BOOK REVIEW: Poldark: Flawed Hero

Image from PBS

I am a big fan of British mysteries, comedies and dramas so it is no surprise that I am a fan of Masterpiece Theater.  I recorded Poldark when it appeared on PBS and enjoyed the series, but did find it a bit on the slow side.  I heard that there was also another “mini-series” done in the 1970s.  I knew that both were based on a book so I looked it up and saw that the first book was published in 1945 (post-world war II) and the last book was published in 2002.  I was really curious in reading Ross Poldark and suggested it for my online reading group.  It won the poll so I was motivated in reading it.

An older edition: Google Images

ROSS POLDARK

(The Poldark Saga: #1)

Written by Winston Graham

1945 (Reissued: 2015); Pan/Sourcebook Landmark (393 Pages)

RATING: 4.5 STARS

“Cornwall, 1783-1787

Tired from a grim war in America, Ross Poldark returns to his land and family, only to find his father has died, his estate is derelict, and the girl he loved is engaged to another. But then he rescues a half-starved urchin girl and takes her home; an act which, it turns out, will alter his life.” (From Publisher)

2015 TV tie-in cover: Goodreads

I started this book thinking it would an okay family saga, but was really surprised on how much I loved this book.  For me it was a bit like the first moment I read Outlander.  I could reread this book a few time like I did with Outlander.  it is because I really connected with this novel.  The character development throughout the book was so well-written.  You were given more than just a snippet of the person and their life. Throughout the book we would visit key characters and learn more about them this way. Ross is what I would call a “Bronte/Austen” hero in that he is brooding, flawed but also wants redemption.  I liked him as a character and a hero. I was always rooting for him, but also had a bit of a crush on how he wants to help others.

1970s TV Tie-in cover: Google Images

Graham is also great with the dialogue and interactions between the characters.  It is through different characters that we also get the whole of who Ross is.  His genuine affection for his cousin Verity shows his sensitive caring ways.  You see the vulnerability and yet strength when he interacts with Elizabeth.  I also liked that Graham did not turn characters in caricatures or one dimensional.  Even the “villains” and “quirky” characters have all sides.  I wanted to have constant hate-on with Elizabeth but you do see how she gets the way she does and I end up feeling pity for her.

Books defined as “sagas” can either be angsty dramas, sex and gossip or really gripping portraits. Or it is for me.  This one worked for me because it was well-researched in the historical time it took place.  You didn’t just get the sense of the time, but what was going on in those days – politics, social norms, courtships, war, etc.  Ross Poldark has a great mix of drama, action, romance and history.  It balances out perfectly so that you just really are entertained by a well-written book.  I highly recommend you just try this book as it may be better than you think it will.

BOOK REVIEW: The Perfect Stranger

Image: Goodreads

THE PERFECT STRANGER

Written by Megan Miranda

2017; Simon & Schuster (352 Pages)

RATING: 2.5 STARS

I read Miranda’s first novel, All the Missing Girls and liked it.  While it was not the best writing  (couldn’t really connect or relate to the characters, and the suspense wasn’t that great) the way that Miranda wrote the book in reverse was very interesting.  The writing was okay in that they mystery was not bad and there was promise that with a bit of polish the next novel could really be good.  I was eagerly awaiting to try her next novel, The Perfect Stranger.  I have to say that the novel had the same issues as I found with the first book without any clever tricks.

There is Leah, the main character, who left her job as a journalist to become a teacher.  It is hinted that it is not by choice.  I could not come to like Leah even at the end.  I found her a bit whiny and brash.  Her roommate, Emmy has disappeared but she can’t really prove that Emmy even exists.  There is some stalking..which is easy to figure out who it is, but the motivation for it is a bit weak.  Kyle Donovan is the detective in charge but he is not professional. He does whatever Leah tells him to do despite him being in trouble for this in the past.  I didn’t get the romance angle for them.  I was done in several chapters in, but I thought there might be a twist so I kept reading.  I try really hard to like Miranda’s books.  I do want to read one of her young adult novels as the angst might make more sense in teen books.  A lot of people to seem to like this book, so again this may just be me.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

BOOK REVIEW: Her Every Fear

Image: Goodreads

HER EVERY FEAR

Written by Peter Swanson

2017; William Morrow (352 Pages)

RATING: 4 STARS

I read Her Every Fear in January, but I have not been able to write a review until now.  Though this time it was not because I cannot pin down a rating, but rather what do I exactly want to say.  I requested this book from NetGalley as I heard so many great things about The Kind Worth Killing.  I figured I would grab Peter Swanson’s newest novel as it too was a standalone.  I was intrigued from the beginning.  At first, I assumed that I would not like this book based on the main character, Kate.  She’s bit of a needy character and sometimes I lose patience with that, especially when it comes to suspense/mystery genres.  Then something happened – I was transported into a Patricia Highsmith novel.  For those of you that have not (yet!) read Highsmith it is indeed a treat for those that like a good psychological thriller.  Movies such as Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley are a few that were adapted from her books.  Highsmith has this way of making you slightly uncomfortable about the characters so that you are almost neutral about them.  They are in situations that dangerous and it can turn a person.  That is how I felt while I read this book.  I didn’t try to guess what was coming because I was enjoy the present.  This is a well written book that I had a few tiny issues with (some plot that can be spoilers) but overall really enjoyed.  I hope you do to!

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

BOOK REVIEW: Dead Letters

Image: Goodreads

DEAD LETTERS

Written by Caite Dolan-Leach

2016; Random House (352 Pages)

RATING: 1.5 STARS

I was sold with the synopsis starting as “sharp and clever debut novel of suspense”.  Right away I clicked on the “request” button at the library.  With debut authors, I will always give a bit of slack when it comes to the story line as this is their first novel.  Before my hold came in I happened upon a  fellow blogger’s review (a blogger who loves the suspense/mystery/thriller genre as much as I do) on this book.  I saw her warning that this novel was in fact, not a true suspense mystery but more of a literary fiction. I decided to still read the book when it came in, but kept her warning in mind.

Ava and Zelda are identical twins and have not spoken in two years, when Ava ran off to France for grad school.  When Ava finds out that Zelda has died in a fire, she comes home to deal with…everything she ran away from.   Her mother’s alcoholism has led to her becoming more unstable, her father’s abandonment for another family, her own sister’s drinking and betrayal, and finally her feelings for her ex-boyfriend.

There is a slight mystery in this book, but it’s not really interesting in the sense there is no suspense.  None of the characters are likeable which is not a big deal as long as the story is strong and/or you can relate or care for the characters in some way.  Even with my literary lens on, I could not get into this one. This book also touted that it was a “thriller about a dysfunctional family” but I found that they were just selfish rather than a flawed but interesting characters.    I did finish this book despite wanting to abandon ship a few times.  I stayed in for the long haul because I wanted to think there was going to be something coming ahead that would turn this book around.

Book Review: One Perfect Lie

Image: Google Images

ONE PERFECT LIE

Written by Lisa Scottoline

April 11, 2017; St. Martin’s Press (384 Pages)

RATING: 3.5 STARS

I still remember my first Lisa Scottoline novel, The Vendetta Defense, which is the sixth book in the Rosato and Associates series.  I loved the main character, Judy Carrier in the legal drama as much as I enjoyed the story and the quirky secondary characters.  While the novels in the series are serious for the most part, there is a slight bit of humour that makes it endearing and realistic.  As soon as I finished The Vendetta Defense I decided I needed to read whatever else Scottoline had written.  I found out that The Vendetta Defense was actually a part of a series so I found the first book, Everywhere that Mary Went.  Now I loved Mary DiNunzio and her wacky family and friends.   As of today I have read every book by Scottoline, except the nonfiction books she writes with her daughter, and four of her standalone suspense novel (also marketed as “emotional thrillers”).  I plan to read those four books but kind of don’t want to be caught up with Scottoline.  I like the sense of having some books to turn to when I need a Scottoline fix.  I generally rate her novels 3-4 stars so was really upset when I read her last standalone suspense, The Most Wanted, and rated it only two stars.  Yet, I really enjoyed her latest Rosato & DiNunzio series.  So…I was a bit scared going into One Perfect Night but as I started the first chapter I was hooked.

Chris Brennan has been hired as a teacher and coach for a high school, based on his amazing resume and charisma.  The only thing is…it is all a lie.  Everything Chris says is a lie.  He is here looking for one student to help him, and he will pit three friends against each other to get what he wants. One of the three boys is the popular rich and handsome Evan Kostis.  He has everything at his fingertips, so would he accept a challenge?  His mother, Mindy is busy trying to find out if her husband is cheating on her, so doesn’t uncover her son’s secrets till it is too late.  Second, is the bad boy spiraling out of control, Raz Sematov.  After the death of his beloved father his family, older brother and mother, are falling apart.  Susan doesn’t know how to hold it all together as that was what her husband did.  Can she pry out the truth from her boys before they get themselves further in trouble? Lastly, is the good and hardworking Jordan Larkin.  His mother, Heather is a single mother trying to earn enough money to make sure her son can go to college.  Jordan is getting better at sport and school which threatens his friendship with Raz.  Quitting her job, Heather is now around to see what is going on in her son’s life and is starting to realize he may be in danger.  Secrets and lies will collide as Chris begins his plan…

I apologize if my review is a bit vague.  It seems like everything I had an issue with or liked could be a possible spoiler.  I am going to try and be careful.  I was really engaged in this novel until the first twist.  As soon as the first part ended so did the story for me.  While the twist wasn’t a shock, it also felt too easy.  It took the story to another place where I didn’t want to see it go.  If how everything portrayed in the first part stayed that way it would have gone down a really interesting path,   I do understand why the author felt it needed to be this way.  I continued reading even though the subject matter was no longer a story line I liked,  because I was a bit curious to see how the mystery would end.  Scottline is great at revealing things a bit at a time in this book, so you are not wondering where these things were coming from, and how things unfolded.  There is also a bit of a romance, but I didn’t like the chemistry between these characters and it seemed to be too quick in some ways.  I found the novel to be entertaining as the action was quick and would recommend this as a beach read. Or as my dad would say, “it’s an action movie…you never question why.”

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

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