Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

August 31, 2025

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

On the night of June 14, 1838, the boiler on the steamship Pulaski exploded, sinking the ship and killing 128 passengers and crew. Only 59 people survived. In 2018, the wreckage of the Pulaski was found off the coast of North Carolina. History professor Everly Winthrop is enlisted to curate the museum exhibit of artifacts found on the wreck.

DNF at 60%. I just didn't care about any of the characters, but especially not Everly and her mountains of baggage that the author keeps shoving at the reader. Also, Everly had an attitude of "I'm so much better than you are because I live here." I picked up this novel after seeing a program about the Pulaski on the Discovery Channel, where the author was interviewed about the disaster. The ship is called the Titanic of the South and had many of the same characteristics as the Titanic (loads of wealthy passengers, not enough lifeboats, valuing speed more than safety, etc.). I was far more interested in the lives of the people on the ship than I was in the present day characters. Disappointing since I have read and enjoyed other books by this author.

A model of the SS Pulaski

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

February 1, 2025

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

Charlotte Cross is an assistant curator for the Egyptian Art department at the Metropolitan Museum. For 15 years, she has spent her days cleaning up after the head curator, heading off problems that he regularly creates (and enjoys doing). Now she believes she has discovered information that overturns his work. But getting the necessary proof requires her to return to Egypt, where she suffered a tragedy 40 years earlier.

Although I have enjoyed several of the author's other books (The Dollhouse, The Address), I didn't care for this one as much. Too much drama, everything like an overwrought soap opera. A lot of the things that happened were completely outlandish (like a waitress with no experience landing a job as assistant to a major designer for the social event of the year). I know I'm in the minority here, since so many readers have given it rave reviews. I hope Fiona Davis' next book is better.

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

An example of an ancient Eqyptian collar piece like the one featured in the book

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

November 15, 2022

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

Ann Stilwell is a Renaissance art graduate student who is offered a summer internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but when she arrives, the only position available is at The Cloisters, a branch of MOMA that specializes in medieval art. At The Cloisters, Ann works with the stunning Rachel and Patrick, the equally stunning curator who is obsessed with finding an original tarot deck from the 15th century. When one of her co-workers is murdered, Ann realizes that she is part of a dangerous game.

I love all things medieval and I've always wanted to visit The Cloisters in New York. Medieval literature was one of my concentrations in grad school, so I was looking forward to reading Hays' novel. I loved the setting, and the descriptions of the museum and the gardens were wonderful. But the plot really dragged, and the characters were irritating. Ann was incredibly naive, Rachel vacillated between brilliant, manipulative, and extremely childish, and Patrick's only real interests were tarot and Rachel. There is also a lot about the cutthroat world of academia. I guess publishing houses don't have editors anymore?

Many thanks to Edeweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC. Wish I had liked it more.

The Cloisters museum in New York