This book was terrible. I couldn’t stand to read one of the two narrators for almost the entire book. The story relies on the “Idiot Plot”. Meaning this story only works because all of the characters involved are morons. The level of paranoia and stupid decisions are too ridiculous even for fiction. The perpetrator doesn’t even make sense, since their motivation isn’t even legitimate since parts of the story made the justifications impossible. Avoid this book.

This year's summer reading program guest speaker at the end of the summer party is the author John Searles. Searles, known for his mystery books, has tried his hand in another genre - the fictionalized account of a well-known person. In SINGLE GIRLS the life and times of the the writer, editor, and personality of Cosmopolitan fame Helen Gurley Brown is the star. The story was enjoyable and heartbreaking in turn. I wish I had paid more attention to all Brown said and did when I would have been able to benefit from it! Oh to be a single girl again ...

Tilly Nightingale learns from Alfie Lane, the owner of Book Lane, a local independent book seller, that she has a gift from her recently deceased husband waiting at the store. Of course Tilly is not ready for the news but Alfie explains to her that the gift is actually twelve books. Deceased husband, Joe, was a less than enthusiastic reader. He stipulates in his instructions that Tilly collect one book per month from the store throughout the coming year. Each book is different and the first work is Matilda by Roald Dahl. Tilly had been named after Matilda. Tilly’s parents also named Harper, their other daughter, after author, Harper Lee. Mom and Dad seeded Tilly’s love of books and reading. The story includes not only the list of books that are from a wide variety of genres but also explains how each work spurred Tilly and her sometimes cohort, Harper, to embark on a variety of new adventures. It was an inspirational and enjoyable book for me and I am happy I found it.

Another enjoyable read in the Highler Series.

I think I'm in the minority here because I usually love books by Sally Hepworth. While this one was interesting, I only just liked it. This was the story of 81 year old Mabel who was accused of murder as a child and it seemed that people always died around her. And currently she found a neighbor dead in his house and she was looked at for being a killer.

The story opens when bones are discovered in a bleak, desolate windswept marsh of Norfolk. The police call on Dr.Ruth Galloway a resident and professor of archaeology, to try to approximate the age of the bones. The bones are those of a young girl and seem to be many years old. The police are baffled since they are trying to use these bones as clues to solve the recent disappearances and possible murders of young girls in the area. The salt marshes are a bleak setting and match the dark tone of this mystery.

The book starts off so simply. A chance meeting of an ex stepfather. It then goes on to such a thoughtful remembrance of the short time they were in each other's lives. So interesting to read about how one event was remembered by a 9 year old girl and what other members of the family thought happened.

An incredibly bleak deconstruction of the superhero genre that doubles as a scathing critique on American politics. I was consistently blown away (and also at least a little depressed) by how timely this felt despite coming out in 1986. I don't think you have to be a comic book or superhero fan to "get it" with Watchmen. It's a fantastic graphic novel from top to bottom and, so long as you can stomach the protagonists largely being unlikable, I can't recommend it enough.

This is an adventurous story of a young woman who lived in the early 1900's with her father. There is tragedy, love, and grit that makes this story a page-turner. Enjoy!

Interesting approach to exploring mental illness. Sad but gratifying. There is life with mental illness. Maddy is bipolar, and a stand-up comic. Her diagnosis, of course, is impactful on her life style and her journey in the world. She suffers highs and lows, and few in-betweens. The book unveils how this illness affects her life, and the coping skills she must learn to do so.