Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

6)Wounded by Amy Lane (urban fantasy)348 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/11 Finished: 6/12

Why Read: I really liked the conceptualization, the relationships and the MCs in Vulnerable, the first book in this series. I'm normally not into the Fae, but these are Fae who are more part of our world than traditional Fae. I especially like Green, the Fae Lord who heals that built the community which Corey, the MC, has landed in. It's really wonderful stuff so far.

Comments: If Laurell K. Hamilton really understood what the ardeur is meant to be used for other than creating an over-complicated sex life for her hapless protagonists, she might write a book like this. But she probably wouldn't because she doesn't have Amy Lane's world view. The world view of this series is appropriately full of light because the MC draws her power from the sun. If anything, this book is better than Vulnerable. I absolutely loved the way the plot resolved and the song "Rain Must Fall" which encapsulates Celtic history and the sacred cycle. This is a universe where love and loyalty have magical power that work for the benefit of all. The series also takes place in Northern California. Maybe that's why this Northern California resident finds it so sympatico. Rating A.

7)Cat Tales 2: Fantastic Feline Fiction edited by George H. Scithers (fantasy and mystery anthology) 159 pages. Source: Subscription Started: 6/12 Finished: 6/13

Why Read: Cat Tales was originally supposed to be a magazine, but the funding fell through. So the editor decided to do two anthologies and send them to the people who subscribed. I've read the first. This is the second.

Comments: The story I liked best is "Muezza's Garden" by Paula R. Stiles. This author isn't mentioned on the Cat Tales 2 book page as one of the contributors, but her story is absolutely A+. It's a very moving tale of an Iraq war veteran and his relationship to cats. It also deals with cats in Islam. I also really liked "The Scribe Vanishes" by T. Lee Harris, an ancient Egyptian historical mystery in which a sacred cat of Bast is an investigator. Also notable is "Princess of Sozopol" by Anna Sykora in which an American Jew engaged in Holocaust tourism in Bulgaria finds a Persian cat and a good deal more adventure than she bargained for. BTW, Holocaust tourism is the phenomenon of American Jews going to Eastern Europe to find out about the lives and deaths of their World War II ancestors. It's become an industry for Eastern European nations.
There were a couple of stories that I didn't care for in this anthology and some that were mediocre. There was also an essay by H.P. Lovecraft that I found offensive because it contained the sort of elitism that is associated with Nazi ideology. He also lumps wolves and dogs together as if they had the same temperament and nature. This is completely untrue. If I were rating the Lovecraft essay alone, I'd give it a F. So the anthology as a whole gets a C.

8)Little Sisterby Kara Dalkey (YA historical fantasy)199 pages. Source: PBS Started: 6/14 Finished: 6/14

Why Read: I love Kara Dalkey and I enjoy reading historical fiction taking place in Japan. This one includes a shapechanger as a fantasy element which makes it even more exciting for me.

Comments: The shapechanger is a tengu demon from Japanese mythology. There are also deities from Shinto and Buddhism appearing in the narrative which involves a quest by the young girl who is the MC. It is well-written, well-characterized and it resolved well. I found it to be a good read and a quick one. Rating B.

9)Dying Bitesby D.D. Barant (urban fantasy) 311 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/14 Finished: 6/18

Why Read: I've seen some very positive comments about this book and I'm anxious to read the sequel which gives a major role to comic books. I was told that it's necessary to read the first book for the world building. So I requested it from the library.

Comments: The alternate universe portrayed in this novel is very dystopian. The supernaturals make up more than 99% of the population, so the original humans are an endangered species. I'm not that fond of dystopias because I overdosed on them as a teenager when I read nothing but dystopias for a while. Dystopia is the opposite of utopia--the worst society you can imagine. The MC, who was kidnapped from our universe, has many challenges to overcome. I think she's the best thing about the book. I found her an interesting and formidable woman though I didn't always agree with her decisions or perceptions. Dying Bites includes a five page preview of the sequel which is definitely intriguing. My rating on this one is B. There were some standard characters and plot elements, so I can't rate it higher.

10)The Good Son by Michael Gruber (thriller) 383 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/19 Finished: 6/21

Why Read: I haven't read anything by Michael Gruber sinceNight of the Jaguar which was a volume in a mystery series dealing with a detective of Cuban descent in Miami. It apparently didn't sell as well as expected, so he isn't writing them anymore. This disappointed me very much because this series was a favorite of mine. Santeria, the Afro-Cuban religion, played a strong role in the mystery series and so did other religions. Gruber does interesting and provocative work with various spiritual paths. In this book he approaches Islam and jihadism. When I saw the summary, I knew I had to read it. Gruber often does the unexpected.

Comments: Yes, there was a surprise in the resolution, but unfortunately it made the MC seem less sympathetic to me. By the end, I liked her son much better than I liked her. Although there was an expected element in the resolution, I found it satisfying. So I ended up liking the book and giving it a B+. It was a good read, just not a brilliant one likeTropic of Night and Night of the Jaguar.

To Be Continued...

Finally, an author we might agree on - Michael Gruber. I read Tropic of Night and enjoyed it and have Night of the Jaguar on my endless list of books to get to. This new one sounds good.

Shomeret:
I am looking forward to The Good Son. I read two of the Jimmy Paz books (Tropic of Night and Valley of Bones) and like you I enjoyed them very much. I have not read Night of the Jaguar but also enjoyed Michael Gruber's The Forgery of Venus: A Novel and The Book of Air and Shadows

Shomeret wrote: "10)The Good Son by Michael Gruber (thriller)
Why Read: I haven't read anything by Michael Gruber since Night of the Jaguar which was a volume in a mystery series dealing with a detective of Cuban descent in Miami. It apparently didn't sell as well as expected, so he isn't writing them anymore. This disappointed me very much because this series was a favorite of mine."

Shom...it's always a pleasure to see your monthly reads! Thanks.

Shom, I always learn something from your postings about books I'd never even encounter otherwise.

I wish you could pass on your comments personally to Michael Gruber. I bet he would be gratified to hear from someone who valued his efforts.

Shom\Carol: When I have a strong reaction to a book, I email the author. They usually reply and are very happy to hear from readers!

I tried to do that with Michael Gruber when I read Tropic of Night, but there was no way to contact him on his website. I thought that was because of the controversy over his revealing that he ghost wrote Robert K. Tannenbaum's books. He probably caught a great deal of flak over that. Ghost writers aren't supposed to be public about it. That's why they aren't given credit on the cover of the book.

Maybe it's died down by now? I've been email chatting with an Irish author who went to jail for bank robbery! I love technology

Shom...I was curious because I didn't realize the Tannenbaum books were ghost written! Anyway, MG website now has a form to contact him, if you are still interested:

http://michaelgruberbooks.com/about.h...