The Last Act of All by Aline Templeton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I must say I am rather in love with the way this woman writes. The story itself is not quite as riveting as it makes out to be but I didn’t find it at all predictable (though I did wonder along the right lines) which was kind of nice since I usually can tell who the murderer is as soon as he or she walks onto the page. Plot aside though, Aline Templeton’s writing is superb. It seems almost academic without being boring. I can’t quite describe it. She writes in that way that Stephen King and Margaret Atwood do – where the fact that this is their craft is so apparent and there is no room for a pesky personality to shine through (this I find particularly fascinating since I can’t write a single thing without vomiting my character all over the page). That said she has an uncanny ability to pinpoint human emotion and motivation in the most deliciously matter-of-fact way. Really did enjoy this book – and I’m pretty sure I paid next to nothing for it at a second hand book sale!

View all my reviews

Bones by Jonathan Kellerman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Typical run-of-the-mill crime novel. Kellerman is pretty consistent in his writing – you can pretty much always expect a decent story. I like that psychological profiling comes into his novels. It might not be quite as kickass as Criminal Minds but he’s still pretty cool…

View all my reviews

Gods and Fathers by James LePore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When confronted with a book like this one I often feel a little ill equipped to give a fair review. The thing is that while this book is very well written I can’t say that I enjoyed it. It’s one of those books that I refer to as a “boy” book. I didn’t gel with the character dynamic, often feeling a little oh-for-heaven’s-sake about the exchanges between them. The main character is barely likable, but isn’t awful enough to excuse the fact that you just don’t really care what happens to him. His son, who all drama revolves around is repulsive and I really felt no sympathy for him at all – so much so that I would have been quite happy if he went to jail for a crime he didn’t commit, simply because he was an asshole and bad shit should happen to assholes. On top of all that is was about Muslim terrorists. Oh. Dear. Lord. No thank you. I am so sick of this subject and am constantly finding myself disappointed when the “Muslim terrorists” make an appearance in the books I read. I LOVE crime fiction – but rather give me a serial killer please. Of course none of this is the fault of the writer – I bet we don’t like our eggs done the same way either! But the subject matter and the heaviness of the book just didn’t do it for me. I’m giving it a four for being decently written and well researched, but I’m afraid I have to give it a two for enjoyment value.

View all my reviews

Book: Just Take My Heart

Author: Mary Higgins Clark

Publisher: Simon & Shuster (2009)

Pages: 322

How long it took to read: 2 days

Where I Got It: Borrowed it from the Mom

Rating: 3

When famous Broadway Actress Natalie Raines is found dying from a gunshot wound in her home, the obvious suspect is the husband she was in the process of divorcing. When a career criminal comes forward and claims that her husband offered him money to kill her, the case seems to be a slam dunk. Of course, in true Mary Higgins Clark style everything quickly goes pear-shaped, nothing is ever what it seems.

I do love Mary Higgins Clark. Where are the Children was the first “grown up” book I read as a kid, and I am pretty sure that I have read at least 80% of the books she has written. Unfortunately for me, I seemed to have developed some sort of subconscious understanding of her “method” and it usually takes me only a third to a half of the book before I figure out whodunnit – without her giving anything away! This of course doesn’t actually stop me from reading (it makes me read all the faster to be able to confirm if I was right or not…) but it does kind of spoil the enjoyment just a little. I’d rather be surprised with the ending than smug about my state of rightness…

That said, MHC is always a good easy read and I won’t say no to the next one I find on my doorstep. She writes simply but effectively and I can always trust that I will make it through her books without ever feeling a giant need to just put it down and find something else.