Silence is Golden

The last time I went to a public library was 9 years ago. I went daily for 5 weeks straight to study for my physical therapy board exam. It was NOT a quiet place! I was settled at a table in the center of the stacks (adult fiction, G-J) with people milling around me, chatting with their friends, the other “regulars.”  I was only a few feet away from the bank of computers where people could access the internet, so that brought its own special noise as people laughed at their screens or asked help of the attendant. Patrons held cell phone conversations, and listened to music through headphones at a volume that could be overheard. And the best part by far; the library was housed below a senior center where shuffle board was played regularly on the floor above. Scrape, shuffle, collide and begin again at regular intervals with a drop ceiling buffer. A McDonald’s PlayPlace may have been a quieter environment to study! With the convenience of mass-market book stores and the advent of the Kindle, I haven’t needed to re-visit the library since, but I do appreciate the concept of free use of books. Now that I can borrow from my Kindle, I’m more inclined to try the title that doesn’t cost me anything and return them when I’m done. That’s how I crossed paths with this title and I enjoyed its price as well as its content.

Book# 25- Conspiracy of Silence, Martha Powers

 Rating: 3- It was a good book

Synopsis: Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a quiet little lake-side town. Unassuming and uneventful as far as small towns go. It’s home to renowned author Nathan Hassan, and that is the reason for Clare Prentice to travel there from Chicago; to interview him for her literary magazine. But she has another reason as well. She recently discovered she was adopted after her mother’s death and her only clue to her identity is a class ring from the town from 1962. Clare’s best friend also has a connection to the town; her father grew up there, and her aunt still lives there with a cottage for rent by the lake. As Clare begins her research, she discovers her adoptive mothers real name is Rose Gunderson, and that her sister Lily Newton was murdered in 1982. It becomes clear very quickly that Clare is really the Rose’s niece, Abigail Clare Newton and was sent away because her father was responsible for the murder. As Clare uncovers more details, she grows closer to Nate and his daughter Erika. But she also clearly stirs up a past that someone doesn’t want uncovered. There is more to this murder that meets the eye and someone doesn’t want Clare sticking her nose into it. Who is it, and what lengths will they go to to keep the past quiet? That is what Clare is about to find out before she can find out who she is.

My Impressions: I do love a good murder mystery. In fact I think I’m a bit of a sucker for them. This one was pretty good, though slightly predictable… I figured out that the boy would get the girl after their first meeting; as happy endings tend to go. And I figured out the source of secrecy about half-way through, even though the unveiling of details still made for an interesting journey to the ending.
The ending of the story itself was rather abrupt. I would have liked an epilogue to tie a bow on it. Perhaps since Clare’s cover story for the investigation was an update of the 25th anniversary of the murder, the epilogue could have been her article on the subject. I think it would have been nice to have a brief telling of all of the facts surrounding the story. Or a first person narrative of her journey to the truth since that is how she ultimately found her identity.
Overall the voice and the character development were fitting, and not forced. Even when I thought relationships were progressing unnaturally fast, the characters would recognize it and accept responsibility for it before backing up a little bit for a reality check.

Why You Should Read It : A sweet, if not a little clumsy heroine, a handsome hero. Murder, suspense, intrigue and small-town charm. It’s a recipe for success! Plus if you are a Kindle/Prime user (this is not a plug, I have no financial interests here!) it’s free. I guess also if you are a library user, than so is every other book; so there’s that…

Read if you liked: The Bean Trees (Barbara Kingsolver), The Secret Life Of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd), Lost Lake (Sarah Addison Allen)

Book #25 in the bag!

“You can find friends between the pages of a book, wonderful friends.” ― Cornelia Funke, Inkspell

It’s raining in Baltimore, baby

I reached out on Twitter to ask my followers what they were reading and one answered back ” Baltimore Blues.” I was immediately intrigued! A book set in my home town? That never happens! Oh wait, crime novel? That makes more sense… Most people know Baltimore from Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire. Hopefully by now you also know the 2013 Superbowl Champion Ravens! And then there are a handful of famous folk who have hailed from these streets; John Waters, Barry Levinson, Tom Clancy, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Julie Bowen, Sysqo, Michael Phelps, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth,  and 2Pac. You can see the Baltimore landscape highlighted in movies like Ladder 49, He’s Just Not That Into You, Cry-Baby, and Netflix series House Of Cards. Baltimore is the birthday place of The Star Spangled Banner, and we sing with an extra O! in the last line; which began as a nod to our Orioles, but now just let’s you know that Baltimore is represented! And how ’bout dem O’s, hon?

Book # 13- Baltimore Blues, Laura Lippman

Rating: 3- It was a good book.

Synopsis: After losing her job to the fall of print media, Tess Monaghan is hard up for cash and a little bored. She is early to rise every day to stick to her training as a rower in the Baltimore harbor, until she is approached by a friend to do some investigating. Rock wants Tess to follow his fiance and find out what she’s really up to. Tess follows her bizarre behavior to a hotel where she enters a room with her boss; an attorney known for defending the worst of Baltimore’s  criminals. Tess reports back to Rock who snaps and tracks down the lawyer at his office and roughs him up. Except that when he is found he has been murdered and Rock is the number-one suspect. Tess is certain of his innocence and to prove it, she links up with Rock’s defense to investigate. As it turns out, too many people had motive for this murder, and someone wants Tess to stop poking around!

My Impressions: Well who doesn’t like to read about places they know like the back of their hand? I live in this neighborhood, eat at these restaurants and shop in this mall! I know the swampy smell that oozes from the harbor when it’s hazy, hot and humid in summer. But my first hand knowledge aside, I think this author did a great job describing it all. She tells a really detailed story here, bringing in perspectives from law enforcement, the prison system, local news media, and government offices. Like and episode of CSI or Murder, She Wrote, there is a great depth to the story with lots of layers to uncover.

At first, I found it hard to connect with the main character and  keep all of the details straight. I found myself wondering what was really driving her behavior. But as I read on, I realized that she was just a little lost in herself, and began to rediscover who she was as she pressed on in her investigation.  Still there were many plot points keep in mind. This helped keep the suspense going but also caused me to get a little lost a few times. In the end I think the story wraps up quite nicely with an unexpected outcome.

Why you should read it: As I said in Murder He Wrote ( http://wp.me/p3WfxY-13 ), I’m a fan of these murder mysteries. Full of suspense and intrigue, romantic twists and insight into the pure corruption of  ‘the system’. This one had the added benefit, for me, of being set in Baltimore (hence the Counting Crows lyric in the title; Adam Duritz is Baltimore-born). This book could easily be an episode of a TV crime drama, a female counter to Alex Cross and  Jack Ryan, or even based on a true story. This is the first of a series featuring Tess and while I won’t be reading them marathon style, I’ll definitely be checking out Charm City and Butcher’s Hill in the future.

Book #13 in the bag!

“Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” ― P.J. O’Rourke