Category Archives: 2023 Fiction

Detectives Antoinette Conway and Steve Moran  from French’s prior novel,  The Secret Place are the protagonists in this novel of the  “Dublin Murder Squad” series except that Antoinette is featured this time.  Moran was one of the 1st person protagonists in that book but this time … Continue reading →

I’m not sure what to think –  it’s a powerful book,  based on a historical event but not something which would be written this way today. Set in the final years of the Romanov Dynasty, 1905 – 1913,  Malamud has … Continue reading →

I guess I’m following this series but it’s taken a turn for the mediocre.  I loved the financial shenanigans the protagonist,  Jason Stafford,  sorted out and I truly enjoyed the character of Jason’s young autistic son and Jason’s troubles with … Continue reading →

I’m not sure what to think –  it’s a powerful book,  based on a historical event but not something which would be written this way today – I don’t think – it’s pretty heavy handed although maybe considering the subject … Continue reading →

I’ll admit I’m a big fan of Monica Ferris’ Needlecraft series.   Oh I know it’s pure comfort reading,  cozy / traditional mystery series with an amateur detective and her friends sleuthing around a small town which is full of … Continue reading →

Finished a few days ago and am finally writing it down –   I’m not a huge Dickens fan but I’ve enjoyed many of his books over the years  – they’re kind of fun when I’m in the mood and actually quite interesting as … Continue reading →

Um…. I read this all the way through 2 times now.  I upped the rating half a point the second time for literary value but …  they’re not today’s values.   Back in 1970 post-modern lit was all the rage like … Continue reading →

I’ve only read one prior book by Laura Lippman and I didn’t much care for it –   see Baltimore Blues – rating C-.    But the 4-Mystry-Addicts group decided to read this one and it did have good reviews.  Besides, it’s a … Continue reading →

I’ve read several of Muriel Sparks’ novels but never anything like this one.  It’s called a “psychological thriller”  but imo,  it’s really just plain weird.   That said,  I understand that it takes more than one reading to get to … Continue reading →

If you like big fat books of historical fiction,  generational sagas if you will,  this is this  year’s  book for you.  It’s the kind of book I can just escape into for hours – the story keeps going – and going – … Continue reading →