A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read

Review by Cheryl R. (Spuddie)

#1 Madeline Dare mystery set in 1980’s Syracuse, NY. Madeline is a reporter–well, she writes mostly filler pieces for the local newspaper in Syracuse, NY where she moved with her husband Dean who is an engineer, a designer, mostly roughing it working on railroads while on the side working on a device that will save a lot of time and money. 

Madeline comes from old money, as in Mayflower old money–but her parents fell out of the money loop–her mother having divorced and remarried several times and her father a paranoid aging hippie living in a trailer in California. Madeline longs to be part of that inner circle again, but she’s not a whiner–she just does what she has to do to get by, including living in butt-ugly Syracuse in a dismal apartment.

Then one day Dean’s uncle–his family are farmers in the area near Syracuse–brings up an old unsolved mystery in which two girls who were never identified were brutally murdered, their bodies posed–and hands Madeline a set of dog tags that just happen to belong to her cousin Lapthorne–one of the moneyed set. They were found by a local farmer not far from where the girls were found but never reported to the police–and Madeline is instantly intrigued and sets out to clear her cousin’s name–even though she hasn’t seen him in more than ten years, he’s always been one of the good guys in her eyes and she doesn’t want to go to the police yet.

Her searches lead her down some dark and scary paths, with suspects suddenly falling out of the trees, and when it’s obvious the killer realizes she’s investigating, she begins to fear for her own safety–but is her fear misplaced? Someone close to her is leaking information, but who?

Great read! I am not a big fan of frou-frou books about people with money, but I really like Madeline, and this story was a doozie! The author also is a very dynamic writer, with certain phrases and descriptions that leap out at you and give such a sense of place and…I don’t know…feeling, I guess.

This is definitely not a cozy, with lots of graphic violence and descriptions, and probably not the best choice for a “bedtime” read, but a great read just the same, especially if you like a darker type of mystery. It’s especially fascinating as the author admits that the Madeline character is largely autobiographical.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Review by Janice (jai)

I’ve mentioned to people before that I’m not a fan of zombies, but when I was pitched this book to review on my book blog by Atria Books, I couldn’t help being intrigued. A love story with a zombie protagonist? I did a little checking and loved the voice in the excerpt, and before long I’d accepted a review copy, despite my zombie-dislike.

The Premise (blurb is from the publisher, since it describes the story very well) : “R is a young man with an existential crisis–he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.”

My Thoughts: The reason I don’t really like zombies in my fiction is that they’re generally in there for horror purposes – they moan and shuffle and they kill, so there’s lots of gore and eating of brains. They’re typically not the protagonist, nor are they prone to sensitive thoughts when they are.  This just isn’t my thing, but Warm Bodies surprised me by going against this grain. Told from the first person perspective, Warm Bodies describes the unlife of R, a zombie with a rich inner world. R is unsatisfied by the way things are, and searches with seeming futility for something more beyond an existence that is just mindless repetition (killing, standing around, occasionally sleeping). He’s deeply introspective. He makes gently humorous observations about his ‘”life”. He wants to know who he was and what he did before he died. He has a friend (“M”) whom he converses with (albeit in slow, low syllable sentences). He feels torn about eating people.

R is incredibly articulate on paper despite his verbal incoherence (R’s “personal record is a four rolling syllables before some …thing…jams”), which is a big part of what makes his story compelling and readable. He’s different from the undead stereotype, and his uniqueness makes his fellow zombies eye him with a certain degree of discomfort.

Outsider status aside, it is difficult to see R as a hero or romantic lead until he kills a teenager named Perry Kelvin. R experiences the scraps of Perry’s memories and his love for girlfriend Julie. It’s normal for zombies to see visions of their victim’s life, but R has never had a vision like this. Instead of killing Julie, R is compelled to keep her safe. Once Julie enters the story, her interactions with R slowly but surely move the story in a more hopeful direction. R’s sweet gestures and shy courtship and Julie’s bright view of the world despite it’s bleakness, had me in rooting for them, but it is well-balanced by the dark and gritty environment. There are also those who don’t like change in any form who see their relationship as a threat to the way things are, and there are many tense moments when Julie and R are confronted by them.

Although I would put “character” down as the greatest strength of Warm Bodies, (both primary and secondary characters were well fleshed out), I was impressed by the world building as well. There is a great sense of setting – the airport that is the ‘home base’ of the zombies and the sometimes surprising activities there (zombies go to church, don’t you know?), and on the flip side, the stadiums which have become the last refuge of the living. It fascinated me to read how society has coped with zombies and how children are raised in this new world.

I even liked the ending. It may push against your suspension of disbelief,  but I found the conclusion completely satisfying. Any complaints I’d have are nits. One is a small inconsistency in R being unable to read early in the book but I’m not sure if I misunderstood this. The other is that I’m not sure whether or not R really gives the reader an explanation for the zombie outbreaks, which some readers may dislike. As it was, I preferred the ambiguity.

Overall: Zombies usually aren’t my favorite supernatural creature and I never expected to believe in a zombie hero, but I liked Warm Bodies. R’s voice is so sensitive and eloquent that I found myself rooting for him to get the girl and save the world. The romance works, and is incredibly sweet to boot, but the story also doesn’t shy away from describing the new realities in a post-apocalyptic landscape. I really enjoyed this fresh take on zombies: recommended.

To Die For by Linda Howard

Review by Vicky T. (VickyJo)

Everyone who loves to read has at least one favorite author, someone who can write stories and tell tales that appeal to your sense of humor, or make you think, or tug at your emotions.  If you’re lucky, your favorite author has written lots and lots of books for you to enjoy.  The bad news is, no matter how prolific, you will eventually come to the end of material written by this person.  It then becomes necessary to either wait patiently for a new book to come out, or find someone else whose stories you can enjoy while you wait.

But sometimes it’s hard to find what I call a “read-alike.”  Someone who writes in a similar style, or along the same lines as another author.  You don’t want a copycat, but you do want an author you can enjoy while you wait for your favorite to publish something new.

One of the most popular authors around today is Janet Evanovich.  She has a mystery series starring Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter from New Jersey with a crazy family and trouble choosing a boyfriend.  Her mysteries are such fun because there is hilarious dialogue, crazy people and situations, and of course, a bit of romance.  So…in my quest to recommend “read alikes” for favorite authors, I decided I needed to do folks a favor and find someone who writes like Janet Evanovich.

Talk about impossible quests!  Evanovich is not only unique, but her fans are extremely loyal.  I spoke to a few people about my search for someone who writes like Evanovich, and was met with skepticism.  The general consensus was “Good luck.”  And it was difficult, but I think I found an author that could tide some Evanovich fans over while they wait for a new novel.

Linda Howard has a few things in common with Janet Evanovich.  They both started out writing paperback romances, but both have “graduated” if you will, to hardcover bestsellers.  They both blend mystery, romance and humor into very fun, readable novels.

Blair Mallory is the owner of a fitness center called “Great Bods” in Linda Howard’s 2005 novel “To Die For.”  She is a former cheerleader, divorced, pretty, but a shrewd businesswoman.  Just because she’s blonde and Southern doesn’t mean she can’t be a success, thank you very much.

One of her clients has begun imitating Blair’s hairstyle and way of dressing.  It’s flattering and annoying, but what can you do?  But then this dead ringer for Blair turns up dead…murdered right outside the fitness center and it becomes very clear that Blair was the intended victim.

Enter police lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth.  He and Blair were an item a few years back, but he dropped Blair without any explanation, or even a phone call.  So when he decides that Blair needs 24-hour protection, and that he’s the perfect person to provide this protection…well, let’s say sparks fly.  In all directions.  Wyatt seems to believe that he and Blair should become involved again, and Blair does her best to resist him.

As they gather clues and get closer to the killer, the danger increases as well.  Just when they think they have the suspect in custody, Blair is shot and she and Wyatt must go back to square one and start examining who would want Blair dead…and why.

Linda Howard provides some snappy dialogue between her main characters, humorous situations, and manages to keep the tension high throughout it all.  And I have to say that I have always wanted to treat a computer the way Blair’s mother treats hers.  I won’t say any more than that.

Right You Are, Mr. Moto by John P. Marquand

Review by Matt B.  (BuffaloSavage)

The last Mr. Moto novel has had numerous titles:  The Last of Mr. Moto, Stopover Tokyo, and Right You Are, Mr. Moto.

The Pacific War and American Occupation are over, but Mr. Moto is still working in Intelligence.

He teams up with two American spies, Jack Rhyce and Ruth Bogart, to expose Communist subversives who want to force Japan into the Red Camp. Jack and Ruth are standard Marquand characters (blue-bloods, natural aristocrats) who are going through changes in their lives that conflict with their duties.

Marquand like the themes of passages in life and feelings versus duties. An ex-intelligence operative himself, he describes closely and realistically the stress and fatigue of always having to play a part while undercover.

C. Hugh Holman, a University of North Carolina professor who helped establish the National Humanities Center, considered this book to be the best Mr. Moto novel of the six that Marquand wrote. I agree that readers who like the serious spy fiction a la John Bingham or John Le Carre would probably like this one too.

The last Mr. Moto novel has had numerous titles:  The Last of Mr. Moto, Stopover Tokyo, and Right You Are, Mr. Moto.

Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton‏
Review written by Bowden P. (Trey)

After reading Eyes of the Overworld, I discover there is a sub-genre of fantasy called Dying Earth. And though I never new it existed, I’m a fan.

The novel Nights of Villjamur opens with a punitive seige on Folke Isaland against rebels. There we meet Brynd Lathrea, Kapp Brimir and Papus as the seige takes place. The seeds for about half the story are sown here as the connections between the characters are estblished.

The action then leaps ten years forward to the imperial capital of Villjamur. There thousands of refugees seek entrance to outlast the coming ice age, plus there are the intrigues of the technological cults, the wealthy and the aristocrats. All in all, its a millennia old snake pit known for its spires, bridges, wealth, antiques and age.

The world Newton sketches out in Nights of Villjamur is an interesting one. Its old. As in millions of years old. It sort of reminds of Against a Dark Background and McCauley’s Confluence trilogy in that regard. The world is different – there are the intelligent flying garudas that serve the Empire, blood beetles that feast upon spilt blood, banshees – the witch women of Villjamur that announce the deaths of all and technolgies and sciences so old that they have been forgotten by most, only rediscovered and horded by cultists. These ancient artifacts – relics – and knowledge of them are the magic of the setting. And oh yes, there are other hominid races too. The only two mentioned are the Dawnir – a giant race responsible for much of the impressive technological artifacts and the Rumel, a tailed, leathery skinned and long lived race.

The plot summaries I’ve seen at Amazon and on PBS don’t do the plots justice because there are many, varied and interlinked. I don’t think setting up the dominoes will spoil things too much. Randur Estevu – formerly Kapp Brimir – has made his way to Villjamur to find a way to keep his mother alive. Which leads him back to Papus, head of the Order of Dawnir and from her to her rival, Dartun Súr. Dartun Súr seeks immortality no matter the price as his age retarding treatments begin to fail. But before all this happens a member of the Council is killed mere steps from Randur which leads to the involvement of Investigator Rumex Jeryd and Investigator Aide Tryst. While all this is happening Commander Brynd Lathrea of the Night Guard, the Empire’s elite forces, is fighting off an intense and well prepared ambush.

From there the plot picks up speed and so do the quirks and descriptions of the city and its character. Before long we meet the mad and brilliant Emperor Jamur Johynn (who I’d describe as “mad, bad and dangerous to know”), the ambitious Chancellor Urtica, the prostitute Tuya and the Emperor’s daughters Eir and Rika.

I liked this book. I really did. It has some good characters and characterization, and even though they work at cross purposes, they can be understandable. Not always sympathetic, but understandable. Newton also presents an intriguing older Earth that makes me think of Clark Ashton Smith’s Zothique and Jack Vance’s Dying Earth.

I’m looking forward to tracking down the sequel City of Ruin and reading it as well. The blurbs promise more action in the north, plus more darkness and weirdness.

Likes: Neat characters; Their interactions; Their motivations; The world building; Avoiding info dumps.

Dislikes: The sudden ending of the book. Its the logical spot, but I want more.

Suggested for: Fans of Jack Vance, Clark Ashton Smith, William Hope Hodgson, Gene Wolfe and fans of the Dying Earth sub-genre of fantasy. I’d also suggest it to fans of PC Hodgell and Greg Keyes Riverborn series.