The Butterfly Sister

The Butterfly Sister by Amy Gail Hansen
Publication date: August 6, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: publisher provided a copy for a honest review
Description from Goodreads:
"My past was never more than one thought, one breath, one heartbeat away. And then, on that particular October evening, it literally arrived at my doorstep."

Eight months after dropping out of Tarble, an all-women's college, twenty-two-year-old Ruby Rousseau is still haunted by the memories of her senior year-a year marred by an affair with her English professor and a deep depression that not only caused her to question her own sanity but prompted a failed suicide attempt.

And then a mysterious paisley print suitcase arrives, bearing Ruby's name and address on the tag. When Ruby tries to return the luggage to its rightful owner, Beth Richards, her dorm mate at Tarble, she learns that Beth disappeared two days earlier, and the suitcase is the only tangible evidence as to her whereabouts.

Consumed by the mystery of the missing girl and the contents of the luggage-a tattered copy of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, the book on which Ruby based her senior thesis, and which she believes instigated her madness-she sets out to uncover the truth, not only about Beth Richards's past but also her own. In doing so, Ruby is forced to reexamine the people from her past: the professor who whisked her away to New Orleans and then shattered her heart and the ghosts of dead women writers who beckoned her to join their illustrious group. And when Ruby's storyline converges with Beth's in a way she never imagined, she returns to the one place she swore she never would: her alma mater.

My Take:
I picked The Butterfly Sister out of the stack of books to be read as a quick break from the succession of historical fiction that I have been reading lately. I am so happy that I did. This book was such a pleasant surprise. I expected to be entertained and diverted, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was.

I loved all the references to women writers, particularly Virginia Woolf, and the connections to Ruby and her own fragile mental state. The story line regarding depression, madness and suicide attempts was interesting, thoughtful and very important to the story. Even while Ruby is rushing headlong to try to solve the mystery of her missing friend, the novel also addresses some of the issues regarding women writers, creativity, links with depression, scholarly life  - and then brings it all back around and together in a clever and surprising way.

I love fiction that references other fiction and writers and readers. This book has all that, plus it has a mystery, suspense, some romance, some revenge, some crazy, and some really great twists. This was fun from start to finish. I don't want to give anything away, because this one needs to be discovered by the reader.

Louisiana Fever

Louisiana Fever by D.J. Donaldson
Publication date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions, LLC 
Source: publisher provided digital edition for an honest review
Description provided by publisher:

When Kit goes to meet an anonymous stranger—who’s been sending her roses—the man drops dead at her feet before she could even get his name. Game on.

Andy Broussard soon learns that the man carried a lethal pathogen similar to the deadly “Ebola”—a highly contagious virus, feared worldwide for killing its victims (grotesquely) in a matter of days. When another body turns up with the same bug, widespread panic becomes imminent. The danger is even more acute, because the carrier is mobile. The man knows he’s a walking weapon and… he’s targeting Broussard.

And when Kit Franklyn investigates her mystery suitor further, she runs afoul of a cold- blooded killer, every bit as deadly as the man searching for her partner.

Louisiana Fever is written in Donaldson’s unique style:  A hard-hitting, punchy, action-packed prose that’s dripping with a folksy, decidedly southern sense of irony.  Mix in Donaldson’s brilliant first-hand knowledge of forensics, along with the sultry flavor of New Orleans, and readers will be fully satisfied with this irresistibly delectable mystery.

My Take:

This is the first of the Broussard and Kit novels that I have read. Even though I didn't read the first book that introduces the characters, I enjoyed Louisiana Fever. It was a fun, fast-paced read.

Andy Broussard is an interesting character - a medical examiner with sophisticated taste in food who doesn't skimp on the serving size. He has a good sense of humor, is excellent at his job and inspires loyalty from his friends and employees. He also has a taste for Louis L'Amoor novels.

Kit Franklyn, his sidekick, is smart and feisty. In this book she actually spends most of her time in captivity, so I didn't get as much of a sense for her working style as I'd like. 

I found the story interesting and entertaining with lots of detailed information about the autopsy procedures as well as the investigative techniques used by Broussard, Kit as well as the police.  

If you are interested in a fast-paced, exciting, mystery with lots of technical and investigative details, you might enjoy this fun novel by D.J. Donaldson. 

Direct links to book here:
Astor + Blue     Amazon          B&N

Fear in the Sunlight Blog Tour and Review

Fear in the Sunlight by Nicola Upson
review copy provided by Harper via TLC Book Tours
Synopsis:
Summer 1936. Mystery writer Josephine Tey joins her friends in the resort village of Portmeirion, Wales, to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine’s novel, A Shilling for Candles. But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood’s leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth.

My Take:
Naturally, when I first heard about Fear in the Sunlight and the opportunity to read and review it, I was interested because of the time period and the fact that it includes Alfred Hitchcock. I had never hear of Josephine Tey or read any of her books. After reading Fear in the Sunlight, I just might have to read a few of them. I also hadn't read any of Nicola Upson's books, but I will be remedying that situation as soon as I can.

I found the perspective given of Hitchcock and his wife to be very interesting and I will probably have to do some reading and watch one of the movies about them. They seem like quite the power couple. 

There are several important characters to keep track of and at times I had to go back and make sure who was who.For some reason, I kept mixing up David and Daniel and had to write notes so I could keep them straight.  I think this was mostly because I was reading the book so quickly. 

Once things are set up, and the characters arrive at Portmeirion, things start to happen very quickly. I enjoyed how the author set the reader up for some surprises right off because of all the speculation about Hitchcock's elaborate jokes - this made me try to pay attention to who went where and why and I was always suspicious of what exactly they were doing and why they were doing it.

There are some horrific crimes committed at the resort, and that is ostensibly what the book is about, but the really fascinating stuff is back story and really turns things on their heads. I enjoyed the mad dash to find out exactly who everyone was, who had killed who and why. The stories are complicated and convoluted - just the way they should be. I loved trying to guess at the plot twists and a few I got right but others really threw me.

I appreciated the nod to classic mystery genre - everyone gathered together the morning after a murder, everyone is a suspect, everyone's alibi's are a bit shaky - so much fun. I also had a chuckle at how the author depicts Hitchcock's reactions to certain events - kind of a comeuppance for the great mystery movie director; but then he kind of has the final word, so it's all good.

I found Fear in the Sunlight to be an easily read, interest grabbing, fast-paced murder mystery.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel. 

About Nicola Upson

Nicola Upson is the author of the Josephine Tey mysteries: An Expert in Murder, Angel with Two Faces, and Two for Sorrow. She has written for a variety of publications, including the New Statesman, where she was a crime fiction critic. She also regularly contributes to BBC radio and has worked in the theater for ten years. She divides her time between Cambridge and Cornwall.
Visit Nicola at her website, www.nicolaupson.com.

Nicola’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, April 9th: The Well-Read Wife
Wednesday, April 10th: The Road to Here
Thursday, April 11th: Amused By Books
Friday, April 12th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf
Monday, April 15th: Booktalk & More
Thursday, April 18th: Man of La Book
Monday, April 22nd: Nonsuch Book
Tuesday, April 23rd: guiltless reading
Wednesday, April 24th: A Book Geek
Thursday, April 25th: Unabridged Chick
Tuesday, April 30th: The House of the Seven Tails
Saturday, May 4th: Doing Dewey

I received this book from the author or publisher for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.

Miss Me When I'm Gone

  
Miss Me When I'm Gone by Emily Arsenault
review copy provided by William Morrow/Harper Collins
Description from Goodreads:
MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE is the story of the sudden death of Eliza, the author of Tammyland, a "honky-tonk" Eat, Pray, Love, and Jamie, the friend who finds in Eliza's next, unpublished manuscript a mystery that could lead to a killer.

A William Morrow Paperback Original
A brand new mystery from the author of the critically acclaimed Broken Teaglass and In Search of the Rose Notes

Gretchen Waters is most famous for her book Tammyland-a "honky-tonk Eat, Pray, Love," a memoir about her divorce and her admiration for Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. When Gretchen dies falling on a set of stone steps outside of a library, everyone thinks it was an accident or a botched mugging. Jamie, Gretchen's best friend from college, certainly has no reason to suspect foul play. That is, until she becomes Gretchen's literary executor. Gretchen's latest manuscript is much darker than Tammyland-ostensibly about her favorite classic male country singers, it's really about a murder in her family that haunted her childhood. From beyond the grave, Gretchen's writing opens up a sinister new world, and suddenly, Gretchen's death seems suspicious-and then Jamie finds herself in danger as well..

My take:
I like a good mystery, and the premise of Miss Me When I'm Gone sounded really interesting.  But since I'm not really a fan of country music, I wasn't sure if I'd really like the book. While I'm not a fan of country music, I am very familiar with it - I did grow up in Oklahoma after all; so, I did know all the singers and the songs referenced and I had even seen many, if not all, of the specific performances discussed in the book. But, honestly, the country music subject didn't bother me -- it was really kind of fun and worked really well in this story.


I brought the book with me to the gym thinking I'd start it and if it didn't capture my interest, that was okay since I still got my workout. Well, the hour on the treadmill actually sped by and I just kept reading after I got home.  I was really caught up in the mystery - or mysteries. There are excerpts throughout the novel that are from the novel that Gretchen wrote as well as her research notes for her second novel that she didn't get to complete before she was killed. I found myself much more interested in the excerpts that were supposed to be from Tammyland, Gretchen's country-singer inspired book, than I thought I would be. The way author Emily Arsenault uses the Gretchen book and notes to help further her story was very well done and made the reading go quickly and I had fun gathering my own clues as I read the research notes and interviews. 


This is a mystery, obviously, but it is also a book about friendship, growing up, impending motherhood and a glimpse at how people and life can be so much more complicated that we might think. It is a very fast read and not too heavy. I read it in less than 24 hours because I just couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend this book.




 

No Mark Upon Her

No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie
review copy provided by Harper Collins
Description from Goodreads:
New York Times Notable author Deborah Crombie is regularly named among the greats of British-set crime fiction (P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, Elizabeth George et al) for her riveting police procedurals featuring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, Scotland Yard partners as well as devoted life-mates. A brilliantly conceived and executed, deeply atmospheric mystery, No Mark Upon Her embroils Kincaid and James in the case of the puzzling drowning of a rower, a Met detective, on the Thames. A finely-hued and twisting tale of psychological suspense--a story rich in deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals--No Mark Upon Her is everything Crombie's fans have come to expect from this exceptional writer...and more.

My take:
I haven't read any of the other Kincaid/James novels by Crombie, but happily, this book can stand on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery/thriller set in England. There are many things that I really loved about this book.  The descriptions just pulled me into the story. I was fascinated with the world of rowing described so well by Crombie. I'm not very familiar with this sport, but it was very interesting to read about. I think my favorite part besides the actual storyline, was the vivid description of how the search and rescue teams worked with the dogs and their amazing sense of smell. I have a new perspective when my dog is sniffing around the yard now.

I loved that I was never sure exactly who in the story could be believed or trusted and who was concealing things. I did not figure out the villain and that is a big change for me.  I was happily surprised at the reveal. I thought the misdirection in the story was well done.  I was captivated by the descriptions of the London, the surrounding areas, the pubs, the locals, everything. This was such an enjoyable book!  I'm sure I missed out on some of the characters' history and didn't get some of the references from previous books, but I didn't feel lost at all. I love it when I can pick up a book in the middle of a  series and still feel that I get it.  I will have to read some more of Crombie's books.  I would highly recommend No Mark Upon Her.

The Eighth Scroll

The Eighth Scroll by Laurence B. Brown
kindle edition purchased from Amazon.com
Description from Goodreads
Stirring the flames of age-old controversies, The Eighth Scroll by Laurence B. Brown draws on the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to create an unbelievably dynamic and powerful story. Set in a world that teeters between orthodoxy and heresy, this thriller is packed with intrigue and adventure. When a Roman Catholic scholar involved in the Dead Sea Scrolls Project hides one of the scrolls because of the heretical message it contains, no one is the wiser until decades later, when a prominent archaeologist discovers reference to the scroll in an archaeological dig. This discovery spurs the world religions into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, in which all who seek the hidden scroll are mysteriously silenced, leaving the salvation of humankind to a father and son, who must either find the hidden scroll . . . or die trying.

My Take:
I've received a few emails from this author wanting me to read and review the book as well as participate in some blog events.  I passed on the extra stuff, but I did read the book because the descriptions intrigued me and it sounded interesting.  I don't know if the book lives up to some of the blurbs on the cover and amazon review pages, but it was definitely a fun read.  I read this book in just about one day without having to put much effort into it.  It is very fast paced and the events are exciting and the story did hold my interest. 

I've seen several reviews comparing The Eighth Scroll to works by Dan Brown - and I think the comparisons are fair.  Conspiracy. History. Murder. Intrigue. Controversial topics. Although, I must say that there were not any ideas that I hadn't encountered in other places. Some people may find some of the ideas in the book regarding the Bible and Christianity controversial, but I had no issues with any of it. 

If you like history, archeology, and thrillers, you may enjoy this book.  I found it an easy, enjoyable read. However, if you are easily offended by differing religious views, you may want to avoid this book.

Don't Breathe a Word

Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
ARC provided by Harper Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review
Description from Goodreads:
On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.


Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn’t fear the dark and doesn’t have bad dreams—who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam’s hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed—a promise that could destroy them all.

My Take:
This was an extremely fast read for me.  I started it as soon as it arrived in the mail and then finished it the next night.  There are so many things I really loved about this book.  To begin with, the author kept me guessing right up to the end of the book on exactly what kind of story this was going to be: is this a fairy story, is this a straight-up mystery, or is it something else? And then there is the creepy factor.  I was rather surprised at just how much this book creeped me out.  I stayed up long after everyone else in the house had gone to bed and was rewarded by being truly creeped out after finishing the book and then having to wander through the old, dark house. Shadows and noises everywhere --- not good after reading Don't Breathe a Word - trust me.

The book tells the stories of Lisa, Phoebe and Sam. Lisa was a little girl who wandered into the woods and disappeared.  This part is told in flashbacks to the past. The story of  Phoebe and her boyfriend Sam, who happens to be Lisa's now grown brother, is told in the present.  The book tells the story of Lisa and Phoebe in a slow and complicated manner that draws the reader into the tale.  There is more than one mystery in the book and many people and events are not as they first appear.  There is a lot of fairy talk -- but not sparkly, beautiful, friendly fairies - these are dark and menacing. The story is full of  family story telling, mysteries, lies, deception, half-truths - none of which are immediately event. Since the copy I read was an uncorrected proof, I don't want to get too specific about anything, but there is much to discuss in this book - particularly the ideas of and symbol of shadows, family relationships, mental illness, and of course, fairy tales. I would recommend this book to mystery lovers and fantasy and fairy tale fans who don't mind the darker side of these tales.

Draw the Dark

Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick
digital galley provided by NetGalley
Summary from Goodreads:
There are things in Winter, Wisconsin, folks just don't talk about. The murder way back in '45 is one. The near-suicide of a first-grade teacher is another. And then there is 17-year old Christian Cage. Christian's parents disappeared when he was a little boy, and ever since he's drawn and painted obsessively, trying desperately to remember his mother. The problem is Christian doesn't just draw his own memories. He can draw the thoughts of those around him. Confronted with fears and nightmares they'd rather avoid, people have a bad habit of dying. So it's no surprise that Christian isn't exactly popular. What no one expects is for Christian to meet Winter's last surviving Jew and uncover one more thing best forgotten: the day the Nazis came to town. Based on a little-known fact of the United States' involvement in World War II, Draw the Dark is a dark fantasy about reclaiming the forgotten past and the redeeming power of love.

My take:
I didn’t really know what to expect when I started this book. First of all, I have to say that after finishing the book, I really liked it and plan to suggest it for my son to read. The first section, entitled “November1, Late Morning Winter, Wisconsin left me wondering what I was about to read. I think the biggest – and really, only – issue I had with the book was the beginning and ending sections. I had a bit of a problem reconciling them with the rest of the story.


I was quickly drawn into this story of teenage Christian, the quiet artist who has an unusual gift or curse -– he can draw people’s deepest, darkest fears. Even he isn’t sure exactly how it works or why. This is his dark secret; and it starts causing him more trouble than usual. He’s had some bad things happen in relation to this talent, but nothing compared to what is about to happen. Christian starts sleep walking and sleep painting while having extremely vivid dreams about events that he knows nothing about and that seem to take place in his hometown but in the past. Then he starts slipping into the past while he is awake. What is happening to him? Why? And maybe the more important question is – how? Christian questions his own sanity and others begin to question it as well.

Thus begins a wonderful, frightening, unusual quest to answer many questions – most of which Christian and most of the townspeople had no idea needed to be answered.

I really enjoyed this story for a variety of reasons. This book takes place in Wisconsin and deals with the WWII prisoners of war that were housed here and in other states throughout the United States after the war. During a family trip to Door County we learned about this historical event when I asked about the unusual building that housed the storefront for a family-owned orchard/farm. The building had been used as barracks for prisoners and had been moved to its current spot and cleaned up for use. I thought that the book deals with possible issues that might come up in the situation of this nature. This is a little known historical event that is just so fascinating. How did the people react when prisoners were moved into their town? What about those of German descent? Fascinating and important questions are examined within the context of the story.

The book encompasses several genres – young adult fiction, mystery, supernatural, horror, and suspense. This book was almost impossible to put down. The mystery is compelling and the supernatural aspects just made it all the more urgent to get to the end of the book and find out what happened. I think it is quite possible that there is a second book planned because the ending definitely leaves this option open. I would recommend this book and I would read a second book if it were published.

Valley of Dry Bones

Valley of Dry Bones by Pricilla Royal
digital galley provided by NetGalley
Summary from Goodreads:
In the late summer of 1274, King Edward has finally been anointed England’s ruler, and his queen contemplates a pilgrimage in gratitude for their safe return from Outremer, a journey that will include a stay at Tyndal Priory. Envoys are sent to confirm that everything will be suitable for the king’s wife, and Prioress Eleanor nervously awaits them, knowing that regal visits bring along expense and honor. The cost is higher than expected, however, when Death arrives as the unexpected emissary. One of the courtiers is murdered near the hut where Brother Thomas now lives as a hermit. Each member of the party has reason to hate the dead man, including Crowner Ralf’s eldest brother, Sir Fulke, and the prioress’s nemesis, the man in black. Soon Eleanor is embroiled in the dangerous world of power games, both secular and religious. Indeed, England’s future under a new king may offer hope and relief, but skeletons from the past can come back to life like those in the biblical valley of dry bones. Which had cause enough to kill?

My take:
This is the seventh book in the Medieval Mystery series by the author. I wish I had know this before I requested the book from NetGalley.  I enjoyed the book, but I felt that there were many things I was missing out on even though the author did try to fill in crucial information from previous books.  While this was a mystery book, it seemed to flow at a much slower pace than what I have become used to.  I chalk this up to the fact that it takes place in 1274 and everything flowed at a slower pace than today. I really think I would have appreciated the book more if I had know the characters better. I liked the story, but I just didn't feel much of connection to any of the main characters.  I think I may have to go back and read at least the first book of this series. I would love to know if anyone has read the previous books and what you thought of them. This turns out to be not so much a review as my regrets for reading a book out of order in a mystery series. I know they should be able to stand alone, but I just felt like I missed something.