The Paris Express: A Tale of French Society Through the Lens of a Speeding Train

This book provides an interesting mix of reality with fiction. Emma Donoghue, award winning novelist has used her considerable skills to create excitement and mystery around a real-life 1895 train crash. She fills the story with both people who lived at the time alongside an array of fictional characters.

The Emotional Depth of Historical Fiction in Ann Hood’s The Stolen Child

The Stolen Child is a beautiful story of regret, forgiveness, and the pursuit of dreams.

Cork O’Connor’s Latest Mystery: Ojibwe Culture Explored

This is the 20th book in the series featuring Cork O’Connor. Set in northern Minnesota, these mysteries highlight issues facing the interplay of the white population and the Ojibwe. Cork O'Connor, half Irish and half Ojibwe, always finds himself negotiating the two worlds. I have read about ten of these books and although I missed many … Continue reading Cork O’Connor’s Latest Mystery: Ojibwe Culture Explored

Happiness Falls: More than a Mystery

This book was a surprise. Given the title—Happiness Falls—I expected much less. Or maybe, just different. A more typical mystery perhaps layered with family dynamics. Instead, this was a surprising meditation on what constitutes happiness, the possibilities of non-verbal speech, and acknowledging qualities that make us different be it because of race, language, or basic … Continue reading Happiness Falls: More than a Mystery

The Past is Always With Us: Darling Girls

This is the fourth Sally Hepworth novel I’ve read. They are all very different but what they have in common are surprising twists as the story unwinds along with firmly grounded, well developed characters. I’m not usually drawn to this particular kind of book but unlike many others in this genre, Hepworth so fully entrenches … Continue reading The Past is Always With Us: Darling Girls