The Rain Queen

I very much enjoyed The Rain Queen by Katherine Scholes which is set in Tanzania mostly in the 1960s.  The story begins in Australia in the 1990s when young woman, Kate Carrington, is trying to forget her past in Africa because of a terrible tragedy.  She meets her elderly neighbour, Annah Mason, and Annah tells Kate her story of going to Africa in the 1960s and her life there.  For a time she lived with Kate's parents but circumstances changed and Annah began a different life there.  This story is very well told and engaging so the reader barely notices the number of pages in the book.  Recommended. 41/2/5

Trace

I enjoyed Trace by Patricia Cornwell which is set in Virginia, USA.  Kay Scarpetta is asked to return to her former workplace as a consultant to investigate a mysterious death.  A young girl, Gilly, has been murdered and Scarpetta works out how it happened.  There appears to be a mix-up with the trace evidence from another case.  The story becomes complicated by another attempted murder in Scarpetta's niece Lucy's house.  The different strands come together in the end. 31/2/5

All Is Not Forgotten

I very much enjoyed All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker which is a story of a teenage girl, Jenny Kramer, who is brutally raped.  The story is told in the first person by someone very close to the case.  Jenny is undergoing therapy to try to restore her memories of the incident so the rapist can be identified.  The issue of planting false memories is discussed as this has been a "hot topic" for many years.  The reader learns more about the people around Jenny and about their secrets.  Can this all be covered up?  This story continues to intrigue right till the end.  5/5

The Secrets She Keeps

I very much enjoyed The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham which is set in London.  The story is told by two narrators, Agatha and Meghan, in alternating chapters.  Agatha has a grim past and is desperate to have a healthy baby.  So far she has been unlucky.  She tells her latest boyfriend about her pregnancy and he is not pleased initially.  Meghan has it all - boy and girl, gorgeous husband and a great life.  Her current pregnancy was not planned but her family is happy about it.  This is a suspenseful story as the reader gradually becomes aware of the secrets both women keep which become unraveled. Highly recommended. 5/5

Woman on the Edge of Time

I enjoyed Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy which was originally published in 1976. This edition, published in 2016 includes an Introduction by the author telling us the reason she wrote the book and discusses some aspects of the story. The main character is Connie Ramos who is in a mental institution and is desperate to leave it, especially when she is "chosen" to undergo a new therapy.  While in the institution she is visited by Luciente who lives in the future.  Connie looks forward to her visits and as well she sometimes has the opportunity to visit Luciente in her time.  This is a thought-provoking book.  How do we imagine the future? What happens to people in mental institutions?  Here in 2017, we already know the answer to that.  31/2/5

Crime & Mystery Book Club Christmas Lunch

Last Wednesday we had our Crime & Mystery Book Club Christmas lunch at Jindalee Hotel. It was a very pleasant get-together. We have a little tradition for our Christmas lunch - bring along a pre-loved book in good condition, wrapped and anonymously dropped in to middle of table and then we all have a "lucky dip". I scored a Patricia Cornwell book "Trace" which I hadn't read. One of the ladies bought me a coffee with Tia Maria, which was lovely, thank you. One of our ladies is off to Ireland for Christmas there with family, maybe some snow.  Look forward to seeing everyone again in 2018.

Book Club Christmas Lunch

Last Monday our Wine & Giggles Book Club had our Christmas Lunch at Goodness Gracious cafe at Graceville.  There was really torrential rain that day.  Fortunately, when I arrived and when I left the rain was not too bad.  We were fortunate to get a table inside where it was nice and cozy.  There were six of us there with the other four unable to come.  We all enjoyed the venue with its delicious food and ambience.  A few of our ladies had been there before on sunny days and sat outside.  As always time flies when you're enjoying yourself.

Two Nights

I enjoyed Two Nights by Kathy Reichs which is set in Chicago.  Story is narrated by Sunday Night, now a private investigator with a disturbing past.  She is asked by a wealthy grandmother to find her granddaughter, Stella, who went missing after a bomb killed her brother and mother. There are small chapters (in italics) which provide the reader with a story of a captive girl.  Sunday has a number of spectacular "near misses", which adds to the suspense, as someone tries to stop her finding Stella.  Sunday is very gung-ho and later she is joined by her brother.  There is a race against time to find Stella before she is further harmed.  Good twist at the end.  31/2/5

Fairvale Ladies Book Club

I enjoyed Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green which is set on a cattle station in the Northern Territory in the late 1970s to early 1980s.  The station is owned by the Baxter family.  The family matriarch is Sybil.  The other ladies in the club are her friend Rita, a nurse with the Flying Doctor Service; Sybil's daughter-in-law Kate, an English girl; Sallyanne, a young mother with marriage problems and Della, a Texan girl used to living on a large cattle property.  The story is about how each of their lives go on over the years at that time.  The book club is a way of helping with the isolation the women deal with.  A nice story, sometimes a bit too much "peaches and cream", but easy to read. 31/2/5

Two Kinds of Truth

I enjoyed Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly which is a Harry Bosch story.  I've read a number of his books and it is always satisfying to read a book with a familiar character and writer, rarely disappoints.  Bosch is now semi-retired and volunteering his time working on cold cases.  He is forced to look back when a murderer on death row since Bosch investigated the case 30 years, now claims DNA proves he didn't do it.  Bosch is certain the conviction is sound, but how to explain this DNA?  In another case Bosch goes undercover to investigate a current double murder in a pharmacy.  Good story. 4/5

Girl in Translation

Although it was often a harrowing read, I enjoyed Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok which is set in New York in the 1990s.  Kimberley and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong with the "help" of Kimberley's Aunt Paula. When they arrive they are full of optimism for the "better" life America promises them.  However, they are terribly exploited by Aunt Paula who has them work in a sweat shop with terrible conditions.  Aunt Paula rents them a flat in a condemned building where they fight for survival along with the other residents - cockroaches, mice, and rats.  The New York winters are particularly brutal.  They are compelled to rely on Aunt Paula's "charity" as they repay the cost of bringing them to America.  However, Kimberley has a great asset - her brain.  The conditions shown in the story are not far from the truth.  This type of exploitation has gone for many years and will be happening today somewhere.  Well written, compelling reading. 41/2/5

The Word Is Murder

I very much enjoyed The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz which is the story of a middle-aged woman visiting a funeral parlour to pre-plan her funeral, then hours later she is murdered.  The story is related in the first person by Anthony (making himself a character in his own book) who is working with a police consultant, Hawthorne, to solve the murder.  Many complications arise as the story develops. Can't tell you more than that for fear of "spoiling".  Clever and intriguing. 41/2/5

A Spool of Blue Thread

I very much enjoyed A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler which is set in Baltimore over three generations.  The Whitshank family have lived in the house built by Junior Whitshank in mid-20th century.  He and his "wife" Linnie Mae brought up their children Merrick and Red there.  Then Red and his wife Abby bring up their children there. The story is not in chronological order.  The reader learns a lot about the lives of all these characters.  The house itself is a huge part of the story.  Family stories have been passed down, but are they authentic?  Beautiful writing. 41/2/5

A Game for the Living

I've read A Game for the Living by Patricia Highsmith which is set in 1950s Mexico.  A young woman is brutally murdered and her two lovers Ramon and Theo are devastated.  Ramon confesses to the crime but there is no evidence he is involved.  He and Theo set out to find the truth.  I did not enjoy this as much as I'd anticipated after enjoying another of her books.  3/5

November meeting

We had a lovely evening on Monday with our host baking some great Christmas goodies.  She is always very generous with sharing the Christmas recipes, some of which I make every year now.  There was a great selection of new books which I'm looking forward to getting in to.  At the end of the evening there was a race to get home as a storm hit.  This is our last meeting of the year.  I probably say this every year - it's gone so quickly.  Looking forward to a Christmas get-together next month to see of 2017.

The Liberation

I read The Liberation by Kate Furnivall which is set in post-World War II Italy.  The Americans have come in to save Italy's art treasures from unscrupulous people who are stealing them.  A young woman, Caterina, learned woodwork from her father.  He was killed by a bomb which hit his workshop.  Caterina learns her father had repaired stolen artifacts but refuses to believe it till she sees the evidence.  There is a love interest as an American officer tries to protect her from those who would do her harm. 2/5

The Seagull

I enjoyed The Seagull by Ann Cleeves which is a "Vera" murder mystery.  DI Vera Stanhope is asked by a former policeman John Brace (in prison for murder) to investigate the death of a friend 20 years previously. Brace gives Vera information that leads to a body being found, Robbie Marshall.  Brace, Marshall and Vera's now deceased father, Hector, were a group of friends who traded in birds and their eggs.  There was one other member of the group who mysteriously, is difficult to trace.  These are great characters, including Vera's team - Joe, Holly and Charlie.  There are a number of twists and turns in the story. As is usual with this author - a good read. 4/5

In Every Moment We Are Still Alive

I read In Every Moment We Are Still Alive by Tom Malmquist which is written and set in Sweden. The story is about a young woman, Karin, who has a difficult birth because of illness.  (A semi-autobiographical story).  Her partner, Tom, is with Karin all through this ordeal.  The story also goes back to the time of their early relationship and the relationships they have with their families.  As they were not married, there are "complications". The writing style for much of the book was quite unusual.  The text goes for many pages at a time with little punctuation, particularly with dialogue.  I got used to it after a while but was relieved that the chapters from the past had "normal" grammatical rules.  Still, an interesting way to write.  31/2/5

Force of Nature

I enjoyed Force of Nature by Jane Harper (her second novel, after The Dry) which is set in a forest in Victoria.  Five women are going on a bush walk "survival" adventure for a few days as a "team building" exercise. (Oh no, do they still do that rubbish!!)  Four of the women make it out of the forest after having a very uncomfortable time in there.  Federal policeman, Aaron Falk, and policewoman Carmen go to the forest to assist in the search for Alice who was a whistle-blower helping them in their inquiries regarding the company for which she worked.  Falk is concerned Alice's cover may have been blown and hope the local police will find her.  The story unfolds in two time periods - following the women over the days they were in the forest and the investigation phase when Alice goes missing.  A good story. 4/5

Sixty Seconds

This story Sixty Seconds by Jesse Blackadder is quite confronting.  A family moves from Hobart to northern New South Wales.  Then a tragic event occurs to the family's small child and the other family members have to find a way to deal with the aftermath.  The story is narrated in three voices:  the brother (in the first person); the mother (in the second person) and the father (in the third person).  The story is well-written but harrowing at times.  I don't think I would have read it if I knew what it was about. 4/5

The Giver

I enjoyed reading The Giver by Lois Lowry, which is set perhaps sometime in the future.  Jonas is turning 12 and that is the age that people in this community are told what their future will be.  The elders in the community take this very seriously after assessing the children and working out their suitability for the positions in society.  There are nurses, carpenters, cooks, factory workers and many other positions depending on the skills of the child.  Jonas is assigned to The Giver, the holder of memories.  The people in this community have known nothing else.  There is no colour and the citizens lead a regulated "safe" life.  They rely for their existence on the elders. The Giver passes his memories to Jonas.  The Giver can be consulted by the elders for advice where a past event memory may be relevant.  Jonas learns about colour.  He stops taking his "feelings suppressant" pill which all citizens take every day from about the age of 12.  The book was recommended by my grandson.  The people here don't know about "Elsewhere" only that it is not here and possibly dangerous.  How can a society exist without love?  Thought provoking. 4/5

October Book Club

We had a very pleasant evening at our Book Club meeting last Monday.  Our numbers were diminished, mostly by some of our ladies travelling in Australia and overseas.  My navigational skills were proven non-existent (as always) in getting to our host's home.  Anyway, we got there in the end.  Many thanks to our host for her always delicious supper and the beautiful view.  We enjoyed the company and chat.  Our host bought a great bunch of new books to read.

He Said/She Said

I very much enjoyed this suspenseful story He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly.  The story is narrated by the two main characters, a couple, Laura and Kit, over two time periods - 1999 and 2015.  At a festival marking a solar eclipse, Laura and Kit become witnesses to something which will change their lives. This is a fascinating look at the world of the "eclipse-chasers" who travel to wherever they can see a full eclipse.  This story builds up the suspense as the reader knows "something is going to happen" as the repercussions of the event they witnessed plays out.  In the 2015 time period, Laura stays home while Kit travels to the eclipse site.  This story is very well done.  Just when you think you know what has gone on, you are presented with something completely different.  Highly recommended. 5/5

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

I very much enjoyed The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom, which is initially set in Spain as the civil war is hotting up.  The character, Frankie Presto, was born in Spain as Francisco de Asis Pascual Presto. The narrator of the story is Music.  It is a sort of "Forrest Gump" story where Frankie rubs shoulders, plays guitar with the best of the best in the music world (including Louis Armstrong and Elvis Presley).  Music tells the story of Frankie's interaction with these luminaries and others who come to his funeral reminiscing about how well he played the guitar and sang.  This is a delightful story as a reader would expect from Mitch Albom. 5/5

Y is for Yesterday

I enjoyed Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton is another of her Kinsey Millhone stories.  Kinsey, a private investigator, is hired by a couple to find out who is behind a blackmail attempt.  They have been sent a video tape which shows their son, recently released from prison for another crime, involved in a rape.  The Millhone stories are set in the late 1980s, this one in 1989 and it is interesting to see how things were done in an era before mobile phones.  Part of this story is set in 1979 where a group of teenage friends hang out together and get involved in a murder and a rape.  In 1989, these teenagers are now grown up but what happens is ultimately related back to the events of 1979.  As well Kinsey is dealing with her nemesis Ned Lowe.  It's a good story, maybe too long at nearly 500 pages. 4/5

Tin Man

I read Tin Man by Sarah Winman which is set in London mainly during the time when people were dying from AIDS.  In the 1950s, Dora wins a "Sunflowers" print in a raffle.  Her son Elliott eventually has it.  The story is about friendship and love.  Some beautiful writing. 3/5

Insidious Intent

I very much enjoyed Insidious Intent by Val McDermid which is set in northern England.  A man who has a great hatred for his former partner whom he can't find decides to use "surrogates" as his murder victims until he can find her.  He is very forensics savvy so the murders are very difficult to investigate.  DCI Carol Jordan has set up a new investigative team which includes psychologist Tony Hill to try and solve the murders.  There are some senior police officers who are keen for Jordan's team to fail.  This is a good thriller where anything can happen before the murderer is caught. 41/2/5

Thirteen Hours

I enjoyed Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer which is set in South Africa as we follow 13 hours in one day.  A young female tourist is found murdered and her friend Rachel is now running for her life to avoid the same fate.  Detective Benny Griessel is looking for Rachel hoping to find her before the killers do.  Griessel, a white South African, is mentoring black detectives in the investigation of this murder as well as another unrelated case.  Griessel is also under pressure as Rachel's father seeks help through the American embassy.  Rachel does not trust the police because she has heard the killers discussing them.  This is a good suspenseful story. 4/5

September Book Club

We had a lovely Book Club meeting last Monday evening.  Our host bought some great new books which we'll all enjoy.  She provided a delicious supper with chocolate muffins which were soooo good.  Have a look at the beautiful tea cosies she made.  We missed a couple of members this month with one on a great camping adventure in outback Australia and another in Denmark.  All our ladies seem to be travelling to some wonderful destination at different times.  Some will be absent next month travelling.  We'll look forward to devouring our chosen books and meeting again next month.

Just One Evil Act

I enjoyed Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George which is set in London and Italy.  Inspector Lynley is asked to Italy to liaise with the Italian police regarding the kidnapping of a young British girl, Hadiyyah.  This is a tangled web indeed.  Lynley's sergeant, Barbara Havers, was a friend to the girl's father, Taymullah Azhar and his daughter before the girl's mother took Hadiyyah off to Italy.  Havers begins a complicated process to have the child returned to her father.  Then there is a murder, cover-up and the story becomes more involved.  I borrowed this book from the Library - a 711 page hardback with fairly small print - a brick.  I was pleased it held my attention to the end. 41/2/5

The Book That Matters Most

I enjoyed The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood which is set in USA and Paris. The main characters are Ava whose husband runs off with another woman.  Ava joins a book club to meet people.  The story is told over 12 months, each month introduced and then what happens to the characters during that month, as well as, which book is featured at the book club.  For this year's book club, participants have been asked to select the book that matters most to them.  When it's their turn, they talk about the book and the reason it was selected.  We follow what happens to Ava each month and to her daughter, Maggie, who is "living" in Paris, unbeknownst to her family.  She is going through a traumatic time.  The other characters have smaller chapters.  Ava had a sad childhood when her sister, Lily, died after which her mother committed suicide.  Eventually the past catches up with the present.  4/5

The Life We Bury

I very much enjoyed The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens which is set in USA.  College student, Joe Talbert, has to write an assignment about an older person.  He visits a nursing home and he's told about a resident, Carl Iverson, who is dying from cancer.  Carl was convicted of the rape and murder of a teenage girl 30 years before.  He has been released from prison to die.  Joe has a lot going on in his life with an autistic younger brother, Jeremy, who lives with their mother, an alcoholic.  Joe meets a young woman in his apartment block who becomes interested in Joe's project.  Quite suspenseful. 41/2/5

Unusual Uses for Olive Oil

I've read Unusual Uses for Olive Oil by Alexander McCall Smith.  I'm a great fan of his and usually enjoy his books.  This is a story set in Germany where Professor Dr von Igelfeld is a pompous professor whose only "claim to fame" is writing a 1200 page book entitled Portuguese Irregular Verbs.  It is a satire where each chapter is like a short story about the hapless von Igelfeld, who seems to have no common sense whatsoever and incapable of empathy.  He is a very comic character who has the most absurd "adventures".  All rather silly. 3/5

The Fifth Letter

I enjoyed The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty, which is set in Sydney, Australia.  Four women, now in their 30s, meet for a holiday in a house near the beach.  They have been "besties" since they started high school.  One of them suggests they anonymously share a deep secret and they do so by using an old working computer and printer in the house.  They resolve to open one letter each night.  However, a fifth letter is discovered which will have a powerful impact.  I disliked the characters but there was enough mystery towards the end as we finally learn who wrote the fifth letter and the reason for writing it. 4/5

August Book Club

Had our monthly Book Club meeting last Monday, which is always very enjoyable.  A few missing with travel and illness.  Our host provided a delicious supper, my favourite was the shortbread creams - sooo good. We talked about what's happening in our lives, our grandchildren growing so quickly, the challenges of ageing.  We have some great new books which our host bought this month.  I'm looking forward to reading all that I chose.  One of our ladies is having a fantastic long holiday in West Australia where she's seen and done exciting things.  It's a delight to see her photos on Facebook.  

The Muse

I very much enjoyed The Muse by Jessie Burton (author of The Miniaturist) which is set in London 1967 and Spain 1936.  The story is told alternately in these two time periods.  Odelle has come to London five years earlier from Trinidad.  She is beginning a new job at the office of an art dealer.  An older woman there, Quick, becomes a mentor for Odelle.  Odelle meets a young man who brings a mysterious painting in to the gallery which had belonged to his recently deceased mother.  When the time moves to 1936 Spain, the reader learns about the origin of the painting.  We enjoy both the stories and eventually they come together and the mystery is solved.  Great writing and storytelling. 5/5

Songs of A War Boy

I very much enjoyed Songs of a War Boy by Deng Thiak Adut.  It is a memoir of the author's life when he was a small child in South Sudan, a seven-year-old soldier, a refugee who came to Australia, and his education to tertiary level in Australia.  I felt immense sadness that such small children were used as weapons in the terrible war in Sudan.  When Deng came to Australia he learned his English with extensive reading.  Even The Wiggles helped him with the English language, which is a difficult language to learn.  He did his law degree at University of Western Sydney, a tremendous achievement considering where he'd come from and the difficulties of university life.  Deng is a remarkable young man.  Then Premier of New South Wales, Mike Baird, invited Deng to give a speech on Australia Day.  Reading this very moving speech, I see this man as a leader not just of his own community but for all Australians. 5/5