Threads from Henry's Web

Category: Mystery

  • Review: A Bat in the Belfry

    This was the first book I’ve read by Sarah Graves. I must confess that initially I came close to abandoning the book. The first couple of chapters plodded along, and there were too many people introduced for my taste. But I persevered, and it was worth it.

    As the book moves forward the many personal stories start to make sense and to combine into an excellent mystery. I’ve seen this before, but I’ve also seen books where the personal stories failed even after the reader was obviously supposed to see the connections.

    The story line combines small town values, society, and politics with an excellent mystery. I did suspect the correct person fairly early in the book, but I only suspected him. The details that would make me certain didn’t come until later.

    I still rate this a 3 of 5 stars. I will look at more books by this author, but I’m not running out to get another one today.

    Buy A Bat in the Belfry via my Amazon.com aStore.

  • Book: Fatal Error

    J. A. Jance is one of my favorites in the mystery/thriller category, and Fatal Error is up to her best standard. I enjoyed every minute of the book. I didn’t feel like speed reading through anything, and I never felt that she’d left out part of the story, which is a rare thing for me.

    I always hate summarizing the story, but this book features Alli, who has the money to live a life of leisure but wants to be a cop. Unfortunately, she gets furloughed right after graduating from the police academy. But at the same time she’s drawn into a mystery–the disappearance of a friend.

    The story loosely brings to mind those well-off detectives, such as titled characters in British mystery, who have outside resources and aren’t afraid to use them in the cause of justice. As one character in the book eventually decides, Alli is rich and pushy, but also very smart.

    I read the hardcover edition, 353 pages, and rate it 5 of 5 stars.