Wulf C. Krueger

“[b:The Pale Horseman 68528 The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2) Bernard Cornwell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651524566l/68528.SX50.jpg 891875]”, book two in [a:Bernard Cornwell's 12542 Bernard Cornwell https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg] “Saxon Stories”, picks up right where we left Uthred in “[b:The Last Kingdom 68527 The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1) Bernard Cornwell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407107780l/68527.SY75.jpg 881821]”. The Danes overrun Wessex and King Alfred has to hide in a swamp. And that's my one small gripe about this book: We get to know that swamp pretty damn well.Large parts of “Horseman” take place in the swamp and it's a bleak place.Apart from that there's everything the first book had: Action, battles, betrayal, politics!It adds new and exciting characters (Iseult!), places, intrigues and much more. At its core, “Horseman” is, fortunately, more of the same as “The Last Kingdom” and if you liked that one, it's highly likely you'll enjoy this one, too.Now, you'll have to excuse me again because right after the last page of this book, I started reading its successor and had a hard time making room for writing this!Four out of five stars!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»I had a taste for this kind of madness. In madness lies change, in change is opportunity, and in opportunity are riches.«I had every intention to temporarily remove myself from the amazing literary maelstrom this series has proven to be for me but, alas, when I looked through the books I actually intended to read right now, I kept feeling drawn to “[b:Lords of the North 68526 Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3) Bernard Cornwell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440472759l/68526.SY75.jpg 891853]”, the third instalment in [a:Bernard Cornwell's 12542 Bernard Cornwell https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg] “Saxon Stories”.This time, we accompany Uthred to the north where he meets Guthred, another king who plays Uthred almost as well as Alfred does. We also see Uthred clash with his arch-enemy, Kjartan the Cruel, and the latter's son, Sven the One-Eyed.As usual Uthred keeps curious company: From Finnan whom Uthred meets in captivity (the one part of the book that didn't engage as much as the rest (just like in the TV series!)) to Sithric up to Saint Cuthbert himself and, quite literally, parts of Saint Oswald...Even though - to me at least - this is not the strongest book so far, I very much enjoyed it and found I simply had to start its successor, “[b:Sword Song 1297150 Sword Song (The Saxon Stories, #4) Bernard Cornwell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630471317l/1297150.SY75.jpg 3186921]” despite my continued best intention to quit this addiction! I can only encourage you, dear reader, to stop struggling against any similar reluctance right now and to get started on this great series! (Or, to quote another favourite: “Resistance is futile.”)Four out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

This is the new low point of a once-great series. Once a series about Bruno investigating mysteries in rural France, and his friends, this has moved to international spy/tech fiction. This novel doesn't even have any real mystery anymore... The technological stuff isn't anything new or interesting, and the spy stuff is just completely over the top. As for the international setting, it involves France, the USA, Russia, China, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others... I won't hold back any spoilers (marked on platforms supporting that), so proceed with caution.The story is extremely simplistic: A top-ranking intelligence official, Kerquelin, is attacked and Bruno is investigating. Sadly, it is obvious early on that the attack was staged. The reason for staging it is never revealed, though, and it hardly makes any sense anyway...Kerquelin had invited friends to the eponymous chateau (which is never under siege, though...) and Bruno is baby-sitting them on orders of the ever-present General Lannes with the help of a squad of soldiers. These friends are supposed to be ultra-rich and ultra-smart Silicon Valley pioneers and, indeed, they're techno-babbling initially and are made to look like a secret society but even they're seriously under-used.Towards the end, they're even entirely forgotten about and there's no closure on many loose threads.Not so present, in contrast to Lannes, are all our old “acquaintances” from the earlier novels - yes, they're all mentioned in passing but they play absolutely no role in this novel. At one point, some of them chastise Bruno for having thoroughly friend-zoned his potential love interest Florence but that's it.Also weird: Bruno, who rarely resists female advances, rejects both Marie-Do and Claire for reasons unknown and neglects to tell Florence about the absence of any romantic feelings on his part. This is all very unsatisfying (sic). Since it's clear that there's no (attempted) murder, Bruno is supposed to find out who is out to get those tech people but even that is mostly done by and, ultimately, achieved by the soldiers under his command.Lastly, and worst of all, there's a rushed, lacklustre, cheap ending that leaves a proper Bruno novel to be desired. The ending feels like Walker finally ran out of patience with his own uninspired writing and the (lack of a) story and gave up.»This feels more like mobile warfare, with snipers and drones and grenades. I'm still trying to adjust.«I shared that feeling but refused and failed to adjust. This is not what I read these novels for.The entire novel reads like Martin Walker had absolutely no interest in writing another Bruno novel but wanted to show off his oh-so-brilliant insight into global politics and technology. At the very least, he didn't manage to write a proper mystery.One sad star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

This one started out so well: Briana and Jacob, two ER doctors start off on the wrong foot but end up falling in love through letters and lunch dates in a closet. And, yes, in the beginning, it's fun, heart-warming and a very nice read.»I don't have any tattoos. I've always been too afraid to commit to something so permanent. But Jewel is amazing at what she does, so I thought she'd give me something profoundly beautiful, an everlasting imprint that I'd cherish. Something I never knew I needed to carry with me through life.She gave me a tiny lawn mower on my chest next to a small patch of shaved chest hair.«I was congratulating myself on choosing such a great light read and was thinking how nice it is to read about plausible adults (both are in their thirties and “feel” like that) and how easily Jimenez seems to pull that off. »When I knocked at almost eight o'clock, my anxiety was at a low hum. But when she opened the door, it quieted down and then disappeared with a blip.«Ok, the ever-present topics of (fasten your seatbelt!) divorce, organ failure and donation, anxiety, loss of an unborn child, infidelity, depression, suicide, and even more, could have been a bit of a red flag (hey, this is a light romcom!) but for the most part, I was reading enthusiastically.For about two thirds of the book, it would have earned five stars from me. Potentially even an un-manly squeal on top.I liked the chemistry and banter between Briana and Jacob, and I appreciated how they supported each other through their personal challenges. I also liked the secondary characters, especially Jacob's sister and the parrot. They added some humour and warmth to the story.After many pages of fake-dating, though, I was starting to get impatient. Both Briana and Jacob had completely and undeniably fallen in love and the happily-ever-after was easily within reach - if only they had talked to each other. Miscommunication is one thing but not talking about the elephant in the room at all can only work for some time. Especially when it's a bright red, heart-shaped elephant that has “I love you!” written all over it.Even the “one bed only” scene doesn't move the story forward...Down we were to four stars.Jimenez doesn't find a good breaking point for making things real, though. When she finally does, drama immediately follows. Our protagonists barely get a minute to enjoy themselves. I was hoping for a short, relatively harmless drama, though, even though I should have known better because there were still about 20% of the book left...I was about to DNF and at three stars.When the first drama was resolved, I turned the page to the next chapter and the most idiotic thing happened that caused yet another - and much more severe - drama. The two “ingredients” to said drama were also so much over-the-top that my remaining satisfaction turned into annoyance and I was seriously considering to DNF once again. Especially so since Jimenez made Briana pull out the most cliché “argument” ever:»Jacob was a man. And men do what men do.«That left me with two remaining stars. Thankfully, there was not enough book left for Jimenez to disappoint me any more and the ending was passable.All in all, this started out great, embarked on a long dry (sic) spell and died from drama.Two out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»“Will you play a game with me, Mia?”«

And that's exactly what they're doing. Extensively and intensively.

There seem to be two [a:Emily Henrys 13905555 Emily Henry https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573928938p2/13905555.jpg]: The first one writes straightforward, somewhat simple rom-com novels like “[b:Beach Read 52867387 Beach Read Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589881197l/52867387.SX50.jpg 67832247]” or “[b:Book Lovers 58690308 Book Lovers Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638867089l/58690308.SY75.jpg 92341790]” which aren't outright bad but decidedly average in many ways. I read both, wrote a review and awarded three stars each and promptly forgot about them.The second Emily Henry writes much more nuanced and complex. With “[b:People We Meet on Vacation 54985743 People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618913179l/54985743.SX50.jpg 67832306]” she created a novel about a decade of vacations that's, ultimately, about the concept of home. Now this Emily Henry, the one that I vastly prefer, wrote a novel about long-time friends and keeping up traditions that's in fact about change and personal growth.»Everything is changing. It has to. You can't stop time.«Harriet and Wyn were engaged, broke up months ago but never told anyone and now have to spend a week on holidays with their friends. Since this trip is the end of an era, everyone pretends nothing has ever changed and relies on their friends to play along. Which works astoundingly well, even though there are some tensions - until it all breaks apart.»A dangerous quiet, like one tiny peep might make the cracks spread, the house collapse.«I really enjoyed all the characters in this one: Especially Harriet and Wyn who are so obviously still in love with each other and yet so hurt they can hardly be in the same room without hurting each other as if by little pinpricks.For a long time, it seems like they can't be with each other, but also can't be without each other. This is also reflected in the short interlude chapters, which mostly revolve around Harriet's “Happy Places”. While I usually find such interludes distracting, here they felt perfectly fitting into the narrative of the “real life” that contrasts them.»My best friends taught me a new kind of quiet, the peaceful stillness of knowing one another so well you don't need to fill the space. And a new kind of loud: noise as a celebration, as the overflow of joy at being alive, here, now.«The way Henry shows how both Harriet and Wyn personally developed, changed, and grew while apart from each other was also very well done and allowed for both of them to carefully and cautiously come closer to each other and reacquaint with each other individually.»“Is there one that looks like us?” [Wyn] asks.They all do, I think. You are in all of my happiest places.You are where my mind goes when it needs to be soothed.«Thankfully, the other characters were similarly interesting and well-developed: Cleo who always seems to tread lightly and carefully - until she decidedly rejects strong suggestions and, thus, sets in motion a series of events both fracturing relationships while simultaneously revitalising them with greater resilience. Sabrina, who seems to be orchestrating, steering and, at times, manipulating people into doing what she deems best, is much less of a schemer at a closer look and much more of a good friend who is extremely afraid of losing her friends.»“I'm with Sabrina on this one,” Parth says.She holds the bottle up as she tries to cup a hand around her ear. “What's that? Is that just global warming I'm feeling, or has hell frozen over and Parth is actually agreeing with me on something?”“I'm agreeing with you,” Parth says, “because this time, you're right. It was bound to happen eventually.”«Every single person here is - in their own way - a mess. Complex, difficult, at times annoying, kind and brilliant, insecure and yet confident. In “Happy Place” Henry does more than just create a funny romance; she explores the complexities of love, friendship, and identity. She writes with humour, heart, and insight, creating characters that are relatable, flawed, and lovable.»“There doesn't need to be a winner and a loser. You just have to care how the other person feels. You have to care more about them than you do about being right.”«The setting of the Maine cottage is another highlight of the book. Henry does a great job of describing the beauty and tranquillity of the coastal scenery, as well as the cosy and nostalgic atmosphere of the cottage. You can almost smell the salty air, taste the cheese and wine, and feel the warmth of the sun. The cottage is more than just a place, it's a symbol of their friendship and their happy place.Finally, add the excellent pacing and good writing and you get a book that is hard to put down and easy to enjoy.And, of course, I loved how in the end “Happy Place” and “Real Life” converged.Five out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

[a:Curtis Sittenfeld 6429 Curtis Sittenfeld https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1675721083p2/6429.jpg]'s “[b:Romantic Comedy 62628727 Romantic Comedy Curtis Sittenfeld https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679496983l/62628727.SY75.jpg 97012660]” failed to deliver what I'd hoped, taking far too long to engage, and bombarding the reader with tedious background details about television production. The novel's focus on the behind-the-scenes mechanics of a sketch show often felt like unnecessary padding, leaving the narrative sluggish at times.»The sets would be built at a warehouse in Brooklyn then transported back to 66, ideally on Friday, to be painted.«Exciting, right? That's the kind of procedural minutiae that dominates much of the early parts of the novel. While some readers might appreciate this level of intricate detail, I personally found it detracted from both the pacing and the emotional depth I was looking for. When Sittenfeld could have been focusing on the actual romantic and comedic elements, she instead seemed determined to dive into the trivial goings-on of a writers' room.I found this a frustrating aspect. With so much filler, the characters almost got lost in their own plot. Sally, the protagonist, doesn't seem very compelling for much of the book. She waffles between sudden feelings of insecurity—strangely more akin to someone in their early twenties than a seasoned professional in their mid-thirties. Perhaps that's part of her appeal for some, but I found this immaturity slightly irksome.»Noah grinning, Noah using my name, Noah's ability to be warm and normal, while my insides churned—it was all somewhat devastating.«Despite all this, the latter half of “Romantic Comedy” picks up significantly. Once we leave behind all the procedural fluff, there's a decent story at the core that's worth exploring. A solid—but not spectacular—showing from Sittenfeld.Three stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Yet another hyped and totally overrated novel... Daniel “Bear” Simmons is a freshly graduated lawyer with no courtroom experience and 150.000 US-$ in college debt. His wife, Hannah “Buzz” Simmons used to be a teacher who has now moved on to almost fanatically follow her path to mother of four.The novel starts with Hannah in hospital after giving birth to their first child, Lilly. Something has gone wrong postpartum, though, and Hannah is suffering from bleeding and infections. Shortly after, Daniel is handed the pro bono case of a prisoner who sues his prison for not properly supplying him with his required medicines.These double premises are the fundamental problem of “Confessions”: It can't really decide what it wants to be - courtroom drama or pregnancy drama. Consequently, it miserably fails on both levels.The courtroom drama is short-lived, undramatic and its resolution, both in court and beyond, obvious from the very beginning. I was wondering if the author would be bold enough to take a different path entirely from the one well-trodden and known to everyone by now. Or if at least he would introduce a twist but, sadly, Stockham took the exact same way as countless others before him. So, if you've read one proper courtroom drama, you don't need to read this one.As for the pregnancy drama, we need to take a closer look at both Hannah and Daniel: Hannah has pretty much given up on anything in her life but her husband and is almost fanatically obsessed with having four children. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it all started feeling somewhat weird when it became clear it would have to be her biological children... After life-threatening medical issues at the end of the first pregnancy, both Hannah and Daniel are rightly told “there are many ways to become a parent these days” and their only reaction ever is “The perfunctory nature of his tone pisses me off.”.Now, let's remember neither have a dollar to their respective name but he has a 150k in debts. Hannah's immediate reaction is to just look at her husband and expect him to come up with a solution like maybe finding a cash cow or a goose that lays golden eggs...Daniel's reaction is doubly curious: He starts working even harder, in the process neglecting the family he has in favour of the child that might (or might not) be. Also, he “prepares” by ordering as many credit cards as he can.Then both proceed to hurl themselves into fertility treatment, IVF and further deep debt... And, of course, both ante- and postpartum much more drama ensues. Call me heartless if you must but with the courtroom drama gone sour (and the prisoner portrayed as a saint) and all that fertility and marriage drama, this entire novel failed to make me care for anyone, estranged me from its protagonists and becomes another entry into my “Hall of Meh!”.Generous three stars out of five because I did want to finish it.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

2023 was... not a good year. Not even reading-wise. So, as one of the last books in 2023 I wanted to read something holiday'ish, funny and emotional. Thankfully, this novel worked out very well: Andrew and Molly are kind, empathetic and relatable people...»“I'm honestly okay.” Only now that I've opened the floodgates, hell if I know how to close them again. Oh God, did I break something inside? Is this just who I am now?I'm going to be so dehydrated.«Both have been flying home for Christmas for nine consecutive years and although they predictably became friends soon, things have been shifting between them. Now, on their tenth journey together, pretty much everything goes wrong. Yes, it's all very predictable but the chemistry between Molly and Andrew is a formula for success and their banter - both in the present and in the interspersed flashbacks to earlier years - is both heartfelt and, very often, hilarious. At times, I actually laughed out loud (something I rarely ever do while reading).I found myself hoping the author and her heroes wouldn't mess up - and they didn't: Yes, there's a kind of “shock moment” (not a third-act breakup, though) shortly before the end but it's plausible and intelligently handled.I also really enjoyed that once both Molly and Andrew come to understand their respective feelings and challenges, they actually talk to each other. Miscommunication can be so annoying and here, a lot of that is avoided:»Andrew frowns, draping the towel against the back of a chair. “What's up?”“I want to decide what this is before Christmas,” I say. “I don't want to wait until we get back to Chicago. That's too long. You said you're not going anywhere, but I need to know where we stand or I'll just go crazy.” I pause, sliding my hands down my thighs. “Does that make sense?”“Of course it does.”«Of course, not everything is perfect: The protagonists each struggle with a few problems, which the author isn't always capable of addressing with the desirable sensitivity.The holiday atmosphere was wonderfully consistent and I read a lot of this book in an extremely comfortable armchair, between the illuminated Christmas tree and a quietly spinning Christmas pyramid, next to my wife of 24 years (minus one day at the time of writing).»I could get used to this.Going to bed with him, waking up with him, repeating it over and over again until it stops being special. Until I can take him for granted.Not in that bad way, but a comfortable one. Knowing that he'll be there. Just like he's always been.«After having done just that for more than 8700 nights, I know what Molly means and here's to hoping for more of the same! Four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I wanted a holiday romance and with “[b:Lovelight Farms 61280442 Lovelight Farms (Lovelight, #1) B.K. Borison https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1655115097l/61280442.SY75.jpg 93652295]” by [a:B.K. Borison 21951491 B.K. Borison https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1640721788p2/21951491.jpg] I got one - but it was slightly weird and unusual. Friends-to-lovers has never been very interesting to me but in this case, it's more like platonic-lovers-to-lovers.»He meets me in the living room, extending a hand to help me from my crouched position on the floor. There's no jolt of electricity when our skin touches, just the sweet, settling warmth I always feel.«For nine years, Stella and Luka have been in love and everyone knows it but themselves. Not a single person in their small hometown has told either of them - they opened a betting pool instead. Both Luka and Stella individually know they're in love with the other but neither actually does anything about it until Stella takes part in the contest of an influencer and lies that she owns her Xmas tree farm together with her boyfriend...They've basically been faking being friends for nine years. Thus, there was not the slightest doubt how this book would end. The only real issue being Stella's fear of abandonment which leads to a (thankfully) short-lived mini-conflict.My second minor gripe is something more personal: My birthday (23.12.!), Xmas and the end of the year have always been a time of family (re)union: My siblings are quite a few years older than me and they moved out early. They mostly came home for my birthday and Xmas and while those days never were untroubled, some of my favourite (and worst) memories involve that time.When I grew older, I would drive home myself - and when I married (it will be 23 years tomorrow) and we founded our own family (my oldest child is 22 :) ) we kept celebrating as a family. This Xmas my daughter (she moved out this year

»After twenty-two years of adventuring, Viv had reached her limit of blood and mud and bullshit. An orc's life was strength and violence and a sudden, sharp end—but she'd be damned if she'd let hers finish that way.It was time for something new.«Thus begins the story of Viv, a former orc swordswoman who retires from adventuring and opens a coffee shop, the eponymous “Legends & Lattes”, in the town of Thune. She makes friends with various fantasy creatures and faces challenges from a local crime boss and a former colleague who wants to steal her magical treasure. Rarely was a moniker, “High fantasy, low stakes” in this case, more apt because we're not off on a conventional fantasy adventure.Much more important in this entertaining and heartwarming novel are the relationships Viv and her friends build: In Thune, Viv is part of a small minority and doesn't care about outward appearances and societal expectations. She follows her passion and doesn't care about what others think of her. She also respects and appreciates the skills and talents of her friends and employees, such as Cal(amity) the Hob carpenter, Thimble the Rattkin baker, and Pendry the stonemason-gone-bard. Viv is a great example of a strong and independent person who can also be kind and compassionate.Not only Viv shines brightly, but every major character is unique, well fleshed-out in a vivid and colourful world that beckons to anyone who has ever played (A)D&D or similar - you'll feel right at home. Those characters are also immensely relatable...»The rattkin shifted from foot to foot and stared longingly at the coffee machine.“Coffee first?” he pleaded.«Most importantly, though, is the slow, sensible way Viv, the orc, and Tandri, the succubus, grow together: They have a very sweet and natural relationship that develops gradually and organically. They start as friends and co-workers who support each other and share their dreams and fears. They also have a lot of chemistry and compatibility, as they both love coffee, art, and adventure. They are not afraid to show their feelings and affection, but they also respect each other's boundaries and pace. I only would have wished to read a bit more about them.»It was easy to see how one might mistake her nature for something purely sensual, how one might glean only what they most desired from that densely-twined rush of feeling.Hers was a potent dialect of emotion, rich with meaning, comprehensible only to those intimately aware of its subtleties.«In addition, this is a charming and uplifting read: The novel has a light-hearted but not shallow tone and a humorous style that makes it enjoyable and fun to read. While there is little action, there are many peaceful and relaxing moments...»She leaned on the counter over a fresh chapbook, sipped her coffee, gazed at the blurs passing in the street, and gloried in a suspended moment of contentment.«It may sound like the beginning of a lame joke (“An orc, a succubus, a hob, and a rattkin go into a cafe...”), this novel is much more than that and, to me, highly enjoyable and I certainly hope to return to this world.Five out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»“Live with it? That's it? That's your answer? What kind of adult are you, anyway?”«(A teenaged young woman to Josie; representative of what I believed about adults at that age...)For a police procedural in its 15th instalment, “[b:Local Girl Missing 61846012 Local Girl Missing (Detective Josie Quinn, #15) Lisa Regan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659540842l/61846012.SY75.jpg 96442640]” by [a:Lisa Regan 6443334 Lisa Regan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1589563239p2/6443334.jpg] is simply outstanding - inventive and imaginative and really, truly suspenseful and thrilling. I will not resort to that horrible “unword” about being unable to put down a book but this is what happened to me here. I actually completely drained my Kindle's battery and swore when it ran out of juice - during the final chapter, of course!Let's not get too much ahead of us just yet: As mentioned, this is yet another instalment of a series of police procedurals featuring Detective Josie Quinn from the fictitious small town of Denton, Pennsylvania.Co-starring are Josie's team consisting of her now-husband Noah, Gretchen, Mettner, their chief and others in “supporting roles”. While long-term Josie fans like myself will recognise and enjoy every old “acquaintance”, every important character is properly introduced (without boring the true connoisseur!) so that this book can actually be enjoyed as a stand-alone thriller or serve as a worthy entry to the entire series.On their return trip from their Honeymoon, Josie and Noah get “stuck” on the road due to intense fog (YAY!). Without warning, a girl sprints away to disappear without a trace...When they emerge from the car, carefully investigating, Noah and Josie find a ransacked car and a murderer straddling his victim...This is the immediate beginning of the book and it's suitably ominous. What follows is a complex and complicated investigation into a string of murders, afore-mentioned disappearance, the corruption of an architect and... others!There's not much “literary meat” on these thrillers but Lisa Regan writes very well, always has an interesting story to tell and as long as you enjoy the genre and are willing to suspend your disbelief just a little (!) I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed if you're new to this series.If - like me - you're a Josie aficionado you'll feel right at home and won't have any issues - as so often, we're dropped right into the “action” and every single character works as well as pretty much always! Your knowledge of the earlier instalments will greatly add to your enjoyment since there are quite a few references which you'll rejoice in remembering (but if you don't understand them, you lose nothing).Short interludes from a specific perspective break up the sometimes extremely exciting chapters, which are of perfect length (approx. 10 minutes of reading), and allow for the deep breath that is due.Lisa Regan, it seems to me, is at the top of her game with this book. If she can keep churning out book after book in this quality my basic reading fodder is secure for years to come!Easy five stars out of five!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»A tale of demons and witches, hidden rooms and unexpected saviors.Of Fate both cruel and kind.«“[b:A World of Curiosities 60899502 A World of Curiosities (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #18) Louise Penny https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660936424l/60899502.SY75.jpg 96053091]” by [a:Louise Penny 194243 Louise Penny https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1591027995p2/194243.jpg] is another brilliant entry into a series that has long ensnared me with its curious mixture of crime, mystery and thriller in combination with true emotional depth. The almost mystic village of Three Pines and its cracked and sometimes broken inhabitants also plays a central role in this instalment.Gamache no. 18 grants us insights into the past of Armand Gamache and how he came to join the homicide department of the Sûreté in the first place. Even more importantly to the story, though, we finally learn how both Armand and Jean-Guy Beauvoir first met each other which is enticing on its own. Around this old case of murder and corruption, the story in this book evolves as the victims of the past re-emerge in Three Pines. A secret room, an old grimoire, a spellbook, a curious painting “The Paston Treasure” (nicknamed “A World of Curiosities”), a witch of old (and Ruth), an old nemesis - they all play a central role in this suspenseful novel.»Jean-Guy Beauvoir, lashed to the mast, would sink or swim with this man. Their fates were bound together, as the winds howled, and the storm descended, and they traveled deeper into Hell.«Not only are the old friends and foes back, though, but new friends take the stage as well: Myrna's niece, Harriett, as well as Agent Amelia Choquet. The latter proves not only to be an indispensable part of the team but also a true friend... The only person conspicuously absent was, sadly, Isabelle Lacoste who's on vacation and only cursorily helps towards the end...This novel has a strong focus on the mystery and is, at times, very, very suspenseful. I read at almost every possible moment, chasing pages and chapters! Every night I was sad to go to sleep but also looking forward to resume reading this excellent novel again. It is very slightly less focussed on moral, emotional or intellectual aspects than some of the other novels in this series but this in no way diminishes its literary value.And it still touches upon important topics...»They didn't need proof. All a woman had to be was alive. Just being a woman was, in the church's eyes, evil.”“But there must've been a reason,” said Gabri.“Is there a reason gay, lesbian, and transgender people are attacked?” asked Ruth. “Is there a reason Black men are shot? Is there a reason women are raped, abused, refused abortions, groomed and sold as sex slaves?”“Murdered,” said Myrna, looking at the bouquet of white roses on the kitchen island.«Since “A World of Curiosities” explores all the background and the past to the extent needed to enjoy the novel, it could even be read on its own or serve as an introduction to Armand Gamache.As is the case with most of Penny's novels this one also has a central idea which permeates everything. As always, though, this is rather subtly done by Penny so I won't mention it here but maybe you'd like to find out for yourself? Because just like our world, this novel is, indeed, in the best sense “A World of Curiosities”...Five out of five stars!»I honestly don't feel I can take full credit for the books. There is, finally, an element of magic, of inspiration that seems to come out of nowhere. I have my own theories about where it comes from. I wanted, at the end of this, the eighteenth novel, to make it clear that in writing the Gamache books there is more than meets the eye. And always has been.«Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I'm grateful to have read “[b:Flawless 60755618 Flawless (Chestnut Springs, #1) Elsie Silver https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653054148l/60755618.SY75.jpg 95796965]” by [a:Elsie Silver 21312387 Elsie Silver https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1617459113p2/21312387.jpg] because now I know which kind of book does not really appeal to me: Rich daddy's princess meets bull-riding cowboy in this steamy (borderline pornographic) rural romance and that's pretty much it for the story.It's all just a bit too much over the top for: Summer is our princess, whose sister is called Winter. Summer is nice and warm and a people-pleaser whereas Winter is cold as ice. Not to mention Summer's evil step-mother!Lots of manly cowboys, sports legends, and ranchers are around, every man is tough, every woman is swooning. Summer desires to be - brace yourself! - “marked” by her cowboy Rhett...Rhett in turn obligingly is of the possessive variety... »She better be naked. Naked and ready.«... and the resulting smut is, uh, verbose. (Even, though, that is, admittedly, the least of my complaints.)The entire picture that Silver paints of people is approaching painful levels of machismo and it depicts a rather simplistic view of the world as a whole.I do not expect much of a romance but I do expect more than just horny cowboys, willing women and a bit of drama.Still: Three out of five stars because among all the eye-roll-inducing stuff lurk some ideas and observations that I can relate to...»“When you have a kid, everyone warns you about the sleepless nights. The explosive diaper changes. How they grow so fast that you hemorrhage money on clothing them. What they don't tell you is that you'll never spend another day of your life without worrying about another person. You'll never completely relax again because that person you created will always, always be on your mind. You'll wonder where they are, what they're doing, and if they're okay.”«Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Isn’t it the worst act of treason when a book disappoints? I was looking for a fun romance by one (or actually: two) of my favourite romance authors. That’s how I came across “Love and Other Words” by Christina Lauren and, sadly, and unusually, it turned traitor quickly!

Macy and Elliott have been friends since childhood. They’re perfect for each other and they both know it. They even get together until one day, Macy breaks off contact for a whopping 11 years. The reasons? They do make sense, but eleven years? I’m not sure I can suspend my disbelief that much.

This is where “Love” starts: Macy is now a resident physician. Elliott is, probably, some kind of author. Either we don’t really get to know, or I already forgot. He seems to pretty much have all the time in the world.

Once they meet again, things start moving inexorably to the inevitable happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, despite many nice ideas, “Love” tells us much about their shared past and a bit about their present but it always feels “low stakes”: Yes, there’s some rather weird drama in lieu of a third-act breakup but it’s over within a few pages and then we’re back with Elliott and Macy on cloud nine.

»His front door is flat brown, and before it is a thin doormat with the Dickinson quote The soul should always stand ajar.«

Emily Dickinson’s poem in full reveals a clever double meaning to Macy whose soul Elliott hopes to “re-open” and “visit”. It also serves as a warning not to let this chance pass…

»The Soul should always stand ajar

That if the Heaven inquire

He will not be obliged to wait

Or shy of troubling Her

Depart, before the Host have slid

The Bolt unto the Door —

To search for the accomplished Guest,

Her Visitor, no more —«

They both know each other so immensely well (and neither of them seems to have significantly changed much during that decade apart) that both Elliott, and, to an even higher degree, Macy, know full well how they’re going to end up. They often end up asking each other “Do you really question that?”, and the answer is always and unequivocally a “no”. They know beforehand.

This is one of the reasons I’m not much into second-chance romance: the people involved have already been together, and in this kind of romance, will always get back together. So where’s the thrill of discovery? The allure of the new?

All side characters stay schematic and either serve to cheer Macy on (Sabrina), to be “mini villains” (Christian), or to be just plain “exotic” (her Danish father or her late but ever-present mother, Laís). Even Elliott’s family, of which we get to “see” a bit more, remains nevertheless vague and relatively insignificant to the story as a whole. They all play a part, but come across more as extras.

Even more so in a scenario like this: Macy and Elliott read like two halves of a whole. Apart from the event that broke them, there’s nothing but violins and fluff. The respective partners are quickly disposed of (Elliott pretty much immediately leaves his girlfriend; Macy conveniently finds out she and her partner didn’t even love each other in the first place) and, if Christina Lauren didn’t spell out the exact date per chapter, you’d think everything happens during a few days, or maybe weeks..

During the later chapters of their past, when our protagonists are in their adolescence (16 to 18, roughly), they, naturally, discover sexuality and each other (to some degree). I’ll be fifty later this year; their “explorations” made me feel somewhat uncomfortable and voyeuristic.

The latter was somewhat eased by the sensitive writing, and sustained consistency of the authors: Christina Lauren’s prose is fitting and competent. Despite the novel’s shortcomings, it reads very well: medium-length chapters, much showing, few instances of telling, and the emotions feel believable.

“Love” reads like pure (and simple) wish or fantasy fulfilment. I seem not to share those wishes. If you, though, are looking for this kind of wish fulfilment, predictability, or even nostalgia for young love, “Love” might fit your bill.

Three stars out of five.

Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Thankfully, this was almost as short as it was disappointing: In “[b:The Case of the Missing Marquess 606928 The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes, #1) Nancy Springer https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429150341l/606928.SX50.jpg 3313623]” by [a:Nancy Springer 22547 Nancy Springer https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1506873907p2/22547.jpg] we first witness Enola Holmes' flight from her older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. Yes, it's another case of a contemporary author trying to make a few bucks from the legacy of another...This uneventful flight takes up an entire half of the novel and it's just plain boring. The writing is simplistic, the language is old-fashioned but not in the way of Arthur Conan Doyle's historic works but reimagined by Springer, whose primary research material was colouring books... For example, Doyle would never (and indeed never did, I checked!) write about a lady's “unmentionables” (as in undergarments) like Springer does several times. As a matter of fact, authors of the Victorian era, including Conan Doyle, would often employ various techniques to allude to and mask such sensitive subjects rather than explicitly mentioning them. They would use euphemisms, subtext, or veiled references to address these topics indirectly.They generally relied on subtlety and insinuation rather than direct discussion. Not so Springer: She naïvely discusses all these subjects very directly which would have scandalised the society she tries to emulate.»Before he could do so, I hoisted my primitive weapon and brought it down with great decision upon his head.«Even the structure of the novel is disgraced by a miserable attempt at emulating older style: The chapters aren't simply numbered or called, let's say, “Chapter Two” as historical precedent would have it. No, it has to be “Chapter the Second” and so on... At “Chapter the Fifteenth” my patience had run thin. All this feels forced and just plain wrong.Especially in the beginning, Springer also doesn't build naturally upon Doyle's literary legacy but simply info-dumps a lot of well-established facts onto us, e. g. “[Sherlock] suffered from melancholia” - show us, don't just tell us! - in order to make this feel less like the tired knock-off it actually is.»Let my brother Sherlock be The World's Only Private Consulting Detective all he liked; I would be The World's Only Private Consulting Perditorian.«The story about the eponymous marquess itself was so simple, I felt like I was reading a children's book. The entire travesty around Cutter gave me a strong feeling of second-hand embarrassment... Last and least, I'm having a hard time when people infringe upon the legacy of the great detective: »I knew things Sherlock Holmes failed even to imagine.«No, dear Enola, you simply suffer from the same delusion as your creator: That you manage to know enough to create something that doesn't pale in comparison to the original.I cannot believe these novels remain as bland as the first one so I'm going to give the second one a try...A very generous three stars out of five. Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“[b:Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone 60879779 Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham, #1) Benjamin Stevenson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1663127884l/60879779.SY75.jpg 94183542]” by [a:Benjamin Stevenson 18206333 Benjamin Stevenson https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is a novel that, much like an overwrought comedian who never quite finds his audience, fails to strike the right chord with me. It promises a thrilling blend of mystery and dark humour but ultimately falls flat in both realms.From the outset, Stevenson's attempts to break the fourth wall are incessant and intrusive. The protagonist, Ernest, a novelist writing his own story, constantly reminds us of his authorial presence. This technique, rather than being clever or engaging, becomes a regular source of annoyance. For instance, at one point, he states:»I'll hold it here to mention that I know some authors are incapable of having a woman throw up without it being a clue to a pregnancy. These same authors seem to think nausea is the only indication of childbearing, not to mention their belief that vomit shoots out the woman's mouth within hours of plot-convenient fertilization. By some authors, I mean male ones. Far be it from me to tell you which clues to pay close attention to, but Sofia's not pregnant, okay? She's allowed to throw up of her own volition.«The author tries too hard to be funny, and the humour rarely lands. Ernest's self-aware commentary and sardonic wit are overplayed and fail to elicit the intended amusement.The book's primary claim to fame is its meta-narrative approach — a novelist writing his tale while being a character within it — but this ends up being a double-edged sword. While it might appeal to those who enjoy a postmodern twist, it did not work for me at all. The narrative remains disappointingly flat, with frequent self-reflections that add little to the story's depth or allure. Ernest's humour, rather than endearing, feels forced and sleazy, like a jaded comedian overstaying his welcome at the microphone.»I have to be aware that you're aware I'm writing this all down, is what I'm trying to say.«Stevenson's style largely fails to capture the spirit of the classic “Golden Age of Mystery” stories he so evidently seeks to emulate. The mystery itself drags aimlessly, with the plot unravelling at a snail's pace. One of the most telling examples of this tedious pacing can be found in the way crucial revelations are handled: The “big reveal” scene in the library of all places significantly lacks the flair of great detectives like Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes. Instead, it feels anticlimactic, leaving me yearning for the sharp wit and keen intellect of those classic sleuths.The second half of the book does pick up somewhat in terms of plot movement, but by then, the damage has been done. The long-winded setup means that what should be thrilling climactic moments feel disjointed and lacklustre. Even the most intriguing parts of the mystery fail to compensate for the overall tedium.Ultimately, I found the novel's attempt to blend humour and mystery underwhelming. The story lacks the urgency and tension that make a great mystery compelling, and the humour comes across as lacklustre rather than engaging. As much as this novel tried to wrap itself in the veneer of old-world charm and intellectual wit, it ultimately felt lazy and unconvincing. I'll be returning to more engaging and less self-indulgent reads. Two out of five stars. Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Between my hex and the otso's, bad things were going to happen.«Phew... After book-long battles, drawn-out, long-winded end-of-the-world scenarios in the last few books, we're back to Harry Dresden, Resident Wizard but also Private Investigator of and in Chicago respectively.This is a short novella in which Harry gets hired to get someone to end a frivolous lawsuit. While this is a long string of delivering and receiving favours, it's much more like the Harry Dresden of old - funny, good-natured, self-deprecating.I hope this is an indication of things to come!Four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“- ‘What's that?' ‘A book. I borrowed it.' - ‘Dead, I suppose.' ‘Who?' - ‘The Beaton fellow.' ‘Oh yes. Everybody's dead.' - ‘Good show, though.' And he went off to bed glumly singing ‘Oh, what a beautiful morning' as the Queen opened her book.” In this short novella, the Queen herself stumbles upon a travelling library and, pretty much accidentally, gets into reading. The entire concept, though, is so foreign to the household (who are annoyed by the more and more thinking monarch) and the family (who are fairly happy to be left alone) that everyone gets upset with her majesty. Hilarity ensues. Well, maybe not actual hilarity but definitely some very amused smiling – with a stiff upper lip, of course. After all, the queen is portrayed as fairly human and sometimes, my own upbringing seems to make a cameo: “‘To tell you the truth, ma'am, I never got through more than a few pages. How far did your Majesty get?' - ‘Oh, to the end. Once I start a book I finish it. That was the way one was brought up. Books, bread and butter, mashed potato – one finishes what's on one's plate. That's always been my philosophy.'” That has been my philosophy as well and certainly is the main reason my DNF shelf actually consists of one single solitary ashamed book. Judging by the quality of many of the books I've read, I could have saved years of my lifetimes by actually DNF'ing more often. But I digress. It's all this books fault, though: It all but invited me to think beyond its edges, between the pages and the lines and let my thoughts fly, just like her majesty: “What she was finding also was how one book led to another, doors kept opening wherever she turned and the days weren't long enough for the reading she wanted to do.” We – as readers – know exactly what she means and how one book leads to the next; opens up new (reading) paths to follow. This book for example came from a recent blog post on GoodReads. Plus: This fictional queen has a wonderful take on books: “‘Pass the time?' said the Queen. ‘Books are not about passing the time. They're about other lives. Other worlds. Far from wanting time to pass, Sir Kevin, one just wishes one had more of it. If one wanted to pass the time one could go to New Zealand.'” The entire book was a true breath of fresh air after the stocky, stuffy, simplistic confines of David Eddings' Belgariad. It's by no means a masterpiece or more than just highly amusing but I really enjoyed the entire literary journey and the coming-of-age of a reader. The only issue I take is with the ending; but We will graciously overlook this slight demerit as one is wont to. ;-) “‘I think of literature,' she wrote, ‘as a vast country to the far borders of which I am journeying but will never reach. And I have started too late. I will never catch up.'” Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

In modern mysteries, there seems to be a tendency to switch perspectives, to have two timelines and sometimes there are jumps in time. Now imagine an author who tries to be so modern that they make their book feature several a) timelines, sometimes colliding with each other, b) chapters from alternating points of view (some unexplained for a long time), c) jumps in time, d) features a non-linear narrative, and, what annoys me the most, e) an unreliable narrator.In the beginning, I was determined to immerse myself in all of it and thought about how fascinating it is that Loreth Anne White commands a broad spectrum of narrative styles. With more time spent “in” the novel, it became too much, though: The constant switching between both narrated time and perspectives became annoying. The jumps in time became increasingly confusing and don't get me started on the colliding timelines that occur near the end.There were also a lot of red herrings and wilful obfuscation by the narrator who we have good reason to suspect is actually reliable for most of the book - until the whole perspective shifts. Even those twists, though, weren't very well executed and, in many cases, not very surprising. I guessed the most important twist long before it occurred and, thus, read what happened with great detachment. The entire mystery is also very complicated and the lengths to which a certain character goes to achieve their goals is both implausible and highly unrealistic. It's a slightly more subtle and less violent revenge fantasy than a Charles Bronson film. It didn't help either that I didn't like any single character at all. I rooted for none, despised most and was able to tolerate three characters.Three stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Puh... [b:Affenhitze 60565109 Affenhitze Kluftingers neuer Fall (Kommissar Kluftinger, #12) Volker Klüpfel https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646639410l/60565109.SY75.jpg 95459128]? Eher eine Affenschande, was [a:Klüpfel 781404 Volker Klüpfel https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1408515194p2/781404.jpg] und [a:Kobr 781403 Michael Kobr https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1408515293p2/781403.jpg] da - schon wieder - abliefern.Kluftinger, der früher zwar mit Fug und Recht als “exzentrisch” gelten durfte, ist spätestens seit diesem Band nur noch eine Karikatur seiner selbst. Er ist eigentlich durchgängig nur noch der “Depp vom Dienst”, der für den Flohmarkt haufenweise Schrott anschafft (und dem damit wider aller Realität und Vernunft auch noch Erfolg angeschrieben wird), sich auf den “Sozialmedien” (ein echter Brüller, Ihr Super-Autoren!) anmeldet und auch dort zur Lachnummer wird und der inzwischen seine Kolleg_innen nicht nur mal piesackt, sondern ganz schlicht und ergreifend Mobbing betreibt.Der Klamauk schlägt wieder gnadenlos zu...»Er meint uns alle, bedank dich«, quäkte plötzlich Maiers Stimme aus dem Knopf in seinem Ohr.»Halt du dich da raus«, zischte Kluftinger zurück.»Wie bitte?« Die lächelnde Miene des Ministerpräsidenten zeigte zum ersten Mal Risse.«... und auch der Pippie-Kacka-Humor der beiden alternden Provinz-Autoren ist zum Fremdschämen. Nichts scheint diesen beiden “Udo”s noch zu peinlich, kein Dialog zu lebensfremd, kein Spannertum (mit und ohne Drohne) zu unwichtig, um es nicht Kluftinger auch noch anzudichten. Er ist ein ekelhafter älterer Herr geworden.Unendlich viele lose Enden, Old-Boys-Club-Mentalität...»Meine lieben Zuhörer ... und -seher. Und die dazugehörigen -innen.«... wiederum Alltags-Rassismus...»Na ja, ich mein, ihr Araber, euch liegt das ja sozusagen ... also, nicht, dass ich da irgendwelche Klischees ...«... urkomische COVID-19-Schenkelklopfer (ist ja niemand daran gestorben...)...»Wenigstens nicht Corona«, sagte Kluftinger leise, woraufhin die anderen ihn stirnrunzelnd ansahen.»Wegen der Biersorte, meinst du?«, fragte Hefele verwundert.»Nein, ich mein wegen ... ach wurscht, vergesst es.«Last but not least, das widerliche Anbiedern an die Stammtische, weil das Autoren-Duo seine ignorante Borniertheit inzwischen zügellos auslebt:»Den Gedanken, bei der Auswahl des Geschlechts aus Spaß die neue Möglichkeit Divers anzuklicken, verwarf er aufgrund der zu erwartenden Verwicklungen gleich wieder.«Da möchte ich Klüpfel und Kobr aus vollem Herzen mit den unsterblichen Worte von “Tic Tac Toe” zurufen: “Ich Find Dich ...”Ein Stern von fünf, weil es ein Buch ist. Sorry, Klufti, aber ich bin raus. Das tue ich mir nicht mehr an.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix Tumblr PlurkCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Meh! I was so looking forward to reading “[b:The Housemaid 60556912 The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) Freida McFadden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646534743l/60556912.SY75.jpg 95443525]” by [a:Freida McFadden 7244758 Freida McFadden https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1668621694p2/7244758.jpg] - a supposedly psychological thriller involving a mysterious housemaid, an eccentric rich couple and a huge mansion. What could possibly go wrong?!And at first, things were looking good: Ex-convict Millie gets hired by Nina whose sole occupation seems to be being wife-to-Andrew. During the first part of the book Nina comes across as one part weird, three parts excessively psychologically cruel and two parts unhinged.Mille, who has supposedly recently been released after 10 years (!) in jail is in dire circumstances, living in her car until she becomes Nina's live-in maid/victim. Still, instead of being pretty much broken she unrealistically comes across as a pretty happy person...Cecilia, Nina's child from a one-night-stand, is inconsistently portrayed as petulant and entitled in the first part but makes a miraculous and totally unbelievable “recovery” later on.Part one consists completely of Millie's point of view and consists of short, punchy chapters that definitely achieved their goal of keeping me pretty much glued to my Kindle. Just one more chapter - till deep into the night!After about a quarter of the book I thought this was an exciting, suspenseful, easy and light read, well on the way to a five-star review.Sadly, though, when one character mentioned “danger” I immediately saw a major twist coming... Ok, true, much of part one was already a bit on the wild side and somewhat over the top but still enjoyable.Along came part two which is mostly from Nina's point of view. Here's where the cookie started crumbling: With the twist revealed here already anticipated, I wasn't exactly surprised by the story.In part three, I also wasn't surprised to see a somewhat bizarre and grotesque revenge fantasy evolve. Things became even more shallow and lurid. Where the story was going became pretty much obvious and even more predictable than before.Yes, just like McFadden intended, I sympathised with Millie's course of action but considering her fears, I had a rather hard time believing she would really be doing what she did. It was still worth my reading time although the book started feeling really, really flimsy. What finally and definitely cost this novel the fourth star I might still have awarded was the final scene with Nina's mother-in-law (intrinsically, it made sense but it just wasn't from this world anymore...) and the epilogue (cringeworthy to the highest degree or simpler in German: “Fremdschämen”; borrow that one, English language!). Both these scenes were both so deeply nuts and entirely predictable at the same time that I'm going to avoid this author for the foreseeable future...If you want to read a quick throw-away thriller devoid of real substance, this might still work for you.Three out of five stars - at least this mad revenge fantasy of a novel was somewhat entertaining. Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I hoped to love “[b:The Winners 60318890 The Winners (Beartown, #3) Fredrik Backman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645483248l/60318890.SY75.jpg 76192150]” by [a:Fredrik Backman 6485178 Fredrik Backman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493098924p2/6485178.jpg] as much as I love the original “[b:Beartown 33413128 Beartown (Beartown, #1) Fredrik Backman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482108618l/33413128.SY75.jpg 54171514]”. The latter is the one book that I recommend to anyone who has time for just one more book. It was the book I gave my mother as a present for what would be her final birthday. She never got to read it.I already thought the second book wasn't as good as the first one but, sadly, this third instalment is the weakest. It started out so well and felt a lot like “Beartown”...»To you who talk too much and sing too loud and cry too often and love something in life more than you should.«“The Winners” continues the story of Beartown, its rival Hed and both towns' inhabitants. Backman takes time to paint a literary picture of life in those parts of the world but also writes very convincingly about the conditio humana in general.»There's an immensity of love that bursts from your chest the first time you hear your child cry, every emotion you've ever felt is amplified to the point of absurdity, children open floodgates inside us, upward as well as down. You've never felt so happy, and never felt so scared. Don't say “don't worry” to someone in that position. You can't love someone like this without worrying about everything, forever.«We're back in Beartown two years after the events of the previous book and people and things have moved on from what had happened. Nevertheless, Maya, Benji, Amat, Leo and all the others are around and some new characters like Lev add a new layer to the story.»Ana thought Maya was stupid, and Maya thought Ana was an idiot, and they became best friends instantly.«Unhurriedly, Backman explores not only Beartown and its people but also concepts like home, how we fall in love and much more. I took a lot of notes and highlighted generously on almost every page because while Backman rarely presents entirely new ideas, he has a very “organic” and convincing way to express these days in a way that speaks (not only) to me.It's not like everything is philosophic, though. Backman isn't your old-age wizened philosopher preaching to us; he uses hockey to write fluently and easily readable about his topics - and employs a kind and gentle humour to drive his point home...»They live in the same house but his parents barely see him, he's fourteen now, meaning that they no longer have a child but a lodger.«The problem is: However wise you are, however good your ideas are, however well you can tell a story - your readers will be sated at some point. Keep on extending your story past that point and you run a high risk of losing your readers.This is exactly what happened to me. After, let's say, 60 chapters (!) full of good ideas, foreshadowing, promises of things to come, Backman oversteps the mark. His endless descriptions on almost 700 pages are just too long. He promises world-shattering drama but actually delivers too little in way too many words.“The Winners” becomes the elderly guest at your table who tells a charming tale in the beginning, keeps on talking and ultimately overstays his welcome and needs to be shooed kindly out of the door late in the evening.Backman has become a victim of his own success: “The Winners” would have needed a bold editor, unafraid to suggest liberal “cuts” from the surplus “fat”. There's a very decent story that many won't get to know about just because it takes too long to be told.One minor issue is the “epilogue”: It details what becomes of most of the people, including Kevin from the first novel. “The Winners”, thus, answers questions that should better have remained unanswered - we probably had our own ideas about that already and there's simply no need to interfere with those.All in all, this was sadly a tiresome read and I have to say I'm glad it's over. It probably would have been best if “Beartown” had remained a unique and solitary masterpiece.Rounded generously up, three out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I was immensely looking forward to reading [a:Celeste Ng 164692 Celeste Ng https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1663691487p2/164692.jpg]'s new novel “[b:Our Missing Hearts 60149573 Our Missing Hearts Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664802258l/60149573.SY75.jpg 94900794]”. I really enjoyed both Ng's “[b:Everything I Never Told You 18693763 Everything I Never Told You Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386795198l/18693763.SY75.jpg 26542311]” and “[b:Little Fires Everywhere 34273236 Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522684533l/34273236.SY75.jpg 94930152]” for their highly interesting stories, the unusual style of Ng's storytelling and her sheer eloquence.Sadly, I found none of this in “Our Missing Hearts”: Bird, the boy we're immediately introduced to and who dominates the first half of the book, remains bland and indistinct. Beyond general empathy for him having lost his mother and living under difficult circumstances with his father, I never really felt for him or got emotionally engaged.For a dystopia, there's also nothing new or special in this novel: Hatred against what seems to be “foreign”, xenophobia. Books aren't burned in this society but removed and made into pulp. Children are taken from their parents if the latter don't intend to raise them by the doctrines of the regime. There's nothing new here and no original thought seems to have occurred to Ng. She also abandoned her unique onion-like narrative style and her prose is just adequate but absolutely nothing special anymore.I'm giving up on this book while being around half-way through because going on feels like a waste of precious reading time. Even more so since trusted “book friends” tell me it's getting even worse later on.I hope Celeste Ng finds her way back to the heights of her earlier works.A very sad and disappointed one star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

All too often, in a series of books when a writer has found their cast of characters, their setting, etc. everything becomes routine and instalment after instalment gets chucked out but there's hardly ever anything new. Each new book is a variation of its predecessors.Thankfully, [a:Lisa Regan 6443334 Lisa Regan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1589563239p2/6443334.jpg] miraculously doesn't fall prey to this effect in her long-running Josie Quinn series. Each new book presents us with interesting new aspects, engaging stories and empathic investigators.In “[b:Watch Her Disappear 60181686 Watch Her Disappear (Detective Josie Quinn #14) Lisa Regan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645045404l/60181686.SY75.jpg 94918297]” Josie investigates the case of a formerly missing girl who's found dead at the prom of a school she didn't attend. While looking into the murder, Chief Chitwood is reminded of a similar (and very personal...) case from his distant past...As so often in Regan's books, there are major revelations about one of the police investigators involved in the current case. Fittingly, for this book Regan chose Chief Chitwood to take the centre stage.Since Regan has long-since found her own style of storytelling and language, there are no surprises in either department - the book is suspenseful and exciting as ever. You'll never find groundbreaking new thoughts in these books but if you like just one, you're likely to enjoy them all.You can read this as a stand-alone novel even though you will miss out on a few interactions between the investigators.The Josie Quinn mysteries have become a go-to for interesting, engaging, suspenseful mystery thrillers and I'm already looking forward to the next one! Five out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam