Tag: Fiction
The Eight
It has 64 squares in rows of black and white. Upon its surface, the rank and file of pawns are poised for the game to begin… Ever since I was a little kid when my dad taught me how to play, I have been a fan of Chess. When I stumbled across this book and… Read More ›
later, at the bar
“Inviting as a good shot of whiskey on a cold winter night,” later, at the bar is a look at small town life and the characters who inhabit it. This collection of interconnected short stories reads like a novel. The narrative flow and recurring characters form a cohesive whole. In fact, some of the stories… Read More ›
Odysseus on the Rhine
Book by Edward S. Louis Though not my favorite hero of legend, I was intrigued by the title of this book by Edward S. Louis. Odysseus on the Rhine imagines the further adventures of Odysseus and other veterans of the Trojan War in this solid, entertaining “sequel.” Even those not familiar with their mythology will find… Read More ›
The Wheel of Fortune
I’m not referring to the game show, but instead, to one of my top ten favorite novels of all time. Susan Howatch’s The Wheel of Fortune, published in 1984, over 1000 pages, is a fascinating family saga. Welcome to Oxmoon, an estate in Wales, home to the wealthy Godwins. Over the course of fifty years and four… Read More ›
Death Notice
Murder is announced before it happens in this mystery suspense thriller! In this debut novel, an elderly farmer is gruesomely murdered and found in a homemade coffin on the side of the highway. It would appear that a serial killer has come to a small Pennsylvania town, or has he? Nick Donnelly has been chasing… Read More ›
Asa, As I Knew Him
The premise of this book is most intriguing. One that could inspire any writer to craft a dozen or more stories, novels, or characters. Published in 1987, this was once a book I reshelved time and again when I was a Page at the Library I work at. Something about the cover and the book… Read More ›
Dog Days
Looking for something to read while waiting for the next Harry Dresden book? John Levitt’s Dog Days series might suit. This urban fantasy series is set in present day San Francisco, a setting that is captured well in the story’s narrative. Our hero here is Mason, a magic practitioner, who once served as a sort… Read More ›
Unshapely Things
I slogged through this book. As a fan of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series, I’ve been looking for similar urban paranormal/fantasy series. Mark Del Franco’s Unshapely Things is my most recent trial run read. I found the premise of the book intriguing. Connor Grey is a druid who lost his powers while investigating a case… Read More ›
A Cure for Night
You can rest assured that this book won’t put you to sleep. A Cure for Night starts off as the story of Joel Deveraux, a young attorney, who squandered a successful law career and is now getting a second chance in the public defender’s office in Brooklyn. However, the story becomes so much more than that… Read More ›
City of Light
“The year is 1901. Buffalo, New York, is poised for glory. With its booming industry and newly electrified streets, Buffalo is a model for the century just beginning.” Thus begins the jacket cover description of this historical murder mystery by Lauren Belfer. Published in 1999, City of Light is an engaging look at turn… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 