Gellhorn and Hemingway Find Love in the War Torn Spain

A chance meeting in a bar in Key West in 1936 began a friendship and ultimately marriage between Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn. Martha was a novice writer hoping to become famous. She couldn’t help being drawn to the charismatic Hemingway. Their friendship progressed through phone calls until Ernest announced his intention to go to Spain as a war correspondent.

Martha couldn’t resist the call of adventure. She followed Hemingway to Spain with fifty dollars and a backpack. Martha caught up with Hemingway in Madrid. She still saw him as a friend, but the attraction was strong and soon they were lovers. Being the partner of a famous man wasn’t easy for Martha, an independent woman who wanted her own career.

They married in 1940 and had happy years writing in Havana. Then Hemingway’s most famous book, For Whom the Bell Tolls, was published, and Martha found herself eclipsed by his fame. They struggled for awhile, but the marriage eventually ended in divorce and Martha went on to be a famous war correspondent.

This is a thoroughly engrossing book. I thought the author did an excellent job portraying two strong characters each striving for their own success, but trying to stay together. The book is fiction, but so well done that you can feel the tension of real people.

I did have trouble with some of the author’s descriptions. She seemed to be trying too hard to find unusual ways to describe what Martha was seeing. The descriptions were sometimes so unusual that they broke the flow of the story while I tried to figure out what she was trying to show.

On the whole, this is a very good book. If you enjoy fiction based on the lives of real people, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder in the New York Theater District in the Late 1800s

Sarah and Frank Malloy, now married, are hoping to adopt Catherine, the child Sarah rescued in a previous adventure. Adoption is not as easy as they’d hoped since Catherine’s father Parnell Vaughan, a minor actor, is alive. In order to complete the adoption, the pair ask Parnell to sign over his parental rights. Parnell is willing but his money grubbing fiance wants cash for the transaction. Paying cash for a child is illegal, but the Malloys decide to comply.

When Frank goes to see Parnell with the cash, he finds him beaten to death in his dressing room. Having discovered the body, Frank finds himself the primary suspect. Frank, of course, is innocent so Sarah, Maeve, Catherine’s nanny, and Gino, Frank’s associate, join forces to find the culprit.

This is a good historical mystery. As usual, I loved Frank and Sarah, however, I wasn’t as happy with Maeve and Gino. Their romance seems strained and their sleuthing activities are poor. In this case, they’re pretending to be news reporters, but they don't play their parts well.

I did enjoy the background of the theater and learning about New York City in the late 1800s. The author’s note at the end provided more information on the theater district in that era and the syndicate that tried to control the actors and their access to roles in the theaters.

I recommend this book, if you enjoy historical mysteries.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

What if You Couldn’t Die?

David Galloway runs a book store in Northern Michigan. He keeps to himself only interacting closely with the people, like Tiana, who work in his shop. David has a secret that keeps him apart from others. He’s over hundred years old and unable to die although he must rejuvenate.

David thinks he’s alone with this phenomenon, but when he reads about Zachary Wilson, a daredevil who survives a fall that should have killed him, he begins to wonder. He finds Zachary and learns that there are other like him. Suddenly, he has a community, but he’s not sure how to react to the closeness. This becomes a problem when the group is forced to band together to solve some ancient crimes.

I enjoyed the book. It starts slowly with David in Michigan, but after he meets up with Zac the tempo speeds up. Although there is action, much of the book is character development. This is particularly true of David trying to come to grips with his attraction to Tiana.

This is a Christian fantasy. The characters in the books are believers and in the course of the story they must grapple with what God wants them to do. The choice is not always easy

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The book is well written. The cadence pulls you along making this an enjoyable read. If you like serious fantasy, this is a well done book.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing for this review.

Some Problems with Human Evolution

Evolution is a marvelous process. It allowed humans to reach status of the preeminent species on earth, but it came with a cost. Evolution is driven by mutations. They create new genes that allow for additional functionality, but it’s impossible to get rid of the old patterns. This leads to problems like backwards retinas, bad knees, swallowing and breathing through the same narrow channel and more.

The book is witty and although it presents a great deal of technical information, the presentation is clear and amusing, suitable for a general audience. I enjoyed the book and learned about some problems with the human body I had never heard of before. I didn’t agree with everything he said, but that made the book more fun.

The chapters are relatively short and the illustrations make it easy to understand some of the technical discussion. The notes section is extensive and whether you agree with his ideas or not provides references for future study.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in biology or nutrition. There is a good chapter on why humans need such a varied diet based on some evolutionary problems.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Romantic Christian Mystery

A year ago Shauna’s husband, Jack, died in a climbing accident with his friend, Zach. Shauna is left alone with her son, Alex, and she can’t forgive Zach for his thrill seeking ways that led to Jack’s death. Helped by her business partner, Clarence, Shauna runs a helicopter charter business that is barely allowing her to make ends meet and is learning aerial photography with the hope of selling photos.

Before Clarence is killed in an explosion, he gives Shauna a box containing photographs and her mother’s necklace. This surprises Shauna because her mother was killed in an earthquake years ago. When Lucy, Clarence’s estranged wife is also murdered, Shauna realizes that she may be in danger and much as she wants to keep hating Zach, she turns to him to protect her and Alex.

The emphasis in the book is on the developing relationship between Shauna and Zach with a mystery that forces them together. I enjoyed the mystery although there are inconsistencies that intrude into the enjoyment of the plot.

The characters are not my favorites from Coble. For ex-Navy, I thought Shauna was far too weepy and needy. I did enjoy Zach. He was willing to take responsibility for Jack’s death and tried to make it up to Shauna and Alex. I felt the killer was too easy to guess and some of his inconsistencies in method were disturbing.

If you enjoy Christian fiction, this is a good romance and mystery combined.

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for this review.

Three Polynesian Children Set Sail to Save Their Island

After years of war, the Polynesian island of Vaitea is environmentally devastated. The vegetation is dying and even the birds are leaving. Miru’s father is a warrior and the same fate is planed for him, but Marama the island sorceress sees a different future. She tells Miru that he must sail to another island to bring back seeds and shoots of trees to restore the island’s vegetation.

At first Miru refuses to face the challenge. Finally, he accepts his fate and tries to win approval from his warrior father. His father refuses and is equally adamant when Miru asks for his sister Renga to be a member of the crew. Miru perseveres. He and Renga choose a third crew member, learn about sailing,

and finally set off.

This is a fascinating historical novel based on Edward Stanton’s study of Easter Island. The book paints a devastating picture of what can happen to an island when the focus is on war rather than on keeping the islands environment vibrant and capable of sustaining the population. A delightful book for Earth Day, it is an adventure where children set out to save their homeland because the adults are too involved in the political chaos and wars that are leading to the destruction of Vaitea.

The three children are sympathetic characters. They exhibit courage and the ability to face problems and find solutions. I recommend this book for teen audiences, but adults will enjoy it as well.

I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.

Romance and Job Trouble for a Small Time Enforcer

Ken Swift, a low level enforced in Los Angeles, is meeting with his estranged daughter, Margaux. She’s all grown up and in need of money, fifty thousand dollars to be exact, and she’s not above blackmail to get it.

Margaux isn’t Ken’s only problem with the women in his life. His ex-wife, Margaux’s mother, resurfaces. He can’t deny he still has feeling for her, and there’s a new lady in his life who he wants to stay with.

In addition to the women, Ken’s new job is not going well and threatens the lives of people he cares about. All in all, Ken has a plethora of problems.

I found this book very hard to get into. The first chapters are Ken and Margaux having a difficult father-daughter conversation. Ken is a likable character. In spite of his job, he has good feelings. I found Margaux extremely hard to like. She acts like a spoiled brat in the opening of the book.

The action heats up after the first chapters with lots of violence as Ken’s latest contract threatens to go south. I did feel the ending drew the threads together and was satisfying. If you like violent action stories, you may enjoy this book, but be prepared for a slow start.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

Romance and Murder in Regency England

In the early 1800s, the town of Amberdale is torn by strife between the weavers and the mill owners. Kate Dearborne, ten-years-old, and her best friend Frederica Pennington, come apart. Frederica’s father, a mill owner, tells Frederica that she can no longer be friends with a weaver’s daughter and besides, she’s slated to marry Henry Stockton, grandson of Stockton Mills owner.

The break between the girls illustrates the strained relationships in the town. Both sides are angry, and it inevitably leads to violence. Henry’s grandfather is murdered. Now Henry, newly returned from the Peninsular army, must discover who killed the man. In the process he comes to respect Kate’s opinions, but who will he choose to marry?

The author does a good job presenting a community in transition. The weavers and other skilled workers tied to the production of fine woolens see their livelihood disappearing as their skills are no longer needed in the automated factories. The story is about people learning to accept each other and beginning to work together.

Kate and Henry are strong characters. Both want to do the right thing and must come to realize that there is truth on both sides of the dispute between the families. The plot is intricate with plenty of twists, and the historical background is accurate.

I recommend the book if you enjoy a well written historical romance.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Computer Security, Drones and the Voynich Manuscript

Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine, members of the FBI’s Covert Eyes Team, are vacationing at the Drummond Estate in England. Nicholas, a computer genius, is the first Brit to join the FBI. Before their relaxation can begin a ransomeware attack shuts down the computers in the Drummond family business. Nicholas easily solves the problem and uses his code to correct a wider ransomware attack shutting down government computers.

While the computer crisis is occurring there are several unexplained deaths of business and political leaders. When Mike spots a drone at the scene of one of the murders the hunt is on for who is controlling the drones, and whether the assassinations are tied together.

Besides the modern technical problems, the plot focuses on the Voynich Manuscript. The manuscript has never been translated, but a young researcher, Dr. Isabella Marin, has found some missing pages in the British Museum and believes the manuscript is written in some form of twin talk. There is even a vampire component. One of the technical geniuses, Roman Ardelean, a descendant of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula,) is looking for blood to cure his twin brother’s rare hemophilia.

A clever, fast moving plot draws you into this combination murder mystery, technological thriller and historical puzzle. The characters are likable. Nicholas and his computer geek sidekick, Adam, are fascinating as they set out to solve apparently insolvable computer security breaches. Mike, is beautiful, brilliant, and a good foil for Nicholas.

I recommend this book if you like a real page turner. The settings in England and the US are realistic although some of the activities are quite out of the ordinary.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Daniel Pitt Solves a Curious Murder

Daniel Pitt, son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, two of my favorite characters, is on his own in this novel, the first in a new series. Daniel is a young lawyer practicing in an old established firm. At his father’s request he’s representing, Roman Blackwell, an old friend from Pitt’s time on the police force. Things look bleak until Daniel comes up with a novel idea using the new science of fingerprint analysis.

Daniel is next thrown into the middle of a case already in progress. Russel Graves, a biographer, is accused of murdering his wife and burning her body. The evidence is all against him. It seems almost impossible to get him off. Indeed, the jury finds him guilty. That’s not the end. Daniel’s senior partner owes a debt honor to Graves. He assigns a lead attorney to research the law for an appeal and Daniel to look for clues to who committed the crime.

In his search for answers, Daniel discovers that Graves’ new book is a scurrilous portrayal of the Special Branch where Thomas Pitt is now the head. Daniel is caught in a dilemma. He wants to service the law, but he also wants to protect his family.

This is a good start for the new series. Daniel is a likable character. He’s young and torn in his loyalties, but he’s very sharp and dogged in pursuit of the truth. Graves is suitably nasty making it easy to believe he killed his wife.

As usual, Anne Perry’s portray of the Victorian era is superb. You feel as if you’re inhabiting a different time period. I recommend this new book, particularly if you loved the series with Thomas and Charlotte.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Intense Fantasy Tales

In this collection of eleven fantasy tales, the stories range from the outer limits of reality to almost horror. The strangeness of the stories draws you in and highlights the interactions and emotions of the characters. In the first story, the family is preparing a ritual to get rid of grandfather by putting him in a box and lowering it into the ocean, a metaphor for warehousing old people in nursing homes.

The story of Jenny highlights the frustration of one sibling having to care for another. Jenny was born without a head, but is still remarkably alive much to the frustration of her brother who must care for her. In another story a ship full of sailors is being dragged down by a sea monster who has decided to mate with it.

These stories a witty and elegantly told. This is not a quick book to read. Although the stories are short, they require your attention to each sentence because the writing is packed with meaning. This is a collection for anyone who wants to be challenged by views of another world.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

A Dark Intricately Plotted Murder Set in Ireland

Detective Superintendent Frankie Sheehan is back at work after a severe injury sustained while pursuing a ruthless killer. In spite of her PTSD symptoms Frankie needs to be back working a case. She draws the death of a young microbiologist, Eleanor Costello. Eleanor was found hanging from a tree. It could be suicide, but after examining the body Frankie thinks it’s murder. Eleanor has old injuries and a recent cut is covered with blue paint.

Eleanor’s husband, the logical suspect, is missing. When another woman is found murdered with the same blue paint is on her body, it appears that a serial killer is loose. The investigation carries the officers into the murky depths of the dark web. It’s clear that Eleanor had secrets, but it’s not easy to unravel them even after her death.

This murder mystery is filled with details that keep leading the investigators in new directions. At times the crime seems almost impossible to solve. However, at the end the author skillfully weaves all the bits and pieces together to solve the murders.

The lead investigator, Frankie Sheehan, is the victim of a tragic history as well as recent events that are difficult for her to deal with. She’s a complex character unwilling to give in to her fears. It makes you like her and want her to succeed.

If you enjoy police procedurals, this is a well plotted one set in the city of Dublin. As a first novel, it promises more for the future.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

As the Hurricane Approaches, Two Sisters Must Deal with the Storms in their Lives

Betsy and Ty are a storybook couple. They live on a beautiful 500 acre dairy farm. Ty loves the farm that belonged to his grandparents. Betsy, with her degree in marketing, helps with the business aspects of running the farm including field trips by local schools and camps. Their only sadness is the lack of children.

Jenna, Betsy’s younger sister, had a wild youth. She was a free spirit who got pregnant twice. Now she is a single mother with two daughters. When she was younger, Jenna had a talent for photography that she wanted to develop, but the obligations of motherhood and earning a living have made her put her dreams on hold.

Then a perfect opportunity falls in her lap. She receives a scholar ship to a famous art camp in Florida. She agonizes about leaving her children, but finally calls her sister and asks her to keep the girls for two weeks.

Two weeks merge into almost two months. Jenna reawakens her photography skills while Betsy and Ty learn to deal with a makeshift family. At the end of the summer, as hurricane Ingrid approaches both sisters must deal with what they want and what they can expect to get.

This is a beautiful story. The pace is leisurely as befits farm life as well as the camp atmosphere. The sisters are real people. I felt by the end of the book that they were friends. Ty is my favorite character. He’s a good husband. He loves his wife and wants to support her, but he’s also a realist.

This is not a fast paced adventure. It is the moving story of two sisters facing their demons. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from Booklook Bloggers for this review.

Charlie Carpenter Investigates a Murder Next Door

In this third book in the Oakwood Mystery series, Charley Carpenter is suffering form insomnia. The renovation of her shop, Old Hat, keeps experiencing unexplained delays; Marcus Trenault, her detective lover, is out of town; and to make matters worse, the new neighbors scream at each other at all hours of the night.

Missing Marcus, Charlie is finding distraction in a new feature in the local paper, Ask Jackie. Most of the letters are interesting because of the sassy advice offered in the column, but one letter asks for help because a young child is in danger. That afternoon, Charlie hears noises emanating from the house next door. She tries to ignore the commotion, but finally goes to investigate because the sounds are of someone in distress. She finds her new neighbor, Judith, kneeling beside the body of her older daughter.

Charlie tries to stay out of the case, but when she believes the sheriff’s office is going down the wrong path, she can’t help but step in. Having talked briefly to Judith before her murder, she believes the letter in Ask Jackie is somehow tied into the murder.

This book lives up to the promise of the first two in the series. Charley Carpenter and her friends are intelligent women. They take it on themselves to solve the murder when the detective assigned seems to be belligerently following the wrong trail. The clues are presented throughout the story making it possible to try to guess who the murderer is. However, the twist at the end makes it difficult.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a strong female character, this is a good book. It can be read as a standalone even though it’s part of a series.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The Murder of a Talented Pianist Brings St. Cyr’s Investigation to the Royal Family

In a brutal snowstorm, Hero and Alexi Sauvage travel to Clerkenwell to visit an expectant mother whose husband was impressed into the navy. Returning, Hero slips and falls into a snowbank. To her horror she has fallen on the body of a young woman she recognizes. The body is that of Jane Ambrose, piano teacher to Princess Charlotte, the Regent’s daughter.

The palace wants to quash any investigation that comes close Princess Charlotte, but that doesn’t deter St. Cyr and his wife, Hero. The hunt is on with many suspects and a dearth of clues.

I love this series. Impeccable historical research brings the Regency to life. I particularly enjoyed the note at the end detailing the historical incidents that led Harris to develop the story.

The characters are some of my favorites. Hero is a strong woman who is determined to lead the life she chooses. Luckily, St. Cyr is supportive and they make an excellent team. I was a little disappointed to see so little of the Earl of Hendon and Jarvis, Hero’s powerful father. The mystery of St. Cyr’s birth is a thread running through the series that keeps me coming back.

If you enjoy well written historical mysteries based on actual incidents, I think you’ll enjoy this series.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.