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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Review: Frozen Out



Frozen Out (Gunnhilder Mystery, #1)Frozen Out by Quentin Bates

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I enjoyed the setting and the characters, particularly the interplay of 'office politics' relationships between the police officers. The main character is pretty believable and comes across as a normal, very sensible woman who's just doing her job (though not afraid to flex the rules a little to get the job done). The plot was a little less convincing, though it's hard to say why without running into massive spoilers. I assume this is the beginning of a series (it's certainly set up that way) and I'll look forwards to seeing what happens to Gunna in the next book.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder



Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #1)Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a fun, quick read. I used to bake in a cafe so the day-to-day of baking cookies and serving coffee brought back a lot of happy memories! The story is interspersed with recipes, which is slightly distracting so I skipped over them, but I'll probably go back and test some of them soon (there's a handy index). I found the characters engaging, though the main character's insistence on digging into things by herself would definitely be dangerous in the real world!

The Kindle edition also has a short story at the end which was a very sweet little story.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Review: The Jennifer Morgue



The Jennifer Morgue (The Laundry, #2)The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm not quite sure how to rate this book. There are some really nice ideas, and it's a fun read, but there were points where I got bored and wandered off to read something else. I'm still enjoying the Laundry books but it just could have been so much better.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I read this partly to see what all the hype was about, partly because it came recommended, and partly it just sounded intriguing. Overall I found it an interesting read, and there was plenty going on, but I felt it could have been a lot better.

The book kicks off with the mystery of the pressed flowers - and yet, despite being an intriguing problem, this is barely touched on again until the very end.

Some parts were also rather graphic - I felt the small Bjurman sub-plot didn't really add anything to this novel. I can only assume it will become important later in the series. Otherwise it was simply gratuitous.

I did enjoy the cast of imperfect characters, and the gradual unpicking of the historical mystery. Past about the half-way point the pace really picked up and it became quite compelling.

I'll definitely finish the series.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Review: The Iron King



The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1)The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A very easy read - aimed at younger readers I think - but good fun. The various faery courts (all three of them) each has its own distinctive feel, and the weaving together of fey and real worlds had some nice touches. I found some of the description a bit repetitive. I'll probably read the sequel when I'm in the right mood for it, but I'm not dashing out to start it straight away.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Review: Spying in High Heels



Spying in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries, #1)Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I find that the ideal book to read on a flight is fluffy enough that I don't have to think too hard, but with enough action to pass the hours. This book succeeds on both counts, and I read it in a single transatlantic hop. Our hapless heroine is a fashion designer with precisely no idea how to be a detective - but she's determined, and sometimes gets lucky with her hunches. Meanwhile, the police investigator keeps trying to persuade her to back off and stay safe. This was a fun, light read (and would make a perfect chick-flick movie) but I'm not sure Maddie is good enough at the actual crime-fighting to make me want to read the rest of the series.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Review: Where the Shadows Lie



Where the Shadows Lie (Fire and Ice)Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A police-drama-slash-thriller set in one of my favourite countries, against a backdrop of myth and legend, which makes for an interesting combination. I found it a quick and engaging read, perfect for a long flight.

 
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