Plot Summary:  Sherlockian and minor researcher Harold White is thrilled to be inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars.  And then a real-life murder mystery worthy of Holmes himself lands in his lap–a prominent Doyle scholar is dead after announcing he has found a long missing diary of Doyle.  Harold and his encyclopedic knowledge of Holmes is on the case, criss crossing the Atlantic in hopes of finding the diary and the killer.  Unless someone else gets there first…

Critical Analysis:  I liked but did not love this book.  I found the beginning at the convention to be wonderful, and the end with the solution and denouement also well done.  I liked the character of Harold, but I thought the story dragged quite a bit in the middle.   The character of Harold is quite endearing as are all the details from Holmes stories.  I felt like there was too much of Harold and the female journalist and not enough else.  The parallel story with Doyle and Bram Stoker held my interest a little more, I enjoyed the details of the Suffuragists and the writing and theater scenes of the time, but left me thinking what I really want is a mystery series featuring Stoker.  That sounds like fun to me.  I will most likely read the next in the series to see how it fares.

Review Excerpts: “Moore’s debut cleverly sets an accidental investigator on the track of an old document within the world of Sherlock Holmes buffs, though the results may please those with only a superficial knowledge of the great detective.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“The problem with Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories is that there aren’t enough of them. Fans try to fill the gap with spin-offs, some of which work better than others. This engaging riff on the familiar themes by first-novelist Moore is one of the best.”–Booklist

“…Moore does an excellent job of making his characters and settings feel real, using his thorough knowledge of the Holmes stories to good effect. Given the enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes, this title is an excellent choice for public libraries and historical mystery fans…”–Library Journal

“While occasionally heavy-handed and coincidental, Moore’s fiction provides a shrewd take on the noted author and his legendary scion.”–Kirkus Reviews

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography: Hooper, Mary. (2011). Fallen Grace.  New York, Bloomsbury USA Children’s. ISBN: 978-1599905648

Plot Summary:  Penniless orphans Grace and her sister have just barely managed to avoid starving or freezing to death in Victorian London.  When Grace gives birth to a still born baby and sneaks it into the coffin of a well to do woman, little does she realize that this act will eventually lead to an even larger secret that will change both their lives forever.

Critical Analysis:  Somehow from the publisher blurb, I wasn’t expecting such a charming, delightful book.  Yes, Hooper has done her research, and yes, there are tons of details about life in the Victorian England and the funeral trade (fascinating stuff that.)  There are very real glimpses of life in poverty, life on the streets.  One detail that will remain in my mind is of the little boy who could only go outside when one of his brothers stayed him, as he had no clothes of his own.

I really like the way the plot is constructed as well.  We are given glimpses into other places, other characters that later will fall into place and become more important to the plot.  This device adds an air of mystery.  The little excerpts from the paper serve a similiar purpose, giving the reader information that the protagonist does not have.

But it is the character of Grace Parkes that makes this story work.  She loves her sister and tries hard to provide for them both, taking on tasks and jobs to try get by.  And sometimes things go well, and just when you think they will stay that way, something else comes along that should knock her down, but somehow she keeps on.  And I think we forgive some of the coincidences and luck that play a role in the story because we want so badly for things to go her way.

Readalikes:  There are of course many parallels here to Dickens’ novels.  This would be a great read along side any number of his works.

Review Excerpts:   “Hooper has done her research, and she makes elements like Victorian funeral practices absolutely fascinating. The story itself moves at an energetic, page-turning clip. If at times the coincidences seem, well, too coincidental, blame Dickens.”–Booklist

“Hooper writes in beautiful 19th-century cadences, but her story lines pack a 21st-century punch. Nothing feels forced or inserted for mere shock value. Fallen Grace has been impeccably researched, and it shows in every paragraph.”–New York Times

“Hooper has not only the labyrinthian plotting and heart-thumping pacing but also the social critique down pat, and even jaded readers may be surprised to find themselves beguiled by the improbable ravages of Cruel Fate and holding their breath for a happy ending.”–BCCB

“Hooper, author of many historical novels, packs her brisk Dickensian fable with colorful characters and suspenseful, satisfying plot twists.”–Kirkus Reviews

Reviewed from publisher provided advanced copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Plot Summary:  Cordelia and Letty escape Union, Ohio after Cordelia’s forced wedding to the streets of New York City.  Letty longs to see her name in lights and Cordelia is searching for the father she has never known.  After a falling out, they part ways.  Letty soon discovers there are hundreds of other girls searching for their big break.  Cordelia is welcomed by her father with open arms and a wild party.  Astrid, her brother’s chic girlfriend, takes Cordy under her wing but doesn’t stop her from falling for the son of a rival family.   When misfortune and tragedy strike, will returning to Ohio be their only option?

Critical Analysis:  As with the Luxe series, Godbersen has selected another opulent time in America’s history to place her characters and set their stories in motion.  I enjoyed Luxe because the time period was little explored in young adult literature, and between the soap opera plots there was room for exploration of class differences.  Here we get instead the complexities of what first appear to be bright shiny happy times in America’s past.  Wild parties are shadowed by shady crime activities and rival crime families.  Pretty girls are running from forced marriages or to the security a marriage provides.  Speakeasies are places where women are exploited rather than discovered, and for every story of a girl who makes it big, there are many more struggling to make ends meet or worse.

As with Luxe, the characters are mostly types.  Letty is innocent and naive, Astrid is worldly and above it all, Cordelia just wants a place to belong.  Of all three, I find Astrid the most interesting because I think she is the most self aware, especially by the end of the book.  I look forward to more books in this series, if only to get the description of all the wonderful clothes and parties!

Readalikes:  An obvious readalike is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.  I would like to highlight a lesser known work:  They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? by Horace McCoy, a story about Hollywood set at a dance marathon during the Great Depression.

Review Excerpt: “Godbersen (the Luxe series) proves that some things–namely the allure of cities, fame, and a good time–never change, melding drama and a lush historical setting….Godbersen excels at dialogue–especially Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid’s coyly flirtatious responses to suitors–and in capturing the mixture of exhilaration, innocence, and guts that propels them into their new lives.”–Publisher’s Weekly

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography

Plot Summary:  Psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs is asked to fulfill a death bed wish: settle once and for all whether a couple’s aviator son was killed as reported in the Great War.  Starting with psychics in London, the case takes her to France and a visit with dear friend Priscilla who lost her three brothers in the war, one who may have a connection to the case.  Maisie is forced to deal with her feelings about the war and comes to realize there is much she doesn’t know about her mentor Maurice.

Critical Analysis:  Maisie Dobbs remains one of my favorite characters in fiction.  Winspear has a real talent for creating complex, layered real people who live in complex real worlds.  The setting, the time period only add to feeling–looking back and moving forward from a momentous event that left no one unchanged.

In this volume, I especially liked the deft plot–the mystery within the mystery alongside a parallel case with a twisty ending that may be one of the most suspenseful scenes I’ve read in years.  I actually feel lucky to be a little behind the series, since that means there are several more volumes waiting for me.

Readalikes:  For a different perspective on recovering from the Great War, check out Charles Todd’s Inspector Rutledge series.  Rutledge postponed his career at Scotland Yard to fight in the war.  Now he is back, shell shocked with a dark secret.

I think Maisie Dobbs and Laurie King’s Mary Russell might be kindred spirits.  I was especially reminded of The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, which features multiple mysteries and Locked Rooms where Russell remembers and confronts her past.  Maisie, part of the joy in the series lies in the world building and character growth across the series.

Review Excerpts:  ”Fans of Miss Marple and Precious Ramotswe are sure to embrace Maisie, a pitch-perfect blend of compassion and panache.”–Booklist

“Filled with convincing characters, this is a complex tale of healing, of truth and half-truth, of long-held secrets, some, perhaps, to be held forever. Winspear writes seamlessly, enriching the whole with vivid details of English life on a variety of social levels.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“A thought-provoking series entry, the story contains revelations of secret missions, homosexuality, the lives of persons from all layers of society, and a winning heroine who is not perfect and is willing to learn from her mistakes.”–School Library Journal

Reviewed from public library audio book.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Plot Summary:  They should all be dead.  But when a mysterious man offered them a chance to live, they took it.  Maddy escaped a plane crash, Liam the sinking of the Titanic, and Sal a horrible fire.  From different times, they come together in New York to relive the events of 9/11 over and over;  learning about time travel and looking for time shifts that mean someone else has altered history for their own gain.  When just such a shift is detected, they realize they must stop whoever has unleashed the power of the Nazis on the present Earth or the world itself may be destroyed.

Critical Analysis:  I really like the hook of this book, the first in a series, young people rescued from death for a bigger purpose of saving the world.  And the author does a nice job of setting up this world, where time travel is possible and the characters live in a loop that repeats over and over again.  I thought having the loop be 9/11 was an insightful choice, imagine having to live that series of events again and again.  The details of the machines, the computers, the clone, the travel are fun.  The characters themselves are interesting with clear-cut personalities.

But I didn’t find myself loving this book.  First of all, I find Nazis a very obvious choice.  Yes, they are evil, yes, there are parallels between events then and events today.  But it isn’t very subtle, is it?  Second, most of the events were outside the characters’ control.  They spent a lot of time reacting to circumstances and not much time changing those circumstances.

Finally, I found the whole book to be very somber and serious.  I realize almost dying and then saving the world is not all sunshine and light, but especially the second half of the book was unrelenting in its dreariness.  The question is, though, what do readers in the target audience think?  I would love to know what kind of kid/teen appeal this title has.

Review Excerpts: “Time travel produces plenty of fodder for reader education and introspection….The villain even has his own internal demons; nothing is too black or white and victory is hard-won in Scarrow’s world. Despite some unevenness, this series is off to a promising start with plenty of potential and gusto.”–VOYA

“This is an interesting premise populated by engaging, well-developed characters….While the ending brings closure, there are still plenty of opportunities for a sequel, possibly multiples, to follow.”–Kirkus Reviews

Reviewed from publisher provided advanced copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Maclachlan, Patricia. (1985). Sarah Plain and Tall.  New York: HarperCollins.  ISBN: 978-0060241018 (hc) 978-0064402057 (pb)

I don’t remember reading this book as a child, although it was published when I was in 4th grade.  What I remember is seeing Glenn Close and Christopher Walken on television, loving the story and the realism of the movie, and seeking the book.  I loved how eloquent it was in its simplicity, how layered and complex in just a few short words.  And I loved how the movie captured and expanded the story in a way that was so true to the book and the characters.  I cannot separate the book from the movie or the movie from the book–and that’s okay with me.

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography: Patterson, James. (1976). The Thomas Berryman Number. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN: 978-0446600453

Plot Summary:  The story of the investigation of Nashville reporter Ochs Jones into the murder of Jimmie Lee Horn, one of Nashville’s first black mayors. Jones meets with friends and family of an assassin named Thomas Berryman and discovers everything people thought they knew about Horn’s murder is wrong.

Critical Analysis:  This was Patterson’s first novel, and it won the Edgar for best first crime novel.  It is quite different from his later work, literary, complex, and full of layers and subtly.  Interestingly enough, his current fans probably won’t enjoy it while readers who would appreciate his craft won’t pick up.  That’s too bad, as there is a lot to recommend about this short title.  Too bad Patterson has become a novel writing machine, he is so much better than some of his work demonstrates.

Review Excerpts: “…complex plot…complexity of the characters. Patterson’s observations are masterfully transformed into critical insights with Patton’s skillful pacing.”–Audio File

Reviewed from public library audio book.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography

Plot Summary:  Continuing where Hearts at Stake left off, vampire clans are converging for the coronation of a new queen, Helena Drake.  The Drake family is working hard to negotiate peace and alliances with other clans.  A delegate from the much misunderstood and maligned Hounds, Isabeau St. Croix finds herself reluctantly working closely with Logan Drake when Leander Montmartre, a legendary evil vampire, threatens the Drake family.   As they fight to protect their families and loved ones, their relationship intensifies.  But when confronted by someone from her past, can Isabeau put it behind her in the name of love?

Critical Analysis:  I really enjoyed Hearts at Stake and am happy to say that Blood Feud did not disappoint.  If anything, Harvey has upped her game, fleshing out more of her vampire world, and giving the reader more layers and complexity in both writing and plot.

Isabeau is a complicated character, but Harvey uses flashbacks and action scenes to show her history and where she has been.  At first Logan and Isabeau only tolerate each other for the sake of their mission, but Harvey skillfully advances their relationship as events unfold.

The flashbacks add another level of interest, and I would say I would read a whole book just about the Isabeau from the past.  While there is still humor in this volume, the tone is much more melancholy and serious, as fits both the characters and the events they are involved in, a tricky line to walk, that.

What I might love the most about this book is that it is obvious that Harvey is patterning her series after so many adult romances, where books feature romance between characters, are set in the same world, and are loosely connected.  I can understand the appeal of a long drawn out relationship that spans several books, but I love this style.  Fans will be glad to know that many characters from Hearts at Stake make appearances.

Readalikes:  Again, I am reminded of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey.  More than just a vampire book, it also features a romance between characters who aren’t quite sure they really want to be with each other, and a history and fighting between clans and attempts to make peace.

I reminded a little as well of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.  They too worked hard to flesh out this magical world.  In addition, while the focus is on the romance between the two teen characters, we also see an extended family, magic, tradition, and history, just as is found in the Drake Chronicles.  The tone however is very different.

Review Excerpts:  ”Harvey continues to weave an action-packed story full of intrigue, suspense, and romance with a great cast of characters. The historical flashbacks into Isabeau’s life and the unique vampire lore of the Hounds add a new twist to the genre. A satisfying read in a series that is sure to have a strong following.”–School Library Journal

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Bibliography

Plot Summary:   Young Albany midwife Mary Sutter wants nothing more then to study to be a surgeon.  But the idea of female doctors is still foreign to most, and no one will take her as a student or apprentice.  At the beginning of the Civil War, she sees an opportunity where others see adventure or struggle.  Too young for the nursing corps, a chance meeting with the secretary of state leads her to a military hospital where she works tirelessly beside a surgeon to save as many lives as she can.

Critical Review:  There is something compelling and fascinating about the ideas, people, and events in this book.  This is not a romantic view of the Civil War or of women entering a field once closed to them.  Matter of fact, some of the horrible details and descriptions are part of what makes this a compelling read.  Combine that with real people and events from history, a set of very human characters who give perspective to what is happening, and even a love story and this book moves beyond just a Civil War story.  It is both epic and intimate at the same time, quite an accomplishment.  The mix of real historical people and events with the characters in the story contribute to this as do the detailed descriptions of life in military camp, of the military hospital, and the battlefield.

The most compelling of all is the character of Mary.  From almost the beginning, she is torn between what she desires most in the world, studying to become a surgeon, and the rest of her life, her family-twin sister, mother, brother; and romance-neighbor next door, various men she encounters along her way.  She is determined and she won’t give up till she gets what she wants.  And yet we see her work till she almost makes herself ill, worry about her loved ones in the war, rush home to be with her pregnant sister, show grief and guilt over her actions.  The ending is very satisfying, but I won’t give it away.

Review Excerpts: “From a variety of perspectives…the novel offers readers a picture of a time of medical hardship, crisis, and opportunity. Oliveira depicts the amputation of a leg, the delivery of a baby, and soldierly life; these are among the fine details that set this novel above the gauzier variety of Civil War fiction.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“Oliveira deftly depicts the chaotic aftermath of battles and develops her own characters while incorporating military and political leaders of the time. The historic details enrich the narrative without overshadowing Mary’s struggles.”–Library Journal

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Plot Summary:  On her second case for the Agency, Mary Quinn finds herself in the seamy side of Victorian London, pretending to be a boy while she spies on the construction site of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament where a mysterious death occurred.  Was it murder or an unfortunate accident?  When the handsome James Easton arrives to do some investigating of his won, she worries both that he’ll recognize her and he won’t.

Critical Analysis:  A solid second book in The Agency trilogy.  Interesting enough, I find it more squarely in the conventional mystery column than the previous, and perhaps a little less interesting to me personally.  Except for the climatic scene  near the end, there wasn’t was much danger and suspense as in the first book.

What was very well done was showing the contrast between the classes, the haves and the have nots, made very plain by Mary’s moving between the two, as Mark on the construction site and as a rich lady doling at alms to the dead man’s family.  The return of James Easton is a welcome one, although again not as much fun as book one.  A little more of Mary’s past is revealed, but I hoped for more from her and for her in this story, as in many places it felt like she was less participant than observer.  I would have liked more details about the agency and the women behind it as well, but you can only put so much in one book.

I cheer any and all true mysteries for teens, so this is a welcome addition.  The promise of the third book awaits.  Dare I hope that Lee and Candlewick have considered giving readers more Mary Quinn and the Agency?

Readalikes:  Mary Quinn reminds me a little bit of another Mary who has her series of mysteries:  Mary Russell.  They are both independent and intelligent with secret or mysterious pasts.  Of course, this series by Laurie King also features the greatest detective of all, Sherlock Holmes.

Reviewed from publisher provided advanced copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.