WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME by Wiley Cash

Cash lives up to his early promise and surpasses A LAND MORE KIND THAN HOME in this family oriented, murder mystery, plane crash, racial tension, political story. That sounds like a lot, but Cash expertly guides the reader through this complicated, but easy to follow, tale right through to its explosive conclusion. Winston Barnes, a small-town Southern sheriff, discovers a too large plane crashed at the local airport along with the murdered body of a local, young Black man. Complications abound with the upcoming sheriff’s election, a grief-stricken daughter suddenly landing on his doorstep, a conniving developer who is also his political opponent, and now, a resurgence of Klan type bedeviling of the Black community. Cash deftly delivers the atmosphere of a Southern town, well developed characters, believable situations and a tightly conceived plot. Book groups will find a number of topics for discussion. Well worth your time even if you were disappointed in Cash’s last two books. 5 of 5 stars

THE PARIS BOOKSELLER by Kerri Maher

I was half way through this book before I realized it is essentially an accurate and lengthy biography of Sylvia Beach and her English language bookshop. Beach and her Paris shop, “Shakespeare and Company”, hosted many of the writers and thinkers of the early half of the 20th century. She came to fame with her publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses when no one else would publish it. In fact, America had declared it pornography and prevented it from being published or sold in the US. The novel also covers her relationship with Adrienne Monnier and Monnier’s French language bookshop. Both women were sponsors of American, French and British writers. The novel is well researched and well written but gets bogged down in the details. Joyce, Ulysses, Hemingway and Pound by themselves along with Beach could have made a fascinating tale that moved more quickly and kept the reader’s interest from flagging. Still, the history alone makes the book worth reading. Personally, I could have done with a hundred fewer pages. 3 of 5 stars

THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE by Richard Osman

This second outing for the Thursday Murder Club is just as much fun as the first. We learn a bit more about each of four members, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim as they meet Elizabeth’s ex-husband, also a former (or current?) member of MI5. The fun begins with 20 million in stolen (or not?) diamonds, continues with an attack on Ibrahim, a murder and several more murders. Will Elizabeth and company be able to outwit the Mafia, international thieves, hired killers, renegade officers and other assorted baddies while the laughs keep coming? Osman keeps the group moving while continuing the gentle humor and advancing the intricate plot. He has a good feel for folks in their seventies who do not feel “over the hill”, but are active and engaged. His plot will keep you wondering until the last pages. Altogether a fun read that will keep you engaged. 5 0f 5 stars