The Shadows We Hide by Allen Eskens

Maybe I liked this book, a lot.

Maybe you should read it too.

Joe Talbert is back, in a follow up to The Life we Bury (you should definitely read that one!!).  A few years have passed and Joe is in trouble at work for not giving up his source, when a news report of an alleged murder catches his eye.  The victim?  Joe Talbert.

And so Joe is distracted from his work worries (and his girlfriend's stress about studying for the Bar Exam) by this question - is this Joe Talbert his father?? The father who abused his mom and left them?  The man he has never even met?  He can't ask his mom - they are NOT on speaking terms, after what she did to his autistic brother Jeremy, who is now in Joe's custody (his truth always begins with the word "maybe" which I loved about Jeremy, and about Eskens presentation of Jeremy).  So, he goes on a road trip, meets some, um, interesting characters, and digs into what may be his past, with major ramifications on his own future.

Easy reading - Eskens has a way of making his readers super comfortable and almost a part of the landscape of his stories.  Joe is a normal, good guy - well he tries to be - but he is only human so of course he messes up.  But that good part does shine through, especially in the end, when, to paraphrase the words of MLKjr, It is never the wrong time to do the right thing.  Will the right thing be good for Joe?  Maybe not, but what and who he finds on this journey will make all the pain and decisions and guesswork worth it in the end.  A story of defining parenthood, of forgiveness, of trying to do that right thing, of listening to the words you don't want to hear, of looking into the past to help you navigate the future.  Can't wait to hear what my book club thought of this one. 

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Gruesome. Thrilling. Revealing. Frustrating. Twisting. Profane.  Best of all - MAJOR CLIFFHANGER!!

And dare I say....magical??? ;-)

Cormoran Strike and his loyal assistant/partner Robin Ellacott are back again in the third novel from this pseudonym for JK Rowling, still riding high from the success of their two previously successful cases - and cognizant of the Police Force's annoyance at being bested by a one-legged detective.  When a serial killer is on the loose and Robin is sent a body part, Cormoran's radar goes up and there are four possible suspects - all with connections to Cormoran's somewhat convoluted past.  As they follow up clues, danger persists, attacks occur, and past history is revealed (trigger alert here for assault victims).  Robin proves an invaluable help to Cormoran, and her on again, off again relationship with fiance Matthew is still a rub, for both of them (and me too - not sure about pretty boy Matthew....).  The language here might be coarse, but this is the underbelly of London we are talking about, and Galbraith certainly knows how to write in local vernacular, gov.  I loved the dialogue!!  I would like to know the background on Shanker's nickname for Strike though - Strike - match - burner maybe????

This is a long book but worth the read in the end.  I thought I knew who the killer was - about three times.  Ha!!!!  I don't think you necessarily have to read the first two books - but why wouldn't you when they are so fun to read?  Cormoran's interesting upbringing, current situation, relationship with the police, and his ability even as a scruffy amputee with a bad attitude, to continually date the most beautiful (if dull) women, do actually make him endearing.  I do agree with another reviewer that once you notice it, it becomes annoying that Cormoran always orders fish and chips and the ladies only order salad (although, Robin broke down and ordered a chippie in this book!!!!).    I do like a curmudgeonly main male character - he's gruff, he's tough, and he's a softie at the same time.

Now, off to the library (sorry, Sally, I am on restriction from buying this month!!) for Book 4  - Lethal White.  Gotta find out what happens after that cliffhanger  -yes, I do!!!!!!!!!

Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

There is nothing like a trip back to Mitford to put your head and your heart back in a happy place!!!!

I have loved this series for 20 years. In this installment, our Dooley is getting hitched. I love how Karon gives us little snippets from several different viewpoints - we hear from Father Tim and Dooley and Lace and a myriad of other wonderful, eclectic, and wonderfully simple people who are preparing for an outdoor wedding at the Farm. Father Tim Kavanagh is still central to our story, but this is Dooley and Lace's day - and the (years) two weeks leading up to it are fraught with all kinds of small town traumas, family secrets, gifts and blessings - oh the blessings. There is even a reference to Barnabas!!! Sniff!!!! And omgash, Harley and his dentures - and burying a bottle of bourbon (to keep the rain away, a-course!). Plus, I double dawg dare ya not to fall in LUV with Jack Tyler. I just love this stuff!!!

I wonder how many more of these stories she will write - then, I hope to be blessed with more. Start at the beginning of the series if you want to know lots of references here - it is worth the trip back to Mitford just to know what OMC stands for - yum. Heckfire, maybe I will read it all again too.  Classic Southern Literature - and boy howdy, does she do vernacular well!!!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Possibly, a perfect novel.

I had heard all the buzz about this book, so my mom, also a voracious reader herself, gave it to me for Christmas.

Took me two days to read it.  Sorry, family.  I just couldn't stop.

Fantastic read.  Kya is raised in near isolation in the marsh and is perfectly capable of taking care of herself.  She is schooled by nature, by Mother Earth, and avoids contact with the "townies" as much as possible.  They all think she is stupid, dirty, and white trash anyway.  All except for one boy, who accepts her for who she is, and gives her a chance.

But then, murder.  And accusation, and trial.  This is not the heart of the story though.  Loneliness, acceptance, abandonment, prejudice, survival, trust and oh, the feathers.  The author is herself a wildlife scientist and her insight into animal behavior and the pulses of life in the marsh become as much a main character as Kya herself.  So well woven into the story, you might learn something without even realizing it (right, Sheriff?).

I loved the painting of Kya and the boy....the exchange of gifts on the stump....the cat in the courtroom.....Jumpin's warning...Jumpin' himself...feeding the gulls....painting like her mama.....alligator shoes....the unexpected way she revealed the expected ending.....and one unexpected but anticipated homecoming.  Part sad, heartbreaking, and inspiring, this was beautifully done - a great book club choice!

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

I really enjoy Brooks' books; I have read all but the Pulitzer Prize winner - hmmmmm!

This one did not disappoint.  Set in Rural England during 1665-1666, the story is loosely based on a real village and how it reacted during the Black Plague and its infectious devastation.  The language here is appropriate for the times, so may trip up a modern reader, but you get into the cadence pretty easily.  Anna Frith is a maid to the local minister and helps out at events held at the "big house" up the hill sometimes too.  Both positions give her access to very different types of lives and reactions when neighbors start dying horrible deaths.  Could Anna herself have thwarted the spread of the plague?  After all, her lodger was the first to die - a tailor with lots of bolts of cloth.....

Really interesting how Brooks weaves in the superstitions and caste definitions of the times, how people begin to react to the stress of watching all your neighbors die and how unlikely friendships will blossom out of necessity - but also manages to give her heroine such an interesting (if not really believable) ending.  I would recommend all of Brooks' books (The People of the Book was my favorite, but also loved Caleb's Crossing and The Secret Chord), and The Year of Wonders is now among them.  Be sure to read all the info at the end about what really happened - and then say of prayer of thanks for antibiotics!!!!  Could be a good book club book - definitely great for lovers of historical fiction!