the story so many wonderful facits with which to view it.

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