*The Mind Readers, by Margery Allingham

The Mind Readers is the last book completely written by Margery Allingham; her husband finished up Cargo of Eagles (next in the series). So basically I've come to the end of the original Allinghams and it's a sad day. However, the good news is that I have each and every Campion story on my British reading room shelves (and all of the PBS dvds!) that I can read again if I so choose. Although this particular edition was published in 1990, the original was written in 1965 -- during the Cold War, and the book's subject matter reflects the angst of the time. There are numerous references to postwar science, spying and ultimately, the biggest concern of all -- someone hitting the button without any warning to the other side. Although it was not received well at its original publication (and if you look on Amazon, by some of its modern-day readers), I liked it. I thought it was a fine story, and unlike the last few books in the series, Campion is not on the sidelines but in the thick of the action like when he first began. The basic plot: Helena Ferris is the wife of scientist Martin Ferris, mother to young Sam, and a relative of Amanda Fitton (Mrs. Campion). As the story opens, she is supposed to picking up Sam and his cousin from the train, since they are due home at their half-term break. However, at the last minute, Martin's boss decides that no one will leave the island where the scientists are working. As a result, when the train stops, the boys are met by a woman who claims that she's been sent to pick them up. They walk with her until they notice a policeman, and start yelling that the woman is a spy and that she's trying to kidnap them. Later, when asked how they knew, they produce a device that they claim can read thoughts and feelings. Then, when Sam's cousin disappears, a series of events brings Campion into the picture in his role as an agent for British security. The book is a fun read and yes, it's a bit far-fetched, but consider that in real life the CIA was experimenting with psychic abilities, and then it doesn't seem so crazy. Allingham has done a fine job not only with the plot, but with her characters (her forte) as well. There are bits of humor interjected throughout the novel, and a Campion that I haven't seen in a while -- no sending him off to the sidelines in this book! Those readers who have been following the series will most likely enjoy this one; others who enjoy classic British mystery will definitely like it. Others who may find it interesting are readers who are interested in the Cold War era research programs in ESP and psychic abilities. Overall, a very good, fun read.

Fast Lane, by Ralph Arnote

from the tbr pile:

I read a LOT of mystery novels and I'm very particular about them. I don't remember when I got this book, but I saw it on my shelf today and picked it up, and I'm glad I did. I love this kind of mystery ... solid plot, good action, no overuse of sex to keep people reading (which I HATE -- stick with the storylines, authors!) -- just a good old-fashioned mystery that kept me reading throughout the day. I think anyone who enjoys a well-written mystery novel would enjoy this one -- maybe I'll exclude those who solely read cozies, because this is anything but. Basic plot outline (no spoilers) The detective agency owned by Willy Hansen and Coley Doctor takes on a case of a woman who wants a divorce from her husband. Amanda Granger is the wife of Jason, a high-level exec at an insurance company, and after telling him of her pregnancy, discovers that he is fooling around with another woman from his firm. She hires Hansen's agency to get any evidence the PIs can dig up on Jason so that she can divorce him and start a new life. However, Jason is too busy trying to get even with a psycho who went after him after Jason cut him off driving. His efforts at revenge lead to tragic consequences & even death. Very good, very fun novel to read. It reminds me a lot of the older mysteries featuring private eyes -- I wish there were more like this. I'm now going to have to track down everything by this author and read them as soon as the books come in! This edition was from Forge Press; #6 in a series of 6, beginning with Fallen Idols written in 1994.

*Unquiet Spirit, by Derek Wilson

I've had this on my shelf for nearly a year and decided that it's probably time that I read it. It took zero time, actually -- I didn't even have to stay up late to finish it. I will tell you that of the three books in this series, it's the weakest, in terms of plot and in terms of characterization. I must admit to being a bit disappointed because the first two books were pretty decent and kept my attention for a while, but this one just wasn't developed enough to satisfy my monkey for a good mystery. I'm always looking for something different; this wasn't quite it.

Coming in at about 187 pages, Unquiet Spirit is a very quick read. It is a mystery, and its main character is that of Dr. Nathaniel Gye, Paranormal Investigator. Gye is a lecturer in parapsychology, and hosts a unique television show as well. The story opens with a paranormal investigation unit in Cambridge doing their thing on a staircase in St. Thomas College, reputed to be haunted enough to scare away several students who lived in a particular room over the years. The team is visited by its main opponent, a Professor Hockridge, who demands that he be there while the investigation is being made. Hockridge thinks the paranormal is hooey - and is there to watch the team carefully. However, as the investigation proceeds, Hockridge suddenly falls & dies. The death is labeled as natural (a heart attack), however, there are some who do not believe it. Simultaneously, the college is on the brink of receiving some major funding, and the Master is worried that scandal based on some sordid business of 10 years earlier might seep through and make its way out into the open, possibly permitting the college's benefactor from making his donation due to the notoriety of the case, which seems on the brink of being blown wide open with Hockridge's death. He begs Nathaniel to look into events both ten years earlier and currently. There is very little in the range of the paranormal here if that's what you're looking for. At the very heart of this book is a decent mystery, and the parts of the book that focus on the mystery are very well done. I will be really frank here and say that I figured out half of it way early in the book (a who and a how) -- thankfully there was a dual mystery so I kept reading. What prevents the entire book from being much better (imho) is the interaction between Nathaniel and his wife Kathryn. I realize that authors have to make their characters seem more human, and I can appreciate that Wilson probably felt the need to do so, but the scenes between husband and wife are just flat and it was all I could do not to skim these parts. I think the mystery aspects might have been a bit more fully developed had he not felt compelled to throw in some tension between Nat and Kathryn. Other than this minor complaint, it was a decent book, and as of today (Feb 2008), the last one in the series. If he writes another, I'll probably buy it. Who would like this book? Readers who like mysteries set in the world of academia, or in England, or those who want a quick whodunit read.

*The China Governess, by Margery Allingham

Sadly, this is one of the last books of the Campion series; I'm going to really miss these books when I've finished. Sigh. Oh well, I suppose that's why I keep these things forever so that someday I can go back and reread them. In the prologue, a council flat is vandalized to such an extent that it gives one of its occupants a fatal stroke upon her discovery of the damage. Then on to the main part of the novel: Timothy Kinnit and Julia Laurell are a young couple engaged to be married. Both are from upper class families, and are happy as can be. However, Julia's father decides that the marriage will not happen, due to rumors that are being passed along about Tim's parentage. Although Julia does not care, Tim is determined to seek the truth about his identity, but as he investigates he runs up against several obstacles -- and needs the help of Albert Campion. Once again we find Campion in the background, not as active as in the earlier part of the series -- here lending his cool-headedness and deductive prowess. However, the story was quite good, but then at the end I got a bit confused and had to backtrack to figure out what it was I missed. I love these books, but sometimes they can get bogged down with dialogue that detracts from the main part of the story. I'd recommend it to classic mystery fans, those who like British mysteries and those who are considering the series. However, to the latter I say do NOT start with this one, but go back and start with the first one so you can watch the development of Campion's character. Personally, I liked him better in the older books. Overall ... not one of her best, but okay.

*Christine Falls, by Benjamin Black (aka John Banville)

Set in the 1950s, the action in this novel takes place in Ireland and later in Boston. The main character is Quirke, a pathologist. Quirke is a hard-drinking gloomy character, haunted by the death of his wife years earlier. As a boy, he was taken out of an orphanage by the head of a very powerful family, the Griffins in Dublin. As the novel opens, it's Christmas and he's just coming to his office in the hospital's morgue, where he sees his brother-in-law, Malachy Griffin, an obstetrician, sitting at his desk writing in a file. He gets a look at the name on said file -- it belongs to one Christine Falls. Later, Quirke finds out that she did not die from a pulmonary embolism as Malachy had told him, but rather from complications due to childbirth. This discovery leads him down a path upon which he will come up against those who do not want their secrets revealed and will do pretty much anything to stop him-- perhaps even some of his family members. The characters definitely drive this novel, Quirke especially. I figured out the mystery quite early on, but it was so incredibly well written and the characters so well drawn that I had to continue to see where the author (who is really John Banville) was going to take this story. I was not disappointed, and have already pre-ordered the next Quirke book coming out in March, 2008. Very noir-ish in tone, Christine Falls may not be something that mainstream mystery readers will pounce on, and more's the pity, since they'll be missing a splendid piece of writing. The central plot here is not really the be all and end all of this novel -- what's happening on the periphery is what captured my attention. Recommended.

*Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami

Oh my. I LOVE Haruki Murakami -- I live for this kind of stuff.

I rarely give books 5-star ratings, but truly, Kafka on the Shore deserves it. It was a wild ride of a novel, but still very readable. Murakami has long been one of my favorite authors and I have not yet been disappointed with anything he's written. A person could spend hours dissecting and discussing this novel, and I'm certain there are many spots on the internet where you can go to find such discussions, so I won't do that here. As usual, I loved the author's imagery; his use of the unreal to discuss reality is his forte. Somehow things that could not possibly happen or that could not feasibly make any sense seemed totally normal in this novel -- something Murakami does incredibly well. I think diehard Murakami readers would really enjoy this book as would anyone who enjoys a challenge in his or her reading, anyone who enjoys fantasy and anyone into magical realism. The title alone provides the reader with a clue that this is going to be a different reading experience. I would say that this book is not for everyone, but those who like Murakami know that about his work already. Overall -- a fantastic reading experience not to be missed. The man is a genius.

The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur, by Daoud Hari

This book's description at Amazon reads (in part) thusly: "The Translator is a suspenseful, harrowing, and deeply moving memoir of how one person has made a difference in the world–an on-the-ground account of one of the biggest stories of our time. Using his high school knowledge of languages as his weapon–while others around him were taking up arms–Daoud Hari has helped inform the world about Darfur.Hari, a Zaghawa tribesman, grew up in a village in the Darfur region of Sudan. In 2003, this traditional life was shattered when helicopter gunships appeared over Darfur’s villages, followed by Sudanese-government-backed militia groups attacking on horseback, raping and murdering citizens and burning villages. Though Hari’s village was attacked and destroyedhis family decimated and dispersed, he himself escaped. Roaming the battlefield deserts on camels, he and a group of his friends helped survivors find food, water, and the way to safety. When international aid groups and reporters arrived, Hari offered his services as a translator and guide. In doing so, he risked his life again and again, for the government of Sudan had outlawed journalists in the region, and death was the punishment for those who aided the “foreign spies.” The Translator tells the remarkable story of a man who came face-to-face with genocide– time and again risking his own life to fight injustice and save his people."

I've just finished this book and I have to tell you that it was a story I won't soon forget. Nor should I, nor should anyone who picks up this book. I received this book from Random House as part of the Early Reviewer program at Librarything (thank you!!!) and it's going to haunt me for some time to come.

I think that the majority of people living in the US are aware that acts of genocide are occurring throughout the globe, but they often tend to disassociate themselves from these events because they are so far away and frankly, we have a lot of problems right here at home. That's why books like this one are so incredibly important and why I think that everyone should read it. Sure, we can watch CNN from our cozy living rooms and get a brief glimpse of what's going on, and the pictures that fill our screens have some gut-level emotional impact on anyone who has a heart. But there is nothing like a first-hand account from someone who's actually lived it to drive the reality home -- and that is why this book is so important. What totally blew me away was the very understatedness of Daoud Hari's account -- it was almost like being in a room with him and listening to him talk to me about this horrible situation.


I won't rehash the main story here, but I will say that The Translator is an excellent story, all the more moving because the author still retains hope that someday something will be done to stop all of the killing and that things can still improve for his people. Considering what he went through (at least the parts he's written about), that's a lot to hope for. The writing is genuine, the feelings are real and he makes the most sincerest of efforts to tell his story and that of the people of Darfur. My only complaint is that perhaps there should have been a map somewhere, but that's minor. You might note that he says he's had help from his friends in getting this book together, but it seems that they left his work in his own voice, making his account even more powerful -- it is this very simplicity (imho) that makes things all the more real to the reader. After I finished the book, I went to the internet and read for a long time about Darfur, about Daoud Hari and about modern-day genocide in general.


Not many books make me feel like I need to do something, but this one really had that effect on me. And as I read, I realized that I felt very small and insignificant as an ordinary person -- I mean, really, what can someone like myself do to help out this situation? I decided that the very act of reading Hari's account and passing the word was a start -- a miniscule effort when I consider the overall horror of what's going on, but it is something positive. Getting the word out is something that all readers of this book can do. That's just my humble opinion, of course, but overall, I don't think it's possible for someone to read this book and not be moved.
Simply excellent, and please, when this book is released, go get a copy. I rarely, if ever, give that recommendation, but The Translator is a book that should NOT be missed.

*Necropolis, by Basil Copper

Set in Victorian England in a fictional existence in which Sherlock Holmes is a real person, Necropolis begins with a visit by a young woman to a Mr. Clyde Beatty, a private investigator. The lady is Miss Angela Meredith; her father's recent death seemed suspicious to her, her theory augmented by a burnt portion of a letter left in her father's fireplace grate. She is convinced that he would have recovered from his illness, but he died shortly after a visit from his physician, a Dr. Couchman. Couchman owned and operated a nursing home in Woking, Surrey, so it is here that Beatty begins his investigation. In the guise of a doctor, Beatty travels to Surrey, where he informs Couchman that Miss Meredith has ordered an exhumation & autopsy of her father's body -- and this is where the action truly begins. Beatty and his assistant Dotterell find themselves involved in a plot that leads them to Brookwood Cemetery via the Necropolis Railway -- where Beatty finds himself in danger at every turn. I really enjoy this author's work and he did not disappoint in this one. The story keeps you reading -- I never wanted to put this book down. It is labeled on the dust jacket as a gothic, and it certainly does contain many gothic elements (e.g. the sinister nursing home, the cemetery), but it's basically a very well done, good old-fashioned mystery story like nobody writes any more. This is an example of why I don't stick to modern novels -- I would read this stuff all of the time if I could find more like this. My only complaint about this book is that I spent much of the time wondering why Copper would name his main character after a circus owner, but that's really a non-complaint.

Who would like it? Anyone who likes good old-fashioned mysteries or mysteries set in the Victorian period might enjoy this book. It is really nonstop action and ther eis quite an element of suspense that is built up that lasts to the end. Overall, a very fun read -- a great book for a stormy day.

*Tether's End, by Margery Allingham

Margery Allingham is one of my favorite crime writers and has created a wonderful character named Albert Campion. Campion started out as a sort of goofy character, but as time went on, became very serious indeed. For me, the change was a bit tough because I liked his silliness, but Campion definitely came into his own as a character. In many of the pre-WWII novels he is in the thick of crime, but here, he's sort of on the sidelines.

Definitely one of Allingham's best (of the works that I've read), the action starts as a man pulls up in a bus into a cul-de-sac in London called Goff Place. The bus is carrying two elderly people, fast asleep, who stay that way throughout the bus being stopped, the driver getting off the bus and making a phone call, and the murder of a pawnbroker whose body was still missing. Even though there was no corpse, a long trail of blood led back to where the bus had been parked. Some time later, a young woman and young man ask a policeman where they might find a certain address. He remembers that it is a home at which there is a bizarre museum of curiousities, and then a thought strikes him. It is this thought which sparks an investigation into a most curious series of crimes by Campion and Scotland Yard. The reader already knows what's happened, whodunit, and is privy to witnessing the perpetrator at work during the course of a day. The suspense comes in trying to understand the mind of this criminal and in watching how events play out so that Scotland Yard can not only figure things out, but capture this guy as well. In truth, Campion does not play a very active role as he has in most of Allingham's previous series where he is usually the main character, but it is a chance question that he asks which sets the climax of the story into motion. I won't say any more, but if you were only going to read one Campion, this one might be it. Most excellent; highly recommended.Even if you don't follow the Campion series, you won't be lost reading this one, even though it's quite late in the series. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good suspense novel, and to readers of British mystery and mystery in general.

*The Star of India: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes, by Carol Bugge

There's nothing like reading a Sherlock Holmes pastiche to escape for a while. While I can't get enough of the original, I do enjoy other authors taking on the famous detective as a subject now and then.

Once again, Sherlock Holmes has sunk into a deep ennui. Evidently there is no crime in England at this time, or at least, none which appeals to his crime-solving genius. Home alone, with Mrs. Hudson visiting her sister in Cornwall, the novel opens with a visit from Dr. John Watson, with an invitation to attend a musical concert. Et voila! A mystery begins as Holmes and Watson take their seats. It seems that a young lady with a very distinct perfume captures their attention (in fact, Watson is almost nauseous with the scent); she fails to turn up during the second act. However, she is soon back within the sights of Holmes & Watson as she comes to retrieve a pair of gloves left at the theater which Holmes has in his possession. Also in her possession: the fabled Star of India, and after hearing the story about how she came to have this famous and beautiful jewel Holmes realizes that his evil nemesis, Professor Moriarty, has returned from Reichenbach Falls where it was believed that he had died. But Holmes knows better. As soon as he makes this determination, it seems that things begin to happen in very quick succession, and as the story progresses, Holmes and Watson become aware of a sinister plot against the English throne. Once more, it's up to Holmes and Watson to save the day.
So that's the basic outline of the story. As much as I love the various Sherlock Holmes pastiches (and there are a LOT of them out there), I was unhappy with the "deus ex machina" that the author devised to pull him out of a very sticky situation. I won't tell you what it was, but suffice it to say, it was just too pat. Also, I couldn't believe that Sherlock Holmes, with all of his genius, could not figure out one part of the mystery. I mean, I figured it out early on and I'm not Sherlock Holmes! I think the author should have realized that if a reader can figure it out, she needed to make Holmes just a wee bit quicker on the uptake.
Overall, it was an incredibly quick read and a fun one. I LOVE Mycroft Holmes (he's always been my favorite character) and I did enjoy the author's portrayal of him. If you want something for pure escape fun, this is it.
I would recommend it to people who read Sherlock Holmes pastiches, and who aren't terribly worried about them measuring up to the original product. I have another pastiche by this author which I'll be reading here in the near future.

Murder on the Celtic, by Conrad Allen

Another from the general TBR pile -- and a surprise! As of today, Murder on the Celtic is the last of the George Porter Dillman/Genevieve Masefield mysteries. To my great delight, the author finally managed to break through the formulaic stranglehold of his previous mysteries to offer a fun read. The same elements are there (thefts, a death on board) as in the past books, but this time he's jazzed it up a bit with an addition to the basic plot. I am one tough cookie when it comes to mystery novels, because I've been reading them since I was about 12, so I was quite pleased after having finished this one.
basic synopis (no spoilers): Once again, Dillman and Masefield are on board an ocean liner in their capacity as ship's detectives. Also on board is distinguished guest Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Jean. Conan Doyle wants nothing more but to remain anonymous among the passengers, and wants George to run interference if need be. However, the theft of a priceless volume from his stateroom, along with some other petty thefts and a murder at sea keep both of the detectives very busy. Plus, they have one added problem: a known criminal and murderer is on the ship, but he has come under an assumed name. The detectives definitely have their hands full on this voyage of the White Star line's Celtic.
Overall, a fun read (which, if you've read my reviews on the other books in this series I've never said) which will definitely provide you with a couple of hours of reading enjoyment and escape. Fans of historical mysteries may like this one, as well as people who are following the series.

Murder on the Oceanic, by Conrad Allen

from the tbr pile. I'm certainly not in love with this author, although I have this entire series and up through this moment, this is the penultimate book in the group. One more (to be read this month so I can move along) and I'm done. I must say I can't wait to see the end of this series, although to be really truthful, if a new one comes out in 2008 I'll probably buy it too. Don't ask me why. These books are a bit habit forming.

sigh. Once again I hoped for something decidedly different from the other books in this series and was once again disappointed. The formulaic nature of the series gets to me sometimes. So, you may ask why I continue to read these books, and the answer is because I own the entire series and have a thing about reading the books I own. Plus, as much as I can't stand the same thing over and over, I've never yet guessed the whodunit so I keep reading them. If you've been following the series, then you have basically read this book as well. Dillman and Masefield are once again on duty; this time on White Star's ocean liner the Oceanic. As the voyage gets underway, there is a theft, and that branches out into multiple petty thefts on board. As the detective duo works to solve the recurrent rash of robberies, someone goes and murders the bodyguard of JP Morgan. Morgan is a passenger on the cruise, alone in his room except for the bodyguard and a stash of objets d'art and some very valuable paintings, which also get stolen. Finding the murderer and finding the thief push the detectives almost to their limits. I have one more book in this series so I can only hope! Who would like this? Anyone who is following the series, definitely; fans of historical mysteries may also find it a bit interesting. if you're just embarking on the series, do not start with this one -- there's too much background info you need before you get this far.

February

Because Valentine's day falls in this month, I've chosen to revisit authors and characters I love. These could be pretty much anything because I have a HUGE TBR pile and when I find authors or characters I enjoy I tend to stockpile for later reading.

So...once again, the books in this category will begin with *; the others are from my TBR pile that I'm trying to whittle down.