Molly

This was a great period detective thriller -- but an excessively graphic one. Mr. Kerr earns high points for his research and detail but the rape scene was, in my mind, too much. If anything will keep me from purchasing his books in the future, it is the nightmares that I have had after listening to the graphic details of that scene.

The writing, the plot, the narration - they were all working for this story and I really wanted to like it. But I found one of the heros, Younger, to be a complete cad, a violent, nasty, overbearing snob. He detracted from every scene he was in. Leave me Colette, Livermore, and Luc, but take that Younger out.

A fun detective story in the old style of murder in an English mansion, with great twists and delightful characters. There is also a sweet undercurrent of romance and wonderful dialogue.

Great story, great reader - simply a lot of fun to listen to. Don't be put off by the fact it is a classic - you will enjoy the humor.

The writing and the narration was great. Pavone's attention to detail and great dialogue, as well as the back and forth between the past, present, and future, kept me hooked till the end.

The dialogue and the heroine, Kate. The details about expat life were fabulous...I have lived abroad for most of my adult life and, while it is not as exciting as in the book, I definitely noticed things I could relate to.

The plot was also well thought out and crafted.

Kate was my favorite.

Too many secrets.

I was not crazy about the ending. The build up was so great, and I loved the final confrontation...not sure how it should have ended, but I was a bit disappointed in the way it did. That is the only reason I am giving it a four instead of five stars.

No, unfortunately not. The writing is great, but the plot is not. I love Robert Harris, especially his historical novels, but this is one of his weakest.

Hot Money, Dick Francis

He really brought the tension alive.

Perhaps. It might work better as a series. This one was just thin.

no

Alan Furst is wonderful at atmosphere but slim on plot development lately - this book is a return to his best, like The Polish Officer and Night Soldiers, which is still his best book in my opinion. Foreign Correspondent has strong characters, a likable hero and an interesting story line. Well worth the time.

As much as I love the Dexter series, the last two books were just okay. This is one is back to the basics, with Dexter facing fatherhood, his brother and mayham with his signature style.

Another great book by Robert Harris. He doesn't disappoint with The Ghost Writer, even at moments when you think the book has lost momentum, it turns out he is just getting started. I have loved Harris' work since Fatherland and he appears to just keep getting better.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I tried to listen to it several times and finally, after making it through the first half, simply gave up. The author obviously has a lot of respect for what Genghis Khan achieved but that -- at least in the first half -- spills over into unchecked admiration. Perhaps that is necessary to balance the accounts after centuries of bad mouthing the Mongols' conquests and campaign, but I think it goes overboard.