Bark

Acerbic. I’ve always been attracted to smart-mouthed women. There are eight stories in the latest collection from Lorrie Moore titled, Bark. I was delighted by the acerbic wit and psychological insight presented in these quirky stories. Moore observes our human condition with a mature eye to our foibles and how easy it can be to become caught up in our unusual behaviors. The short story structure demands discipline in narrative and character development, and Moore displays great skill in drawing us into lives quickly, helping us recognize the depth of characters, and enjoy the situations of others. Throughout, we learn about human behavior, thanks to this smart-mouthed and very talented author. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Bark from amazon.com.

The Spinning Heart

Shock. I should pay more attention to tracking a new genre in contemporary fiction: the post-financial crisis novel. One worthy contribution to this category is Donal Ryan’s debut novel, The Spinning Heart. There’s shock among the twenty one narrators of this novel in the aftermath of the severe economic downturn in Ireland. A construction company was the major employer in a small town. The multiple voices contribute individual perspectives on what happened and the impact on all lives in the town. Ryan’s prose captures the unique voices and I found both his dialogue and descriptive language to be entertaining despite the bleak subject matter. Readers willing to try out a debut novelist will find a lot to enjoy in this finely written book. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Spinning Heart from amazon.com.

The Invisible Code

Conduct. London detectives Adam Bryant and John May are older and better in the latest novel in the Peculiar Crime Unit series by Christopher Fowler titled, The Invisible Code. The invisible code relates to conduct, which also involves class. Fans of mystery novels and crime fiction will be delighted by this humorous and interesting book. Bryant and May are perfect partners who complement each other, and in this outing they find their special unit at risk of elimination. They end up working on a case for a longtime adversary. The path to resolution is never direct, and that’s part of the pleasure of this series. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Invisible Code from amazon.com.

The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism

Setbacks. My patience in reading history can be fickle. I often abandon three hundred page books that I find too detailed, while I can read a book with a thousand pages that retains my interest throughout. I was totally engaged by Doris Kearns Goodwin’s lively writing in her book titled, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism. She relates stories set at the beginning of the twentieth century in ways that will inform and delight any reader with an interest in politics. She pays particular attention to the journalists of that era, especially those at McClure’s, and the influence of those journalists on public policy. Teddy Roosevelt and Will Taft are presented with both breadth and insight. Both presidents and the journalists accomplish many great outcomes, and also suffer significant setbacks. Goodwin brings understanding about this exciting period to modern readers through her great writing. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Bully Pulpit from amazon.com.

The Realm of Last Chances

Guilt. Leave the past behind and make a fresh start. Can life provide us with second chances? That’s the theme Steve Yarbrough explores in his finely written novel, The Realm of Last Chances. Kristen and Cal have relocated from California to New England. Kristen lost her administrator job at a good California college and gets another chance at a lesser school north of Boston. There’s a lot of mutual detachment, distance and privacy in the relationship between Kristen and Cal. The action in the novel presents behavior by all characters that can lead to the recognition of guilt. From our common condition of being guilty for our own behavior, how will we judge and relate to others? Will we give and get second chances? I found Yarbrough’s characters to be well developed, and the story to be one that offered insight into human behavior. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Realm of Last Chances from amazon.com.

After I'm Gone

Missing. Fans of crime fiction will find lots of successful elements in Laura Lippman’s latest novel, After I’m Gone. Felix Brewer disappears, rather than face prison. He leaves behind his wife, Bambi, and his daughters, as well as a mistress. Lippman develops the characters, especially the female ones, into fully formed complex people whom any reader would recognize. The plot moves quickly, and provides lots of avenues for exploration by Sandy Sanchez, who has taken on a cold case for investigation. Lippman explores the themes of loyalty, sacrifice and betrayal with great skill. I was thoroughly entertained by this novel. Lippman’s frequent protagonist, Tess Monaghan, makes a brief appearance, and teases readers into thinking about what might be next both for Tess and for Sandy. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase After I’m Gone from amazon.com.

The Bootlegger

Explosive. The seventh Isaac Bell adventure novel by Clive Cussler titled, The Bootlegger, begins and ends with dramatic action. Isaac’s boss, Joseph VanDorn, head of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, has been shot, and Isaac directs agents to follow every lead and find the perpetrator. It’s the time of Prohibition in the United States, and rum runners are supplying alcohol to a thirsty nation. Small operators are being edged out of the business by organized criminal elements, including some Russians who have a particular use for their illegal earnings. While Isaac is often a step or two behind the bad guys, it’s no spoiler to say that after many pages of exciting action, Isaac saves the day. Fans of this series and this prolific author are those most likely to enjoy this latest installment. If you’re new to the series, you can start here or anywhere else and get a good sample of what’s in the series. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Bootlegger from amazon.com.