Woods, Stuart. Choke (1995) Harper Collins, 280 pages, $23.00 hardcover ISBN 0-06-017667-9 Twenty some years ago Chuck Chandler choked. Right on Centre Court at Wimbledon. He squandered three match points, then went on to lose the most prestigious championship in tennis. It’s 1995 when we next see Chuck, who has just arrived in Key […]
“Choke” by Stuart Woods Read More »
Grafton, Sue. “K” is for Killer (1994)Holt, 285 pages, $22.95 hardcoverISBN 0-8050-1936-7 Janice Kepler is having trouble coping with her daughter’s death. She’s joined a support group but finds it little comfort. One night she leaves the group meeting early and sees a light on in the office of Millhone Investigations. Janice explains to Kinsey
“K” is for Killer by Sue Grafton Read More »
Woods, Stuart. Palindrome (1991) Harper, 447 pages, $5.99 paperback ISBN 0 06 109936 8 A woman staggers into a hospital emergency room so badly beaten she’s unrecognizable. The patient is Liz Barwick, professional photographer and wife of pro football player Baker Ramsey. After receiving a hefty divorce settlement from Ramsey ,thought of obtaining
“Palindrome” by Stuart Woods Read More »
Cornwell, Patricia. Hornet’s Nest (1996) G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 377 pages, $25.95 hardcover ISBN 0 399 14228 2 I hoped that a break from Dr. Scarpetta might rejuvenate Patricia Cornwell’s writing. It didn’t. This is among the worst novels I’ve ever read. Most books this poorly written would end up in some editor’s wastebasket.
“Hornet’s Nest” by Patricia Cornwell Read More »
Rule, Ann. Dead by Sunset Simon & Schuster, 1995Hardcover, 429 pagesISBN 0-684-80205-8 In this true-crime book Ann Rule tells the story of Cheryl Keeton, who was bludgeoned to death and left in her Toyota van on the highway so that an accident would cover her murder, in September, 1986, in Portland, Oregon. Rule also tells the
Review: “Dead by Sunset” by Ann Rule Read More »
Woods, Stuart. Under the Lake (1987) Avon, $6.50 paperback ISBN 0 30 70519 2 In this excellent supernatural thriller, John Howell, former newspaper reporter and recipient of the Nobel Prize, is approaching 40. Having burned out on newspaper work, he is now supposedly working on The Great American Novel; actually, he spends his days
“Under the Lake” by Stuart Woods Read More »
Cornwell, Patricia. Cause of Death (1996) G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 340 pages, $25.95 hardcover ISBN 0 399 14146 4 This book opens with a powerful image: “On the last morning of Virginia’s bloodiest year since the Civil War, I built a fire and sat facing a window of darkness where at sunrise I knew
“Cause of Death” by Patricia Cornwell Read More »
Cornwell, Patricia. From Potter’s Field (1995) Scribner, 412 pages, $24.00 hardcover ISBN 0-684-19598-4 In the few days surrounding Christmas, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Pete Marino (now a police captain), and FBI agent Benton Wesley pursue Temple Gault, a serial killer who has appeared in earlier Scarpetta novels. Scarpetta’s niece, computer whiz Lucy, now age
“From Potter’s Field” by Patricia Cornwell Read More »
Listed alphabetically by author Burke, James Lee. Black Cherry Blues Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany Margolin, Phillip. The Last Innocent Man O’Brien, Tim. In the Lake of the Woods O’Connell, Carol. Mallory’s Oracle Sandford, John. “Prey” series (I admit this is cheating since it’s more than one book) Shields, Carol. The Stone Diaries
The Best Books I Read in 1996 Read More »
Hawthorn, Jeremy. Studying the Novel: An IntroductionEdward Arnold, 2nd edition (1992, reprinted 1996)Paperback, 146 pages ISBN 0-340-56403-2 This slim volume is a good choice for book-discussion group members who appreciate good books but want to sharpen their reading and discussion skills. The premise of Hawthorn’s book is that “in the course of studying novels we must
Review: “Studying the Novel” by Jeremy Hawthorn Read More »
