I've just finished reading an Ann Cleeves Shetland series Raven Black, White Nights and Red Bones. These are light-weight, fast reading, murder mystery fiction with most of the characters reading as fairly one dimensional. I enjoyed the Shetland Island setting as well as the romance that runs through all three books. Inspector Perez is a quiet sort-of scattered detective that I found to be endearing. My biggest frustration was that the author pulls out a bit of information right at the end of each book that the reader couldn't have know and that is the key to the murders (and by the third book the bodies really start piling up). Anyhow, they were fun, easy reads.
Right now I'm reading Carl Hiaasen's Star Island. Wild, Wacky and Quirky are the adjectives that describe this book to perfection. The chapters are fairly short and I find myself thinking, I'll read one more chapter and then go make dinner, fold laundry or let the dog in. Each character develops slowly as the chapters unfold, layer upon layer. They are not believable (larger than life) but are silly and fun, a fairy tale for grown-ups but without a moral. The author ties up loose ends and then makes another quirky mess as the book goes along. So far it's been a fun read.
My book discussion group is reading Infidel in November and that's my next read. I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy this book but not all books need to be enjoyed. I'll let you know what I think once I've read it.
I read Infidel about a year ago, and while I can't say I enjoyed it exactly, I was really glad to have read it. Just an amazing and eye-opening story. I couldn't quite wrap my head around someone in the author's situation having the bravery to escape such a repressive upbringing--or to even to realize she had other options.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Shetland books and I even managed to find another old mystery the same author had written which was pretty good, too! I think you are also the sock knitting Pat, no?
ReplyDeleteI am the sock knitting Pat, yes...
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