Book obtained from: Library, new books shelf, audio book [2016]
Description: This is #27 in the Agatha Raisin mystery series. In this book, Agatha [a private detective] is hired by a murdered man's son to find the killer.
Plot: Agatha is hired by a murdered man's son to find the killer. Lots of suspects. Rather convoluted investigation.
Characterization: I know the characters so well from previous books that I can't really say they are, or are not, well-rounded. The new characters in this book aren't really that developed though.
Setting: England, Cotswalds. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: The audio book was narrated by Penelope Keith and she did a reasonably nice job. One thing that really stood out to me, were the inconsistencies. For example, Mrs. Bloxby's first name ends up being different than it was in previous books, and Charles is a different age than he is in previous books. Apparently the author and even the publisher didn't do any fact-checking or review for consistency or whatever you call that. I've seen this happen with other “major” authors who have written a lot of books in a series [Janet Evanovich comes to mind, with several inconsistencies in her later books].
Overall: I forgot most of what happened in this book almost immediately after I finished reading it. It was enjoyable while I read it, but nothing really stood out to me.
Grade: B-
Translated from Swedish by Henning Koch
Book obtained from: Library audio book [2012]
Description: Ove [pronounced Oova or Uva] is a cranky old man who lives in a block of row houses. He is rigid with his “rules”, and after his wife dies he just wants to be left alone. New neighbors move in across from him and turn his life upside down.
Plot: The book starts out slowly and there really isn't a burning question [like whodunnit or will the earth be destroyed] to pull the reader thru the book. But little questions crop up every now and then, causing the reader to want to know the answers. There is a main story line in the present, with the new neighbors and how they turn Ove's life upside down, and a flashback story line that let's the reader know how Ove got to be such a cranky old man. The book alternated between making me laugh out loud and causing me to get all teared up, sometimes within the space of less than five minutes.
Characterization: Most of the characters are well-rounded and have individual personalities. The cat isn't all that believable because it is portrayed more like a dog, but if you can get around that, it does add to the story. It's also a little odd that random folks seem to want to be friends with Ove and ask him for favors, even tho he's not a friendly guy. He's not evil, just not friendly. Also, Ove is 59 years old, but acts more like he's at least 10 years older. Maybe living where it snows so much adds years to a life?
Setting: Sweden in fall/winter. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: The audio book was narrated by George Newbern and he definitely added to the characterization of all of the characters.
Overall: If you can get past the first 50 pages or so, the book is definitely worth the read. It's a rare book that makes me laugh and cry in the same chapter.
Grade: B+
Book obtained from: Library audio book [2014]
Description: This is #12 in the Andy Carpenter mystery series [I've read this one and one other]. In this book, Andy's friend, police captain Pete Stanton, is accused of killing an informant who he has befriended.
Plot: A police informant who Captain Stanton has befriended is killed, leaving his 8yo son and basset hound behind. Pete calls Andy [defense attorney] and Laurie [investigator and former police officer, and Andy's girlfriend] to take custody of the boy and the dog so they don't end up “in the system”. Andy prepares for Pete's defense while searching for the real killer. The sub-plot with the drugs was somewhat odd and a little distracting. It did figure into the main plot and was required for the resolution, but I'm not sure it was entirely believable.
Characterization: Andy Carpenter is really sarcastic and funny. The other characters have their own individual personalities and are well done.
Setting: New Jersey. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: The audio book was narrated by Grover Gardner and he is awesome as narrator for this series.
Overall: I figured out whodunnit at exactly the same time as Andy did, which was odd but satisfying in a way.
Grade: B+
Book obtained from: Library audio book [2012]
Description: This is #18 in the Claire Malloy mystery series [I've read this one and one other]. In this book, Claire has recently married and is searching for a new home. She finds the perfect house, which of course is implicated in a murder.
Plot: Claire falls in love with “the perfect house,” but while the real estate agent is showing it to her, the agent disappears. Claire goes in search of the owner, and discovers the house is the subject of a family feud. If she wants to buy the house, she'll have to solve the feud.
Characterization: The characters are well-rounded and have individual personalities. Claire and her daughter Caron are many times whiny, which is understandable for Caron since she's 17. Not so much for Claire.
Setting: Arkansas. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: The audio book was narrated by Rachael Warren and she did a nice job.
Overall: I think this book went on a little too long. Cutting 2-3 chapters would have been an improvement. I did figure out whodunnit about half-way thru the book, and it did seem to drag thereafter.
Grade: B-
Book obtained from: Library e-book [2014]
Description: Willow Chance is a 12yo child genius, trying to make her way in the world. When her adoptive parents die in a car crash, she is once again orphaned, with an uncertain future.
Plot: Willow finished a state test in 17 minutes and achieved a perfect score, which everyone believed was because she cheated. She is therefore sent to the school counselor, who isn't able to do much for her because of his own personal issues. Later, her adoptive parents both die, and Willow is taken in by the single mother of a new friend. Together, they keep one step ahead of social services and try to make a new life for all of them.
Characterization: The characters are well developed for a middle grade novel, with individual personalities.
Setting: Bakersfield California. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: This is a middle grade novel. Very diverse. I liked how each character was unique, which doesn't always happen, especially with middle grade books.
Overall: This book has a literary feel, and despite the sad beginning, it is positive and uplifting.
Grade: B+
Book obtained from: Library audio book [2013]
Description: This is #19 in the Claire Malloy mystery series. In this book, Claire decides to volunteer as a tutor at the literacy center, helping adults who are learning English. Unfortunately, one of the more abrasive students is killed.
Plot: Claire tries to sign up as a tutor for adults learning English, but misses the mandatory training meeting. Instead, she's conscripted to serve on the board of directors, where she learns of some questionable activities regarding the Literacy Center, and stumbles upon a murder. I didn't figure out whodunnit until almost the very end of the book.
Characterization: The characters are well-rounded and have individual personalities. Claire can be a little whiny. Her daughter Caron, a high school senior, is really obnoxious and if she was my daughter, I would definitely have a problem co-existing with her.
Setting: Arkansas. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: The audio book was narrated by Meredith Mitchell and she did a nice job.
Overall: This is the first book of this series that I have read.
Grade: B+
Book obtained from: Library audio book [2014]
Description: Defense attorney Andy Carpenter's accountant Sam receives a call from a high school friend Barry, who needs help. Sam is delayed in getting to his friend's house, and Barry leaves on a private plane without him. The plane crashes, Barry's wife is accused of murdering him, and Andy takes the case.
Plot: Andy defends Barry's wife. Things don't look so good, but a twist takes the case in a new direction. There is a sub-plot that becomes related to the main plot later in the story. The sub-plot was a little distracting at first, because listening on audio didn't give me any visual clues that a new chapter was addressing the sub-plot. At first the two plots seem unrelated and when a sub-plot chapter began, it took me a few seconds to realize it was the sub-plot.
Characterization: Andy Carpenter is wise-cracking and really funny. I think I laughed at least 2-3 times in each chapter. He has a very dry sense of humor. The other characters all have individual personalities and add quite a bit to the story.
Setting: New Jersey. Nicely described, I was able to picture every scene.
Other: The audio book was narrated by Grover Gardner and he definitely added to Andy's characterization. Great narrator!
Overall: This is the eleventh book in this series. All have a dog in them. Even the dogs have individual, well-developed personalities.
Grade: A-
