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A barrister on an island with no memory of how she got there or the killer she is defending in a high court. She crawls along trying not to slip up while gathering tidbits of memory along the way. The only thing she is sure of is that her young daughter is not safe until she gets the mass killer acquitted. This is an ambitious debut which would have worked much better for me if I understood the jargon and rules of the British court system. There is a lot going on in this story. If you are a fan of locked room mysteries, British courtroom thrillers and like the amnesia angle then this will be a complicated puzzle you will have to solve. 3 1/2 stars 
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An outstanding depiction of women writers in two timelines not being given their due simply because of their gender. Emilia, trained as a courtesan at an early age, is under the protection (read gifted) to a Lord in Queen Elizabeth's court. Thankfully, he is kind and allows her freedom so she can quietly develop her poetry. Years pass and she makes friends with Kit Marlowe who sees her great talent and helps devise a plan to sell her writing to those less talented men like Will Shakespeare under a false name. When Emilia falls in love with someone she shouldn't and the unthinkable happens she is cast out yet picks herself back up to continue to market her writing. Generations later, Melina a young female playwright has the same sexist pushback her ancestor Emilia did in trying to break thought the all male barrier of Broadway. This story rings true because it is based on Emilia Bassano thought to be the first female published poet and the author's note at the end is well worth checking out. Jodi Picoult has done it again with rich vibrant characters (I loved Kit Marlowe) and perfectly researched storyline connected to current day that showcases a resilient woman who overcame abuse, great loss and obscurity to follow her dreams. Anyone who enjoys stories of Queen Elizabeth's court, and the retellings of Shakespeare's famous plays will enjoy this feminist historical fiction. 4 1/2 stars  A momentous adventure story based in truth full of uncharted territory and danger in untested waters. An enthusiastic steamship inventor and his family undertake the voyage of a lifetime as they embark on the maiden voyage of their steamship on the mighty Mississippi the full length ending in New Orleans in 1811. Lydia Roosevelt is very pregnant and along with their toddler daughter make this journey with unwavering faith that her husband's ship will make the voyage showing the world what is possible and wowing investors and travelers along the way. This journey would have been arduous for anyone but they weathered hostile people, waterfalls, earthquakes and countless other dangers while Lydia remained at her husband's side. This is an adventure story with a rugged determined woman at its center. Diane C. McPhail does an admirable job balancing the extreme danger with the joy of discovering what was just around the bend and experiencing it with the ones you love at your side. If Mark Twain were a woman this is the story they would have penned. 4 stars  A fever dream of a story about an adventurous husband who drags his wife off to a remote island in search of an illusive spider whose silk holds magical powers. The women of the island embrace Sophia but her husband steals the spiders bringing them back to England which sets a curse into motion. A generation later the factory spinning the spider silk is in full operation employing the whole town - men, women and even young children. Henry is a grieving audiologist who is hired to help cure the owner's deaf daughter. While he is unable to improve her hearing he becomes obsessed with the silence provided by the spider silk and sets about marketing it. Caught in the seductive web of recognition and the lavish attention of the lord of the manor/factory owner, Henry tries to prove his worth while looking the other way at the plight of the young workers whose health is failing. It is a classic story of the class divide, unrequited love , the horrible working conditions of young factory workers and the allure of magical creatures without a thought to how they might exact their revenge. Atmospheric writing that will attract readers of Lydia Millet and Adrienne Young. 4 stars  Happy book birthday to THE THIRD WIFE OF FARADAY HOUSE by B. R. Myers All the elements of a classic gothic mystery are here with a distinctly modern view of women's roles. In love with a dashing naval officer Emeline is sure he will save her from having to take her only other option- that of marrying a widower several times over. When that doesn't happen and she travels to the remote island of her intended only to find that his current wife isn't even dead yet. Sinister forces are at work and Emeline just has to keep the second wife alive long enough for the swooping rescue by her naval officer. A less than wholesome main character (who you grow to like), poison, murder, ghosts, jealousy and much witty banter make this a quite enjoyable romp through the mists and hidden dangers of the island. 4 stars  On a large farm in Nebraska a domineering father lords over his two sons who he has raised alone. Abusive both physically and verbally, he tries to make men out of them through hard work, hunting and absolute obedience. The favored older brother goes off to school and comes back with an Asian wife thereby being disowned. The younger son Nick is left on the farm (now the only son) trying to win his father's approval and keep his desires well hidden. Suddenly, their dad announces he is dying and calls all of them home ( Emilia included). A truce of sorts begins but there is an unbalance and Emilia is at the center of it. This is an eerie blend of abusive family drama mixed with ancient Asian mythology and a smidge of horror. There is an undercurrent of unease and violence that makes you want to turn the page and wince at the same time. THE LIFE WE BURY by Allan Eskins and THE FOX WIFE by Yangtze Choo fans would like this for very different reasons. 3 1/2 stars  A coming of age fantasy about the journey of a young artisan searching for her true calling. Shean has trained hard as a dollmaker's apprentice but is stunned to learn that she has been denied her license to create the guard dolls that battle the monsters who killed her parents and plague the land. Instead she is guided towards making works of art or toys. Seen as an insult, Shean takes matters into her own hands by stealing her master's license running to another town and challenging its dollmaker for her position. She is so sure of her ability and knowledge that she fails to realize how she is putting others and her dolls at risk. She will discover much about herself and learn to trust others to destroy the monsters before all is lost. I hope this is the start of a new series that fans of all those young female warriors in THE WHEEL OF TIME and THE WITCHER will embrace. 4 stars  In 1985 Meridian Mississippi a real estate mogul is found assassinated and then the so called "hired killer" is found dead in jail. Clementine is a no nonsense former cop P.I. who has been hired to find the killer of the "hired killer". When she begins pulling at loose threads it becomes tangled in KKK and Dixie Mafia business that could mean a big ball of trouble for Clem and her partner. Clem is not a warm and fluffy character but she is effective and I loved the banter between her and her partner. Themes of racism, the old white guard and small town corruption abound. It is a gritty crime noir that will appeal to fans of Southern drama written by Greg Iles, S.A. Cosby and Attica Locke. 4 stars  Shay is invited to the wedding of the year as a plus one with her newish boyfriend who is best friend's with the groom. An exclusive resort in Cabo with all the frills is what the invite promises but what no one expected is for the bridal couple to be murdered. What appeared to be one happy family is now showing cracks as the Mexican police try to find out what happened and Shay has just as many secrets she wants to keep hidden. She just has to get the story, keep her cover and find the killer before the killer finds her. This is the perfect beach vacation read unless it is to a resort destination wedding. I didn't really like any of the characters but there are enough twists and misdirection to keep you turning the pages. Fans of CRAZY RICH ASIANS (minus the crazy part) and WHITE LOTUS will enjoy. 3 1/2 stars  Cordelia has lived her whole life under the thumb of her ruthless mother. There is no such thing as independence when you mother is a powerful sorceress. Dark magic of classic fairy tales meets the gentry of Bridgerton in this historical fantasy. Anyone who gets in the way of Evangeline ends up dead or worse - obedient. When the sorceress comes to call and sets her eye on a new wealthy husband the household and Cordelia band together to rid the world of the evil. A retelling of the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tale "The Goose Girl" this is just as dark and magnificently told in audio. 4 stars  |
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