Reviews Written By: A2VZP50FSYD6COprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Eater's Choice: A Food Lover's Guide to Lower Cholesterol | |
 | "Has Some Useful Information" | 2008-08-19 |
| "Eater's Choice" is a book filled with tips on how to lower your cholesterol. It has chapters describing what cholesterol is and how to lower it; how your heart works; making the right choices; other risks for coronary heart disease; ensuring a balanced diet; and cholesterol guidelines for tots to teens. The book also includes one week of meal plans; recipes; and food tables that contain both saturated fat calories and total fat calories for a wide variety of foods and products. There is also a section that tells you what food items you should always have in stock. The back of the book has Appendixes that explain how to keep a food record; explanatory notes for guidelines; a glossary; and a table of equivalent measures. "Eater's Choice" is a good book for people who want to lower their cholesterol through diet. The book is evenly divided between information on cholesterol, health tips, recipes, and the food tables. The main goal of the book is to help readers lower their cholesterol and their risk of heart disease. Until I read the book I thought the only way to lower cholesterol was by eliminating cholesterol in my diet but "Eater's Choice" focuses on eliminating fats and saturated fat from your diet and not the cholesterol content of foods you eat. My copy was last updated in 1999 and I could not find a newer edition. The book could use a further update since the food labels they show as illustrations do not include trans fats. While I found the entire book to be interesting, I found the recipes in the book as well as the food table to be the most useful. But, while I want to lower my cholesterol, I'm not convinced that diet is the way to go since other members of my family eat the same meals I do and do not have high cholesterol. Nor am I all that good about following a good plan. Still, "Eater's Choice" gave me several pointers and is a good first step towards lowering cholesterol. | ||
 | Summer of '49 (Perennial Classics) | |
 | "Excellently Done" | 2008-08-04 |
| "Summer of `49" focuses on the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as they fought for first place during the Summer of 1949. This was before the days of the wild card and first place meant a trip to the playoffs while second place meant a trip home. The two teams fought for first place all season long and (perhaps fittingly) it all came down to the last game of the season. "Summer of `49" is an excellent book about baseball, the men that played it, the men who ran it, the men who called the games on the radio, and the fans who loved the game. Author David Halberstam focuses mostly on the players (rightfully so) and does an evenhanded job of portraying players on both teams. Halberstam provides a fascinating glimpse at players such as Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Ellis Kinder of the Red Sox and Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, and Vic Raschi of the Yankees. Equally interesting to read was the relationship between brothers Joe and Dom DiMaggio (Joe played for the Yankees while Dom played for the Red Sox). Also featured in the book are the managers of the Yankees and Red Sox - Casey Stengel and Joe McCarthy. Another person I found fascinating to read about and wish I had been able to hear announce games was Mel Allen. Halberstam also provides an interesting insight into what the game of baseball was like during the 1940's. It was an age when starting pitchers pitched entire games whenever possible and relief pitchers were not specialists; a time before the designated hitter; and a time before the wild card. I was not alive then, but as a once long-suffering Red Sox fan (2004 changed all that), I could picture how frustrating that year must have been for Boston fans. Halberstam does a good job of describing game action and I could feel the anguish of the Red Sox players and fans after that final game. Published in 1989, "Summer of '49" is a bit dated at the end (both Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams are still alive at the end of the book and Williams is developing a relationship with and yet to be manipulated by his son John Henry), but it is excellently done and I highly recommend it. | ||
 | The Spiderwick Chronicles: Lucinda's Secret by Tony Diterlizzi, ISBN 0689859384 | |
| "Charming" | 2008-07-16 |
| There's been nothing but trouble for the Grace children (Jared, Simon, and Mallory) since they found the book "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You". More than one monster wants the Guide and Simon and Mallory are eager to destroy it, but Jared isn't so sure that's a good idea, so they go to their Great Aunt Lucinda to see what she can tell them about the Guide. Lucinda will tell them some of her secrets and they will discover even more as they try to solve the mystery of the Field Guide. "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book (of five) in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and picks up where the first two The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2) left off. Authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black have already filled the books with magical creatures such as goblins, griffins, trolls, and boggarts and add even more in this book - fairies, elves, ogres, a unicorn, and more. Not all of these characters are benevolent and there is a delicious underlying sense of danger throughout the book and series. Some of the best creatures in this book include the unicorn, the shape shifting and cryptic speaking Phooka, the fairies, and the elves. The three children continue to grow as characters throughout the series, especially Jared who is maturing as the adventures continue. The addition of Lucinda in the book adds much to the story as she can explain at least some of what is going on, although her character isn't in the book nearly enough. Since "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book in the series, it sometimes feels a bit like filler with only a little plot development. Still, it is a charming book in a charming series. | ||
 | Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles) | |
| "Charming" | 2008-07-16 |
| There's been nothing but trouble for the Grace children (Jared, Simon, and Mallory) since they found the book "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You". More than one monster wants the Guide and Simon and Mallory are eager to destroy it, but Jared isn't so sure that's a good idea, so they go to their Great Aunt Lucinda to see what she can tell them about the Guide. Lucinda will tell them some of her secrets and they will discover even more as they try to solve the mystery of the Field Guide. "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book (of five) in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and picks up where the first two The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2) left off. Authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black have already filled the books with magical creatures such as goblins, griffins, trolls, and boggarts and add even more in this book - fairies, elves, ogres, a unicorn, and more. Not all of these characters are benevolent and there is a delicious underlying sense of danger throughout the book and series. Some of the best creatures in this book include the unicorn, the shape shifting and cryptic speaking Phooka, the fairies, and the elves. The three children continue to grow as characters throughout the series, especially Jared who is maturing as the adventures continue. The addition of Lucinda in the book adds much to the story as she can explain at least some of what is going on, although her character isn't in the book nearly enough. Since "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book in the series, it sometimes feels a bit like filler with only a little plot development. Still, it is a charming book in a charming series. | ||
 | The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4) | |
| "Tremendous Fantasy" | 2008-06-11 |
| For a couple of weeks, things have been almost normal for the three Grace children (Jared, Simon and Mallory) - there have been no faerie sightings. But that changes quickly at Mallory's fencing competition and soon Jared is in serious trouble and he has a hard time explaining his actions. But there's even more trouble for Jared and Simon when Mallory disappears. Their search for her will take them to places they never imagined and they begin to wonder if they can fight the monsters by themselves. "The Ironwood Tree" is the wonderful fourth book in the children's fantasy series "The Spiderwick Chronicles". Authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black step up both the action and fantasy elements in this, the fourth of five books. They add more fantastical creatures including dwarves and metal dogs as well as some mysterious beings (who was that girl rummaging through Mallory's bag and who was the boy that got Jared in trouble?) All three children are in real danger in this book - danger that will have children eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. Mixed in with the fantasy elements is a dose of reality - Jared is still having anger management issues and the thing that gets him in trouble in the book, while not his fault, happens all too often in the real world. "The Ironwood Tree" is a well-done fantasy book for children of all ages. | ||
 | Briar Rose | |
| "Very Moving" | 2008-05-27 |
| Growing up, Rebecca listened to her beloved grandmother ("Gemma") recount the story of Briar Rose countless times. As Gemma lies dying, she tells Rebecca that she (Gemma) was Briar Rose and asks Becca to promise that she will look into Gemma's past. Becca agrees and embarks upon a journey to Poland that will open up past wounds but will also lead to a new beginning. "Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen is a powerful novel about the Holocaust. Set in the present day with flashbacks to the Holocaust, it is an unforgettable story. Yolen skillfully weaves Gemma's recounting of the Briar Rose story with what really happened and it is heartbreaking and moving. The novel is filled with great characters - Becca, who agrees to find out Gemma's story and pledges to do so no matter what; Stan, her editor who encourages her to do so; Magda, the irrepressible Polish girl who helps Becca; Josef Potoki, who fills in many of the blanks in Gemma's life (his story is one of the most moving parts of the book); and of course Gemma herself as her story unfolds. Also playing a powerful part in the novel is the visit to Chelmno - not only the place itself but the reaction of the people living near there to the visitors. Gemma and Josef's stories are moving in many ways - a reminder of how much people lost during the Holocaust. The discoveries that Becca makes about Gemma and also the ones that she is unable to make are heartbreaking, yet heartwarming. "Briar Rose" is a powerful work of fiction. Highly recommended. | ||
 | yy | |
| "Very Moving" | 2008-05-27 |
| Growing up, Rebecca listened to her beloved grandmother ("Gemma") recount the story of Briar Rose countless times. As Gemma lies dying, she tells Rebecca that she (Gemma) was Briar Rose and asks Becca to promise that she will look into Gemma's past. Becca agrees and embarks upon a journey to Poland that will open up past wounds but will also lead to a new beginning. "Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen is a powerful novel about the Holocaust. Set in the present day with flashbacks to the Holocaust, it is an unforgettable story. Yolen skillfully weaves Gemma's recounting of the Briar Rose story with what really happened and it is heartbreaking and moving. The novel is filled with great characters - Becca, who agrees to find out Gemma's story and pledges to do so no matter what; Stan, her editor who encourages her to do so; Magda, the irrepressible Polish girl who helps Becca; Josef Potoki, who fills in many of the blanks in Gemma's life (his story is one of the most moving parts of the book); and of course Gemma herself as her story unfolds. Also playing a powerful part in the novel is the visit to Chelmno - not only the place itself but the reaction of the people living near there to the visitors. Gemma and Josef's stories are moving in many ways - a reminder of how much people lost during the Holocaust. The discoveries that Becca makes about Gemma and also the ones that she is unable to make are heartbreaking, yet heartwarming. "Briar Rose" is a powerful work of fiction. Highly recommended. | ||
 | Ted Williams : The Biography of an American Hero | |
| "Nicely Done Look at a Complex Man" | 2008-04-30 |
| From the beginning, Ted Williams was a larger than life personality - a great player on the field, the last baseball player to hit over .400 - and a player off the field as well, married three times, but never to the true love of his life. His antics on and off the field were legendary, as were his breaks from baseball to serve in both World War II and Korea. And, of course, his relationship with his children, especially son John Henry, led to headlines long after his career and life were over. "Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero" by Leigh Montville is a wonderfully written look at the colorful Williams. Montville covers all aspects of Williams's life, from his childhood and troubled relationship with his parents (especially his mother), his career in Boston, his tumultuous relationship with Boston sports writers, his life after baseball, his troubled relationship with his children, and of course his controversial freezing after his death. Williams was a complex man and Montville does his best to show what made Williams tick. It's not an easy task, Williams was prickly and had two sides to his personality - the public Ted and the private Ted. By the end of the book you will both love and hate Williams - you'll love the public Ted that associated so well with fans (at least off the field and especially the young ones - Williams was instrumental in helping the Jimmy Fund, which supports young cancer patients, get off the ground) and hate the private Ted, who made life difficult for those around him. For the most part, Montville is objective in his writing, treating both the private Ted and public Ted even-handedly and making no excuses for his behavior. But his objectivity slips near the end of the book when he discusses Williams's son John Henry. It's clear that Montville doesn't like John Henry. As much as your feelings for Ted may waver throughout the book, by the end you can't help but feel sorry for him and the way his family treated him the last few years of his life. "Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero" is an interesting look at a complex man. | ||
 | The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2) | |
| "Good but Scary" | 2008-03-06 |
| Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace are still adjusting to their new life after their parents' divorce. Not only do they have to adjust to a new school (Jared especially is having a hard time with this) but they are living in a house and area inhabited not only by humans but hobgoblins, trolls, fairies, and griffins. When Simon's cat disappears he goes looking for it and soon he also disappears. Jared and Mallory set off to help Simon, but they'll need some help in order to find him in time.
"The Seeing Stone" is the sequel to The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) and is the second book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series and for the most part it is pretty good fun. Children will love the fantasy elements of the goblins, trolls, fairies, griffins, etc. especially the rhyming Thimbletack. The Seeing Stone (which helps them see the Goblins) is a nice addition to the series and authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black invent a funny if somewhat gross way for the children to see the goblins without the seeing stone. What kept me from entirely enjoying the book is that I felt some of the scarier moments were a bit too scary for young children. I found the goblins especially bothersome with their cages full of kidnap victims. And the hint of what might have happened to Simon's cat may be traumatic for younger children. "The Seeing Stone" is a good fantasy but parents may want to read it first to make sure their children can handle it. | ||
 | This Pen for Hire: A Jaine Austen Mystery (Jaine Austen Mysteries) | |
| "Funny, Well Plotted Cozy Mystery" | 2008-03-04 |
| Like her namesake, Jaine Austen is a writer, but a freelance writer, meaning she'll take just about any job that will help pay the bills. So when geeky nerd Howard Murdoch shows up at her door asking her to write a love letter for him she agrees although she doubts gorgeous aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence will agree to go out with him. Much to Jaine's surprise, Stacy agrees to go out with Howard on Valentine's Day! Alas, Howard's triumph is short lived when he shows up for the date and finds Stacy's murdered body. Detective Timothy Rea is convinced Howard is the killer, but Jaine's not so sure and sets out to clear his name. She has plenty of suspects, including Stacy's neighbors, coworkers, and ex-boyfriend. She needs to find who the killer is before she becomes the next victim.
"This Pen for Hire" is an extremely funny cozy mystery. The humor starts with the name of the heroine, Jaine Austen (her mother was a bad speller), and continues from there with the fact that the modern Jane is a writer but no, well no Jane Austen. Some of the funniest bits in the book are the writing she does for various companies. Jaine is a good heroine - struggling not only to find writing jobs to pay her bills but struggling with her weight and a bit insecure because of that. Her friend Kandi, a writer on the cartoon show Beanie and the Cockroach, adds to the humor in the novel as she is always looking for "Mr. Right". Of the rest of the characters, I'd like to see more of Jaine's nosy neighbor Lance. Because the book is on the slim side and heavy on the humor, I was afraid the mystery elements would be underdeveloped, but I was pleasantly surprised. The murder was well plotted, with a good motive, plenty of suspects and some nice red herrings along the way. The writing is nicely done as if Jaine were talking directly to the reader and very enjoyable. "This Pen for Hire" is a laugh out loud funny cozy mystery. The next book in the series is Last Writes (Jaine Austen Mysteries). Enjoy! | ||
 | Better Off Wed: An Annabelle Archer Mystery | |
 | "Just Okay" | 2008-01-25 |
| Wedding planner Annabelle Archer knew the wedding she was working on would be difficult, but she certainly wasn't expecting the mother of the bride to be murdered during the reception. The murder not only hurts Annabelle's reputation as a wedding planner, but her friend Richard Gerard, a caterer, is a major suspect. When there is a second murder which makes Richard even more of a suspect, Annabelle knows she has to work fast to clear his name. She has plenty of suspects but will she figure out who the killer is before she becomes the next victim?
"Better Off Wed" is an uneven cozy mystery. The unevenness comes from the characters as some of them are well written and others barely register as characters. Annabelle is well done - good at her job and concerned about her friends. Caterer Richard is also well written and author Laura Durham deserves credit for having readers discover Richard is gay without stating the obvious. Too bad she doesn't do the same with Annabelle's assistant Kate and her habit of mangling familiar sayings - Durham points every single one of them out, which is too bad because it was one of the humorous aspects of the book. Outside of Annabelle, Richard, Kate, and Annabelle's elderly neighbor Leatrice, the rest of the characters aren't well written especially the murder victim's family. Because of this, the murder mystery aspects of the book aren't that interesting and it's hard for readers to try to figure out who the murderer is, which is part of the fun of reading cozy mysteries. And when the murderer finally is revealed, the motive for the murder is unbelievable. "Better Off Wed" is just an okay debut cozy mystery novel. | ||
 | The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) | |
| "Fun Fantasy for Young and Old Alike" | 2008-01-22 |
| After their parents divorce, Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, their older sister Mallory, and their mother move into their great-aunt Lucinda's run down house. People think Aunt Lucinda is crazy because she insists that little men bring her food. But soon the Grace children are discovering mysterious things in the house including nests built into the wall, a secret room, and a puzzling letter. When pranks are pulled everyone think it's Jared acting out and he tries to convince his family that he's not the culprit. Soon the Grace children find out the house is more mysterious than any of them realized.
"The Field Guide", the first book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles", is a delightful fantasy. It is aimed at children seven and up but readers of all ages will enjoy it. The idea of an old house filled with secret rooms and fantasy creatures will delight young children. The book isn't all fun and games - the divorce has hurt the whole family and is treated realistically in the book, especially the reaction of the children who have had to switch schools and the mother's worrying about money. All of the children are well written and well developed, especially Jared from whose viewpoint the story is told. Jared took the divorce especially hard, getting into fights at school and is blamed for being the mischief-maker when things start happening around the house. The relationship between the three children is well done - they love each other, but still have their petty fights. The illustrations in the book are wonderfully done. "The Spiderwick Chronicles" was originally designed as a five book series, although the authors have started a "Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles" series. The next book in the first series is The Spiderwick Chronicles (The Seeing Stone, Volume 2). Enjoy! | ||
![Blades of Glory [HD DVD]](product_images/4932000/4932396_thumb.jpg) | Blades of Glory [HD DVD] | |
| "Funny Take on Figure Skating" | 2008-01-21 |
| Jimmy MacElroy and Chazz Michael Michaels are long-time figure skating rivals. They are complete opposites - Jimmy was adopted by a man who trained him from a young age to be a champion and is germophobic; Chazz is a boozing sex addict. For the most part, their rivalry is only on the ice, but when they get into a fist fight at a competition they are both banned from skating for life. When a loophole is discovered that will allow them to skate together as pairs, they try to put their rivalry aside to compete again. But not only do they have to try to get along, at least on the ice, they have to deal with their main rivals, brother and sister team Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg who will stop at nothing in their quest for gold.
"Blades of Glory" is a silly, goofy, at times raunchy comedy. It pokes fun at both skating (the costumes, music, routines) and its fans (who act more like they are at a football game instead of a skating competition), but it's not all that edgy. In fact, while Jon Heder at times plays Jimmy as being a bit effeminate, the movie skates around the issue of homosexuality in figure skating by making Chazz a sex addict usually surrounded by several women and giving Jimmy a female love interest. None of the movie is meant to be taken seriously and figure skating purists should ignore everything the movie gets wrong about figure skating (perhaps intentionally). None of the actors are going for Academy awards in this movie and much of the acting (and action) is over the top, but all of the actors seem to be having fun, especially Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett and Amy Poehler. The skating aspects are so-so (no doubt due to the limitations of the cast) but I wish the movie had shown more of the JFK/Marilyn Monroe routine - that could have been hilarious. There are a lot of real life figure skaters in the movie although most of them - Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, Sasha Cohen, and Nancy Kerrigan - have brief cameos. Scott Hamilton is a riot playing himself announcing the pairs competition. "Blades of Glory" is funny, but definitely not for a younger audience as it is full of raunchy humor including throwing up after drinking and plenty of crotch shots. | ||
 | Silence of the Hams (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Enjoyable Cozy Mystery" | 2008-01-09 |
| Jane Jeffrey's oldest son is growing up. He is graduating from high school and working part time at a local deli to earn some money. Jane thinks the only thing she needs to worry about Mike is that he be careful while driving the truck she gave him as a graduation present. But when obnoxious attorney Robert Stonecipher is murdered at the opening party for the deli, she's not sure she wants Mike working there. But he insists he'll be okay and Jane relents. When there is a second murder, Jane can't help investigating the deaths even if her boyfriend, homicide detective Mel VanDyne, doesn't like it.
"Silence of the Hams" is yet another great cozy mystery by Jill Churchill. As always, what makes the Jane Jeffry series so enjoyable is not necessarily the mystery but the details about Jane's family life. Jane's kids are growing up as the series progresses and Mike especially has grown. With his father's death he considers himself the man of the house and Jane is learning to treat him as an adult. Some of the best scenes in the book involve Mike, either directly or indirectly. One of those scenes is when Jane buys the truck for Mike. Her friend, Shelley Nowack, is great at wearing down the salesman and it is a very funny part of the book (wish I could take her with me next time I buy a car!) Equally well done is Mike's graduation party which sounds like a lot of fun. Jane's other children, Katie and Todd, are also well written, Katie especially so as she is going through the growing pains that come with being a teenager. Churchill does an excellent job of capturing the little things that make up life in the suburbs. The mystery itself is okay. Parts of it were a bit unbelievable and it's pretty clear from the beginning who the murderer is. But it's still a fun mystery to read. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy "Silence of the Hams". | ||
 | Double Play | |
| "Good Look at Baseball and Jackie Robinson" | 2007-12-17 |
| It is 1947 and Jackie Robinson has broken baseball's color barrier, but it has not been easy. The Dodgers decide he needs a bodyguard and they hire World War II Vet Joseph burke to protect him. Burke's wife left him while he was in the hospital recovering from war wounds and since then he hasn't cared much about anything or anyone except his job. Lauren Roach comes closes to stealing his heart, but she's trouble. Burke knows guarding Robinson may be dangerous but he doesn't realize that working with Robinson will change Burke's life in ways he never imagined.
"Double Play" is an enjoyable change from Robert Parker's Spenser series. There are some similarities - the relationship between Burke and Robinson will remind readers of Spenser and Hawk - but the fact that the novel is based on real life events adds a lot to the novel. The book starts off slowly, Robinson isn't introduced until almost halfway through and I didn't find Burke all that interesting a character, but once Robinson is introduced the book picks up. For the most part, Parker does a good job with the historical parts of the novel and the prejudice on both sides is eye opening. However, Parker isn't into deep writing and the book is mostly dialogue driven. Since the book is from Burke's viewpoint, readers do get a sense of what makes him as a character, but he's not a deeply layered character and his relationship with Lauren didn't move me in any particular way. Robinson is not as deep a character, which is a shame because I would have liked to know more about what he was thinking and feeling during that tumultuous first year. Outside of reminiscences by "Bobby" (no doubt Parker himself, and which I could have done without since they don't add to the plot) and some box scores, the baseball aspects of the book are surprisingly thin and I wish they had been better developed. "Double Play" is a good, if somewhat light read about baseball and Jackie Robinson. | ||
 | Double Play | |
| "Good Look at Baseball and Jackie Robinson" | 2007-12-17 |
| It is 1947 and Jackie Robinson has broken baseball's color barrier, but it has not been easy. The Dodgers decide he needs a bodyguard and they hire World War II Vet Joseph burke to protect him. Burke's wife left him while he was in the hospital recovering from war wounds and since then he hasn't cared much about anything or anyone except his job. Lauren Roach comes closes to stealing his heart, but she's trouble. Burke knows guarding Robinson may be dangerous but he doesn't realize that working with Robinson will change Burke's life in ways he never imagined.
"Double Play" is an enjoyable change from Robert Parker's Spenser series. There are some similarities - the relationship between Burke and Robinson will remind readers of Spenser and Hawk - but the fact that the novel is based on real life events adds a lot to the novel. The book starts off slowly, Robinson isn't introduced until almost halfway through and I didn't find Burke all that interesting a character, but once Robinson is introduced the book picks up. For the most part, Parker does a good job with the historical parts of the novel and the prejudice on both sides is eye opening. However, Parker isn't into deep writing and the book is mostly dialogue driven. Since the book is from Burke's viewpoint, readers do get a sense of what makes him as a character, but he's not a deeply layered character and his relationship with Lauren didn't move me in any particular way. Robinson is not as deep a character, which is a shame because I would have liked to know more about what he was thinking and feeling during that tumultuous first year. Outside of reminiscences by "Bobby" (no doubt Parker himself, and which I could have done without since they don't add to the plot) and some box scores, the baseball aspects of the book are surprisingly thin and I wish they had been better developed. "Double Play" is a good, if somewhat light read about baseball and Jackie Robinson. | ||
 | Double Play | |
| "Good Look at Baseball and Jackie Robinson" | 2007-12-17 |
| It is 1947 and Jackie Robinson has broken baseball's color barrier, but it has not been easy. The Dodgers decide he needs a bodyguard and they hire World War II Vet Joseph burke to protect him. Burke's wife left him while he was in the hospital recovering from war wounds and since then he hasn't cared much about anything or anyone except his job. Lauren Roach comes closes to stealing his heart, but she's trouble. Burke knows guarding Robinson may be dangerous but he doesn't realize that working with Robinson will change Burke's life in ways he never imagined.
"Double Play" is an enjoyable change from Robert Parker's Spenser series. There are some similarities - the relationship between Burke and Robinson will remind readers of Spenser and Hawk - but the fact that the novel is based on real life events adds a lot to the novel. The book starts off slowly, Robinson isn't introduced until almost halfway through and I didn't find Burke all that interesting a character, but once Robinson is introduced the book picks up. For the most part, Parker does a good job with the historical parts of the novel and the prejudice on both sides is eye opening. However, Parker isn't into deep writing and the book is mostly dialogue driven. Since the book is from Burke's viewpoint, readers do get a sense of what makes him as a character, but he's not a deeply layered character and his relationship with Lauren didn't move me in any particular way. Robinson is not as deep a character, which is a shame because I would have liked to know more about what he was thinking and feeling during that tumultuous first year. Outside of reminiscences by "Bobby" (no doubt Parker himself, and which I could have done without since they don't add to the plot) and some box scores, the baseball aspects of the book are surprisingly thin and I wish they had been better developed. "Double Play" is a good, if somewhat light read about baseball and Jackie Robinson. | ||
 | A Highland Christmas | |
| "Quick, Enjoyable Christmas Read" | 2007-11-19 |
| It's Christmas time in Lochdubh, Scotland, although it doesn't feel like it. Christmas decorations have been banned in the village, at least outside decorations. Constable Hamish MacBeth isn't too happy but he has his work to keep him busy. Someone has stolen some Christmas trees and lights from a nearby village; a lonely elderly woman has lost her cat and seems afraid of someone or something; and a young schoolgirl seems to be hiding some secrets. Hamish's methods may seem unorthodox, but he will solve these problems by Christmas day.
"A Highland Christmas" is a very good but light entry in M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth cozy mystery series. It's a slim book, a little over one hundred pages and there are no real mysteries in the book, outside of the missing Christmas trees. Despite the brevity of the book, M.C. Beaton still squeezes in all the elements that I love about the series: Hamish's ability to outwit Detective Chief Inspector Blair; his pining for Priscilla Halburton-Smythe; his mooching free meals; and the various characters that make up Lochdubh. In many ways the book feels like a Christmas gift for Beaton fans (a stocking stuffer, perhaps). Everything in the book is wrapped up neatly as Hamish solves the small mysteries and manages to bring happiness to several people. The ending is particularly delightful and I couldn't help but smile as I finished reading the book. Readers will love the Christmas gift Hamish gets. "A Highland Christmas" is a quick and enjoyable read - perfect for this busy time of year. | ||
 | A Highland Christmas | |
| "Quick, Enjoyable Christmas Read" | 2007-11-19 |
| It's Christmas time in Lochdubh, Scotland, although it doesn't feel like it. Christmas decorations have been banned in the village, at least outside decorations. Constable Hamish MacBeth isn't too happy but he has his work to keep him busy. Someone has stolen some Christmas trees and lights from a nearby village; a lonely elderly woman has lost her cat and seems afraid of someone or something; and a young schoolgirl seems to be hiding some secrets. Hamish's methods may seem unorthodox, but he will solve these problems by Christmas day.
"A Highland Christmas" is a very good but light entry in M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth cozy mystery series. It's a slim book, a little over one hundred pages and there are no real mysteries in the book, outside of the missing Christmas trees. Despite the brevity of the book, M.C. Beaton still squeezes in all the elements that I love about the series: Hamish's ability to outwit Detective Chief Inspector Blair; his pining for Priscilla Halburton-Smythe; his mooching free meals; and the various characters that make up Lochdubh. In many ways the book feels like a Christmas gift for Beaton fans (a stocking stuffer, perhaps). Everything in the book is wrapped up neatly as Hamish solves the small mysteries and manages to bring happiness to several people. The ending is particularly delightful and I couldn't help but smile as I finished reading the book. Readers will love the Christmas gift Hamish gets. "A Highland Christmas" is a quick and enjoyable read - perfect for this busy time of year. | ||
 | Leslie Sansone - Miracle Mile: Walk 1 Mile | |
| "Truly is a Miracle" | 2007-11-15 |
| Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2FUN11RN8Z36R When I first started exercising, I was pretty much out of shape and had a hard time not only building up my stamina, but finding exercises that I could do. The Miracle Mile was the first exercise routine I found that was easy enough for me to do, yet still helped me get in shape. I've increased my workout level now, but I still do the Miracle Mile every so often when I only have a few minutes to exercise. | ||
 | Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds - Walk and Jog | |
| "Lots of Fun" | 2007-11-13 |
| Leslie Sansone's "Walk and Jog" is thirty minutes of a mixture of low impact and high impact exercising. It combines the four basic steps that Leslie always uses - walking in place, side steps, knee lifts, and kicking - with four jogging intervals. For those who feel the jogging intervals are too much, there is one person who does a walking routine instead of jogging so you can follow her if you want to. According to Leslie, the workout is equivalent to a 2 ½ mile walk, although the pedometer I wore said two miles at the end of the program.
While I'm a huge Leslie Sansone fan and have been doing her one and two mile walks for some time, I was afraid "Walk and Jog" would be a little too intense an exercise routine for me. I was pleasantly surprised. The jogging intervals are nicely spaced apart and combine jogging back and forth with either kicks or leg swings. The transition from walking to jogging is smoothly done - you walk up two and back two and gradually turn that into jogging back and forth. When the jogging interval is done, you jog forward and backward gradually turning the jogging back into walking up two and back two. The kicks and side swings done during the jogging interval add a lot of fun to the routine. The jogging intervals are not as varied as I would have liked, but they last just long enough. I did vary some of the routine (lunges) when I thought it was more than I could handle. As always, Leslie adds in arm movements throughout the routine for a total body workout. I'm a huge Leslie fan, but I'll be the first to admit her exercise DVD's aren't always perfect. She can be off in her count, she sometimes tells you to do the wrong thing (for example, she says to kick when she means to do knee lifts), and her advise on how to hydrate before exercising takes place far too late in the DVD. However, one of the reasons I like Leslie's exercise routines is because of the very fact that she can be a bit goofy. I'd much rather do an exercise DVD hosted by someone who is a little unpolished, it gives me hope since I can be a little uncoordinated. I really enjoy exercising with "Walk and Jog". | ||
 | Undead and Unemployed (Berkley Sensation) | |
| "Funny, but Light Read" | 2007-11-09 |
| Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor won't let a little thing like being undead keep her from getting a job. She manages to land the perfect job for her, selling designer shoes at Macy's. She'd be happy if she could just work at Macy's and forget the vampire stuff, but someone is killing off vampires and the other vampires want their Queen to stop the killing. When Betsy herself is targeted, she is able to identify and catch the would-be killers, but even they don't know who their ringleader is. Betsy, her vampire friends (including the sexy Sinclair), and her non-vampire friends Marc and Jessica, team up with Father Markus and his group of Blade Warriors to find out just who is behind the vampire killings. As if Betsy wasn't busy enough selling shoes and tracking down vampire killers, she's also trying to help a mysterious little girl, Marie, find her mother.
"Undead and Unemployed" is the second book in Mary Janice Davidson's Queen Betsy series (the first is Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)). It's a very funny but light read. While Betsy is an engaging character, she's a bit too shallow, especially considering all she's been through. While her job at Macy's is perfect for her, that plot line is never really developed since Betsy never seems to actually go to work. Davidson has a lot of fun tweaking the vampire myth. Betsy is unharmed by Holy Water, crucifixes, and even wooden stakes. The addition of Father Markus is a nice, humorous touch. The other supporting characters are nicely done, especially Jessica, my favorite character in the series. While there are plenty of funny bits in the book, a barbecue at Betsy's father's house is especially funny; the plot line is very thin and relies a bit too much on humor. For example, the Blade Warriors name seems to exist merely so that Betsy can make fun of it (Bloody Warthogs, Word Barriers, Blond Warriors) which is funny for awhile but wears thin. Readers will catch on to Marie's secret long before Betsy does. The ending of the book simply sets up for another sequel. Readers looking for mindless entertainment will enjoy "Undead and Unemployed". | ||
 | From Here to Paternity (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Quite Enjoyable" | 2007-10-19 |
| Jane Jeffry, her three children, and boyfriend Mel Van Dyne have traveled to Colorado with Jane's friend Shelley Nowack and her family. Shelley's husband Paul is interested in investing in a ski resort and Jane and Shelly have been invited to check out the place. The ski resort is gorgeous and Jane is enjoying her brief escape from her everyday life of cooking, cleaning, and car pools. But their relaxing stay is interrupted when one of the guests at the resort is found dead. The local sheriff doesn't find the death suspicious even though Mel does. But the sheriff can't deny it is murder when Jane skis into a snowman that is hiding a dead body. There are plenty of suspects at the resort including genealogists and a tribe of Indians who had a very real reason to want the murder victim dead. But the Sheriff seems to be focusing on Jane as the killer and she works to clear her name before her vacation in Colorado turns out to be a permanent visit. "From Here to Paternity" is another good cozy mystery by Jill Churchill. It gets off to a somewhat awkward start as Jane explains to Mel the reason why they are in Colorado - necessary for Churchill to set the stage for readers - but awkward since certainly they would have discussed it long before they arrived in Colorado. But the book quickly picks up after that and is quite enjoyable. I loved the ski resort setting and if it really existed I'd be packing my bags and hopping on a plane for a visit. The ski resort is also a good setting for diverse characters such as dentist Ronald Lucke (better known as "Lucky"); Hawk Hunter, an Indian who claims the ski resort is on Indian property; cleaning woman Linda Moosefoot; and the annoying Doris Schmidtheiser. The book has several subplots including one involving the Tsar of Russia and one involving who should own the ski resort, that all tie together at the end of the book. The mystery is well written and well plotted and it's a nice touch having Mel bang heads with the local Sheriff. There's a gentle sense of humor throughout the book that makes it very enjoyable (including Jane and Shelley trying to figure out what is the real name of the sheriff). "From Here to Paternity" is a quite enjoyable cozy mystery. | ||
 | Stranger Than Fiction | |
| "Enjoyable Movie" | 2007-10-17 |
| Harold Crick is an ordinary man with an ordinary life. He's an IRS agent, with few friends and a regimented life - getting up at the same time every morning, leaving the house at the same time to go to work, and going to bed at the same time each night. He is slightly obsessed with numbers - he compulsively counts things like how many times he brushes his teeth, how many steps he takes, and can quickly add sums up in his head. Harold is perfectly content with his life until two things happen that will forever change his life - he starts hearing a voice in his head that is narrating his life story and he audits a baker and falls for her. Just hearing the voice in his head is enough to freak him out, but when the voice states that he is going to die, he tries to seek the author of his life story and stop her from killing him off. "Stranger Than Fiction" is a sometimes funny and sometimes serious and moving film. You don't want to think too much about the premise - is Harold real, a fictional character in a book, or both - but just sit back and enjoy the ride. Harold is a well-done character who thinks only about work and is a bit colorless (cleverly shown by director Marc Forster - much of Harold's work place is white). His romance with baker Ana Pascal is very sweet, although her reason for not paying her taxes and being audited could have been done better. The idea of having someone in his head narrating his story is intriguing and played for the most part with gentle humor as Harold consults first a psychiatrist and then a college professor to try and find out what is going on. The film does veer into a seriousness that can be a bit jarring when Harold discusses his imminent death. For the most part, the movie does a good job of juggling the humor and the drama, although I do wish that director Forster hadn't called so much attention to a sight gag involving a blackboard and trusted his audience to catch the joke. The acting is excellent starting with Will Ferrell as Harold and he is especially effective when Harold has to make a major decision about his life. Maggie Gyllenhaal is perky and cute as Ana. Emma Thompson is perfect as tormented author Karen Eiffel who not only has a severe case of writer's block but also can't believe one of her characters has come to life. Queen Latifah is fine but wasted in a small part as Eiffel's helper. Finally, Dustin Hoffman all but steals the movie as self-absorbed Professor Jules Hilbert. "Stranger Than Fiction" is an enjoyable film. | ||
 | A Knife to Remember (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Enjoyable Cozy Mystery" | 2007-10-10 |
| Jane Jeffry, Shelley Nowack, and the rest of their neighbors are thrilled that a Hollywood movie is being filmed in the field behind their houses. Initially they enjoy meeting actors such as Lynette Harwell and George Abington as well as director Roberto Cavagnari. They also enjoy the glimpses into what goes on behind the scenes of a major movie. But Jane and Shelley soon find out the truth behind the glamour - Lynette is totally spoiled, thinking only of herself and not noticing or caring who she hurts as long as she gets her own way. So when property master Jake Elder is murdered, Lynette barely seems to notice. But Jane does - her boyfriend Detective Mel VanDyne is in charge of the murder investigation and unless he solves the case quickly, he won't be able to go away for the weekend with Jane. So Jane, with Shelley's help, begins to question the actors and others on the set, not only to solve the murder but also to find out who trashed her kitchen. And when there is a second murder, and Jane is now a suspect, she has even more incentive to find the killer.
"A Knife to Remember" by Jill Churchill is a nicely done cozy mystery. The movie setting is a lot of fun and a nice change of pace from the other Jane Jeffry mysteries. The behind the scenes look into the movies was very interesting. The various actors and their personalities add a lot to the book, especially the spoiled Lynnette and the people working behind the scenes in the movie, notably nurse Maisie Valkenberg, Lynette's devoted helper Olive Longabach, and Jake's assistant Butch Kowalski. Jane is a fully developed character at this point in the series, ready to move into a deeper relationship with Mel yet still capable of being hurt when she finds out about yet another of her late husband's indiscretions. Her worries over how to tell her children she is going away for the weekend with Mel is well written and very believable. One of the things I like best about this series is how well Churchill captures the aspects of family life especially Jane's struggles as a single parent and in dealing with her children, especially Katie, who is struggling with her hormones. There's a delightful scene in the book where Katie and Jane put their differences aside and work together to make clothespin dolls. Scenes like that are what makes this series so enjoyable. The mystery itself is well plotted, with plenty of suspects and I love the way Churchill gives Jane a legitimate reason for investigating the murder. As often happens in this series, the scene where the killer is revealed reads like something out of an Agatha Christie mystery. Finally, the very end of the book is sure to make readers smile. "A Knife to Remember" is a great cozy mystery. | ||
 | The Class Menagerie (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Nicely Done Cozy Mystery" | 2007-09-26 |
| Jane Jeffry agrees to help her friend Shelley Nowack during Shelley's class reunion. Several of Shelley's former classmates will be staying at a local Bed and Breakfast that has just opened and is short on staff. Jane thinks the job will be fairly easy but she is surprised by all the gossip and innuendoes going on and even less pleasantly surprised when someone starts playing practical jokes on all the former classmates. But the gossip and practical jokes are nothing compared to murder - while doing her cleaning chores, Jane stumbles across the body of one of the classmates. All of the classmates are suspects in her murder and Jane and Shelley wonder if the murder is related to the death of a classmate who apparently committed suicide during their senior year in high school. As it turns out, all of the former classmates have secrets they'd like to keep and the murder victim may have been blackmailing several of them. It's up to Jane (with the reluctant agreement of close friend, detective Mel Van Dyne) to discover which classmate would turn to murder to keep those secrets buried.
Jill Churchill's "The Class Menagerie" is a nicely done cozy mystery. Setting it at a high school reunion is a good idea, since it not only focuses on the women now, but what they were like in high school, making them fully developed characters. The fact that a high school senior killed himself is always in the background (the Bed and Breakfast used to be his family's house) and it's easy to dismiss it without realizing how important it is to the story, which adds an element of surprise to the book. One thing I really liked in the book is Jane's reaction to finding the dead body; it was a very human and believable response. Although this is Shelley's class reunion, she disappears for large chunks of the book, so it is truly Jane's mystery. The characters are all well written and I could picture the classmates as I was reading it, especially poor Pooky and her botched cosmetic procedure. Since Jane spends much of her time working at the class reunion, we don't see as much of her family as we have in past books, but I enjoyed the glimpses we did get, especially Mike as he tries to decide what college he wants to attend. As always, I enjoy the relationship between Jane and Mel which takes a major step forward in this book. While the mystery is well plotted and well written, I did figure out who the murderer was early on in the book. However, I was completely baffled by who was playing practical jokes and Churchill deserves applause for writing that plot line so well (readers need to pay attention to what may seem liking meaningless action in the book). "The Class Menagerie" is another winner by Jill Churchill. | ||
 | Quiche Before Dying (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Nicely Done Cozy Mystery" | 2007-09-12 |
| Jane Jeffry's mother Cecily is in town on a visit and she and Jane sign up for a writing class at the local community center. Cecily has traveled all over the world and thinks the class on writing autobiographies is a good way of preserving her memories. Jane and her friend Shelley Nowack are taking the class to keep Cecily company, but Jane soon discovers she may have a talent for writing. Jane's enjoying the class, although she wishes the obnoxious Agnes Pryce hadn't signed up as well. Jane's not the only one who doesn't like Mrs. Pryce and when she demands that the entire class attend a pot luck dinner at her house, someone takes the opportunity to poison Mrs. Pryce's quiche during that dinner. Even though the police, including Jane's friend Detective Mel Van Dyne, are investigating the murder, Jane does a little snooping of her own, since someone used the quiche that Jane made to poison Mrs. Pryce. When someone starts leaving Jane a series of clues, she realizes who the murderer is and that the truth isn't always easy to handle.
"A Quiche Before Dying" is another delightful entry in Jill Churchill's Jane Jeffry cozy mystery series. In this, the third book in the series, Jane is really developing as a character, as she is leaving the memory of her late husband behind and coming into her own as a person. The little tidbits about the writing class and Jane's discovery that she may have the talent to be a writer are a fascinating glimpse into the world of writing. Two of Jane's children, Mike and Todd, are away for most of the book, but Jane's interactions with her daughter Katie add to the realism in the book. And it was nice to meet Jane's mother Cecily, who added yet another dimension to Jane's character. I also loved the way the romance between Jane and Mel is developing. Jane's writing classmates and teacher are all well written and great suspects: teacher Missy who writes romance novels; the affable Grady Wells; sisters Ruth Rogers and Naomi Smith; the offbeat Desiree Loftus; and ex-military man Bob Neufield. The mystery elements are well written and well plotted and with so many suspects readers will have fun trying to figure out who the killer is. Churchill has a tendency for Agatha Christie like scenes in her books when the murderer is revealed, which can be a bit unbelievable, but in this case it does add some poignancy to the end of this book. "A Quiche Before Dying" is a nicely done cozy mystery. | ||
 | Farewell to Yarns (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Well Written and Plotted Cozy Mystery" | 2007-09-05 |
| This will be the first Christmas since Jane Jeffry lost her husband in a car accident and she's determined to make it a good one for her three children, Mike, Katie, and Todd. Jane thinks she has everything under control (as much as anyone can during the holidays), even having time to crochet an afghan for an upcoming Christmas bazaar, but she is thrown for a loop when an old friend, Phyllis Wagner, tells Jane she is coming for a visit. Jane hasn't seen Phyllis in years and is wondering why Phyllis would want to spend Christmas with her instead of her rich and seemingly devoted husband. However, Jane gets an inkling of what is going on when Phyllis shows up with her long lost and extremely obnoxious son, Bobby. Phyllis settles in quickly, quickly buying a house in Jane's neighborhood, but is just as quickly murdered. There are plenty of suspects, including Bobby, Phyllis's husband Chet, and Chet's son John. A second murder narrows the list of suspects even further. Jane has been involved in murder investigations before and doesn't mind helping hunky detective Mel Van Dyne as he investigates this one. "A Farewell to Yarns" is the delightful follow-up to Jill Churchill's first Jane Jeffry mystery Grime and Punishment (Jane Jeffrey Mystery Series #1). Jane continues to grow as a character - she can be strong willed yet find herself agreeing to open her house to someone she hasn't seen in years. Jane's friend Shelly Nowack also continues to grow as a character - she is a voice of reason when Jane isn't strong enough to do it herself and her helping Jane's kids plan a Christmas surprise for her was a great touch in the book. One of the things Churchill does best in the series is when she describes the world of the suburban housewife - most of the women in the series are stay at home mothers and I love the glimpses into their lives as Jane juggles carpooling for three children, volunteer activities, Christmas decorating, shopping, and crocheting an afghan for the bazaar. Mike's Christmas concert is a good example of how the small details make the book better. I also loved the details about the bazaar, especially when to came to pricing the items for sale. The minor characters are all well done especially Chet, Fiona and Albert Howard, Jane's "Uncle" Jim, and the always-delightful Suzie Williams. The romance between Jane and Mel is a nice, slow one, understandable because of the recent death of her husband, and it takes a step forward by the end of this book. The mystery is well plotted and had several intriguing twists, especially at the end, that will surprise readers. "A Farewell to Yarns" is a well-done cozy mystery. | ||
 | Death in Duplicate | |
| "One of her best" | 2007-08-23 |
| Susan and Jed Henshaw are thrilled to become grandparents for the first time when their daughter Chrissy gives birth to twins. Susan is even more thrilled when Chrissy, her husband Stephen, and the twins move in with them until they find a place to live. Twins are a lot of work and Chrissy and Stephen hire a baby nurse, Shannon Tapley, to help out. Things are a bit hectic but everything is going okay until Susan's next door neighbor, Nadine Barnes, recognizes Shannon and tells Susan that Shannon was a suspect in several deaths at a nearby nursing home. Susan is still dealing with that revelation when Nadine is discovered murdered in her own kitchen. Really worried now, but not sure how much to tell the police, Susan, with some help from her friend, Kathleen Gordon, begins to investigate not only Nadine's death, but also the events at the nursing home. When a second murder occurs, Susan begins to think she should pull back and let the police do the work. But the killer may already believe that Susan has gotten a little too close to the truth and may try to stop her.
I've read many of Valerie Wolzien's Susan Henshaw mysteries and "Death in Duplicate" is one of the best in the series. Susan is a good strong character, willing to do what it takes to protect her family. While she's not in this book as much as she is in other books in the series, ex-policewoman, Kathleen Gordon, adds a lot to the scenes she is in. As in all the other Susan Henshaw mysteries, Susan's husband Jed is a bit bland as is her daughter Chrissy (this is truly Susan's book and series). Shannon is the standout among the supporting characters, wanting to protect her cousin Mike who is the chief suspect, yet afraid he really is the killer. A couple of the nursing home residents, Sally and Tally, add a lot to the book. Wolzien seems to be well aware of her readers thoughts - just when I was wondering why Susan knew so much more than the police, Wolzien lets readers know that police chief Brett Fortescue is well aware that Susan is withholding information. There's a nice sense of humor throughout the book (I loved Stephen's parents Rhythm and Blues) and some of the humor is tongue in cheek like when many people recognize Susan as a bit of a celebrity because she's had her picture in the paper from solving other cases. The mystery is well plotted and while there aren't a lot of suspects, I thought I knew who the murderer was, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was completely wrong. "Death in Duplicate" is a great cozy mystery. | ||
 | Grime and Punishment (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Great Debut" | 2007-08-13 |
| Jane Jeffrey is struggling to rebuild her life and make her children's life as normal as possible after the death of her husband in a car accident seven months earlier. She feels that life is starting to get back to normal, but that normalcy is shattered when a cleaning woman is murdered at the house next door which belongs to her friend Shelley Nowack. Shelly and Jane are understandably upset about the murder and worry about the safety of their children, so even though the police are looking into the murder they begin a little investigating on their own. They have plenty of suspects - there was going to be a gathering at Shelley's house and people were in and out of the house dropping off food all day long. In fact, Jane even wonders if Shelley could be the killer. As Jane investigates, she realizes that several people had secrets they wanted to stay secret, secrets they could be blackmailed for and might even kill to keep secret. When Jane gets a little too close to the truth and a threatening note is left on her bed, she knows she has to solve the case quickly before she or someone in her family is hurt.
"Grime and Punishment" is the delightful first book in Jill Churchill's Jane Jeffrey cozy mystery series. Jane is a well-written character - a single mother struggling not only to raise three young children, but also trying to accept the circumstances behind her husband's death. Her children - Mike, Katie, and Todd - are also well written and some of the best parts of the book are the scenes with Jane and her children going about their every day life. I especially liked the fact that Jane volunteered to drive blind children, it added a nice dimension to her character. Jane's method of investigating the murder was a bit unorthodox, my jaw dropped when she came right out and asked a suspect why she was being blackmailed, but she quickly won my sympathy when her abruptness backfired on her and she learned something that hurt her. Shelley is also well written - attractive, a bit too perfect and bossy, living in a house that is immaculate before the cleaning lady even gets there, and a penchant for driving too fast. Of the supporting characters, my favorite is Jane's "Uncle" Jim, a policeman who is a surrogate father to Jane and will do anything he can to protect her. The mystery is well plotted and the number of people that had access to Shelley's house means that the readers will have fun trying to pick the killer from the long list of suspects and at the end of the book, readers will want to go back through it to see all the clues Churchill cleverly planted throughout. The method Churchill uses to reveal the killer is a bit unbelievable but still a lot of fun. "Grime and Punishment" is a nice, fun cozy mystery. | ||
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