The DEVIL'S BED by William Kent Krueger

I became acquainted with W K Krueger’s writing with ORDINARY GRACE.  This book (a stand alone, not part of his Cork O’Connor series) is VERY different. From the first page to the last, this is a hard charging, atmospheric, political assassination, psychological  thriller.  Krueger is a good writer who is able to keep his characters and plot clear throughout numerous twists and turns.  The politics are familiar to any reader of the newspaper, but Krueger manages to make it new.  The family drama (husband/wife/boyfriend?/father) is an integral part of the plot. 

I have discovered a new favorite writer who can deliver thrillers as easily as gentler family dramas.

5 of 5 stars

THE HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin

Josephine is a 17 year old slave in anti-bellum Virginia while Lina is a twenty something up and coming lawyer in present day NYC.  The lives of these two become entwined when a wealthy Black client of Lina’s law firm starts a “slave reparations” law suit that becomes entangled with an art dealer’s contention that Josephine is the true artist and not her widely acclaimed mistress.

Both life in a high powered law firm and life in the slave owning South are presented believably. Lina and Josephine are both sympathetic and well-drawn characters.  The story line for both is engaging. While the sub plot involving Lina’s mother is rather thin and too neatly concluded, the artistic element is a link for the two stories.

Book groups will have a variety of subjects to discuss; some very superficial and entertaining and others quite serious and profound.  Race relations now and then permeate both stories.  The question “Who is Caucasian and who is Black?” may form the body of the discussion.  The value of a piece of art and how the artist’s name recognition determines price is another point for discussion. Motherless children and how they and their families cope could form another topic.

SECOND WATCH by J A Jance

SECOND WATCH   by J A Jance

Jance takes us back in time to relate how beau became a detective and the “one that got away.”  Beau’s first homicide was never solved.  Now, in the present, Beau revisits that crime.  Does he solve it? I won’t tell, but you enjoy the juxtaposition of past and present in this tale of crime and aging knees.

Jance keeps you interested while giving the reader a glimpse in to Beau’s back story.  As usual, the writing is crisp, the plotting is well paced and the characters ring true.  Another winner for the mystery lover, especially those who have Beau’s career through the years.

W IS FOR WASTED

Grafton has written another winner.  The characters are real. The conversation is logical. The view expressed of the homeless is very interesting.  The mystery is quirky enough to keep you reading. The “new” family members for Kinsey are always a revelation.  Not quite sure how this fits with the previous books, but I am happy for Kinsey’s new found wealth. All in all, a good read from a favorite author.

THE WHOLE ENCHILADA by Diane Mott Davidson

THE WHOLE ENCHILADA   by Diane Mott Davidson

I enjoy this series as much for the recipes as for the stories.  Goldy is again witness to murders - one takes place just after the victim has eaten one of Goldy’s delicious concoctions.  We are witnesses to her acumen as sleuth as well as her talent at cooking.  The cast of characters includes her talented partner Julian, her cop husband Tom, her sidekick Marla along with the usual assortment of suspects, witnesses, bystanders and red herrings. This tale has a second plotline with Ophelia, and Ophelia’s father, money and fiancé.   

My one gripe with this murderous outing is we are constantly being TOLD what good friends Goldy and the victim were, but are never SHOWN why they were friends rather than mere acquaintances. This is important because of the many times this friendship is used to extract information from others.  Tom is even witness to a rather shady extraction that would never be condoned or attempted by real police.

Still, the story is interesting, holds your attention, is solvable if you pay close attention and has enough humor to lighten a dark tale.  The ending may signal the end of this series. Not much here for a book group discussion, but cozy fans will enjoy it anyway.

THE WEDDING GIFT by Marlen Suyapa Bodden

THE WEDDING GIFT   by Marlen Suyapa Bodden

I’m still not sure where or when the prologue was supposed to take place – perhaps it was a dream?

After some very stilted conversations and an inconsistent use of dialect, the story is interesting and holds your attention to the end.  However, there are too many coincidences and the slaves are often well cared for (or allowed a lot of free time) by slave owners we are supposed to be appalled and repelled by.  That is not to say slaves were not ill-treated and horribly abused, they were.  Just that the depiction is as inconsistent as the dialect.

Fathers in the antebellum South are shown as overbearing, browbeating, abusive scoundrels.  Mothers are meek and cowed.  Sons are distant and uncaring.  In other words many of the characters are caricatures.  Still I enjoyed the book.

Book groups will be discussing slavery, abusive husbands and fathers, the role of women, education priorities, gossip and social ostracism among other topics.  A comparison with The Help, To Kill a Mockingbird and/or The Color Purple would be an interesting discussion.

Note: I read an Advance Reading Copy, I hope the map appears in the front of the book or in the body of the text in the “real” book.