Review of “Nineteen Eighty Four” or “1984” by George Orwell (1949)
Bottom line: Definitely worth a read, as it explores timeless topics such as power, inequality, and control. Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1948 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “Negative Utopia” – […]
Review of Pompomberry House by Rosen Trevithick (2012)
Bottom line: A very fun read with a good mystery, an interesting main character (despite describing every single hat she puts on), and a clever roasting of the indie scene. Rating: Recommended Blurb: A writer’s retreat seemed the perfect chance for Dee Whittaker to take her mind off her marital difficulties. However, she meets five […]
Review of Timekeeper by Heather Albano (2012)
Bottom line: A very strong sequel to Timepiece, and a very fun read. Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: An alternate history adventure featuring time travelers, freedom fighters, Frankenstein’s monster, the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon invading Britain by dirigible. — In Timepiece, young adventurer Elizabeth Barton and her suitor William Carrington used a mysterious pocket watch […]
Review of the Lord Peter & Harriet Vane mysteries by Dorothy Sayers
Bottom line: Great mysteries, great characters, great writing. I cannot recommend these highly enough. Rating: Strongly Recommended Review: Gaudy Night is my all-time favorite book. Not just mystery, but book. The other three books in this series are all very, very good (though I’d rate Have His Carcase a bit below the other three – […]
Five Free Kindle E-book Classic Mysteries Written in the 1800s
I think it’s interesting to read some of the earliest mysteries and science fiction and see what has changed in the genres over the centuries. Some are as enthralling as the day they were published and some….not so much. Here are five free Kindle e-book mysteries from some of the writers who popularized the genre […]
Review of The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (2011) (The Steampunk Chronicles – Book 1)
Bottom line: An intriguing first full-length installment of the series. I had a few complaints about the writing, but the story was very entertaining. I’d recommend reading The Strange Case of Finley Jayne first (although you don’t need it for The Girl in the Steel Corset to make sense) because it’s free and if you […]
Review of Blunt Instrument by Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hannasyde #4) (1938)
Bottom line: An easy-going murder mystery set in 1930s London. Worth a try if you’re a fan of Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh and want something new (especially if you can borrow it). I didn’t enjoy it as much as I usually enjoy a Christie or Marsh, but it was still a pleasant enough read. […]