The Spare Room by Helen Garner

This is the story of a friendship between two women. It is the story of what happens to each of them during a difficult time. It is the story of commitment and destruction, of hope and despair, of fortitude and weakness, of fondness and something less.

How resilient would we be when faced with tremendously difficult odds affecting someone that we care a great deal about? This story covers it all, the rage, hurt, anger and deep intimacy between long time friends.

It is a short book, but well worth the read.

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Still Life by Joy Fielding

The wife of an upstanding citizen is on her way back from an impromptu lunch with close friends whose main topic of conversation is the caliber of champagne they are drinking. She is suddenly hit by a car and sent flying into the air. She regains her hearing in the hospital room where she is for all intents and purposes in a coma.

As she listens to people in conversation around her, the mystery unfolds. She becomes very frustrated because she would like to contribute her opinion but is precluded from doing so by her physical constraints.

If you like being put on the edge of your seat-read this book!

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The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer

The auspicious head of a large medical facility located in Massachusetts is struck down by a hit and run driver. The medical facility is prominent in the field of treating cancer patients with experimental drugs and putting them in remission.

Father of four grown children (two of which have Asperger’s Syndrome), the administrator remains in a “locked in” state, unable to communicate until one of his doctor daughters notices some eye-movement. Through a series of eye movement and letter identification, the daughter is given a clue which starts her on an investigation into what has been happening at the facility.

This was an entertaining medical thriller of the highest caliber. Well worth the read!

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Runner by Thomas Perry

Let me start this review by expressing my gratitude to one of our patrons at the library. She recommended this title to me and I was not disappointed.

This is the sixth book in the Jane Whitefield Series after about a nine-year hiatus. It is the first book I have read by this author.

A fast-paced story about a “guide” who helps hide people who are being pursued. Perry’s attention to detail helps the reader to have a clear understanding of what is transpiring. His character, Jane Whitefield, is well-developed and the reader has a real sense of what she is about.

My plan is to go backwards and read the entire series and other books by this author.

A nice addition to my long (and getting longer) list of favorite authors.

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