Hey there. For reasons I'm not going to get into it's a quiet day here around the old homestead. I've got Jo's French onion soup heating up in the oven and so while that's going on, let's do a bit of a reading update. I'll also continue with my latest theme, women authors I'm enjoying.
Just Finished
"If you want a gritty thriller, this book is for you. Every Dead Thing is the 1st book in the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly. It's an action - packed, chill - causing story about a serial killer that definitely gives you the creeps.
Charlie Parker is an ex - cop whose wife and daughter were murdered by a killer known as the Travellin' Man. Charlie is still coping with their deaths and trying to find the killer. He works part time trying to find people. The story is somewhat confusing at the beginning (moving from Charlie's past to the present without really telling you it's doing it..). Charlie is hired to find a young woman and ends up traveling to the sticks where he discovers evidence of another serial killer. In the meantime, Travellin' Man is contacting and goading Charlie.
There is a spiritual, ghostly element to the story as well as Charlie visits New Orleans and meets with a 'spiritualist' who can sense the Travellin' Man. There is action galore in this thriller, with Charlie and friends, Louie and Angel (homosexual boyfriends and also hit-men?) taking on the mob in New York and New Orleans as they track the serial killer). It takes awhile for the story to start making sense but there is always something going on and Charlie is an excellent character, hero or anti-hero. There are many other excellent characters, psychologist and possible relationship, Rachel and New Orlean's cop Morphy, as well as Parker's friend, FBI agent Woolrich, an enigmatic personage. Is he helping Charlie or not?
There are tenuous threads that gradually all begin to come together and everything starts making sense as we rush to an exciting conclusion. I think I finally figured out who Travellin' Man was but it didn't matter as ultimately you need to discover how everything will be resolved and how will it impact on Charlie and his partners. There is a constant ominous feeling as you enjoy this story. Travellin' Man is always ahead of them and seems to know what they are doing and you keep holding your breath to find out if he will beat them to the punch. Tension is steady throughout and once you get into the flow of the story, it'll keep you turning pages. Excellent first novel and now I'm looking forward to getting #2. For those of the faint of heart, be forewarned that it is a violent story and there are racial elements as well. But it is important to the story development. (4 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway is called upon to date a child's bones found in the Norfolk marshes, thought to be the bones of a missing girl about whom the police having been getting strange letters. Then another girl goes missing and Ruth is in danger."
Women Authors I'm Enjoying - Jan Burke
Jan Burke is an American author born in Houston in 1953. She has lived in California most of her life and her Irene Kelly mystery series is set in California. I discovered Burke early 2000's and have enjoyed 7 of her books since then. I have one other Kelly mystery sitting on my bookshelf awaiting my attention. Since 1993, Burke has written 14 books. I'll look at the last book I enjoyed and my one unread novel.
Jan Burke
"It's been a few years since I delved into Jan Burke Irene Kelly mysteries. Bloodlines, published in 2005 is the 9th book in the series and I think I can safely say it is Burke's Magnum Opus of the series.
The story covers decades, running from the 1950's to Irene Kelly's present life. It covers a variety of reporters at Las Piernas' Express newspaper, all reporting on an old story, a wealthy purportedly family lost at sea and a baby (same family) kidnapped and her nanny murdered. As well, local reporter, Jack Corrigan is brutally attacked and left for dead in a farmer's field, thinking that he has seen a car buried on the property.
We run through Jack Corrigan, his protege Conn O'Connor and then are introduced to new reporter, Irene Kelly. It's a long drawn out story with a cast of characters, all interesting and unique. I did find it difficult at times keeping track of the varied family and social relationships so it might be worthwhile, if you read this to maybe make a couple of family trees. :0)
Conn O'Connor is a paper boy as the story is introduced and idolizes reporter Jack Corrigan and his reporting friend / partner Helen Swan. Corrigan takes Conn under his wing and helps him become a reporter as well. Corrigan is a fighter and his often times opponent are the Yeager family, booze smugglers, criminals, violent when the need to be. They are the focus of the disappearances but nothing can be proven until many years later; no bodies, no witnesses, etc.
The story is tracked over the decades and the flame is passed from reporter to reporter. We meet Irene Kelly in the middle chapters as she has moved from Bakersfield back to Las Piernas for a variety of reasons; to care for her ailing father, to try her hand at working at the newspaper and to escape from a relationship.
It's a very complex story and too difficult to describe in a few words. Suffice it to say that the mystery is fascinating the research conducted by the various reporters is well-crafted. There is sufficient action and intrigue to keep you turning the pages and the development of the various characters is excellent. The ending is somewhat pat but still filled with tension and action. All in all an enjoyable history and mystery and introduction to Irene's past. Read the earlier stories first to prepare for this one but you will enjoy. (3.5 stars)"
"Reporter Irene Kelly and her husband, Detective Frank Harriman, are back in this New York Times bestseller, in which they work to untangle the threads of a past crime and a haunting disappearance while trying to survive the present."
The complete list of Burke's books can be found at this link.
No comments:
Post a Comment