The Overnight Guest

My first thoughts on this book were it took too long to get interesting, I was confused at first as to what this story was trying to say, and it was hard in the beginning to follow the two periods of time. Anyway it was toward the middle of book the events were getting clearer to understand.

Heather did a wonderful job lying out what the characters were about, doing, and the descriptions of things actually put you in the book.

I can understand why Wylie Lark changed her name. At the end it all comes together and you go "Ah I see now. She's been through a lot"

There are these three mysteries going on different times but linked together. I try not to try to figure it out. When I do I spoil the story for myself. Although the one I did figure it out. Now come on who doesn't question a person, Randy of why is he in the barn of people he hated? After answering that he wanted to help, please all of a sudden he wanted to help the people he hates? There was more to Randy as we see at the end of the story.

There are a lot of characters in this story to keep up with. A vibe of Agatha Christie going on there. She had a lot of characters in her books too. It gives the reader more to sink their teeth into of who dunit.

Scary that this takes place in a blizzard. Which I would never just go out to see where a sound was coming from, or someone out there that shouldn't be. I was frustrated with Josie because of that. For a true crime writer she was naive. Although Josie was a fighter. She wouldn't give up. Even for a friend that was still alive.

Some of things I do highlight that I saw worthy to connect me with the story more.

I give The Overnight Guest 4 

I though it confusing in beginning. I have another book of Heather Gudenkauf's and look forward to reading it.

 

The Gift

Heard a lot of chatter about this author. This was the 1st book I was able to read this year. Being a short story it only took me about 2 days to read.

To me it felt like a Tales of the Crypt kind of style. Didn't realize it was author's vision of The Gift of the Magi.

There was a lesson in there. How loving and caring for each other is greater than the stuff you have. Although Justin's way was sweet but with a motive just for Christmas. Then he would be gone.

Stella's way was more intent of losing her hair. However she really wanted to give Justin something nice she needed to be talked into it though. For all that they fought and it was not worth it after all.

All in all shows that sometimes it better to find the little things you have. You may find they are the bigger, sweeter ways of life.

Stella did take her power back but happiness ???

Author has written this story smoothly and tells it with no fancy words. You knew what each character was and what they stood for. Keeping towards the original work of O. Henry 1905

I give The Gift 5-------->

 

Towards Zero

 

This was an interesting story. A story that any character could be a killer. Each character had something going on in their lives that made them suspicious. Didn't realize this was Sergeant Battle's last showing. And so he had a lot of things to do. Things to show is nephew who was a policeman also. Although a brief section of Battle and his daughter was written, apparently Battle saw that that gave a break for him in this case.

This was a different read from Agatha Christie's books. More about mental abuse than just sinister murder, or was it? Especially between Audrey, Kay and Neville Strange that was some kind of sickness going on there

Interesting to solve a murder people begin with the murder. The murder is at the end. The story begins long before that. For this it takes a lot of research, questions, prodding etc.. A lot of characters as usual AC writes.

It was fun to read that Hercule Poirot made this story. Battle brought him up because with giving everything Battle and his nephew had with these murders at a party. There's nothing I can say or do like being in a trap and you can't get out. Battle thought about Poirot things not being quite symmetrical gets him worked up. Then he solves the case. So Battle goes about that way.

Finally in Poirot style, Battle gets everyone together and one by one rules each out. Sort of! And solves the case. First time for me that there was a romance at the end. Audrey falls for the person who helped her.

I give Towards Zero 5-------->

The Cruelest Month

This is only the 3rd book in the series. Sadly I didn't like this one. It was darker than the other 2. And Gamache was a bit out of sorts this time. I don't know if it was the people who were to keep an eye on Gamache, or his best friend thought of him all this time as jealousy. And his family were threaten.

The story of Hadley House was always to be in the forefront. I just don't know this story was disconnected for me

TS Eliot poem meaning- believing that hope was cruel because it always led to disappointment.He always believed that the contrast between the despair of a person and the bright world of Spring 

can make the person even more unhappy. Like when flowers start to bud but the cold weather is not really done. So in cases, the buds don't make it.

 And maybe that's why it was a disconnect. All through the story there was hope only for it to be taken away of sorts.

Anyways I give The Cruelest Month  4

Am looking to read the 4th book!

Broadway Butterfly

I really wanted to like this book. I usually don't go for books that are non fiction. Although this book is not  marked as non fiction, it is based on true facts.

I actually sat in on an interview with this author and of course made the book interesting to read. And also was from the city I lived. 

It got to the point that I couldn't wait til I finished book. The story itself was very interesting but very repetitive. One good thing it was a Kindle First Reads choice. Of course there could be no ending as we know because well Who dunit? Not every ending gets all wrapped up with a bow.

I felt a bit sorry for Dot King. For she never really got to live her life and never knew what she was getting into. Getting herself involved with a politician (of sorts), people with a lot of money using for who knows what? Dot's own family trying to cash in.

The life of a flapper is glamours? Or is it dangerous, or both?

At the end I can only say story was interesting. Confusing on where the author wanted to take this story( I believe it"s because she tried to stick to the true story and not sound factual) It's hard to do that. For that she lost a lot of other readers as well as me. Which brings the thought should I read another book by this author? Time can only tell.

I give Broadway Butterfly 3-4