Three books, all fairly new, and all totally diverse, and each extremely difficult to pick which is more liked or interesting. Would, therefore, enjoy hearing the reaction of a reader.
Mary Kay Andrews has written ten books previously, and we are fortunate enough to have most on our shelves. Her latest is ladies’ night and begins with the heroine of this book, Grace Stanton, catching her husband cheating. Her first angry reaction is to then drive his expensive sports car into their swimming pool, which is definitely a way to get his attention. Grace and her husband have formed a partnership in her business on the Internet, and her husband’s style of retaliation is to instantly close down bank accounts, web sites, and the house to her. Grace finds herself alone, her business gone, and no money; she then moves in with her widowed mother over the beach bar that her father had established while she attempts to put her life together again.
Ms. Andrews writes with “hard to escape glee” and her sense of humor is very evident; however, she seems to be more than casually sympathetic to her heroine’s plight as well as to the other characters in the book. Although the initial pages in the book present a very funny solution to an age-old problem, it does convey a certain lack of responsibility by that action. But I do imagine that more than a few women in that type of a situation would certainly yield to that final temptation. An interesting book; easy to read with well-drawn characters and a good plot. I found it fully enjoyable.
THE BROKEN PLACES by Ace Atkins, a new writer for us although he has been chosen by the Estate of Robert Parker to continue the Spenser series of books, and a writer that you will either like extremely well or dislike. The book is sited in Jericho. a small town in Western Mississippi about 100 miles South of Memphis, and begins with an unusual escape by two hardened and evil prisoners from the penitentiary. They arrive in Jericho, and seek out the nearby lake where they have sunk an armored car during a robbery. Finding the car empty of over a million dollars, these two then look for the man who helped their escape and the money.
This book is the third in a series featuring Sheriff Quinn Colson, and I think I’d really like to read the other two prior to forming an opinion of the author. Atkins writes with the colloquial language common to that area of Mississippi, and the use of swear words is common. The plot is intriguing, and Atkins exhibits an apt talent in his characterizations. It will be quite interesting to see how Atkins continues with the Spenser series.
And the third book is the latest by John Lescroart, THE OPHELIA CUT as set in the City of San Francisco as are many of his books involving the attorney, Dismas Hardy, his close friend Moses McGuire, and Abe Glitsky, the third of this group. Moses is the owner of the Little Shamrock, a neighborhood bar, and Abe is the Homicide Detective in the Police Department. Following the drugged rape of McGuire’s daughter, he is then charged with murder for the death of the man who attacked her. Hardy becomes the defendant’s attorney, and seems to be losing, when an unusual occurrence happens.
Although the plot may seem somewhat distasteful to some readers, it is told in a simple straight forward manner, without glorifying the action. Lescroart has written a number of books featuring Dismas Hardy and his friends, all set in San Francisco. And that city is not the anniversary of the Quake each year, would host a gathering of people on the steps of City Hall who would sip champagne and sing “San Francisco”. I’m sure we all remember the very unusual “Twinkie Defense” as used during the trial for murder of one supervisor. Another mayor was famous for his several thousand dollar suits and never hesitated to employ the “arm twisting” that often became necessary. And a former columnist for the local newspaper christened this city “Baghdad by the Bay” when that city was known for its shady opulence.
We in the Library have been so lucky with donations from many residents and patrons of our Library of previously read books; if you’re searching for a book to read on a trip and don’t want to be bothered having to renew or return it, do check out the lower two shelves in the entry of our Library of books for sale. There are many books there, by many authors, and I’m certain you won’t be disappointed. Monies from these sales go to supply us with paper and other necessary items.
And may we encourage you to enter or attend the annual Chili and Gumbo Cook Off on October 26 at Hurricane Junction. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Library Building Fund. If you have visited our Library recently, you will see that our approximately 700 sq. ft. building space is bursting at its seams, and so, we are extremely grateful to be the recipient of the funds from this very fun event.
