The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder

The Ex-Wife: a Nail Biting Gripping Psychological Thriller
Jess Ryder
2018
2/5 stars

After a brief affair with rich, married Nick, Natasha finds herself in a perfect life as his wife and mother to their daughter, Emily.  The only flaw in Natasha's beautiful new world is Nick's ex-wife, Jen, who haunts them and seems determined to win him back.  However, it turns out that Jen was the least of her worries, and that Nick was not the man Natasha had imagined.  She finds herself in a nightmare, with her beloved daughter at the apex, and uncertain who in her life can be trusted.

For a novel that proclaims itself to be "a nail biting gripping psychological thriller", the Ex-Wife turned out to be a bit of a yawn.  It had great potential, and there were a few surprises early on that kept me listening when I was about to give up on it.  However, nothing gripping happened, and though there were some twists and turns, it just fizzled out in the end.  I would certainly not read another "thriller" by Ryder.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

A Dirty Job
Christopher Moore
2006
5/5 stars

This review was originally written February 28, 2006, after reading the ARC.  I have reread it prior to reading the sequel.  Twelve years later, I have a slightly different sense of humor, and I would only give it four stars now.  I am, however, keeping the original rating. 

Charlie Asher is a nice, likable and (except for his exceptionally over-worked imagination, common in a "Beta Male") normal guy. At least he was normal, until the day he accidentally walked in on Death--well actually, one of his minions, the dapper and cool Minty Fresh--and finds himself as one of Death's Little Helpers as well, collecting the souls from the newly departed and saving these souls from unscrupulous use by a set of female demons and their wicked lord. Once Charlie gets the hang of it, he finds out that it's not such a bad job, makes him a decent living and gives him plenty of time with his daughter Sophie. There's just one flaw. . . it seems that the Sewer Harpies (as Charlie comes to call the female demons) are growing stronger. So strong in fact, that there will be no other course of action than a ferocious battle for the world, between the forces of good and evil.

Charlie is alternatively helped and hindered on his path by the sort of wonderful characters only Moore could create. There's Lily, the wise-cracking teenaged Goth and "creepiness child prodigy" (who quickly became my favorite), and Ray, an ex-police officer searching for love on Asian dating sites. Charlie's sister Jane -the Alpha Male that Charlie isn't- gives Charlie strength and love--all the while looking better in his suits than he does. Even Charlie's daughter Sophie, who grows up before our eyes, has some odd tendencies--bad luck with pets, one very dangerous word, her own personal hounds from hell, and the typical child's memory for things that one was not supposed to hear in the first place. Of course, one couldn't expect her to be completely normal, given her father (who was convinced he saw a tail on her six-month sonogram) and the influence of her unintentional hilarious babysitters, Mrs. Korjev (and her bears) and Mrs. Ling (and her wok). Even Charlie's enemies are wonderful; I adored the Sewer Harpies with their bickering, evil ways, puppet shows and continually amusing antics. In addition, Moore throws in a few return characters from other books which was a thrill for the Moore fan. I was especially glad to see the Emperor again.

Charlie's experiences as a soul collector are both funny and touching. As is so often the case with Mr. Moore, a surprising tenderness turned up on some scenes. There is one scene in particular (the cheese scene--read it and you'll agree with me), that made me step back and say, "Wow! I need to be sure I appreciate life to the fullest!". Terminal illness, hospice care, nurses, and death all received a reverential treatment at his hands--while still being funny in that twisted Moore way.

A Dirty Job has overtaken Lamb as my favorite Christopher Moore novel and rates a full five stars. Pick it up and join Charlie the life of death. It's a dirty job, sure, but somebody's gotta do it!

Note on the audio book: Fisher Stevens is a better than average narrator, but some of his voices were too similar, and his Irish pronunciation wasn't perfect.

Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan

Murder for Christmas
Francis Duncan
1949
4/5 stars

Retired tobacconist Mordecai Tremaine is invited to a Christmas house party by a man he doesn't know well.  He chooses to go, because of the intriguing postscript stating that "something was wrong" in the household.  That something was most definitely wrong was proven when a dead Father Christmas was discovered under the tree on Christmas Eve.  Mordecai uses his sharp eye and keen reasoning to investigate his fellow house guests to determine the motive and method of the crime.

This was a delightful mystery, with an engaging protagonist and a well imagined cast of characters.  The mystery itself was intelligent, believable, and nicely plotted.  Duncan's writing wasn't perfect; there were repeated phrases and the occasional awkward sentence.  Despite that, I would most definitely recommend this nearly forgotten Golden Age mystery.  I will most certainly be reading more of Mordecai's adventures.

The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

The Christmas Hirelings
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
1894
4/5 stars

Sir John Penlyon is prepared to spend his usual dull Christmas, but his friend, Danby, persuades him that children are needed to make the holidays bright again.  With Sir John's agreement, Danby hires three siblings for the festive season, one of which steals Sir John's heart and teaches him to love again.

This charming Victorian novel is predictable, but completely enjoyable.  The book is well-written and engaging, with believable characters and scenario. It's easy to see why Braddon was an extremely popular novelist of her day.  This is a feel-good Christmas story that, while short, is fully entertaining.

Note on the audio book:  Richard Armitage is excellent when narrating and when voicing adults.  His portrayal of children, however, is not convincing.  

Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries

Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries
edited by Martin Edwards
5/5 stars

This anthology by British Crime Classics is a fun read.  There are stories by both well known and currently obscure crime writers, from the Victorian age to the Golden Age, and slightly later.  The collection is has a variety of stories, with murder, theft, and suspense represented.  Some are not as mysterious as others, but all were entertaining.  I discovered several authors whose novels I now plan to read.

The stories are as follows:
"The Blue Carbuncle" by Arthur Conan Doyle  5/5 stars
"Parlour Tricks" by Ralph Plummer  3/5 stars
"A Happy Solution" by Raymond Allen  3/5 stars
"The Flying Stars" by G. K. Chesterton  4/5 stars
"Stuffing" by Edgar Wallace  4/5 stars
"The Unknown Murderer" by H.C. Bailey  4/5 stars
"The Absconding Treasurer" by J. Jefferson Farjeon  3/5 stars
"The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L. Sayers  5/5 stars
"The Case is Altered" by Margery Allingham  4/5 stars
"Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White  5/5 stars
"Cambric Tea" by Marjorie Bowen 4/5 stars
"The Chinese Apple" by Joseph Shearing  4/5 stars
"A Problem in White" by Nicholas Blake  4/5 stars
"The Name on the Window" by Edmund Crispin  4/5 stars
"Beef for Christmas" by Leo Bruce  4/5 stars

The variety of the collection is definitely five stars.  The average of the stories is four stars, giving the book a total of four and a half stars, so I rounded it off to five stars.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt
2013
4/5 stars

In this Pulitzer Prize winner, Theo experiences a life-altering tragedy at aged thirteen.  What follows is years of being a victim to bad choices, both his own and those thrust on him.  Told retrospectively, it follows Theo from a happy life in NYC, to a miserable existence in Las Vegas, back to NYC where he becomes involved in shady antique deals and, eventually, the dangerous world of art theft.  The one link to all facets of Theo's life is a painting, the Goldfinch, which was his mother's favorite, and spurs him to make many of his unwise decisions.

This is, foremost, a depressing book, and not one I enjoyed reading.  Despite that, the story was compelling and I had to continue, had to know if Theo would find any hope in the end.  Tartt's strength is in her ability to write details and make a situation uncomfortably real.  That said, there were times when incidents took too long to develop or finish.  It's not a pleasant reading experience, and at nearly 800 pages (32 hours, 24 minutes for the audio book), one must look on the Goldfinch as a commitment.  I was not fully satisfied with the ending, nor did I feel that I had benefited in anyway by reading  this novel; though I have given it a four star rating, it's not a book I would recommend.  Nonetheless, I was impressed enough by Tartt to want to read her other novels.


Note on the audio book: David Pittu was an incredible narrator, with distinguishable voices and excellent emotions.  

Private Enterprise by Angela Thirkell

Private Enterprise
Angela Thirkell
1947
4/5 stars
Continuing the Barsetshire series, this lightly romantic novel takes place shortly after the end of WWII, with the county residents still trying to adapt.  Peggy Arbuthnot, a young widow, and her sister-in-law Effie, move to Southbridge and together create quite a stir among the eligible men and the match-makers.

As is usual with Thirkell, this is a witty and often snarky book, poking gentle fun at her characters, but writing them well.  It has a satisfying ending, and despite a few almost shocking dated comments, is a pleasure to read -- all 463 pages.