Lynn Horton Books

I enjoy the Beaux Arts period of Paris, and cannot imagine how thrilling and empowering it would have been to have lived there then. I think Oliveira does a good job of depicting Paris at this time, and I enjoyed her references to places I know from my travels to this beautiful city. Her characterizations of Cassatt, Degas, and their Impressionist gang are consistent with other novels and historic books I've read. Her folding the arrival of Cassatt's family into the story adds a nice touch: I'm sure they popped a bit of a kink in Cassatt's lifestyle when they arrived.

Her inclusion of elements of the artistic temperaments is welcome, too. This could be a tough crowd, both those within the renegade movement and those in the artistic establishment. I think she does a fair job of depicting both.

Recommended.

It's been at least 15 years since I've abandoned a book, but I just crested page 185, and am bailing.

I was attracted to the book because I enjoy Sherlock Holmes, and spinoffs from that literary franchise, so expected to enjoy a novel set in the early days of Scotland Yard. I am interested in the book's era (Victorian London just after Jack the Ripper's carnage).

I am abandoning the book for the following reasons.

1) I'm halfway through, and still have trouble distinguishing the author's main characters (a group of detectives). This confusion is unusual for me, and think he needs to provide more defining characteristics, or should have eliminated some of his cast.
2) The author's villian is abducting young boys, but by page 185, there's nothing specific about why. (I can imagine why and don't want abundant specifics, but drawing out the revelation slows down the story, and the implications are luridly distracting.)
3) While I read suspense (Silva, Baldacci, Leon), some of the details in this book are a little too graphic for me.

So perhaps this book was a mismatch in the first place, but I caution you to read about it carefully before investing in it.

What an unusual book.

Because it bounces back and forth between times, it's a little hard to follow. But I think the storyline makes the bouncing worthwhile. I am a fan of Gertrude Bell and other early female adventurers, so I am probably a predisposed to like this work.

First, for the 1920s chapters...Ms. Joinson paints the region (then called the Near East) of Russia/China well. Her characters are interesting, although I take exception to Millicent—a total looney—representing Christianity and missionaries. The reader needs to be willing to suspend belief at times, such as regarding the premise that two young women would have been so easily released to undertake a journey of this type at this time.

As to the contemporary part of the story, I think the author does a particularly excellent job of depicting Tayeb. He is believable, based on Westernized, young Middle-Eastern males of his generation. (I know a few.) Her characterization of Frieda is rich, although I'd like to have seen this character exhibit some of the spunk, and less of the politically correct altruism, of Eva.

All in all, this is a very enjoyable read. It's about a region in which I'm interested (both the 1920s chapters, and the contemporary ones), and it well-written. Recommended.

I am impressed with C.S. Harris's ability to continue to weave a tale with characters she's explored thoroughly. I recently read a book by another author in a similar position (multiple books about the same characters), and Ms. Harris's work remains fresh and interesting to me, whereas the other author's does not now. Part of this reaction is Ms. Harris's believeable storyline, and obvious knowledge of the historic period.

I do see that she might be grasping a little; this novel contains more profanity and more crassness. I don't think she depicts her male protagonist (Sebastian St. Cyr) as sympathetically as she has in previous work. However, this change may be the result of intentional character development.

She also gets more into the vernacular of the period, which I find interesting but that might turn off other readers. I think this is a more technical manuscript in terms of vocabulary, but it's easy to follow and engaging nonetheless.

I enjoyed it, and look forward to the next novel in the series.

I just finished an ARC of After the War is Over, a work very much in the vein of Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series. For me, this book ranks somewhere between three and four stars.

WHAT I LIKE: I like the characters, and the storyline is comfortable. Some characters are well developed. I am thankful Ms. Robson doesn't go into intricate detail about clothing. I appreciate the sub-theme of the suffragette movement. I enjoyed some of the dialogue, particularly between Lilly and Charlotte. The scene in the cottage between Charlotte and Edward is tastefully written.

WHAT WAS MISSING FOR ME: The chapters bounce back and forth in time too often, and I believe that the story could have been restructured to be more cohesive and linear. The prose and dialogue don't contain subtle, embedded markers to distinguish these timing changes. Some of the characters are so thinly developed that they were extraneous to my reading of the book. The first half of the book is a little unfocused, with too many themes; I wasn't quite sure where the author was taking me until the last half.

I read Somewhere in France, and After the War is Over is an enjoyable read to continue the series.

In my opinion, the best element in Amazon Burning is the fair and alarming description of deforestation along the world's longest river. I've cruised parts of the Amazon and strongly believe the rest of the world should be very concerned about the far-reaching results of mining in general, and particularly in this region.

Griffith's work is marketed as a YA novel, and my rating partially reflects the fact that I'm long past that target demographic. The book is a quick read and very informative. Her style reflects her journalistic background. (That's a good thing!) She imparts a lot of information to support her storyline, and I particularly enjoyed the depiction of the Yanomami—a people group I studied as part of my graduate degree.

I wish I read more YA only so that I could more fairly compare Amazon Burning with other books from this genre.

(I received Amazon Burning from Griffith's publicist and appreciate the opportunity to provide my unbiased review.)

If The Invisible Code is an example, Mr. Fowler and I are well on our way to being good friends.

This book is a delight. It's about two old guys (Bryant and May) — detectives with the Peculiar Crimes division in London. Toss in a few deaths and three "witches" and precocious children and ... well, you get the idea. But storyline aside, what caused me to laugh out loud was Fowler's use of language, particularly the dialogue he wrote for the detectives. He simply nails it.

Now, I'm a fan of the elderly anyway and have spent many hours listening to my eighty-five-year-old Dad. I know lots of "vintage" characters — sweethearts and curmudgeons (and several who are both simultaneously). But I think Fowler beautifully conveys the idiosyncrasies, flaws, and value of Bryant and May (and their generation as a whole), and portrays the relationship between the long-time friends and police partners believably. He also treats the characters with respect, but not in a patronizing way.

This was such a good read that when I finished it last night about 11:00, I promptly ordered the rest of the series — all nine or ten of them.

Highly recommended.

I wrote a review yesterday in which I said I was always concerned when I read another book by one of my favorite authors. Was this the time they would disappoint me? Were they getting tired of their characters or story lines? In that review, I was delighted to say the author delivered yet again.

I love Donna Leon's work. I think she is an excellent writer and a gifted storyteller. This was not one of my favorite books of hers, though.

The Brunetti family is depicted as beautifully as always, and with the humor I've come to anticipate. The relationship between parents and children is realistic and amusing to me, in no small part because I've parented kids the ages of the Brunetti young adults. Venice is something Leon shares better than any living writer, I think, and her portrait of this most intriguing city was, as always, spot on. I also like that she addresses the issues Venetians face (as she should, since she's lived there for decades) on a daily basis.

But I never really engaged with the story of By Its Cover. It could be me. It could be her. It could be the story itself.

Still, even when Leon isn't at what I consider her best, I think she's head and shoulders above many authors.

Recommended.

I enjoy Harris's books. She's one of few historical fiction authors I read. I admire the fact that she is ten books into this series, and her work remains fresh. That's quite an accomplishment and shows how well she relates to her characters.

WHAT I LIKE: The fact that Hero Devlin is not joined at the hip to Lord Devlin. I like the tension between the two, but also their maturity. Harris does a great job of depicting the Regency England. And I like Tom the Tiger. He is a delight.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: I think there were extraneous characters in this story.

WHAT I DON'T KNOW IF I LIKED: Harris did a tactful job of including the Austen (yes, as in Jane) family in Who Buries the Dead. However, I don't really think the storyline benefitted from their inclusion. Sure, Jane Austen is quite a "hook," but I think the story would have been just as strong without these characters. Although Harris handles them seamlessly, including them almost smacks of commercialism to me. Harris is a good enough writer not to need to do this. However, their presence did not diminish my enjoyment of the book.

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

I am delighted to write this review for The Lost Sisterhood. I do not know the author, nor am I affiliated with her in any way. I am writing this based on the assumption that enjoying fiction requires the "willing suspension of disbelief."

This highly original book is a totally improbable, well-written romp. The settings jump around the globe, and Fortier's descriptions are spot on. She is unafraid of tough and intelligent female characters, and The Lost Sisterhood is peppered with them. (On occasion, these characters DO make choices that made me groan and mutter, "she wouldn't do that." But that's a minor complaint.) The dynamics between the characters are believable, and Fortier's humor makes this read even more enjoyable. The chapters moving back and forth between the present and the ancient world could be a little confusing, but the author handles these transitions clearly.

If you enjoy archaeology and ancient history, if you are a fan of the late Barbara Mertz (AKA Elizabeth Peters), or if you're an armchair traveler who likes to explore the world with courageous, educated people running for their lives, this book might delight you.

Highly recommended.

(This is a three-and-a-half star book for me, but I bumped it up to four because I know how hard books are to write!)

Author Williams does an excellent job of place and time as she depicts a summer on the East Coast in the 1960s. Tiny Little Thing is a story of power and family, broken trust and secrets. The Hardcastle family is Kennedy-esque, mounting a candidate that they hope ends up in the White House. The Schuylers are a female battalion looking to create a doyenne. The families unite when Tiny and Frank marry.

What I like: Author Williams pegs the conversations between Tiny and Penny, which intimately and humorously represent a healthy relationship between adult sisters. The distant Schuyler matriarch eventually thwarts the Hardcastle patriarch in the best tradition of the steel magnolia stereotype, and her brief appearance is memorable. Frank Hardcastle’s patronizing attitude toward Tiny is difficult to read about early in the book, but Williams makes him sympathetically pitiable when he finally gets what he wants. Other characterizations are very strong.

What I did not like: A few details pushed this book just outside my comfortable PG-13 limit. That's not a deal-breaker if they advance the story, but these seemed gratuitous.

Williams introduced the Schuylers in The Secret Life of Violet Grant (Putnam, 2014). Both books contain vigorous dialogue, but the variety of well-drawn female characters in Tiny Little Thing is especially enjoyable.

Tiny Little Thing isn’t a literary feast, but rather a summertime snack. Put on a strand of proper pearls and shake your martini. You can almost smell the breezes coming in off the Atlantic with Tiny Little Thing in hand.

Recommended for a diversion—and that's not a bad thing.

I read international suspense primarily, occasionally dipping my toe in historical fiction when I enjoy an author's work. I like Mr. Finch's Charles Lenox series—pre-order the books, in fact, and have rated some five stars—so was delighted to find The Last Enchantments.

WHAT I LIKED: Mr. Finch does a good job of describing the demographic my son experienced during his year at St. Andrews in Scotland. Finch's descriptions of Oxford catch the essence of the place. As expected from his work on the Lenox series, he can turn a phrase with the best of them.

WHAT I DISLIKED: Mr. Finch's excellent description of reckless youth bored me to tears. (In fairness, I should note that reckless youth generally bore me to tears.) I read fiction for enjoyment and to watch the characters develop, not be reminded of unbridled entitlement on a generational scale. Profanity offends me unless it is used with discretion and for a purpose. Gratuitous sex has its place, but that place is not in the books I read. I have always enjoyed Finch's vocabulary, which he uses with surgical precision in the Lenox series. However, his word usage here bordered on pompous and seemed incongruous in the contemporary setting. His verbal strength was a weakness in The Last Enchantments.

DISCLAIMER: I know that publishers and agents encourage authors to branch out after writing several books in a series. I hope that Mr. Finch's foray into puerile literature is a result of just such a strategic career move. However, I believe that for readers of his Lenox series, the move was a gross misstep.

I do look forward to Home By Nightfall, the Lenox book I believe is releasing later this year.

Unfortunately, not recommended.

RIordan does an excellent job of separating the two voices in her story, something I believe is hard to do. She has a gift with description, and I could visualize the landscapes and surroundings of Gloucestershire easily. The characters were genuine and likable, and she told their story sensitively.

Recommended for readers of historical fiction.

(I actually would rate this book 3.5 stars if I could.)

The Rival Queens is well written and thoroughly researched. It reads more like a novel than a biography—and that can be a good thing. While some biographies contain more facts and less speculation than The Rival Queens, few make the historic machinations of the time as easy to understand. And Goldstone carefully distinguishes between multiple characters with similar or identical names, such as Henri, or Francis and Francois, thus saving the reader from stumbling back and forth between genealogy and story.

Recommended to those who enjoy French history, and biographies of powerful women.

Ah. I think I chose the wrong book. I read Daniel Silva, Donna Leon, David Baldacci...ABA thriller/suspense writers all. So I decided there was a gap in my education and picked up this John le Carre (sorry for the lack of accent) book.

Because I am well aware of the great regard in which he is held, let me just share my reasons for stopping before I hit page 100. They may be unique to me, so take this review with a grain of salt.

1. I like characters to be able to get through an entire page without using the "F word" several times. After a while, I felt as if I were stuck in a middle-school boys' locker room, and these guys had arrested development. I realize the espionage world is populated with rough characters, but there are, in my opinion, ways to "show" that aspect without "telling" via the F-word. Repeatedly. Ad nauseam.

2. I thought the story dragged. Because I didn't like the characters, I didn't want to take a leisurely literary stroll with them. Unlike Silva's Allon, or Leon's Brunetti, le Carre's characters didn't (in the first 100 pages) have any redeeming characteristics and seemed very mono-faceted. Essentially, they bored me.

3. Again, in the first 100 pages, I didn't think the story was that interesting. No female was depicted as anything more than the type of women about which I warned my son. This lack of diversity bored me, too.

So...this might be the perfect book for you. It was not for me.

A lovely and intriguing coming-of-age story from the perspective of a Russian Jew, The Boston Girl is refreshing.

What I liked: Diamant described 20th century New York beautifully. I enjoyed reading about the wonderful relationships formed between Addie and her friends and how they developed into strong, unconventional women. I also love how this story is told in an oral history format. A grandmother telling her story to her granddaughter? How much better can it get? I love the solidarity between different nations and generations of women.

What would have improved the story for me: The end was abrupt. So much of the book was dedicated to Addie’s youth and so little was said about her middle and old age. I would like to have learned more about her later years, and the woman she became. For a feminist book (and it tried to be), it seemed that Addie's story stopped when she married and had children. I would like to have seen how Addie defied the normal conventions of her time. And I would like to have seen Addie interact more with the issues of child labor laws and lynching; for me, a more vigorous interaction would have made the story more interesting. That being written, I also understand the limitations of the time, particularly in the context of the traditional life she pursued.

Recommended.