Review: A BONE TO PICK by Charlaine Harris

Title: A BONE TO PICK (#19)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Date Published: November 1992
Series: Aurora Teagarden #2
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Rating: C
ISBN: 978-0-425-21979-9

Back of Book:
In New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris's Aurora Teagraden series, a small-town librarian feels like life is passing her by, while, at the same time, death comes calling…

Going to two weddings-one of a former lover-and a funeral for a member of her disbanded crime discussion group keeps Aurora "Roe" Teagarden quite busy for a few months. Unfortunately, her personal life seems to be at a standstill-until her fortunes unexpectedly change.

After the funeral Roe learns that Jane Engle, the deceased, has named her as heir to a rather substantial estate, which includes money, jewelry, and a house complete with a skull hidden in a window seat. Knowing Jane, Roe concludes that the elderly woman has purposely left her a murder to solve. So she must identify the victim and figure out which one of Jane's ordinary-seeming neighbors is a murderer-without putting herself in deadly danger.

This series has really yet to grab me, but I much preferred the first book (REAL MURDERS) to this second installment in the Aurora Teagarden series.

There wasn't much mystery-solving going on. The question of the skull pretty much solved itself rather than requiring any investigative work on Aurora's part.

The secondary storyline of Aurora's ex from book 1 was all right, and it was nice to see that there was a cause and effect from the goings-on in REAL MURDERS (her father and step-mother have moved across the country, taking her half-brother with them to get as far away from what happened as they could).

Perhaps this book is a stepping-stone to something, but I just found the book rather dull. It certainly wasn't bad and there were entertaining qualities to it. I just felt the mystery was lacking and it's supposed to be a mystery! A first for me when reading anything by Charlaine Harris.

Review: Behind the Mask by Joanna Wayne

Title: Behind the Mask
Author: Joanna Wayne
Date Published: September 1995
Series: N/A, Harlequin Intrigue #339
Genre: Romance - Contemporary
Rating: C
ISBN: 0-373-22339-0

From back of cover:
All she could see were his eyes…

Though Graham Dufour's ebony eyese lit up her dreams for the past ten years, Lindsey Lathan hoped she could come back to New Orleans without seeing the man who'd once stolen her heart. A lot had changed between them-but one touch from the bad-boy-made-good could still ignite her desire.

Then she rode in a Mardi Gras parade and saw someone else's eyes behind a mask. Those of a faceless killer who'd used the masquerade to hide his crime. And he'd seen Lindsey.

Once, she'd been forced to run from Graham; now she had no choice but to run straight into his arms. For passion and for protection…


Not much to say on this one. The intrigue was well done. There were a few logical suspects to be the murderer so the identity wasn't blatantly obvious. The setting of New Orleans and Mardi Gras was fun. Neither character really moved me, but they weren't unlikeable or anything. Just a nice quick read, a break from the mysteries and horror I've been reading in abundance lately.

Review: Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

Title: Grave Surprise
Author: Charlaine Harris
Date Published: November 2006
Series: Harper Connelly Mystery #2
Genre: Mystery: Contemporary/Ghost/First Person
Rating: B
ISBN: 978-0-425-21470-1

From back cover blurb:
When I was fifteen, I was struck by lightning. I recovered, mostly. I have a strange spiderweb pattern of red on my torso and right leg. I have headaches. I have many fears. And I can find dead people. That was the part that interested the professor…

At the request of anthropology professor Clyde Nunley, Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver come to Memphis to demonstrate Harper's unique talent-in an old cemetery. Nunley is skeptical, even after Harper senses-and finds-two bodies in the grave beneath her feet. One of a man centuries dead. The other, a young girl, recently deceased, whom Harper had once tried, and failed, to locate. But Harper's new investigation into the crime yields yet another surprise: the next morning, a third body is found-in the very same grave…

I'm really glad I've picked up this series, I'm liking Harper almost better than Sookie. I like the way Charlaine Harris writes in general. The whodunit is not overly obvious to me, I think there might have been one Sookie book I knew with relative certainty ahead of time, but overall she's pretty good at casting suspicion in enough different directions that you may have a hunch but nothing is a dead giveaway.

The premise of Harper having received her "gift" via a lightning strike incident is very creative. It's clear the author has researched what long-term effects such an incident might have on someone. The reactions to those Harper comes across, even those who hire her but aren't sold on whether she's for real are comical.

The relationship Tolliver and Harper has is very interesting. The past created for them is tragic and sad, which makes me glad they at least have one another to count in.

While I won't keep these books to re-read, I am highly enjoying them and look forward to the next installment. But first, I'm going to move onto another Harris creation: Shakespeare's Landlord, featuring Lily Bard.

Review: Loose Lips by Claire Berlinski

Title: Loose Lips
Author: Claire Berlinski
Date Published: June 2004
Series: N/A
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Adventure
Rating: C
ISBN:0-8129-6709-7

Loose Lips is billed as "A Novel of Love and Espionage". The main character is Selena Keller who on a whim submits her resume to the CIA.

From there Loose Lips details what a trainee goes through to become a part of the CIA, ultimately taking on a job that will require you to convince another human being to commit treason.

There are a lot of secondary in the book, other trainees. Some we get to know and some are little more than background just to let us know Selena isn't alone.

While in training she meets Stan and a friendship blossoms, eventually turning into more.

I found the ending of the book not necessarily confusing, but it left me feeling a little let down. I understand that life isn't always tied up in a neat little bow, but I was curious to know details that I felt investing my time in the book I should have gotten.

The writing was witty and I liked Selena, which made me want to know who was responsible for what ultimately happens to her.

Not a great book, not a bad book. The premise was strong and it captured my attention almost immediately. Just the ending could have been stronger.

Review: Letters To Erik: The Ghost's Love Story by An Wallace

Title: Letters To Erik: The Ghost's Love Story
Author: An Wallace
Date Published: January 2008
Series: Phantom of the Opera
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: C
ISBN:978-1-4327-1354-6

I've been on a Phantom of the Opera kick recently. I began with a reread of Leroux's novel and then Susan Kay's in December. From there I branched into new territory, reading two new books based on the story. One was all right, one was dismal and made me hesitant to pick up the last of the books I'd come by. This dismal one was the reason I went on my Lecter re-read binge, needing to cleanse my mind.

Letters To Erik spans quite a few years after the events in the Opera House. We find Christine in Sweden after the events of Phantom of the Opera and she has grown up some, no longer the rather naïve chorus girl. During this time, Christine writes letters to Erik, presuming he's deceased.

She, of course, comes to find out that he, in fact, survived and the rest of the book establishes their relationship and courtship.

Letters To Erik was a decent read. There were times I found the characterizations a little off, but bearing in mind years had passed since Leroux's novel and the timetable in it I was able to look past these inconsistencies.

It was a quick read, I finished it in a little over twenty-four hours, so the story kept me interested enough that I continued turning the page.

One thing I feel the need to comment on based on all three of these new books is the treatment of Raoul.

I'm not particularly fond of Raoul - as far as his being with Christine goes - but I don't dislike the man. It just seems, however, that writer's can't seem to produce a story set after Christine leaves with Raoul where she returns to Erik without turning Raoul into something that he wasn’t depicted as. He's either cruel or hurtful or so totally unsympathetic the reader is happy to get him out of the story. And while I don't care for the idea of Christine choosing Raoul over Erik, I do believe that Raoul would treat her kindly.

Overall, while I'm not keeping this book I did enjoy it well enough. It wasn't great, but it was interesting to read someone's take on what might have happened. And the format of letter writing was an imaginative one.

Review: Fancy's Baby by Pamela Bauer

Title: Fancy's Baby
Author: Pamela Bauer
Date Published: April 1997
Series: Tyler & Hometown Reunion (Harlequin)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: C-
ISBN:0-373-82556-0

From the back cover:
Some lucky baby is about to be discovered by talent scout Kika Mancini, and hopeful parents in Tyler are all stirred up!

The only baby she wants, though, belongs to Nick Miller. And he's not even tempted by what Kika is offering his daughter.

What she's offering him, however, is another matter entirely.


This was a quick little read, but I felt the main characters weren't very flushed out. Without revealing spoilers, both Nick & Kika have things in their past and I would have liked to have seen those explored a bit more. I just felt upon closing the book I really didn't know them any better than I did when I opened it.

Not disappointing exactly, just could have been better.

Review: Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris

Title: Shakespeare's Landlord
Author: Charlaine Harris
Date Published: July 1996
Series: A Lily Bard Mystery #1
Genre: Mystery (Contemporary)
Rating: B
ISBN: 978-0-425-20686-7

From the back cover:
Disguising herself with short hair and baggy clothes, Lily Bard has started over in the sleepy town of Shakespeare, Arkansas, where - working as a cleaning lady - she can sweep away the secrets of her dark and violent past…

When Lily discovers the dead body of her nosy landlord, her plan to live a quiet, unobserved life starts to crumble. Lily doesn't care who did it. But as the unwanted attentions of the police chief and a suspicious community fall on her, she soon realizes if she doesn't unmask the murderer, her life might do more than crumble…it might end.


I never sensed that Lily was in "danger" in this book as the blurb seems to imply. At least not from the killer the story is centered around.

I've noticed a pattern in Charlaine Harris' writing. All of her women have tragic pasts, Lily Bard's is certainly the most traumatic, though Harper Connelly's is no cake-walk either. The only one that doesn't (that we know of anyway) is Aurora Teagarden. I do like the grit these characters show despite what they've gone through. Lily proves no exception to this.

The cast of characters in little old Shakespeare, Arkansas are in general funny and quirky. Acting as a cleaning lady in houses and business gives Lily an in to many secrets. She's liked for her discretion as she tells no one what she discovers in the garbage cans or on the desks of those people she cleans for.

As usual with Charlaine, the whodunit wasn't plainly obvious. I did suspect correctly, but not much before Lily did I don't think.

Well thought out and written, I look forward to reading the next installment in Shakespeare, Arkansas.

Next up: Behind the Mask by Joanna Wayne a Harlequin Intrigue from 1995.

Book Review: My Immortal by Erin McCarthy

Title: My Immortal
Author: Erin McCarthy
Date Published: September 2007
Series: Seven Deadly Sins #1
Genre: Romance (Contemporary/Historical Angel, Ghost)
Rating: C
ISBN: 978-0-515-14348-5

From the back cover:
In the late eighteenth century, a spoiled, selfish plantation owner struck an unholy bargain with a fallen angel: an eternity of servitude in exchange for the gift of immortality. For more than two hundred years, Damien du Bourg has held up his end of the bargain - by inspiring lust in everyone around him…

While searching for her missing sister, Marley Turner stumbles upon Damien's plantation on the outskirts of New Orleans and enters a world of shocking decadence. Drawn to the tortured man at the center of it all, Marley feels a powerful sensuality stirring inside her. For the first time, it's Damien who can't resist the lure of a woman. But his past sins aren't so easily forgotten - or forgiven…

This was a pretty quick read. I enjoyed the letters from the past that Marley wrote, revealing through them Damien's personality so long ago.

Marley didn't do much for me, but I enjoyed watching her evolve and learn that she has to start living her own life instead of meddling in everyone else's around her.

There are some fun secondary characters in My Immortal. One especially an interesting twist as the reader discovers later in the book. And despite being dead for over two hundred years, Damien's wife is one as well.

Overall, a decent read. There was a good mix of the present with the past mixed in. The setting of New Orleans and the area surrounding it was nice, it would have been nice to "see" more of it.

This is the first in a series, presumably there will be seven of them as it's called the Seven Deadly Sins. I enjoyed this enough to continue reading the series, though I sure hope we don't see Marley's sister again, at least not as a main character.

Review: The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Title: The Godfather
Author: Mario Puzo
Date Published: 1969
Series: N/A
Genre: Mystery/Saga
Rating: A
ISBN:0-451-16771-6

Like many of my reads the past month or so, The Godfather is a re-read for me. It had been years, however, so in essence it was as if I was reading it for the first time all over again. I'd forgotten what an intricate and detailed story Mario Puzo had woven for us. I guess I shouldn't have since a 479 page book managed to become two movies.

Some authors would not be able to pull off the usage of so much present story to back story leading up to the present story that Puzo uses throughout the book. He manages to accomplish it, though, without making the story choppy or disorientating. What's more, the way he utilizes this tool makes sense and helps the saga all the more coherent.

We learn how Vito Corleone came to be in America, his own father killed, and how he became a Don known as The Godfather somewhat unwittingly. We get to know quite well two of his sons, Sonny and Michael. Freddy remains somewhat of a mystery even the glimpses we get of him in his new life out west.

We follow the Corleone family as they deal with difficult times and trying to keep the family business afloat when it faces attacks. Of course, their methods of dealing with things aren't what most people would consider normal, but it's the world they live in and the reader is brought into that world, made to believe in it.

Michael's ascension to power is well written, and his plan to cement his place in all of the mafia is brilliantly thought through and executed. There isn't much doubt in the reader's mind when the book is closed that Michael is his father's son and the one best suited for the family business after all.

There are several secondary characters, including Connie, the Corleone daughter, Tom Hagen, the "adopted" son of Vito Corleone, Johnny Fontane, Vito's godson who is out west in Hollywood trying to make it big with singing and movies. There are others, members of the Corleone regime and some on the Las Vegas side of the story. All add to the story without making the reader feel as if their drowning in yet more people to learn about or familiarize themselves with. Each of these characters plays a part, after all, even if that part isn't clear to the reader from the start.

Overall, a well-written book that gave us strong characters to keep the pages turning. If you've seen the movies, I'd highly recommend the book. As good as the first two movies were the book still manages to outdo them.

Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 1/14/2009

1/14/2000:
Toronto small forward Vice Carter, seething over not being selected by the U.S. Olympic basketball team, explodes for a career-high 47 points, leading the Raptors to a 115-110 victory over Milwaukee at Air Canada Centre. Carter is especially piqued at Bucks guard Ray Allen, who was picked for the Olympic squad. Displaying his unique blend of shotmaking ability and above-the-rim theatrics, commonly known as "Vinsanity," carter hits 20 of 32 shots from the floor, hits all three of his three-point shots and completely overshadows Allen, who finishes with 25 points.

Birthdays:
Smead Jolley b. 1902
Sonny Siebert b. 1937
Fred Arbanas b. 1939
Gene Washington b. 1947
Terry Forster b. 1952

Packers Fact:
With an average age of 26 years and 89 days, the Packers' Kickoff Weekend roster in 2007 was the youngest in the NFL.

CHILE CON CARNE

In her 15th book, Isabel Allende gives us a sweeping, ambitious historical epic. It is literally a rags-to-riches story of the little seamstress, Doña Inés Suárez (1507-80), who followed her husband from Spain to Peru and, after he was killed, found passionate love and a worthy cause, eventually setting up a new colony in Chile with Don Pedro de Valdivia. Publishers Weekly starred review.

INÉS OF MY SOUL, by Isabel Allende; translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden (HarperCollins, 2006)

On somewhat unusual?

He has not had a bowel movement in 48 years, and this is somewhat unusual for him.

*on a medical chart (thanks to Marcelle Ehrhart)

UNCLE JOHN’S STALL OF FAME

Honoree: An Australian bus driver (who wishes to remain anonymous)
Notable Achievement: Turning a pit stop into a jackpot
Background: The bus driver was in the middle of his route when he needed to take a bathroom break. There were no passengers on the bus, so he pulled into a local casino to make use of the restroom. While there he played a couple of games of Keno, a numbers game similar to lotto—and won. Now, thanks to his bathroom break, he’s $2.2 million richer.

EVERY YEAR ABOUT 2,500 PEOPLE GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH “TOOTHBRUSH INJURIES.”

PUNTA DEL ESTE

URUGUAY

In “Punta,” the quintessential jet-set mecca for South America’s elite, sun worshippers gather in the southern summer at the sandy beach, elegant designer boutiques, trendy hotels, and restaurants and clubs that vie with the continent’s finest.

Review: Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris

Title: Hannibal Rising
Author: Thomas Harris
Date Published: December 2006
Series: Hannibal Lecter (4^th
Genre: Historical Horror
Rating: A
ISBN: 978-0-440-24286-4

Continuing my Hannibal Lecter craze I moved onto the prequel to the contemporary story involving Hannibal Lecter, published fourth in the series. Hannibal Rising spans the 1940s and 1950s, starting with Hannibal Lecter's childhood (age 8 in the beginning) and taking us through young adulthood.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book to be honest. I'd heard some good things from fellow fans of the books and movies. I'd also read some truly awful reviews, equating it to little more than fan fiction and his (Harris') desire to get another movie made off the popularity of the Red Dragon remake.

I'd seen the film version of Hannibal Rising before reading the book and was pleasantly surprised by it. So, the story in the book wasn't foreign to me. Perhaps not as strong as Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs were, but still one I will keep on my shelves and read again.

Hannibal Rising details the history of Hannibal Lecter, giving us the events that helped to shape a monster. Growing up in war-torn Lithuania, his whole family lost to him, his childhood home used by the enemy, everything taken from him, having to endure living in his childhood home now being used as an orphanage as an orphan.

It's his beloved younger sister, Mischa, that serves as the platform for his evilness taking shape. For the enemy had done the unthinkable with her …

Eventually, Lecter is taken in by his father's brother and his wife, Lady Murasaki at the age of 13. When we come across him after the war, he no longer speaks and it's unclear as to what happened to Mischa. The reader surely suspects based on the undertones, but just as Lecter doesn't seem quite certain neither does the reader.

Lecter gains a clue as to the identity of the men responsible for all of his losses and begins to singularly hunt them down. The police are onto him due to an earlier incident, but just as then have nothing to pin on him. He is a model and bright student, a gifted artist, and was the victim of war crimes. So he has to outsmart both the police and the men he hunts.

An interesting relationship forms between Murasaki and Lecter. Infatuation? Love? It's hard to know for sure. He was young and she seemed to want to keep him from setting both feet onto the wrong side of the line, going completely into the darkness.

Overall, Hannibal Rising provides us a reasonable background for Hannibal Lecter. Both the man we came to know in Hannibal and the monster we initially saw him as in Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs. I admit, I'm a sucker for this time period so it was easy to immerse myself in it. The conclusion of the story left me satisfied.

I'd stated after reading Hannibal that I didn't think the doctor's life needed to be revisited after it. While I consider Hannibal Rising a nice bookend to the Hannibal series, I admit wouldn't mind seeing a book detailing Lecter's life from the end of Rising to Red Dragon. How did the man go from killing out of revenge? A promise made to his beloved sister? To the serial killer we initially met in Red Dragon?

Continuing my re-read madness, we're onto Mario Puzo's The Godfather next…

Review: Hannibal by Thomas Harris

Title: Hannibal
Author: Thomas Harris
Date Published: June 1999
Series: Hannibal Lecter (3^rd published)
Genre: Contemporary Horror
Rating: A
ISBN:0-440-22467-5

HANNIBAL is the third installment published in Thomas Harris' series surrounding Hannibal Lecter. As the title of the book implies, the story is much more Lecter-centric than the first two installments of the series were.

Seven years after the events in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS we come face-to-face with Clarice Starling. She's working an assignment that goes dreadfully wrong. People die in front of cameras, scapegoats need to be provided to the higher ups. It appears to be Clarice, but her suspension or departure are stopped.

Mason Verger, one of Hannibal Lecter's victims has some information on the good doctor and wants to share it with the FBI through Clarice Starling. Proof is unearthed through her visit to the severely scarred and disabled Verger that Hannibal Lecter is alive and well. He's also altered his appearance in having the sixth digit on his left hand removed.

We discover that while Verger is working with the FBI, he also has his own agenda and the hunt for Hannibal begins. Who will catch him? Verger out for a very painful revenge? The FBI, looking to take away the freedom he relishes and knows he'll never get a chance to enjoy if he's recaptured?

The journey toward the discovery of who he truly is in his newly established life is believable. Unfortunately, the person behind that discovery is somewhat incompetent, or just doesn't appreciate how dangerous the good doctor is. One thing's for certain, now that his identity's been discovered, he'll be returning to his second home: America.

Eventually, we find Clarice off the job and Verger's men trying to capture Lecter who now can indulge his admiration for Clarice up close and personal. This leads to Verger getting so close to what he wants. Things don't go as planned, however, and it's Lecter who ends up with what he wants but thought he'd never be able to obtain.

I liked Hannibal. I agree with some comments I've heard/read over the years that it's not quite as engrossing as the first two installments were. Perhaps, the missing police procedural is reason for that. We have the hunt for Hannibal, but it's not quite the same for some reason as hunting the Tooth Fairy or Buffalo Bill.

I've heard people say that the ending of the book is out of character for Clarice. That may be true for the Clarice we met in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. This is a different Clarice. One who has found that being in the FBI isn't all it's cracked up to be. She started her career with so much potential, helping to solve the Buffalo Bill case, but whether through her fault or just unwilling to play the game (and agree to sleep her way to better assignments) we find her at this juncture of the story basically being pimped out to various agencies who need a gunslinger. (Clarice has displayed she's certainly not afraid to shoot.)

I do prefer the book's ending to the movie's and wish Hollywood had left it as Harris wrote it, but evidently it wasn't a sellable ending. It was nice getting some insight into how Hannibal operates in normal life. As Clarice studies him and his tastes we get a feel for them, too. Overall, a satisfying ending to the story. I don't know if Harris ever plans to revisit the present day Hannibal Lecter story, I don't know that he really needs to.

REVIEW: Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Thomas Harris, Hannibal Lecter, Rating: A, Genre: Contemporary Horror

Continuing my reimmersion into the world of Hannibal Lecter, I dove right into SILENCE OF THE LAMBS after my re-read of RED DRAGON. SILENCE while technically book 3 of the Lecter series was the second published. It is here that we meet Clarice Starling, a trainee who managed to capture the attention of Section Chief Jack Crawford. And it is here that we get to know more about Hannibal Lecter. In RED DRAGON he wasn't seen more than once or twice, though we "heard" from him through his various correspondence. Clarice's assignment: Attempt to get Hannibal Lecter to answer a questionairre they're trying to get all serial killers to answer. Harris dials up the drama in SILENCE. Not only do we get into the killer's head, but we learn more of Lecter, and unlike Will Graham who knew more or less what he was getting into, we have the still pretty green Clarice Starling entering the scene.

We learn a lot about Clarice throughout the book. Some of it via Lecter's uncanny ability to see through her, some of it through recollection. One thing's for sure, she's no quitter and she doesn't spook easily. One thing I do wish is that the reader got more of what happened to Clarice's family. It had been a while since I'd read SILENCE and I admit I'd forgotten the mention, more than one, of her having had siblings. Where were they in her adult life? I guess we're supposed to presume that once she left her mother's home out of sight equated out of mind, but it's a difficult pill for this reader to swallow. Wouldn't she be, perhaps, curious to see if they fared any better than she had, since they'd remained with her mother and she did not?

Jack Crawford becomes more personalized in SILENCE. His wife is terminally ill and despite helping with her care he still rabidly pursues a new serial killer on the loose. One being touted as Buffalo Bill, because he skins his humps. When we come into the story, five women have already fallen victim to Bill. So, Jack has a lot on his mind and from the looks of things has no leads.

From the outset, it's clear that Hannibal Lecter has some knowledge of Buffalo Bill. Eventually, he gives Clarice partial information - accurate as it may have been, it was not complete information. Facts still needed to be checked, evidence still needed to be chased down. Their cat and mouse game is fine until a sixth victim, the daughter of a senator, is kidnapped. From there, things spiral and get out of hand, betrayal ensues by many but the reader can't be sure that it isn't Clarice's betrayal of Lecter that has upset the applecart the most. A change of the guard occurs as Lecter is moved from Baltimore to Memphis where Clarice pays him one last visit. Last because he manages to do the unthinkable: escape. The escape scene, from the time Clarice leaves the impromptu cell to the point we know he actually got away rank among my two favorite scenes ever in a book (or movie for that matter). (The other, btw, is the baptism scene in The Godfather when Michael unilaterally exacts revenge against everyone.)

Again, the good guys prevail, but there's a cost and it's more than just Will Graham this time (who, sadly, is mentioned as being nothing more than a drunk, scarred man in this book). A promising career may have been squelched before it had the chance to shine through no fault of her own really. A serial killer is once again on the loose, and the reader just knows that he will be even more careful this time than he was the last time. For he values his freedom.

It feels rather odd saying I enjoy these books, but I do. SILENCE was a strong story. One of the strongest images produced for me comes from the movie, that of "Bill" displaying his new look for the viewer. Thomas Harris' experience as a crime reporter shows in his attention to procedural detail, his ability to get inside everyone's head (including the reader's). I admit I've noticed some inconsistencies in his books, but nothing significant enough to make me like these books less than I do. Perhaps if I could care less about them I wouldn't look for the inconsistencies!

There is no doubt closing this book that the reader will once again come face-to-face with Hannibal Lecter. I, for one, look forward to it.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com

Review: Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

RED DRAGON was the first (published) installment in the series of four books surrounding Hannibal Lecter. We don't see much of the good doctor in this book, though he's obviously never far from the thoughts of Will Graham and, therefor, the reader. Like the second installment of the series, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, Lecter is merely a secondary character, a serial killer on the loose leads to us to him. It takes a killer to know one, and especially one as intelligent as Lecter obviously is.

We first meet the main character of the book, Will Graham, being little more than a beach bum in sunny Sugarloaf, Florida. Section Chief Jack Crawford has come to him looking for help solving the murders of two families. Lecter is incarcerated because of Will Graham, having gotten away with nine known murders before getting caught. Will was badly injured by Lecter and got out of the investigating business after that. He's since gotten married and works as a diesel mechanic, taking in stray dogs that no one else will have. Once Crawford shows him the pictures of the families, he's in. Begrudgingly, but he is.

He first goes to Atlanta, location of the most recent killing (the other a month prior in Birmingham). It's made clear throughout the book that Will Graham has some sort of "extra" ability when it comes to getting clues. He senses things, gains information from clues that others don't, seems able to get into the killer's mind, which is what makes him valuable to the FBI. He suffers greatly for this, however, being able to connect with a killer. After viewing the crime scene, he decides that a visit to Lecter to gain some insight would be in order.

Eventually, the reader learns the identity of the killer. So, the book is not a "who done it?" but rather when will the FBI figure it out and catch him. Francis Dolarhyde proves to be a formiddable foe to both Will Graham and the FBI. His is a story of becoming, the Red Dragon. A man who's never known acceptance or love, abused as a child, shunned by his mother.

Obviously, the good guys win. Mr. Dolarhyde is stopped, but it costs Will Graham a lot more than he bargained for when he agreed to help Jack Crawford with the case. This is probably my favorite book of the Lecter series. The characters really came alive for me. I liked the case Will Graham and the FBI had to solve. The way the killer found his victims was quite original. As much as I like Clarice Starling, I really enjoyed Will Graham and wish we'd seen more of him. A brief mention of him in the later books, so he's clearly out of the game for good. A strong book that introduces the Lecter character well, sets up the idea that he'd be consulted as he is in Silence of the Lambs.

Book Review: FOOL MOON

FOOL MOON by Jim Butcher, Dresden Files #2, Rating: A-

We meet up with Harry Dresden again. Things are strained between he and his main contact with the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago PD because of the events in book one. It's nice to know those things aren't brushed aside or forgotten about. Trust issues don't just go away once they've reared their ugly head.

We're introduced to were's in Fool Moon and learn that there are different varieties of them. And the race is on to find out not just who, but which variety, is doing the mass murders throughout the city on and around the full moon.

We are re-introduced to some of the characters from Storm Front as well as meet some new ones, all adding to the story. Again, Harry doesn't instantly know the answers to the puzzle he's trying to solve. And there are times the reader wonders just how Harry's going to get out of this mess. He manages and then we're confronted with another mess that we're sure he can't get out of.

I enjoyed Fool Moon and look forward to continuing on with this series. I give it an A- only because of the jarring effect the author referring to the Kennedy Expressway as the "JFK Expressway" had on me. I've never heard 90/94 referred to as the JFK and there were multiple references to it close to one another, so it was enough to pull me away from the story. Otherwise, another great book.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com

Book Review: STORM FRONT

STORM FRONT by Jim Butcher, Dresden Files #1, Rating: A

I normally try to introduce the books I read and offer reviews of in my own words. However, Jim Butcher has done such an outstanding job of introducing Harry Dresden to us that I'll borrow from his back of cover blurb:

HARRY DRESDEN-WIZARD
Lost items found. Paranormal investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Pursees, or Other Entertainment.

I was thrilled to find out that these books take place in Chicago. Being from the area, it's just an added bonus to have them set in my stomping grounds, even if a lot of the places referenced are fictional. Harry Dresden is an interesting character, the wizarding aspect of him aside even. He's a man of integrity and some old-fashioned values that in this day and age might get him into trouble (opening doors for women, picking up the check for dinner, etc.) But, it's these values that have him offering his assistance to the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago PD when he's called in, despite the fact no one really believes he's really a wizard.

Storm Front begins with a double murder, one that reeks of black magic. And so the hunt begins for Harry to find the doer of the black magic before he finds Harry first. That's not as easy to do as it might sound.

There are many secondary characters that are very intriguing and make the story fun to read. A spirit, Bob, that resides in a skull that likes to bargain for his freedom in exchange for providing Harry information is a hoot. We learn, too, of the wizarding world, the Laws it has in place and Harry must abide by. There are those who aren't too fond of Harry and believe he got away with breaking one of the Laws.

Overall, Storm Front is a great read. I enjoyed the fact that Harry didn't instantly know what was going on. That he's not perfect, has issues. His effect on electronic equipment is quite comical. I rate Storm Front an A and look forward to reading more about Harry Dresden and the rest of the people introduced to us in this book.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com

Book Review: HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE VAMPIRE

HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE VAMPIRE by Kerrelyn Sparks, Love At Stake #1, Rating: B+

Shanna Whalen is in the witness protection problem, having testified against some bad guys in her previous life as a dentist. The crime she testified about was the murder of her best friend. Since the she has been unable to function as a dentist, getting squeemish at the sight of blood. She works the night shift at a 24-hour dental clinic. One night, the bad guys find her and her life is turned upside down. Not just by the bad guys either.

Roman Draganesti is a vampire and a scientist. He's come up with blood products so that vampires don't have to feed on humans. In other words, he's not so bad a vampire. One of his scientists comes up with a life-like doll that a vampire can feed on. Testing the new product, Roman loses one of his fangs. He happens upon Shanna in her desperate time of need and takes her in, offering her his protection when he realizes one of the men after her is his arch-nemesis. Only problem is, he can't control her mind to get her to re-attach his fang, believing he's asking her to implant a wolf's tooth in his mouth.

There are some great scenes before Shanna realizes just what/who Roman is. And when she does find out, she reacts with class and dignity, processing the information and taking it in stride. Her past catches up to her in an interesting, and somewhat heartbreaking way, as she finds out that the things she believed weren't exactly so.

I really enjoyed reading this story. Shanna and Roman were fun to get to know and watch things sizzle and pop between them. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and rate this one an B+.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com

Book Review: THE SECRET WIFE

THE SECRET WIFE by Carrie Weaver, McGuire #1, Rating: B

Maggie McGuire gets abandoned by her race-car driving husband, Eric, with a 9-month old son and bills to pay. At a breaking point she sets off from Arizona and drives cross country to encounter the man who abandoned them. Only things don't go quite how she plans. Not only does she find out why Eric doubted her son was his, but she finds out she's not the only - current - Mrs. Eric McGuire. When Eric turns up dead, however, Maggie's scene when she first came into town makes her a suspect.

Eric's older half-brother (same mother, different fathers) is used to cleaning up Eric's messes. He had no doubt Maggie was just another scammer, looking for a payout from the McGuire family. There was no way Maggie's son was Eric's. To keep an eye on her and to ensure she doesn't leave town while the investigation into Eric's murder takes place, J.D. takes Maggie and her son home with him.

J.D. finds himself growing closer not just to the infant who couldn't be his nephew, but the boy's mother as well. And finds it increasingly hard to throw her in with the other scammers and con artists trying to get a buck out of them. Mixed in with all of this is J.D. and Eric's grandmother, causing havoc with Maggie in ways that leave Maggie wondering if she's going to lose her son.

THE SECRET WIFE is my second read by Carrie Weaver and I enjoyed it as much as FOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS. I enjoyed watching J.D. and Maggie get closer and will seek out the second McGuire book about Eric's other wife, Nancy. I rate this one a B, enjoyable but not one I'd pick up again or feel bad about passing onto someone else.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com

Book Review: MARRYING AN OLDER MAN

MARRYING AN OLDER MAN by Arlene James, Wagner #2, Silhouette Special Edition #1235, Rating: C

Twenty-one year old Caroline Moncton finds herself alone, needing to pay the rent on her own when her roaming mother moves to California despite Caroline's protests of moving again after having stayed put for four years. Her landlord then informs her she's selling her duplex and a seller might very well make it into a single-family home again. She does turn Caroline onto a possible job, though, as a helper for a friend's mother who has very bad arthritis. Caroline is aware of Jesse Wagner, having seen him visit the landlord on the sly. Caroline has decided that Jesse is the man for her and pursues the job in order to do the same with him.

Caroline is a likeable woman, spunky, intelligent, and goes after what she wants. Details of her childhood and the way her mother had different men with her all of the time, it makes the reader wonder how Caroline turned out so normal. We're glad she did, though.

Jesse Wagner isn't sure of Caroline's come-on's at first and resists them until she pulls out the big guns of seduction. At thirty-eight, he feels he's too old for her and that she's little more than a child with a crush. The pressure of not just taking care of the family ranch but his ailing mother and foul-mood father add onto the weighty thoughts already on his shoulders. He feels responsible for his first wife's death and hadn't remarried or gotten seriously involved with anyone believing marriage isn't meant for him.

Caroline and Jesse work very well together when it comes to his mother. She opens the eyes of many around the ranch and seems like a breath of fresh air. While I initially her going after him with really no idea who he was a little unsettling, I did find as the story went on that it was believable she would grow to have feelingsn for him. Jesse, after all, stands for one of the things Caroline never had: stability. A family that stays in place and stays together.

MARRYING AN OLDER MAN was a nice read. The setting was fun, Colorado during the winter, and I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters enough that I plan to look for the first book in the series, about Jesse's brother. I rate the book a C, mostly because I felt that Caroline's interest in Jesse at first was based on infatuation with an ideal of a man rather than the man himself.

©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com