What Evil Haunts the Shadows of 1870s Paris?

Baron Ferdinand Harsanyi — After his wife’s mysterious death, this Austrian attaché holds control over mines whose coveted ore could turn the tide of war.

Therese Harsanyi — Swept up in new romance and the spectacle of Paris, the Baron’s daughter is blind to the dangers stalking her family and the city she loves.

Rudolph Harsanyi — Unsure whom to trust, the Baron’s son’s grief over his mother’s death twists into growing anger and a desire to break free.

As France and Prussia plunge toward war, one family is caught in a web of deceit, political intrigue, and murder that threatens to tear them apart.

I’m a big fan of Robertson’s smart wit and clever writing and I wanted to like Dark in the City of Light. Don’t misunderstand, I did like it but not nearly as much as I anticipated. The premise is interesting and the history obviously well researched yet through much of the novel I felt confused, in the first half particularly. The second part of the novel moved at a faster clip despite some rather too coincidental coincidences and a shifting timeline. Robertson’s beautiful prose is evident here in this novel as well, though missing some of the wit and intelligence that marked his earlier novels. His descriptions of Paris in its glory and later in its siege capture the stark contrast between the opulence and the resulting devastation. Despite the complicated plot, Dark in the City of Light is still an interesting novel and those who enjoy a historical mystery will find much to like. Personally, I still prefer his earlier novels, According to Their Deeds in particular, but Dark in the City of Light is not without merit.

Interested? Read an excerpt here.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Bethany House publishers for providing the review copy of Dark in the City of Light!

Amy: I’ve read Travis Thrasher’s two earlier thrillers and really enjoyed them, but I have to admit that I had a harder time following the plot with this one.

What did you think of the way we were thrust into the story? In some ways, I found it quite masterful that we were immediately sucked into the broken, fearful heart of Laila with no sense of history to guide us. We just knew immediately how much she had come to dread her life and the sense of terror that haunted her. But in other ways, it took some time for me to feel like I knew who these characters were.

Lisa: I, like Amy, had a difficult time both following the plot and finding it plausible. I know, I know–it’s a supernatural thriller and I’m looking for plausibility? I mean plausible in the sense that the events and the characters’ actions and reactions ring true to what we know about the characters. I felt detached from Laila at the beginning but once we began to understand more of her tragic history my sympathy for her grew.

Hannah: This was my first Travis Thrasher read. I agree, the timeline was kind of all over the place, and the reader wasn’t initially given many clues to help put things in order. This was a bit of a challenge at first, but I didn’t find this hurdle too big. I hadn’t thought of that, Amy (“immediately sucked into the broken, fearful heart of Laila”), but I agree, that was quite well done.

Yes, it did take a bit before I was invested in Laila’s life, but I actually enjoyed the chance to get to unpack these characters piece by piece and put the puzzle together on my own. Often we come into a book and ó bam! ó here’s a character, or a cast of characters, fully formed, sort of handed to us. I appreciate that Thrasher trusts his reader enough to let us peel back the layers on these fragile characters.

Jen: Sadly, I couldn’t bring myself to finish Broken. Like Lisa, I felt disconnected to Laila at the beginning. I found that without some sense of her history, I really didn’t care about her broken heart and, since I hadn’t been given anything to draw me into the story, the stylistic elements of ‘thriller’ felt very contrived to me. I found Broken just annoying me more and more, until I finally Pearl Rule’d it and gave it up at page 50.

Jennifer: When I first started Broken I was very confused by the change of characters point of views. I agree, the timeline felt all over the place. Especially with the journal entries. I immediately felt for Laila, I wanted to know more about her. I would read more from Thrasher because I did enjoy the novel but I felt like too many storylines were thrown at me.

Thomas: This was first time that I read a book by Travis Thrasher. When I first read Broken, I had enjoyed it with only a few minor issues bothering me. Over the last week as I thought about the book it seems that I have more issues about the story itself.

Did we pique your interest? For more of our book club discussion, click over to the following blogs…

Introduction: Amy at My Friend Amy

The Supernatural Elements: Jennifer at Mrs. Q Book Addict

The Plot and Plot Devices: Hannah at WordLily

Role of Reviewers and Participants: Thomas My Random Thoughts

Thanks, Amy, for inviting me to be a part of the roundtable discussion group!

In Fences, the Janviers are the perfect family with the beautiful home and “white picket fence” lifestyle. Neil is a financial advisor who spends his spare time making exquisite furniture that he gives away. His wife, Amanda, is a reading teacher. Their children, Chase and Delcey are All-American teenagers. Yet beneath the perfect facade, secrets are weighing down on Neil, Amanda and Chase. Their family foundation is beginning to crack.

Enter Amanda’s niece, Tally. Tally’s father has disappeared. Amanda agrees to take Tally in to their home, not expecting that the girl’s visit will change her family forever.

Meissner has crafted another touching story, filled with characters who cause us to consider our motives as parents and to examine our hurts, and who remind us that no family is perfect.

Thanks to Waterbrook Press for allowing me the opportunity to read this thought-provoking book.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.

I won’t give the movie away, because I know that there are some of you reading this who were weren’t old enough to watch a rated R movie in the early 90′s, but I still remember the hype — this suspenseful story of murder and betrayal with a surprise twist at the end.

I recently watched the movie to prepare to read the brand new Scott Turow novel Innocent, which revisits the same character Rusty Sabich 22 years later.

This movie keeps you guessing as more and more information and seeds of doubt are planted in regards to Carolyn Polhemus’ murder, which fellow attorney Rusty Sabich (played by Harrison Ford) has been accused of.

I have to say that it’s funny watching a movie made in 1990. It almost feels like watching a black and white movie. The computers, the phones, the difference in film quality are almost distracting. But if you haven’t seen the movie and enjoy a legal thriller full of twists and turns, I highly recommend that you check it out.

And if you are like me — one of the millions who were hooked by the book/movie the first time around — check out my review of Innocent by Scott Turow.

Jennifer Donovan enjoys a great story, whether on screen or stage or in the pages. She also blogs at Snapshot.

When Barbara is found dead, Rusty’s actions after he finds her that morning in bed are suspect, and he’s accused of murder — again.

Turow delivers another spell-binding legal suspense thriller. The truth unravels slowly and is fully explained by the end.

I enjoyed seeing the growth in Nat (the son) and Rusty over the course of the novel. I think that the characters are a bit stronger and more developed than in many legal thrillers, and that made it even more enjoyable for me.

I revisited the movie version before reading this book. I don’t think it’s necessary if you are familiar with the story, but if you haven’t read the book or seen the movie recently, I would definitely do so before you read this one. Read my review of the Presumed Innocent movie if you are curious about what the first installment was all about.

Jennifer Donovan’s reading interests run from women’s fiction to literary fiction to memoir, with the occasional suspenseful thriller thrown in. There’s very little intrigue in her everyday life, which she blogs about at Snapshot.

This was a book I couldn’t put down.

The main character, Christy Williams, has a checkered past that’s kept her from going home to see the sister she left behind ago after their parents died. May hasn’t seen Christy in 15 years, and doesn’t even know if her sister is still alive. The sisters couldn’t be more different. May has a close-knit set of friends and Jesus. Christy is an alcholic with an abusive boyfriend and buried secrets that are eating her alive.

A stolen first edition of an Ernest Hemingway novel is about to force a reunion that neither sister is quite prepared for.

Thicker than Blood is a gripping read. I can hardly wait for the sequel, Bound by Guilt, due out in 2011.

Thanks to the folks at Tyndale House for allowing me to review this fantastic book.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.

As one might surmise given the length of the book itself, This Body of Death is no simple, straightforward story. Who wants a simple, straightforward mystery anyway? No, George weaves a complex tale that kept me riveted with every single turn of the page. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. It drew me in and kept me engaged until the last page was turned. Speaking of the last page, I always, always, always read the end of the book before finishing it. I don’t know why. I never want to but I always end up doing so, sometimes when I’m only a few pages in to the novel, sometimes when I’ve only a few pages left. True confessions: I did sneak a peek at the ending of This Body of Death and to George’s credit and her skill at keeping a mystery compelling and complicated, I was still surprised once I actually got to the end (though I had my suspicions which proved to be correct).

Curious about what the novel is about? Here’s the publisher’s description:

On compassionate leave after the murder of his wife, Thomas Lynley is called back to Scotland Yard when the body of a woman is found stabbed and abandoned in an isolated London cemetery. His former team doesn’t trust the leadership of their new department chief, Isabelle Ardery, whose management style seems to rub everyone the wrong way. In fact, Lynley may be the sole person who can see beneath his superior officer’s hard-as-nails exterior to a hidden—and possibly attractive—vulnerability.

While Lynley works in London, his former colleagues Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata follow the murder trail south to the New Forest. There they discover a beautiful and strange place where animals roam free, the long-lost art of thatching is very much alive, and outsiders are not entirely welcome. What they don’t know is that more than one dark secret lurks among the trees, and that their investigation will lead them to an outcome that is both tragic and shocking.

I will warn you: George includes some scenes that are, for lack of a better word, uncomfortable. She doesn’t go into great detail, employing allusion more so than copious descriptions. However, some scenes made me cringe and there is some language. I will say that at no point did I feel as if she were being shocking merely to be shocking.

I liked this novel. I liked it a lot. Whether you’re a big fan of the British inspector murder mystery genre like me or if you just like a good suspense that is well told, I think you’ll like This Body of Death as well.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Thank you to Harper Collins for the review copy!

Everything I enjoyed about Bundle of Trouble (linked to my review) is here in Motherhood is Murder. The life of a new mom is brilliantly cast with all its ups and downs, insecurities and joys. Kate is endearing and her To Do lists hilarious. The mystery surrounding the Roo & You mommy club is complex and complicated, good things for a good mystery to be:

First-time mom Kate Connolly may have found the perfect work-from-home mommy job: private investigator. After all, the hours are flexible, she can bring the baby along on stakeouts, and if you’re going to be up all night anyway, you might as well solve some crimes.

Nights out are hard to come by for new parents. So when Kate’s new-mommy club, Roo & You, holds a dinner cruise, she and her husband, Jim, leave baby Laurie with Kate’s mom and join the grown-ups for some fine dining on the San Francisco Bay.

But when one of the cofounders of Roo & You takes a fatal spill down a staircase, the police department crashes the party. Suddenly every guest is a suspect, and it seems like every mom and her man has a motive. Kate’s on deck to solve the mystery–but a killer’s determined to make her rue the day she joined the first-time-mom’s club.

Motherhood is Murder is a light, fun cozy mystery that will appeal to anyone who enjoys an entertaining and charming story. I liked it a lot. If you’re looking for something fun to read, Kate and baby Laurie will not disappoint.

In fact, author Diane Orgain has graciously offered to give away a copy of Motherhood is Murder to one 5 Minutes for Books reader! Leave a comment on this post to be eligible for the giveaway! We’ll announce the winner on May 19.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks the author for sending her a review copy of this book!

Denise and Craig have it all. Two sons, a big house, luxury cars. Craig serves a deacon in their church. Denise is a dutiful wife. Yet underneath, their marriage is crumbling. The story opens with Craig announces that he’s skipping church and taking a hike to unwind from the pressures of his career as a dentist. Denise nags, then reluctantly agrees. She’s unaware that Craig doesn’t plan to come home. During the worship service, she receives a call from the police informing her that there’s been a terrible car accident.

There are a lot of unknowns about the wreck. At the top on the list is the identity of the man with Craig. The stranger died at the scene. Denise tries to sort things out while Craig lies in a drug-induced coma. As the questions swirl in her mind, she tries to remain strong for her sons and her husband. It’s almost more than she can bear. And then Craig wakes up.

He’s thankful for the beautiful woman caring for him. She’s kind, gentle and caring. He just doesn’t know who she is. The doctors believe the amnesia is a temporary reaction to the trauma. Denise works to help Craig find his memory, only to discover an affair and an empty bank account. Is his amnesia a farce to cover his betrayal, or will it give the couple a second chance at happiness?

The Familiar Stranger is Berry’s first novel. I hope it won’t be her last. This book is full of twists and unexpected turns. The duel narrative was well written, and offered insight into both characters. It’s an intense, satisfying read.

A big thanks to the wonderful people at Moody Publishers for allowing me to review this book.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.

My only hesitation in making this review even more enthusiastic than it already is comes from the repeated references to the first book in the Raleigh Harmon series, The Stones Cry Out. The events of that novel evidently play a huge part in the back-story of The Clouds Roll Away. Not having read it, I felt a little out of the loop though only temporarily.

In The Clouds Roll Away, Raleigh, a forensic geologist, is returning home to Richmond and finds herself in the midst of what appears to be a series of racially motivated hate crimes that begin with a cross burning at the home of a celebrity rapper. Not only that but Raleigh must also juggle her mom’s slipping sanity and the renewed interest of a former boyfriend.

The story is far more complex than the reader initially supposes and author Giorello skillfully crafts a mystery story somewhat unique to its genre with its beautiful, literary prose and complex characterizations.

I like Raleigh a lot. I like Giorello’s writing a lot. I liked The Clouds Roll Away a lot. I have The Stones Cry Out in my to-be-read-and-soon stack and can’t wait for the next Raleigh Harmon novel to be released!

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa profusely thanks Amy at Phenix and Phenix Literary Publicists for sending her the review copy of this great book!

To sum up my review: I liked it. A lot. It was good. Very good. Interesting setting. Intriguing mystery. Fascinating backstory of war, in addition to wartime love and loss. Maisie is likeable and the story compelling. Want to know more? Here’s the publisher’s description:

In the latest mystery in the New York Times bestselling series, Maisie Dobbs must unravel a case of wartime love and death—an investigation that leads her to a long-hidden affair between a young cartographer and a mysterious nurse.

August 1914. Michael Clifton is mapping the land he has just purchased in California’s beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, certain that oil lies beneath its surface. But as the young cartographer prepares to return home to Boston, war is declared in Europe. Michael—the youngest son of an expatriate Englishman—puts duty first and sails for his father’s native country to serve in the British army. Three years later, he is listed among those missing in action.

April 1932. London psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs is retained by Michael’s parents, who have recently learned that their son’s remains have been unearthed in France. They want Maisie to find the unnamed nurse whose love letters were among Michael’s belongings—a quest that takes Maisie back to her own bittersweet wartime love. Her inquiries, and the stunning discovery that Michael Clifton was murdered in his trench, unleash a web of intrigue and violence that threatens to engulf the soldier’s family and even Maisie herself. Over the course of her investigation, Maisie must cope with the approaching loss of her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and her growing awareness that she is once again falling in love.

Mystery lovers of all kinds, British or otherwise, will enjoy The Mapping of Love and Death. Winspear has written an effective historical whodunit novel that entertains not merely through the mystery itself but also through the depth of the characters she creates. This is the seventh novel in the series featuring Maisie Dobbs; I will definitely be checking the library for other Maisie adventures!

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa would like to thank Harper Collins for providing a review copy of this book!

Ends of the Earth is the latest installment in Tim Downs’ series of Bugman novels. You may remember how much I loved his book Less than Dead (linked to my review). Ends of the Earth contains much of the quirkiness and snappy dialogue that I enjoyed so much in Downs’ previous novels. I liked this book. I like Nick Polchak, forensic etymologist and bug man. I liked the complicated mystery that kept me guessing as to the resolution:

Nick Polchak must stop a terrorist from causing a global ecological nightmare.

Two beautiful women from Nick’s past are competing for his heart.

He’s not sure which impending disaster makes him more nervous.

When forensic entomologist Nick Polchak is called to the scene of a murder on a small organic farm in North Carolina he is astonished to find that the victim’s estranged wife is an old friend, a woman he once worked with–a woman he once had feelings for. When she asks Nick to investigate her husband’s drug-related murder, Nick seeks the assistance of Alena Savard, the reclusive dog trainer known to the people of northern Virginia as the Witch of Endor.

Alena jumps at the chance to renew her relationship with Nick–but when she arrives in North Carolina she discovers that she’s not the only woman who has her eye on the Bug Man. Soon Nick finds his usually analytical mind clouded by thoughts of a strangely human nature. These two women have stirred feelings that he can’t quite fathom, feelings of lost opportunities and future possibilities…

Now Nick must navigate the unexplored territory of his own heart while he solves an agroterrorist’s plot to ignite an environmental holocaust that could spread to the ends of the earth.

In short, I really liked the mystery part of the novel.

The love part, I didn’t like quite so much. Nick is caught between two women, Kathryn and Alena, both previous characters in earlier Bugman novels. None of the love triangle seemed to ring true. In fact, that part of the story falls rather flat and comes across to the reader as a little ridiculous.

Downs takes a real risk with his ending, leaving it up to the readers. Yes, that’s right! After something of cliffhanger regarding each of the leading ladies, the reader is directed to Downs’ website where she can vote for the ending of her choice. Remember what I said about being frustrated when authors won’t make the difficult decisions with their characters?

Frustrations aside, I still liked Ends of the Earth. I’m a big fan of the Bugman and look forward to reading more.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Thomas Nelson publishers for providing a review copy of this novel!

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

I wanted to like this book and I did. There are twists and turns aplenty and the mystery surrounding the mysterious woman who mysteriously shows up Crossroads Crisis Center is mysterious enough to keep you turning the pages. In other words, Hinze has crafted a complicated storyline that keeps the tension high. Who is this woman? Why does she resemble Susan? How did she acquire Susan’s necklace? Why can’t she remember? Is there redemption for Ben? Can he forgive himself? Overarching all these questions is the secondary mystery surrounding bioterrorism and international intrigue. Told you it was complicated!

I did like Forget Me Not but I have to be honest: I remained very confused throughout much of the story. I couldn’t figure out which bad guys were which nor could I understand their motives nor their methods. Complicated is good for a thriller; confusion not so much; and sometimes it’s a fine line that divides the two. That being said, Hinze’s portrayal of the resiliency of faith when all else is lost, including memory, is a theme that was interesting to explore through the lives of her characters.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa would like to thank Waterbrook Multnomah publishers for providing a review copy of this book!

In Beguiled, Rylee Monroe is a dog walker in Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood. She is a sweet girl with a tragic past, and she finds comfort with her four-legged friends in the part of town where her family once lived. Unfortunately, a thief begins to terrorize the neighborhood, and he seems to be targeting people with connections to Rylee. As danger looms, Rylee turns to Logan Woods, a reporter following the break-ins, for help, and their relationship grows deeper than she planned. Rylee and Logan are forced to figure out her connection to the thief and sort out their own feelings before the foundations of their personal and professional lives come crashing down around them.

I admit that I was a little scared to start this story; I try to keep any images of stalking or nighttime break-ins far from my mind. Once I started reading, however, I couldn’t put it down! The story is action-packed, and the setting of Charleston is perfect. I could picture the grand houses and imagine how spooky they would seem in the late-night hours. Rylee is such a likeable character, and I wanted her to avoid danger and find happiness. Although I sometimes shuddered to think of the danger surrounding the story, I put my wimpy feelings aside, and I am glad I did.

I am sure not all of you are scaredy-cats like me; some of you probably prefer suspense. If so, I recommend Beguiled. Christian authors Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand have combined their romance and crime-writing talents to create a fun and dramatic tale that is sure to keep you quickly turning pages.

Lauren is a wife, a mother of two, an avid reader, and a scaredy-cat. She still checks under her bed and in closets for the boogeyman. Lauren blogs at Baseballs and Bows. She thanks Bethany House for providing the review copy of this book.

From the publisher’s description:

Every family has secrets.

Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them.

Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there’s one story from his past he’s never told. One secret that’s remained buried for decades.

Now, seventeen years after swearing he’d never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past.

With Graham Baxter, CJ’s brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it’s no match for power and money.

There are wounds even time cannot heal.

Hunter’s Moon is just the kind of book I like and it really has nothing to do with genre. I like believable characters; CJ’s flaws, as well as those of his family, are on full display in this novel. I like a realistic portrayal of faith; like me, CJ struggles to make sense of his faith as it relates to his life, job, relationships, and family. I like strong characterization but I like action too, both of which are evident in Hoesel’s storytelling. I like an ending that both satisfies and surprises in the sense that I didn’t figure it out from the start of the novel. I liked this book. A lot.

Hunter’s Moon is a well crafted story, a pleasure to read, one I highly recommend. A big thank you to Bethany House publishers for the review copy! I’m looking forward to reading more of Don Hoesel’s work!

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….