The Son

Intensity. I tend to defer my reading of Scandinavian crime fiction until winter. The atmosphere from the page to the mind seems best traveled on a cold cloudy day. Over the course of a few winter days, I had the pleasure of reading Jo Nesbo’s novel, The Son. The title refers to the protagonist, Sonny Lofthus, one of the most complex and interesting characters Nesbo has created. I found pleasure in reading these 400 intense pages in which Sonny leaves prison and dope addiction behind as he uses all his skills to avenge what happened to his deceased father. Crime fiction fans will find great plot, interesting characters, and even a love story. You may even enjoy reading it in Spring. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Son from amazon.com.

The Diamond Caper

Renovation. Peter Mayle continues his Caper series with another engaging novel titled, The Diamond Caper. A case involving stolen diamonds brings Elena back to Provence to investigate an insurance claim, and before long, she and Sam are reunited. Mayle’s recipe for reading pleasure works well in this novel: interesting characters, a colorful setting, and a plot that maintains interest. The added ingredient in this installment involves a house renovation that adds more than enough new excitement to satisfy most readers. Readers who like crime fiction are likely to enjoy this novel and this series. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Diamond Caper from amazon.com.

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Impact. Can you really read another book about tragedy in the Kennedy family? If so, be sure to read Kate Clifford Larson’s book titled, Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter. Larson describes Rosemary Kennedy’s botched birth, her parents’ attempts to make her better, and finally the ways in which her life influenced other family members, especially her sister, Eunice, whose work with Special Olympics has done so much for people with mental disabilities. Thanks to this book, I was able to learn what an influence Rosemary had on channeling the work of so many Kennedy family members in this area. As a parent and grandparent, I cringed at the choices made by Rosemary’s parents, Joe and Rose Kennedy, with what may have been what they considered the best of intentions. Larson described another time and another era, but one with an impact on contemporary society. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Rosemary from amazon.com.

Midnight Sun

Hideaway. I was delightfully surprised by Jo Nesbo’s novel titled, Midnight Sun. I expected a crime novel with a high gristle component, and was curious to find a love story and reflection about the problem of God. A good hearted criminal named both Jon and Ulf stole money from his crime boss in Oslo for a good purpose that didn’t work out. Jon fled to rural upper Norway where he finds a hideaway in a small village steeped in Sami culture and in the Laestadian religion. The pursuit to recover the crime boss’s money is expected, but the resolution was both surprising and pleasurable. Nesbo’s range increased quite a lot for me as I finished this novel, and I am looking forward to seeing an even wider range in his next works. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Midnight Sun from amazon.com.

Beneath the Bonfire

Twists. Readers who like short stories will find ten superb examples of the genre in a collection by Nickolas Butler titled, Beneath the Bonfire. Butler uses great efficiency to bring a setting to life, and then presents compelling and complex characters to populate the setting. Through the twists that come into every life, Butler draws readers into the lives of these people in ways that are wholly entertaining and interesting, no matter how similar or different the characters may appear to be. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Beneath the Bonfire from amazon.com.

The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain

Aging. It’s been two decades since Bill Bryson’s hilarious book titled, Notes From a Small Island, about his life as an American living in England. Bryson is back two decades later with his current take on this experience in a book titled, The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain. Bryson’s humor remains sharp, and part of the sojourn he describes has him return to places he hasn’t been to in a long time. His aging voice is a bit snarkier than the earlier book, but any reader who likes England and has a sense of humor will find something to like in this book. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Road to Little Dribbling from amazon.com.

The Wolves

Hunting. The tenth John Wells novel by Alex Berenson is titled, The Wolves, and because of the political machinations throughout and the actions of a wealthy character that set up this plot from the previous novel, this may be the least appealing novel to read in a presidential election year. I read it just before Super Tuesday, and was thoroughly entertained. The manic John Wells from more recent novels seems more patient and measured in this installment. He may even be questioning whether he should continue the work he’s been doing. Fans will snap up this novel quickly. Any reader who likes thrillers will be entertained by most of these 400 pages. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Wolves from amazon.com.