Book Reviews by Genre: Mystery

McCall Smith, Alexander
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review:

This was a good book. I enjoyed the adventures of Mma. Ramotswe. It was very insightful and funny and it was interesting to learn about Botswana and Africa in general. I'm not really a 'mystery' person, so that's mainly why it only got 3 stars.

Reviewer's Name: vfranklyn
Genres:
Martin, Charles
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

While I've enjoyed his other books (Thunder and Rain, When Crickets Cry, The Mountain Between us), this book blew the rest of them away! By far the best book I've read in the last few years, by anyone. Martin shows the depth of emotion, a mystery with a twist at the end, and a bit of romance all rolled into a book you can't wait to finish, then are eager to start all over again!

Reviewer's Name: Kathleen
Mosley, Walter
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

Walter Mosley knows how to tell a story like no one else. He captures life in the fifties in Southern California for black folks in Watts and surrounding areas shortly after WW1. Boy Oh Boy...His books are actually stories told to him by his father when he was a young man growing up in that era. Humor and suspense await anyone who has the pleasure to pick up any of his well written books.....

Reviewer's Name: Melinda
Genres:
Shapiro, Barbara A.
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

This is a wonderful story that mixes mystery and romance with the world of art and artists. What I found especially interesting were the details about the forgery of paintings and the inner workings of art galleries and museums.

Reviewer's Name: Ric
Ruiz Zafón, Carlos
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

This book was amazing! Shadow of the Wind has something for everyone. It is a book within a book and has many parallel stories. It is shadowy, but not vulgar and emotionally disturbing. You will be transported to Barcelona and will be kept on your toes wondering at how the details will work out.
It is great for a book discussion group. Part thriller, mystery, historical fiction with much character development. Not too wordy or detailed.
Enjoy!

Reviewer's Name: Lisa
Pötzsch, Oliver
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Set in the mid-1600, this story revolves around young children who go missing from a small Bavarian village, turn up dead, and a local woman accused of being a witch. The hangman, his daughter, and a local physician become involved in solving this intriguing and suspenseful tale. I love mysteries, suspense, thrillers and historical novels, so this was a fast read that included all elements to my satisfaction. Very much recommend this book!

Reviewer's Name: Margaret
Evanovich, Janet
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

I really enjoy this series by Janet Evanovich. This book is easy to read and fun. Great humor and wit! Very fast paced and the characters are interesting. I'd recommend starting with the first book, One for the Money, and if you like it continue on to Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly, etc. etc. I tend to laugh out loud when reading the books. They make me smile! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Reviewer's Name: Bobbi
Genres:
King, Laurie R.
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

After reading the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, Laurie R. King wondered what would a woman with a mind like Sherlock Holmes be like? Then she wondered what would happen if they met each other? And so the Mary Russell series of mysteries was born.... The story begins with Holmes retired from London and keeping bees in the country. Russell is walking across the fields with her face in a book, preparing for her university entrance exams. She very nearly steps on him. This is a wonderful book for anyone who enjoyed the original stories, but would like to consider how Holmes would function during the years before, during, and after World War I.

First in the Mary Russell series. Mystery--Historical Mystery--Psychological Suspense.

Reviewer's Name: Karen
Genres:
Evanovich, Janet
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Stephanie is at it again – blowing up cars, breaking and entering, being pursued by a lunatic, landing in a grave, and being rescued by Ranger among other things. She and Lula, once again, are searching for someone who has mysteriously disappeared, while at the same time are dealing with some of the nut-jobs from the Trenton area. Steph does have a tender heart toward them though. Grandma Mazur is once again instrumental in her successful sleuthing. Stephanie is slightly less conflicted this time about Ranger and Morelli. Hmm…

It’s a fun and easy read, and some parts made me laugh out loud

Reviewer's Name: Robin
Genres:
Graves, Sarah
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Maine towns are always a quaint setting for an adventurous tale and this book delivers. The remodeling situations that arise are hilarious and the book has useful "tool time" like hints sprinkled in at the beginning of most of the chapters. I found myself really looking forward to reading the next hint. There are quirky characters that you get to know, care about, and even want to emulate. The plot moves forward at a steady pace but sometimes for me mysteries throw in too many details and drag on just a little too long.

Reviewer's Name: Patti
Genres:
Sloan, Robin
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

At the crossroads of book lovers, code-cracking, and the digital future of data (and the power of the Google empire), you'll find Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Set in San Francisco, this story follows a book store clerk and his Googler love-interest as they try to solve a secret society's ancient mystery with all the tools at hand, both antique and innovative. If you consider yourself both a book nerd AND a tech nerd, you will love this book.

Reviewer's Name: Esti
Genres:
Semple, Maria
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

Where'd you go, Bernadette is part comedy, part mystery, but definitely all enjoyable. Bernadette lives in Seattle with her daughter and husband (who works at Microsoft.) She is somewhat agoraphobic and when faced with a trip to Antarctica with her family, starts to behave erratically and disappears.
The book uses many email messages to tell the story and in this case, it works very well.

Reviewer's Name: Amy
Genres:
McDuffie, Susan
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

This exciting historical mystery tale takes place in 14th century Scotland. The Prior of Oronsay, an unpopular and unsavory character, is found strangled on the beach, his mouth stuffed with sand. Muirteach, the crippled bastard son of the Prior is assigned the nearly impossible task of finding out who of the many people who had motives to end this man's life is the murderer. Susan McDuffie, in her first published novel, very successfully introduces her readers, via this suspenseful plot and surprise ending, to what is to become a series of mysteries involving the main character, Muirteach.

Reviewer's Name: Linda
Evanovich, Janet
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

I have read all 18 of Janet Evanovich's books and this one is the best one in a long time, sometimes her books get a little repetitive, but this one was great. Stephanie Plum still bountying hunting and cant figure out whether shes in love with Morelli or Ranger who in my mind is a George Clooney knockout. Her partner Lulu never seems to fail us with her humor and I read this book in a day and a half. I highly recommend it. And the Grandmother she reminds me of some people my Grandmother hung out with in NJ.

Reviewer's Name: Karen J.
Genres:
Baldacci, David
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review:

One of the best books I have read EVER. I have like DB for years, but this book grabs you fairly early and everytime you think you know where it is going - - - BAM, off it goes to where you didn't even see it going. Don't start it unless you have time to really hang with it. Every time I had to put it down to do something else my mind had a fit!!

Reviewer's Name: Rod S.
Lutz, Lisa
4 stars = Really Good
Review:

This debut novel introduces Isabel (Izzy) Spellman and her family. Izzy has a history of excess drunkenness, failed relationships and creative vandalism. Izzy is employed by the family business Spellman Investigations. Mom, Dad, younger sister Rae and Uncle Ray all contribute to the family business and eventually live in the family home too. Older brother, perfect human being and man about town David escaped the clutches of the Spellmans by becoming a lawyer. The book is funny and quirky but turns serious quickly when Rae disappears and Izzy has to focus all her talents and energies to find her. Also available in Audio Format and Large Print. Look for the second in the series, Curse of the Spellmans.

Reviewer's Name: Debbie
Genres: