The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

The police of Manassus, Virginia, have their hands full. They are being forced to reopen a long-resolved (albeit sloppily processed) murder investigation as well as deal with a missing person. Are the two connected? It appears that the names that keep popping up in relation to both are those of Sarah Morgan, a high-profile criminal defense attorney turned non-profit founder, and her husband, Bob Miller, an attorney as well. As the two become more and more embroiled in their brutal divorce dispute, they both also become more and more connected to the investigation.

I defy anyone to claim they’ve figured this one out before all is revealed! There are more twists and turns in this novel than there are on the Amalfi Coastline! The vicious competition between Sarah and Bob over who will outsmart the other is the beating heart of the plot and with a rotating narration giving insight into their motives and frustrations, we think we will figure it out. But just when we believe we are onto them, the story is flipped on its head and we are given an entirely new perspective. It is an incredibly complex construction and it keeps us guessing until the finale.

Apparently, also, I did it again. I read this in the wrong order, as it is a sequel to The Perfect Marriage, which I didn’t realize. But it absolutely stands on its own and is a delightfully wicked read even without having the knowledge of the first book.

I highly recommend this novel – it’s the perfect escape!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Jess is exhausted. It is late and all she wants to do is get into her brother, Ben’s apartment so that she can get herself settled in this new city she’s arrived in. So why isn’t Ben answering his phone? Why isn’t he there to greet her, when she’s come all this way. Granted, she has not given him much notice – a sort of habit for her – but she knows he’d try to be there for her, to the extent he’s been. As she learns more and more about the apartment building he’s been living in for the past few months, and as she meets more of the characters who live there, it becomes more and more worrisome that she hasn’t been able to locate him…

This novel, while just a bit creepy, is also great fun. There are more plot twists here than in almost any other book I’ve read, and I dare anyone to say that they guessed the entirety of the final outcome! You’d think that since we hear what is going on in the minds of each of the characters, with the rotating narration, that we’d be able to figure out what has happened to Ben, but it is quite to the contrary. Rather, it builds the suspense and compounds the complexity of the plot. And each character is utterly complex, colorful and surprising.

This is not the great American novel, but it is absolutely worth the read! Allow yourself the fun!

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are friends and neighbors in the Cooper Chase Retirement Village. They have been meeting every Thursday when the Jigsaw room is available, not to work on puzzles, as one might suspect – rather, to solve murder mysteries. Elizabeth, their unofficial leader, has been gathering the group most recently to examine the evidence surrounding the recent murder of Tony Curran, a construction magnate who has demonstrated nefarious means of obtaining his financial goals. As the group work their sly magic, alongside (and sometimes even including) the police, they find that their mystery has broadened and become that much more complicated.

I actually chose to listen to this one from an audiobook, and so happy I did. There are so many great moments that are, I believe, made that much more comical with the dry, British-accented narration. This motley team of “investigators” are colorful and endearing, and while on in years, they are clever, aggressive, honorable, and are relentless in their pursuit of the truth. On the other hand, their experience has also taught them that life can be complicated, and they are able to show mercy, tenderness, and compassion when it is warranted.

This is absolutely a fun, suspenseful, and, occasionally hilarious read – and I highly recommend the audiobook.

(I have not seen the movie, but I have heard mixed reviews…)

The Dry by Jane Harper

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Aason Falk feels himself drawn, almost against his better judgement, to attending the funeral of his old high school buddy, Luke, back in his former, small farming town outside of Melbourne. He’s just learned that Luke, his wife and his older child were murdered in and around their home, and rumor has it that it was Luke himself who carried out this gruesome act. Sitting in the pews of the service, he senses many not-so-friendly eyes upon him, even though it’s been 20 years since he’s returned. The only sets of eyes that welcome him are those of his old friend, Gretchen, and Luke’s parents, the latter having been like parents to Falk himself when he was younger. When Luke’s father asks him to utilize his investigative experience to help the local police find out what really befell the family, Falk promises to assist in an unofficial capacity, immediately finding himself embroiled in the weeds of a sinister mystery.

This is a classic crime fiction novel, replete with a main character saddled with a colored past, reluctant involvement in the investigation, and a twisty, sad, and complicated -even dangerous – path to the truth. There are small town politics, with the stereotypic town bully placed at the center of the conflict. Yet despite these common tropes, the novel still manages to be both surprising and entertaining.

If you’re looking for a quick read that will keep you guessing, this is the one for you!

We Are Water by Wally Lamb

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

This novel opens with the tragic tale of Josephus Jones, who, living in a shack on the property of his employer, creates art that is only truly appreciated after his tragic death. Years later, on the same property, a new family with its own artist is coming to terms with their changed circumstance: that Annie, the wife, has left her husband, Orion, for her art dealer in Manhattan and they are planning to marry. As the upcoming nuptuals near, they set in motion a collision course that opens wounds and exposes secrets that have been suppressed for decades.

This novel is another brilliant saga, a gift to us from Wally Lamb. There are so many layers to unpack here, but the overarching message, I believe, is the corrosive damage done to us by keeping secrets from loved ones, and avoiding confronting our demons. Annie’s past, while dark and shameful (in her eyes), has been kept secret for so long, but it eats at her and erupts in dangerous ways. The secrets she then imposes upon her children are also damaging, both for her and for them. We see how each of her children cope, often dysfunctionally, in their own ways.

Lamb’s narration is outstanding. By rotating perspective from each of these colorful and dynamic characters and smoothly conforming the phrasing to their unique personalities, we are allowed inside the minds of each one. This enriches the story in a profound way and helps to build suspense as we see what each character sees and doesn’t see, knows and doesn’t know. The build into the later scenes left me breathless, to be honest.

An outstanding novel in so many respects. Do yourself the kindness of allotting time for this one. It’s also a MUST READ, so you kind of have to, right???

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Audrey has enough on her hands, having just been abandoned by her loser husband who absconded with all the funding for their shared restaurant, now bankrupt. The last thing she needs right now is to babysit her alcoholic, starlet mother, Meridith, while she continues to dry out. But of course that is exactly what she is being expected to do. And of course, it can’t be at home in California – no, it has to be on the east coast, at Meredith’s estate on the island where she grew up. Where memories come back thick with emotions for both women. Meanwhile, we are also privy to entries in the journal of a survivor of a shipwreck that happened decades prior, on the same shoreline surrounding Meredith’s estate. We learn about Providence Dare, her anxieties about being pursued by the law, and her bold transformation. How are the two connected? You’ll just have to read the book to find out!

Reading Beatriz Williams is like belonging to an insider’s club: you just never know whom you will remeet, what will be referenced, and what little joke you might find. And while each novel is a stand-alone great, it is best to read all of her novels, because 1, they are wonderful and 2, you’ll be in the club! This novel is a perfect example. There are several characters who reappear from other works, many references to her prior novels done with her characteristic tongue-in-cheek snark. And while these references are not essential to the plot and one would enjoy the story even without knowing them, they definitely add that much more of a giggle when you stumble upon them. You get to appreciate her brilliant sense of humor that much more.

And brilliant she is. She weaves a story of three women, with three different pasts, that converge into a timeline that intersects in the most surprising way. And it feels natural, particularly since it has been build from characters that already feel like family.

While this may not necessarily rise to the level of a MUST READ, I do very highly recommend it. It is fun, suspenseful, cleverly composed, and a joy to read, as all of her works are. She is a brilliant author who just seems to keep getting better and better!

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

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Josie is not happy about her assignment in 1950’s Texas – enabling ex-Nazi scientists to be coddled within the secretive, US government research program – but what is she to do? Allow the Soviets to access their expertise first? She knows she must go along with it, given that her mentor, Karl, has been pressuring her to not let her past at Ravensbruck cloud her judgement as an agent. She finds she is truly missing her days working with her unlikely best friend, Arlette.

We then meet Arlette as she works alongside other Ravensbruck survivors in a tiny cafe in Paris, outwardly appearing content with her lot, just about making ends meet. But inside, she is still struggling day in and day out, not knowing if her son, Willie, lost to her in the camp, is dead or alive. When a handsome stranger walks into the cafe, promising information on her son, she is given a new hope that feels both unreal and terrifying.

This is a brilliantly written historical fiction novel about a time when those who committed some of the most heinous crimes of the twentieth century literally got away with (worse than) murder. Nazi war criminals responsible for the maiming and murders of thousands were given a pass by sympathizers across Europe who funneled them by way of Austria or Italy (sometimes even the Vatican) through the Alps, into hotels where they waited, often for months in plain sight, until receiving false papers to get to South America (often Argentina), to live out their days in peace. Even some of the most notorious, such as Mengele, known for his unconscionable experiments on humans, escaped justice in this way. There were many agents who did seek justice, however, to try to bring these gutless criminals to justice.

But even if the story were not about such a monumental topic, it would still be a standalone epic novel. The crafting of the plot, the gradual reveals in the “before” and “current” (with current being 1952) telling, the way we can’t help falling in love with both Josie and Arlette, and the way we are continuously surprised by the plot up to the very final page – all make for an outstanding, suspenseful page-turner of a book.

And yes, you’ve guessed it: this one is absolutely a MUST READ! Because although it is a painful subject, and some of it is truly hard to read, I feel you absolutely must read it. If not for the historical value, for the literary value alone!

Elegy for Eddie: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Maisie Dobbs is back at it, having been requested by her old school chums to investigate the untimely death of one of their own, a young man who was crushed by a gigantic paper roller in a paper factory. Of course Maisie set out immediately to help, pouring her resources, her staff, and her intelligent mind to untangling the knot of deceit and coverup that she gradually finds. But is it all for evil intent? And does the ends justify the means? As Maisie sorts out the mystery, she finds she learns more about the world at large in 1933 as well as more about herself.

I really enjoy these mysteries, as they are a combination of mystery and thriller-lite and historical fiction. Maisie is an endearing character, coming from a humble background, she has inherited a great fortune, but she remains modest and struggles with her newfound identity among the elite. She also struggles to maintain her independence even as she is courted by an American with means who loves her for who she is but also wants more from her, which she is unsure she is willing/able to give.

The other small thing that I appreciated from this narrative was how traumatized Europeans were from WWI when they entered into WWII. So many were still reeling from their initial trauma, whether they’d fought themselves, were wounded, were related to someone who’d been on the front lines and had experienced secondary trauma, or had just lived through the incredibly difficult period that defined the era. And the thought of having to fight another war for the exact same values was utterly daunting. But as Maisie’s dear friend put it, he would, again, fight to protect the right for his boys to have the freedom to play, to run wild, and to get into trouble as boys do.

At the same time, I believe this is not the strongest in this series, with some of the others being more suspenseful, less contemplative. This one was a bit more meandering, somewhat fragmented in the way things came together.

That said, I will keep reading these, as they are enjoyable, relatively light, and well-written. I do keep saying that I will read these in order one day – but I haven’t done so. One day I will listen to my own advice…!

The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

NYC 1990’s: Ella has just moved into her own tiny apartment in the Village. Not by choice, mind you – but what’s a girl to do when her husband cheats on her with a prostitute in her own apartment building? Thankfully, she has a job she likes and she can quickly move on. And the super/musician who lives on the top floor with whom she has just had a strange but flirty interaction in the laundry room just might be the right distraction for her…

NYC 1920’s: Gin is living in a tiny apartment in the Village and frequents a speakeasy where she has found a fast but comfortable crowd to match her fast and comfortable wit. Having escaped her western Maryland home, she has made her way to this rather questionable boarding house, if it can be described as such, and found a position in a typing pool down on Wall Street. But her side hustle has gotten her mixed up in some other exploits that may threaten everything she understands about NY and how it operates.

These strong and savvy female heroines are written as only Beatriz Williams can: snarky of wit and soft of heart. Combine that with a plot that is replete with intrigue, suspense, and surprise – not to mention historical context – well, you definitely have my attention. And my attention was held from beginning to end – could not put it down.

And it’s a trilogy! Wow! So get ready to hear about numbers 2 and 3, because I am planning to actually read them in direct order – something I rarely do. But for Williams, one of my favs, I am doing it.

You know I have to make anything by her a MUST READ, so once again, this one is added to that list. Just for the fun of it!

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Lo has just gone through a frighteningly traumatic event after which she’s not slept for a week. But she knows she has to pull it together because she has a one and only chance to advance her career in the travel journalism field, with this upcoming, singular event: the maiden voyage of a VERY exclusive, very small cruise ship, hosting Britain’s elite with whom she must connect and impress. But suddenly, in the middle of her first night, shocking sounds have awoken Lo, and she is now distracted from her mission. Is she going mad? Can she rely on her memory of what happened in the middle of the night? She must get to the bottom of this, no matter what…

This is truly one of the most suspenseful novels I’ve read, one I felt I just couldn’t read fast enough! (And if you’ve followed this blog, you know I’ve been on a suspense tear, so this is saying quite a lot!) The story bursts immediately into action and, in truth, never stops. We follow Lo and feel for her, as she has her missteps and miscalculations but we also see that she is thwarted and misled by something devious and dangerous as well. And I NEVER would have guessed the ending – total twister!

This is not a character-based novel. I did not derive great insights or ponder deep thoughts about life’s meaning while reading this. I cannot wax poetic about about newfound wisdom gleaned from this novel.

But it is definitely great fun, a wonderful escape, and damn well what we need right now, so treat yourself and indulge!