The Dead American by Jake Needham

Genre: Thriller

Setting: Singapore

First Sentence: Samuel Tay stood in his tiny garden and squinted at the sky.

This novel is the third in the author's Inspector Tay series which currently runs to four novels.

Due to the events in the previous book, we find Inspector Samuel Tay under suspension from his duties.  And then, out of the blue, a young American reporter arrives at his doorstep.  It seems that an American software engineer has been found dead.  The police quickly label the death a suicide.

The reporter believes that the engineer's death is  a murder.  She asks Sam for help.  Since he has a lot of time on his hands, Inspector Tay agrees to help.  Sam soon finds out that the suicide was staged.  Someone high up in the Singaporean government wanted the engineer dead.

Who? and why?

Then the reporter  is killed.  In the same manner as the engineer.

Now, Inspector Tay feels that he needs to discover the truth, and find justice for the two victims.

His questioning leads him into the dark world of covert operations,  Tay is just a policeman But over the years he has made acquaintances among some very dangerous people.

Will Sam discover the truth?
Will he find justice for the dead Americans?
Or, will he learn that justice can be a very tricky thing?

This is another great novel, from a great writer.

What I like about Needham's novels is that the characters behave like real people.
And in the end here is no neat and tidy ending.

Now I have to go to Singapore.


                                                         

Relentless Pursuit by Alexander Kent

Genre: Naval Fiction, Historical Fiction

Setting: At sea on a British Warship, and at the Bolitho's family estates in the earl 1800's.

First Sentence: Plymouth, always one of England's most important and strategically situated seaports, seemed strangely quiet, subdued.

This novel is the twenty-fifth of the author's Bolitho Navel series which currently  runs to twenty-eight books.

It is 1815,  The war with Napoleon is over.  England now uses its mighty navy to end the slave trade.

Ships are sent to patrol the Atlantic in pursuit hunt down slave ships.  And a great armada is amassed to attack and destroy the military power of an Algerian overlord.

In this novel we follow the exploits of Captain Adam Bolitho.  He is the nephew of one of England's greatest admirals - Sir Richard Bolitho.

While at sea, Adam fights against the slave runners.  Unfortunately, he gets injured  several times.  While recuperating from his wounds he meets, and falls in love with, a young woman with a mysterious past.

Since Adam has the reputation of being a daring captain, Adam has been given the dangerous position of leading the fleet into battle.

Will Adam survive the battle now that he has someone to live for?

I enjoyed this book.  The author has an easy to read style which I like.

I suggest that those interested in reading this series read the books in order.  there are several plot lines which carry through several. novels.

 
                                                              

The Umbrella Man by Jake Needham

Genre: Thriller

Setting, Singapore

First Sentence:  Samuel Tay pushed himself up from the chair and walked over to the French doors that led to his small garden.

This novel is the second in at the author's Samuel Tay series which currently runs to four volumes.

Detective Samuel Tay is a good cop.  One reason for this is that Tay doesn't need the job.  He has inherited enough money from his parents to live comfortably.  He is a good cop because he wants to ensure that justice is done in the cases he works on.

Then one night, several explosions rock Singapore.

Like all good cops, Tay runs into danger. Unfortunately, he becomes a victim of the bombing.  As he recuperates,  Inspector Tay becomes restless.  As soon as he can, he gets the doctors to release him.

As you can imagine, the explosions are the greatest crime in the history of Singapore.  And Tay wants to be a part of the investigation.

Instead, he is assigned to investigate a dead body report in one of the poorest parts of Singapore.  When Tay observes the body, the victim seems familiar to him.  Then, a forensic specialist tells Samuel that a safe deposit box key has been discovered in an unusual place on the victim's body.

So, Tay investigates further.  Along the way he meets secret agents and international criminals.  And he discovers that there might be a connection between his parents' inheritance and the explosions.

In the end, I will leave it to you, Dear Reader, to determine if justice has been served with Samuel's investigation.

I liked this book.  To me, the novel reads like a television miniseries.  The plot moves forward with each chapter.  And in the end you have read a most enjoyable story.

                                                              

Lost Innocents by Denise Domning

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: Twelfth Century England

First Sentence: The shivaree at last.

This novel is the third in the author's Servant of the Crown series.

Sir Faucon de Ramis is the new Crowner of the shire.  He has had the position for a little while.  Yet his investigations have kept him busy.

He is aided in his duties by Brother Edmond.  Brother Edmond is a bit strict in his interpretations of the law.

Sir Faucon, or Sir Crowner as the people call him, has earned the people's respect by his fairness.

The town of Wike has a small population.  Yet there are plenty of secrets and lies.

There has been a murder in Wike.  The hue and cry is raised.  The body of a young girl. has been discovered, unclothed, in the town's well.  The accused young man has escaped into the crown's forest.

Sir Faucon quickly determines that the accusations are incorrect.  The girl did not die from drowning.  She was put in the well after she had died.

So Sir Faucon begins asking questions  The knight learns that this murder is connected to other deep, dark, secrets.

Will Sir Faucon sift though the clues and discover who is responsible for the death of the girl?

I really like the author's characters.  They are realistic.

The author has included an overarching mystery.  Tantalizing clues have appeared at the beginning and end of each of the novels in this set.  I was disappointed that the mystery still hasn't been solved.

 I hope to get a chance to read more in this series.


                                                                                         

Season of the Fox by Denise Demming

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: 12th Century England

First Sentence: Blasphemy! Rage drives my feet until I am almost running - disgraceful behavior! - along the red brown track away from that ... hovel.

This novel is the second in the author's Servant of the Crown series.

Our main character, Sir Faucon de Ramis, is a newly appointed coroner.  His duty is to investigate any untimely deaths. to determine if any fines and duties are due to the King.

Sir Faucon doesn't want to only determine if a murder has been committed.  He wants to discover who the culprit is.  Thus he can ensure that the fines and taxes are levied in a fair and just way.

In this novel a young man has been accused of murder.  He is discovered with the body, and with blood on his hands.  When the hue and cry is raised, the young man  makes a mad dash for the church and claims sanctuary.  He has forty days of safety before he can be prosecuted and punished for his crime.

Fortunately, Sir Faucon is in town investigating another death.

Sir Faucon begins to ask questions.  He soon determines that the young man in the church is not guilty.

If he is innocent, then who is guilty?

I enjoyed this book.  The author has an enjoyable easy-to-read writing style.  The characters seem real, and the plot moves forward.

Also, the plot of the book is bracketed with clues from another evil murder.  Sir Faucon  will soon learn about this horrible and evil crime.

Now on to book three.

                                                 
                                                       

Season of the Raven by Denise Domning

Genre: Historical Fiction

Setting: England in the 12th century.

First Sentence:  "Tonight you sleep with the angels my sweet,"  I tell her and press a kiss to her forehead in blessing.

This novel is the first in the author's Servant of the Crown mystery series.

Sir Faucon de Ramis has recently returned from a crusade to the holy lands.  Back in England is is a second son with few prospects.  He is surprised when is offered the post of Keeper of the Kings Pleas. (Pleas is the plural of plea. )

On his first day in office, He is presented with his first case.  I seems to be an accidental death.  A  drunk miller has died when he fell into his water wheel.  But Sir Falcon discovers evidence that the miller had been stabbed and was dead before he fell.

Sir Faucon is assisted by brother Edmond.  Edmond is a stickler for proper legal protocol and is not afraid to speak his mind.  Often this is a nuisance for Sir Faucon.

With the help of Edmond, Sir Faucon gathers the clues that will help solve the mystery.

He also discovers that there is another set of murders happening.  It may take a long time to to unravel the clues needed to solve this deeper and more nefarious mystery.

I liked this novel.  It was an easy read with believable characters.

Now on to the next book in the series.

                                                                

Hannibal's Children by John Maddox Roberts

Genre: Alternate History

Setting: In an alternate version of Europe and the Mediterranean, 115 years after the third Punic War. A version of history in which Rome was defeated by the Carthaginians .

First Sentence:  Behind them were the seven hills and the sacred city of Quirinus.

This novel is an example of alternate history.  The author choses a point of departure from our historical time line.  then the author tells how history might have happened.

In this novel, the point of departure is at the end of the third Punic War.  At this time, in our history Rome utterly destroyed the Carthaginian empire.  In this version,  Hannibal defeats the Romans and sends them into exile.

So, the Romans move north and settle in lands that once belonged to the barbarian hordes.  While in exile, the Romans continue their civilization and prepare for the day they when can conquer the Carthaginians and return to Rome.

After 115 years, envoys are sent out to assess the situation, and determine if the time has come for the conquest of Rome.

Is it time for the conquest to begin?

This was an okay book.  Once the change of timeline has occurred, the novel reads like a normal novel about Rome.

I you like reading about Rome and Romans, check out this book.


       
                                                    

     

Second to None by Alexander Kent

Genre: Historical Fiction, Nautical Fiction

Setting: At sea and and in England during the summer of 1815.

First sentence: The midshipman stood beneath the cabin skylight, his body accepting the heavy motion of the ship around him.

This novel is the twenty-fourth of the author's Richard Bolitho series.  This series currently runs to thirty books.

In this series we have followed the exploits of the main character of the series, Sir Richard Bolitho.  We have followed his career from midshipman to Fleet Admiral.  Watched his glory at in battle, his duty to his country, and his unfortunate troubles with love.

Then, finally at the end of his illustrious life, a single French bullet robs him of life and love.

Now, the author follows the life and career of Sir Richard's nephew Adam Bolitho.

The war with France is over.  There are sailors and officers who have never known a time of peace.  the British Navy turns its attention to the pirates and slavers of North Africa.

Captain Bolitho and his crew are part of the fleet tasked with ridding the Mediterranean from the North African corsairs.

In between the naval sea battles, Adam Bolitho continues to have a complicated love life.  His first great love was the wife of one of his close friends.  Unfortunately, she died in a terrible cliffside accident.

Now, Adam has found another great love.  She too is the wife of another man.

Sprinkled between battles and love, the author gives us a glimpse of the rest of Sir Richard's "little crew".

This was an okay book.  It advanced the plot lines, and gave us a peek into the past .

                                                                 

Sword of Honor by Alexander Kent

Genre: Nautical Fiction, Historical Fiction

Setting: In England and on board a British Navy vessel.

First sentence:  Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Bethune put down his pen and waited for the elderly Admiralty clerk to gather up the letters and dispatches he has signed.

This novel is the twenty-third in the author's Richard Bolitho series.  The series currently runs to thirty books.

It is 1814.  The war with Bonaparte and France is over.  Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho has recently returned from his duty commanding the British squadron patrolling the American coast.

Now, he has been ordered to Malta to command the British fleet in the Mediterranean.

In their excitement at winning the war, the Admiralty is quickly downsizing the size of the fleet.

The Admiralty believes that the only enemy left in the Mediterranean are Muslim traders.

Bolitho is well aware that, no matter what the truth of the situation, it will be left to the lowly sailors to fight and die to defend their country.

I liked this book.  The author has an easy to read style that makes the pages fly by.

Once again, I encourage readers to read the books in order.  Doing so will enable the reader to follow Bolitho's life from midshipman to Admiral.


                                                     

The Cross of St. George by Alexander Kent

Genre: Historical Fiction, Nautical Fiction

Setting: 1913, At sea in the Atlantic Ocean

First Sentence: The Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth, usually a place of noise and constant movement, was quiet as the grave.

This novel is the twenty-second  book in the author's "Richard Bolitho" series which currently runs to thirty volumes.

The war with France, after lasting about twenty years, will soon be over.  The war with the United States is costing many British and American sailors' lives.  Soon Britain will be at peace for the first time in a generation.

Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho can sense the end of hostilities.  In his heart he begins to question the need for more bloodshed.

Why should more sailors die just to win a battle in the middle of the ocean?

What will happen to the Navy sailors when their services are no longer needed?

Already there are many disabled sailors forced to beg for a living.  And there is a generation of men who only know life as it is lived upon a British man-o-war.

Duty requires that Bolitho's squadron attack and destroy American Navy vessels on the high seas.  Yet, Bolitho understands that there is no honor in paying a large butcher's bill just to win a relatively meaningless victory.

I liked this book.  In Bolitho the author has created a realistic character.  Bolitho has attained high rank, yet he still struggles to balance duty and honor.

I suggest that you read the books in this series in order.



                                                                           

For My Country's Freedom by Alexander Kent

Genre: Nautical Fiction, Historical Fiction

Setting: In England and at sea during the War of 1812.

First Sentence: Lady Catherine Somervell reined in the big mare and patted her neck with a gloved hand.

This book is the twenty-first in the author's Richard Bolitho series which currently runs to thirty novels.

Once again Sir Richard Bolitho has been called to duty.  War with the United States is imminent.  Sir Richard, now an admiral, has been tasked with the assignment to take the war to the American Navy.

Sir Richard, his nephew, and the members of his "little crew" go off to sea to define king and country.  The little crew is the group of sailors and officers who always seem to be at hand when Bolitho goes to sea.  Not only must they leave the country they love, they must leave the people they love.

In this novel there is great love, secret love, and tragedy.

The author does a good job of providing the exposition needed to understand the story.  However, I strongly suggest that, if you are interested in this story you should read them in order.

This novel was a great addition to the Bolitho saga.

                                                                              

The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: Earth, two hundred years after the catastrophe.  About two years after the people of Ember came to the surface.

First Sentence: Around the middle of the twenty-first century, when it seemed that a great catastrophe was about to engulf the world, an underground city was built as a last refuge for the human race.

This novel is the fourth in the author's "Books of Ember" series.

The builders of Ember realized that after two hundred years underground the Emberites would need to have some help restarting above ground life.

So the builders decided to give the people of Ember some help.  Outside of the city they built a vault. In the value the builders placed a valuable piece of technology (the diamond) along with the instructions for using it.

Unfortunately, someone not of Ember discovered the technology first.

Meanwhile, life goes on in Spark. Spark is where the people of Ember and the People of Spark learned to live together.

Life is hard and dangerous.  Eventually our main characters, Lena and Doon, are reminded of all of the things they had in Ember.  They decide to return to Ember to see is there are any things left that might help the people of Spark.

They find that a family of roamers have taken up residence in the underground city.  The roamers are using books from the library to fuel their fires.  And they are looting the city for items they could use or sell.

Eventually, the roamers are chased off.  Lina and Doon learn how to use the diamond.  And, the people from Spark salvage what they can from the underground city.

With the items they recover from Ember, life becomes a little bit easier.

In the end the author provides a wistful happy ending, and a tie-in to the third book of the series.  It is a weak and unimportant connection.

I liked this book.  It is very much like the first two.  I suggest reading the books in order.

P.S. I keep thinking about all of the boats the Emberites used to escape from Ember.  They could have made a killing in the boat business!


                                                          

The Prophet of Yonwood by Jean DuPrau

Gender: Children's Literature

Setting: On earth, in the not to distant future.

First Sentence: On a warm July afternoon, a woman in the town of Yonwood North Carolina, a woman named Althea Tower went out to her back yard to fill the bird feeder.

This novel is the third in the author's "Books of Ember" series.

This novel is a prequel. the action takes place years before the City of Ember was sealed.

This story follows Nickie Randolph.  She is a young girl who is exploring the small town of Yonwood.  Many years in the future, she will be among the colonists who move into Ember in order to preserve a group of people from the ravages of an oncoming war.

But for now, Nickie is learning about how people get along with each other.  Yonwood is the home of Althea Towner.  She is an old woman who has been having visions of the future.

She communicates with the outside world through a woman named Brenda Beeson.  Since Althea is not very coherent, Brenda tries to interpret her utterances. This leads to a string of odd pronouncements. In the end, Nickie discovers the truth of Althea and her visions.

Throughout the book, there are a few hints about the future and inter-dimensional travel.  But these are few, and don't really affect the  story.

This book is pretty much a stand alone novel.  None of the hints about the future are vital to understanding the story.  And Ember itself is not introduced until the last pages of the book.

An OK story.  But for me, a disappointment.


                                                                            

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: In a desolate village, years after a devastating war.

First Sentence:  Torren was out at the edge of the cabbage field that day, the day the people came.

This novel is the second in the author's "Books of Ember" series.  This series runs to four novels.

This story begins immediately after the main characters Lina and Doon learn how to leave Ember.  Ember had been founded over two hundred years ago.  The founders wanted to ensure that a group of people would survive the oncoming global catastrophe.

Living in a cave has kept them alive.  But the Emberites have no knowledge of the surface.

Fortunately, there is a small village near the entrance of the cave.  The people there are barely scraping by.  Imagine how the people of the town would react when a large group of people arrive and ask for help.  There are just so many things the Emberites don't understand.

How will the people of Sparks and the people of Ember get along?

I liked this book.  The author had an interesting story to tell about the two groups of people.

One thing kept nagging at me while I read.  Why don't they go back to the cave?  Surely there are some things in the cave that would be helpful.  Perhaps, the answer to my question will be found in one of the other books in the series.


                                                           

The End By Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Lierature

Setting: On an island near the continental shelf.

First Sentence: If you have ever peeled an onion, then you know that the first thin, papery layer reveals another, thin papery layer, and that layer reveals another, and another and before you know it you have hundreds of layers all over the kitchen table and thousands of tears in you eyes, sorry that you ever started peeling in the first place and wishing that you had left the onion alone to wither away on the shelf of the pantry while you went on with your life, even if that meant never again enjoying the complicated and overwhelming taste of this strange and bitter vegetable.

This novel is the thirteenth in the author's thirteen novel series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

This installment was difficult for me to write because I did not want to spoil The End for you, dear reader.  Read On.

After escaping the fire at the Hotel Denouement, the Baudelaires find themselves at sea with Count Olaf.  Due the great schism, the V.F.D. has been divided into good and evil factions.  The fire was a result of the orphans escape from the hotel; the last safe place.

After surviving  a horrible storm, the Baudelaires and the Count, are washed up on the coastal self, along with a fantastic array of flotsam.

An island is nearby.  This island is inhabited by people who desire simple life in peace and safety, far away from the dangers and treachery of the outside world.

The island is ruled by a facilitator who uses peer pressure to ensure that no one "rocks the boat."

The orphans choose to live on the island.  They especially appreciate the fact that the islanders will not allow Olaf on the island.

But the safety and security of the island comes at a price.  There are secrets.  When the islanders decide to mutiny, some spores of the deadly Medusoid Mycelium fungus (From the Grim Grotto) are released every one on the island must make a life or death decision.

At The End, we learn the truth about the orphans' parents. We learn about Kit Snicket.  And we learn about the narrator, Lemony Snicket.

No cavalry coming over the hill.  No secret discovery.  No happy ending.

I strongly encourage you to read the series in order.

I just might get a commonplace book.


                                                                     

The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: The Hotel Denouement a fictional hotel with oddly numbered rooms.

First Sentence: Certain people have said that the world is like a calm pond, and that any time a person does even the smallest thing, it is as if a store had dropped into the pond, spreading circles of ripples further and further out, until the entire world has been changed by one tiny action.

This novel is the twelfth in the author's thirteen novel series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

The theme of this novel is exploring the nature of good and evil.  Count Olaf and his henchpersons have used evil means to try to capture the Baudelaire's fortune.  The orphans themselves had had to use evil actions in order to escape from the evil Count.

All along the way, the orphans have met relatively nobel people who have allowed evil to happen to the children.  These people have hung the children out to dry, rather be involved in the children's predicament.  The phrase "hand the children out to dry" means to let the children fend for themselves, and to then forget about them.

This book begins on a high note.  One of the orphans' allies, a member of the secretive and good VFD treats the orphans nicely and with concern.  But soon the children are thrust into the same old predicament.

The children are at the the Hotel Denouement.  Soon there will be a gathering of all the VFDs, both good and evil, to either protect or destroy the hotel.

The Baudelaires are given jobs that are definitely to dangerous for three young children.  Since no one will be honest with them, the children do things that probably more evil than good.  Due to their actions, there is a fatality.  And once again, good people who should know better, turn their backs on the children.

And you'll never believe who helps the orphans leave the hotel.

This was a very dark novel.   It made me reconsider good and evil in the first twelve books of this series.

Now on to the final unfortunate event - The End.
                     

                                                                                   

The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: Aboard a fictional submarine.

First Sentence: After a great deal of time examining oceans, investigating rain storms, and staring very hard at several drinking fountains, the scientists of the world developed a theory regarding how water is distributed around our planet, which they have named "the water cycle."

This novel is the eleventh in the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

In this novel the author uses the concept of the water cycle as a metaphor for the unfortunate events which have plagued the Baudelaire orphans.

• The orphans find themselves is a dangerous or inappropriate place not of their choosing.
• The evil  Count Olaf finds them.
• The orphans find a way to escape his clutches...
• Only to find themselves in another dangerous circumstance.

In this book the children find themselves on a submarine with VFD allies. (The VFD is a secret society working against the evil count.)  The orphans and their allies use the submarine to travel to the Gorgonian Grotto in search of the sugar bowl. The sugar bowl is an object greatly desired by both the evil Count Olaf and the good VFD.  No one will tell the orphans what is in the sugar bowl.

When the Baudelaires return to the submarine, the Captain and crew have mysteriously disappeared.

But, who is on the submarine?  Count Olaf of course.  Along with Esme, Carmelita, the man with hooks, and the rest of Olaf's henchpersons.

Now, the Baudelaires must find a way to escape the Count's clutches.

While working on their escape plans, the orphans decipher a VFD code.  This code gives them a plan for where to should go when they escape.

When they arrive at their destination, they discover Mr. Poe waiting for them.
Do the Baudelaires passively go along with Mr. Poe, and continue the cycle?
Or, do they make a proactive decision to break the cycle?

This book has an interesting ending.  Only two more books to go.

Is there a chance for a happy conclusion?

                                                 

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: Juvenile Science Fiction

Setting: In a fictional city deep underground.

First Sentence: In the city of Ember, the sky was always dark.

This novel is the first in the author's Books of Ember Series.

Years ago the Builders decided that the safest place for the people of Ember was in colony deep below the surface.  They decided that the people would need to stay there for over two hundred years.  And the people would have no knowledge of any other place.

The Builders left instructions for the people when it was time to return to the surface.

Unfortunately, the instructions were lost.  Now it is time to return to the surface but the people and their leaders don't know.

The storage rooms are almost empty.  And the machines that the people rely on for power are beginning to fail.

Two young people realize that there is something wrong.  Lina Mayfleet has found an interesting piece of paper with writing on it.  She is sure that the paper is a set of instructions. But for what?  Doon Harrow is a pipe works laborer.  He has access to the tunnels under the city.  Doon has found that the greedy mayor and his friends are hiding a stockpile of scarce items and food.

When the mayor accuses them of spreading rumors, Lina and Doon must throw caution to the wind try to follow the mysterious instructions.

Will they make it to the surface?

What will they find there?

In the end, the book leaves many questions unanswered, so we must read on in book two "The People of  Sparks."




                                                              

The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: In a fictional mountain range.

First Sentence: A man of my acquaintance once wrote a poem called "The Road Less Traveled," describing a journey he took through the woods along a path most travelers never used.

This novel is the tenth of the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

When we last saw the Baudelaire orphans. at the end of "The Carnivorous Carnival," they were traveling with Count Olaf towards the Mortmain Mountains.  Sunny is in the front seat of Olaf's automobile with Esme. Olaf is driving.  Klaus and Violet are in a caravan being pulled by the car.

And Count Olaf knows who the orphans are.

Count Olaf knows that he only needs one of the Baudelaire orphans to claim the orphans' vast fortune.  Since Sunny is with him, the evil count decides to rid himself of the two older siblings.

Rid himself here means to cause the death of the older orphans.

Fortunately, Klaus and Violet do not die.

So they continue their quest to find the V.F.D. headquarters.  And to rescue Sunny from the evil count's clutches.

Along the way the two children make  some interesting discoveries.

They learn that snow gnats avoid smoke.
They find the Snow Scouts.
They meet two unpleasant people from earlier episodes.
They discover an orphan triplet whose travels have paralleled  those of the Baudelaires.
They climb a frozen waterfall.
And, they realize that Sunny is no longer a baby.

All three of the orphans show that they are no longer the count's helpless victims.

Now they are showing that they are intrepid and brave explorers who can up to the count's treachery.

I really liked this book.  The characters of the children are developing into strong interesting characters which I like.

Now, on to the next book.




                                           

The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: A fictitious carnival in the hinterlands

First Sentence:  When my workday is over, and I have closed my notebook, hidden my pen, and sawed holes in my rented canoe so that it could not be found, I often like to spend the evenings in conversation with my few surviving friends.

This novel is the ninth in the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

At the end of "The Hostile Hotel" the Baudelaire orphans were hidden in the trunk of Count Olaf's car.  The Evil count, with his evil assistants were headed to the hinterlands.  They were escaping the count's latest failed attempt to steal the orphans' fortune.

The orphans were in the trunk because there was no other place to hide from the count.  Also, the orphans think that count might lead them to information about the Baudelaires' parents.

After traveling through the hinterlands for hours the villains and the children arrive at the Calgari Carnival.  The count and his henchpersons were unaware of their secret cargo.

In order to escape detection, the orphans disguise themselves as carnival freaks.  Madam Lulu hires them and adds them to the carnival's freak show.

The carnival business is slow.  So Count Olaf decides to increase business.  He purchases a group of lions.  He intends to starve the lions, and then throw a freak into the lion pit.

The news of the lion show spreads quickly.  On the day of the show there is a large crowd excited to see hungry carnivores devour a freak.

When Madam Lulu discovers the orphans searching her caravan she reveals information about the orphans' parents.  One of the parents may be alive in the Mortmain Mountains.

Will the lions devour a freak?

Will the lions devour and orphan?

Will the orphans disguises fool Count Olaf?

Will the orphans learn the truth about their parents?

How will the orphans get to the Mortmain Mountains?

At the end of this book, the orphans are once again in harms way.

Exciting.

Dangerous.

I need to read on.


                                                 

The Hostile Hospital by: Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: A fictional hospital.

First Sentence:  There are two reasons why a writer would end a sentence with the word "stop" written entirely in capital letters STOP.

This novel is the eighth book in the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

The Baudelaire children are orphans with a large fortune.  They will inherit the fortune when the eldest daughter, Violet, comes of age.  Until that time the orphan's fortune is managed by Mr. Poe.  Mr. Poe's poor judgment is usually to blame for placing the Baudelaire orphans in dangerous and inappropriate circumstances.

But this time they are on their own.

The Baudelaires came to be at the Heimlich Hospital because they were escaping from the VFD villagers.  The villagers wanted to charge the orphans with murder and burn them at the stake.

The children ran out into the hot dusty landscape until they found the Last Chance General Store.  There they met with a cheerful group of volunteers who were headed for the hospital.

At the hospital the orphans find shelter and employment.  Their job is to help organize the Library of Records.  The orphans have learned that the library may have a file which contains important information about their parents.  It seems that there is a possibility that one of their parents may have survived the conflagration which destroyed their home.

Of course the evil Count Olaf arrives to harass the orphans.

In one dramatic scene, Klaus and Sunny must perform a cranioectomy on Violet. (Sounds dangerous!)

Can Violet invent a way for the children to escape?
Can Klaus remember some helpful information from a book he once read?
Can Sunny use her sharp teeth to chew their way to safety?

In the end, the orphans are in extreme danger.  And I am on to the next book.


                                              

The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: In a fictitious village.

First Sentence:  No matter who you are, no matter where you live, and no matter how many people are chasing you, what you don't read is often as important as what you do read.

This novel is the seventh in the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

The only happy event in this series of unfortunate events that has happened to the Baudelaire orphans was when the orphans met the Quagmire triplets.  Both sets of children were attending a boarding school when the evil Count Olaf showed up to harass the Baudelaires.  When the triplets tried to help the Baudelaires,  the triplets became captives of Olaf.

Since then, the orphans have felt a sense of responsibility towards the triplets.

In this episode of the series, the Baudelaires have arrived at the village of V.F.D.  They chose to travel to this village, because the name of the village, V.F.D., matches a clue that was given to the orphans by the triplets.

The village believes that it takes a village to raise a child.  Yet, when the orphans arrive, the villagers prove to be poor guardians for the orphans.

Soon the orphans receive clues that the Quagmires are close by.  After a murder occurs, the evil count makes his appearance.

Once again he is in disguise so the adults don't recognize him.  The count frames the orphans for the murder.  Unfortunately, the only punishment for being a rule breaker in V.F.D. is burning at the stake.

Will the children escape with their lives?

A very exciting story - now on to the next book!

                                                                   

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: in a large apartment building. in the city the Orphans are from.

First Sentence: The book you are now holding in your two hands right now - assuming that you are, in fact, holding this book, and you have only two hands - is one of the two books in the world that will show you the difference between the word "nervous" and the word "anxious."

This book is the sixth in the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

In this episode of the series, the Baudelaire orphans have been left with a wealthy couple.  Jerome and Esme' Squalor live in a seventy-one room penthouse at the top of an extremely tall apartment building.

Jerome Squalor does not like arguments, and will agree to anything to avoid an argument.  His wife Esme' goes along with any new fad.  As this story begins, light is "out" and orphans are "in."  Thus the apartment is dark.  And the Squalors have three orphans.

The Baudelaires are worried:
Their friends, the Quagmire triplets, have been captured by the evil Count Olaf.
They know that Olaf will appear.
They know that he will be in disguise.
They know that the adults won't recognize him.
They know that it is up to them to unmask him.

So, the orphans set out to find Olaf's hiding place. While searching they make a surprising discovery.

And they uncover a few clues to the over all mystery of the series.

And like all of the other books in the series.

There is no happy ending.


                                          

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: At a fictitious boarding school

First Sentence:  If you were going to give a gold medal to the least delightful person on Earth, you would have to give that medal to a person maned Carmelita Spats, and if you didn't give it to her. Carmela Spats was the sort of person who would snatch it from you anyway.

This novel is the fifth book in the author's thirteen book series entitled " A Series of Unfortunate Events."

This episode relates the experiences that the three Baudelaire orphans have at the Prufrock Preparatory School.  This boarding school is the next horrible place that Mr. Poe has chosen to leave the orphans.  Mr. Poe is the banker entrusted with caring for the orphans and their fortune.  It seems that he is more concerned with the fortune than the children.

Of course, any school that Mr. Poe would select would be horrible.  Prufrock Prep has boring teachers, awful lessons, a vindictive Vice Principal, and a very suspicious gym teacher.

Fortunately, Prufrock Prep has two good things: the Quagmire Triplets.  the Baudelaires and the Quagmires soon become fast friends.  Both sets of children have something in common.  They both have lost their parents due to a fire.  And they both are the heirs to a fortune.

It doesn't take long for Count Olaf, in disguise, to make his appearance.  When the Quagmires decide to help the Baudelaires, they place themselves in danger.

This episode gives us (you and I) some tantalizing clues to the larger mystery of the series.

Who is Count Olaf really?

Why is he so interested in the Baudelaire fortune?

The clues hinted at in this novel suggest that there is something interesting and mysterious going on.


                                      

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: A fictitious lumber mill

First Sentence: Sometime during your life - in fact, very soon - you may find yourself reading a book, and you may notice that a book's first sentence can often tell you what sort of story your book contains.

This novel is the fourth in the author's thirteen book series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

The Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, are orphans.  Their parents perished when their house burned down.  When Violet comes of age, she and her siblings will inherit a vast fortune.  Until then, Mr. Poe manages their fortune and places them with a guardian, while the Evil Count Olaf attempts to steal the fortune from the children.

Once again, Mr. Poe has placed the Baudelaire orphans in dubious circumstances.  Dubious circumstances here means not safe and secure for three orphan children.

Mr. Poe has made a habit of placing the orphans in dubious circumstances.  For Mr. Poe dubious circumstances means convenient for Mr. Poe.

This time Mr. Poe has placed the orphans in a lumber mill.  Like all lumber mills this one is filled with dangerous machinery which no child should ever be near.

The owner of the mill has agreed to keep the Baudelaires safe from Count Olaf.  In return the orphans are to work in the mill.

Strangely, when Count Olaf dons a disguise, the adults who are supposed to protect the children can't seem to recognize him.  It is up to the children to unmask him.  Unmask here means finding the count's tattoo on his ankle.

I enjoyed this episode of the series.  There is real danger and the Baudelaires need to be creative in order to escape with their lives.


                                             

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: Around the fictional Lake Lachrymose.

First sentence: If you didn't know much about the Baudelaire orphans, and you saw them sitting on the suitcases, you might think that they were bound for an exciting adventure.

This book is the third in the author's series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Mr. Poe is responsible for maintaining the Baudelaire fortune.  He is also tasked with finding a suitable guardian for the orphans.  So far, in the series, he has not done very well at this.

This time Mr. Poe has selected Aunt Josephine to be the orphans' guardian.  She might not be the best choice.  She is phobic about almost everything in her environment.  But, she is very good at grammar.  Both of these facts are important to this story.

The orphans are doomed to have an unhappy visit with Aunt Josephine.

The evil Count Olaf appears.  This time in the guise of Captain Sham.

And, the orphans must prove to Mr. Poe that Captain Sham is Count Olaf.

For me, this was an enjoyable yet unhappy episode.

                                          

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: In and around fantastic city.

First Sentence: The stretch of road that leads out of the city, past Hazy Harbor and into the town of Tedia, is perhaps the most unpleasant in the world.

This book is the second in the author's thirteen novel series entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Once again, the Baudelaire orphans must deal with clueless adults, and the evil Count Olaf.

Dr. Montgomery is the herpetologist who studies snakes and lizards  in the Reptile Room.  He is a great guy and the orphans would love to live with him and his reptiles.

Unfortunately, the Baudelaires are doomed to live an unhappy life.  And Dr. Montgomery is also doomed to have an unfortunate life.

When Count Olaf appears as Dr. Montgomery's new assistant Stephano, the orphans must find away to prove Stephano's guilt to Mr. Poe.

A very interesting book. I enjoyed it.  Check out the very, very interesting page 154 in chapter 11.



                                          

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children's Literature

Setting: In a fictional city

First Sentence:  If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book.

This novel is the first in the author's A Series of Unfortunate Events series.  This series has thirteen books.

I believe this book has one of the greatest opening sentences.  The author announces that there will be no happy ending.  And he delivers.  There is no happy ending.

In this novel, the author does a good job of introducing the protagonists:  the Baudelaire orphans.

Violet is the eldest.  She is an inventor.
Klaus is the only boy.  He is a reader.
Sunny is a baby.  She likes to bite things, and people.

The antagonist is the evil Count Olaf.  He is an actor.  And he wants to gain control of the Baudelaire fortune.

The story tells of the Orphans' terrible bad luck.  Their parents have perished, their how has been destroyed by fire, the orphan's have been placed in Count Olaf's care by the incredibly stupid Mr. Poe.

The Baudelaire orphans are the heirs of a fortune.  They cannot access the fortune until Violet comes of age.  This fortune is why Count Olaf is so interested in the children.

There is no happy ending.  However, the orphan's do know how to use their intelligence to evade the Count's evil plot.

For me, the best part of reading this book is the fantastic voice the author uses in the form of the fictional narrator Lemony Snicket.

I plan to read the series in order.

                           

Holes by Louis Sachar

Genre: Children's Literature, Young Adult Literature

Setting: A boys correctional camp near a dry lake bed.

First Sentence: There is no Camp Green Lake


I am a big fan of the movie "Holes"  For me it is an example of well written fiction.  It's a nice tight story with no loose plot lines.

I decided to read the novel to discover the author's original story.  I was surprised to see how close the novel and the film were to each other.

Reading the book was just like seeing the movie again.

There are a few minor differences, but nothing that that distracts from the original plot.

Although the target audience for the novel is children and young adults, I think adults would appreciate reading a good story, well written.

There is a sequel to Holes titled Small Steps.

                                                          

1914: The War Years Book One by James Farmer

Genre: Historical Fiction

Setting: England and France during 1914.

First Sentence: All went quiet on the Ypres front.

This novel is the first in the author's War Years series.  This series currently runs to five books.

It is 1914.  The Keeton family, like all families in lower class Leeds, are struggling to make a living.  With five boys there are plenty of mouths to feed.  The oldest boy is working.  The two teenage twins are working when they can, and hustling cigarettes.  Only one boy is getting an education.

Then war breaks out in Europe.  And the four oldest boys join the army together.

Now they need to learn how to survive the horrors of war.

Will any of them survive until the end of the year?

For me this was an interesting book.  The author gives us a view of what life was like in the working class neighborhoods.  I enjoyed it.



                                                   

The Ways Between the Worlds by: Alys Clare

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: Eleventh Century England, After the Norman Conquest

First Sentence: Come to me! I need you!

This novel is the fourth in Alys Clare's Norman Aelf Fen series which currently runs to seven books.

It has not been very long since the Normans have conquered England.  Along with a new set of rulers and laws the Normans have brought  a fervent belief in Christianity.  Although many have accepted Norman rule, there are those who cling to the old ways of magic and power.

Our main character, Lassaire, is learning to be a healer.  She is also learning how to use and control the magic of the old ways.

One day, in a nightmare, Lassaire receives a dire message.  It is from her Norman warrior friend Rollo.  He is in grave danger.  She can't help him because she can't tell where he is.  When his cries stop, She believes he is alive and safe.

At the abby where Lassaire's sister is a nun, there are two horrible murders.  It seems that the two victims have been sacrificed in the old Celtic manor.

Rollo has been tasked by the king to investigate a rumor.  It seems that the king's ship army might have been destroyed by a practitioner of the old ways.

Once again, Lassaire hears Rollo's cries for help.

Can it be that the deaths, Rollo's cries and the old beliefs are somehow connected?

I have read the first four books in the series.  I have enjoyed them all.  I like the way the author is developing Lassaire's character and her relationship with Rollo.

I suggest that you read the books in order.

For me this was a great read.

                                                 

Music of the Distant Stars by Alys Clare

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: Eleventh Century England, After the Norman Conquest

First Sentence: Dawn.

This novel is the third in Alys Clare's Norman Aelf Fen series which currently runs to seven books.

Our main character is Lissaire.  She lives with her Aunt Edild.  Edild is teaching Lissaire to be a healer.  She is also learning another skill.  She is learning how to use what we would call ESP.

One summer, Lissaire's beloved Grannie dies.  She has lived a good life and it's time for her to pass away.

Then one day, Lissaire makes a terrible discovery.  When she visits her Grannie's grave, she discovers that the body of unknown girl has been placed in the grave.

Who is she?  Why was she placed in the grave?

Blame is soon attached to a young man named Derman.  He is a simpleton, with the body of an adult and the mind of a child.  To make matters worse, Derman has run away.

As the plot develops, we discover that there are several people with a motive to kill the girl.  This is strange because she is universally loved by those who knew her.

And then another body is found.  It is Derman.  Is his death somehow connected to the young girl's death?

In the last few pages of the novel, the plot becomes delightfully tangled.  And at the final reveal, I was completely surprised.

This was a great read.  The author has crafted a great historical mystery.   It's a stand alone novel, so it can be read out of series order.