Wednesday 19 October 2011

Tell Us What You're Reading - October

There are two books I want to share with you this month for Tell Us What Your Reading with Ricki Jill @ Art@Home.
Firstly my Michael Connelly choice for October was The Scarecrow.
Not one from the Harry Bosch series but featuring a character new to me, although I believe there has been at least one other in which he appeared.
Jack McEvoy is the crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times who many years before wrote a bestselling novel after working with the FBI on a serial killer case.
The Scarecrow begins with Jack receiving his pink slip with the added insult that he has to train his pretty, young female (and much less paid) replacement before he goes.
If his journalistic career is over, Jack decides it has to end  in glory and so he follows up a lead into the wrongful arrest of a young gang member for the murder of an exotic dancer.
A story he thinks might just get him a Pulitzer Prize.
He discovers plenty of flaws in the case which lead to another, similar murder committed in Las Vegas.
Whilst investigating there he contacts Rachel Walling, the FBI officer he worked with on the previous serial killer case, she reluctantly agrees to help once again.
The further they delve into the case the more they realise they are now being hunted by the Unsub/Scarecrow and the tension in the story builds page by page until reaching it's dramatic conclusion.
When I first started reading this book I thought that it wasn't as good as those from the Harry Bosch series, however, I soon changed my mind as the links fell into place and I did enjoy The Scarecrow after all.


The second book I want to share is Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews, an Edgar Award Nominee.
(I seem to recall that I read a review of this book on a blog which sent me off to bookmooch where I was lucky enough to find a copy to mooch.)
Savannah is one of my favourite cities to visit, I co-hosted the Quimper Club's annual meeting there in 2010 and came to know it well.
Savannah Blues was a delight to read, quite light and frothy not like The Scarecrow at all.
I took it on the train with me when I went up to Paris last week and the time passed very quickly!
I finished reading the book on the way back home the next day.
"Weezie" Foley finds herself living in the carriage house of the beautifully restored Savannah townhouse she once occupied with her unfaithful husband Tamadge Evans III.
His new fiancee, Caroline, rules the roost there now and she wants Weezie out.
As an antiques picker Weezie spends her days combing Savannah's garage sales, flea markets and house clearances, one day she hopes to have enough money to open her own antiques shop.
Her life starts to unfurl at the edges when she discovers a dead body in a cupboard, during an unauthorised look around Beaulieu a run down antebellum rice plantation, in the dead of night.
The book is full of well drawn characters, BeBe Weezie's best friend; priest turned lawyer Uncle James; ex hunk of a boyfriend, Daniel; Merijoy, evangelical campaigner and leading light of the Hysterical/Historical society and many others.
Quote from the cover:
"An amazingly accomplished, genre-bending debut novel: smart, sassy, and fun to read" Booklist.

I wouldn't disagree and by the way I'll be adding both of these books to my inventory on bookmooch.

11 comments:

Jenny said...

The Last Apache Girl...it is good! I'm from that part of the world and it sounds pretty authentic. I liked the Glassblower from Venice, too. Thanks so much for the books. I have two days left before I fly to Idaho and am trying to finish the first one before I go. I'll get some new books at the airport. xo Jenny

Claudia said...

Maggie - we have the same taste! I'm a huge Michael Connelly fan and have read The Scarecrow and all the Harry Bosch series. He's simply a wonderful writer. And I just read Savannah Blues a few months back.

Makes me want to be sitting sipping a drink in Savannah!

xo
Claudia

Unknown said...

Wow...talk about two totally different reads. They both sound enjoyable though. I think I'm going to have to add Savanah Blues to my Wish List, I always need a good light southern read on hand.

Ricki Treleaven said...

Maggie, I love Savannah Blues, too! :D I love every Mary Kay Andrews book I have ever read *but* Summer Rental. The Fixer Upper is one of my faves, too. I want to hear more from Weezie!!! Thanks for linking-up!

xoxoxoxo,
Ricki Jill

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I've seen Savannah Blues but haven't read it yet! Sounds good! I love your reviews! Thanks! ♥

TheBookGirl said...

How nice that you had two great experiences with two very different books!

bonnieboatwright@gmail.com said...

Thanks so much for linking up! Both books sound fantastic and I love, love, love Savannah. I will be adding both of these to my to read list on goodreads. I, too, love bookmooch!

Vicki Boster said...

Maggie- first I have to say that I can't believe you can maintain 2 awesome blogs- I can barely do one!! Wow-

I love to read and I love blogs that review books- so count me as your newest follower girlfriend!! I'm excited-- love love love to read!
Vicki

LindyLouMac said...

Hi Maggie, back from my travels and trying to catch up with all my favourite bloggers. Two very different reads, off to see if they still available on Bookmooch. :)

LindyLouMac said...

Well one was still there so I have mooched from you Maggie. :)

Curtains in My Tree said...

I had started the Paris wife , Ernest Hemingways wifes story

however it was due back at the library because 28 ladies waiting on it

janice