Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody mystery #1)

by Elizabeth Peters  262 p.

             I do not really read genre books much, but I rather enjoyed this mystery. The mystery itself was not my favorite part. What I really liked were the characters, especially Amelia Peabody. She's a headstrong spinster who is smart, pragmatic, and intellectually curious. I also like the setting of Victorian period England, Italy, and Egypt, right when archaeology was taking off with the pyramids.  I definitely am going to read the second book.

                                                                     Kel

Metro Girl

by Janet Evanovich 296 p.
    
           I have never read Evanovich before and this book did not make me want to read another book of hers. The story seemed really ludicrous. None of the characters were endearing enough to makeup for the faults. She gives unnecessary descriptions that just distract. I can't think much what I liked about it. I didn't hate it. It was just "meh." It is the first of the Alex Barnaby series. Alex is a former mechanic and race car driver who denies that part of herself to be more girly. She has a brother in Florida who has gotten himself into trouble again. She goes there to find him. Even though his place has been broken into a few times, she does not call the cops and comes up against many criminal types. She meets a playboy race car driver who had his boat stolen by her Alex's brother, Bill. It is one of those books that things get crazier and crazier as they go along.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

217 pages, 1957

A damsel in distress, a detective, a few bad guys and some treasure -- sounds like the makings of a mystery to me.

The Maltese Falcon is a fun, fast and easy read, a great selection for this year's Big Read. I love a good mystery and this one keeps you guessing right up to the end. (Alright, if you've seen the movie then maybe you're not guessing up until the end) but Hammett still does a good job of leading you one direction and then another.

As much as I love Bogart in the movie, after reading the book I don't think that's who I would have cast in the lead, but I have yet to come up with an alternative.

Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins, pages 311

Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins, pages 311

This is book number eleven of the series, but it is easy to understand without reading the other books. The main character Abby owns a flower shop. She meets Vlad Serban, friend of her fiancé Marco, who is rumored to be a vampire. Vlad is from Romania and works the night shift at Marco’s bar. He collects strange flowers like bloodwort and Dracula orchid and for some reason can never be reached in the daytime. Someone starts a rumor that Vlad is a vampire. After a nurse is found drained of blood and dumped behind the bar, Vlad is accused of murder. Abby and Marco investigate the murder to prove Vlad’s innocence. In the meantime Abby needs to deal with her strange cousin, who thinks that she is a vampire.

I enjoyed this book mainly because I liked Vlad very much. The rumors were very funny at first and especially when Vlad did not disprove them. I liked the subplot of the story with the cousin and the scene in the basement was amusing. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested.

The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis, pages 304

The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis, pages 304

This is the fifth book of the series, but it is easy to understand without reading the other books. The domestic diva Sophie Winston organizes a community haunted house. A rival domestic diva Natasha has a fabulous Halloween party at her house. Sophie finds the body of one of Natasha’s guests who is murdered by a vampire. Everybody is afraid that there is a vampire on the loose until Sophie solves the murder.

I really liked that book and I enjoyed on how scary was the book. Few of the characters are very funny. I didn’t like the teenage drama in the book.

Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, pages 380

Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, pages 380

The citizens of Lake Eden are having their annual Christmas buffet. The buffet is the final test of the recipes before Hannah puts them in a cookbook. Martin Dubinski comes to the dinner with his new Vegas showgirl wife. Hannah’s mother’s antique cake knife disappears and it is found on the body of the new dead wife. With the help of her sisters and mother Hannah solves the mystery.

I enjoyed this novella, although, I am disappointed on how short it is. I really like some of the recipes in the book.

Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, Laura Levine pages 388

Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, Laura Levine pages 388

This book is a collection of three novellas by Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier and Laura Levine and they all have candy canes in them.

In the Candy Cane Murder Hannah needs to solve the murder of Santa.

In The Dangers of Candy Canes Janie investigates the death of a construction worker and finds out how hazardous can be candy canes.

In Candy Canes of Christmas Past Lucy and her husband Bill move to a small town in Main to start a new life. Lucy becomes friends with the librarian and is intrigued by the murder of her friend’s mother.

My favorite story was Candy Cane Murder because of the recipes. I was disappointed that it was so short.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, by Steve Larsson, pages 465

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, by Steve Larsson, pages 465

In the beginning of the book the investigative reporter Blomkvist is sued and convicted in label against a powerful businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström. After the lawsuit he is hired by Henrik Vanger to find the truth about the disappearance of Vanger’s niece Harriet Vanger. Harriet is gone for thirty-five years and everyone assumes that she is dead. Henrik promises to give Blomkvist information to bring down Wennerström.

I think that the book is very interesting. However, I dislike the sexual violence in the book, which plays an important role in the plot. There are some really disgusting moments in the book. I wouldn’t recommend it to people who like to read humorous books. I don’t plan to read the other books of the series.

Death of a Cozy Writer by G. M Malliet, pages 297

Death of a Cozy Writer by G. M Malliet, pages 297

The millionaire and writer Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk is an unlikable character, who announces his marriage to his four children. He is married to a much younger Violet, who was involved in a scandal surrounding the death of her previous husband. Soon after the announcement, Ruthven who was the eldest and the heir of the fortune is found dead in the basement. While Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is investigating his death, someone stabs Sir Adrian in the back.

The plot of the book was really complicated, exactly the way I like it. However, the style of the author wasn’t very engaging and I couldn’t concentrate on the book.