The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

June 4, 2025

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Sybil is a lifelong letter writer, even in the modern age of email. She is divorced, a mother and grandmother, and a retired lawyer. She has a disease that she is hiding from her children, that is causing her to lose her eyesight. Sybil is enjoying her retirement until she is asked to speak at the funeral of her former law partner. Following the funeral, she begins receiving anonymous hate mail from a disgruntled litigant.

I loved this! It is definitely the best book I’ve read so far this year. It’s literary fiction and completely written in the form of letters. Sybil and I would have gotten along well since I’ve read all the books that she mentions in her letters. Blindness seems to be a metaphor for a lot that is going on in the novel. Will appeal to readers who enjoy Ann Patchett and Fredrik Backman. Highly recommended. 

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

May 14, 2024

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

Lawyer Any Carpenter and his ex-cop wife Laurie Collins return with a new case. This time, Andy is defending a man wrongly accused of a mass shooting at a law firm. The more they dig, the more irregularities they uncover.

The latest entry in a very enjoyable mystery series does not disappoint. The mystery here involves the Dark Web, a complex conspiracy, and a mass shooting, all of which could be taken from a daily newscast. I love Andy's snarky sense of humor, the quirky supporting characters, and there are dogs - what more do you need?

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Paterson, New Jersey

What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris

February 20, 2024

What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris

Lawyer Deena Wood's life is in tatters: her marriage has gone down in flames, she lost her prestigious job in Atlanta, and she is still reeling from her mother's death. She returns to her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia, where her father married her mother's close friend Ruth a few months after her mother's death. Trapped in a dead-end job, living in her childhood home, Deena is trying to re-make her life, when she encounters an elderly man living on one of the islands off the Georgia coast. When he goes missing, she feels compelled to find out what happened to him.

I don't particularly care for mysteries with a supernatural element, but if that's your jam, you'll probably like this one. For me, it was just okay. I did not find Deena to be a likeable or sympathetic character: she is almost completely self-focused (which she should have grown out of, since she's almost 40), and has little empathy for anyone else. She views her dad's second wife as someone who always coveted what her mother had. It doesn't occur to her that her dad is lonely after his wife's death, or that maybe her mom's best friend misses her too. Unbelievably, a GUY has to explain this to her. 

The plot focuses on the difficulties of lower and middle income people (particularly in the South) when it comes to proving ownership and inheritance of property that has been in their families for years, yet there is no paperwork to support their claims. The author's plotting can be complicated at times. There are also a lot of characters, and it's hard to keep them all straight. I figured out about halfway through the book who the real mastermind was. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Brunswick, Georgia

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

February 25, 2023

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

After divorcing her abusive husband 12 years earlier, Olivia McAfee and her son Asher live a quiet life in New Hampshire. Olivia has a successful beekeeping business, and her son is a high school senior and star hockey player. When Asher's girlfriend is found dead, Asher is accused of murder. But in the course of the trial, unexpected facts are revealed that point to another suspect.

Picoult once again takes on current topics, including domestic violence, abusive fathers, and gender reassignment/correction. I believe this is her first collaboration with another author for a full-length novel. Like most of her books, the reader is seeking answers most of the way through the book (although I guessed the truth shortly after Lily, the girlfriend, is discovered at the foot of the stairs). The characters backstories are gradually revealed in flashbacks; Lily's story is told backward, from the day of her death to the time she and her mother moved to New Hampshire. Olivia's history with her abusive doctor husband isn't much of a surprise (you never know what's going on inside a marriage), but the episodes of abuse go on longer than necessary - does the reader need to hear about EVERY time Brandon abused Olivia? I also got tired of the teenaged angst (why hasn't he called me? did she break up with me? does he still like me? is she sorry she slept with me? Lotsa drama), and there was a lot of repetition. Really, the book could have been 100 pages shorter without damaging the narrative, and considering how long the book was, there was no resolution with either of the fathers - one minute they're part of the story, and the next minute they're just gone. I'm glad I stuck with it, because the story got more interesting about halfway in. I listened to the audiobook which had two different narrators for Olivia and Lily. 

The parts about bees and beekeeping were interesting, and often had parallels to the story. Mad honey is apparently a type of honey that can make you very sick or affect your mind if you eat it. Personally, I don't like the taste of honey (although I have a honey and orange blossom shampoo from Beekman 1802 that smells divine), and I have a mild allergy to bee stings.

This would be an excellent choice for a book club since there are many topics to discuss. Recommended.

Different types of beehives

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

November 15, 2022

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

It's almost the holiday season. On his way to a charity dinner, Mayor Alex Oliva is shot and killed in his driveway. Lawyer Andy Carpenter is drawn into the case when his Golden Retriever Tara digs up a body in the local park. After a reporter who had a grudge against the mayor is arrested for the crime, the editor of the local paper asks Andy to represent the reporter. But when a second person is killed, Andy suspects there is more going on than just an unhappy constituent. 

Fun holiday read. As usual, reluctant lawyer Andy lets his friends sucker him into taking on another case that he doesn't want. It's not necessary to read the series in order. If you like lighter mysteries and dogs, this series is a good choice.

BTW - Andy believes that Tara, his Golden Retriever, is the best Golden Retriever ever, but he's wrong - that title goes to my Golden Retriever Luke.

Paterson, NJ, Andy's hometown

Tombland by C. J. Sansom

November 14, 2021

Tombland by C. J. Sansom

Spring 1549 - With a child king on the throne, England is heading into chaos. Radical Protestants are waging war on Catholics, the Protector's war in Scotland is a disaster, and the economy is collapsing. Lawyer Matthew Shardlake is working for the Lady Elizabeth, Henry VIII's younger daughter. The murder of Edith Boleyn, a distant relative of her mother, could have political consequences for Elizabeth.

I love this series, but this is my least favorite book thus far. It is well-researched like all of the books in this series since the author is an historian. But it's way too long, and the author focuses too much on Kett's rebellion in Norfolk - the book would have been 400 pages shorter (basically the last half of the book could have been edited out - it's mostly history, not mystery). Sansom should have stuck with Edith's murder. If he wanted to write a book about Kett's rebellion, it should have been a separate nonfiction book.

The next book, #8 in the series, is coming out toward the end of 2022.

Map of Kett's rebellion in Norfolk

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

August 8, 2021

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

Bombay, 1921 - When a female Parsi student is murdered, Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay, is determined to get justice for the family. At the same time, Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VIII, the one who abdicates to marry Wallis Simpson) is arriving in India for a four month visit. India chafes under British rule and tensions in the city are high. Perveen isn't surprised when the unrest escalates into riots. Her task is further complicated by racial protests and conflicts between the various religious groups (Parsi, Hindi, Buddhist, Muslim. etc.) as well as the social classes.

Prince Edward's visit to India in 1921 was a complete disaster. There was unrest throughout the country, which is accurately depicted in the novel. I enjoy Massey's Perveen Mistry series, but this one focuses more on political issues than earlier books. Indian independence, the place of women in Indian culture and society, and India's history with England are more front and center than before. The mystery is almost secondary to the political and social issues.

Edward, Prince of Wales, visiting India, 1921

Lamentation by C. J. Sansom

February 4, 2021

Lamentation by C. J. Sansom

Summer 1546 - as Henry VIII lies dying, lawyer Matthew Shardlake is summoned to the palace by Queen Catherine Parr. As a Protestant supporter, Queen Catherine authored a distinctly Protestant tract which, if discovered by the Catholic faction, could bring about her arrest and execution. The manuscript has vanished from a locked chest, but a single page is found clutched in the hand of a murdered London printer.

At the same time, Matthew is dealing with a civil law case that is essentially a family feud regarding inheritance rights. Both cases are more complex than they first appear.

This is the sixth book in the Matthew Shardlake series. The titles in this series are well-researched and give an accurate picture of daily life of both courtiers and common people in the 16th century. There is seamless blending of real and fictional characters, and fiction with historic facts. This is one of my favorite historical series.  Highly recommended.

Heartstone by C. J. Sansom

December 24, 2020

Heartstone by C. J. Sansom

1545 - England is at war again.  Henry VIII's invasion of France was a catastrophe, and his subjects suffer under his increasing irrationality.  At the request of Queen Catherine Parr, lawyer Matthew Shardlake takes on a case of alleged abuse committed against a ward of the court. At the same time, Matthew is investigating the case of a woman residing in Bedlam (whom he met in the previous book). With his long-time assistant Jack Barak, Matthew travels to Portsmouth to investigate a strange family where one death has already occurred. They arrive just in time for the French invasion, which has disastrous consequences for the English navy.

This is the fifth book in the Matthew Shardlake series and it is a wonderful addition to the series.  Wonderful research seamlessly blending real and fictional characters. This is one of my favorite series and I look forward to the next book.

Revelation by C. J. Sansom

December 8, 2020

Revelation by C. J. Sansom

1543 - Henry VIII is courting a reluctant Lady Catherine Parr to become his 6th wife.  Lady C. is known for having reformist leanings, so the royal court and church officials are paying close attention.  At the same time, a young man who is a religious fanatic is committed to Bedlam for the insane.  His parents seek out lawyer Matthew Shardlake, hoping that he can assist their son. When an old friend of Matthew's is found murdered, Matthew discovers links to both situations.  Soon more murders occur that appear to have links to prophecies in the book of Revelations.

This is the 4th book in the Matthew Shardlake series, a wonderful historical series set during the time of the Tudors.  Lawyer Shardlake has links to the Tudor court through Thomas Cromwell and other members of the court.  If you like your mysteries steeped in excellent research, you will enjoy this series.

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom

 November 8, 2020

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom

1541 - With England in a state of political turmoil, Henry VIII sets out on a royal progression with his court to visit the far reaches of his realm and calm his troubled subjects.  Archbishop Cranmer tasks lawyer Matthew Shardlake with the unenviable job of ensuring that a suspected conspirator is returned safely to London to stand trial.  Shardlake also becomes involved in investigating the murder of a local businessman after pages found in the victim's possession that question the legitimacy of Henry VIII's reign.

This is book #3 in the Matthew Shardlake series.  Like the previous titles in the series, it is well-researched and provides a fascinating look at life in Tudor England in addition to a page-turning mystery.  The overall tone is darker than the first two books, but England was growing increasingly grim the longer Henry reigned.

Great series - highly recommended to fans of historical fiction.

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

September 10, 2019

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

Screenwriter Anthony Horowitz is once again approached by P. I. Daniel Hawthorne (both last seen in The Word is Murder) with a new case.  A wealthy and well-known divorce lawyer has been murdered by being hit over the head with an expensive bottle of bottle, and then stabbed with the bottle shards.  The number 182 is painted on the wall of the room where he was killed.  There are numerous suspects, all with secrets and good reasons to murder the lawyer, including the lawyer's husband, a couple of clients, and an old school friend.  Hawthorne wants writer Horowitz (who appears as a character in his own mystery) to once again be Watson to Hawthorne's Sherlock Holmes.

I loved Magpie Murders and was so disappointed that there weren’t really any Atticus Pund mysteries - Atticus Pund was a wonderful character.  While the Hawthorne mysteries are clever, they just aren't as good because P. I. Hawthorne is abrasive, racist, homophobic, and unlikeable.  Horowitz tries to make him sound mysterious but he’s not – he’s a secretive anti-social loner who treats other people with disdain.  There are a number of minor characters and side plots that really didn't add much to the mystery (the characters at the book club, Horowitz's agent, Lenny the informant, a couple of really brutal constables, etc.).  By the end of the book, even Horowitz is trying to break off his relationship with Hawthorne.

While this was an interesting mystery with a couple of good twists, I listened to the audio version and I disliked the reader – all of the characters except Hawthorne sound shrill and whiny.  I think I’ll stick to the print version for any future titles in the series.