The Ghost and the Mystery Writer

by Bobbi Holmes

Libby audiobook 9 hours

Read by: Romy Nordlinger

Published: 2018

Genre: Murder mystery, paranormal

 

I thought about abandoning this book, but hit the tipping point where I wanted to find out what happened. There were so many allusions to previous events and people that I felt as though it must be a series book. (Yep. This is #9 in the Haunting Danielle series.)

 

SO. Many. Food. and Eating. Scenes. With so much detail! "He popped a french fry in his mouth." "She carefully wiped her mouth with the napkin and set it down." I love food. I love eating. I realized that I do not love reading lots of food scene detail that does not really advance the story.

 

I *loved* Walt the ghost! He's probably my favorite character. I wish there'd been even more of the scene with him and the chief's son. 

 

The woman murdered under the pier . . . the real details and reasons seem a bit muddy. I think if I'd read the entire series from the start, I'd have a better sense of what's at stake.

 

Interesting. Well read. Not a "must read" for me . . . 

A Study in Scarlet

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Libby audiobook 5 hours

read by David Timson

Published: 1887 (this version 2005)

Genre: murder mystery

Well! I thought for sure I had read this before! I knew it as the "origin" story for Sherlock Holmes and one of only four full-length novels about the detective. (Most Holmes stories are short stories.) But as I listened, I got super confused and realized I had not read this book!

The opening of the story is fun to see how Watson and Holmes end up sharing the residence at 221B Baker Street. It also presents as a fairly traditional murder mystery, with a body in a vacant house, plenty of clues and some great sleuth work. But then we're suddenly in the American West with a man and child dying in the desert before they're rescued by Mormons. What?!?! I had to look it up online (later when not driving) and see that yes indeed, this was the storyline. The flashback is to explain how the murderer came to commit the London murders twenty years later. It all wraps up very well. I would definitely re-read this one. Listening to the story means I invariably miss some of the details. 

Timson's vocal work is wonderful. Oh, and "RACHE" is German for revenge . . .

Crossing Oceans

by Gina Holmes
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Right after blogging about our (tonight) book club title, I looked to see what I had written about this author's first book. Nothing! I'm not a super-efficient (or effective) blogger . . . but I like having this repository of my responses to what I've been reading.

We read this title in September 2010 for the Spirit of Life book club. It was about a woman who was estranged from her family. She left home pregnant and lived her own life for a while. She returned home after being diagnosed with terminal cancer so that her daughter could be cared for by her father and grandmother when she is gone.

Her ex-boyfriend (and father of her child) is now married and since they are unable to conceive, they want the child.

Legal, emotional, ethical issues ensue. Very interesting and engaging book. I *loved* the grandma!

Dry as Rain

by Gina Holmes
Hennepin County Library paperback 373 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

I had to force myself to read this one. I just couldn't empathize with the protagonist (Eric) who cheats on his wife but blames her for the distance in their marriage while also feeling deep love for her and intense guilt about his infidelity.

Kyra has suffered amnesia (but no other damage) in a car accident and doesn't remember that they're separated.

I spent the first half of the book just saying "TELL HER THE TRUTH!!!" and the second half saying, "Is this over yet?" Needless to say, I didn't like this nearly as much as Holmes' first book and I'm not super-eager to read more from her.