The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
I wanted to love this book by the author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. I didn’t love it, a problem I’m having with a lot of…
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
This is a strange, complicated story, involving time and mind-reading and intricate clockwork. Pulley’s debut novel is artfully written and most importantly, the characters are well-drawn…
Mr. Mac and Me by Esther Freud
When I’m reading a novel about a historical figure, I want the book to be factual enough that I get a good sense of who the…
The Spider and the Stone by Glen Craney
If you’re interested in detailed historical fiction about Scotland, this is a great book. The Spider and the Stone tells the story of the years between…
Mini Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
This was the last book I finished in 2013, and it was a great way to close the year! I was struggling halfway through A.M. Homes,…
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice is Laurie R. King’s take on Sherlock Holmes towards the end of his career. In this first book of a series, Holmes meet…
Review of A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd
I was excited about this book, because I’ve been looking for a good historical mystery to sink my teeth into for a while. I love the…
Review: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
I’ve had kind of a mental block about writing this review, which is strange. I often wake up with a review in my head and putting…
Review of Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Life After Life is one of those books that’s hard to review. It’s a challenging read and it’s got glowing critical reviews. I’m a big fan…
Review of At Drake’s Command by David Wesley Hill
Author David Wesley Hill sent me his novel, At Drake’s Command, with a request for review. I love historical fiction, but I’ve never read the works…
Review of The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
I’m mixed about The Secret Keeper. On the one hand, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. On the other hand, books of this genre just feel a…
Review: Small Island by Andrea Levy
Small Island is a book about Jamaicans during World War II who dream of seeing the larger world and move to London. It’s also a book…
