The Safe-Keeper's Secret

THE SAFE-KEEPER’S SECRET: Sharon Shinn: Viking: Young Adult: 222 pages

Damiana is the local safe-keeper who hears the secrets of others and holds them until they need to be spoken. Two children are born on the same night—one to Damiana and one to the king. The king’s child is delivered to Damiana to be raised as her own, and the two babies, Reed and Fiona, are treated as brother and sister. Fifteen years later on her deathbed, Damiana confides her own carefully concealed secret to Fiona, which has lasting consequences for Fiona and Reed.

Sharon Shinn has a very enjoyable writing style and creates stories that move quickly right from the first page. The revelation of Damiana’s secret occurs at the end of the story in a way that was not entirely satisfying, but prepares readers for the next two books in the series.

MBC

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN: Lisa See: Random House Trade Paperbacks: Fiction: 2006: 288 pgs.

Lily, at 80, is reflecting back on her life starting with her daughter days in 19th-century rural China. Society was ruled by rigid codes of conduct, especially for women. Women were to have their feet bound, marry men through arranged marriages, and reside in upstairs women’s chambers. Their lives were isolated and their only value was in having sons. Through all of this isolation and hardship, Lily and Snow Flower are matched as laotongs, an emotional match that would last a lifetime. They use the secret women’s writing of nu shu to share their joys and heartaches on a fan that they pass back and forth over the years.

This is a story of love, friendship, rebellion, pride and heartbreak. The description of foot binding was agonizing, as narrated by Lily at the tender age of 7. This novel really focuses on the relationship of Lily and Snow Flower and how it changes over the years . Great detail is given to certain events and then other events are barely given any notice.

I really liked the book but I wish the author had just told the story instead of foreshadowing certain events so many times that when they actually happened, it was kind of a let down.

AL

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming

THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING: Joshilyn Jackson: Grand Central Publishing: Mystery: 308 pgs.

Laurel has worked very hard to put her past behind her and create a perfect life for her family but it all starts to unravel the night a ghost enters her bedroom and leads her to the body of a dead girl in the backyard pool. As Laurel tries to discover what really happened that night, it soon becomes apparent that she must ask her estranged sister Thalia for help. Thalia, an actess who lives to stir up trouble, is about as different from Laurel as two people can be. As the two work together, they not only come closer to finding out why the girl died, but their own family's buried history is revealed.

The author was able to write in a manner that was very sophisticated yet quick and easy to read. She portrays a strong Southern quality throughout her story. Each of the key players is fully developed and brings hidden agendas and motivations to the story. This is a wonderful character driven tale.

AL

Murder 101

MURDER 101: Maggie Barbieri: St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2006: 275 p.

Murder seems to be the main subject for this hip, young English professor. But, Alison Bergeron is taking the class this time, not teaching it. When her car is stolen and the dead body of a young co-ed is found in the trunk, she (and her recently divorced ex-husband) look like the top two suspects. The case is complicated by the mob connections of the murdered student and the ‘family’ wants answers and a private revenge that includes their own version of justice. However, NYPD Homicide Detective Bobby Crawford is there to see that procedure is followed. And the professor does more than just fall over her own too-high heels, she begins to fall for the warm, trustworthy, single(?) detective. So when keeping watch over her house leads to him sleeping inside—on the couch of course—Alison doesn’t really mind. But will the detective exonerate Alison just because she’s attractive?

A light, chicklit style mystery to read over the weekend.

DLA

No Good Deeds

NO GOOD DEEDS: Laura Lippman: William Morrow: 2006: Mystery: 343 pages

A desire to do a good deed puts Private Investigator, Tess Monaghan, and her soft hearted boyfriend, Edgar “Crow” Ransome, on the trail of the murder of an assistant U.S. Attorney.

Crow spends his time outside of work donating food to soup kitchens in the Baltimore inner city. When Crow’s tires are slashed in a con by a young Blackman named Lloyd Jupiter, Crow brings him home for a good meal and a warm bed. While there, Tess discovers by accident that Lloyd may know something about the still unsolved murder of Gregory Youssef, an assistant U.S. Attorney. Tess gives the information to the local paper on the condition that Lloyd will remain anonymous, but after a friend of Lloyd’s is murdered and Tess receives a visit from three menacing law enforcement agents avid to know her source, she knows she gotten herself, Crow and Lloyd into a dangerous situation.

A large portion of the book was devoted to how Tess could tell the truth to the three government agents without giving any information away, which got to be very dull after a while. The ending though had a few plot twists and enough action to make up for the boring parts. The biggest problem for me, though, was the huge amounts of profanity in the book.

AJ

The London Eye Mystery

THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY: Siobhan Dowd: Young Adult: 322 pages

Autistic Ted and his sister Kat watch their cousin Salim enter the London Eye—a ride similar to a giant Ferris wheel—but when the doors open to let him off, Salim has disappeared. With only a few clues, Ted and Kat piece together the events surrounding the mystery and help the police relocate Salim. Ted narrates the story, giving readers an unusual perspective that is filtered through Ted’s disorder. Mild and gentle, this is a book appropriate for middle readers on up.

MBC

Bones to Ashes

BONES TO ASHES: Kathy Reichs: Scribner: 2007: Mystery: 320 pages

This is the 10th book in a series narrated by Temperance Brennan, Forensic Anthropologist. An exciting, cerebral read, I enjoyed the mixture of mystery and science in this novel. The story revolves around a cold case of missing and murdered girls. Tempe is wracked with guilt over the disappearance of a childhood friend over 20 years ago. As Tempe works with her ex-lover Ryan on the cases she discovers a connection to her old friend and begins to suspect that she may have been one of the missing girls. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys CSI type reads, but there was one unsavory incident involving child pornography that was painful to read. Interesting to note that the author is vice president of the American Academy of Forensic Scientists and the producer of Fox's Bones series.

DEF

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through his Son's Addiction

BEAUTIFUL BOY: A FATHER'S JOURNEY THROUGH HIS SON'S ADDICTION; David Sheff; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008, 326 pgs. Non-Fiction

Nic Sheff is a bright, funny, precocious, caring child whose descent into the frenetic, vacant-eyed persona of meth addiction is a dagger to the reader's heart, not to mention what it does to his family and friends. David Sheff's harrowing memoir grew from an article written for the New York Times Magazine, and traces Nic's his happy childhood, the unhappy days of his parents' divorce; his first experiments (at age 12) with drinking and marijuana use, and then crystal meth. In telling Nic's story, his father tells us the stories of all the victims of the meth epidemic in our country, but especially of the desolate parents, brothers and sisters, friends who are helpless against the ravages of a disease that becomes essentially incurable after just the one bad choice. (One mother in a support group is glad to learn that her Harvard-educated daughter is in jail, because at least she knows where she is.) Anyone who has supposed that drug abuse can be readily overcome in rehab, or by the simple exercise of willpower, or that intractable addiction does not have a physical basis should read this book, along with anyone--which should be all of us!--who wants to help stem the wicked, filthy, deadly tide of substance abuse which robs us of our peace and of our children.

LW

The Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Hearts and Homes

THE PEACEGIVER: HOW CHRIST OFFERS TO HEAL HEARTS AND HOMES: James L. Ferrell: Shadow Mountain Publishing: Nonfiction: 203 pgs.

The Peacegiver is written as an extended parable to explain the peace that comes through the atonement of Christ. Rick believes in Christ and loves his four children but his marriage is in serious danger from petty arguments and wounded pride. When things look their darkest, Rick's deceased grandfather starts visiting him in dreams, to try to help him find the peace and forgiveness promised by Christ. Through powerful interpretations of several Old Testament stories the author shows how the atonement is designed to make is as easy as possible for us to forgive others and find our own peace and salvation.

I do not usually enjoy reading nonfiction books but this read very much like a novel. I discovered new aspects of the atonement that I had never considered before. At some points I found myself wishing the author did not repeat himself so much but for the most part I enjoyed the book. This book has many good discussion points for a book club.

AL

No Trace

NO TRACE: Barry Maitland: St. Martin’s Minotaur: Mystery: 320 pgs.

In a London neighborhood known for its artists and bohemian style, six year old Tracey Rudd is abducted from her home. She is the daughter of notorious contemporary artist Gabriel Rudd, best known for the grotesque "Dead Puppies," a work centered around his wife's suicide five years earlier. While Rudd exploits Tracey's abduction as an inspiration for a major new work, D.C.I. David Brock and Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla hunt for the missing girls' kidnapper, who is suspiciously connected to the eccentric community of artists, dealers, and collectors in the neighborhood.

Themes which question the morality and drive of contemporary art were woven with motives and characters in this mystery, which was intriguing for me. The feel of the book reminded me a lot of an episode of Law and Order.

BHG

Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot

SORCERY & CECELIA OR THE ENCHANTED CHOCOLATE POT: Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer: Harcourt: Young Adult: 320 pages

A great deal is happening in London this season.
For starters, there's the witch who tried to poison Kate at Sir Hilary's induction into the Royal College of Wizards. (Since when does hot chocolate burn a hole straight through one's dress?!)
Then there's Dorothea. Is it a spell that's made her the toast of the town--or could it possibly have something to do with the charm-bag under Oliver's bed?
And speaking of Oliver, just how long can Cecelia and Kate make excuses for him? Ever since he was turned into a tree, he hasn't bothered to tell anyone where he is!
The girls might think it all a magical nightmare . . . if only they weren't having so much fun.

This book is sort of a Jane Austen meets Harry Potter novel. It was slow in the beginning, but by the end I was excited to see how it would all turn out. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical fiction or the regency period, although it may be a little too slow for someone who enjoyed the pace Harry Potter.

AMM

Change of Heart

CHANGE OF HEART: Jodi Picoult: Atria Books: Fiction: 447 pages

Eleven years ago, Shay Bourne was convicted of murdering 7-year-old Elizabeth Nealon and her police officer stepfather. Now on death row, Shay is obsessed with the idea of donating his heart to Elizabeth’s sister Claire, who suffers from a heart condition, after his execution. With the help of a priest who served on the jury that convicted him and an ACLU attorney, Shay attempts to find redemption after death.

In her newest novel, Picoult once again considers complicated moral issues in a legal setting. Picoult excels at creating multi-dimensional characters and plots and never resorts to a dichotomy between good guys and bad guys. My Sister’s Keeper and Nineteen Minutes remain my favorite of Picoult’s work, but Change of Heart is an interesting, thoughtful book.

MBC

Suffer the Little Children

SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN; Donna Leon; New York: Atlantic Monthly, 2007. 264 pgs.
Fiction

This latest book in Donna Leon's superb Venetian mystery series finds Commissario Guido Brunetti investigating an early morning raid of a pediatrician's home by the Carabinieri, to seize the couple's illegally adopted child. The doctor is seriously injured, and questions arise as to why such a brutal raid occurred. Short on conventional violence, Suffer the Little Children is long on the horrific damage we do to one another with self-righteous meddling. Venice, as always, is a beautiful, palpable presence in the story, not just backdrop, but a character herself. Commissario Brunetti is a delight as well, a loving husband and father, and a police officer of great compassion and a piercing intelligence.

LW

Tangled Roots

TANGLED ROOTS: G.G. Vandagriff: Deseret Book, 2007: Mystery: 295p.

Genealogy and murder—what’s not to love? Another high adventure featuring Alexandra and Briggie, the two women who founded RootSearch, Inc.—a company designed to help those with genealogical dilemmas. And when mysteries unearth murders, the dilemma reaches thoroughly tangled proportions. Not to worry, with Alexandra’s mother (a recovering alcoholic), Briggie’s handy shotgun and several love interests to boot, the team is more than capable of handling any family scandal—past AND present.

More action than your local Family History Center provides and sure to appeal to those who’ve come to appreciate the intricacies of genealogical charts and the search for lost relations. Be sure to read “About the Author” before or after you read the novel--the novel’s origins might be the most interesting mystery of all.

DLA

Wicked Lovely

WICKED LOVELY: Melissa Marr: HarperTeen: 2007: Young Adult: 328 pages

Aislinn has always been able to see faeries. It is something she inherited from her mother and grandmother. The fey are an unpredictable even sometimes cruel bunch and because of this she has always followed her grandmother’s rule to never let them know she has the Sight. Aislinn takes refuge in her friend, Seth’s, home which is a converted railroad car. Faeries are weakened by iron so they avoid it if they can.

But now Aislinn is being followed by two faeries. She has been chosen by the Summer King to be his queen. Many mortal girls have been chosen in the past but none have ever been the One. They are then cursed by the Winter Queen to carry her frost until another girl is chosen. Keenan, the Summer King attempts to woo Aislinn but discovers she is in love with Seth. Keenan must win his queen at any cost because united they can defeat the Winter Queen and save the world from a permanent winter.

This book comes the closest to the feel of Twilight as anything I have read except for the ending which disappointed me just a little. That being said, I would recommend this book to any one looking for a good story whether they liked Twilight or not.

AJ

Remember Me?

REMEMBER ME?: Sophia Kinsella: Dial Press: 2008: Fiction: 389 pages

What if you woke up and couldn’t remember the last three years of your life? And in that time you got a new job, had your teeth straightened, hair fixed (and maybe a bit more) and even have a wealthy, handsome husband.

Lexi Smart gets in a car accident, bumps her head and wakes up with the life she’s always dreamed of, but after initially being thrilled, she soon discovers that she is hated at work as a tyrant boss and has no spark with her uptight husband. What Lexi can’t figure out is how she could have changed so much in three years.

This charming yet unoriginal tale still has something to it. I enjoyed reading about Lexi’s struggle to mesh her old self with her new life.

AJ

The Little Lady Agency and the Prince

THE LITTLE LADY AGENCY AND THE PRINCE: Hester Browne: Pocket Books: 2008: Fiction: 391 pages

This is the third book in the Little Lady Agency, and my favorite in the series. I was little hesitant after seeing the title. The idea of having a prince as a potential love interest seemed a bit cheesy, but I read it anyways and was pleasantly surprised.

Melissa who is now engaged to her sophisticated boyfriend, Jonathan Riley, must once again deal with her overbearing family and a fiancé who is pressuring her to sell the Little Lady Agency and move to France with him. While making plans for her wedding, Melissa’s grandmother asks her to turn slimy Prince Nicolas von Helsing-Alexandros into a perfect gentleman so he will be allowed to return to his tiny country after his family was kicked out two generations ago. But Nicolas is a much smoother man than she’s used to fixing and she may be in over her head.

What I enjoyed most about this novel is the growth and development of Melissa. She stands up for what she wants and makes some difficult decisions creating some-what of a surprise ending.

AJ

Territory

TERRITORY; Emma Bull; New York: Tor, 2007, 318 pgs. Science Fiction/Fantasy

Emma Bull is well-known for her modern urban fantasies, but in this truly unique offering, she is in Tombstone with the Earps, Doc Holliday, and the Clantons. Jesse Fox, a well-spoken, good-hearted sometime horse trainer and mining engineer, has arrived in Tombstone with no intention of staying, drawn there by his old friend Chow Lung, a doctor of Chinese medicine. Lung knows Fox to have mystical powers that Fox disavows, but when someone uses those same powers for dark purposes and strikes against Jesse's friends, he is drawn in. Observing the action is Mrs. Mildred Benjamin, a widow who works as a typesetter and then a reporter for the Tombstone Nugget, but she becomes involved as well when her feelings for Jesse deepen and she begins to see things she can't understand--Wyatt Earp in two simultaneous incarnations, for example. Territory is very rich reading--a treasure for those who love the West and her history, as well as for those who appreciate exquisitely well-drawn characters, considerations of the nature of free well, romance, and a seething, unsettling mysticism. (Fair warning: towards the end of the book you will need to pay close attention to keep all the players straight, and to not be disappointed by where the action does not conclude.)

LW

Robot Dreams

ROBOT DREAMS: Sara Varon: First Second: Graphic Novel: 205 pages

In a graphic novel with no dialogue, a dog and a robot become friends, but an unfortunate trip to the ocean rusts the robot and he spends the year abandoned on the beach, dreaming of being reunited with the dog. This simply drawn story portrays friendship in a surprisingly poignant and powerful way. A good graphic novel for those unfamiliar with the format.

MBC

Archangel

ARCHANGEL: Sharon Shinn: Ace Books: Fantasy: 390 pages

Gabriel is set to become the next archangel, but he must find Rachel, the woman an oracle has declared to be his bride, before he can assume his new role. Finding Rachel as a slave in a wealthy household introduces more problems than it solves, though, as Rachel dislikes Gabriel and the angels and prefers to live and help the oppressed Edori population. A premise that sounds ridiculous is a suspenseful and interesting story as told by Shinn. Engaging from the first page, this unusual romance successfully examines social structures, faith, power, corruption, and love.

MBC

Catering to Nobody

CATERING TO NOBODY: Diane Mott Davidson: Bantam Books: Mystery: 301 pages

Get ready for a smorgasbord of delicious suspense prepared by Goldy Bear, an irrepressible mistress of menus and amateur sleuth. Filled with a cast of colorful characters and superb recipes, Catering to Nobody is the first in a series that has made Diane Mott Davidson a best-selling author and the Queen of the Culinary Mystery. Goldy Bear, recently divorced, has made a home for herself and her young son in scenic Aspen Valley, Colorado. There, calls for Goldilock’s Catering have been steady enough to pay the bills. But when a mourner is felled by rat poison during a funeral buffet Goldy is serving, the police quickly close her business. Now it’s up to Goldy to find the rat that has tainted her food and her reputation.

This was a good mystery. I didn’t figure out whodunit until the very end. The cast of characters was mostly likable, although I thought that Patty Sue was too flighty and that Arch was a little weird. I did enjoy this first book in the series and would recommend it.

AMM

Size 12 is NOT Fat

SIZE 12 IS NOT FAT: Meg Cabot: Avon Books, c2006: Mystery, 345p.

Right down the chicklit alley. Heather Wells is a mid-twenties, ex-pop princess who used to sing her head off to screaming tweens in the malls across America. Now that her mom has run off to Argentina with her former manager—and all her money—she’s taken a job at one of New York College’s ‘residence halls’. *note: definitely not to be referred to as a dorm.

But college life isn’t all books and frat parties. Several students manage to get themselves killed and Heather somehow becomes the front runner on the case due to her insatiable curiosity and concern. And due to her current living situation, she’s on close terms with a gorgeous private detective who alternately aids and discourages her interest in the college crimes.

As a result of Heather’s colorful personal life—i.e., being the ex-girlfriend of Jordan Cartwright who happens to sing lead in an infamous boy band and now living with his older and much hotter brother (strictly in a landlord/landlee relationship much to her despair) the book offers lots of light humor and intrigue. Colorful language included.

*SIZE 14 IS NOT FAT EITHER contains further school murder mystery and a sure bet to read if you like the first.

DLA

Pillars of the Earth

PILLARS OF THE EARTH: Ken Follet: Penguin Audio, p2007: Books on CD-Fiction: 32 discs/41 hrs.

An extremely compelling saga of the struggle to build a cathedral during the twelfth century, Follet tells a fictionalized, yet historically accurate account of medieval England. Thoroughly researched and well written, the novel’s strength lies in its characters, who become full-fleshed individuals--each with their personal dreams, quests and/or schemes of vengeance. I came to treasure Prior Phillip and his arresting monks, love Tom Builder with his complex family, and despise Lord William and his perfidious men. A November 2007 Oprah Book Club selection, she mentioned she’d never read a book so fascinating, nor had it generated so much positive interest.

Medieval England was a tempestuous time period and the book recounts numerous scenes of rape, pillage, violence, and war with graphic accuracy. Readers sensitive to these subjects be forewarned. As I was listening to the audio version, it was fairly easy to skip to the next section whenever I came to a scene that was more gruesome than I could manage.

DLA

The Indian Bride

THE INDIAN BRIDE; Karin Fossum; New York: Harcourt, 2007; 297pgs. Fiction

Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer books are beguiling, atmospheric, suspenseful, and distinguished most of all for their characterizations. In The Indian Bride, the people are so full of life, frailties, complexities that the mystery itself, of the brutal murder of a young bride from India, almost loses its primary importance. The "procedure" of what is, structurally, a police procedural is equally complicated. A young girl who was bicycling past the meadow as the murder was committed develops a crush on the young policeman, so she remembers things so she will have an excuse to call him; an older man sees someone he knows throws a suitcase into the lake, but can't bring himself to report it because he knows the man. What the reader knows, the police often don't, and the gaps are filled with suspense. Above all else, what Karin Fossum always recognizes (and honors) is the anguish of those who are left, and the Hardyesque progression of circumstances that bring terrible things to pass. Highly recommended.

LW

The Year of the Goat

THE YEAR OF THE GOAT: 40,000 MILES AND THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT CHEESE: Margaret Hathaway: Lyons Press: Nonfiction: 204 pages

Hathaway, a former manager of the well-known Magnolia Bakery in New York City, and her boyfriend (husband by the end of the book), Karl Schatz, a professional photographer, leave their life in the city to travel the country in pursuit of information on raising goats and producing goat cheese. In preparation for their own agricultural life, the couple visit goat farms, auctions, and conventions, learning about milking, trimming hooves, slaughtering animals, and all things goat.

Readers interested in agricultural life and road memoirs will enjoy this book--Hathaway is a likable, gentle narrator--but it suffers in comparison to the more prominent books about city dwellers turning to the rural life, most notably Barbara Kingsolver’s excellent, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

MBC

When You Need a Lift: But Don't Want to Eat Chocolate, Pay a Shrink, or Drink a Bottle of Gin

WHEN YOU NEED A LIFT: BUT DON'T WANT TO EAT CHOCOLATE, PAY A SHRINK, OR DRINK A BOTTLE OF GIN: Joy Behar and friends: Crown Publishers: Nonfiction: 232 pgs.

Comedienne and cohost of ABC's "The View," Joy Behar compiled personal advice solicited from more than 100 of her celebrity friends. Alphabetically ordered, by last name, the very first entry by Patch Adams spoke to my heart. He describes leaving the syntax of living in "because," as offering an excuse not to and moving into a life of "so that." In other words, transforming "I don't exercise because it's a pain" into "I exercise because it's good for my body."

While there are many obvious tips and some that are a bit trite, this is a quick read containing at least one new idea you haven't tried and producing many smile-inducing moments.

DLD

Just Jane: A Novel of Jane Austen’s Life

JUST JANE: A NOVEL OF JANE AUSTEN'S LIFE: Nancy Moser: Bethany House: Historical Fiction: 367 pgs.

This book follows the story of Jane Austen’s life from the time she was about 20 years old and started writing to her 30’s when her work was getting published. It is formed into a series of vignettes about different happenings through these years. Just Jane tries to reflect on what Jane Austen might have been thinking or feeling at those times, and how these events may have affected her novels.

I think my expectations were too high, because I was disappointed. There is a slow development of Jane's character, but any enlightenment I got from her growth wasn’t worth the effort of getting there (250 pages of effort). The book seems to be historically accurate, and I admire that she doesn't bend events in Austen's life to make them more dramatic, but this isn't a compelling read. Maybe if I had expected less of this going in, I would have appreciated it like I would appreciate a long, quiet, uneventful vacation in the English countryside.

Highland Fling

HIGHLAND FLING: Katie Fforde: St. Martin’s Press: Fiction: 326 pages

When Jenny visits Scotland as the virtual assistant of a man she’s never met, her job is to assess the state of a failing woolen mill. Once she meets the family running the mill (the Dalmains), though, she’s determined to save the enterprise no matter what. In the meantime, Jenny’s hands are full sparring with contentious but attractive Ross Grant, assisting Meggie Dalmain with her roadside food stand, and persuading Felicity Dalmain to stand up to her domineering mother.

This is a light, predictable read. Katie Fforde has written a number of books in the same genre, and the later ones (Bidding for Love and Restoring Grace) are her best.

MBC

Right Behind You

RIGHT BEHIND YOU: Gail Giles: Little, Brown Young Readers: 2007: Young Adult: 304 pgs.

A great novel about consequences, acceptance, and redemption. I have wondered how people live after they have killed someone, and this book tells that tale. Young Kip strikes out in a rage against a friend which results in the friend’s death. The story continues as Kip is placed in a mental ward and then released at the age of 14. Told from his perspective it’s a compelling story of his attempts to deal with his actions, and find a way to live a happy and productive life. A great book for reluctant readers. Although the theme is serious, it is a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone 14 years +.

DEF

The War Against Miss Winter

THE WAR AGAINST MISS WINTER: Kathryn Miller Haines: Harper: Mystery: 317 pgs.

It’s 1943, and Rosie Winter is a struggling actress in New York City. During the day she makes ends meet by pushing papers at a detective’s office. When she discovers her boss murdered in his closet, she’s pressured by his former clients to continue investigating his last case – the one that led to his untimely death. She must rely on her skills as an actress to charm those who hold the information she needs.

This book was charming and fun to read. Our heroine is a Katharine Hepburn-style woman whose wit adds life to an already interesting mystery (one of my favorite quips was, “Her sincerity was so thin you’d be arrested for wearing it out in public”). On top of that, Haines brings to life the details of New York in the midst of WWII: blackouts, jive joints, food stamps, automats, and the impatient wait for news from the front lines. This is an especially fun read for those interested in the theater world.

BHG