“What makes this story fly is the dialogue. It’s crisp, witty, and carries the narrative of the story without much “inside the head” of the characters exposition.” The (lucky) thirteenth book in John C. Daglish’s “City Murders” series brings us to Kansas City. This author has an amazing ability to capture the specific locations and … More Kansas City Homicide, by John C. Daglish [review]
“Science Fiction at its best — where the story and the characters are the stars and the social issues are compelling.” Science Fiction is at its best when the futuristic or other-worldly setting is merely the stage for a story about larger issues and meaningful relationships. Transference is an excellent example. The story is about … More Transference, by Ian Patterson [Review]
“I wish that first scene had been a stand-alone short story and I could have stopped there.” This book was selected by my book club. I was expecting witty, clever, and engaging, and the story starts out exactly that way as Maud, our 88-year-old heroine, is visited by two police inspectors. It seems a man … More An Elderly Woman Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Tursten [Review]
This book is not a traditional mystery. The interest for the reader is not in what happened, but rather in experiencing how the characters react as they discover what the reader already knows. This book is marketed as a “Psychological thriller.” For readers who enjoy getting deep inside the heads of characters and experience the … More Free Fall, by Nina Atwood [Review]
“As a jumping off point for discussing these significant social issues, the book is a success. But as a story about Stephanie, the book misses the emotional mark and it is structurally challenged.” Ms. Kiser’s memoir (a book club read for me) succeeds in raising many important social issues through her journey working in her … More Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant, by Stephanie Kiser [review]
kevingchapman.com 