I stayed up late last night to finish "The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Stieg Larsson. I couldn't wait to find out the ending...there had been so many unexpected twists and turns...I was riveted.
And then just as I reached page 503 at midnight, I was greeted with a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger!!!!! I can't say for sure but there may have been swear words involved as I walked around the apartment getting ready for bed.
"The Girl Who Played With Fire" is the second in a three part series. The first book, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," was released last year. Amazon states that the third and last book, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," will be released on Oct. 31. However, the official Web site of Stieg Larsson has a date of January 2010. Oh, please let it be Oct. 31. I don't think I can wait until January to find out what happens.
If you're unfamiliar with Stieg Larsson and his series...allow me to introduce you. Stieg Larsson was a Swedish author who died unexpectedly shortly after delivering these three manuscripts. It's very sad that these are the only three works we'll ever see from him. Larsson was a great writer who had a gift for storytelling.
The books follow journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who is part owner of a magazine called Millennium. In both books he becomes involved in criminal investigations. Trouble definitely seems to follow him. His sidekick in the first book, Lisbeth Salander, is one of the main characters in the second book. She is feisty, aloof, smart, interesting...she is unlike any character I have read before. And she has a history... a mysterious history that keeps you guessing until the end of the second book.
These books are definitely a bit racey with its content. A LOT of discussion about sex crimes, sex trading, prostitution, incest...etc. So if these subjects make you uncomfortable, you might want to pick up something else to read.
But if you're game, check them out.
Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Let's review...'Real Murders' by Charlaine Harris
When I was younger every Saturday my father would take me to Spags in Shrewsbury. If you're not from around the Worcester area where Spags is a legend, picture Building 19 meets Home Depot meets BJs. It was the kind of place where you could get name brand items super on sale but you had to bring your own bag - or find a box lying around.
I would always spend most of my time in the book section at Spags searching for mysteries written by Christopher Pike, RL Stine or Agatha Christie. Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys were also a favorite of mine. There was something about these "who-done-it" novels that really drew me in. As you might have guessed I also really enjoyed playing Clue! (And still do in case anyone else is game).
When I found "Real Murders" by Charlaine Harris in Barnes and Noble the other day, I was reminded of those books from my childhood. I was hoping that "Real Murders" would be a similar novel and take me back to those days when I would read a 200-300 page book in a couple of hours while PBS cooking shows (who doesn't love to watch Yan Can Cook???) played in the background on the television.
I was not disappointed.
"Real Murders," the first in a series called the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, is a fun little book anyone could breeze through in a couple of hours. I wasn't sure if at the end of the book I would want to read more in the series but I find myself wanting to know what happens to main character Aurora Teagarden. What other kind of shenanigans does she get herself into?
And I have to say I didn't even suspect who the killer was - which is a sign of a good mystery indeed.
The writing isn't tight. Harris makes many faux pas' which I was strictly told never to do in my creative writing classes. But that's Ok because I wasn't reading "Real Murders" for the best piece of literature ever created. I wanted a little fun and a little intrigue. And that's what I got.
Now, if I could only figure out...was it Mr. Green in the library with the candlestick? Or Professor Plum in the billiard room with the rope?
I would always spend most of my time in the book section at Spags searching for mysteries written by Christopher Pike, RL Stine or Agatha Christie. Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys were also a favorite of mine. There was something about these "who-done-it" novels that really drew me in. As you might have guessed I also really enjoyed playing Clue! (And still do in case anyone else is game).
When I found "Real Murders" by Charlaine Harris in Barnes and Noble the other day, I was reminded of those books from my childhood. I was hoping that "Real Murders" would be a similar novel and take me back to those days when I would read a 200-300 page book in a couple of hours while PBS cooking shows (who doesn't love to watch Yan Can Cook???) played in the background on the television.
I was not disappointed.
"Real Murders," the first in a series called the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, is a fun little book anyone could breeze through in a couple of hours. I wasn't sure if at the end of the book I would want to read more in the series but I find myself wanting to know what happens to main character Aurora Teagarden. What other kind of shenanigans does she get herself into?
And I have to say I didn't even suspect who the killer was - which is a sign of a good mystery indeed.
The writing isn't tight. Harris makes many faux pas' which I was strictly told never to do in my creative writing classes. But that's Ok because I wasn't reading "Real Murders" for the best piece of literature ever created. I wanted a little fun and a little intrigue. And that's what I got.
Now, if I could only figure out...was it Mr. Green in the library with the candlestick? Or Professor Plum in the billiard room with the rope?
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