October 2008 Reads (cross post with 4MA)

To make up for not posting yesterday, here is the October books read summary that I posted on 4MA.


ASHES OF THE ELEMENTS by Alys Clare
2nd in a series of 11 featuring Abbess Helewise and Sir Josse d'Acquin, a French knight, at the Hawkenly Abbey in England during the 12th century. It was published in 2000 and has 416 pages. Here's a description from Booklist: "When the body of a local poacher is found in an ancient forest adjacent to the abbey, the sheriff dismisses it as the work of the Forest People. As Helewise worries about two young wards of the abbey who must make decisions about their futures, and Josse begins to investigate the crime in the forest, another murder occurs. When Helewise and Josse venture into the forest, a new mystery unfolds that concerns both the murders and the abbey's young charges." I love historical mysteries; this series is a rather light-weight selection of the authors available. I'll probably read more but not rushing out to do so.

ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS by JT Ellison
1st of series of 3 featuring Taylor Jackson, a homicide lieutenant, and her lover, FBI profiler John Baldwin, in Nashville, Tennessee. Published 2007 and has 416 pages. Here's a blurb from Publisher's Weekly: "The body of a young girl discovered by the side of a Nashville highway puts homicide detective Taylor Jackson and FBI Agent John Baldwin, on the trail of the Southern Strangler, a playful, brutal killer who likes to carry his victims across state lines after murdering them and removing their hands. Before long, however, Taylor's reassigned to the suspicious death of a prominent TV personality, leaving John struggling to keep ahead of the Strangler's mounting body count." I saw this author at LCC-Denver and was impressed; the book is all right but I wanted more...something. Will read the others I think.

THE BRASS VERDICT by Michael Connelly
2nd in series of 2 featuring Mickey Haller, a lawyer in Los Angeles, California. Published 2008 and has 432 pages. The following description is from Publsher's Weekly:"When Mickey Haller inherits the practice and caseload of a fellow defense attorney, Jerry Vincent, who's been murdered, the high-profile double-homicide case against famed Hollywood producer Walter Elliot, accused of shooting his wife and her alleged lover, takes top priority. As Haller scrambles to build a defense, he butts heads with LAPD Det. Harry Bosch, who's working Vincent's murder. When Haller realizes that the Elliot affair is bigger than simply a jealous husband killing his cheating wife, he and Bosch grudgingly agree to work together to solve what could be the biggest case in both their careers." Loved it; want more please.

ALL SHALL BE WELL by Deborah Crombie
2nd in series of 12 featuring Duncan Kincaid, a Scotland Yard superintendent, and Gemma James, a sergeant, in London, England. Published in 1994 and has 288 pages. This blurb is from Library Journal: "When the autopsy of Duncan's terminally ill neighbor indicates a drug overdose, Kincaid must determine whether the death was murder or suicide." I both enjoyed and was irritated by it as a light, entertaining investigation but I thought the solution somewhat came out of nowhere and if I read about Gemma's "copper hair" one more time I'll do something dreadful.

THE CHARDONNAY CHARADE by Ellen Crosby
2nd in series of 3 featuring Lucie Montgomery, operating her family's winery in Virginia, in the Wine Country mysteries. Published in 2007 with 272 pages. Description comes from Publisher's Weekly: "After spending the night keeping her vines from freezing, the easily peeved Lucie is less than thrilled to find the pesticide-contaminated body of Georgia Greenwood, a local politician, at the edge of her fields. Lucie leaves the investigating to the police, but is dismayed when her close friend Ross, Georgia's husband, becomes a suspect. What's more, the EPA disapproves of her cavalier handling of pesticides, and her younger sister is on the brink of alcoholism." I don't like a lot of amateur sleuth series anymore but this one is keeping my attention.

THE WHISKEY REBELS by David Liss
Standalone published in 2008 with 544 pages. Description comes from Publisher's Weekly: "Set in and around Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York City in the years after the Revolutionary War, this clever thriller follows the adventures of Ethan Saunders, once a valiant spy for General Washington, who's fallen on hard times by war's end. Suspected of treason, Ethan has lost the love of his life, Cynthia, who's married the fiendish Jacob Pearson, an entrepreneur who managed to prosper during the British occupation of Philadelphia. At Cynthia's urging, Ethan agrees to go looking for the missing Jacob, prompted in large part by a desire to redeem his reputation. Meanwhile, the so-called whiskey rebels on the western frontier are trying to bring down the hated Alexander Hamilton and his Bank of the United States." Really great read, highly recommended. Hope this can turn into a series.

COMPANY OF LIARS by Karen Maitland
Standalone, published in 2008 with 480 pages. Description comes from mazon.com: "The year is 1348. The Black Plague grips the country. In a world ruled by faith and fear, nine desperate strangers, brought together by chance, attempt to outrun the certain death that is running inexorably toward them. Each member of this motley company has a story to tell. From Camelot, the relic-seller who will become the group's leader, to Cygnus, the one-armed storyteller . . . from the strange, silent child called Narigorm to a painter and his pregnant wife, each has a secret. None is what they seem. And one among them conceals the darkest secret of all — propelling these liars to a destiny they never saw coming." Great, great histmyst. This and the Liss book made this a fabulous month of reading. Highly recommended.

A SLEEPING LIFE by Ruth Rendell (audiobook)
10th of series of 22 featuring Reginald Wexford, a chief inspector in Sussex, England. Unfortunately, I'm not reading this series in order right now. Published in 1978; paperback has 192 pages. "A body is found in a rural town outside London, and the townsfolk easily identify the victim. Yet, who was she, really? No one knows her real name, occupation, or address, much less who would want to kill her." Just a good ol' mystery.

Nonfiction:
THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE by Douglas Preston (Audiobook)
"When author Douglas Preston moved his family to Florence he never expected he would soon become obsessed and entwined in a horrific crime story whose true-life details rivaled the plots of his own bestselling thrillers. While researching his next book, Preston met Mario Spezi, an Italian journalist who told him about the Monster of Florence, Italy's answer to Jack the Ripper, a terror who stalked lovers' lanes in the Italian countryside. The killer would strike at the most intimate time, leaving mutilated corpses in his bloody wake over a period from 1968 to 1985." Interesting, but the telling dragged a bit.

November is already shaping up to be a great month with some good new releases coming my way: CS Harris, Sean Chercover, JD Robb, and others. Yay!

Best,
PK the Bookeemonster