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