Thursday, October 31, 2013

Sea-Devil: A Delilah Duffy Mystery by Jessica Sherry

Sea-Devil is a beach side murder mystery featuring Delilah Duffy, a bright, and gutsy young woman escaping her past by reinventing herself as manager of Beach Read Books.  But, a murder in the store the night before her grand opening threatens her dream and, as she gets closer to the truth, puts her in danger of being the next victim.

Sea-Devil: A Delilah Duffy Mystery life in a small town can be tough; gossip, intrigue, and murder.  Sea-Devil is set in a tiny island town, the description of the town and its residents creates the feeling that the reader has visited this town. The characters, with wonderfully written dialog, are so real you begin to imagine them as friends and family.

Sea-Devil is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie or Murder She Wrote style Who Done It? with a modern twist. The culprit is not easily identified, even this amateur detective of mystery novels had a hard time pin pointing the murderer and motive in this story. The only issue I had with the story in itself was the romance portion seemed a little contrived and cliche.  However, this reader finds most romance to fall under that category.

Overall this was an amazingly fun read! I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from this author.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn


The scars of Camille Preaker’s past lay carved into her body. The raised outlines of the nasty words are haunting. Her eight year absence from her hometown has not been enough to erase the marks left behind. In a cruel twist of fate, she receives an assignment from the small paper, in Chicago, where she works, forcing her return to Wind Gap, Missouri, to face the family she left, and the chilling tragedy from her childhood that is never far from her thoughts. The assignment: to investigate the violent murders of two preteen girls in this small community. Unraveling the mystery brings Camille closer to dangers that may have best been forgotten and answers questions that had never been asked.

Sharp Objects ensnares the reader from the first page. The tried-and-true formula of the mystery/thriller is blown apart; far from predictable, a new category may be needed for this author’s stories. Gillian Flynn uses smart, concise writing depicting dark elements such as abuse, murder, and mutilation.


This is the debut novel from the author of the best-seller Gone Girl. As Flynn’s first novel it holds its own among her later novels. The author’s ability to depict the dark side of human behavior accurately is the most impressive aspect of her writing. The characters are at times unlikable, but real and gritty. The storyline is intriguing and eerie, designed to keep the reader guessing. A great psychological-thriller that you will think about for days after turning the last page.

Sharp objects at Amazon

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Abducted by T.R. Ragan

Fourteen years ago Lizzy Gardner fought for her life at the hands of a sadistic killer and escaped. She has struggled to get by since that fateful night she was taken by a serial killer known as Spiderman. The only one of his victims to escape, she has never forgotten him, and little does she know, Spiderman has never forgotten her. Fourteen years later he has come back into Lizzy’s life and made it clear that she will not escape again.

This novel has all the elements of a great thriller, a psychopathic killer, unwilling heroine, and a courageous love interest. For those in love with the formula of a mystery you will not be disappointed. Ragan leaves the reader guessing throughout this story and gives an ending that is true to the genre of thriller. The plot, however, doesn't require much in the way of extensive thought.

The writing in Abducted is clean and precise. The dialog is well written and allows the reader to move smoothly through the plot.  The loose ends are tied up nicely by the turn of the last page. However, if you are looking for a dynamic and thought provoking story line do not embark upon this journey. I would recommend this novel as a quick read for traveling or laying by the pool.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card


Ender’s military training begins before most of us are ready to give up playing with dolls or building forts in the back yard with our friends. In Ender’s world such childish things are not made for children. Children are made to defend Earth from a pending attack. Military training is comprised of games that the tiny soldiers play to hone their strategic thinking and reasoning. Ender soon realizes that the teachers at his military school have more than basic training in mind.

This book strikes a chord with the reader, not because the reader has been in a similar situation, but because Ender’s struggle is one that is universal. How do we judge between right and wrong when those around us live in the gray? Are we still culpable for our actions when we are not aware of the outcomes they produce? How can we rectify the wrongs that we have committed and still continue to live productive lives? We may ask these questions as adults, but Ender must come to terms with these same questions as a young boy.

The plot, at times repetitive and predictable, is not the redeeming piece of this novel. What makes this story so compelling is its ability to stimulate deeper thinking in regards to the responsibility we hold for our own decisions and their ultimate consequence regardless of our intentions.


There are more books related to the Ender story and I will definitely be adding them to my ‘To Read’ list.