“Hiss and Hers,” by M. C. Beaton

FM's ratings:

1. Premise 7
2. Prose 7
3. Plot 8
4. Characters 8
5. Overall 8

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This is another installment of Beaton’s “Agatha Raisin” series, a little less dark than her “Hamish Macbeth” series, a little more “droll,” to use the term more commonly used in the U. K. for humorous, or even tongue-in-cheek. Apparently the only poisonous snake indigenous to the U. K. is the “adder,” which is used as a component in the murders committed in this mystery. Hence, the “Hiss” in the title, though we never get an actual hiss except from Agatha’s cats, who play an oddly miniscule role in this story. The plot seems to veer wildly off course on a regular basis, only to come looping back around to the main idea; disconcerting at times but interestingly effective. The sub-plots in these novels, as well as in the “Hamish Macbeth” series, are essentially the same: the pitiful state of the protagonist’s love life, his/her struggle with aging, antagonistic relationships with superiors, tumultuous relationships with peers, and more. But Beaton manages to keep these elements fresh with humor, changes in setting, and rapid-fire plot twists. I have read four of Beaton’s book in a row, now, and will certainly be back for more at a later date.

Here’s the August line-up!

"The Last Olympian," by Rick Riordan [8-5-17]

"Moods," by Louisa May Alcott [8-12-17]

"A Prayer for the Damned," by Peter Tremayne [8-19-17]

"Her Royal Spyness," by Rhys Bowen [8-26-17]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so. Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)

“Grave Peril,” by Jim Butcher

FM's ratings:

1. Premise 9
2. Prose 9
3. Plot 8
4. Characters 8
5. Overall 8

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Yet another writer of Fantasy Horror that is just pure fun! His style compares to Laurell K. Hamilton, only the protagonist/narrator is a male wizard. Lots of great humor sprinkled throughout, like most of my favorite writers these days. The humor here, especially in the voice of Harry Dresden (I know; a wizard named Harry…), is very reminiscent of Jim Carrey. In fact…oh, never mind! I carp a lot about long books being stretched out into many more pages than they need to be; if anything, this book has the opposite drawback! Sometimes it feels like there’s a plot twist every three pages! The overall plot really is intricate and well mapped out. But it’s overkill for this reader; hence the “8” rating on Plot rather than a “9” or even a “10.” The ADHD surging of the plot also leaves little time for character development, though the characters are fascinating in their own right, revealed to be mostly supernatural beings. Well, is Butcher ADHD? One blurb about him says that he “turned to writing as a career because anything else would have driven him insane.” That’s a clue. This is probably a book that would read better the second time than the first. So I did the next best thing: I went out almost immediately and bought his latest release. I’m about 80 pages into it, and, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go read some more!

Here’s the August line-up!

"The Last Olympian," by Rick Riordan [8-5-17]

"Moods," by Louisa May Alcott [8-12-17]

"A Prayer for the Damned," by Peter Tremayne [8-19-17]

"Her Royal Spyness," by Rhys Bowen [8-26-17]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so. Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)

“Deadlocked,” by Charlaine Harris

FM's ratings:

1. Premise 9
2. Prose 10
3. Plot 9
4. Characters 10
5. Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This is book 12 of a truly wonderful series, but no staleness has set in as yet! Our heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, is as charismatic as ever, and the supporting cast is stunningly impressive. This story lacks some of the dynamic situational tension that some of the other books contain, but the twist at the end has a devastatingly emotional impact. The interplay between the different “supes” – vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, fairies, elves, and so forth is brilliantly conceived and executed. Charlaine Harris has mastered this genre like no other. And first-person narrative just can’t be done any better than this. I still have it as a goal to read everything this author writes and has written, including the various short stories found in many collections.  

“The Brethren,” by John Grisham

FM's ratings:

1. Premise 9
2. Prose 9
3. Plot 9
4. Characters 10
5. Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This book compares very favorably with “The Client,” which is my favorite Grisham book to date. Grisham is known for being a very solid writer and this work affirms that. There seems to be an emphasis on pure reading entertainment here that is not so evident in other works by him, but the creation of a smart plot still takes the spotlight. The main aspect which sets this book (and “The Client”) apart, however, is great characters. Even the secondary characters - such as Wes and Chap, the two CIA agents that work on the hapless, worthless, small-time lawyer, Trevor - are superbly rendered. As much as I admire Grisham’s works, I seem to neglect them, reading only one every 5 years or so; I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because he’s too “mainstream,” too popular, too political or “legal”? Or maybe it’s the titles of his books in their simplicity almost all starting the “The…”, which don’t really draw me in. Whatever the case, this is one that I can highly recommend!

“Divided in Death,” by J. D. Robb

FM’s ratings:

1. Premise 10
2. Prose 9
3. Plot 9
4. Characters 10
5. Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Another outstanding installment of one of my favorite series. In an interview of Lee Child about John D. McDonald, he says that great fiction is about the Character, not really the story. His "Jack Reacher" books, McDonald's "Travis McGee" books, Koontz's "Odd Thomas" books, Charlaine Harris's "Sookie Stackhouse" books, Rowlings's "Harry Potter" books, and here, J. D. Robb's "Eve Dallas" books are all cases in point. We don't remember the stories so much as we remember the Characters. This one just misses earning a "10" from me, partly because it focuses just a little TOO much on Eve's relationship issues with her husband, Roarke, and partly because it really bogs down badly in the middle for pretty much the same reasons. Peabody brings in just the right amount of humorous counter-play to Eve's hard core seriousness, as always. Roarke is always impressive. The bad guys are wonderfully realistic. And the procedural techniques are fascinating to watch. There are so many of these books I can't really say I'm interested in reading every single one of them. But they will continue to be a staple in my reading for many years to come.