PRINCE OF THE ELVES (AMULET #5) - Kazu Kibuishi

Each volume of the Amulet series of graphic novels seems to fall into one of two categories, overall; either a story of action and plot advancement, or (in between) a bridge - even a break between - the action, literally taking you from one plot point of the story into the next.  Book five feels like one of the "bridge" books, but at heart stands out as it also starts to delve more into the history of its characters - in particular Trellis, the Elf Prince, as well as the history of the elves and how they came to be "the bad guys".  Meanwhile, thanks to the events of book four the evil Elf King (Trellis's father) has control of the mother stone, and plans to forge new amulets from it that will enable him to conquer anyone who stands in his way at last, even if it includes his own son who is now seemingly on the side of the good guys.  Meanwhile, Emily's amulet is no longer speaking to her but outright challenging her, implying it's only a matter of time before it takes control, leading her down a dark and inescapable path.  You really get the sense, with this one (volume five of a seven-book story), that the series is drawing ever-closer toward its final confrontation between good and evil; setting up the players on the chessboard, so to speak, for the last match.  And it promises to be a doozy.  ****

ARAMINTA SPOOKIE 4: VAMPIRE BRAT - Angie Sage

Araminta Spookie is in for a double dose of trouble in book four of the popular children's series; not only has she discovered what appears to be a werewolf hiding deep in the basement of Spookie House - almost worse, she is forced to deal with a visit by her Uncle Drac's nephew Max, a tiny, creepy little suck-up with stiletto-sharp fangs coming out the corners of his mouth, who seems to win over her entire family - even Wanda! - with his over-the-top, syrupy, obviously (to Araminta) butt-kissing ways!  So what's a girl to do but come up with a combination Werewolf and Vampire Trapping Kit, which Araminta is determined to use to catch Max doing something evil, as well as prove to her family and Wanda that there's a werewolf loose in the house.  Though I felt the ending was a bit weak with this one, everything is in place regarding the humor, story, and mystery of this entry in the series to keep readers happy.  And again, there's just something so darned endearing about Araminta; so much so, I have only one more to read before completing the series to date ... and will be sorry to have it done.  ****

BANGKOK 8 - John Burdett

A unique mystery-thriller unlike anything I have ever read, Bangkok 8 is the first of a series starring Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, who in the opener is following, with his cop partner Pichai, a shady American marine sergeant in Bangkok, when the marine is - right in front of them, in a car bolted shut - slaughtered by a nasty nest of cobras trapped with him in his Mercedes.  When Pichai is also killed in the ensuing chaos, Sonchai - a devout Buddhist arhat - makes it his life's mission to not only find out what happened, but to himself kill Pichai's murderer to avenge his partner's death.  But the deeper Sonchai digs, even with the help of attractive FBI agent Kimberley Jones, the more the increasingly twisted trail seems to lead toward an American jeweler with untold wealth and influence - influence that extends even over Sonchai's own superiors in the police force.  As said, I have never read a novel like Bangkok 8; never read a piece of fiction that so solidified in me the essence of a people, culture, way of life - even religion - as this novel does of Thailand, tying it all into not just Sonchai and those he encounters and where he goes, but even the mystery itself.  It's a book that makes you think deeply, yet also has touches of dark humor and plenty of thrills; even conversations between characters, at length, never come off boring or as filler, as the characters are so exceptionally well-drawn - what they have to say so revealing of them or the story - you must read word for word.  Sorry for the gushing, but yet again: have simply never read anything like Bangkok 8.  And I certainly can't remember when I was last so absorbed in a book that, while reading it, I completely forgot about the real world surrounding me.  *****

ARAMINTA SPOOKIE 3: FROGNAPPED - Angie Sage

I usually try children's fiction on occasion, but something about Angie Sage's Araminta Spookie and Wanda Wizzard (and the other characters) keeps me coming back for more.  Probably my favorite in the series, Frognapped finds Araminta - think Wednesday Addams, but with more personality and droll sarcasm - finds herself under suspicion when the trained acrobatic frogs of Barry Wizzard - Wanda's father - go missing.  Known for her practical jokes, this was one Araminta didn't pull off, so forming a detective agency with Wanda, the two young girls follow a lead in the form of a lady massage therapist, trailing her to Old Morris's mushroom farm - now interestingly turned into a marine park featuring a killer shark and - you guessed it - acrobatic frogs.  I really loved that book three took the readers out of Spookie House more, showing off Araminta's surroundings and even more colorful characters from the neighborhood.  The book (the entire series, actually) is genuinely funny, too, with an action-filled, very satisfying ending that satisfies.  Again, maybe my favorite of a series that can be read - and enjoyed - by anyone of any age.  ****1/2

THE LAST COUNCIL (AMULET #4) - Kazu Kibuishi

Book four in the bestselling seven-book graphic novel series ramps up the action and danger, as newly-minted stonekeeper Emily and her family arrive in Cielis, the city in the sky ...where it immediately feels like something is "off".  Seems the townspeople - the few that can be found - fear something so badly it's practically keeping them prisoners in their own homes, and immediately upon landing the two elves in Emily's crew are, unbeknownst to their friends, taken prisoner and treated with veiled threats of death.  Even Emily, in Cielis to get answers, is instead treated like an interloper herself, forced in fact to compete for a place in the Guardian Council, an "honor" she doesn't want in the first place.  Betrayal, hidden secrets revealed, and a tense finale make this one of the best in this enthralling series.  Even aside from the usual take-your-breath-away artwork from artist/writer Kibuishi, part four of this brilliant series - which made this reader, who'd never read a graphic novel before, an instant fan - boasts a cliffhanger that should have you careening on to book five.  ****1/2   

THE UNEXPECTED INHERITANCE OF INSPECTOR CHOPRA - Vaseem Khan

Forced into early retirement due to a recent heart attack, the incorruptible and by-the-book Inspector Ashwin Chopra marks his last day on the force with two surprises: 1) he inherits a baby elephant, Ganesha, from a favorite and long-revered (though long-absent) uncle; and 2) the final case of his career to (technically) come across his desk is the "accidental" drowning of a young man that sets Chopra's spidey sense a-tingling, alerting him it may be something more.  But in his beloved city of Mumbai, overcrowded and under-funded and sprinkled liberally with corruption, Chopra's colleagues are more than willing to solve the case by declaring it an accident and chalking up as closed - especially for a young man from one of the poorest neighborhoods of the city.  But something about the boy - about the grieving mother who has already given up hopes of learning the truth about what happened to her son, because no one cares about the poor - spurs Chopra on to find the truth, as the trail of clues leads him further into the corruption of Indian politicians and lawmakers, and to a shocking truth that will turn Chopra's entire life around, even as getting closer to that truth puts his own life in danger.  But with the help of ex-colleagues he can trust, a wife determined to stick by her husband, and one incredible baby elephant, Chopra is determined to crack the case - even if it's his last.  The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra is my favorite book of 2015; in fact, one of my favorite novels of all time.  Beautifully written, the characters of Chopra, his wife Poppy, the heroic baby Ganesha - even the minor characters - breathe fully of life on the page.  At times humorous, suspenseful as hell, and even charming, the novel also provides a real feel for India - of Mumbai today - in all its conflicted beauty, always pulsating with life, and it's one of those books you will be a little sad for having finished ... with the second in the series not even due until June 2016!  Even writing this, I miss Chopra and Poppy and their friends and colleagues already, even wishing I had my own Ganesha in the backyard, frolicking in muddy waters under a mango tree.  A well-written mystery, and a marvelous start to what promises to be an endearing, original and beloved series.  *****

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

FLIPPED FOR MURDER - Maddie Day

Up until the last ten pages, Flipped for Murder - first in a new mystery series - was one of the best cozies I've read in some time.  The genre is formulaic by nature (smaller town, PG-rated themes and language at most, lead amateur sleuth recently relocated to town, quirky townspeople/supporting characters), so it was refreshing to come across a character like Roberta Jordan, a divorcee recently moved back to her deceased mom's hometown of South Lick, Indiana from California, to open up a combination country restaurant/store.  Robbie Jordan is extremely likable, and we first meet her on the grand opening day of Pans 'n Pancakes, along with other vivid, well-drawn characters like her Aunt Adele and even the town's new mayor, Corinne.  It's Corinne's unlikable assistant, Stella, who soon is found shot dead in her home later on, and even though the murder happens "off-stage" the story still develops not only into a decent murder investigation where Robbie herself is framed as a suspect ... there is also a very cool, very real subplot in which Robbie, in wanting to learn more about her mom's past, accidentally discovers something about her biological father.  The characters and story both draw you in here, in a well-written novel where the characters come alive on the page (though I was raised in northern Indiana, and in no way recognized the way some of the characters talked; must be a southern Indiana thing?), and the more I read the more I loved Robbie and the book ... until those last ten or so pages.  Hard to explain and remain spoiler-free, but suffice to say even with the "confession" of the murderer in the end, what the killer says was his/her motive completely contradicts what the police go over, as the motive, later on.  There is also another incident, with Robbie, that happens in the novel that has, possibly, the weakest, most lame explanation behind it, in the end, that I've ever read in a novel.  I even went back to re-read, from where the killer is revealed on, and to this minute feel so confused and contradictory about the killer, I am wondering if the second novel will reveal this person from the first book wasn't really the killer at all.  A 4-1/2-star book until I got to those last ten pages, sadly - though I like the characters enough to, for sure, look forward to the sequel (I only hope the reveal is better handled in book two).  ***-1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

BREAM GIVES ME HICCUPS & OTHER STORIES - Jesse Eisenberg

Long a fan of actor Jesse Eisenberg, I was truly looking forward to this short story collection; Eisenberg's sense of humor, while at times left-of-center (one of the reasons I like him), is also often intelligent, very funny, and on-target.  And for about the first third of the book, in particular a wonderful story about a boy and his dysfunctional relationship with his mother - which the kid recounts by rating various places they go together (the gem of the collection) - I was hooked.  But the middle third became, I felt, pretentious and trite, more like streams of consciousness (often by people with some real emotional issues) than anything resembling short fiction, and sad to say this "theme" continued through a huge chunk of the book, so much so I had a hard time slogging through it up until things got interesting again, maybe the last twenty pages or so.  In that huge rough patch, it was just too many characters in a row who were, essentially, slightly altered versions of the same emotionally messed-up, often angry-to-the-point-of-sociopathic people (the gal in college, constantly writing letters to her old high school counselor, is particularly intriguing yet annoying at the same time) with the same failed views (and histories) of bad relationships, that Eisenberg tries fashioning around different scenarios or (wink-wink) clever set-ups that never fully get off the ground.  Hard to explain, but oh-so disappointing (and I really - really - wanted to like this, too) ... though I'd go back and re-read the first few stories anytime.  **

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

THE CLOUD SEARCHERS (AMULET #3) - Kazu Kibuishi

In part three of the vivid, beautifully-drawn Amulet series of graphic novels, Emily and company go in search - Star Wars-style - of a captain and ship to help them find Cielis, the city in the clouds, dismissed long ago as a myth, where the surviving stonekeepers retreated when the elves attacked.  Coming along for the ride is their former fiercest enemy, Prince Trellis - son of the Elf King, he was originally sent to turn Emily's powers to their advantage, but now works against his father (or does he?) - even while the gang is pursued by a new enemy determined to follow them on their quest ... and not only hunt them down, but destroy Cielis if and when its found.  I have to say (aside from the grade-A artwork, as always), whereas I found book two full of action and progressing the story nicely, this volume felt full of fluff and like an elongated TV episode instead of a fully-rounded story.  A fast read, as always, but it was a bit jarring to find myself not caring as much for the characters, and finding the build-up to the action sequences a letdown when said build-up didn't fully follow through.  Not done with the series, by any means; just wish this one had been ... more.  And more exciting.  **1/2

CANDY CORN MURDER - Lucy Meier

Halloween is fast approaching, and the good folks of Tinker's Cove, Maine have gone a little batty with preparations for the upcoming Giant Pumpkin Fest, which will include jack-o-lantern and pumpkin diorama contests, a boat regatta on the cove where all the boats are made of hollowed out pumpkins ... and the event reporter Lucy Stone's husband has been working on for months: a giant pumpkin catapult, adapted right from the Middle Ages, that Bill and his ne'er-do-well buddy, local yokel Evan Wickes, are sure will win the contest.  Lucy has no use for Evan - "Ev" - whom she feels is pretty much around to drink Bill's beer and be a bad influence on her visiting grandson ... but when she finds Ev's body in the trunk of a car, head bashed in, and Bill becomes the #1 suspect, it's up to Lucy to set things - and the state cops - straight.  This was my first Lucy Stone novel, even though it's 22nd in the series; I have book one on my Kindle but it's on a very long TBR list, and when I realized this edition hearkened back in time to reference the murder in book one, I was worried author Meier might reveal spoilers here.  Thankfully not; I finished Candy Corn Murder in a sickbed that felt more like a deathbed, and even though the murder didn't occur unto over halfway in the book (a BIG no-no for me, normally), I enjoyed Lucy (so nice to find an amateur sleuth in a cozy who's a grandma!) and her family and the very real feeling of Tinker's Cover and its citizens.  It's a well-constructed mystery that keeps you reading, and though I guessed a few things early on it was refreshing to find I wasn't totally right in my assumptions, after all.  Great fun from Ms. Meier, now more than ever anxious to revert back to book one and start from the beginning.  ****1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

ARAMINTA SPOOKIE 2: THE SWORD IN THE GROTTO - Angie Sage

I gotta say, as a grown man I am sort of grooving on Araminta Spookie.  Book two in the successful kids' series by Angie Sage makes me wish Araminta had been around when I was a kid; her adventurous, bossy personality, mixed with that of her mousy but spunky-when-she-needs-to-be best friend Wanda meshes perfectly, and here gets both girls into trouble when Araminta is determined to get Sir Horace - one of two ghosts in the house, the one who inhabits an old suit of armor - a gift for his upcoming 500th birthday.  A chance outing to a mushroom farm, where Araminta and Wanda spot a rusty old sword in a cave that starts Araminta plotting to come back and retrieve it for Sir Horace, gets the girls into all sorts of problems when they find themselves trapped in a dark, dank cave ... slowly filling with water as high tide comes in.  Without putting my finger on it, there is just something charming about the girls, Aunt Tabby, Uncle Drac, and the wacky mansion they all live in, combined with Araminta's thirst for adventure, that make these "kids" books as much fun for adults to read, as well.  Recommended, for either your young ones or the young one in you.  ****

GARGOYLE HALL: AN ARAMINTA SPOOKIE ADVENTURE - Angie Sage

Having read and liked the first in this series, My Haunted House, when receiving an ARC of this title I was curious to see how the series had perhaps grown or changed in the books since.  While I did like the first book, it also felt like the author was still trying to grow into her characters and setting ... and happily, with Gargoyle Hall, author Angie Sage seems to have embraced the Spookie world indeed.  Here Araminta is in full "detective mode," trying to figure out the recent strange behavior of her Aunt Tabby and Uncle Drac - not to mention Drac's bats - and in trying to investigate with her sidekick/best friend Wanda (one of the most lovable ditzes in kids' literature) gets herself into enough trouble that visiting great-Aunt Emilene actually talks Tabby and Drac into shipping her off to boarding school.  But upon her arrival at Gargoyle Hall, Araminta finds even bigger mysteries to solve; can she and stowaway Wanda learn the secrets behind the Beast of Gargoyle Hall in time to save the school?  I LOVED this book, Araminta and Wanda are a great duo kids and adults alike can embrace, the spookiness not scary enough to frighten younger readers but nicely dark and mysterious for kids.  Touches of humor make it enjoyable even for the "big kids" reading it as well, but most of all it's great to see that Sage has really grown into this world and her characters; I liked Araminta after the first book, but with this one I just think she and Wanda both are nothing short of awesome.  ****1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

THE STONEKEEPER'S CURSE (AMULET #2) - Kazu Kibuishi

Having enjoyed the set up of young Emily and her fated role as the new stonekeeper in the first of the Amulet series, what a pleasure to find out even that highly-entertaining graphic novel was merely a prologue compared to the amped-up pacing, story, and settings of book two.  The Stonekeeper's Curse picks up where book one left off, with Emily and her brother and new friends journeying to a land where they can find a cure for the kids' mother, who is dying from a slow-acting poison.  But even more than that, Emily's role as stonekeeper - and the curse that goes with its responsibilities - is brought more to light here, as well as the heightened threat over Emily and her family as the Elf King sends his second-in-command out to destroy her.  As in the first book, the artwork here is breathtaking - putting you right into the story and its characters' heads - but its the ramping up of pacing, characters, and plot that make this one a richer, fuller read.  Can't wait for book three.  ****1/2

ARAMINTA SPOOKIE 1: MY HAUNTED HOUSE - Angie Sage

Having received an ARC of a more recent book in this series via NetGalley, I decided to start with the first in the series to at least get an idea of the characters.  Araminta Spookie lives in Spookie House with her Aunt Tabby and Uncle Drac - a huge, rambling old home that, quite frankly, Aunt Tabby is getting tired of maintaining (she hates the boiler; OMG, do not get her started on the boiler).  So while it shouldn't come as a surprise when she decides to sell the house, a startled Uncle Drac (who sleeps in a sleeping bag hung suspended in a turret of the home that houses his bats) and obstinate Araminta don't want to go ... and it's Araminta who formulates a series of plots - including spreading word that the house is haunted - in order to save her home.  Though very light on plot, this first-in-the-series has a likable young heroine as its star, and blends the right elements of spooky fun and humor without being too scary for the youngest of readers at all.  Also kudos to what could have been an entirely predictable ending that, instead, ends up being kind of funny and sweet, setting readers up for the next book, as well as some nice, gothic-style illustrations via artist Jimmy Pickering.  ***1/2

GILT BY ASSOCIATION - Karen Rose Smith

Though the third in the Caprice De Luca home staging mysteries, this was my introduction to the Kismet, Pennsylvania amateur sleuth whose obsessions include 1960's fashion, rescuing animals, and her business of staging upscale houses going up for sale.  Here the murder comes close to home when Caprice discovers the body of her latest client, Louise Downing (also her mother's best friend), shot to death in the Downing greenhouse.  A relatively private but popular society matron in town, Louise's murder, Clarice learns after a bit of digging, provides no shortage of suspects - the cheating husband, his potential mistress, a disgruntled maid who'd been fired? - but it's the discovery of an incident buried in Louise's past that may put Caprice in the murderer's sites at last.  Caprice, her family, and the residents of Kismet (both human and animal) aren't without their charms in this nicely-written cozy, and author Smith builds up genuine suspense toward the end ... which, to me, disappointed a bit as it wasn't so much about Caprice figuring things, out as it was about her showing up at the right place at the right time - and included a murderer's confession that felt right out of a B-movie from the 1940's.  But even with the slight letdown in the end, Caprice and company were worth the visit, and overall the novel packed enough suspense, humor, mystery, and just a hint (thankfully) of romantic triangle to pick up the first two - or next one - in the series, as well.  ***1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

THE STONEKEEPER (AMULET #1) - Kazu Kibuishi

Over time I've delved into various forms of either manga or graphic novels, trying to figure out what all the passion was about, but never fully stayed with one until I came across Book One of the Amulet series.  I "discovered" author/artist Kazu Kibuishi via the documentary Stripped, and what I could see of his work intrigued me ... yet I wasn't prepared for the breathtaking work I saw in the pages of The Stonekeeper.  The story of young Emily and her brother Navin, who move with their mother back to her childhood home after the tragic death of their father only to discover their late great-grand-dad's home has some magical secrets hidden within, feels like a prelude to a bigger tale as the family is drawn into a world of talking animals, spectral demons, and terrifying monsters in which Em is put in charge of a stone that could either help them all escape - or destroy everything.  The beauty of the art if spellbinding, the story laying everything out for a rocking finale that hurtles you right into book two.  Beautifully done by a brilliant artist, thanks to whom I am now more than anxious to dive into the sequel.  ****

THE PET AND THE PENDULUM (THE MISADVENTURES OF EDGAR & ALLAN POE #3) - Gordon McAlpine

The conclusion of McAlpine's trilogy, about twins Edgar and Allan Poe, also happens (yay!) to be the best of the series.  Well-written, funny, exciting (nice finale, in this one), with lots of puns and Poe references to keep adult readers happy, here the Poe twins have returned home to Baltimore, now local celebrities from their acting debuts as well as all they did in helping others and thwarting nefarious villains (no spoilers here, sorry) from the previous novel.  But not all is rosy; not only is a satellite their now-deceased parents were responsible for sending into space about to crash-land on earth, potentially killing many people ... but Professor Perry, who has snuck back into the country, has found a new and even more insidious way to capture the boys for his latest diabolical plot (one that will utilize the torture device mentioned in this book's title) - by using their own beliefs and intelligence against them!  This is a great adventure, for young and old alike, that digs a little deeper than its two predecessors, finishing up the trilogy with unexpected heart you can feel coming through McAlpine in the writing.  A terrific conclusion; enough so, it makes this reviewer sorry the series is over.  ****1/2

ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT EERIE (THE MISADVENTURES OF EDGAR & ALLAN POE #2) - Gordon McAlpine

The sequel to McAlpine's The Tell-Tale Start finds the single-minded twins, Edgar and Allan Poe (the great-great-great-great grandnephews of the legendary writer) in New Orleans, where they find themselves with roles in a film about their famous ancestor.  With their evil nemesis, Professor Perry, in hiding from the law, the boys think all is well ... but don't count on the mad professor's daughter, posing as a crew member, with her own plans for the dynamic duo.  With the help of their clever cat Roderick, as well as a set of twin girls - Em and Milly Dickinson, descendants of the famous poet who are as quirky in their own right as the Poe boys - Edgar and Allan aid a pair of ghosts, hunt for buried treasure, and go undercover at a cheesy, low-budget Wizard of Oz theme park in order to escape the clutches of evil - in a smart, funny, nicely-done (and simply, beautifully illustrated by Sam Zuppardi) sequel very nearly as good as the original.  ****

SHAKESPEARE'S LANDLORD - Charlaine Harris

Though a "True Blood" fan, this was my first time reading Charlaine Harris, and (admittedly) I probably started here because the premise of this series seemed so intriguing.  Lily Bard is a "lone wolf" - a single woman of about thirty who lives by and keeps to herself in her newly-adopted town of Shakespeare, Arkansas.  She cleans houses for a living, is quiet and makes no friends ... and one late night on the way home, spots a furtive figure sneaking into a park across the street from her building, pushing the large trash can she keeps under her carport.  As she watches, the unidentifiable figure dumps something in a huge trash bag there, then returns the can empty - and when Lily checks out the bag, she finds the body of her former landlord from next door.  As Lily starts poking around, we not only learn about her neighbors and the tenants of the murdered man's building, but also the horrifying reason behind why Lily keeps to herself, trusts no one, and is obsessed with learning self-defense.  While by no means a typical one-dimenstional "cozy" mystery (in fact, most of the negative reviews you will read of this title tend to be from people who thought it was, and take exception with both author and Lily with what amounts to the reader's errror), Harris has instead crafted both a story and especially heroine/detective who, though rather solemn, comes off strong, complex and wholly three-dimensional on the page.  ****1/2

THE STRANGER - Harlan Coben

Over the years I'd heard so many great things about thriller writer Harlan Coben, yet The Stranger was my first try at reading him.  The novel opens in upper-middle class New Jersey, where attorney Adam Price leads an ideal life with his daughter Corinne and their two sons ... until a man - a stranger - approaches Adam in the local American Legion, revealing a dark secret Corinne has supposedly been keeping from her husband; a secret that hangs obsessively over Adam like a noose and will prove to change his life forever.  As Adam deals with his dilemma, we learn Adam isn't the stranger's only victim, and when Corinne disappears and Adam starts snooping around, the bodies begin to pile up and a more sinister meaning behind all that's going on slowly emerges.  An okay premise, potentially, but I was truly disappointed in The Stranger.  Adam Price, as the lead, isn't fleshed out very well as a character - to the point I found myself unable to emotionally connect with him on any more than a superficial level - and the plotting felt equally thin, as well as unrealistic (also beware of plot-holes!).  Even the ending, which I hoped would be a high-octane nail-biter, instead came off rushed and poorly written.  I'd like to try Coben again, for sure ... am just sadly disappointed this was the one I started with.   **

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

WONDER - R.J. Palacio

A blessing of a debut novel, Wonder tells the story of August "Auggie" Pullman, a young boy in New York born with a set of craniofacial anomalies that have left his facial features radically distorted.  Only ten years old, he's already dealt with multiple surgeries since infancy, having to eat and breath through tubes prior to some of those surgeries, and spending his entire life homeschooled due to his many doctor and hospital visits.  But all that's changed now, for the fifth grade Auggie is finally going to a real school - Beecher Prep - and he's terrified of what life among other children (whom he already knows can be incredibly cruel) will be like.  Told through various narrative viewpoints - Auggie (mostly), a couple of his new friends, his sister, and more - Wonder chronicles perfectly Auggie's hopes, fears, insecurities, dreams, determination, frustrations, and his desire to simply be normal in a world that views him as anything but.  Beautifully written, touching and real and a book every parent and teacher needs to read, upon publication Wonder - the incredible story of an unaccountably brave little boy - became a #1 bestseller, inspired an entire "Choose Kind" movement, and raised awareness around the world.  There are legions of fans who even, because of this book, celebrate Auggie's birthday every year; now that is a powerful novel.  *****

MR. MERCEDES - Stephen King

A non-supernatural thriller with an intriguing premise and race-against-time ending probably as suspenseful as any I've ever read, there are a lot of good things about Mr. Mercedes.  Bill Hodges is an overweight, out-of-shape retired ex-cop who spends his days watching TV and toying with the idea of killing himself with his dead father's gun; since retiring he has nothing to do, and no one to do it for. That is until a letter arrives, from a Mr. Mercedes, one of the few perps who got away when, maybe a year ago or so, he stole a Mercedes sedan and plowed it into a crowd of innocent people waiting for a job fair to open one early, fog-enshrouded morning, killing eight and maiming/injuring dozens.  Mr. Mercedes isn't through with Hodges, whom he actually wants to talk into committing suicide via the anonymous chat website Debbie's Blue Umbrella, but instead what inadvertently occurs is that the crazed murderer gives Bill Hodges a reason to live again - that reason being to catch Mr. Mercedes at last.  The supporting cast is terrific, Jerome and especially the not-quite-all-there Holly, and as said the finale is breathtakingly suspenseful.  My only problem with the novel is that it slows down greatly in the middle; it took me months to finish it, mostly because other books got in the way - meaning this one was fairly easy to put down, something I thought I'd never say about a King book.  But then, it IS King; expectations tend to be high.  Without a hint of supernatural horror in it, here Stephen King has instead written a book leaning more toward a traditional hard-boiled detective story that - via the soulless Mr. Mercedes - speaks of the potential for an even worse horror that can exist in mankind.  ****

FLAMENCO, FLAN, AND FATALITIES - Mary McHugh

Book two of the Happy Hoofers mystery series finds the gang of five toe-tapping 50-somethings working as entertainment on a train tour through Spain.  Narrated by budding photographer and documentary filmmaker Gini, one of the quintet, murder soon finds the Hoofers in the death of one of their fellow passengers, conservative TV talk show host Dick Shambless, who quickly lives up to his first name by bullying the crew, his fellow passengers, and even the staff at a local restaurant the tour group visits for dinner.  Poisoned soon after, there seems to be more than enough suspects aboard who detested the dead guy - including Gini, whose curiosity and general aggressive manner makes her determined to find out whodunnit.  A big cast of characters populates this novel, many of them introduced right away, and the writing is sometimes clumsy - often reading more like a first book in a series, where the writer is still coming to know her own characters and style, so things aren't a hundred percent polished yet - and even the resolution comes a bit too fast and convenient for Gini, who is sort of handed the solution of the crime as opposed to having to ferret it out.  That said, there is also a real charm to the novel, which also reminded me of old days of devouring Agatha Christie's own dialogue-heavy/description-light prose, and the depictions of "Green Spain" and its people and cuisine are rich.  The characters, especially the Hoofers but also the supporting players, are pleasant and feel almost real (even the gay couple - nice to read, in a cozy! - on board the train), and I like the idea of each novel being narrated by a different member of the dance troupe (which would also explain the sometimes awkward, still-feeling-her-way-around writing style), though this is the first and only book I've read so far in the series.  It won't be my last, though, as I did enjoy myself here overall, and do want to visit these characters and their newest exotic work locale (the first book set in Greece, the third - due out this fall - in Paris) again.  ***1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE - Anne Rice

No one does atmosphere like Anne Rice - never more so than in her first novel, now a genuine classic as well as a groundbreaking piece of literature that turned the vampire novel on its ear.  You'll feel as is you are in 18th-century Louisiana, where grieving plantation owner Louis - still recovering from an incalculable loss - fatefully draws the attention of the vampire Lestat, who saves Louis from death by making him one of his own.  The two roam the world, Lestat as if he owned it and Louis still trying to make sense of life and death and why it all matters, when they stumble upon a dying child, Claudia, who is also made over - now trapped forever in the body of a little girl - and this decision changes everything.  The characters, setting, even philosophical questions Rice's characters raise or abolish, it all comes across as heartbreakingly real, seductive yet horrific ... and all seen through the eyes of Louis, who centuries later recounts his tale, from page one of this extraordinary novel, to a young mortal writer.  Interview with the Vampire, well deserving its now "classic" status, is a rich tapestry of fiction that Rice has obviously poured her soul into, because you can feel it on virtually every page.  *****

BUTTERFLY - Kathryn Harvey

The term "sweet revenge" could have been coined specifically for this novel, a Sidney Sheldon-esque tale of glamour and money and two very divergent personalities: the mysterious, ice-cold Los Angeles entrepreneur Beverly Garland, who owns one of the most fashionable and popular upscale men's clothing stores in Los Angeles (which has its own secrets) ... and Daniel Mackay, who came from poverty and desperation and his own passel of dirty secrets to become one of the nation's leading televangelists ... and soon-to-be presidential candidate.  Without giving too much away (and the wise reader won't even read blurbs about the book on Amazon, if you don't want potential spoilers revealed), Beverly's men's clothing shop has a lot more going on upstairs than it does downstairs, and the scandalous, sex-laced events of the novel all lead to a surprising, satisfying conclusion when Beverly and Daniel - who've met before - come face to face again.  Butterfly is the quintessential beach read, spawning two sequels and a legion of fans who would easily talk your ear off about the book (including me).  Addicting from beginning to end.  ****1/2

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP - John Irving

As is the case with most who've read it, I cannot say enough wonderful things about John Irving's joyous, hilarious, and ultimately moving novel about ahead-of-her-time feminist Jenny Fields, a nurse who becomes a famous writer, and her "bastard son" T. S. Garp, who becomes an almost-famous writer.  At turns comedic and tragic, rejuvenating and heartbreaking, odd and quirky yet feeling completely real in its own world, the story involves Jenny's rise to fame while raising her son to adulthood, Garp trying to find his own place in both the literary and real world while dealing with the fallout of his mother's fame and notoriety.  Irving is incredibly skilled here, even the passages of text that are of Garp's own short fiction speak in a completely different voice that not only tells Garp's story but also gives you insight into him as a character.  Set mostly in the 1960's and 1970's, the book deals with a lot of the sexual and political movements of those times, as reflected through the incredibly open-minded Jenny Fields and her son, but the novel is so humane in its depiction of life and all that it has to offer to those willing to embrace it, even those moments that shock never feel false or forced. The 1982 film version, starring the late Robin Williams in what was perhaps his most refined, best-ever performance, comes incredibly close to capturing the world contained within the novel ... but as usual, nothing compares to the book.  Particularly so in this case of Irving's fascinating, exuberant gem about living every day true to yourself ... and as if it were your last.  *****

WATERSHIP DOWN - Richard Adams

Easily up there with Orwell's Animal Farm or E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, Watership Down is a classic must-read that works on many levels, beyond the fact it's just a brilliantly-written, wholly involving story.  The tale of a warren of rabbits, led by the quiet but forward-thinking Hazel, forced to leave their home in the English countryside due to land developers, you wouldn't think a full-length novel about talking rabbits would be so moving, but Adams has created both a vibrant and rich history of their story (outlined beautifully in the novel), plus given each of the main characters such warmth and humanity, as they face multiple problems and dangers in their search for a new home, the reader will be hanging onto every page (and yes, it's one of those books that will leave you a bit sad in the end, maybe even teary-eyed, if for no other reason than because it's over).  Seen as a children's or YA book, Watership Down has been labeled as "too good for just kids" over and over - and indeed, the heart and soul that breathes within the pages of this powerful, touching, allegorical  novel are a good part of the reason why, more than forty years after it was first published, it remains revered by critics and readers alike as a classic of literature, children's or otherwise.  *****

CROOKED HOUSE - Agatha Christie

Known hands-down as the most popular mystery writer of all time, nearly forty years after her death Agatha Christie remains a bestselling author whose novels have still only been outsold by Shakespeare and the Bible.  Crooked House - one of Christie's own personal favorites, and indeed my favorite of her books - is a complex story about a very dysfunctional family, led by the patriarch Aristide Leonides, who is summarily poisoned in the midst of his ungrateful relatives, all of whom have motives ... and alibis!  Two intriguing things about this novel (other than its jaw-dropper of an ending) are the richer-than-usual characterizations Christie fills the pages with; never more so, in the close to eighty novels of hers that I've read over the years, have her people come off more real.  The other, simply put, is that this tale doesn't feature any of her usual detectives on-board to solve the case; no Poirot, no Miss Marple, or Tuppence and Tommy or Superintendent Battle, or even Ariadne Oliver.  And this, perhaps, is another reason the novel works so beautifully; there are no distractions from the story, nor from the intricate family and their secrets and associations with each other; they, as it should be, are your focus for this tale of murder.  But even with that, I still dare you to see that ending coming!  ****1/2

LOTS OF BOTS: ROBOTS RULE, BOOK TWO - C.J. Richards

Nothing wrong with reading "kid-lit" - books for young readers - as an adult, especially if said book brings back memories of the kind of adventure stories you loved as a kid.  And though I haven't yet read the first in the Robots Rule series, there is a lot to like about Lots of Bots as it picks up right after the events of the first novel.  George Gearing is a young genius set to fulfill his dream of being an apprentice at Tinker Tech, where he hopes to learn and change the face of robotics.  For in Terabyte Heights, George's hometown, we're in a world where robots act as companions, drive cars, cook meals - in short, make the lives of humans easier and safer.  The destruction of this idyllic lifestyle seems to have been narrowly avoided in book one by the sinister Dr. Micron, thanks to George and his friends (including Jackbot, his best friend and robot companion), though it's not giving too much away here to say that hints are dropped, early on, that Micron - who had previously escaped capture - may still be lurking around somewhere in book two, ready with an even bigger plot that may include revenge on George.  Lots of Bots is just plain fun; well-written by C.J. Richards and beautifully illustrated (the artwork reminded me of afternoons watching "Prince Planet" and "Speed Racer" as a kid) by Goro Fujita, with a likable hero in George, who slowly realizes that someone is out to destroy his apprenticeship - or maybe even him - but fights to solve that mystery, even while dealing with a bigger one left behind by his deceased parents.  A great read for, say, grades levels 4-7 ... but really a lighthearted, fun adventure for all ages. **** (Note: while the book is a stand-alone, it references enough of what happened in book one, The Junkyard Bot - spoiler-wise - that it would be best to read that one first.)

Note: I received a free ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE - Paul Gallico

Anyone seeing the classic Irwin Allen film - which started off the hugely-popular disaster movie craze of the 1970's - knows the basic story of The Poseidon Adventure; ocean liner SS Poseidon, on its maiden voyage, is struck by a 99-foot wave caused by an undersea earthquake that literally turns the boat upside down in the water.  Capsized but still floating, those who survived the initial disaster find a strong leader in one of the passengers, Reverend Scott, who wants them all to band together and try to climb up through the overturned ship to the bottom, at the propeller shaft, where hopefully they will rescued.  When only a handful of survivors agree to go with him, the rest staying in the dining salon where they're sure help will be coming, it's up to Scott to lead those who believe in him to safety, the swiftly rising water and other hazards (including fellow passengers) standing between them and survival.  This is a tense novel, far different enough from the 1972 film (more characters and stronger characterizations, for examples) or its remakes, that it deserves to be read - if you're a fan of the film, especially.  That said, be forewarned: the book was originally released in 1969, so don't expect the political correctness of today to necessarily be reflected in the story or its people.  But there are parts of this novel that are just as tense and enthralling as the original film was, and while not always an easy read author Gallico has certainly made it a worthy one.  ****

'SALEM'S LOT - Stephen King

Look all you want, you won't find another horror novel that works quite as successfully as the one-of-a-kind 'Salem's Lot.  Not only because of its hardcore depiction of vampires as the soulless monsters who feed on the innocence and blood of others - as they were in earliest literature (Edward Cullen, you'd best take your glittering butt elsewhere) - but also because 'Salem's Lot is a raw and very naked novel depicting the sins and wrongdoings those in small-town American often hide behind closed doors.  The subject has long fascinated King as a writer, and it's fully blown up like an A-bomb here; Ben Mears is a fair-to-middlingly successful writer who has returned to Jerusalem's Lot - nicknamed 'Salem's Lot - where he lived for some time as a child, to exorcise the demons of something he witnessed in the old Marsten house.  Instead, he learns of a new owner of the Marsten home, the reclusive, never-seen Mr. Barlow, whose arrival fast becomes a catalyst for ... changes, not just in the town but also in those who inhabit it.  Terrifying and original, 'Salem's Lot goes far beyond a "vampire novel" to make those who read it, who have experienced the underlying "something's not right here" feel of a small town, also confront the potential darkness within the human soul.  *****

BAD MONKEY - Carl Hiaasen

Having been to both Orlando and Miami more than once, I can state categorically that humor writer/novelist Carl Hiaasen has the uncanny ability of depicting southern Florida with excruciating accuracy.  It is that nuts there, and no more so than in Bad Monkey, which opens with suspended county cop Andrew Yancy trying to figure out what to do with the business end of a human arm - it's middle finger still extended in one final jab at life - that's still tucked away in his freezer.  Not feeling the boat accident tag the cops have put onto it, no one wants to pursue what Yancy feels certain is a murder for fear of stirring some rough political waters, leaving newly-appointed Health Inspector Yancy to deal with everything from thwarting the sale of a monstrosity of a house next door to dealing with his ex, a sexy coroner, a voodoo queen down in the Bahamas, an insurance fraud scheme ... and, of course, the naughty monkey of the title, who manages somehow to be smart, stupid, disgusting and funny all at the same time.  Typical Hiaasen, only to me not one of his best; normally with him I can go along for the ride, breezing through laughing with the occasional "OMG" thrown in for flavor.  Here, about two-thirds in the story slowed way down for me, and though it picked up again in the end I had almost lost interest by then; still feel like things could have resolved themselves a bit more quickly.  Not horrible, but not his best work either.  **1/2

THE MOURNFUL TEDDY - John J. Lamb

Having never had a teddy bear as a kid (I finally broke down and got one when I was about thirty, naming it Sebastian after the main character in Brideshead Revisited; go figure), I thought a mystery series set around the making of artisan teddy bears and their collectors sounded both original and fascinating, but The Mournful Teddy (first in the "Bear Collectors" series) was just too slow-paced and not quite engaging enough, character-wise, to hold my interest.  Brad Lyon, recently relocating with his wife Ashleigh to a small rural community in Virginia after an injury forced him to retire early from the San Francisco police force, finds himself being pulled back into old habits when his dog discovers a body floating in the nearby river.  Curious about why the local sheriff is far too keen to call it an accident, Brad finds himself wanting to scope out the situation, which soon becomes oddly connected with a local artisan teddy bear show he and his wife - who designs and custom-makes teddy bears - are entering.  When the prized bear of the accompanying auction goes missing, the body in the river looking more and more like the guy who was in charge of delivering it, Brad and Ashleigh work to solve the crime - in a novel much grittier than your average cozy, and one that plays out virtually in "real time" with the story (to me, having both an unrealistic and negative effect on the novel).  Sadly, I found Brad a bit standoffish and unlikable, Ashleigh and the supporting characters not very memorable or well-drawn.  I may or may not try another in the series, but while I still like this idea, the execution of this debut novel left me a little mournful, too.  **

BRINGING IN THE THIEVES - Lora Lee

Many first-in-a-series mysteries tend to be a bit choppy as the author gets his or her bearings with everything from the main sleuth to the setting to the secondary characters and their relationships with each other.  Such is the case with Bringing in the Thieves, where the mystery is solved a bit too simply (even rushed, in the end), some character motivations and coincidences don't ring 100% true, and even a couple of continuity errors jar you a bit from the story.  That said, the lead character and other residents of the fictional Ruby Springs, Texas are just so engaging and home-spun, you can't help but enjoy the book - and even look forward to the next.  Frankie Lou McMasters has just moved back to her hometown with her 11-year-old daughter Betsy, after a rebellious growing up culminated in her moving away years ago for the man she loved.  Now without her ex, Frankie Lou's come back for a fresh start but soon learns that old gossip remains - particularly in the form of old nemesis Poppy Rose Fremont, the church's choir director, who is diametrically opposed to Frankie Lou's proposal to form her own young people's choir of talented, at-risk youth - called The Joyful Noise - to help compete for the church in the upcoming spring festival. But when, just hours after the deacons approve Frankie Lou's idea despite Poppy's rant, Frankie Lou finds Poppy's body in the church baptistery, she becomes the number one suspect ... and between coping with her outspoken crazy neighbor Miss Nettie, or even crazier mother flying up from retirement in Florida to "straighten" things out, Frankie Lou tries to clear her name and stay sane at the same time.  Not a perfect book - future editions need to work more on fleshing out the mystery/sleuthing - but a fun read with genuinely engaging characters. ****

Note: I received a free ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

PAINTED HANDS - Jennifer Zobair

First-time novelist Jennifer Zobair tackles a tough and passionate subject in chronicling the lives of two best friends living in Boston, who happen to be Muslim-American women in America after 9/11.  Amras was always the good girl, the hard worker who has been toiling away for countless hours, for years, in an attempt to make partner at her law firm, when she reconnects (and falls in love with) a crush from childhood who seems the perfect man for her ... even as she wonders how much of herself she can really show to him, considering his more traditional Muslim ways.  Zainab, a strikingly beautiful woman whose feminism mindset puts her at odds with her faith even as she is forced to defend it, gets a job playing a key role in helping a feminist Republican Senate candidate with her campaign, and finds herself up against a severely right-wing radio show host who blasts Muslims and immigration on the air, even he finds himself falling in love with her.  Though many may see this as "women's fiction," I found Zobair's exploration of the political climate in this country, regarding the issues presented, was as intriguing as the characters she's created to carry the story.  A very accomplished first novel, and I look forward to more.  ****1/2

HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS - Agatha Christie

In time for the holidays, re-read this great locked-room puzzle that's a bloody (literally) good time.  Rich, old Simeon Lee, on Christmas Eve, has gathered together all of his estranged children and their mates, in order to stoke old resentments and put his "worthless" sons in their place.  When crashing furniture and a piercing scream send everyone in the house to Simeon's room, the old man is found in a mess of overturned furniture and broken crockery, his throat cut - and the room locked, with only Lee's body inside.  There wasn't even enough time for a murderer to do the deed and escape, but as Hercule Poirot aids in investigating the crime, he finds that old family hatred goes deeper and wider than anyone can suspect.  Another great puzzle by the Queen of Crime, and even with a bit of a fantastic ending it's still great fun getting there.  ****

BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MURDER - Joanne Fluke

The third book in the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series (all of them set in idyllic Lake Eden, Minnesota) opens with Lake Eden in a flurry of activity, preparing for its first Winter Carnival.  Hannah Swensen, owner of the immensely popular The Cookie Jar eatery, is going a bit crazy baking hundreds of cookies with her business partner Lisa ... as well as contending with TV chef Connie Mac, special guest of the carnival who is also providing the fancy cake for the banquet, as well as coming to Lake Eden to promote her new boutique store. Hannah quickly grows tired of the demanding, condescending and mean-spirited Connie - far from the sweetheart she portrays to her general public - and when the banquet cake is destroyed in an accident and Hannah is forced to let Connie use her kitchen at The Cookie Jar to bake another one, Hannah is even further put out when Connie Mac is found dead the next morning in the restaurant's pantry, bashed in the back of the head while in the act of tasting one of Hannah's famous blueberry muffins.  I'm reading the Hannah Swensen series in order, so this is my third - and I have to say, even though the people of Lake Eden are a bit "goody-two-shoes" to be completely believable, each of these books really is like going back home to old friends.  This one's a nicely-plotted mystery with a very suspenseful finish, and it's also really nice that author Fluke develops the characters' lives over the series, as well; these people grow and make changes in their lives, instead of remaining static, one-dimensional characters.  And the recipes; OMG, who wouldn't want to try making the Short Stack Cookies, which supposedly taste exactly like fluffy pancakes generously topped with melted butter and syrup??  Even the mild romantic elements (Hannah has two ongoing suitors in the series, both of whom she likes as well, but in different ways) come off as real, yet at the same time do not impede or interfere at all with the mystery elements of the novels (one of my pet peeves, in some books).  Another winner in the series, and am already pondering #4, Lemon Meringue Pie Murder.  ****

CRIMINAL CONFECTIONS - Colette London

Hayden Mundy Moore is a chocolate whisperer.  Traveling the globe, she is hired by the most elite of chocolate artisans to "fix" any problems they may have, from profits losses to troubleshooting their newest recipes and lines.  She works in complete confidentiality, and has recently come to a high-end chocolate retreat at the chocolate-themed Lemaitre resort spa, courtesy of new owner Christian Lemaitre who has recently ousted his own uncle - Bernard, the "grandfather of chocolate" - from the company.  With her best friend, the burly security expert Danny Jamieson, in tow, Hayden finds herself potentially in need of his professional services when head Lemaitre chocolatier Adrienne Dowling - Hayden's friend - suffers a sudden death the authorities put down to an "accidental overdose" that Hayden's just not buying.  She begins searching for a potential killer, turning over enough rocks to reveal some very ugly secrets, betrayals and lies within the company and possibly endangering her own life ... in this first-in-a-series that I found to be just "okay" due to the not-always-likable sleuth.  Whether reminding readers of her many travels or inherited wealth, or "breaking the fourth wall" by constantly addressing the reader directly (usually in a tongue and cheek manner that becomes a bit grating), between Hayden and a final confrontation between sleuth and killer that wraps up all too quickly and neatly, this is a first mystery that, sadly, doesn't have me leaping too quickly to read the second.  **1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS - Kevin Kwan

One of my favorite books of recent years is a decadent, sumptuous platter of excess from first-time novelist Kevin Kwan, that reminded me of why - many years back - I loved nighttime soaps like "Dynasty" in the first place.  Crazy Rich Asians might have been the simple story of a handsome, successful Chinese guy named Nicholas Young, living in NYC but originally from Singapore, who finally invites his ABC (American-born Chinese) finance, Rachel Chu, on an extended trip to Asia for the summer to meet his family. Nervous about such a big step, Rachel has ZERO idea what she is in for ... because what Nicholas hasn't told her is that he is the first-in-line heir to one of the biggest fortunes in Singapore - and before they even arrive three upper class, disgustingly rich super-families are already gossiping, spying, and preparing to break up the relationship.  Funny, outrageous, decadent, and a vivid depiction of social class and old-vs-new money among Asia's wealthiest families, Crazy Rich Asians is an impressive debut from Kwan that I hope leads to many more books from this talented writer.  ****1/2

ZOM-B BABY - Darren Shan

With apologies for the gruesome cover art, but I chose this image on purpose because - though marketed toward teen/YA audiences - Shan's Zom-B series has been quite mature in subject matter from book one.  Zom-B Baby is fifth in the bestselling series, and while still having its moments of violence and gore, overall this short novel takes a more introspective and spiritual tone, as "B" (the lead character) struggles with a tough decision - staying in London as a member of Dr. Oystein's "angels" and training to fight Mr. Dowling, his mutants and the Owl Man for the future of the human race ... or to believe the good doctor is really a madman after all; one who believes God has chosen him to lead, but in the end may just be a lunatic who gets them all annihilated.  B, already dead, still contends with issues of God, trying to see His hand in this new world of death and destruction and the rising of the undead, and remains in this novel a wonderful, complex lead character you can both root for and identify with.  And then there's the baby.  Holy crap, that baby.  ***1/2   

THE TELL-TALE START (THE MISADVENTURES OF EDGAR & ALLAN POE #1) - Gordon McAlpine

Ever since J.K. Rowling made it cool for adults to read kids and YA literature, adults have become even more aware of just how good "children's fiction" continues to get.  The Tell-Tale Start - designates for reader eight years and up - creates interest for kids and adults alike by bringing to life the great-great-great-great grandnephews of literary legend Edgar Allan Poe, orphaned identical twins Edgar and Allan who live in present-day Baltimore with their caring aunt and uncle.  The psychic bond between Edgar and Allan is almost supernatural; even when not together, one sees and feels and reacts to what is going on with the other, their minds virtually one - and while it's elevated both their intelligence and crafty senses of humor to levels adults can't begin to understand, it's also made them the target of a sinister scientist who kidnaps their best friend and cat, Roderick Usher, in order to lure the twins into his own experiments.  Fun, a bit macabre, and with enough Poe references (including a few cameos from the great writer himself) to both entertain adults and get kids curious about the literary legend, The Tell-Tale Start (which includes wonderful illustrations by Sam Zuppardi) is a nice intro to a unique series.  ****

MY GRANDMA'S A NINJA - Todd Tarpley

Ethan is your average school kid.  A bit on the quiet side, with his core group of friends but not exactly popular, all that changes when his grandma comes to visit and Ethan discovers she's a ninja!  They take a zipline to school the next day, astounding all the kids, and suddenly Ethan is super-popular, his classmates wanting to learn ninja moves from grandma when Ethan presents her for show and tell.  All goes well ... until grandma accidentally lands on (and deflates) Ethan's soccer team's only ball!  My Grandma's a Ninja is a cute story for younger readers (ages 4-8), simply and sweetly illustrated by Danny Chatzikonstantinou (the illustrations reminded me of the more simply-drawn cartoons I watched on television growing up, making me wax nostalgic), about a boy and his grandma, whom he obviously loves no matter what.  I wanted to read this with my two great-nephews, Adrian and Julian, in mind - and I think they'd love it.  ****

Note: I received a free ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.  The book releases 1 March 2015.

WHO ASKED YOU? - Terry McMillan

Bestselling author McMillan expertly crafts a multi-generational novel about family, at the center of which are three middle-aged sisters - no-nonsense BJ (Betty Jean), dutiful, God-centric Venetia, and angry, judgmental Arlene, as they navigate Los Angeles while raising kids and grandkids and trying to be there for each other (often within a family that talks more ABOUT each other than TO each other).  When BJ's drug-addicted daughter, Trinetta, drops her two young sons off at Betty Jean's for what appears to be for good, the part-time hotel room service worker, already trying to deal with a husband slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's, must try to keep her grandsons from the lure of the streets ... while Venetia, giving so much to her husband and two kids, can't even see how much she's neglecting herself ... and Arlene, after nearly thirty years of single motherhood spent smothering her overweight son, feels the frustration and betrayal of his finally breaking free.  McMillan juggles multiples points of view (each chapter in the "voice" of a different character) quite well; you grow to care for, and about, what happens to them ... as well as identify with the storm-ravaged waters of dealing with both siblings and family.  ****