Hello Again!

I am very pleased to be back from the international writing event, NaNo.  You may notice that D's Bookshelves has a new look; one that I hope you will like.

NaNoWriMo

I am taking a break from everything, including reading.  I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month, in which I have 30 days to write 50,000 words toward writing my novel.

See you in December!

Dust to Dust by Tami Hoag

“Dust to Dust” is the second book of the Kovac and Liska series.  This series is a collection of fast-paced murder mysteries.  This book, as with all of Ms. Hoag’s work, is full of twists and turns.

Both Kovak and Liska are seasoned cops in the homicide department.  They have their own rules, but as they are consistent in bring the bad guy to justice, their superiors often look the other way instead of questioning their methods.

This time, they are working on a closed case against orders from Internal Affairs (IA).  The warnings and threats fell on deaf ears as they tear into this murder that was ruled a suicide.  Opening the case causes all kinds of havoc, including the suicide of the victim’s father.  Or was it another murder?

Each of the books in this series are able to stand alone, but I wouldn’t want to miss one of Kovak and Liska’s stories.  I give this story 5 stars, as it kept me going up to the very end.

The Case of the Discontented Soldier by Agatha Christie

Parker Pyne is at it again.  Ms. Christie’s “social worker of yesteryear” is answering the needs of a soldier who was bored with his life.  Major Wilbraham has just returned from East Africa and he is dissatisfied with his life in the slow lane.  He needs excitement.  As usual, Mr. Pyne provides what his customer needs.

The Major saves a damsel in distress, and fell head-over-heels for this gorgeous creature.  As the day goes on, they find themselves embroiled in a life or death situation.  Of course, the Major is a gentleman and not afraid of danger, so he is called upon again, to save the day. Unbeknownst to him, he was living out a plot that was written by another well-known character in Ms. Christie’s imagination: Miss Oliver, the apple eating writer. 

This was a fast read and very fun story.  I give it 4 stars.

The Case of the Middle-aged Wife

Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are old friends of mine.  This short story by Ms. Christie, features Parker Pyne as her new main character.  I found this story delightful and light, but definitely veering away from the normal Christie mystery.  I didn’t find the mystery or the murder in this book. 

Parker Pyne has a strange business; to make others who are unhappy, happy.  The unfulfilled wife, Mrs. Packington, answers an ad that Parker put in the newspaper; “Are you happy?  If not, contact Mr. Parker Pyne, 17 Richmond Street."  Our Mrs. Packington nervously goes to see Mr. Pyne and is immediately swept away on a fantasy affair set up just for her.

This story was an extra fast read and written in Agatha Christie’s style, though not in the same genre.  I give this story 4 stars and would suggest it to anyone over thirteen years old, as it is very “clean” and entertaining.  

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

'The Apprentice', by Tess Gerritsen, is the second of the Rizzoli and Isles series. When Rizzoli finally puts Warren Hoyt, otherwise known as The Surgeon, in prison for life, she thought that she was through with him.  Just like 'The Surgeon', which was first of this series, 'The Apprentice' is a real page turner.  

Detective Rizzoli gets called into a string of murders because the MO is the same as her old nemesis, Warren Hoyt.  Hoyt, the man of her nightmares. 

Hoyt.  The man who pinned her to the floor with a scapel in both of her hands. Hoyt.  The devil incarnate.  

Even from his prison cell, it seems as though he was still killing.  A copycat? Doubtful.  Jane Rizzoli believed that Hoyt had somehow engineered these murders.  Every detail was there, from the teacup on the husband's knee to the folded nightgown in the bedroom.  It was Hoyt all over.  Jane gets the courage up to face Hoyt in prison.  She is looking for some answers to questions that would help her solve these murders.  Hoyt, who is obsessed with Jane, was pleased that she had come to him, but was no help, of course.  Maura Isles, the Medical Examiner, helps to keep her best friend, Jane, on an even keel, working tirelessly to find this maniacal killer.  Every murder that Jane worked in the case, brings more memories of Hoyt to her mind. 

We see the world through Rizzoli's eyes and feel the hate that she has for the one man that she cannot get out of her life, Hoyt.  Ms. Gerritsen has done it again.  I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Apprentice' and gave it 5 stars.  I am looking forward to more of Rizzoli and Isles books.

The Wedding Wipeout

The Wedding Wipeout

By Jacob M. Appel

“Wedding Wipeout”, by Jacob M. Appel, is a light hearted murder mystery with as its two main characters, Rabbi Kappelmacher and his assistant, Steinmetz.  The story starts when two elderly sisters, Florence and Lorraine, are left a substantial amount of money with one stipulation; that they should never marry. If one of them did, they would break the will and the entire estate would go to the unmarried sister.  They lived together as old spinsters for forty-three years, until Florence fell in love and decided to marry, breaking the trust.  On the wedding night, Florence mysteriously died.  When Rabbi Kappelmacher was made aware of the puzzle, he was immediately interested in solving it, and decided that he, along with his assistant, would crack the case.

Mr. Appel creates a list of characters ranging from a mischievous Rabbi and his sidekick, Steinmetz; to the nosy neighbor, who’s as bitter as she is nosy; to the playboy nephew, Fred.  “The Wedding Wipeout” kept me laughing from the beginning of this amusing story to its surprise ending.  I give this delightful book five stars and cannot wait to read Mr. Appel’s other works.