A spectacular family saga of love, courage and separation. This is the history of the Cabrellis, artisan jewelers from the seaside town of Viaregio. Domenica yearns to be a nurse but is outspoken and is exiled to nurse at a convent in Southern France and then Scotland. A Scottish sea captain as well as her childhood best friend will fall hard for her and war will keep her from returning to her beloved childhood home but she keeps her fierce spirit. She becomes one of the Italians who find their second home in Scotland only to be treated as traitors when WWII breaks out and Italy is on the wrong side. Again and again we have heard these fascinating stories of pride and hard work from people who leave their homeland to make a new country their home and leave it better for their input. The later part of the story takes place several generations later when their rich family history is passed on to the youngest headstrong granddaughter. For fans of THE SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA and ETERNAL.
4 stars
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Violet and her brother live with their grandmother on the grounds of Hillside Inn Mental Institution where their grandmother is a famous psychiatrist. She brings home a young mute patient to live with them and immediately Vi and Eric take her as their sister. When Violet begins to nose around Hillside and locked rooms that her grandmother wants to keep hidden their lives will change forever. Monster lovers and hunters since they were kids, one of the sisters has become an adult who continues to hunt monsters for her successful podcast. The public doesn't know that the monster she now seeks in Vermont just might be someone very close to her. Intense coming-of-age story full of innocence lost and disjointed family with the warning that monsters are real and they are out there so beware. 4 stars
This is a must for Chicagoans as much of how the Sullivan family does is based on that midwestern mantra - Maybe this year will be the end of the Cubs curse, but probably not. It is 2016 and the Cubs have a real shot at winning the World Series (spoiler, they won!), a reality show tyrant has just been elected President and the elder Sullivan has just passed away. The Sullivans have run a successful restaurant just outside of the city and are a mess. While the story centers around life at the restaurant and its people, it is mainly a solid family drama that could take place anywhere. Affairs, sketchy relationships and the basic imperfections that make up most American family drama are all at play here. While the plot doesn't seem to include any earth shattering events it is a deep dive at a classic midwestern family. It gets my vote for one of the most unusual and eye catching book titles. 3 stars
Anyone who is fascinated with true crime knows the name Paul Holes. From his early days as a detective covering Northern California to his current retirement, he has devoted his life to solving cold case murders especially long term serial killers like the East Area Rapist and The Golden State Killer which he worked on with the late Michelle McNamara. His never-ending search for justice has taken a severe toll on his life - one failed marriage and almost two, distant relationships with his children, severe anxiety, alcohol abuse and really gruesome nightmares. This is an open and honest look at what it takes to be a cold case detective with all the emotional highs of finding that one bit of condemning evidence to the heartbreak of all of your leads going nowhere. Details about past cases are candy for the true crime podcast aficionados and those with family in law enforcement will appreciate the dedication and relationship warnings of Paul's story. 4 stars
Four friends from childhood on up have a falling out as adults and go their separate ways. So, the birthday invite to travel all expenses paid to a resort in Botswana Africa comes as a total surprise. The three are eager to get out of London even if it means an awkward reunion . They arrive to find a remote glamping style lodge/cabins in the middle of nowhere with wild animals surrounding them and not a person in sight even their hostess- what could go wrong? Anxiety driven thriller that ramps up from the minute they land in Africa. The characters trade off chapters and we jump from the past that unites them to the present running for their lives. Cat and mouse, or should I say lion and gazelle suspense Agatha Christie TEN LITTLE INDIANS safari style. 3 1/2 stars
A dual story of fame, fortune, love and revenge. 1928 Two sisters work at a famous hotel catering to the black elite of Los Angeles. Daisy and Henrietta take their jobs very seriously at the Hotel Somerville and are privy to secrets, scandals and the comings and goings of the Hollywood elite until
something happens to wedge the sisters apart. Fast forward to 1968 where Frankie is pregnant and fleeing an abusive husband in Chicago. She needs a getaway which is just what Aunt Daisy will provide but she has no idea what she is getting herself into. Daisy is looking to settle old scores and it will be a roadtrip for the books. Old Hollywood meets Thelma and Louise plus one young hippie roadtrip. A wonderful slice of Hollywood glamour that has been largely unnoticed paired with the turbulent 60's civil rights movement. 4 1/2 stars A gangster version of Homer's classic war of two powerful families over a woman. It is the Irish vs. the Italians in Providence Rhode Island where a marriage crosses a big line and ignites a fire. Don Winslow's writing is short and concise and the perfect entry for readers who don't usually read crime fiction. Don't get me wrong though it is still a riveting story of gang violence, families torn apart and innocent victims dragged into situations where they have little control. Every crime family started out as a family and these families are no different. It is the Jets vs. the sharks of Westside Story, THE GODFATHER in Las Vegas, the Capulets vs. the Montagues of ROMEO AND JULIET and it is pure Don Winslow magic. 4 stars
Nellie Bly is out to prove that women can do a job better than men or at least just as well. After fighting for a chance at writing articles in NYC newspapers other than the society pages and being told that it is no place for a lady, Nellie shows them that journalism is no place for anyone who is afraid of getting their hands dirty or taking a risk. She has herself committed to one of the worst mental institutions in the city knowing that she can get in and hoping that her editor remembers to get her out. What she finds there is appalling- little food, unsanitary conditions, little or no medical treatment as well as constant humiliation and boredom. The articles she wrote exposing the atrocities caused public outcry for change and helped free the innocent mentally sound women imprisoned there. Nellie's tough brand of investigative journalism shook up the system and encouraged young women to tread boldly where only men walk. An in-depth look at the women's movement as well as a fast paced adventure and the fierce charm of Nellie and the other women stunt reporters- this looks like the first in a series with more to come. Fans of Fiona Davis and Marie Benedict as well as Caleb Carr's THE ALIENIST will find much to love. 4 stars
Rural Texas murder investigation where everyone knows your business, your family and your past is open to all. Annie comes from a long line of crime fighters with her grandfather being the most famous. He should be retired and Annie shouldn't be spinning her wheels waitressing but both of them are up to their gun holsters in the family investigation business when one of Annie's co-workers is murdered. Annie is a rookie and digging into places that could get her killed. Land grabs, shady dealings, powerful families and proof that not all the cowboys in white hats are the good guys. Edge of your seat suspense chasing clues in honky-tonks, diners and oil fields. Fans of gritty Texas dramas with fierce women will enjoy this. 4 stars
Rachel is happily married living in New York City in the 50's but in the nightmares she is still that little Jewish girl in Berlin trying to survive. Her mother was a successful artist but not really the maternal type neither was her mysterious artist model or her uncle but Rashka had an ok childhood before the war. Now she is just trying to adjust and become the perfect Jewish wife to her New York born husband Aaron. Rachel is also an artist but is so paralyzed by wartime trauma that she cannot paint. When one of her mother's paintings is found at a local pawnshop all the old memories come flooding back and Rachel must find a way through it or loose herself to the tremendous guilt she carries. Told by a few narrators in a dual timeline we follow the events before and after the war which are tied together nicely at the end. Another classic example of riveting historical WWII fiction. 4 stars
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