Fiction Reviews, Feb 15, 2011
Feb 15, 2011
Asher, Bridget. The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted. Bantam.Mar. 2011. c.448p. ISBN 9780385343916. pap. $15. F
After nearly two years of mourning her late husband, Heidi is still unable to function, and her eight-year-old son, Abbott, has become a germ-phobic obsessive-compulsive. Heidi’s mother and her sister, Elysius, devise a plan they hope will help Heidi move on with her life as well as rid Elysius of her problem teenage stepdaughter for a few weeks—Heidi, Abbott, and Charlotte must travel to the French countryside to care for the family’s old house. Things do not go well for the trio, as their belongings are stolen before they can make it to the house. Enter Julien, the handsome Frenchman whom Heidi has known since her childhood summer vacations in France; he is also suffering a heartbreak owing to the recent breakup of his marriage—and it starts to look like things might get better for Heidi. But not before Charlotte is revealed to be pregnant, and her eccentric baby daddy shows up unannounced. VERDICT Readers who enjoy widow lit like Lolly Winston’s Good Grief and Jane Green’s The Beach House or travel-induced transformation books like Frances Mayes’s Under the Tuscan Sun and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love will find common themes in Asher’s (pen name of Julianna Baggott) engaging third novel after My Husband’s Sweethearts and The Pretend Wife and become quickly invested in the lives of the deftly drawn characters. [Library marketing.]—Karen Core, Detroit P.L.
Baluja, Shumeet. The Silicon Jungle: A Novel of Deception, Power, and Internet Intrigue. Princeton Univ. May 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780691147543. $27.95. F
Ubatoo is an Internet darling with the combined power and privilege of Google and Facebook; employees access our emails, searches, and buying histories to help advertisers better understand and market to users. But who are these employees, and should they be trusted? Enter Stephen, a smart but naive Ubatoo intern assigned to the data-mining team. Wanting to impress his supervisors, he takes on a secret job for the American Coalition for Civil Liberties (ACCL). By sifting through users’ data, Stephen compiles a list of citizens on one of the government’s watch lists. Before his work can be used to improve our civil rights, however, a greedy ACCL employee sells the list to a criminal organization. Computer science Ph.D. Baluja no doubt calls on his experiences as a scientist at Google and at Carnegie Mellon University to fill this novel with frighteningly convincing details about the precariousness of our personal data. VERDICT The read is quick, the questions will linger, and the ideas are so intriguing that the sometimes stilted writing will be overlooked. Baluja simplifies the abstract world of tech-speak for the rest of us while aiming to do for the Internet what Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle did for the meat industry: make readers reconsider its safety. For fans of intelligent thrillers.—Stephen Morrow, Ohio Univ., Athens
Block, Ellen. The Definition of Wind. Bantam. Jul. 2011. c.255p. ISBN 9780440245766. pap. $15. F
Abigail Harker moved to Chapel Isle, NC, nine months ago following the death of her husband and young son in a fire in their Boston home. Living in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage, Abby, a professional lexicographer, is reticent to open up to her neighbors about what she left behind and what she’s discovered right under their noses: a treasure map and the ghost of the former keeper. A handsome summer resident may be just the ticket to help Abby move on, but a sudden outbreak of arson incidents and talk of salvaging the sunken Bishop’s Mistress forces her to acknowledge that her level of trust is still well below the waterline. VERDICT This sequel to Block’s The Language of Sand includes a mystery, some villainy, and even more outlandish behavior from Abby’s landlady and cowed acceptance from Abby. Her actions here seem haphazard and off the mark. Though the first book didn’t quite wrap up Abby’s life with a bow, it didn’t seem to require a sequel. Definition will make readers want to shake Abby more than console her. Those who enjoyed the first book might want to shake the author as well. [Reading group guide; library marketing.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Clark, Marcia. Guilt by Association. Mulholland: Little, Brown. Apr. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9780316129510. $25.99. F
Clark is the former Los Angeles district attorney who cowrote Without a Doubt, a best-selling nonfiction account of the O.J. Simpson trial that she prosecuted. Her fiction debut introduces Rachel Knight, a prosecutor in the Special Trials section of the L.A. DA’s office. Knight is shocked to discover that one of the victims in a seedy motel slaying is her colleague Jake Pahlmeyer. When the FBI treats the crime as a murder-suicide and casts Jake in the role of murderer, Rachel is compelled to investigate further. At the same time, she is assigned one of Jake’s unfinished cases involving the rape of the daughter of one of the DA’s most generous supporters. Both investigations have the potential to end her career and possibly her life. VERDICT Rachel Knight is a heroine along the lines of V.I. Warshawski and Kinsey Millhone. Employing a quick and humorous writing style, not to mention surprising plot twists, Clark most likely has another best seller on her hands. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/10.]—Lisa O’Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg
Coben, Harlan. Live Wire. Dutton. Mar. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780525952060. $27.95. F
Myron Bolitar, Coben’s wisecracking sports agent and private eye, helps a former female tennis pro who is eight months pregnant defend the paternity of her unborn child. With his sidekick, Win, Myron has unexpected encounters with his estranged sister-in-law, who’s entangled with rock stars, scandals, and drugs. Adding momentum to Myron’s search, his dad suffers a life-threatening heart attack and asks to speak with Brad, his long-lost son. Along the way, Myron confronts his own buried secrets and recognizes that his abandoned sister-in-law and nephew interpret his big-heartedness as unwanted interference. A career-changing cliff-hanger ends his search. VERDICT In this tenth Bolitar mystery (after Long Lost), Coben reveals the introspective side of his slick character, as Myron tackles a different sort of hidden mysteries—those deeply embedded within himself and other family members. Fans will enjoy the change of focus and wonder how Coben will re-create his hero in his next adventure. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/10.]—Jerry P. Miller, Cambridge, MA
Connelly, Michael. The Fifth Witness. Little, Brown. Apr. 2011. c.416p. ISBN 9780316069359. $27.99. F
Connelly continues his winning streak with his latest thriller featuring attorney Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer). Lisa Trammel has hit the skids. Her husband took off, leaving her alone with a child. Her salary as a teacher is not enough to pay the mortgage, and the result is foreclosure. Trammel approaches Haller for help trying to save her home. Soon after, the person at the bank responsible for the foreclosure is found murdered in a parking garage next to his office. Within hours, Trammel is in jail, and Haller has to maneuver his way through more than potential bank fraud to prove his client’s innocence. VERDICT When did Connelly become the best legal thriller writer in the business? The story line is compelling, intense, and terrifying while providing an in-depth look at the mortgage crisis that is surprisingly interesting. With the film version of The Lincoln Lawyer scheduled for release March 18, expect high demand. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/10.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.
Fforde, Jasper. One of Our Thursdays Is Missing. Viking. Mar. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780670022526. $25.95. F
When we last saw intrepid Jurisfiction cop Thursday Next (in Thursday Next: First Among Sequels), she was, once again, kicking butt while saving both the real world and the world of literature. However, just as the BookWorld faces a major geopolitical crisis, Thursday has gone missing. Can her BookWorld equivalent, the written Thursday, find her in time to prevent war among genres? Written Thursday is less than confident as she struggles with snippy coworkers, a substitute who hits the hyphens hard and brings home goblins, relentless and homicidal Men in Plaid, and a foreboding trip up the Metaphoric River. But written Thursday does have a stellar butler, Sprockett, and her likeness to the real Thursday is very useful in the investigation, if confusing to those around her. More concerned with the inner workings of BookWorld than the alterna-England of the real Thursday, this entry gives a backstage view of the world of literature and just what happens to characters when their books aren’t being read. VERDICT More metafiction fun from the best-selling Fforde—maybe not the easiest place to join the series, but a must-read for fans. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/10.]—Devon Thomas, DevIndexing, Chelsea, MI
Hausman, Blake M. Riding the Trail of Tears. Univ. of Nebraska. (Native Stories: A Series of American Narratives). Mar. 2011. c.360p. ISBN 9780803239265. pap. $24.95. F
Always interesting and sometimes inspired, this first novel is a riff on one of the most shameful acts committed by the United States on its indigenous peoples—the Cherokee Removal of 1836–39, or the Trail of Tears, when thousands of Native Americans were uprooted from their homes in the South and transported forcibly to the Indian Territories (what is now Oklahoma). Over 4000 died en route from hunger or disease, or were murdered by the troops guarding them. Hausman has reconceived this tragic event as a seriocomedy. The action takes place in a virtual reality theme park, with two quite different sets of characters. Real spectators are being guided on their virtual tour by a three-quarter-blood Cherokee, Tallulah Wilson, but suddenly virtual Native Americans stage a rebellion against their unreal status. In the process of telling these stories, which do not always cohere, Hausman provides information about Native American history and the lore and sensitivities of today’s Native Americans. VERDICT This experimental novel doesn’t always work, but it offers much that can’t be found elsewhere in today’s fiction.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Henderson, Eleanor. Ten Thousand Saints. Ecco: HarperCollins. Jun. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780062021021. $26.99. F
By the end of the fourth sentence of this debut novel, the reader knows that on December 31, 1987, 15-year-old Teddy will be dead. The Vermont teen, best friend to Jude, 16, dies of a drug overdose that nearly kills Jude as well—but not before Teddy’s one glorious sexual encounter impregnates worldly wise Eliza, daughter of Jude’s father’s New York City girlfriend. The three teens, the children of mothers and fathers who are all over the parenting map (former and current potheads; an alcoholic; one deprived of contact by his ex; a rich, powerful, and controlling Manhattanite; and a sensible Earth-Mother glassblower), break your heart with their awkward, angry, irresponsible stumbling. And yet Jude, shaken by Teddy’s death, and Eliza, determined to give birth to her baby, move in unexpected directions, led by Teddy’s half-brother Johnny, a tattoo artist and musician associated with a cutting-edge group called straight edge that worships punk while demonizing drugs. Johnny must battle his own demons while taking on Jude’s and Eliza’s. VERDICT Henderson’s powerful, surprising look at lost teens trying to course-correct with the violence-tinged straight-edge culture captivates via its authentic reassurance that adolescence is an often reckless ride to adulthood. [See Prepub Alert, 11/29/10.]—Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI
Jones, Tayari. Silver Sparrow. Algonquin. May 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9781565129900. $19.95. F
“My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist.” So starts the third novel by the critically acclaimed Jones (The Untelling). The first part is narrated by Dana, the daughter of his illicit second marriage. Dana and her mother, Gwen, always knew about the first family and that they came second. From a distance, they watch the first family, daughter Chaurisse and mother Laverne, going about their comfortable lives, unaware of James’s secret life and getting the best of what James has to offer. Gwen scrapes by on her nurse’s salary, while Dana can choose a magnet school or a summer camp only after Chaurisse has chosen, to insure that the girls don’t meet. But eventually they do meet, first by accident at the science fair, with only Dana aware that Chaurisse is her half-sister. As their lives begin to intersect, the narrative is passed to Chaurisse, plain looking and a mediocre student, who’s enchanted by the silver girl with the good hair who accepts her overtures of friendship. Things come to a head when the girls have car trouble on the way to a party, and James and Gwen both come riding to the rescue. Jones uses 1970s and 1980s African American society in Atlanta as a fully realized backdrop to the personal drama of a few people. VERDICT Highly recommended for all, but especially for readers of women’s fiction and African American women writers. [See Prepub Alert, 11/22/10.]—Debbie Bogenschutz, Cincinnati State Technical & Community Coll.
Linmark, R. Zamora. Leche. Coffee House, dist. by Consortium.May 2011. c.354p. ISBN 9781566892544.pap. $15.95. F
Linmark (Rolling the R’s) offers both a meditation on what it means to be Filipino and an exuberant, affectionate, irreverent love letter to the city of Manila from one of its own. The protagonist, 23-year-old Vince, who was born in Manila but immigrated to Hawaii early in life, returns after a long absence, seeking to understand his heritage. Linmark, who like Vince has lived in both Manila and Hawaii, develops a lively and engaging narrative voice as he skillfully juxtaposes these two very different cultures. He presents Manila in vivid, gritty, and often unflattering detail, showing us heat, humidity, sprawl, pollution, beggars, squatters, vendors, blackouts, stray dogs, and traffic, along with a sordid and harrowing colonial history. Vince is gay and single, and Linmark depicts his determined search for love sympathetically. This is a jaunty, kaleidoscopic novel that amusingly chronicles the many challenges Vince faces moving between cultures. VERDICT Recommended for readers of lighthearted literary fiction.—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT
McHenry, Jael. The Kitchen Daughter. Gallery: S. & S. Apr. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9781439191699. $23. F
When Ginny’s parents die unexpectedly, she is left on her own for the first time in her 26-year-old life. Unable to cope, Ginny turns her focus to cooking various recipes from the family collection. When the ghosts of the recipe’s creators start to appear, seemingly called forth by the rich aromas of Ginny’s cooking, does it mean she’s going crazy, or is it just her private way of seeking advice and comfort? Ginny’s been considered painfully shy and awkward since childhood, but it turns out she’s gone undiagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Her well-meaning parents protected and did everything they could for her, but now that they are gone, her sister wants her finally to get the help she needs. The question is, does she really need help? VERDICT McHenry’s debut novel is a sensitive and realistic portrait of someone living with Asperger’s. Readers looking for good family-themed women’s fiction will enjoy this novel, and the magical element of the cooking ghosts will appeal to fans of Sarah Addison Allen.—Rebecca Vnuk, Forest Park, IL
Monroe, Mary Alice. The Butterfly’s Daughter. Gallery: S. & S. May 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9781439170618. $25. F
Esperanza Avila worries about her 21-year-old granddaughter. Luz doesn’t know her family traditions, doesn’t speak her native Spanish, and is trapped in a foundry job in Milwaukee. After Luz’s mother disappeared, the abuela raised the girl on Aztec myths along with stories of the monarch butterflies in the mountains of Mexico. One phone call changes everything. Esperanza buys a VW and tells Luz they must drive to her home village by November 1, the Day of the Dead, to be there when the migrating monarchs return. But her death leaves Luz to make the pilgrimage alone. Following the path of the butterflies, she finds herself on a journey of discovery, seeking her inner courage and the secrets of a vanished mother. VERDICT Monroe, known for her environmental fiction (The Beach House; Sweetgrass), skillfully incorporates lore about the monarch butterflies into a rich novel about generations and tradition. This book, filled with unusual female characters, is highly recommended for book clubs and readers of women’s fiction. [Author tour; feature title at ALA.]—Lesa Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ
Phillips, Arthur. The Tragedy of Arthur. Random. Apr. 2011. c.394p. ISBN 9781400066476. $26. F
A memoir and a Shakespearean play wrapped into a novel? Who could pull this off but the prolific Phillips (Prague; The Egyptologist; Angelica; The Song Is You)? The narrator—a knockoff of the author himself?—relates the obsession of his father and twin sister with the Bard of Avon and the discovery within the family of a hitherto unknown play by none other than. Our narrator then recounts the tribulations of family life, centered on his dad’s frequent incarcerations for forgeries of artworks (and plays?). At length the father persuades his son the narrator to sell the play, and it is bought by—you guessed it—with the understanding that the narrator would pen an introduction to contextualize the play, the “introduction” becoming the memoir that is considerably longer than the play. This drama, The Tragedy of Arthur, is presented in full herewith, duly annotated by both the narrator and an academic. The Bard would be amused to be set center-stage by someone who professes to have no patience with him, while the narrator pokes wicked fun at the ubiquitous memoir genre. VERDICT Highly recommended for all who enjoy inspired, original, entertaining writing—deftly delivered here by one of our most talented arthurs, uh, authors. [An LJ Editors’ Pick, p. 29; see Prepub Alert, 11/22/10.]—Edward Cone, New York
Reed, Ishmael. Juice! Dalkey Archive. Apr. 2011. c.344p. illus. ISBN 9781564786371. pap. $14.95. F
This latest novel from the prolific Reed, founder of the Before Columbus Foundation, features cartoonist Paul Blessings, who goes by the pen name Bear. But the book’s real subject is the O.J. Simpson murder case, with which Bear is obsessed. The main outlet for Bear’s cartoons has been a New York TV station formerly owned by PBS that has been bought up and is going commercial with a vengeance. Bear is in trouble with the station higher-ups because of his steadfast defense of O.J. and refusal to work on a different topic. Moving through the years of the criminal trial, the novel dispenses with many of the mechanisms of standard fiction and instead offers a series of rants, dialogs real and imagined, accidental confrontations, and made-up situations, all tossed off in a disrespectful, grumpy, and hilarious style. Reed is not interested in rearguing the case, but he does highlight many of its inconsistencies. VERDICT Humorous and infectious, this is one person’s take on an incident that was smothered by the media yet remains unclear. Recommended for anyone interested in a report from the frontlines of the battle that is life for an aging black man in that strange land, early 21st-century America.—Jim Coan, SUNY Coll. at Oneonta Lib.
Rowell, Rainbow. Attachments. Dutton. Apr. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780525951988. $25.95. F
As an Internet security officer at a newspaper, Lincoln reads emails sent among his coworkers and administers warnings about proper content. Although he hates this part of his job, Lincoln is instantly captivated by the exchanges between best friends Beth and Jennifer; instead of giving them a warning, he continues to read Jennifer’s news about her husband and Beth’s revelations about her boyfriend. Lincoln soon finds himself falling in love with Beth, even though they have never met. But the deeper he falls, the more keenly aware Lincoln becomes of his precarious position. He begins to realize that he may not have a chance with the woman whose privacy he has so grossly invaded. VERDICT Set at the turn of the 21st century, this debut novel by a newspaper columnist includes convincing details about the attitude toward computer use in the workplace and brushes over anxieties associated with Y2K. Chick-lit fans may enjoy the engaging dialog and likable characters, but this reviewer was disappointed at the slow unfolding of the romantic elements; the few brief encounters were not enough to result in the full-blown relationship that develops in the span of a few pages at the novel’s end.—Natasha Grant, New York
Roy, Anuradha. An Atlas of Impossible Longing. Free Pr: S. & S. Apr. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781451608625.pap. $14. F
Together since the ages of six and four, Mukunda and Bakul are best friends living under the roof of Amulya and his wife, Kananbala, in Songarh, a small town in India. Bakul is the daughter of Nirmal, Amulya’s son, who works as an archaeologist; her mother died tragically after childbirth. Mukunda is an orphan without caste or religion whom Amulya sponsored until he brought him to live with his family. As they reach their teen years, it is decided that Mukunda and Bakul should be separated, even though it’s evident to the reader that they are destined to be together. At one point, a depressed, frustrated Mukunda consults an astrologist, who looks at his palm and sees “a veritable atlas...rivers of desire.... Your palm is nothing but an atlas of impossible longings.” VERDICT Roy, who works at an independent publishing house in Delhi, is a fabulous storyteller with a true gift for transporting the reader right into the heat, smells, and sights of India. Humorous passages, colorful descriptions, and a sprinkling of native words blend to concoct a poetic novel easily read again and again. A complete success and an excellent choice for a discussion group.—Lisa Rohrbaugh, National Coll., Chicago
Scottoline, Lisa. Save Me. St. Martin’s. Apr. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780312380786. $27.99. F
What begins as an ordinary day for lunch mom volunteer Rose McKenna quickly morphs into a harrowing event that will spiral her life out of control. When a tragedy occurs at her daughter’s elementary school, Rose transforms from heroine to villain in a matter of hours after she is forced to make a life-changing moral decision. As the media seeks to vilify her and her community shuns her, Rose continues on an intense weeklong search for the truth. Suspecting foul play led to the tragic event, she dedicates herself to unraveling the mystery. Rose’s dogged determination exposes a high-profile scandal and threatens to endanger her life and her family. In another departure (after Look Again) from her Bernie Rosato courtroom thrillers (Think Twice), Scottoline crafts a heartfelt emotional novel with the intensity of a thriller. VERDICT This stand-alone work will mesmerize readers at the first page and hold them spellbound until the final word. Jodi Picoult fans may crown a new favorite author. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/10.]—Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
Steel, Danielle. 44 Charles Street. Delacorte. Apr. 2011. c.319p. ISBN 9780385343145. $28. F
When Francesca’s relationship with her longtime boyfriend ends, she stands to lose the art gallery and the house they co-owned. But she comes up with financial plans to keep the business and the house by making sacrifices—selling some cherished original artwork and taking in boarders. Despite her opinionated mother’s fears and objections, Francesca allows three strangers into her beloved home: Eileen is a young schoolteacher with a penchant for online dating; Chris is a quiet father trying to gain sole custody of his young son; and Marya is a recently widowed famous cookbook author. Over the course of a year, the housemates coalesce into a surrogate family, supporting one another through good times and bad. VERDICT In best-selling author Steel’s (Family Ties) latest novel, the lives of the supporting cast members are far more compelling than her protagonist’s, and reading about their challenges and successes is a sufficiently entertaining way to spend some time. Steel also touches on difficult social issues, such as abusive relationships and drug abuse.—Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY
Trollope, Joanna. Daughters-in-Law. Touchstone: S. & S. Apr. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9781451618389. pap. $14.99. F
Trollope’s ( The Other Family ) latest novel is a thoroughly enjoyable read, dealing with the family dynamics of in-laws. When we are first introduced to Rachel and Anthony Brinkley, it is at their youngest son’s wedding. Trollope then takes us through the newest wife’s surprise pregnancy and Rachel’s not-quite-nice response to it. Then Rachel meddles when her middle son’s marriage breaks up. Rachel at first appears to be the stereotype of the overbearing mother, but as readers get a closer look at her thoughts and feelings, they become more sympathetic to her actions. Yet the reactions of the sons, their spouses, and even the parents of the daughters-in-law are also understandable and relatable. Life after the wedding vows is not always happily ever after, and Trollope does a good job of showing us what is involved in a real marriage. VERDICT While some of the characters are not fully fleshed out (this reviewer would have liked more backstory), Trollope fans and readers who enjoy domestic fiction will not be disappointed. —Marianne Fitzgerald, Annapolis, MD
Waite, Urban. The Terror of Living. Little, Brown. Feb. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780316097895. $24.99. F
This fine novel starts with a drug-smuggling airdrop in the wilderness of Washington State, which is foiled by a zealous deputy, Drake, whose own lawman father had been involved in the marijuana business. The Vietnamese gang who owned the drugs wants answers from Hunt, the ex-con charged with handling the drop, and retribution in no particular order. Before they intervene personally, they use Grady (who has strong echoes of Anton Chigurh in Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men and a penchant for knives). As Grady carves his way through the landscape of the story with obvious glee, Drake feels increasingly responsible and is determined to save Hunt—another act of atonement. The action occurs against the backdrop of the bleak natural beauty of northwest Washington. Relationships are a major theme (Drake and his imprisoned father, Drake and girlfriend Sherri, Drake and Hunt, Hunt and wife Nora). The characters are well developed, and the complicated plot is well structured. The action never falters. VERDICT This remarkable debut, full of character and bleakness and written with vim and intelligence, will linger in the reader’s mind long after the book is laid aside. Its visual vibrancy is sure to inspire a film adaptation.—Seamus Scanlon, Ctr. for Worker Education, CUNY
SHORT STORIES
Latiolais, Michelle. Widow: Stories. Bellevue Literary. 2011. c.160p. ISBN 9781934137307. pap. $14.95. F
The loss of a lifetime partner can send one into previously unknown recesses of emotion. So many huge dismissals and tiny slights come at you each and every day. Out of discomfort or social awkwardness, other people say and do things that merely serve to reopen the wound. In this collection of short stories, Latiolais (A Proper Knowledge) utilizes the lens of her own experience to translate into words the strange new world of the recently widowed. Her characters range from a young widow confronting an obtuse gynecologist to a woman out on the town for the first time and reexperiencing sexual longing. VERDICT Those who have walked this path will find common ground, while those who have not will find much to consider. All who venture here will discover some very fine writing. This collection will appeal to recent fans of Joan Didion and to short story readers who have the courage to face the darker sentiments.—Susanne Wells, Cincinnati
Orozco, Daniel. Orientation: And Other Stories. Faber & Faber. Jun. 2011. c.160p. ISBN 9780865478534. $23. F
The great strength of Orozco’s debut collection is the light it shines on the contemporary workplace, wherever it may be. Best of all, and worth the price of admission, is the title story and opener, which takes the reader on a first-day tour through the cubicle kingdom in a voice that both captures and mocks the rhythm of corporate communication. Readers know they’re in good hands from the first few sentences: “Those are the offices and these are the cubicles. That’s my cubicle there, and this is your cubicle. This is your phone. Never answer your phone.” Though not laugh-out-loud funny like the first, other stories in this slim volume similarly display Orozco’s empathic ear and keen observational skills, variously featuring an office temp with a top-secret assignment, a first-day workman on a bridge crew who witnesses a suicide, and the exiled dictator of a Latin American country. VERDICT With a strong and sure talent, Orozco helps us to see each day as a ritual of orientation, of waking up in the morning and carrying on with the business at hand. For all short story readers. [See Prepub Alert, 12/6/10.]—Sue Russell, Bryn Mawr, PA
lAST-MINUTE MYSTERY
Dean, Anna. A Gentleman of Fortune; or, The Suspicions of Miss Dido Kent. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Mar. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780312596965. $24.99. M
In May 1806, Miss Dido Kent has arrived in Richmond for a visit with her cousin Mrs. Flora Beaumont. Dido is meant to be relaxing after having spent the winter assisting a nervous sister-in-law with her sickly baby, but Dido isn’t one to be idle. When a near neighbor and friend of the Beaumonts, Mr. Lansdale, comes under suspicion for the sudden death of his wealthy aunt, Dido agrees to help clear his name. Mr. William Lomax’s arrival provides the greatest challenge for Dido; how can she retain his good opinion while ignoring his request to end her investigation, even for her own safety? This second novel, following Bellfield Hall, is Dido’s chance to begin embracing her naturally inquisitive nature and her strong deductive reasoning. Looking past the surface ideals of respectable Regency society, the author thoughtfully explores the limited choices women, both married and single, were allowed. VERDICT With its engaging characters and stories of substance, this compelling series will give enjoyment to fans of Anne Perry, Agatha Christie, or Deanna Raybourn. [Library marketing.]—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH
Läckberg, Camilla. The Preacher. Pegasus. May 2011. c.432p. ISBN 9781605981734. $25.95. M
This second mystery featuring detective Patrik Hedstrom (The Ice Princess) is again set in the small Swedish village of Fjällbacka. The story opens with the discovery of the skeletons of two women who disappeared more than 20 years ago, along with a fresh victim killed in a similar manner. In researching the decades-old murders, the police are led to the dysfunctional family of a religious fanatic, Ephraim Hult, who was known as a preacher and healer. Hedstrom must find the key to connect the old crimes with the new. In addition, Patrik’s girlfriend, Erica, is about to give birth, and he must come to terms with his feelings about becoming a father. Erica, in turn, is deeply troubled by her sister’s increasingly serious marriage problems. Läckberg’s many-layered story features plot twists and turns galore. Especially effective are her flashbacks, which connect the stories of the women from 1979 to the current investigation. Patrik and Erica continue to evolve, leading readers to become increasingly involved in their lives. VERDICT Stieg Larsson fans seeking more Nordic crime fiction may want to try Sweden’s top-selling crime writer. Läckberg is also highly recommended for readers who like mysteries set in foreign countries.—Jean King, West Hempstead P.L., NY
Leon, Donna. Drawing Conclusions: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery. Atlantic Monthly. Apr. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9780802119797. $24. M
This fine novel is Leon’s (A Question of Belief) 20th mystery featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti, the unparalleled Venetian police investigator who enlivens this intelligent series. This time, Brunetti takes on a particularly complicated case involving the suspicious death of an elderly woman, infinitely more suspicious wills and beneficiaries, and the theft of valuable drawings. All of this, of course, is related to relentless greed at the heart of so many crimes. Leon’s artistry, however, guarantees that nothing is ever simple. As always, Brunetti’s investigative acumen, his patience, and, most of all, his profound comprehension of the human psyche enable him to bring the case to a closure of sorts. Yet the powerful conclusion does not, in fact, directly divulge the solution, and it is this haunting ambiguity that renders Drawing Conclusions Leon’s most provocative novel to date. Ultimately, Brunetti’s exemplary wisdom, mercy, and kindness offer hope to us all. VERDICT Aficionados of literary mysteries such as those written by P.D. James and Michael Dibdin will revel in this stellar book. If you read only one mystery this year, make it this one. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/10.]—Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law Lib., PA
Thompson, James. Lucifer’s Tears. Putnam. Mar. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 9780399157004. $24.95. M
In Thompson’s second crime novel featuring Inspector Kari Vaara (Snow Angels), the brooding Finnish homicide detective has moved from small-town Lapland to urban Helsinki for a fresh start. Instead, Kari juggles a multitude of woes. He’s racked by migraines and petrified that the pregnancy of his American wife, Kate, will end badly. Meanwhile, Kate’s alcoholic brother and self-righteous sister are visiting. The interior minister wants him to investigate a 90-year-old security police veteran accused of committing war crimes—atrocities that also implicate Kari’s beloved grandfather. To top it off, a case involving the grisly S&M-tinged murder of a Russian businessman’s wife has stalled. The husband is guilty, but Kari can’t prove it—until an unlikely ally intervenes. VERDICT Thompson, an American expat living in Finland, tends to let his affinity for multiple story lines get the better of him. Fortunately, his intriguing insights into Nordic cultures help compensate, as does the book’s hard-boiled sensibility. Give this to readers of gritty procedurals both international and domestic [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/10.]—Annabelle Mortensen, Skokie P.L., IL
Winspear, Jacqueline. A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel. Harper: HarperCollins. Apr. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780061727672. $25.99. M
Peace can be as deadly as war. Winspear’s (The Mapping of Love and Death) eighth Maisie Dobbs mystery opens in 1932 with Maisie accepting an assignment from the British secret service to infiltrate the newly opened College of St. Francis by posing as a philosophy lecturer. That position will enable her to scrutinize the controversial founder, Greville Liddicote, as well as the school’s activities and students. Greville’s purpose in creating the school is to promote peaceful relations among cultures. The children’s books that he wrote are rumored to have caused mutiny among the military during World War I. When Greville is murdered, Maisie becomes concerned, especially when she finds some faculty members are part of a pro-Hitler organization. What dark forces could have destroyed this man of peace? Maisie must sift through the past to find out. VERDICT Winspear strikes the right balance between cozy mystery setting and her intelligent, street-savvy PI. The story adroitly presents a post–World War I world while foreshadowing the next global conflict. Recommended for fans of historical mysteries like those by Charles Todd. [See Prepub Alert, 11/15/10.]—Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L., MD
