With 2020 winding down, it's the time where I look back at my reading of the past year and also a look forward to the upcoming reading challenges.
Today I'm going to look back at the books from 2020 to which I gave 5-star reviews. There were 14 books that I gave 5-stars too.
5-Star Reviews
1.
Carson McCullers -
The Member of the Wedding (1946).
"One of my favorite all-time books is The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by American writer Carson McCullers. This novel explored the lives and relationships of a group of misfits in the South. I found The Member of The Wedding, written in 1946, was the 3rd of 4 novels she had published. It explores similar themes but it was a darker story in some ways than Lonely Hunter.
The Member of the Wedding follows twelve-year old Frankie who live with her widowed father and their maid Berenice. The story mainly focuses on Frankie and also Berenice and Frankie's young cousin, John Henry. The tale takes place over the period of a couple of days. Frankie's older brother is in the US Army (the setting is towards the end of WWII) and is on leave as her prepares to get married. The wedding will be out of town and we don't really meet the betrothed couple.
It's a hot summer in southern town and Frankie is lost, jealous of the wedding, frustrated with her life and angry and depressed at the same time. She plans to go away with her brother and new wife after the wedding. (Note: Dad is an absent figure in this story, it revolves around the 3 others)
The story follows Frankie as she wanders about her town on the day before the wedding. She meets people, tells about her plans for the wedding and afterwards. There is a disturbing incident that takes place and throughout their is a sometimes darkness and feeling of unease as she wanders.
It is a fascinating story and the three main characters are well-developed and unique. The story alternates between Frankie's journey around town and their interactions in the kitchen of Frankie's home. These interactions present many interesting themes and show Frankie's feelings and thoughts, but also those of Berenice and to a lesser extent, John Henry.
The story is in three parts and in each we meet a different Frankie; Part 1 - 12 year old Frankie, Part 2 - she becomes F. Jasmine (part of her desire to leave with her brother and future sis-in-law, both F.J.'s) & Part 3 - she is Frances). Each name explains her attitude and personality and the events taking place. There are interesting discussions especially in the kitchen. I especially found the discussions on the Negro experience and feelings of Berenice as poignant and touching. Berenice's wish for a future world were profound - "But the world of the Holy Lord God Berenice Sadie Brown was a different world, and it was round and just and reasonable. First there would be no separate coloured peopled in the world, but all human beings would be lighter brown colour with blue eyes and black hair. There would be no coloured people and no white people to make the coloured people feel cheap and sorry all through their lives....." It really struck a chord with me and still resonates today in the US / world.
The story had a different, darker tone than The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and there was an ominous feel throughout. But so well-written and crafted, it was an excellent, touching, emotional story. Based on solely two stories, but she was a great writer who painted fascinating pictures of the lives she portrayed. The Member of the Wedding was also made into a movie in 1952. I may have to see it, but I don't need to cry anymore (e.g. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter....) (5 stars)"
2.
Nevil Shute -
What Happened to the Corbetts (1939).
"What Happened to the Corbetts was English author Nevil Shute's 5th published book. Suffice it to say that it was excellent. Written in 1938 and published April 1939 it was a cautionary tale about the impact of possible aerial bombing from the anticipated WWII. Much later he wrote a similar story about his fears for a nuclear war, On the Beach. Both stories are to the point , excellent and thought-provoking. At the time, Shute worked in the aeronautical industry and had a feeling about the possible impact of bombing.
The story focuses on the Corbett family, Peter, Joan and their 3 small children. The family lives in Southampton where Peter works as a solicitor in a small firm. One night the aerial bombardment commences. Southampton and other cities in England are subjected to vicious bombing attacks. Power is lost, water is affected, sewage pipes are damaged, etc. The story deals with the family's efforts to survive and to decide on what they need to do; stay in Southampton or move somewhere safer? They are an average, normal family and put into a situation that forces them to make decisions that they never thought they would ever have to. While the story focuses on the Corbetts, we also meet their friends and neighbors and see their interactions and acts of selflessness.
Due to water and sewage problems, disease (cholera and typhoid) begins to assert itself and the family moves away from Southampton to live on their small boat. There is a daily struggle to find food, fresh water, milk for the baby. The family will make some decisions that are against their values but it's a rationalization they have to make.
When the bombings come ever closer, they move again and the story moves along in fascinating fashion. What can Peter do to save his family? In its mild way, the story shows a dedicated, loving family forced into heroic actions. Shute describes them in his usual way. What they do might not be heroic, but it makes you wonder if you would be able to in their situation.
It's such an excellent story. It draws you in. There are so many fascinating, intelligent, interesting people. Shute doesn't hide the dangers of the bombs, but he prefers to show acts of kindness, selflessness, hopefulness, even in such trying situations. Is it realistic? He could have focused on people who take advantage of people but he prefers to show the other side of life. There is tension, adventure, great people and a great story. What more can I say? (5 stars)"
3.
John Straley -
Woman Who Married a Bear (Cecil Younger #1).
"Woman Who Married A Bear is the first Cecil Younger mystery by John Straley. It's an excellent introduction to this series. Cecil Younger is a Private Eye working out of Sitka Alaska. He is a bit of a drunk, shares his accommodations with Toby, a man he feels a responsibility towards. Younger is hired by Mrs. Victor, an elderly woman residing in an old folks home in Sitka. 5 years before he son was murdered at Prophet Cove. A man is in prison for the murder but she wants the whole story. She believes there is more to the murder than the police discovered.
Younger starts his investigation on a sour note as an attempt is made to murder him but instead Todd is the victim of the assassination attempt. As Todd fights for his life in hospital, Younger begins a journey that will take him to around Alaska as he tries interview everyone involved in the event and tries to sort out the case and discover a solution that will satisfy Mrs. Victor. There will be threats to his life, someone is trying to get him to stop his investigation.
The story is well - paced and Younger is an interesting character, dealing with issues from his past, with his father, the Judge and also his ex-girlfriend, Hannah. There are so many excellent characters that also people this story, from suspects to people that Younger meets on his journey. We see details from Younger's past that also flesh out his character. All in all, it's a well-crafted story, well-paces and descriptive. It draws you in and you will enjoy the journey with Cecil until a very satisfying ending (5 stars)"
4.
Michael Connelly -
The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch #3).
"The Concrete Blonde is the 3rd Harry Bosch mystery by Michael Connelly. I know it's 'just' a mystery but it was a perfect story; great characters, excellent plot(s) and a twisting, fascinating mystery with great side lines as well.
Harry is on trial for a shooting in an old case, the Dollmaker. The Dollmaker was a serial killer who preyed on LA prostitutes, posing their bodies with make-up, hence the Dollmaker moniker. Harry worked the night shift on the case and went out to check out a late lead from a woman who had escaped from a man she thought was the Dollmaker. Rather than call in back-up, Harry went on his own and in the initial investigation, he ended up shooting the suspect.
He is now being prosecuted by the victim's family for his actions and the trial is just starting. The lawyer representing the family is a tough defense attorney, Honey Chandler. As the trial begins, Harry is called out by his old partner, Det Edgar, to the scene of a new crime. They are lead there by a note purporting to be from the Dollmaker and the body of a woman is found buried in concrete; hence The Concrete Blonde. There are many similarities to the Dollmaker's previous victims (some differences as well) and since the body was buried after the Dollmaker's death, it throws the initial evidence into suspicion.
Harry is still confident about his initial analysis of the Dollmaker and feels his shooting was valid. So that is the basic case. The cops now open a new investigation. Someone seems to be leaking to Honey Chandler and she has an advantage in the legal battle. As well, Harry is in the midst of a new relationship; dealing with this as well as the court case and the new investigation.
All in all, it's a rich, engaging story. Harry is a fascinating character. He has issues from his past that he's trying to deal with. His relationship with Sylvia is a work in progress and he wants it to succeed. The trial is interesting and the ongoing investigation is also well presented. The story is so well-written and it flows from situation to situation. Who is leaking info? There are various suspects for the new case, labelled the Follower. All in all it was just such an excellent, intriguing, rich story. Quite perfect. (5 stars)"
5.
Lisa Brackmann -
Rock Paper Tiger (Ellie McEnroe #1).
"Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackmann is the first of 3 books featuring Ellie Cooper, a young American, an Iraqi War vet and now a woman struggling with post traumatic stress issues and pain from a war bombing, now living in China. I have to say this story grabbed me right from the get-go, drew me in and held my interest until the very end. Excellent first book.
The story starts in China. Ellie lives there, now separated from her cheating husband, Trey, struggling with her issues and surviving on her medical benefits and working part time at a bar. She is in a semi-relationship with a Chinese artist Lao Zhang, spending time with him and also sharing a flat with another Chinese computer geek, Chuckie. The story moves from events in China to her time in Iraq as an Army medic and the development of a relationship with Trey (Military Intelligence) and traumatic events she sees and in some ways participates in.
Back in China, Ellie finds herself involved in 'something'. It all revolves around an Uighur man who is staying with Lao Zhang. American security personnel are interested and also Chinese security officials follow and interrogate Ellie. The whole story is fascinating and action packed, some quite disturbing. Ellie is something of an anti-hero; suffering constant pain, finding it difficult to trust anyone and having her own dark secrets. The story moves around China as Ellie both tries to evade her 'enemies' and tries to communicate with Lao Zhang. Very interesting concept as they move also through an internet game world, using avatars to communicate.
Ellie is definitely an interesting, multi-dimensional character, a person unsure of what she must do and often just reacting to situations. Her friends are all interesting and the story and situations all just grab your attention. I don't want to ruin the story but suffice it to say that you will find it difficult to put down and will find some satisfaction with an excellent ending. (5 stars)"
6.
Max Byrd -
Finders Weepers (Mike Haller #3).
"Finders Weepers is the 3rd and unfortunately the final book in American author Max Byrd's excellent Mike Haller noir detective series. Byrd continues to write but he only produced 3 novels in this series. Mike Haller is a PI working out of San Francisco, having previously had a career as a newspaper reporter in Boston and later in San Francisco.
In this story, Haller has lost his PI license after a witness seems to lie at his hearing before the licensing board. Haller feels totally lost and wants to find out who is the cause. It could be related to his most recent case, working for another PI to find a prostitute who has been left $800K. Is the loss of his license related to this case, by someone who doesn't want him to find Muriel, or by some other person who might have crossed his pass and has a grudge against him, including Police Lt Yetta.
That is the gist of this excellent, gritty, even scary noir mystery as Haller, even without his license, continues to search for Muriel. He is helped by his partner, ex cop Fred and by various other acquaintances in San Francisco, black pimp and all around crook, Grab; by his fantastic girlfriend, psychiatrist Dorothy, etc. As I said, it's a gritty, often violent story that tracks within San Francisco's seedy underbelly, strip clubs, prostitution. There are great people as mentioned but there are also scary bad people, to put it lightly.
Haller is a great character; literate, gruff, determined. His license means everything to him, he loves being a PI. He loves his girl friend. I like how he quotes Fred; 'Fred's Buick Terrorist as he calls it'. Haller's early life, travels in Europe, life in England and Boston, his work as a newspaper reporter have given him a well-rounded knowledge and a perspective on life. All in all, it's a great story, probably the best of the 3 and a great way to end the series.. maybe one more?? (5 stars)"
7.
Jean Potts -
Death of a Stray Cat (1961).
"Death of a Stray Cat by Jean Potts was a perfect little mystery. I'd previously read one of her other books, The Man with the Cane, which was an entertaining spy story. This one was excellent.
It's a relatively simple, short story but at the same time, a rich, entertaining page turner. It starts off with a murder, of a young lady trying to find someone, Alex, at his summer cottage. Alex and his wife, Gen, along with two friends are heading to the cottage as well, and the two friends, Vanda and Theobold. While Alex and Gen stop at the local pub for dinner, Vanda and Theobold head to the house and discover the body.
Thus starts an interesting investigation with nicely crafted characters. You've got the slightly overweight, local sheriff, sympathetic and homespun, moving from possible suspect to suspect. It turns out Marcella, the victim had a brief relationship with Alex and another suspect. There is marital friction between Alex and Gen because of it. The peripheral characters, Vanda and Theobold, as well as best friends Brad and Dwayne are all excellent.
The plot builds nicely and while I had my suspects in mind, I kept changing my mind as I got more into the story. I would say that ultimately I was correct but then again, my final suspect came out in the last page, so maybe I'm just pretending that I knew who it was. The ultimate resolution was as satisfying as the story itself. It's an excellent, entertaining mystery and I enjoyed it so much. Nice to read a well-crafted mystery like this. In some ways it reminded me of books I've enjoyed by Margaret Millar and Hillary Waugh. I highly recommend and I'll definitely search for other books by Potts (5 stars)"
8.
Jenny White -
The Winter Thief (Kamil Pasha #3).
"The Winter Thief by Jenny White is the third and so-far, the last book in her historical mystery series featuring Turkish Special Prosecutor Kamil Pasha. I do hope that at some point, she decides to continue the series but this third book was published in 2010 so it's not looking good.
This book is a rich. exciting mystery and historical adventure. It starts off with the robbery of the Imperial Ottoman Bank of a haul of gold and gems by purported Armenian nationalists. At the end of the robbery, there is an explosion that also destroys a near-by café, causing a major fire. It seems that Kamil's brother-in-law, Huseyin, may have been hurt severely by the fire as he meets in the café with another woman.
The investigation conducted by Kamil, at the direction of the Minister of Justice, Nisam Pasha, will lead him into conflict with the head of the secret police, Vahid, a terrifying, evil man. This conflict will endanger, Kamil, his sister, Feride and his friend, Elif, and all of his close friends and acquaintances.. Besides himself of course.
The investigation will ultimately lead him to a conflict in Eastern Turkey, where a group of idealistic Socialists are trying to form a Utopian community (with the help of arms bought in America and also the stolen gold.. but let's not think on that too much). That is the gist of this fantastic story.
The story, itself, will move from character to character; Kamil, Vahid, Armenian woman Vera, held and tortured by the secret police, Feride (searching for her missing husband), Omar, Kamil's friend and police chief, and so many others. There is intrigue, danger, love and so much more. It's a fascinating story, offering a historic perspective of the time and a great picture of such an exotic country as it struggles with the past and the future. There is a constant menace from the secret police, especially Vahid, who will give you the creeps. Great story and excellent, satisfying conclusion, leaving a teaser of future stories. I definitely hope there will be more. (5 stars)"
9.
Kerry Greenwood -
Earthly Delights (Corinna Chapman #1).
"I've been enjoying reading Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher mystery series and watched the TV series as well. They were a joy to read and watch. Now I've finally tried her second mystery series featuring baker Corinna Chapman, who owns a bakery in Melbourne Australia. What can I say but I loved it!
Corinna runs a small bakery and lives in a fascinating apartment building attached to the bakery. The place is peopled by a group of the most interesting people; Meroe a wiccan who owns a witch store; Mistress Dread, a dominatrix; Kylie and Gossamer, 2 young ladies who take turns working in Corinna's shop and are budding actresses; the Lone Gunmen, 3 computer nerds who own a techie shop; Professor Monk, an aging... professor of course, etc.
Corinna is divorced, lives with her cat Horatio and Heckle and Jekyll, the Mouse Posse who keep her shop free from rodents. The story starts off with a bang; Corinna discovers a young girl, an addict dying of a heroin overdose on her doorstep when she opens her shop. Corinna manages to keep her alive until ambulance arrives. Daniel, a large, handsome man, who helps with a mobile soup kitchen, shows up and there is an immediate frisson between he and Corinna. Also another young addict, Jase, turns up and Corinna lets him work by cleaning and baking. Someone is trying to upset the women in the building; painting rude, derogatory sayings outside their shops, sending disgusting letters, etc.
So lots happening. Oh and Corinna's ex-husband has a proposal for her. Corinna is kept busy, trying to sort out who is sending the letters, helping Daniel solve the murders and developing a possible relationship with him. It all moves along smoothly and the characters are developed and presented to make you want to know more and to feel an attraction for them all; even the cats (and I'm a dog person.. lol)
It's a cozy mystery but it has such a lovely quality about it. A bit Tales of the City (the quirkiness), a bit #1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The locale is wonderful, the food makes you hungry and the characters make you want to meet them. I admit that I had figured out one portion of the mystery and it was all resolved very smoothly and quickly but I didn't care. I just enjoyed the whole experience. Book 2 is on my bookshelf. Can't wait to start it.. well, maybe after the next Phryne Fisher.. (5 stars)"
10.
Jasper Fforde -
The Well of Lost Plots (Thursday Next #3).
"Every time I read a book in the Thursday Next fantasy / mystery series I leave it feeling happy and totally entertained. The Well of Lost Plots is the 3rd book in this series by British writer, Jasper Fforde. In this story, ex-SO5 agent has had to leave the Out World (Swindon to be exact) to escape from Goliath corporation and to protect herself and her unborn child. She is hiding in the Well of Lost Plots, the place where all fiction is created, in her case in an unpublished novel, Caversham Heights, a book that might be taken apart if it doesn't improve.
While there Thursday will fill in for one of the characters, Molly, partner to Detective Jack Spratt, and will continue her training with mentor Miss Havisham as an agent for Jurisfiction, the group that keeps books safe (well, it's probably more complex than that). Hmm, what else is going on. In the last book, Goliath went into the past and erased her husband, Landon, from existence and Aornis Hades has put an ear worm into her head to erase every memory of Landon from her mind. Let's see, a new version of the book system, Ultra World, is being tried, the Minotaur has escaped, other Jurisfiction agents are being killed off by someone and Book World is preparing for the 923rd Annual Fiction Awards with Heathcliff of Wuthering Heights hoping to snag his 73rdish straight win as Most Troubled Romantic Lead (Male).
It's such a fascinating world that Fforde has created and there is a richness to the story-telling, the whole concept and the settings. Thursday Next is a strong, interesting character and ably supported by the other characters. Mrs. Havisham of Great Expectations as her mentor and speed car enthusiast, Thursday's Gran who shows up to help her battle Aornis and to keep her memories, the two Generics, Idd and Obb who share Thursday's accommodations and are trying to develop personalities, etc. I keep thinking it's all just a bit of fun, but the more you get into the story, it's more than that, it's fascinating and wonderful. Fforde even teases his new series, Nursery Crimes (at least I think he does). Start with The Eyre Affair and you'll be addicted too. (5 stars)"
11.
Lynn S. Hightower -
Satan's Lambs (Lena Padget #1).
"Lynn S. Hightower is one of those gems I discovered a few years back. I first read The Debt Collector, the last book in her Sonora Blair series and I've also enjoyed No Good Deed, the 3rd book in the series. She hasn't published a whole heck of a lot of books, 14 books since 1986. I've had considerable difficulty finding them. Anyway, I finally managed to get the first book in her Lena Padget mystery series, Satan's Lambs. All I can say is Wow!
Lena Padget is a PI who works in Kentucky. She became a PI when her sister and young nephew were murdered by her sister's husband Jeff Hayes. She takes on special cases, helping women escape from abusive marriages. These women return the favor by feeding Lena, helping her with information, etc.
Lena finds out from cop, Detective Mendez, that Jeff has been released from prison. At the same time, Jeff's partner-in-crime, Archie Valletta, has also been released. Archie has threatened his ex-wife Eloise and she hires Lena to protect her and her son, Charlie. Jeff starts intimidating Lena with phone calls, secret visits. Archie kidnaps Charlie and Lena now must try to find him before something worse happens. It turns out that both Jeff and Archie had been part of a group of Satan worshipers.
So that is the gist of the story, a tense, at times disturbing, thriller. Lena uses every resource possible to find Charlie and to stop Archie and Jeff. These include her ex-husband Rick and his wife, the various people who she's helped in the past and also Detective Mendez with whom she has conflicting feelings. It's a scary story that will keep you turning pages to find out what happens but it's also filled with such fascinating characters, bad ones but at the same time, wonderful characters and friends who you will find yourself becoming invested in. There is so much about this story that I loved. Hightower spins a wonderful yarn and will draw you in. I'm so glad that I discovered her and I will read her other stories if I can find them. (5 stars)"
12.
Martha Grimes -
The Anodyne Necklace (Inspector Jury #3).
"I've enjoyed the Richard Jury mystery series by Martha Grimes very much. The first three or four books were read out of sequence but I've recently begun to read them in order. The Anodyne Necklace is the third book in the series and definitely one of my favorites. While it might not be overly deep and provocative, there is something about the story that draws you in and emotionally attaches you to the characters, whether Jury, his ever-present Sgt Wiggins and best friend Lord Ardry, AKA Melrose Plant, or the suspects and people involved in the case.
Jury is just setting out for a weekend vacation time with his friend Melrose when he receives a call from his boss and bane of Jury's existence, DCI Racer. Jury has been tasked to assist a local police force investigate a murdered body found in the woods near the tiny village of Littlebourne, a town near London. Bringing Wiggins along and asking Plant to come as well, to do some 'undercover' investigating, Jury heads to the town. What an interesting place and such interesting people. We soon discover that a crime, possibly related to the murder, has also taken place in London. Katie O'Brien, a young lady from Littlebourne, who traveled to London for violin lessons, had been struck on the head and is in hospital in a coma. (This is how the story opens). As well, there have been other incidents that make for both a fascinating town and that might also be related.
Thus begins Jury's investigation. And it will involve so many fascinating characters, Polly Praed, the local mystery writer, the Bodenheims (Sir Miles and family) who are the subject of Praed's murder plots, the Ashe family in London, a more rascally but lovable bunch you will never meet, the local Bobby, Peter Gere, but especially young Emily Louise Perk, an independent, stubborn, wonderful girl who will so influence both Melrose and Jury in this story.
The mystery is the crux of the story but it's the interrelationships and the characters that make it such a joy to read. I found myself becoming invested in so many of them and turning pages to find out how they would further develop. The story was such a pleasure to read, bringing out many emotions, sadness, happiness, anger... I so enjoyed the story, a lovely little gem. Oh and a nicely satisfying mystery as well, with an excellent ending. (5 stars)"
13.
Mordecai Richler -
Barney's Version (1997).
"Back during my university years, I enjoyed Mordecai Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, St. Urbain's Horseman and his children's book, Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang. I kind of lost touch with his books until last year when I enjoyed Solomon Gursky Was Here (1989). It rekindled my interest in his novels. Which leads me to his last published novel, Barney's Version (1997).
What to say about this novel? In its simplest form, it's the story of Barney Panofsky, thrice married, with three children, a producer of TV mysteries, a drunk, a reprobate and a man slowly losing his memory. Oh yes, and an accused / acquitted murderer.
Barney is getting old (well, if 68 is old) and looking back on his life. The story is Barney's autobiography, complete with editorial comments from eldest son, Michael. We get to look back on Barney's life with his three wives; Clara Charnofsky, the American artist who he met and married in Paris while he was living there with an expatriate community; the 2nd Mrs. Panofsky (that is how she is referred to chiefly in the book) who he married out of anger and guilt at Clara's death; and Barney's true love, Miriam, who he falls in love with at the wedding to the 2nd Mrs..
There are so many diverse threads to this story as it jumps from the past to the present, sometimes in the course of a paragraph. There is Barney's relationship with his father, ex-Montreal cop Izzy. There is his ongoing fantasy with his public school teacher who he may or may not have had sex with. There are the letters he writes to Miriam's new husband or others who he likes to prank, under assumed names. There is of course, the disappearance of his oldest friend, Boogie, while staying at Barney's cottage and Barney's accusation of his murder. This last theme is resolved finally in the last paragraph, in a fascinating way.
All in all it's a rich, deep story. It's entertaining, funny, sad, with wonderful characters, least of all Mr. Barney Panofsky. I also enjoyed the references and appearances by characters from Richler's other novels; Duddy Kravitz, the Gurskys. You should give this novel a try. It's super! (5 stars)"
16.
Margaret Millar -
Wall of Eyes (1943).
"Wall of Eyes is the 7th book by Margaret Millar that I've enjoyed. The more books by Millar that I read the more I discover what a great mystery writer and just plain author that she is. Wall of Eyes was her 4th book published in 1943. What an entertaining, rich story!
Basically, the Heath family, father, son John, daughters Alice live under blind daughter Kelsey's power in their home in Toronto. Also living there is Philip James, Kelsey's fiancé and the hired help. Two years ago, Kelsey caused a car accident, blinding her and killing brother John's girl friend. Since that time she has deteriorated and Alice finally goes to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Loring asking him to try and help Kelsey.
Quickly after this meeting, Kelsey tries to kill herself with morphine and then the same night is murdered. This action begins an investigation by the Toronto police, led by Inspector Sands. This investigation will also ultimately lead back to the original car crash; are they related events.
It's a simple case, so it seems but the more you delve into it, the more intricate and fascinating it becomes. The story isn't told from any one specific perspective, but like Millar's The Soft Talkers, even minor characters get to have a say. I liked these small details very much; for example when we see the female police detective at the hospital and Sands refers back to an earlier case where this detective is interested.
The story seems at times to be sparse and matter of fact but there are also lovely descriptive moments that give you a clear picture of the events and thoughts of the characters; e.g. 'Ida's breasts rode her in cross-rhythm like twin riders on a galloping horse'.
There are nice little details that made the story more interesting and help provide a picture of the time the story was written. I particularly enjoyed the beginning of Chapter 14 where there is a radio alert for one of the murder suspects. It really tickled my fancy '... in cooperation with the police department, the makers of Crispcrunch, the ideal new breakfast food that is teeming with vitamins and good flavor, are broadcasting this description of a dangerous criminal....' It had a nice surreal touch to it.
The mystery seems straight forward as you progress but more and more gets added to the story and the list of suspects grows. The final solution was a surprise but not an unrealistic one. It was deeply satisfying. I liked the setting of Toronto, having lived there for my university years. I liked the story, the characters (Inspector Sands is fantastic), everything about this story. I am so very glad that I finally discovered Margaret Millar's mystery writing. She is one of the very best. It matters not one bit that her stories were written 50+ years ago. (5 stars)"
There you go folks. I heartily recommend every one of them. Happy Boxing Day!
