Books We Read

Books I Need to Review

2010-03-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

I finished these books in the last month:

Black Magic Sanction (Harrison)
Fledgling (Lee and Miller)
Saltation (Lee and Miller)
Fear the Worst (Linwood Barclay)
Asterios Polyps
Dark Entries
Takeover (Lisa Black)

This post is a reminder to me to write something about them. Right now, I am busy trying to use WordPress so I can move the blog over to our own web site, and still load podcasts.

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

2010-02-05T17:12:00.001-08:00

I was at a middle school yesterday, and noticed a lot of students carrying this book around. They were reading it in their Language Arts class. One student told me they had been reading it for "two months."

Al Capone Does My Laundry, an earlier book by this author, was one I enjoyed a lot, so I picked this up during my lunch period and started reading. I was sucked in right away. This is another book where the author really effectively tells the story from the points of view of two different characters. This must be a trend for me lately, picking up books with this format. Or maybe a hot trend for authors? In any case, this is another case where the author really gets it right. The changing viewpoints between Walk and Kirsten are really effective.

The story itself is good, if not very complicated. Walk and Kirsten become unlikely friends, then find out a secret that affects their friendship and their other relationships. Choldenko realistically portrays tween/teen life and some of the trials and tribulations of youth.

I did finish this book overnight, as it was a fairly easy read (as are a lot of books aimed at kids 10 and up!), and I hope that student really hadn't spent two months reading this book. If I had had to spend several weeks reading a chapter at a time, I'd probably have lost interest in finishing.

As a final note, I am looking forward to getting Al Capone Shines My Shoes, further adventures of Moose Flanagan.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

2010-02-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

This book came recommended from several different places. One of my favorite book podcasts, Books on the Nightstand, mentioned it several times. I also read about it on LibraryThing, and my mom liked it. So, how could I go wrong?

I did really enjoy this book. Set in 1950 England, Flavia de Luce is an 11-year-old chemistry genius, due to books and a laboratory left by an eccentric uncle. Flavia and her two sisters were left motherless at an early age, with a father who seems to be distant, at best. Things start to change when Flavia finds a dead body in the garden. Aided by her superior intelligence, sense of smell and knowledge of chemicals, Flavia proceeds with an investigation to determine the killer (and clear her father of the crime).

This is by no means a children's or YA book, despite the heroine being a youngster. Although there is nothing of a graphic nature, there is murder and kidnapping.

The second book in this series, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, will be coming out very soon. I will be adding it to my TBR (or maybe my "To Be Listened To") pile.

The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd

2010-01-27T13:39:00.000-08:00

I borrowed this book from my sister (thanks, Lisa!), who got it as a freebie from Bouchercon 2009. I think it was handed out during a publisher panel, but don't really remember... It wasn't part of the big free-for-all at the end of the con, I know! In any case, the FTC or whoever should be satisfied now that I have said it was free.

Boyd has written a credible and exciting thriller (even if I did figure out what was going on way before the FBI). A terrorist group is extorting the FBI, using a series of murders to get $5 million dollars. The FBI is at a loss, and calls in a fired agent to locate a missing FBI agent who might have run off with $2 million of the money. False leads abound as the hero, Steve Vail, works outside the FBI hierarchy to find the missing money and the last members of the Rubaco Pentad, who have planned what may be a perfect crime.

I finished this in just a few days, and really enjoyed it. I would pick up the next in what is sure to be an on-going series featuring Vail.

Peter and Max by Bill Willingham

2010-01-19T08:13:00.000-08:00

As you might know, I also read comics. One of my favorite comics is Fables, which follows a community of well-known (and lesser-known) characters from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, myth and Americana as they try to live life in our "mundy" world while hiding their special abilities from those of us without (hmmm... mundies are muggles?). The comic has been going for several years, and has spun off another series, Jack of Fables. And now, Bill Willingham has written a novel set in the world of Fables.

This novel follows what happens when Peter Piper, in our modern mundane world, has to deal with the results of his relationship with his brother, Max, the Pied Piper. Interspersed in the modern story is the back story of Peter, his wife Bo Peep, the Black Forest Witch, Max, the town of Hamelin, and more. Willingham shows that he is just as good at novel writing as he is at writing for comics.

The book is (lightly) illustrated by Steve Leialoha. The black-and-white illustrations, while not necessary in the story as they would be in a graphic novel, still add to the telling.

This book could be read by any reader who likes imaginative fiction set in a world similar to our own. You don't have to be familiar with the Fables universe, and this might even get you to consider taking a look at the comic.

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

2010-01-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading an ARC of this book (that I did receive free from Delacourte Press, through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program). It is not due out until March 16 (Amazon says March 2), but I definitely recommend it for your "To Be Read" list..

The book starts off with what seems like an innocent trip to the amusement park -- although why anyone would want to take a four-year-old to an amusement park is beyond my comprehension. When Jan and

David Harwood's son goes missing at the park, it is the beginning of a chain of events that has David confused about his family, his job and his sanity.

The book sucked me right in, from the first chapter. I received this Friday afternoon, and finished it in less than 24 hours. There are several things that I really liked about it. First, it appears to be a "stand-alone" novel, not one of a series. While I like series thrillers (Michael Connelly's Bosch books are a good example), I always feel like I have to read the books in order. With stand-alones, I can jump right into an author's newest book, and then look forward to going back to the previous ones if I like this one. I will definitely go back and look up Barclay's newer books!

Second, the point of view shifts throughout the book. Normally, I don't like this, but Barclay is very good at handling the alternating first-person chapters, narrated by David, with the other sections told from the points-of-view of David's wife, the investigating police officer, and other characters as needed. The transitions were not jarring at all; I was never confused or thrown out of the story.

Lastly, I really liked the font used in this book. Isn't that weird? It isn't something I normally think about, the size and layout of the print seemed really easy to read, even in the low light of the bedroom, or while I was sitting in the brightly lit living room.

Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

2009-12-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

As you, dear reader, may know, I read comic books. I haven't always read comic books. I have been led to comics by my dear husband, who is a collector. But that doesn't mean I have abandoned reading traditional prose books; and, sometimes, a traditional prose book will cross over to appeal to comics readers. One of those on my reading list right now is Peter and Max, a novel set in the comics world of Fables, from Vertigo.

However, this posting is about Kavalier and Clay, a book I am clearing off my bookshelf and giving away for Christmas (maybe Peter and Max will be in next year's batch). Kavalier and Clay is an award-winning novel following the creators of a Superman-like character called the Escapist. The story of the two cousins is funny, touching, sad, and well deserving of the Pulitzer Prize it won.

Griffin and Sabine, The Diamond Age

2009-12-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

Another set of books going out the door...

Griffin & Sabine, Sabine's Notebook, The Golden Mean by Nick Bannock

An extraordinary set of books. The artwork is beautiful and helps tell the story of two artists meet through the their art of postcards and stamps. Their correspondence leads to mystery and love. These books made me wish I was a letter writer. Alas, I am not.

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

Neal Stephenson writes long books. Really long books. Mark is a big fan of Stephenson (in ebook form, otherwise the books are just too big...they are sometimes heavy and sometimes have very small prin)t. I actually partially listened and partially read this book because it was so long.

BUT, the book is definitely worth reading. The Diamond Age melds the story lines of so many characters, in such a unique way, that it is really hard to describe. The world of enclaves based on different societies, and how they interact, is so interesting; and the driving force of the book, the Primer, is such a unique creation.

Book Clean Up, Part Two

2009-12-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

I am starting to put the giveaway books into gift bags, so I'd better get busy listing my favorites here!

The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMasters Bujold
Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMasters Bujold

Cordelia's Honor was the first book I read by Bujold. I worked at a bookstore, and was straightening one of my favorite sections, science fiction. A gentleman came in and was looking at books, and I asked if I could help him find something. We started talking about various books we had read, and he recommended the Vorkosigan series to me. Cordelia's Honor might be considered a prequel to the Miles Vorkosigan books or the first in the Vorkosigan series. In any case, I was instantly taken with Bujold's science fiction romance. I have read that Georgette Heyer, the Regency romance author, influenced her writing, and I can believe that. In Cordelia's Honor, we meet Cordelia Naismith, an officer in the Betan Expeditionary Force, and Aral Vorkosigan, an infamous military officer from the planet Barrayar. How they meet, and the personal and political consequences, make a captivating start to the ongoing Vorkosigan story.

Bujold went on to write The Curse of Chalion and two sequels, including Paladin of Souls. These books are set in an alternate world, with active and interferring gods. Her characters are so well envisioned that the reader can't imagine them doing anything other than what they do. The storys are enthralling, and the mysticism of the world is maintained consistently throughout the series. If I didn't also have these books, as well as the Vorkosigan books, as e-books, they would not be leaving my self.

My Perennial Favorites

2009-12-10T09:49:00.000-08:00

I am cleaning off my bookshelf. I am doing it by picking out some of my favorite books, and giving them to my friends and family for Christmas. To be sure I remember what I gave away, I am going to list them here, along with a short review. This is the first installment.

Queen's Own, by Mercedes Lackey

This is a compilation of Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight and Arrow's Fall. I think this is now considered YA fiction, although when I first read it twenty years ago, it was shelved in Adult fiction. I loved this story of Talia, who becomes a Herald of Valdemar, and works selflessly for her kingdom and Queen. It is all magical horses and mind powers. I guess it really is perfect for middle school girls, and a welcome change from the current vogue of vampire fiction.

The Harper Hall of Pern by Ann McCaffrey

This compilation of Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums was my first exposure to McCaffrey's world of Pern. I probably read these first in high school. The series has certainly continued much beyond it's interesting lifespan, but these books, as well as the initial trilogy of Dragon Riders of Pern, are certainly good reading. Again, I think that this is a world really suitable for younger girls; much better than the Twilight books. These books, as well as the Mercedes Lackey books, feature strong female protagonists who are striving for something beyond boyfriends and clothes.

Podkayne of Mars and Starman Jones, both by Robert Heinlein

These are just two examples of the excellence that is Robert Heinlein, especially his juvenile novels. These books were originally published in the 50's and 60's, and are dated, but still provide a good story, provided one reads them within an historical SF context. These are the books that made me the SF fan I am today.

The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

My high school sophmore English teacher recommended this book to me. It was probably the first non-YA science fiction I ever read, and the first real hard SF. The story of first contact, and the moral and ethical implications of that event make very good reading. As I was typing this, I picked up the book and started reading again, and almost got sucked in. Maybe I should put this one back on my shelf...

Ending a Series

2009-12-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

The Spellman books (The Spellman Files/Curse of the Spellmans/Revenge of the Spellmans) by Lisa Lutz are very funny "mystery" books, along the lines of the Stephanie Plum books. I read the three of these over the last year or so. Now I see there is a new one coming out and that it is the last of the Spellman books. That makes me sad.

And Charlaine Harris has said that she has finished the Harper Connelly series (Grave Surprise, Grave Matters, and two others...). I loved this series, too. I thought Harper was a great character.

I hate it when authors end series that I love. But, I would hate it more if they felt they needed to continue writing books in a series just to make money. The books would, inevititably, lose quality. I can think of several series that I enjoyed that I won't read anymore because there is just no point. The stories are not of the same quality when the author is just writing to fulfill a contract.

So, Lisa Lutz and Charlaine Harris, thanks for ending these series while I still like them, even if it makes me sad.

Comfort Me With Apples by Ruth Reichl

2009-11-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is the second of three memoirs by Ruth Reichl (so far). Ms. Reichl has been in the news of late, as she was the editor of Gourmet magazine, which recently ceased publication. She has hinted that maybe now she will write another memoir, covering her time at Gourmet.

Having previous read "Garlic and Sapphires," an accounting of her time as the restaurant critic for the New York Times, I knew that I would be reading a book full of food. From communal kitchens in Berkeley, to the gourmet restaurants of Los Angeles, from back room kitchens in China and Thailand to the markets of Spain, the food described tempts even me to try something like calves brain.

This particular book begins in Berkeley, and spans Ruth's first marriage, her first food writing jobs, and the loves and losses she experienced during this time. This is a wonderful story of how a woman finds herself and her place in the world.

I do read...

2009-10-25T17:02:00.001-07:00

I really do read more than one book a month. I am not sure why I forget to post about them. So, here is a partial list of other books I have read this month...

A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse Collection)
Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse #9)
Fables: Vol. 1, Legends in Exile
Some Buried Cesear (Rex Stout)
Dot.Dead (A Silicon Valley Thriller)

I might get around to posting my opinions on these. But I might now. So, anyway, I am reading! Really!

FlashForward by Robert J. Sawyer

2009-10-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

I picked up this book for two reasons. First, the TV show FlashForward used this book for inspiration. Second, the book is by Robert J. Sawyer, who wrote several other books that I enjoyed (including Hominids and Humans -- I haven't read the third one in this trilogy though).

If you have watched the TV series, don't worry. The book is only the inspiration; there is really nothing in common between the book and the TV show, other than the flash forward itself. In the book, people see 21 years into the future; in the TV show, it is six months. The book is set in and around the large hadron collider at CERN; the TV show is set in the US. As you can guess from the setting, the book resolves the cause of the flash forward very early on; the LHC experiment combined with some cosmic activity lead to the flash forward. The book focuses on the scientists involved in the LHC experiment, on the physics of the incident, and on the philosophies of free will and predetermination.

One thing I like about Sawyer's book (this one included), is that he bases the plot around proven science, but takes it further. His books always make me want to read more about the science he uses. In this case, I spent a few hours reading about the large hadron collider and the search for the Higgs bosun particle.

Although this book is heavy on the science, I would recommend it highly for those who like science ficition set in (at the time it was written) near future versions of our own world.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

2009-09-23T13:14:00.001-07:00

I think I am just about done with vampires and werewolves.

Not that Patricia Briggs doesn't do an excellent job on this genre. This second book in the Alpha and Omega series is good. It is just that this story felt so familiar.

If you haven't read Cry Wolf, or if you didn't really love it, I wouldn't recommend this. If you did, however, like any of the Mercy Thompson books, then definitely read this one.

Wolf Time by Lars Walker

2009-09-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if I liked this book or not.

This is an alternate future book, set at an indeterminate future time in Minnesota. It combines traditional religion and ultra-left-wing politics to make a sort of future dystopia where traditional religions are under attack under freedom of religion laws. Enter into this the release/return of a Norse god, and the apocalypse looms.

The author does a really good job of setting up some of the background of the world. But, as with many books from SF publisher Baen, the political slant almost slaps the reader in the face. Once one just accepts that, the story itself is good. The characters are well developed, and their actions flow from their expressed beliefs.

If you are interested, this book is available for electronic readers, for free, in the Baen Free Library, along with many other books.

When Plague Strikes by James cCross Giblin

2009-09-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

It's back to school time for me! As a substitute teacher, I am never quite sure what is in store for me when I go to work in the morning. And sometimes I can get a lot of reading done! Today was not an exception. The first period I was there was a "planning period," which is essential for the classroom teacher, but pretty much free time for a substitute.

I had reading material, and other things to work on, but this book caught my eye:

When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS

This is a Scholastic book, so one can assume it is aimed at young reader. Sometimes I prefer non-fiction for young adults, as it is written, well, simpler. The books are also generally more interesting than those for adults, because it is harder to keep younger readers attention if the subject starts to bore them.

Anyway, I am fascinated by epidemics, so this book caught my eye. I really enjoyed the sections on the plague and small pox. I learned a few things (the derivation of the name smallpox, among other things), and thought some of the points the author brought up could inspire some spirited discussions. On the other hand, I did skip a lot of the AIDS section, having already read "And the Band Played On," which some say is the definitive history of AIDS. The author notes that he relied heavily on that book for his history of AIDS.

Overall, I would recommend this book to any reader middle-school or above who has an interest in plagues or epidemics and how they affected the world.

The Hanged Man by David Skibbins

2009-08-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't read any "real" books for a while. I have been too busy trying to read all the comic books that have been piling up on my nightstand. I finally made it through those books, and so I am starting to read some novels again.

So, while I was at the library this week, I saw the new David Skibbins book in the new book area. I really enjoyed his first three books in his "Tarot Card Mystery" series. I would almost call this a "cozy." Granted, the main "sleuth" is not a woman, but Warren has certainly been an amateur, not a professional, investigator. Warren doesn't live in a small town, but the way Skibbins writes about Berkely, and the areas Warren frequents, make it sound like a small town. Warren is a likeable fellow, in spite of his bipolar disorder, and he is surrounded by friends.

Skibbins has taken those components of a cozy mystery to make the reader comfortable, then skewed them slightly to take the books outside of the expected comfort of a cozy, and made a really enjoyable series of books that can be read by those who enjoy cozy mysteries, and those who want a little sharper edge.

In this volume, Warren enters the world of bondage and domination to help prove that a friend of a friend is innocent of murder. The usual cast of his friends (Sally, Heather, Max...) are all on hand, and have a hand in, to solve the case. I found this a very satisfying read.

Two Books with Animal Narrators

2009-08-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

I was going through some books my mom passed back to me, and came upon The Autobiography of Foudini M. Cat. I recommended this book to her since she liked (and, in fact, recommended to me) The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Both of these books are written with the pet in question as the narrator. In Foudini, the pet is a cat, who is giving advice to a new, younger, cat in the family. In Racing, the narrator is a dog, giving advice to, and telling the story of, his human, a race car driver. Both books are touching, emotional, and any pet owner can relate. We can only wish and attribute to our pets the eruditeness of these animals. Both of these books would be really good for book discussions, too.

Although I loved both of these books, I wonder about the anthropomorphism of the pets. Reading books like this which attribute thoughts and emotions to animals has led to an inability, in me, to kill spiders. This seems to be in direct opposition to my omnivorism. I am sure, though, if I had to kill my own (animal) food, I couldn't do it. And I blame books like these.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-08-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

I thought this might be another one of those over-hyped books that I could never get through (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, anyone?), but it wasn't. This was a lovely story, told through correspondence, of the island of Guernsey (one of the Channel Islands between France and England), and how the German occupation during WWII affected the residents.

The book is a fairly easy read. Through the letter format, the reader gets to see through the main character's eyes, as well as though of residents of the island, and of London. This would be a great book for high school students studying WWII.

Lois McMaster Bujold

2009-07-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

I am way behind on my comic book reading, and I haven't lately read a new book. Instead, I have been rereading the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. Why, you may ask, am I rereading these books? Well, for one, they are very good. They are, for me, a sort of comfort book. Even though I know what is going to happen, I enjoy rereading them pretty regularly. I can pick and choose parts to read, and if I only have ten minutes or so to read, I can pick up my PDA and read just a bit.

And that is really why I am reading these -- they are all on my PDA and easily fit into my purse. With the advent of the Kindle and other ebook devices, a reader might think that ebooks are relatively new. Not so! I have been reading books on my PDA for years. And I have been reading very good books, reasonably priced (or free) in open formats, from Baen Books. I don't think Baen gets enough credit for their ebook options. Check out the books they offer for free, every day.

But back to Lois McMaster Bujold. This woman can write! She has a really elegant writing style, and her characters really come alive. Although these books are science fiction (space opera, one could say), she concentrates on the relationships between her characters and that's what I love about the books. And I do love the Vorkosigan saga, but another fantasy series she wrote, starting with (the especially good) Curse of Chalion.

Really, if you get a chance, read these books.

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

2009-07-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

The second book I listened to this week, "The Brass Verdict" is one of the Anthony Award nominees that I have committed to reading before October. I have read Michael Connelly before. This book is in the Mickey Haller series (in spite of Amazon listing it as a Harry Bosch book! Bosch appears, but the book is narrated by and mainly concerns, Mickey Haller, AKA "The Lincoln Lawyer). Mickey is called upon to pick up the law practice of a murdered associate, prompting the biggest case of his career. While trying to get his client off of a murder charge in his first case back after leaving law for a year, Mick is also examining his life as a defense attorney, a father, a husband (ex), and a human being. The reader gets the idea early on that maybe Mick doesn't want to slip back into the role he was playing before his injury; perhaps his encounters with Bosch help to shore up that feeling in him.

This book made me hope for more from Mickey Haller, even if he isn't a defense attorney. Here's hoping that Connelly continues this series (and the Harry Bosch novels) will into the future.

The Sugar Camp Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

2009-07-05T11:01:00.001-07:00

Okay, I didn't READ this book. I listened to it. During the summer months, I tend more toward audio books, as I can go outside and water the plants or do other things while I am listening. And this week, I listened to two books.

"The Sugar Camp Quilt" is technically a part of the Elm Creek Quilts series, although it is not in the primary time-line of the Elm Creek Quilters. This book is set in pre-Civil War Pennsylvania, and revolves around Dorothea Granger, a young schoolmistress who lives with her uncle, father and mother on her uncle's farm. Her uncle, much older than her mother, has taken the family in after they lost their own farm; Dorothea's family lives in hope that the old uncle will die and leave his farm to Dorothea's brother. Unknown to the family, though, the uncle has been a conductor on the underground railroad. His death leaves the family in a precarious situation.

The book touches on the use of quilts in the Underground Railroad, through the "Delectable Mountains" quilt that Uncle Jacob had Dorothea make. This would be an interesting introduction to the history and lore of quilting and pattern meaning and lore.

This is only the second of the Elm Creek Quilt series that I have read. The first, "The Quilter's Apprentice," I read when published. I like that the author has gone into some historical periods, as well as continuing on with the timeline of the first book. I have the second in the series "Round Robin" on my TBR pile now, and will probably start it tomorrow. It is a print copy, not an audio! Back to reading.

Heralds of Valdemar/Mercedes Lackey

2009-06-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is more of a "classic" entry for me. Sometimes I am just not in the mood to read a new book, and pick up an old one. This past week, after cleaning off some of my bookshelves, I found my Mercedes Lackey books tempting me.

Currently, I am thoroughly enjoying the podcast series "The Secret World Chronicle" by Ms. Lackey and Steve Libbey. Although sporadically posted, the episodes are great. For the most part, they are well-recorded and edited, and the reader does a really great job (Veronica Giguere does most of the narration).

But my introduction to Ms. Lackey's writing came through her Valdemar books, starting with the "Heralds of Valdemar" series, including "Arrows of the Queen," "Arrows Flight" and "Arrows Fall". Now, I'd probably classify this as YA fantasy. Some of the other Valdemar books, not so much YA. This series (which I have in a single volume from SFBC) is one I reread every few years. It is a really great coming-of-age story about Talia, a young girl from the back country who is Chosen to be a Herald, and learns how to deal with the trials, tribulations and politics of her new world.

So, once I reread this last week, I had to continue on to "By The Sword," which is a sort-of sequel. The first part of this book follows the story of another young girl, in a neigboring kingdom, who choses to follow the career path of mercenary fighter, and how her decisions ultimately bring her to Valdemar, and into the sphere of the heralds (and the reader gets to see an older Talia, too).

I won't go on and reread the next books. I admit that they didn't grab me as much as these first ones did. But other of Ms. Lackey's books are also well worth a read. But since I haven't reread them lately, I won't comment on them now.

Stalking Susan

2009-06-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

This is another book off the Anthony Award nominee list. I think this is the third one I've finished (after the two Hard Case crime novels), and it was a change from the two more noir-ish books.

I didn't actually read this one. I listened to the audio book. And really enjoyed it. The heroine in this book is Riley Spartz, a television reporter returning to work after a personal tragedy. Her comeback story about a possible series of serial murders is the primary "mystery" of the novel, but the setting of the TV station newsroom, with the conflicts of management/reporters and reporters/reporters makes for added tension. As an investigative reporter, it makes sense that Riley would become involved in an investigation; I like this better than "suburban mom" mysteries!

Julie Kramer has a second book coming out in July. It is on my "really want to read" list, based on this book.