Review: The Divorce Papers by Susan Rieger

Title: The Divorce Papers 

Author: Susan Rieger

Genre: Women's fiction

Pages: 461

Published: 2014

Sophie Diehl is an associate criminal attorney working for an old-line New England Firm and she very much appreciates the fact that most of her clients are behind bars.  She hates face-to-face contact, but one week, all the partners are out of the office, so she is forced to do the intake interview for a new divorce client.  Although she is promised that is all she'll have to do, the client takes a liking to her and insists on Sophie continuing as her lawyer.

This was such a fun book to read.  It's written in all e-mails and interoffice memos, but surprisingly gives detailed looks into the character's lives.  I loved the characters (except for the ones you're supposed to hate) and was sad to see it end.  I would love to see this as a series!!

-----
Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar

Title: Sorry

Author: Zoran Drevnkar

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 2011 

Published: 299

Four 20-something friends, Kris, Tamara, Wolf, and Frauke, living in Germany, have not much to do and not much direction, and on a whim one night, decide to start up an agency. It will be called Sorry, and they will apologize for people for all sorts of things. Sounds strange, but soon, they are getting call after call, and are raking in the money. Their latest client, however, is a killer, and he has called them to apologize to his victim, and to dispose of the body. He taunts them endlessly, and as they try to discover his identity before he comes after them, the question remains: why did he do this? And, are they next?

This was book was GOOD. And crazy. It was also bizarre, and graphic, and addicting and I’m STILL trying to wrap my head around it. A short “story” here will give you a brief summary of my up and down thoughts: A librarian coworker saw me reading this when I had first started, and asked how it was. I was only about 20 pages in and my response was: “weird. Its narration for a killer is from the point of view ‘you.’” A couple days later, halfway into the book, she saw me reading and asked again how I liked it. My response this time was drastically different: “it’s really good. It started out strange, but stick with it.” This is what I would tell you, too. But first, a warning: this book is extremely graphic and very disturbing and dark, including such things as rape, pedophilia, and gory killings. If you can handle that, and you love thrillers, then this is an excellent book for you. But it is bizarre! It has shifting narration: from each of the four friend’s perspectives, “you,” AKA the killer, “I,” who is unknown until the very end, and from “the man who wasn’t there,” someone who is watching the friends, but also is not revealed until later on in the book. So many strange and disturbing things happen and while the odd narration can be unsettling, I grew to like it, after hating it at first. I liked the book so much because it never stops and never relents. The action and mystery just keep at it until the very end, and I liked how unique the story was, both in its plot and its take on narration. This book truly is not for everyone; you must not have a weak stomach, and you have to enjoy “bizarre.” If both of these things apply to you, and you’re up for something really different, and exciting, then I’d recommend you pick this book up ASAP… but you’ve been warned!

5/5 stars!

-----
Reviewed by Stephanie

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Title: Blackberry Pie Murder

Author: Joanne Fluke

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 357

Published: 2014
 

"Life is never really quiet for Hannah Swensen. Her mother's wedding is a month away and guess who's in charge of the planning? Yet just when her biggest challenge seems to be whether to use buttercream or fondant for the wedding cake, Hannah accidentally hits a stranger with her cookie truck on a winding country road in a raging storm. Hannah is wracked with guilt, but things get even worse when she's arrested . . . for murder!"
 

I am a huge fan of Fluke's murder mysteries. The murders are never too gory and I love the recipes for all the desserts.  I admit the love triangle Hannah finds herself in is starting to bore me, she (or the author) just needs to make a decision.

-----
Reviewed by Cathy

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: Without Warning by David Rosenfelt

Title: Without Warning

Author: David Rosenfelt

Genre: Suspense

Pages: 295

Published: 2014

I am a huge fan of David Rosenfelt, so I'm always excited when a new book comes out. Without Warning is a stand alone thriller, not part of the Andy Carpenter series, which is awesome. While the Andy Carpenter books have some humor in them, the stand-alones usually do not and this was no exception. Jake Robbins is the Chief of Police of the small town of Wilton. After a hurricane comes through town, a time capsule which was buried, comes to the surface with a dead body on top it. The capsule is opened, hoping to provide some clues and predictions made years ago are starting to come true. Along with the editor of the paper, Katie Sanford, Chief Robbins is trying to discover the author of these dire predictions in the hopes of preventing more deaths. 

 

This was a suspense novel in every sense of the word, as I was kept guessing until the very end. This is a must read for any fans of David Rosenfelt (although I am anxiously awaiting the next in the Andy Carpenter series) or anyone who loves a good thriller.

-----
Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark

Title: I've Got You Under My Skin

Author: Mary Higgins Clark

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 303

Published: 2014

"When Laurie Moran’s husband was brutally murdered, only three-year-old Timmy saw the face of his father’s killer. Five years later his piercing blue eyes still haunt Timmy’s dreams. Laurie is haunted by more—the killer’s threat to her son as he fled the scene: “Tell your mother she’s next, then it’s your turn . . .”

Now Laurie is dealing with murder again, this time as the producer of a true-crime, cold-case television show. The series will launch with the twenty-year-old unsolved murder of Betsy Powell. Betsy, a socialite, was found suffocated in her bed after a gala celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three friends. The sensational murder was news nationwide. Reopening the case in its lavish setting and with the cooperation of the surviving guests that night, Laurie is sure to have a hit on her hands. But when the estranged friends begin filming, it becomes clear each is hiding secrets . . . small and large.

And a pair of blue eyes is watching events unfold, too . . ."

If you are a Mary Higgins Clark fan, you will enjoy this book.  While some of her previous books were not all that appealing to me this is one of her better storytelling efforts. 

-----
Reviewed by Cathy

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Reasons to Love Your Library!

We recently asked our Barnard Crossing Branch Facebook fans what they love about Barnard Crossing Library. Here are their responses:

"It's a cozy neighborhood library. I love how friendly everyone is." - Cheryl

"The librarians are friendly & helpful!" - Mary Anne

"I love the small cozy space, and great selection of books and recent DVD releases. The ladies who work here are very welcoming also!" - Liz

"Love the location, I can walk there from my house!" - Christine

We were really excited to read all of this great feedback! Thank you, all! What do YOU love about your library? Share below in the comments!

Review: The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick

Title: The Good Luck of Right Now

Author: Matthew Quick

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 284

Published: 2014

38-year-old Bartholomew Neil has always lived with his mother and when she dies, he has no idea how to be on his own. While going through his mother's things, he finds a "Free Tibet" form letter from Richard Gere. Since at the end of his mother's life, she was calling him Richard, he believes that Richard Gere must be his life guide, so he begins chronicling his life in a series of letters to the actor.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting and I've heard raves reviews of Silver Linings Playbook, both the book and the movie, which Matthew Quick also wrote, so I had really high expectations. I was a little disappointed, in that I thought the book was pretty good, but not outstanding. If you are deeply offended by foul language, I would not recommend this, as the character Max has a terrible potty mouth. Overall, an okay read, but not one of my favorites.

-----
Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!