Recently Read - April 2011

[Jack Tingle]

Recently Read - April 2011

all books - "e"

sf longer works:

Robb, J.D., "Indulgence in Death" ****
One of the best Eve & Roarke murder mysteries in a while. Robb's always a smooth writer, but this one had a bit more passion than recent ones, without some of the oddities. On the other hand, it wasn't particularly sf.

Flint, Eric, ed., "Ring of Fire" & "Ring of Fire II" ***
This is a series of short stories based on the Flint "1632" time travel/alternate history novel (and it's sequels, which I haven't read.) I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the writing, although some of them have fairly thin plots. A few are more vignettes than stories. Since Flint wisely kept the time travel to a minimum (one big event) and shows the development of the alternate history in all of its self-referential glory, the descendent short stories fitted into the interstices of the main plot-lines are fairly logical and straight-forward.

Reid, Terri, "Loose Ends" & "Good Tidings" **
Mary Reilly sees dead people. She moved out of Chicago after she was killed on the job and brought back to life. Rural Freeport, IL has a lot fewer ghosts. The ex-cop is now a private investigator, specializing in cases with a paranormal content. Being able to see and talk to ghosts has advantages in that field. These two (and now a third) self-published novels are decent reads, with an improving author. "Loose Ends" is an untangling of recent history and old murders. "Good Tidings" is a Christmas story, with a kidnapped babe traveling long distances in the company of some very unwise folk.

Short sf e-tales:

Since I can't remember any of the short works I read, even with the list of titles before me, I won't mention them.

Non-sf:
Spencer-Fleming, Julia, The 'Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne' Mysteries ***
A female Episcopal priest, a small-town police chief, and a murder victim walk into a bar ... Stop me if you've heard this one.

Winspear, Jacqueline, The 'Maisie Dobbs' Mysteries ****
These are aimed at a younger, simpler audience. Set in 1930s southern England, Maisie is the daughter of a costermonger who rose to an education, love, and a brush with death in WW I France as a VAD nurse. Now she's a private investigator with a medical & psychological bent. The best novels ("The Mapping of Love & Death", for example) get the series the overall four star rating. The worst are decent 3 star ones.
_______________

My stars:
***** A classic, read it immediately.
**** Very good, you might even buy it in hardback.
*** Good, well worth your time.
** Readable, but I'd wait for a cheap copy.
* A book with at least one redeeming value, even if it's nice cover art.
Not rated - noted, but not rated because it's an anthology, or I couldn't finish it, or it's obviously good but not to my taste.
No stars (zero, zip, zilch, nada, none, goose-egg) - don't read this book.

e: electronic book; p: paper book

YMMV - seek other opinions, and don't blame me.

Happy Reading,
Jack Tingle