As you can see, I've been very busy whilst in Maryland!
1. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. One of his first novels to be made into a movie, starring Mandy Moore, no less! It's been so long since I saw the movie, I had difficulty remembering it well enough to compare. If my memory served me correctly, though, the movie protagonists were much shallower and poorly developed in comparison to those in the book. While the lovers in this effort are younger than some of his other works, it definitely is not a children's book. The theme of sacrificial love is far more mature than Jamie and Landon. Sir Sparks' writing style here is less polished, perhaps an effort at reflecting the youth of the main characters, or perhaps indicative that this is one of his early works and his style is less developed. This isn't a book I would go out of my way to read, unless you are just trying to complete that Sparks collection, or have run out of other material. It is not a complete waste of time, but not at the level of his other efforts.
2. Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. This collaborative effort shows promise, but ultimately fails to live up to its Tony Hillerman aspirations. The premise is that a 20+ year old letter arrives from an explorer father who mysteriously disappeared while searching for the lost city of gold. Based upon the clues contained therein, manipulation of NASA flight plans and other sundry morally offensive but technically legal efforts, a team of explorers is put together to track it down. They do, finding it not what they had hoped, and nearly all meet their deaths at the hands of some modern day Indian "witches" who have resurrected ancient Anasazi killing rituals. This book has multiple elements that should combine to form an intriguing and taught plot, but it simply fails to gel. Maybe one of these authors 4 other collaborations is a better read? If this novel is indicative of their work, I shant pursue any of their other works.
3. The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver. An interesting read along the lines of a CSI-type murder mystery. The story follows an ongoing investigation into a mass murderer whose demands of 20 million dollars are met, but he fails to appear to collect and continues to kill. My only negative in this book is the developing attraction between the lead investigator and a retired specialist called in to help on the case seems forced, as if it takes place simply because there must be a romance brewing between two of the main characters if a book is to be published. The writing proceeds at a vigorous pace, alternating well between murderer, mastermind, and FBI efforts. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of several verbal puzzles. Most are answered within the story, but one is not. The author answers this puzzle in a note at the end of the story. Overall, well done!
4. Lake News by Barbara Delinsky. In short, don't bother. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood to appreciate this newspaper reporter helps innocent cabaret piano player smeared by another newspaper reporter story. I greatly appreciated the descriptions of loons on the lake, since they stirred childhood memories, but otherwise felt it was a waste of time. If you like journalistic reportings of journalistic doings tangled up with a love affair, check it out. Other wise, see my second sentence.
5. Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas. Another mystery, but well written in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I might venture to say better written than Sir Arthur, but there are a lot of folks who would be terribly upset by that. This is an first novel, introducing the Enquiry Agent, Cyrus Barker, and his assistant, Thomas Llewelyn. The author does a wonderful job developing the characters in the context of the story. It it tightly paced and suspenseful, as well as introducing an aspect of London's history I was completely unfamiliar with. If you like Sherlock Holmesian mysteries, be sure and get to your library and get a copy of Some Danger Involved.
