Month: October 2023

‘A Traitor in Whitehall’ by Julia Kelly is the first in a well done historical fiction mystery series

/ Pamela Kramer

Julia Kelly is known to those who have read her previous books as someone who not only does meticulous research, but also writes compelling historical fiction about fascinating moments in time with a style that is both engaging and thrilling, and always thoughtful. “A Traitor in Whitehall” is her first book in what promises to be a series of mysteries that are set during WWII England. Kelly’s extremely effective writing places us readers in the action, in the feelings that those people felt, in the experiences that they experienced. This first entry, obviously, is set in London, in the underground offices of government at Whitehall, where staff worked in shifts and slept there while on shift so they wouldn’t have to worry about bomb sirens and not being able to get to the office because of bombings and closed roads.

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”Twas the Bite Before Christmas’ by David Rosenfelt is a holiday mystery with more twists than Santa’s route

/ Pamela Kramer

In spite of the clever title, “‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas,” David Rosenfelt’s newest Andy Carpenter mystery does not feature any dogs who bite, especially not the adorable Dalmatian on the cover. What this holiday-themed novel does have, and what almost all of Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter mysteries have, are clever plots, lots of bad guys, one very innocent guy who is being framed, more twists than even Santa’s most challenging routes, and many sweet rescue dogs. Add in one curmudgeonly, reluctant attorney who loves rescuing dogs and hates practicing law, and the plot is set.

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‘Kissing Kosher’ is more than a cute romance

/ Pamela Kramer

“Kissing Kosher” is a Romeo and Juliet-type romance, but in Jean Meltzer’s seasoned hands, it’s much more. Meltzer is passionate about educating as many readers as she can about chronic illness and chronic pain. It seems a strange match for a romance, but we see how important it is for someone with chronic pain to find an understanding partner. And perhaps, true love conquers all? Including chronic illness and pain? In this novel, it feels as if Meltzer has shared more than usual about her inner feelings regarding the daily grind of living with chronic pain and its effect on career and personal relationships.

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Dog lovers alert: ‘Dogs Demystified’ is a must-have read

/ Pamela Kramer

Dog lovers need an easy reference book that can help with practical information about dog care, dog cognition, dog emotions (yes, they have emotions just as we do), and dog breeds, and “Dogs Demystified: An A-to-Z Guide to All Things Canine” by Marc Bekoff is just that book. This is a book with important information that is helpful not just to the new dog owner, but even to seasoned dog people like me.

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‘Dogtown’ by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko is an absolutely heartwarming middle grade tale of dogs and community and adventure and family

/ Pamela Kramer

“Dogtown” by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko is a middle grade fantasy that will be extremely appealing to kids because it’s filled with dogs—real dogs and robot dogs, or really just one special robot dog. There’s even a mouse. The story is told in first person by Chance, a dog residing in a shelter at the start of the story.

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‘Catch Her Death’ by Melinda Leigh is a suspenseful addition to the Bree Taggert series

/ Pamela Kramer

The “Bree Taggert” series by Melinda Leigh has a lot to recommend it. The main character, Bree Taggert, is the sheriff in a rural upstate New York county. She left her job as a Philly homicide cop to move into her sister’s home and raise her sister’s kids when her sister was killed. She accidentally ended up as sheriff, and she’s got a lot on her plate.

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‘The Royal Windsor Secret’ by Christine Wells is an historical fiction novel that spans decades

/ Pamela Kramer

In her latest historical fiction novel, “The Royal Windsor Secret,” author Christine Wells combines a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a lot of history, a soupçon of royalty, and an impressive amount of jewelry to create a story about a young woman, raised at a luxury hotel in Cairo, who travels to Paris and London in search of the identity of her parents. While young Cleo is trying to find out who her parents are, she is also trying to accomplish what is almost impossible at that time — to realize her dream of becoming a jewelry designer.

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‘Hemlock Island’ by Kelley Armstrong is a novel that’s horrifyingly spine-tingling

/ Pamela Kramer

“Hemlock Island” is the eponymous setting for Kelley Armstrong’s new stand alone horror novel, and just the name of the island is a clue that it could be a dangerous place to visit. Laney, a divorced teacher who just published her first book, owns a beautiful house on the island. It was a gift from her ex-husband Kit when he walked away from their marriage. Laney must visit it because the current renters left in a huff after complaining about a blood-stained closet door, and that, in combination with other strange happenings, causes her to investigate what’s going on there.

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‘The River We Remember’ by William Kent Krueger is about midcentury, midwest values—the good and the bad

/ Pamela Kramer

Most people reading “The River We Remember” will not really remember the year 1958. And even fewer will be able to relate to small-town Minnesota as William Kent Krueger depicts it. In the rural town of Jewel, many of the inhabitants are either farmers or those in town who support farmers by providing food at the local diner or teaching their children at the local school. Sheriff Brody Dern protects people, but his job is usually dealing with drunks. That changes on Memorial Day when the body of local wealthy farmer Jimmy Quinn is found in the river.

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