One for the money

Evanovich, J. (2003). One for the money. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks.

Annotation: Jersey girl Stephanie Plum's money troubles force her to take a job as a bounty hunter working for her sleazy cousin Vinnie's company.


Summary: Stephanie Plum has fallen on hard times. She’s lost her job as a buyer of cheap lingerie, is behind on her bills, her beloved car has been repossessed, she's sold everything of value and doesn't even have food in the fridge. Desperate for a job she goes to see her cousin Vinnie about a filing for his bail bonds company.  When the secretary lets her know that there is a bounty hunter position available and that they take 10% of the bounty the y recover she blackmails Vinnie into giving her the job. Now she's on the hunt for Joe Morelli, the guy who took her virginity behind an eclair case, who's being tried for murder. Stephanie, who has never even shot a gun, is in way over her head and she needs the money. How hard could it really be?


Review: I just couldn't get into this book. It's so over the top that I just couldn't immerse myself in the story line. Stephanie's crassness seemed forced and the idea that she not only ended up a bounty hunter in the blink of an eye with no experience and no weapon, but that she'd be hunting for a murderer as her first try was implausible and I just couldn't look past that. I know these books have a huge following though so I'd certainly recommend them to someone looking for a sassy mystery.


Series title: Stephanie Plum


Possible recommends:  Ann Charles' Deadwood Mysteries, Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries, Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles series


Rating: 2Q, 4P

The Lost Symbol

Brown, D. (2009). The Lost Symbol. New York: Doubleday.




Annotation: Harvard cryptologist Robert Langdon arrives in Washington D.C. to find his menor has been kidnapped and only Robert can unlock the clues necessary to save him.  


Summary: Harvard cryptologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent call from his mentor Peter Solomon's personal assistant asking Robert to speak in Washington D.C. that very evening at the U.S. Capitol building. Robert obliges, but not long after arriving he finds that the summons was a setup. Peter has been kidnapped and his kidnapper has charged Robert with finding The Ancient Mysteries- the lost wisdom of the ages. If Robert fails, Peter will die.


Review: Anyone who liked The Da Vinci Code will thoroughly enjoy this fast paced book. I was really intrigued by all of the Freemason lore and think that anyone who loves a good consipracy theory will find something to enjoy in this book. Its major downfall was in the introduction of the Noetic Sciences as I felt that topic required me to suspend too much belief.


Readalikes: Other Dan Brown books, Labyrinth by Kate Moss, Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer


Rating: 2Q 4P

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

Sparks, N. (2003).The Guardian. New York: Warner Books.

Annotation: Four years after losing her husband, 29 year old Julie Barenson begins dating and must choose between a mysterious & sophisticated stranger & her reliable best friend.

Summary: Julie Barenson has always had a tough life. Now at 25 she's just becomes a widow. Around a month after her husband's death from a brain tumor Julie receives an unexpected Christmas gift- from her husband. Julie never wanted a dog, and particularly not a Great Dane, but Singer quickly becomes a part of Julie’s life. Now at 29 Julie is feeling like it might be time to find a new partner. Julie knows that everyone wishes she’d settle down with Mike, Jim’s best friend, but Julie isn't so sure. When charming, sophisticated and handsome Richard appears Julie has to make a choice.

Review: This was a quick read that will appeal to fans of this genre. It's very uncomplicated and almost formulaic nature will appeal to fans of Nicholas Sparks. Singer's feelings about Richard are definitely a "hit you over the head" clue as to Richard's intent as are many other events in the book. Still, those looking for a pat love story will like this.

Possible Recommends: Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, James Michael Pratt, other books by Nicholas Sparks

Rating: 2Q/4P

Murder in the Marais

Black, C. (1999). Murder in the Marais. New York: Soho Press.


Annotation: Detective Aimee Leduc goes undercover inside a neo-Nazi group to ferret out a killer in the old Jewish quarter of Paris. 


Summary: Private investigator Aimee Leduc sticks to tech investigations, preferring hacking and decoding over the  grittier side of her line of work. After all, her father died a brutal death in the line of duty, a death that Aimee witnessed. When a frail old man shows up at her door claiming that her father gave him his word that Aimee would help if ever needed and offering far more than her usual fees, Aimee accepts the case despite her feelings that there may be more to this than Monsieur Hecht is letting on. Aimee soon finds herself in the middle of something far bigger than she could ever imagine.


Review: This was an enjoyable read. However, there were times when I felt like there were too many characters, many of whom weren't fully developed. Also, Aimee's "wardrobe for every occasion" coupled with unrealistic scenes like when she went running across the rooftops, jumping from building to building in high heels were very unrealistic. Still, I think readers who enjoy detective mysteries set in foreign locales with a little romance thrown in will not be disappointed in this book.


Possible Recommends: Other Aimee Leduc titles, Seig Larson, Faye Kellerman


Rating: 3Q/4P

The hypnotist

Kepler, L. (2009). The hypnotist. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.


Annotation: Detective Inspector Joona Linna demands to investigate a triple homicide against the wishes of the national police.


Summary: In Tumba, Sweden, a family has been found brutally murdered. The sole survivor is the 15-year old son, who suffered nearly 100 knife wounds and is in a state of shock. Detective Inspector Joona Linna enlists the help of Dr. Erik Maria Bark, a trauma physician who was barred from hypnotizing patients nearly 10 years ago. At Linna's request Bark agrees to hypnotize the boy in the hopes of finding the killer before the killer finds the boy's missing older sister. This sets off a series of increasingly violent events leading to a climactic and unpredictable conclusion. 


Review: This psychological thriller is packed with fast paced adventure, subplots, and twists and turns.At times the book heads off in so many directions that it is somewhat confusing, but everything comes together with a satisfying conclusion. Readers should be aware that there is incest in this book. 


Sequel: The nightmare, scheduled to be released July 3, 2012


Possible recommends: Other Lars Kepler books, Larsson Stieg trilogy. Jo Nesbo, Jussi Alder-Olsen


Rating: 4Q/4P

Sarah's Key

Rosnay, Tatiana de. (2007). Sarah's Key. New York: St. Martin's Press.


Annotation: Can Julia uncover the story of the 1942 Vel' D'Hiv roundups in German Occupied France?


Summary: On July 16, 1942 more than 10,000 French Jews were arrested by the French police, kept for about a week in horrid conditions in the Vel' D'Hiv in Paris. They were then sent to internment camps in France, and ultimately on to Auschwitz. The story is a fictional account of Sarah who is arrested along with her mother and father, as well as the parallel story of an American journalist in France who discovers what happened to Sarah, and to all of the Jews on that day. 


Review: Until reading this book, I too, was completely unaware of the story of Vel' D'Hiv. This historical novel offers a compelling look at conditions that bred French complacency and drobe people to commit crimes against their own neighbors. The use of alternating chapters, half telling the story as it happened in 1942 through Sarah's eyes, and half set in 2002 as Julia Jarmond uncovers the facts about what happened that summer long ago and explores what that history means to her and her family makes this a story that many will not want to put down.


Possible recommends: The Book Thief, books by Chris Bohjalian


Rating: 4Q/4P