Friday, September 19, 2008

A Thousand Bones by PJ Parrish


A Thousand Bones
PJ Parrish
2007, Pocket Books, New York
1416525874
470p.

Joe Frye is a female deputy for the Leelanau Sheriff's Department in the 1970s when a small number of bone fragments are discovered. The ensuing investigation uncovers a series of brutal murders, and Frye is set to become the killer's next victim.

This is a well crafted mystery with no fancy tricks - it's just a solid thriller. It was interesting to read the growth of the characters throughout the story, because that is one thing the mystery genre is not known for. The murders were interesting, and I enjoyed the mix of Indian folklore.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Friday, September 12, 2008

Away and Beyond by AE van Vogt


Away and Beyond
AE van Vogt
1963, 1968, Panther Books, London
no isbn
219p.

Eight short stories from one of the masters of the classic science fiction genre, AE van Vogt.

This is an interesting collection, consisting of mainly technology driven stories. It captures all the wonder and hope of the 1960s science and space dreams. My favourite story was The Great Engine about an engineer who discovers a fantastically advanced drive for a ship. I felt the last story in the collection, Asylum, really let it down as the story was vague and confusing.

Link to journal at bookcrossing

Friday, September 5, 2008

Tell No One by Harlan Coben


Tell No One
Harlan Coben
2001, 2005, Orion, London
0752865307
346p.

Dr. David Beck lost his wife eight years ago when she was kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer. But now he receives a mysterious email in which he sees his dead wife alive.

I found the narrator too self-aware and whiny - I know it's supposed to be an emotional book, but the emotion didn't come across as real. The parts that were written in the third person were by far much better. And I really enjoyed all the scenes in New York City, it gave a great feel of the city.

I think this book tries to be clever, but doesn't achieve that as well as it would like. You can see most things coming - there is a kick in the tail, but because of the lack of connection with the reader, we don't really care.

Link to journal at bookcrossing