An exciting and thought provoking mystery
359429
I placed my order for Area Bird as soon as it became available;  when it came, I started reading and essentially did not put it down until I finished.  To say the book is gripping is an understatement !  The characters are well developed and believable.  The plot is fast paced and well developed.  The women had to endure some situations which would test them in all ways.
The end was totally unexpected.
I am already looking forward to Jan's next year.
2776881
In my world, a 5 star whodunit is comprise of not only an interesting puzzle to be solved, but also a theme that I find meaningful. An Indecent Death is strong in both of these areas.

Police officers have one of the highest divorce rates of any profession. Personal relationships are challenged by long and irregular hours, pressure for results, and dealing with the dregs of society on a daily basis. The novel's protagonist, Detective Sergeant Nicholas Drumm, finds himself in the midst of reconciling with his love interest when he is assigned to investigate the murder of a promiscuous 7th grade teacher.

Author David Anderson does an excellent job of subtly showing (rather than telling) how Drumm's profession impacts his personal life at a critical crossroads. We also experience Drumm's professional relationship with a female underling, and see his attitude evolve in a very believable way. As the son of a police detective, I was very impressed with the novel's feeling of authenticity.
2284823
AN Excellent read!  Although not the smoothest.  For someone of Medium intelligence, like myself, this is a great book.  It has all the stuff that a great mystery has, the kind of stimulating suspense that keeps the pages turning.  But it also contains more than enough new information, the kind that makes you wish you lived next store to a library.  I couldn't put it down, even when I was lost in the Latin that appears frequently or in the midst of a reccolection of the history of the Roman Catholic Church.  Challenge yourself.  You'll be happy you did.
4585900
This is my first experience with this author and I am so glad I found her. This is a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat with every page. It is about what could well be a real situation and real people. It is a mystery with tenderness and humanity in it. The people are caring and kind. And how does this author manage to pull it off all in one tidy book? I have not one clue.

Susan Slade's life is a hair short of idyllic. She has loving parents, a fantastic Aunt, and 'step-sister' who has fit right into the family. Susan's life begins to fall apart with the deaths of her parents only months apart. As she starts to settle their estate, Susan discovers a bunch of documents which make her whole life a lie. It seems Susan was adopted. Susan sets foot on a journey which takes her to the North Carolina coast where she finds another man. Her search is blocked by so many different paths that only strength, and the love and support of Reid, her new man, help her through her journey. There is suspence every inch of the way as Susan struggles to solve her mystery.

This story is a good clean mystery. I recommend it for age 18 on up.
2020204
This is a fast paced story with lots of action.

Mark Taylor is an investigative reporter who is looking for a big story for the television 'sweeps' period.  He begins looking into the opinion polling industry and encounters incredible corruption in the way that results are skewed to manipulate particular outcomes of events.  During the course of his investigation, Taylor uncovers murder, kidnapping, and collusion on a grand scale.  The plot explores the effects of the polling industry on the outcome of elections, issues, etc.

Christian characters and ideas are interwoven into the story during the course of everyday life. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a page turner that is difficult to put down.  It is also thought provoking for anyone who has ever had concerns about the rampant use of polling in today's political climate.  Jacobsen does an excellent job of theorizing how manipulations could occur.
4111663
Wow! A well-paced mystery unfolds as innocence is betrayed and beliefs are tested. The ending is perfect. It is realistic and uplifting. The reader can relate to this book in many ways and will have much to think about long after one has finished reading it.
2162842
A fast-paced murder mystery in which surprises and a huge twist are revealed at the end.  One of the nice things about this story is that it's not only about the mystery - Christie also builds an interesting group of complex characters with distinct motivations.  Hercule Poirot - recently arrived in a small English town in order to enjoy his retirement - finds that retirement short-lived as he is pressed into service to clear a man to whom all evidence seems to point as the killer.  We get to watch M. Poirot's methods up close through the eyes of the narrator, Doctor Sheppard.  All the characters in this story have something to hide, and those secrets slowly reveal themselves; Christie's timing is impeccable and keeps the story flowing.  I guessed at some of the secrets but was enjoyably surprised by most of them.  A good beach read.
3669843
I highly recommend this book. It is captivating and has a mystery that keeps the reader very involved. Good book!
4761779
Many twists and turns, an excellent mystery, good read
723699
An exciting new novel of intrigue and world secrets.  As politics and science clash heads and threaten world humanity.

This was a wonderful trip through intriguing Argentina and New Mexico with colorful descriptions and fast paced action.  With a strong heroine and conspiring villains, this novel is a roller coaster of intrigue.

A story of a quest full of twists and turns, with a surprising ending.  The story keeps the reader interested and satisfied.  The end leaves you wanting more.
4290211
I really enjoyed this Historical Mystery.  Detective Inspector Tom Harper has three mysteries to solve and is also supporting his wife as she becomes more involved with the Suffragists.  The first mystery is to find the mother of a stillborn baby that was posted in the mail. In the rubble of the burned railway station the body of woman who was stabbed is found.  A few days later a young woman is raped at the station.  Are the mysteries related?  The author does a very good job with the setting, the back streets of Leeds at the turn of the century.  The story is also well researched with a nice blend of fiction and history.  I really liked the characters.  The mysteries were good and the solutions made sense.  Enjoy this exciting historical mystery.
2149116
An extremely erudite mystery, with enough depth both in character and plot that I would consider this a true piece of literature, Frame Change is a compelling story--hard to put down. Whether the setting is Chicago, Bay St Lucie Mississippi (a narrative remake of Bay St Louis MS or Port St Lucie FL?), or Graz, Austria, the local color is, indeed colorful and, near as I can tell, relatively accurate. There are no breaks in the action, and the suspense level is high throughout the book. This is one mystery I unabashedly recommend.
1730067
This is not a typical "who done it."  There's no formula to this mystery as it challenges and surprises the reader at each turn of the page. The characters are truly fresh and the dialogue is crisp and saturated with wit. In total - it's a story that you can't put down- and when you do you want more.
1800289
In this murder mystery, many of the scenes and incidents, as far as writing goes, include some of THE most plausible incidents I've ever read -- for a book which challenges one's purview on atrocities and conspiracies.
The two main characters are quite unusual, and you WILL get caught up if you stick to it instead of becoming exhausted with their problems. The guy used more pharmaceuticals in one day than I have in my lifetime. The Pharma, Tobacco, hard-core Caffeine. How he managed to stand up on two legs was the real mystery.
The writer included one of the most interesting death scenes I've ever read, p. 247. I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Meanwhile he touched on War Crimes, Atrocities, Drug Experimentation, Mind Control, Sensory Deprivation, real world problems. "Nuclear waste remains dangerous for several million years." A lot to think about in this novel.
751518
"Seek Ye First" offers a page turning adventure from the start.  I could not put it down.  The main character, Thomas Dewar, an American doctor and a somewhat disillusioned seeker of greater truths finds himself drawn into a murder mystery involving old friends, new faces and foreign countries.
"Seek Ye First" is based on the likely concept that there remains to be found early Christian manuscripts that may shed new and controversial light on Christ's teachings.  We are taken on a journey to Cairo and its environs where others have gathered to study and protect this information from those with ulterior motives including monetary gain and protecting the status quo.
As we follow the main character through this quickly moving plot with multiple twists, betrayals and surprises we are also taken along his inner journey that had long ago soured in its search for truth and meaning.  Now, confronted with hard evidence that his own friend and mentor had died trying to protect, he finds himself drawn to a small group of seekers who seem genuine and determined.
Thomas Dewar gets to voice his own doubts and confusions along the way, being guided ever so gently by those around him as he gets lessons about early Christian history and insights into the similarities that are at the root of all world religions. Just as importantly, he is shown how the original mystical message of any religion can get distorted by well meaning followers.
We are reminded that the mystics are unanimous in telling us that their experience of "The One" is beyond words.  In "Seek Ye First" we have the teachings of Christ, the greatest mystic, offering us new insights in how to let go of our old concepts and draw closer to God.
In the end Dewar does not save the day but does find himself changed with a renewed sense of hope.  Let him take you on his unique journey through time history and theology.  You will enjoy the ride.
I highly recommend this well written, thoughtful novel.
Dr. John Waitekus
4106680
In Bed Of Bones, the author introduces her reader to the story's characters, and then proceeds to develop an exciting mystery.  The pace is steady, leading into some sudden twists and turns. The pace speeds up trying to keep the killer from abducting and killing more women.  Who is this sadistic killer?  Can it be a killer long dead?  This is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery novel.  The characters are comfortable, believable and likable.
The story leaves the reader wondering what adventure awaits our smart PI  in the future.
3070193
A wonderful new mystery series. It celebrates the beauty of friendship and gives hope that one can move on from heartbreak and tragedy. Learning to trust again along the way.
Bookshop owner, Nora, feels compelled to look into the death of a potential new customer when he dies mysteriously. She joins forces with new friends Hester, Estella and June. Surprising herself that she even has new friends.
It's a tale wrought with conspiracy and fraud where the women need to discover all the players. When one of the group is framed for another murder their search grows more intense. It's a thrilling story that keeps you guessing until the very end.