The VANISHED by Bill Pronzini, written over 50 years ago, is a classic old time detective novel in the style of Sam Spade or The Maltese Falcon. "A dame walked into the office...." kind of story. This book is the second entry into a long running series that features the "nameless detective". The private detective is hired to find a women's missing fiance. The hunt is wonderful to follow in the pre cell phone, pre internet world that nameless inhabits. I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to read more of Pronzini's work.

I enjoyed this book, which tells the story of 4 well known fairy tale characters when they are around 50 years old. I figured out who 2 of the characters were right away, but took longer to be sure of the other 2. This book takes a strong stand for women's rights. Although I like strong female characters, I felt it was out of place for time period to have so many women fighting for their rights. This is the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

Eve and Charlie are refurbishing an old house when a man shows up with his family claiming that he used to live there and asking if he can show his family around. All of a sudden strange things start happening in the house and the family can’t seem to take the hint to leave. When a dark entity appears in the basement, Charlie disappears without her locket and the house starts changing, Eve starts to freak out. Is Eve imagining these incidents or are they actually happening? Read and find out.

A fun romance with an enemies to friends to

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. There were moments I was drawn in but my interest didn't stay throughout the book.

Molly Jong-Fast created a “can’t look away from this vessel careening rapidly toward a cliff kind of memoir.” I would never have guessed that life with Erica Jong, the author of The Fear of Flying, and lovely celebrity of the 70’s could have been such a mess . What’s even more unbelievable is that the author and celebrity is still alive in 2025. There is so much name dropping in this Memoir of a Daughter, one might suspect that the work is actually fiction. I remember reading novels by Molly’s grandfather, Howard Fast, in the 70’s. Molly wails that she could never get enough time with her mother who is still raging alcoholic. Molly also identifies as an alcoholic and talks about her drug use in the past but says she has been sober for some 20 years. She works as a journalist and political pundit, has a wonderful husband and three terrific kids and actually acknowledges that her life is a form of normal. There is love on every page of this book or I might have simply put it down with all the sadness that also occupies almost every page.

Great sequel to another great book, The Woman in Cabin 10 which I read when it first came out. I had to find a synopsis of the book to remember the plot. The Woman in Suite 11 picks up 10 years later. I'm a big fan of Ruth Ware. If you like mysteries/thrillers, you'll most likely love her books as well.

Happy Wife, by Meredith Lavender Young 28-year-old woman marries 46-year-old wealthy gentleman, following his divorce from his wife. She is not welcomed into their very wealthy community in Winter Park Florida. He is a very successful attorney. She was barley making ends meet. They seem happy, but following their marriage, she becomes a “work widow”. Then, no surprise, he goes missing. Explores marriage wealth and the secrets behind closed doors.

This was a very interesting Historical Fiction that takes place in Nebraska and the Dakota Territory during the 1800s. Melanie weaves the story through the perspective of two teenage sisters serving as teachers in two different areas. It is based on a real event when a severe Winter storm developed midday. You are drawn into the lives of children, adults, and westward expansion.

This was a really interesting novel. I already know the story of Huck Finn, and I loved Big River, the musical that is based of it. I could not stop thinking about the musical while I enjoyed this story. It also reminded me of things I forgot when originally reading the Adventures of Huck Finn. I can see why it won the Pulitzer, and why I have been hearing about it becoming a film soon.