Fiction Reviews, March 15, 2011
Mar 15, 2011
Bauer, Belinda. Darkside. S. & S. May 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9781451612752. pap. $15. F
Bauer returns to the gloomy moors of England for another riveting psychological thriller (after her CWA Gold Dagger Award–winning Blacklands). A serial killer is brutally picking off the old and infirm in the tiny town of Shipcott, and village police officer Jonas Holly feels powerless to stop the violence. Enter DCI John Marvel, the bullying detective who takes over the investigation and delights in humiliating his subordinates. When the killer sends Jonas a contemptuous note mocking his police skills, the frazzled bobby doesn’t even dare tell Lucy, his ailing wife, let alone the obnoxious Marvel. As the bodies pile up, so do the anonymous missives, until the increasingly isolated Jonas defies orders and doggedly pursues the chilling truth about the killer’s identity. VERDICT Claustrophobic and suffused with pitch-black atmosphere, Bauer’s novel keeps readers guessing until the deliciously unsettling conclusion. No sophomore slump here—fans of Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters would do well to make room on their shelves for Bauer. [See Prepub Alert, 11/1/10.]—Annabel Mortensen, Skokie P.L., IL
Brooks, Geraldine. Caleb’s Crossing. Viking. May 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780670021048. $26.95. F
In 1665, Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck of Martha’s Vineyard graduated from Harvard, whose 1650 charter describes its mission as “the education of the English and Indian youth of this country.” That much is fact. That Caleb befriended Bethia Mayfield, the free-spirited daughter of the island’s preacher, is of course fiction—but it’s luscious fiction in the capable hands of Pulitzer Prize winner Brooks (March). As one might expect from Brooks, Bethia is a keen and rebellious lass, indignant that she should be kept from book learning when her slower brother gets the benefit of an education. She first encounters Caleb in the woods, learning his language and ways while stoutly arguing her Christian beliefs; later, Bethia’s zealous father brings Caleb into the household to convert him. And so begins Caleb’s crossing, first from Native to English Colonial culture and then from the island to Cambridge, where he studies at a preparatory school before entering Harvard. Bethia ends up at the school, too—but as an indentured servant. VERDICT Writing in Bethia’s voice, Brooks offers a lyric and elevated narrative that effectively replicates the language of the era; she takes on the obvious issues of white arrogance, cultural difference, and the debased role of women without settling into jeremiad. The result is sweet and aching. Highly recommended. [Prepub Alert, 11/15/10.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Crane, Caprice. With a Little Luck. Bantam. Aug. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780553386240. pap. $15. F
Berry Lambert does not feel lucky, despite her given name, Beryl, considered a token of good luck. Or so her professional gambler father has always told her. Some would say being a 28-year-old late-night classic rock radio DJ would belie her beliefs, but this gig follows a life of superstitious behavior, black cat avoidance, preferences for odd numbers over even, and bad relationships that run in threes (how odd). True to form, after two near misses with men, Berry isn’t looking forward to the trumped-up date with Ryan Riley, the Dr. Love advice expert on sister station KKRL. He is cute, with a droll sense of humor, but he’s the third guy. Need she say more? Yet everyone seems gung ho for the possible ratings boost, especially her boss and the corporate bigwigs. Even (odd?) her best friend, Natalie, would like nothing more than for Berry to rid herself of her father’s neediness and her own disaster-evading premeditation. Good luck! VERDICT Crane (Family Affair) is one of the funniest writers of popular fiction around. The dialog (inner and outer) is laugh-out-loud, snort-inducing hilarious. And though Berry’s issues seriously affect her view of the world, readers will want to cross their fingers and spit while throwing salt over their shoulders if it helps Berry reach her dreams. Highly recommended.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Ducornet, Rikki. Netsuke. Coffee House, dist. by Consortium. May 2011. c.128p. ISBN 9781566892537. pap. $14.95. F
Pick up a book by the award-winning Ducornet (The Fan-Maker’s Inquisition), and you know it will be startling, elegant, and perfectly formed—like netsuke, those miniature Japanese sculptures used to fasten the cord of a kimono. This latest, an unflinching meditation on the twinned drives of lust and destruction, is no exception. The antihero is a self-satisfied and sexually compulsive psychoanalyst who sleeps with his patients—or at least the desirable ones, his practice being divided in his mind between Spells and Drears. He’s “the Marquis de Sade of psychiatry” and proud of it. His wife, Akiko, an artist who works, appropriately, in the delicate medium of paper, is luminous, elegant, and trusting; he perceives almost gleefully that the air has gone out of their marriage and occasionally dangles clues about his infidelities, then snatches them back. But his game is finally upended by two new patients—the self-destructive Cutter, whom he allows to intrude into his feelings as never before, and the gender-transforming David/Jello. The consequences are both sad and satisfying. VERDICT Writing about a satyr-psychiatrist could be so predictable, but Ducornet makes her characters real and scary beneath the ruminative, quietly observant prose. Highly recommended for literate readers.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Ephron, Hallie. Come and Find Me. Morrow. Apr. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9780061857522. $24.99. F
After the traumatic death of her husband, Diana becomes a hermit, existing solely in an online virtual world called OtherWorld. As her alter ego Nadia, Diana, a former computer hacker, runs an Internet security firm with her husband’s best friend. Her sister, Ashley, is her only link to the outside world; when Ashley disappears, Diana must step outside her triple-locked and alarmed door for the first time in almost two years. Relying on her online contacts, Xanax, and courage, Diana sets out to find her sister. In a sometimes implausible and rapid plot, Ephron ( Never Tell a Lie ) details a fascinating online world full of hackers, computer codes, avatars, and complex deception. Ephron’s characters are compelling and the narrative swift and flowing. VERDICT This quick read will satisfy fans of James Patterson, Iris Johansen, Mary Higgins Clark, and other authors of light suspense . —Nicole A. Cooke, Montclair State Univ. Lib., NJ
Finder, Joseph. Buried Secrets. St. Martin’s. Jun. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780312379148. $25.99. F
Following the acclaimed Vanished, Nick Heller is back in Boston to help an old friend, hedge fund millionaire Marshall Marcus, rescue his rebellious teenage daughter, Alexa, who is being held captive in an underground crypt, linked via satellite to both her kidnapper and her father. But as Nick begins the search for Alexa, he discovers an array of lies involving Marshall, a former female escort posing as Marshall’s adoring wife and Alexa’s mother, a U.S. senator, a scheming lawyer, and various government agents and Russian spies. Nick’s expertise in Russian studies and international espionage together with the digital forensics skills of his former lover Diana help to locate Alexa—the buried brat who’s, like, totally cool. VERDICT Highly recommended not only for Finder fans but for mystery lovers fascinated with digital surveillance. Crisp, clipped chapters and numerous cliff-hangers propel the action at a breakneck pace. Finder’s outstanding writing and engrossing plot twists embellish a captivating summer read. [Major marketing campaign; see Prepub Alert, 12/20/10.]—Jerry Miller, Cambridge, MA
Gee, Darien. Friendship Bread. Ballantine. Apr. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780345525345. $25. F
The magic of Amish friendship bread grips the small Illinois town of Avalon when Julia Evarts, grieving from the loss of her young son, finds friendship bread starter on her front porch. Julia meets Hannah, her soon-to-be best friend, when they both wander into Madeline’s Tea Salon. Julia, who just happens to have a couple of bags of starter with her, gives one each to Madeline and Hannah. The three women all have issues—Madeline would like to reconnect with her stepson, Hannah’s husband has left her, and Julia is estranged from her husband, sister, and parents. Baking allows them to make new connections, through which they find the strength to mend fences and heal old wounds. VERDICT This entertaining series debut by Gee (who also writes as Mia King) will appeal to fans of tearjerkers like Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden or novels dealing with the loss of a family member, such as Lolly Winston’s Good Grief. It’s also ideal for book clubs and readers who like stories about small-town life; it expertly weaves together numerous characters and narratives and even includes recipes and directions for making friendship bread. [Author tour; the next Avalon book, Memory Keepers, will be published in 2012; see Prepub Alert, 11/1/10.]—Karen Core, Detroit P.L.
Graham, Lorna. The Ghost of Greenwich Village. Ballantine. Jun. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780345526212. pap. $15. F
Eve Weldon moves to Manhattan to discover the mystery of her mother’s past. Alas, the apartment she rents (in Greenwich Village, of course) is haunted by the ghost of Donald Bellows, a writer on the fringes of the Beat movement. As Eve wrestles to find her place in the world and discover her mother’s secret, the irritable and demanding Donald pesters her to make a literary place for him by transcribing his collection of short stories and finding a publisher for them. Eve gets plenty of experience in the school of hard knocks but eventually launches her career as a writer on a morning news show, Smell the Coffee. She also acquires a circle of friends and a measure of fame, persisting in her quest until she finds fulfillment for herself and for Donald. VERDICT This debut novel exudes charm and insider knowledge; Graham has written for several top television network anchors. The characters are quirky and realistic, and the story rings true despite its reliance on a ghostly presence. Highly recommended for all fiction readers.—Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Lib., Providence
Halberstadt, Michèle. The Pianist in the Dark. Pegasus. Jul. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9781605981185. $24. F
The daughter of Joseph Anton Paradis, imperial secretary of commerce and court councilor to the Empress Maria Theresa (and even named after her), Maria-Therésa von Paradis demonstrated profound talent as a pianist and was performing regularly by age 17. She also fell blind at an early age, something her proud and doting father could not abide. In this Drouot Literary Prize winner, French author Halberstadt’s first to be translated into English, Maria-Therésa is subjected to endless treatments until she finally rebels. But her father makes one last effort, bringing her to the ambitious Franz Anton Mesmer, a specialist in so-called magnetism whose methods lay the groundwork for hypnotism. Because Mesmer insists that Maria-Therésa live with other patients in his pavilion, she senses a chance for some independence and snatches it. But the consequences of her treatment are not what either she or the doctor expected. VERDICT Drawing on real-life characters and told in simple, straightforward language, this is an affecting little fable that states rather too obviously the power of men over women and the artist’s need to make sacrifices. But it does effectively remind us that the change isn’t always to the good. Nice for many readers.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Henry, Joe. Lime Creek. Random. Jun. 2011. c.160p. ISBN 9781400069415. $20. F
This first novel from noted lyricist Henry opens with a young man named Spencer gentling a two-year-old bay colt, watched closely by the woman he’ll eventually marry. It ends powerfully with Spencer’s son showing his stuff when he’s caught in a blizzard and must recapture a horse that has fled the barn, spooked by sliding snow. In between, told in heart-wrenchingly beautiful prose, we find the story of a Wyoming ranch family sometime in the 20th century. We see Spencer, out east at Harvard, diffidently wooing and eventually bringing home the sweetheart whose family summered in Wyoming. We see Spencer’s twin boys getting into serious mischief with a bunch of tomatoes. We see a lovingly described Christmas celebration in a barn and the struggle to save cattle as the terrible snows come, with Spencer uncharacteristically caustic as he tells his queasy children about a much darker, colder, and scarier time he spent in the army. And in the end, unfolding in discrete and carefully observed chapters, we have the whole picture of these touching, hard-earned lives. VERDICT Brief but brilliant in the spirit of Paul Harding’s Tinkers, this remarkable work is highly recommended.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Hopkinson, Christina. The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs. Grand Central. Apr. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780446573184. $24.99. F
“I’m an angry person,” says Mary, and she is. She’s angry at hybrid cars, Valentine’s Day, dog poop on the sidewalk, birthday party goody bags, and her twentysomething coworkers. Most of all, she’s angry at her husband, Joel, who she’s convinced is the only thing standing between her and the orderly House Beautiful life for which she longs. While Mary juggles the care of two young sons, a part-time job, and a perpetually chaotic household, Joel cheerfully meanders through life leaving a trail of wet towels, dirty socks, and unwashed pots in his wake. Mary’s plan is to use a balance sheet to track her husband’s domestic infractions. If the bottom line shows he is an asset to the house, he gets to stay in it. If he’s a liability, out he goes. VERDICT Mary’s whining is irritating, but Hopkinson (Izobel Brannigan.com) writes with wry humor and an unmistakable ring of truth that will resonate with multitasking mothers everywhere. Perfect for fans of mom lit/chick lit crossovers like Allison Pearson’s I Don’t Know How She Does It and Jane Green’s The Other Woman.—Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY
Howard, Christopher R. Tea of Ulaanbaatar. Seven Stories. May 2011. c.208p. ISBN 9781609800864. pap. $14.95. F
A National Magazine Award finalist for a short story he published in McSweeney’s, Howard spent several months in Mongolia on an aborted Peace Corps mission. If his first novel is anything like the truth, perhaps the entire Peace Corps mission should be aborted. Since Warren can’t get a job with his journalism degree, he up and volunteers for the Corps, landing with only the eighth team granted access to Mongolia. He’s supposed to be teaching English, but the only class we see Warren conduct is decidedly downbeat; he seems to spend most of his time in desultory socializing. Warren keeps dreaming of Padma back home, trying to recall the poem she told him never to forget, yet he gets involved with a local named Subdaa. She introduces him to tsus, the blood tea—a powerful narcotic that, says one wily Mongolian with reference to the ugly Americans, “will corrupt the corrupters.” Soon Warren is caught up in plans to smuggle tsus out of the country, with understandably unhappy results. VERDICT This is an accomplished novel with a keen sense of atmosphere and description, but with its disaffected tone and unpleasant characters it will be too sour for many readers to swallow.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
Ignatius, David. Bloodmoney: A Novel of Espionage. Norton. Jun. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9780393078114. $25.95. F
Action junkie Sophie Marx works for a secret CIA unit formed after 9/11 to avoid the sclerotic Langley headquarters. Suddenly, four agents are assassinated, and her job is to find and plug the leaks. She goes deep into suspicious territory to discern the facts from the careful camouflage. To her horror, she learns that her own side is rotten with deceit as her boss is using the powerful instruments of modern finance in London to fund the alternative unit. Unbeknownst to anyone, a Pakistani professor bent on revenge for the drone-caused deaths of his family had penetrated the electronic defenses and killed the vulnerable agents. VERDICT Ignatius leverages a colorful cast of fresh characters and the mystique of the Internet to weave a compulsively readable story about the profound hostilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The author’s eighth novel (The Increment; Body of Lies) is essential for all active readers of spy thrillers and suspense and will leave them happily hungry for the ninth one. [See Prepub Alert, 12/6/10.]—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA
Kerr, Philip. Field Gray: A Bernie Gunther Novel. Marian Wood: Putnam. Apr. 2011. c.448p. ISBN 9780399157417. $25.95. F
If there’s a PI with a jaundiced eye, it’s Bernie Gunther. During his 11 years as a homicide detective in Berlin, he witnessed every kind of perversion. When the Nazis grab power, he leaves the force, but Hitler’s man Reinhard Heydrich soon sinks his claws into him. (Even a Nazi needs an honest cop once in a while.) Bernie becomes Heydrich’s tame dog. In 1940, he’s shipped to the eastern front dressed in SS field gray. Fast-forward to 1954. Bernie is in Cuba, working for Meyer Lansky and the mob. Things heat up, and he’s caught while fleeing the country. The CIA takes custody of him; they need his help to capture an elusive East German security police officer. But to Bernie, the Americans are no different from the Nazis—“the worst kind of fascists. The kind that think they’re liberals.” They force Bernie to talk through his checkered past, taking us back to 1930s–40s Berlin, Paris, and the Soviet Union. VERDICT As always in a Bernie Gunther title (If the Dead Rise Not), the plotting is twisty, the writing crisp, the atmosphere indisputably noir. Fans of hard-boiled PI novels and all readers interested in the dirty history of Nazi Germany will love this book. They don’t come any better. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/10.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
McMahon, Jennifer. Don’t Breathe a Word. Harper: HarperCollins.May 2011. c.464p. ISBN 9780061689376. pap. $14.99. F
A young girl disappears in the woods one summer night. The only clue to her whereabouts rests with her brother and her cousin, who never reveal what they know because to them it seems crazy—another one of her wild imaginings. The King of the Fairies was coming to take her away, she told them. And so, it would seem, he did. But 15 years later, Sam Nazzaro has grown up and moved on with his life when he receives word from his long-lost sister. She is back, and the Fairy King wants to make good on old promises, she says, to take what belongs to him. At first Sam is disbelieving, but soon he and his girlfriend, Phoebe, find themselves wrapped up in a sinister plot, no longer knowing what is real and what is imagined. VERDICT McMahon’s (Dismantled) latest literary thriller seems designed to keep readers guessing, but with an overly complex plot and excess of characters, the thrill of suspense is lost amid confusion and frustrating loose ends. Only for the author’s fans.—Leigh Wright, Bridgewater, NJ
Makkai, Rebecca. The Borrower. Viking. Jun. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780670022816. $25.95. F
This entertaining first novel reads like a liberal librarian’s illicit fantasy—save a child from an overbearing, ultrareligious mother by surreptitiously introducing him to new ideas through great literature. Lucy Hull is a young, accidental children’s librarian with few friends. Her one interest is ten-year-old voracious reader Ian, who she predicts will come out one day. Lucy willfully ignores the list of forbidden subjects that Ian’s mother presents to her, checking out books for him on her own library card. When Lucy discovers Ian camped out at the library, backpack and getaway plan at the ready, it doesn’t take much convincing for her to drive off with him, launching a wacky, aimless cross-country road trip. Lucy is a self-centered, exasperating heroine, but her relationship with Ian is charming and original. VERDICT Librarians may beef that Lucy’s reading suggestions and Makkai’s descriptions of library practice are not current, but the general public probably won’t notice. Overall, a stylish and clever tale for bibliophiles who enjoy authors like Jasper Fforde and Connie Willis. [See Prepub Alert, 12/13/10.]—Christine Perkins, Bellingham P.L., WA
Mandanna, Sarita. Tiger Hills. Grand Central. Mar. 2011. c.480p. ISBN 9780446564106. $24.99. F
Set on a coffee plantation in India called Tiger Hills, this first novel tells the story of the spirited Devi Nachimada. The only girl in her family for many years, Devi is adored by almost everyone, especially the young boy Devanna, and she is her father’s favored, much-doted-on child. Devi uses her special status to get whatever she wants—and the one thing she knows she wants from an early age is to marry the mesmerizing and celebrated tiger killer, Machu. Devi pursues Machu steadfastly, much to the sorrow of the devoted Devanna. While Devi’s scheme does not go exactly as planned, she does become a powerful force on her plantation. Spanning years and multiple locations, the novel introduces a variety of well-developed characters, and plot twists keep the reader wondering how all the drama will play out. VERDICT A great read that will have many points of discussion for any book group; highly recommended.—Leann Restaino, Girard, OH
Masello, Robert. The Medusa Amulet. Bantam. Apr. 2011. c.464p. ISBN 9780553807790. $26. F
Benvenuto Cellini was a master artisan of Renaissance Italy. He was also a necromancer. Combining these two talents, he created a powerful and dangerous amulet crafted from the legendary Medusa’s pond after slaying her. This amulet granted the user eternal life but was lost in the mists of time. Jump ahead to the present day. David Franco, a young scholar at Chicago’s Newberry Library, is approached by a mysterious woman searching for the amulet. He is offered significant financial compensation and the assurance that this treasure will heal his dying sister. Before long, David starts his globe-trotting adventure and is caught in a centuries-old life-and-death struggle. VERDICT Masello’s (Blood and Ice; Bestiary) latest thriller is an engrossing and fun read. While similar in content to the novels of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and historical detail to Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian, this work adds a supernatural twist. Recommended for those who like to delve into the past. [Library marketing.]—Jennifer Zoethout, Pickering P.L., Ont.
Meadows, Rae. Mothers & Daughters. Holt. Apr. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9780805093834. $25. F
New mother Samantha is dealing with a lot: her inability to reengage with her career or find interest in anything except her baby daughter, a souring relationship with her husband, and the recent death of her mother. When she receives a box of her mother’s things that had been misplaced for years, Samantha discovers the truth about her grandmother Violet’s upbringing in the Bronx as a neglected child, and she comes to understand her mother—and herself—in new ways. Samantha makes two controversial decisions, either of which could have served as the novel’s centerpiece. Readers may be a bit surprised by the relatively brief treatment of these two major issues and their impact on Samantha. However, the multigenerational story, which jumps back and forth in time, is poignant, and Meadows (No One Tells Everything) brings to light an interesting slice of American social history through Violet’s journey from New York on the Children’s Aid Society’s “orphan train.” VERDICT An engaging story of three generations of strong women and the choices they make.—Beth Blakesley, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman
Parker, Michael. The Watery Part of the World. Algonquin. Apr. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9781565126824. $23.95. F
In his latest novel, award winner Parker (Towns Without Rivers) takes readers deep into two time periods in the same pocket universe of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Theodosia Burr Alston is traveling by ship to reunite with her father, disgraced Founder Aaron Burr. In this reimagining of the real woman’s mysterious disappearance in 1813, Theodosia’s ship is attacked by pirates. Her apparent insanity spares her life. Theodosia finds herself stranded on a dismal island with no one but an old hermit with whom to share her history. A parallel story set in 1970 focuses on her 20th-century descendants, the last two white women alive on the island, and Woodrow, the black man who feels compelled to care for the women despite their complicated history. VERDICT While not a rollicking adventure or page-turning mystery, this is a highly readable study of fear, compulsion, and what it means to be trapped. The writing is smoky and beautiful; the lonely island setting is the most compelling character in the story. Against this backdrop, Parker delves into the human heart and distills for his readers the truths found there. Recommended for fans of Southern gothic, nautical, and historical fiction.—Therese Oneill, Monmouth, OR
Poole, Sara.
The Borgia Betrayal. Griffin: St. Martin’s. Jun. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780312604530. $24.99; pap. ISBN 9780312609849. $14.99. F
Poole’s second historical title continues seamlessly from where Poison left us. Francesca, employed by Rodrigo Borgia, now Pope Alexander VI, uses her knowledge of poisons to keep him safe and to eliminate enemies. The mysterious “nightmare” that has stalked Francesca is partially revealed. Her phantoms and grim career keep Francesca from a normal life, and she finds guilty relief in a passionate affair with Cesare, Borgia’s son. Francesca’s quest for vengeance for her father’s death fuels the plot, replete with intrigue among friends and enemies. The pope’s other son, Juan, shelters the evil priest that Francesca seeks—and his betrayal isn’t given the weight it deserves. Poole’s attempt to imitate the language of the period results in awkward and repetitive phrasing. Even so, the characters are well drawn and the evocation of Renaissance Roman life is full of detail. The conclusion promises more conflict and adventure in the next book. VERDICT Sometimes fascinating, often implausible, this is nonetheless a good read. For historical fiction and romance readers. [Library marketing.]—Sally Bickley, Del Mar Coll., Corpus Christi, TX
Schlesak, Dieter. The Druggist of Auschwitz: A Documentary Novel. Farrar. Apr. 2011. c.384p. tr. from Romanian by John Hargraves. ISBN 9780374144067. $27. F
We rarely read accounts of the Holocaust now for new information but instead seek to deepen our understanding of this most heinous of crimes—and that is exactly what this extraordinary novel affords. Schlesak, a German Romanian living today in Italy and Germany, has written what he calls a “documentary novel,” fluidly translated by Hargraves. Ostensibly revealed through the eyes of Adam—“the last Jew of Schässburg”—the narrative cuts between descriptions of life in the Auschwitz death camp and trial testimony of camp officials and survivors after the war. Interwoven into this appalling tale is the true story of Dr. Victor Capesius, of Romanian German ancestry, the druggist of the title. Though well regarded by his Romanian townspeople, Capesius eventually joins the SS and participates in the selections at Auschwitz for slave labor or extermination. Through deft alternation between fact and fiction, the author enhances our understanding of how otherwise ordinary individuals joined in the mass murder of their fellow beings and, when called to trial, expressed no remorse for their deeds. VERDICT This searing work belongs in every collection on the Holocaust and is highly recommended to all readers struggling to make sense of it.—Edward Cone, New York
Smith, Wilbur. Those in Peril. Thomas Dunne: St. Martin’s. May 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9780312567255. $27.99. F
When Cayla, the spoiled and promiscuous daughter of oil tycoon Hazel Bannock, is kidnapped from her yacht by Islamic fundamentalist pirates off the African coast, Hazel is frustrated by the reluctance of the world’s powers to intervene. As her daughter’s torture becomes public, Hazel turns to Hector Cross, owner of a private security firm that also protects Hazel’s oil fields, to rescue the girl and destroy the pirates. VERDICT Smith’s (Assegai; Warlock) many fans will enjoy a tale that includes nonstop action, multiple treacheries, vengeance, extreme violence, and explicit sex. The novel, however, is marred by an implausible plot and sometimes ridiculous dialog. The issue of modern piracy is a tale that needs to be told, and someone like a Tom Clancy or a Frederick Forsyth could have done a much better job. [Library marketing.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
Urbach, Linda. Madame Bovary’s Daughter. Bantam. Jul. 2011. c.512p. ISBN 9780385343879. pap. $15. F
Building from the closing paragraphs of Flaubert’s classic Madame Bovary, Urbach follows orphaned Berthe Bovary as she grows into a young woman. Country life with her strict grandmother involves hard work but brings her to the attention of artist Jean-François Millet, who includes her in several paintings of peasant life. After her grandmother’s death, Berthe works in a cotton mill, where she meets Hélène, whose talent for theft boosts her income but has serious consequences for them both as their paths cross many times. Berthe’s beauty draws the notice of the mill owner, Rappelais, who offers her a position in his Paris home. Although she fears his motive might be seduction, she never suspects that his wife would be the seducer. Berthe shares her mother’s penchant for romantic speculations, but she also works hard. Thanks to her fashion sense, knowledge of fabrics, and creativity, Berthe becomes indispensable to Rappelais and his designer friend, Charles Worth. VERDICT Urbach, author of two pseudonymous novels, includes lots of details for reading groups to discuss about social class, women’s roles, and fashion, while never forgetting to tell a good story. Berthe’s success might be improbable, but readers will cheer her all the way. [Library marketing.]—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato
Weir, Ian. Daniel O’Thunder. Douglas & McIntyre, dist. by PGW. Apr. 2011. 408p. ISBN 9781553655640. pap. $16.95. F
Weir’s debut novel spins the tale of the complicated and fabled Daniel O’Thunder. From the grimy streets of London in 1851 emerges the prize fighter–turned–evangelist also known as the Hammer of Heaven. He returns to the ring in a series of miraculous fights that bring hope to the downtrodden and the destitute. The colorful cast of characters surrounding the fist-pounding prophet includes an old war buddy who sets up his fights, a cynical reporter, a tempting prostitute in love with the great fighter, a dark aristocrat who bets his entire life on Daniel, and the witness and narrator, Jack. No tea parties or balls here; it is all about the blurred balance between the wretched and the righteous, set in dank boarding rooms, public drinking houses, and the cells of Newgate Prison. The battle between the great Hammer of Heaven and the evil stalking him climaxes in a fight that will leave readers breathless. VERDICT This robust historical novel by an award-winning Canadian screenwriter will captivate fans of Sarah Waters and Charles Dickens.—Ron Samul, New London, CT
Young, Louisa. My Dear I Wanted To Tell You. Harper: HarperCollins. Jun. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780061997143. $25.99. F
Set in London, Paris, and Ypres, Belgium, Young’s (Desiring Cairo) latest novel quickly captivates with a tale of two couples, each affected in powerful ways by the horrors of World War I. Riley Purefoy and Nadine Waveney met as children and formed an instant bond. Challenged by class differences and later by distance, their love is put to the test when Riley volunteers for military service. Riley’s commanding officer, Peter Locke, is suffering his own tribulations in the trenches, while Peter’s naive wife, Julia, undergoes a metamorphosis at home. Perhaps the only person who can keep them all from falling apart is Rose, a toughened yet loyal and compassionate nurse, who acts as a support system and whose character adds a wonderfully rich layer to the story. VERDICT With well-written, mesmerizing prose reminiscent of an earlier era, this novel will be enjoyed by any fan of romance or historical fiction. The level of detail and description is sometimes shocking but always poignant and relevant. [See Prepub Alert, 11/20/10.]—Amy M. Handley, Kent State Univ., Columbus
SHORT STORIES
Barnes, Julian. Pulse: Stories. Knopf. May 2011. c.240p. ISBN 9780307595263. $25. F
One thing you can certainly say about British author Barnes (Arthur & George): he may be witty, as evidenced by a series of stories here that depicts an ongoing dinner party, but he never condescends to his characters. The four stories that make up “At Phil & Joanna’s” are told almost exclusively in dialog that is at turns raucous, suggestive, politically charged, and socially astute (“And we finally become Europeans.” “And live happily ever after.” “Teaching them about marmalade.”). But it never gets mean, and it never shows anyone up. In “East Wind,” a slightly smarmy real estate agent, newly divorced, begins dating a waitress who’s vague about her country of origin; the secret he finally ferrets out is sobering (another author might have made it tawdry), and she leaves with her dignity intact. “Sleeping with John Updike” features two longtime friends, both authors, both successful but not wildly famous, each with secret reservations about the other but ever so careful of feelings as they slide into old age. They could have been portrayed as buffoons, but instead they’re brave, aching, and real. VERDICT This is a simply delicious collection that anyone who loves good fiction should read. [See Prepub Alert, 11/1/10.]—Barbara Hoffert , Library Journal
Doctorow, E.L. All the Time in the World: New and Selected Stories. Random. Mar. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9781400069637. $26. F
In his preface to this collection of 12 stories, some new and some familiar, Doctorow explains that while a novel begins with an image, a story begins with a situation. The situations here are diverse, with settings both urban and suburban, contemporary and historical, but the organizing principle is neither time nor space. Because each story has its “own particular light,” explains Doctorow, he has “banded the stories in packets of similar mental light.” Thus, the opening story, “Wakefield,” about a man who spends several months hiding out on his own property for no apparent reason, is followed by another tale of suburban uneasiness, “Edgemont Drive.” In “Assimilation,” a busboy gets hooked into marrying the boss’s late uncle’s daughter from the home country, while “Liner Notes: The Songs of Billy Bathgate” shows the struggle to assimilate in an earlier era. Coming next, “Heist” and “Walter John Harmon” deal with issues of corrupted faith. As one would expect, each situation is captured perfectly in smooth and literate language, and Doctorow gets off some wonderful zingers: “The paperback’s world is…dependable in its punishments,” muses a defeated priest. “More than I can say for Yours.” VERDICT A wonderful compendium, even for those who have read Doctorow exhaustively, because the organization is so illuminating. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/10.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
LAST-MINUTE MYSTERY
Castillo, Linda. Breaking Silence. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Jun. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780312374990. $24.99. M
Police Chief Kate Burkholder (Pray for Silence) is once again trying to balance the needs of the Amish community and the Englishers in Painters Mill, OH—a challenging task after a series of hate crimes against the Amish. What started out as harassment has escalated into the killing of farm animals and physical attacks. Kate’s problem lies in the unwillingness of the victims to press charges or give her much evidence to work with. Things come to a head when three members of the Slabaugh family die in what initially looks like an accident but in reality was murder. Did they die in a hate crime gone wrong? Or did someone closer to home have reason to want them dead? With the help of the new county sheriff and state agent John Tomasetti (who, as always, makes her emotional life confusing), Kate has to find the answers before someone else dies. VERDICT Castillo really hits her stride here and tones down some of the graphic violence present last time around. Think of this as a cross between Karin Slaughter, with her darker outlook on human nature, and Julia Spencer-Fleming, who balances the darkness with moments of hope. [125,000-copy first printing; national tour.]—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI
Doiron, Paul. Trespasser. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Jun. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780312558475. $24.99. M
It’s mud season in northern Maine, no longer winter but not yet spring, and the grisly murder of a young woman raises questions nobody wants answered. Is the man serving time in prison for an identical murder innocent? Is there a serial killer on the loose? Game warden Mike Bowditch has a nose for finding answers and a penchant for getting in trouble. In just his second year on the job, he must combat the wicked weather, those in law enforcement who respect neither his profession nor him, and his personal demons. With the help of his friend Charlie, a legendary and now retired game warden, Mike doggedly pursues the truth as spring begins to show itself. VERDICT Doiron (nominated this year for an Edgar Award for his first book about Mike Bowditch, The Poacher’s Son) serves up a tense thriller that stars a memorable main character and brings the rugged Maine landscape vividly to life. Highly recommended for lovers of mysteries, particularly those set outdoors or in New England. Fans of C.J. Box and Castle Freeman will not be disappointed. [15-city tour in New England.]—Nancy Fontaine, Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, NH
Nesser, Håkan. The Inspector and Silence. Pantheon. Jun. 2011. c.304p. tr. from Swedish by Laurie Thompson. ISBN 9780375425233. $24.95. M
A woman’s anonymous phone calls about a missing, possibly murdered girl cause a young acting police chief, on the advice of his vacationing boss, to reach out to Inspector Van Veeteren (Borkmann’s Point; Mind’s Eye) for assistance. The calls prove deadly accurate, as police find the raped and strangled bodies of first one and then another young girl from a religious sect’s summer camp. But authorities are frustrated by the lack of information from sect leader Oscar Yellinek, who shortly disappears; his three women assistants; and the girls themselves, who are trained not to be forthcoming to those from the Other World. As expected, Van Veeteren eventually puts the pieces together yet rues his failure to identify the killer earlier. VERDICT The intuitive, introspective Van Veeteren has contemplated retirement more then once before, but the evil behind these murders may prove to be his final straw. This is stylish, atmospheric crime fiction with a strong moral core from an award-winning author; essential for readers of the genre.—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA
Walker, Persia. Black Orchid Blues. Akashic. Apr. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781936070909. pap. $15.95. M
Harlem in the 1920s: The Cotton Club; louche parties where Barbara Stanwyck, Tallulah Bankhead, and Langston Hughes rub shoulders; African American professionals know they’ve arrived when they move up to Strivers’ Row; and everything is scored to a hot jazz beat. Lanie Price has her beat, too. Introduced in Walker’s Darkness and the Devil Behind Me, she is the persistent, not to say foolhardy, society columnist for the Harlem Chronicle. When a new blues singer, Queenie Lovetree, billed as Black Orchid, bursts onto the Harlem firmament, Lanie is there to do the interview. It’s not her fault that Queenie is kidnapped right in the middle of it and that a mysterious package clearly meant for someone else is delivered to Lanie’s door. Lanie keeps insisting it’s not her fault up until she finds herself alone in a house with a stone-cold killer, wearing his dead wife’s dress and discussing beauty tips with him. VERDICT Surrender your critical faculties at the door, put a Bessie Smith platter on the Victrola, and go with the flow on this mystery/romance/history mix. You just might like it.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City, MO
