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Book Reviews:
Engaged to Die
By Carolyn Hart
William Morrow
An imprint of
Harper Collins Publishers
311 Pages
Although Engaged to Die came out in 2003, it is a particularly
interesting read, not just for the story itself but the way it has been
constructed.
Analyzing cozy mysteries is one of my favorite reading endeavors
and Carolyn Hart is certainly a master of this form of novel writing
so the effort has been a pleasant one. This particular story is part of
her "Death on Demand" series which is centered in the lowcounrty
of South Carolina, a region born to be just chock full of mysteries -
both real and fictional.
The protagonist is Annie Darling the proprietor of the mystery
bookstore: Death on Demand. As with most cozy mystery sleuths,
she is brought into the investigation unwillingly but eager to right a
wrong once fingers begin to point to someone who, to her, seems a
most unlikely candidate for the title: murderer.
The story revolves around the art community and specifically the
Neville Gallery, an upscale venue filled with battling Neville
relatives. Virginia Neville, whose husband Nathaniel left her the
Neville money, with which she was instructed to take care of his
children, one of which, Carl, currently runs the Gallery with his wife
Susan, has decided to remarry. Her choice, Jake O'Neill, much
younger that Virginia and without a particularly enviable reputation,
is found murdered during a much touted evening Gallery event, with
all the Neville relatives and the Who's Who of Broward's Rock in
attendance.
With the police chief away performing active military reserve duty,
the investigation falls to the acting chief, Billy Cameron, who,
obviously, needs all the help he can get. In step the Darlings: Max
and Annie. Max runs a local detective agency and is asked by
Cameron to be his temporary deputy while Annie, who owns the
Death on Demand bookstore, gets to see the way the investigation is
progressing from the inside.
What I particularly liked about Engaged to Die is Carolyn Hart's
handing of the characters and there are lots of them (which, at times,
makes keeping them straight an effort, especially if you tend to pick
books up and put them down a lot). However, the effort is worth
is.
For lovers of mysteries Carolyn Hart is an answer to their prayers.
She takes great pains to make sure the reader is part of the
investigation; she keeps them looking for clues as much as the lead
characters. For instance, Annie Darling surreptitiously obtains
copies of the statements of the key suspects that were at the
Gallery the night of the murder and she prints them out. This
enables the reader to peruse them along with Annie and give them an
opportunity to spot the discrepancies before she does. Great
technique for keeping the reader involved.
The only complaint I might have would be that not enough exposure
has been given to the venue of the story: the lowcountry of South
Carolina. With no involvement by members of the Gullah
community, bible based religion, the sea islands and the beauty of
the marsh and tidal flows, the story could have occurred just about
anywhere. Why place a story in the lowcountry if it isn't going to
be a character.
That being said - it's still a story worth your time.
Tim Holland
That Old Cape Magic
By Richard Russo
Alfred A. Knopf
262 pages
Richard Russo is back. I'm not sure how I managed to miss this tale
when if first came out in 2009 but I suppose I'll just have to put it
down to poor browsing and the lack of a local, independent
bookseller nearby, although that's another issue. The important fact
is that Mr. Russo is back in stride.
This is a book I liked. That is not to say there are books of his that
I did not like just some I'm more enthusiastic about than others.
This one reminded me of his novel Straight Man (Random House,
1997) in that there's a thoughtful whimsy about his writing that I
particularly enjoy and That Old Cape Magic fits into that mold.
The story has an academic bent to it which works really well and
takes place along northeast coast. In fact if I were to devise a
subtitle for the book it would be: one wedding and two ghosts along
the Mainachussetts coast.
The central character is Jack Griffin who plies his teaching craft at a
small New England college, an only child with distinctly unlikable
parents who have spent their time teaching in a variety of colleges
and liking none of them. Academic snobs might be too kind a term
for them but surely seems to fit.
Jack's problem is that he has the same genes as his parents; thus
providing for the love hate relationship theme that moves through
the pages. Trying to distance yourself from your own inheritance
(genes) can be a confusing experiment.
While filled with poignant scenes of family trial and tribulation and
heartbreak, Russo never seems to write for very long without a smile
on his face, which than puts one on yours. The conversations with
his dead parents, especially the ones from the back seat of his car,
not to mention the ashes in the urn in the trunk, punctuate the book
nicely. And, of course, there is the battle among the functional and
dysfunctional characters. The description of the wedding reception,
especially Table 17 - the misfit table, makes for delightful reading
and laughing.
It is a testament to the writing skill, talent and craftsmanship of
Richard Russo that makes That Old Cape Magic another of his
books definitely worth reading
An Irish Country Village
by Patrick Taylor
Fiction - 419 Pages
What can I say about Patrick Taylor, nothing bad, certainly? How
can someone say something bad about someone who has written one
of the most enjoyable reading experiences of the past two years
(orig. publication date is 2008)? An Irish Country Village, a Forge
Book published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, New York, is a
delight; a jewel filled with facets worth exploring in a summer much
in need of the kind of Blarney the world is sorely missing.
Ballybucklebo, the name of the village central to all events, sets the
tone for what you will read. A fictional village located midway
between Belfast and Bangor (that's Northern Ireland not central
Maine) that is home to Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and a cast of
characters drawn so well you feel like you recognize them all: your
family, friends and neighbors. Some you like; some you wonder
about; some you might care to avoid but you can't ignore them and
Taylor makes sure you don't.
The flyleaf suggests the book and tale are "in the tradition of James
Harriot" but I think it goes well beyond such a comparison. Harriot
was England - Yorkshire while Thomas is Ireland - County Down -
the North. It's a bit different; just ask the people who live in both
places. That's not to say there aren't fine literary connections
between the two places, after all the Rev. Patrick Brontë was born in
County Down (he's the father of the gang of three writing Brontës:
Charlotte, Emily and Anne) and raised his literary clan in Yorkshire.
An Irish Country Villager is different and I don't think there are any
real comparisons. If you liked the 1950s and 60s you'll completely
lose yourself in the trials and tribulations of the good doctor and the
people of Ballybucklebo. If you wonder what all the talk is about
the middle years of the 20th century, this is a good place to satisfy
you curiosity.
What particularly good about the book is the quality of not just the
writing but also how the tale is woven. It moves, it informs, it
educates and is eminently readable - all the truly good essentials of a
well written book.
So once you finish with that blood and guts page turner you're in the
middle of or perhaps it's a sex crazed vampire you're caught up with,
try reading with a smile on your face and take a trip back to
someplace that once was and never will be again. Take a trip with
Patrick Taylor; trust me, you'll enjoy it.
By Carolyn Hart
William Morrow
An imprint of
Harper Collins Publishers
311 Pages
Although Engaged to Die came out in 2003, it is a particularly
interesting read, not just for the story itself but the way it has been
constructed.
Analyzing cozy mysteries is one of my favorite reading endeavors
and Carolyn Hart is certainly a master of this form of novel writing
so the effort has been a pleasant one. This particular story is part of
her "Death on Demand" series which is centered in the lowcounrty
of South Carolina, a region born to be just chock full of mysteries -
both real and fictional.
The protagonist is Annie Darling the proprietor of the mystery
bookstore: Death on Demand. As with most cozy mystery sleuths,
she is brought into the investigation unwillingly but eager to right a
wrong once fingers begin to point to someone who, to her, seems a
most unlikely candidate for the title: murderer.
The story revolves around the art community and specifically the
Neville Gallery, an upscale venue filled with battling Neville
relatives. Virginia Neville, whose husband Nathaniel left her the
Neville money, with which she was instructed to take care of his
children, one of which, Carl, currently runs the Gallery with his wife
Susan, has decided to remarry. Her choice, Jake O'Neill, much
younger that Virginia and without a particularly enviable reputation,
is found murdered during a much touted evening Gallery event, with
all the Neville relatives and the Who's Who of Broward's Rock in
attendance.
With the police chief away performing active military reserve duty,
the investigation falls to the acting chief, Billy Cameron, who,
obviously, needs all the help he can get. In step the Darlings: Max
and Annie. Max runs a local detective agency and is asked by
Cameron to be his temporary deputy while Annie, who owns the
Death on Demand bookstore, gets to see the way the investigation is
progressing from the inside.
What I particularly liked about Engaged to Die is Carolyn Hart's
handing of the characters and there are lots of them (which, at times,
makes keeping them straight an effort, especially if you tend to pick
books up and put them down a lot). However, the effort is worth
is.
For lovers of mysteries Carolyn Hart is an answer to their prayers.
She takes great pains to make sure the reader is part of the
investigation; she keeps them looking for clues as much as the lead
characters. For instance, Annie Darling surreptitiously obtains
copies of the statements of the key suspects that were at the
Gallery the night of the murder and she prints them out. This
enables the reader to peruse them along with Annie and give them an
opportunity to spot the discrepancies before she does. Great
technique for keeping the reader involved.
The only complaint I might have would be that not enough exposure
has been given to the venue of the story: the lowcountry of South
Carolina. With no involvement by members of the Gullah
community, bible based religion, the sea islands and the beauty of
the marsh and tidal flows, the story could have occurred just about
anywhere. Why place a story in the lowcountry if it isn't going to
be a character.
That being said - it's still a story worth your time.
Tim Holland
That Old Cape Magic
By Richard Russo
Alfred A. Knopf
262 pages
Richard Russo is back. I'm not sure how I managed to miss this tale
when if first came out in 2009 but I suppose I'll just have to put it
down to poor browsing and the lack of a local, independent
bookseller nearby, although that's another issue. The important fact
is that Mr. Russo is back in stride.
This is a book I liked. That is not to say there are books of his that
I did not like just some I'm more enthusiastic about than others.
This one reminded me of his novel Straight Man (Random House,
1997) in that there's a thoughtful whimsy about his writing that I
particularly enjoy and That Old Cape Magic fits into that mold.
The story has an academic bent to it which works really well and
takes place along northeast coast. In fact if I were to devise a
subtitle for the book it would be: one wedding and two ghosts along
the Mainachussetts coast.
The central character is Jack Griffin who plies his teaching craft at a
small New England college, an only child with distinctly unlikable
parents who have spent their time teaching in a variety of colleges
and liking none of them. Academic snobs might be too kind a term
for them but surely seems to fit.
Jack's problem is that he has the same genes as his parents; thus
providing for the love hate relationship theme that moves through
the pages. Trying to distance yourself from your own inheritance
(genes) can be a confusing experiment.
While filled with poignant scenes of family trial and tribulation and
heartbreak, Russo never seems to write for very long without a smile
on his face, which than puts one on yours. The conversations with
his dead parents, especially the ones from the back seat of his car,
not to mention the ashes in the urn in the trunk, punctuate the book
nicely. And, of course, there is the battle among the functional and
dysfunctional characters. The description of the wedding reception,
especially Table 17 - the misfit table, makes for delightful reading
and laughing.
It is a testament to the writing skill, talent and craftsmanship of
Richard Russo that makes That Old Cape Magic another of his
books definitely worth reading
An Irish Country Village
by Patrick Taylor
Fiction - 419 Pages
What can I say about Patrick Taylor, nothing bad, certainly? How
can someone say something bad about someone who has written one
of the most enjoyable reading experiences of the past two years
(orig. publication date is 2008)? An Irish Country Village, a Forge
Book published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, New York, is a
delight; a jewel filled with facets worth exploring in a summer much
in need of the kind of Blarney the world is sorely missing.
Ballybucklebo, the name of the village central to all events, sets the
tone for what you will read. A fictional village located midway
between Belfast and Bangor (that's Northern Ireland not central
Maine) that is home to Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and a cast of
characters drawn so well you feel like you recognize them all: your
family, friends and neighbors. Some you like; some you wonder
about; some you might care to avoid but you can't ignore them and
Taylor makes sure you don't.
The flyleaf suggests the book and tale are "in the tradition of James
Harriot" but I think it goes well beyond such a comparison. Harriot
was England - Yorkshire while Thomas is Ireland - County Down -
the North. It's a bit different; just ask the people who live in both
places. That's not to say there aren't fine literary connections
between the two places, after all the Rev. Patrick Brontë was born in
County Down (he's the father of the gang of three writing Brontës:
Charlotte, Emily and Anne) and raised his literary clan in Yorkshire.
An Irish Country Villager is different and I don't think there are any
real comparisons. If you liked the 1950s and 60s you'll completely
lose yourself in the trials and tribulations of the good doctor and the
people of Ballybucklebo. If you wonder what all the talk is about
the middle years of the 20th century, this is a good place to satisfy
you curiosity.
What particularly good about the book is the quality of not just the
writing but also how the tale is woven. It moves, it informs, it
educates and is eminently readable - all the truly good essentials of a
well written book.
So once you finish with that blood and guts page turner you're in the
middle of or perhaps it's a sex crazed vampire you're caught up with,
try reading with a smile on your face and take a trip back to
someplace that once was and never will be again. Take a trip with
Patrick Taylor; trust me, you'll enjoy it.
