Today, Hartford Books Examiner offers up a ninth volume of “bite-sized” book reviews…
Watch Me Die by Erica Spindler – Mira Gallier is a stained-glass restoration artist who has just begun to put the pieces of her life back together after Hurricane Katrina robbed her of her husband. A series of murders (and other bizarre events) threaten her newfound sanity as she finds herself the target of both a psychopath who will stop at nothing to claim her and a misdirected police investigation. Spindler delivers fast-paced suspense, characters with emotional depth, and a poignant portrayal of life post-Katrina in what is another winner in an impressive arsenal of books.
My Life as a Teenage Golden Girls Fan by Maria Capozzoli – High school student Maria Capozzoli’s first book may be slight in size but it’s certainly not short on feeling. The author traces her love of the beloved sitcom The Golden Girls, relating the moral of the story—or the episode, as the case may be--to lessons learned in her own life. Tributes to the actresses, trivia, and an episode guide are also included. Fans of the show, whether old or new, will travel down this road and back again with fondness…
ZombieStop Parade by Richard Buzzell – This satire ambitiously (and quite amusingly) endeavors to explore the current financial crisis. Written in a series of journal entries that recall both political and personal turmoil, the content is thought-provoking but accessible. Further, Buzzell’s narrative serves as a reminder to the reader that hope is not lost—at least for those who are courageous enough to look for it.
Jamie Lee Curtis: Scream Queen by David Grove – Scream Queen is an impressively researched chronicle of the period (late 70’s/early 80’s) in which Curtis was the “go to” girl for horror films such as Halloween, Prom Night and Terror Train. Little known production details and a plethora of interviews with the films’ cast and crew members will prove invaluable to fans. Grove’s redundancy and obvious bias for his subject, however, often detract from readability.
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard – The author of the Pretty Little Liars books launches a new series with The Lying Game, which introduces teenagers Emma and Sutton—twins who have never met, one of whom appears to have died in a snuff film. Emma assumes the identity of her sister in the hopes of discovering the truth only to realize that she has put her own life at risk. Shepard’s fans will delight in the customary secrets, betrayals, and diabolical dramas, which she serves up with gusto.
The Perfect Prey by James Andrus – Andrus is the pen name for a career law enforcement officer, and that background is evident in the procedural details that are depicted in this book, which is the second to feature missing persons detectives James Stalling and Patty Levine. Here, the two investigate a series of violent crimes perpetrated against spring-breakers by a cunning predator in what serves as a cautionary tale for the uninhibited. The Perfect Prey is the perfect beach read.
Bloody Treason: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by Noel Twyman – A then-groundbreaking look at the JFK assassination, this rare 1997 title is now available as an e-book. Exhaustively researched and documented, Bloody Treason presents a synthesis of evidence both old and new, connecting long-debated dots while also drawing original conclusions and highlighting areas of study for future investigation. This mammoth tomb deserves to be a part of any serious Kennedy scholar’s collection.
Black Swan by Chris Knopf – Black Swan is Connecticut author Knopf’s fifth Sam Acquillo Hamptons Mystery, and while the book doesn’t feature ballerinas behaving badly, there are enough twists and turns to rival any big screen thriller. Tough guy Acquillo and girlfriend Amanda Anselma are forced to dock their sailboat on Fishers Island to ride out a storm, and murder and mayhem naturally ensue. The author’s expert knowledge of boating and gift for creating suitably atmospheric settings are the wind in this book’s sails.
HBE wants to know: What books have impressed you recently? Sound off in the comments section below…
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