Isaac's Storm by Bruce Larson

A patron recommended I read another of this author's entries entitled Thunderstruck and one of Mr. Larson's other books was a Book Discussion selection. I chose to read Isaac's Storm and was not disappointed.

The story centers around the 1900 hurricane in the city of Galveston, Texas. It is also the story of a respected meteorologist, Isaac. It is as much his personal story as it is the telling of great destruction to an unprepared city.

The author has an extensive list of sources in the back of the book which attest to his knowledge of the subject. If there had been a writer of this magnitude who wrote history textbooks when I was in school....perhaps I would have been more proficient in the subject of history.

Someone should REALLY make a movie of this story!

Ladybookbug!

A Wrongful Death by Kate Wilhelm

A wrongful Death by Kate Wilhelm is correctly coined a “legal thriller”. I must preface my critique by stating that I have never read any of this author’s previous works, including the Barbara Holloway series.

I think because of this admission, it kept me from ascertaining who was who. I had to re-read chapters every so often to keep the characters straight and this really interrupted the flow of the story.

Barbara Holloway is an attorney. As the story opens she has taken a sabbatical from her duties and is spending some time in a cottage on the coast of Oregon. A small child and his battered mother enter the story. Ms Holloway investigates and ultimately unravels a story of industrial espionage involving billions of dollars. Quite a bit of legalities and police regulations regarding what procedures are involved in investigation prior to arrest are mentioned here and I found that disconcerting.

Nonetheless, you may want to try this new entry and perhaps venture into her previous Barbara Holloway books. In fact, it might be better to read the prior books before even going here.

Ladybookbug!

An Isolated Incident by Susan R. Sloan

A patron recently inquired about mysteries with a setting of Puget Sound. This author’s name came up and so I read one of her books.

Seward Island in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington State is the setting for this thriller. The island experiences its’ first murder, the daughter of a prominent member of Sewardian society and the story begins. Ginger Early, a native of the small community, is the detective on the case and she is accompanied by Ruben Martinez, the chief of police.

A succession of clues points toward Jerry Frankel, a history teacher at the high school and a newcomer to the island. There is a serious undercurrent at play which never really comes to the surface but is harbored by several prominent members of the community.

Ms. Sloan, a former attorney, leads the reader through the accumulation of evidence, a grand jury investigation and mitigating circumstances. Her expertise in the field is apparent in her writing.

The story ends unexpectedly!

LadyBookbug!

Down River by John Hart

So, do you remember "Rich Man, Poor Man"? This new entry by John Hart reminded me of that. It is the story of Adam Chase, a young man from a wealthy family in a small town.

As the story opens, Adam is returning to his home town after a five-year hiatus. He was previously tried and acquitted for a murder he did not commit. When he arrives there are still mysteries brewing and his estranged family is not overjoyed to see him.

Add a few more murders, a beating, harassment and a fierce determination on the part of Adam for justice to prevail and you have an engrossing story.

Good story! Read it!

Ladybookbug!