Thursday, October 2, 2025

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

October 2, 2025

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Martha Ballard is a midwife who also acts as healer and coroner for the small community of Hallowell, Maine. When a body is pulled from the river, Martha is called to examine the corpse and determine the cause of death. She soon discovers that the man was murdered and then thrown in the river. But the case becomes more complicated when she learns that the dead man along with another of the town's prominent citizens had been accused of rape.

Based on the diary of a midwife in 18th century Maine. Martha's diary was at first discounted as not being of any historical importance since most of her entries record the daily life of an 18th century woman, which were wonderfully adapted by the author. But it also contains glimpses of the world around her, particularly where the law in concerned. She refers to her husband's friend Paul, who turns out to be Paul Revere (yes, that Paul Revere). Revere actually borrowed a horse from Martha's husband Ephraim to make his famous ride. I listened to the audiobook of this historical novel, and I can see that it might be a slog to read since story moves as slowly as a frozen river thawing. Possible triggers include descriptions of rape, misogyny, and injustice. Will appeal to readers who enjoy reading about strong yet little known female characters.

Sawmill circa 18th c.


The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

September 26, 2025

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

Margo is a rare collectibles dealer in London, accustomed to sourcing items for wealthy clients. When a new client hires her to locate a rare book, she assumes it will be just another job. But when a friend who is a rare book dealer is murdered, Margo discovers that there are others searching to the book, and they will stop at nothing to find it first.

One of my selections for Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month. Triple timeline with three female main characters: present day London, and Havana in 1900 and 1966. A rare book ties all three storylines together. I kept reading to find out what was so special about the book that someone would kill for it. Some mystery, some intrigue, some romance. Will appeal to readers who enjoy books about books.


Havana in the 1960s - they are still driving those kinds of cars today

Five Decembers by James Kestrel

September 25, 2025

Five Decembers by James Kestrel

In early December 1941, Detective Joe McGrady is new to the Honolulu police department, having been recently discharged from the Army. One rainy night, his captain sends him out to a dairy farm to investigate a wild story told by a drunken farm worker of finding a dead body hanging in a shed. Little does Joe know that the case will take him to China and Japan, far from the woman he loves as he chases down a vicious killer.

Winner of the Edgar award, a traditional noir mystery with the traditional hard-boiled crime cover, beginning in Honolulu in December 1941. Gritty, violent, bloody. There are shocking descriptions of Tokyo after it was fire-bombed by American bombers. It turns out the Americans didn't need the atomic bomb after all - since almost all the buildings in Japan were made of wood, regular fire bombs wreaked just as much destruction as the A-bomb (see picture below). This is a can't-put-down read - I read a third of the book the day that I started it. Readers who enjoy the grit lit fiction of James Ellroy or James McCain or even Don Winslow will enjoy this classic noir.

Tokyo after the fire bombing 



I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney

September 18, 2025

I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney

Bud Stanley is a middle aged man who is having a bad year. He is bored stiff with his job as an obituary writer, his wife left him for what he admits is a far more interesting man, and his attempts at dating backfire. So one night after a particularly disastrous blind date and too many drinks, he writes his own obituary and accidentally uploads it to the newspaper's website. Oops. Suspended from the paper, Bud starts going to the wakes and funerals of strangers to try to reconnect with the living.

A funny rouching novel about life, dealing with grief, middle age, and the lingering effects of trauma, especially for middle aged men (who are taught from childhood that they are not supposed to cry or let their feelings show). Bud has wonderful friends (Tim, Tuan, Howard) which makes him luckier than he realizes. Ultimately, the message here is that life is precious and we never know how long we're going to get. If you enjoy the writing of Richard Russo or Andrew Sean Greer, you'll enjoy the fumblings of Kenney's Everyman.

I had no idea that there is even a template for an obituary


How to be a Saint by Kate Sidley

September 16, 2025

How to be a Saint by Kate Sidley

A tongue in cheek look at the process of sainthood as well as some of the whackier saints, written by Kate Sidley, one of the writers for Stephen Colbert's The Late Show. She notes that the first prerequisite is, you have to die. The cover art is an image of St. Denis, who after he was beheaded, picked up his head and walked for six miles to the spot where he wanted his cathedral built. Not for anyone who is a very devout Catholic but if you enjoy a little heresy with your religion, you will probably enjoy this.