RECENT REVIEWS BY SYLVIA HOPKINS
Library patron and writer
Sylvia Hopkins regularly reviews books available at Schlow Centre Region Library. Read her
most recent reviews below. The reviews also are available in the form of
bookmarks in the Adult Department.
Click here for past book reviews.
For non-Fiction Book reviews, click here.
FICTION Reviews
Blacklist by Sara Paretsky
This is a story spawned by a retrospection and a
projection. It provides a look back at the Congressional hearings and
blacklisting of half a century ago in a sort of juxtaposition to the current
Patriot Act. The author finds possible parallels. The thread bringing these two
elements together involves an aged left-wing leaning publisher who stood his
ground in the old days, his hidden past, the murder of a probing journalist, and
much murk lurking in the background of the former’s circle of rich pampered
untouchables. Caught in the middle is Chicago private investigator V.I.
Warshawski, who tangles with all of them, as well as several police forces and
the F.B.I.
The
Brothers of Glastonbury by Kate Sedley
Despite the title, this is not a monkish story. In
fact, the Brothers figure only peripherally, in a perfectly worldly 15th century
tale with a strikingly authentic flavor. The author here resurrects questions
about the legend of Joseph of Arimathea which put the town on the map of
Christian antiquity. And then leaves it up in the air, of course. But she does
present a solution to the mysterious disappearance of two brothers, whose
absence has inspired stories of deviltry and black magic. Hero Roger the
Chapman, assigned to the venture by the Duke of Clarance, brings it all together
in believable fashion.
Deal on Ice by Les Standiford
Miami-based contractor/builder John Deal becomes a man with a mission when his
best friend is senselessly killed. Mr. Nice Guy’s hunt leads to some collateral
deaths, the kidnapping of his wife, and a shoot-out showdown with a crazed TV-angelist
in the frozen depths of Nebraska.
Fetch Out No Shroud by Stephan
Murray
An historian, known to have been researching a WW2 event, has been found
murdered at the site of an old airfield. Since the matter involves a group of
South African airmen, it is coincidental (or fortuitous?) that many of the
surviving team happen to be in London for a reunion. No end of suspects. Other
possible persons of interest appear, and a process of elimination slowly
evolves. Working it all out is a slow, steady process, in which the reader can
join. Or sit back and let the pros do it.
Four Blind Mice by James
Patterson
The title is the code name for an elite group of specially-trained, special U.S.
Army forces assassins who served in Vietnam. Trouble is, they enjoyed their work
so much, three of them are still at it, decades later, for hire and for fun.
Tracking them down involves stonewalling Army brass. This means going it alone
for D.C. detectives Alec Cross and John Sampson (who has a personal
involvement). With unofficial help from the FBI, and unsolicited advice from
vengeful street gangs, the deed gets done. But not without the graphic spillage
of much blood, guts and gore.
Full Frontal Murder by Barbara
Paul
A slightly aggravated custody dispute in a big money family slowly escalates
into multiple murders and a horror story involving others. The central “other”
in this case is the lead detective’s main man. His capture, imprisonment and
torture by the mad perp leads to a city-wide dragnet, and becomes a major
shocker.
The Hidden Law by Michael Nava
There is a host of hot topics adroitly handled in this barely 200 page volume.
Set in Los Angeles of almost 20 years ago, the story deals with the volatile and
disparate Hispanic community in and out of the mainstream Anglo world. Those who
make it; those who don’t. Our protagonist is an attorney (as is the author), of
Mexican descent, and a homosexual. He is haunted by the memory of a long-dead
father he hated, while deeply troubled by this hate. In his outer life, he must
deal with the emotional strain of a departing lover (who has AIDS), and
demanding professional pressures. These involve him in politics, inner city
gangland turmoil, while defending the (innocent) confessed murderer of a
prominent Chicano politician.
Hit Parade by Lawrence Block
Not THAT kind of hit parade. Not the old time music standouts. This is today’s
hits: murders. By killers-for-hire. An especially likeable one in this case:
John Keller who collects stamps and won’t kill dogs. Hell, he even hesitates to
take out a woman; but will anyway. It’s his job. It’s what he does. The parade
referred to in the title is a collection of stories giving background,
foreground and aftermath of a group of his jobs, i.e. a parade of killer
stories. Believe it or not, there is humor, pathos, empathy and sympathy to
spare, with maybe just a little bit of attitude you can identify with.
Invisible Prey by John Sandford
An intriguing mystery challenges protagonist special investigator Lucas
Davenport: rich elderly people are being brutally murdered in the
Minneapolis/St. Paul region, yet nothing of value seems to have been stolen.
Even with the Twin Cities police at his beck and call, the leads lead nowhere
and take a strange twist when the victim in another case Lucas is working on is
senselessly attacked by someone with the same M.O. as the perp in the first
case. Suspenseful to the max, with a liberal peppering of obscenities
throughout.
Lifeless by Mark Billingham
An unconventional, unpredictable maverick under the best of circumstances,
London cop Tom Thorne is at his depressed worst since his father’s accidental
death. Put on inactive (“gardening”) leave for everybody’s good, he talks to the
brass into letting him go undercover with the homeless to find a vicious killer.
Living rough in an underground civilization of its own leads to dangers and
self-discovery unimagined in the world of life above-ground. Finding the
ruthless murderer leads back fifteen years, to the British forces in the Gulf
War. And stonewalling in very high places.
Mourn not Your Dead by Deborah
Crombie
A much unloved (and unmourned) Police Commander is found at home with a
bashed-in head. Nobody really cares, but it falls to a crack Scotland team to
ferret out the culprit. Said team, (Superintendent Duncan Kinkaid and Sergeant
Gemma James) however, is having a few cracks in their personal relationship.
Which bodes problems for the professional one. Working it all out, whilst doing
their job keeps both on a high intensity level. And everyone else curious and
guessing. As much about them as about the murderer.
One Last
Breath by Stephen Booth
A plentitude of side issues pepper this story. Even
the title refers to two separate incidents. Essentially, the story revolves
around the search for a recently released convicted murderer, who is suspected
to more killings since being turned loose. All connected with the original case
thirteen years earlier. Detective Constable Ben Cooper is doubly involved in the
hunt, since his late father made the original arrest. Which, it now seems, may
have been of the wrong man. The hunt leaps into new, frightening territory as it
leads Ben and the others through an ancient cave system with a horrifying past.
Property of Blood by Magdalen
Nabb
Kidnapping has long been recognized as a business
venture in certain circles, in areas of southern Italy. Unhappily, it also goes
hand in hand with sometimes unspeakable brutality. When the victim is a
successful (American) business woman who also happens to be a Contessa, things
get a bit stickier than usual. As the story unfolds, the victim details the
events of her captivity in excruciating sequence. Her story is interspersed with
background leading up to the event, and ongoing police efforts to affect a
rescue.
The Unquiet
by John Connolly
There’s a lot going on in this story: on the surface, beneath the surface, and
possibly– in another time warp. Fusing all in a multi-dimensioned tale.
Superficially, a private detective is hired by the daughter of a long-missing
psychiatrist, for protection from a stalker. Scandal, betrayal and accusations
of child abuse preceded the eminent doctor’s disappearance. As well as the
disappearance of children. The stalker is the father of one of those. And, by
the way, a hit man for-hire. Meanwhile, our hero P.I. is haunted by the memories
of his dead wife and child, as well as shadowy figures he calls “the hollow
men.” Also in the wings are his estranged present wife and child. The whole
thing eventually ties up relatively satisfactorily considering the
circumstances. And the violence which is part of effecting the outcome.
Voodoo River by Robert Crais
Smart and savvy Los Angeles P.I. Elvis Cole mixes it
up with some ragin’ Cajuns and bayou baddies, while managing to live it up with
a new lady love. Hired to search out the origins of a hit television star who
was adopted in infanthood, Cole finds more than anyone bargained for. Along with
the truth about the beauty’s birth, he stumbles on a brutal people-smuggling
ring and barely makes it out alive from a rip-roaring shoot-out thanks to lots
of help from his almost-silent partner, Joe Pike. Who is a mystery story unto
himself.
NON-FICTION REVIEWS
The Road from Coorain by Jill
Ker Conway
This is a road hardly travelled: from the isolated
Australian bush and a multi-thousand-acre sheep station to the presidency of
Smith College. Battling gender bias (in spite of her outstanding scholarship),
and a mother gradually descending into alcoholism and mental illness. The happy
life at their Coorain home begins to fall apart with the early death of a
much-loved father, and then the tragic loss of an adored elder brother, hardly
21 years of age. Through it all, Jill Ker makes her way through these personal
tragedies and educational barriers with humor, love and determination. Her
story, here, ends at age 26, on her way to Harvard University for graduate
studies, well before her 10-year stint as the president of Smith.
Such a Strange Lady by Janet
Hitchman
The lady is a legend. Formidable in intellect,
frightening in rage, large of body and appetite, she was also erudite,
intimidating and irrepressible. Although this polymath is best known to the
general reading public for her Lord Peter Wimsey detection fiction, she was also
a theologian of note, translator of Dante, and complex author of other works.
This frank biography of DLS is a no-holds-barred exploration of her life and
works– questionable and otherwise.
