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Reviews by Robert F. (Charleston, IL)

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A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns

An impressive first novel (4/9/2012)

I like mysteries, especially procedurals, and I like historical novels, and this book satisfied me on both counts. The setting (1796 in a Shaker settlement in Maine) puts some interesting constraints on the procedure for solving the crime, but it also sets up the intriguing …more

No Mark Upon Her: A Novel
by Deborah Crombie

A solid mystery/thriller (12/30/2011)

At first I was bothered by moving back and forth among the various parts of the narrative, a device that seems to be more and more prevalent among mystery writers. But Crombie is a mature, experienced author, fully in command of the plot; she who knows just how far to …more

Defending Jacob: A Novel
by William Landay

Engaging thriller (10/5/2011)

I like mysteries, particularly police procedurals, more than so-called thrillers, but this novel is an engaging mix of both. It's very readable: the plot has several twists, but they're not overly complicated or contrived. The story is driven by the narrator, who is brash …more

The Tudor Secret: The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
by C. W. Gortner

Fast-paced and readable (3/18/2011)

This book moves right along. The plot has lots of twists and close escapes--maybe too many--but the historical details are interesting and skillfully woven in. The treatment of the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert Dudley is not the one given in those films with …more

A Short History of Women: A Novel
by Kate Walbert

Challenging and rewarding (5/22/2009)

A Short History of Women begins with this sentence: “Mum starved herself for suffrage, Grandmother claiming it was just like Mum to take a cause too far.” Mum is Dorothy Trevor, and the narrator is her daughter. From this intriguing starting point, the novel cycles back and …more

The Fisher Boy
by Stephen H. Anable

Disappointing read (3/11/2008)

I was disappointed by this novel. The setting and some of the major characters had a lot of promise, and I was hoping for a fast-paced comic mystery. But the plot never got off the ground. For one thing, the author’s style was embellished with too many descriptive details …more

An Incomplete Revenge: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
by Jacqueline Winspear

A Quiet, Compelling Mystery (3/3/2008)

This unusual detective series keeps getting better with each installment. Maisie Dobbs is an original creation; she’s thoughtful and deliberate, but not dull. The post-World War I setting adds intrigue and some emotional punch to the plot (which is also quite unusual). I …more

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