1889 Belle Epoque Paris
There lived a woman who wanted to be the queen of Parisian society, loved by all especially the powerful and rich men. She had learned how to use her sex appeal early in life taking lessons from her father who she had more than a close relationship with. Marguerite Steinheil would marry out of necessity and flaunt her charms to live the life she really craved. Meg had a range of lovers from the president of France to the richest and most powerful men in government but that almost didn't save her from a double murder scandal. After her mother and husband are found murdered and Meg tied up but unharmed, her accounts of what happened became more absurd and the police failed to turn up any suspects. Eventually Meg was tried for the murders. A fascinating and strange story of sex, politics and ambition in a time of great abandon in the city of light awash in sin. True crime lovers will be all in as will those who appreciate the lengths that women had to go to in order to enjoy the same freedom as men. 4 stars
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After reading this memoir one thing is certain - no one on this earth would put their family members through this unless they were desperate for a better life. Javier is in El Salvador raised by his grandparents waiting for his parents to come up with enough money to hire a coyote and help him cross into the US. At only nine years old he will set out on a harrowing journey of extreme conditions, apart from anyone familiar, fear and unbelievable danger. It will take him seven weeks to make it and several attempts relying on the people he became close to becoming a second family along the journey and those who are paid to help him cross. Javier will witness great acts of kindness from strangers as well as total disregard for his innocence and youth from the authorities. A brutally honest and beautifully told story of a journey that few of us will ever take but all should take to heart. 4 1/2 stars
The story of the American "Jack the Ripper" might pull you in at first but just as interesting is the backstory of the early days of forensic criminal science and the control of corruption and gangsters after prohibition by an unlikely hero, Eliot Ness. 1934 and body parts are turning up all over an area of Cleveland. Police are dumbfounded as they have no clues and no way to connect the human puzzle pieces until the heads are found. Some are fresh and some have been preserved while all have been expertly dissected and dismembered. Was this the act of a mad serial butcher or a disgruntled doctor?
How many bodies were out there and when will the killings stop? Time to call in "The Untouchables" and new anti- crime boss of Cleveland - Eliot Ness. Daniel Stashower gives us all the gruesome details of these murders and the public's fascination with them as well as the headlines of the time and the methods used. One fact I found particularly interesting was how they invited the public to have their fingerprints made during the World Exposition in Chicago which gave the police the first fingerprint data base. The perfect follow up to Eric Larson's DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY. 4 stars In a world bound by water infused with monsters of every kind the islanders need the sea and the maristags that come from it but are well aware of the danger. The islanders are separated by the usual class system with the landowners having the power and wealth with the hunters and renters following far behind. Koral and her family are hunters who catch and tame the wild maristags. The family hasn't had an easy time of it and they are desperate for medicine to save Koral's younger sister. Koral decides to take part in a dangerous race which is not meant for her to win. This is a vicious world full of monstrous beasts and even more monstrous humans. The underclass is rising up and she could be branded a traitor but if she survives and wins this race it would be everything.
Great world building , political undercurrents with potential allies along with a wonderful blend of South Asian Mythology and the Celtic water horse mythology makes this a sure bet for fans of fantasy fairy tales with the energy and dangerous politics of HUNGER GAMES. 4 stars Imagine a time travel device that lets the government send convicted criminals back in time. Now imagine that one of the scientists who created that device is convicted of murdering another scientist and sent back to when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Sam knows he didn't murder his girlfriend but takes the rap to protect his teenage daughter. Adeline isn't about to let her only parent end up as dinosaur kibble so she works with the other scientists to get him back. Will the group figure out how to do that? Will the real killer kill again or will they find a way to travel back in time to rescue the lost?
Fast paced game of time travel, interesting science and staying one step ahead of a unknown killer -a murder mystery that will appeal to fans of Michael Crichton, Blake Crouch and Matt Haig. 4 stars |
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