Cornelia Read

The computer can be your friend or it can be your enemy. It depends on what one is attempting to accomplish. I have had horrendous experiences trying to post new reviews; I jump through more hoops than a seal at Sea World but I have also be fortunate enough to discover great writers through Facebook. Cornelia Read is the latest in my long line of discovery.
   For those of you who have never read her mysteries/ social commentary, you don't know what you're missing. I am here to tell you this woman can write her a** off.
  I read all three of her books within a two week period. I whipped right through them and then wanted more.
  Ms. Read's protagonist, Madeline Dare, is without question one of the most interesting characters in mystery fiction today. Ms. Dare is a multi-faceted protagonist; snarky, witty, socially conscious and extremely likable. Cornelia Read imbues her characters with such realism and with such humanity that the reader really wants to know them in real life. I know it is a cliche but I honestly mean it when I say I'd like nothing better than to spend time with Madeline Dare and her cronies. I also think that spending time with the author would be a riot. If one is looking for a mystery novel filled with fully fleshed characters, a tightly woven plot and a "spot on" depiction of Old Money and their descendants then please check out the novels by the amazing Cornelia Read.

Apologies to Suzanne Collins

    Several months ago I wrote a somewhat disparaging review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I take it all back. I was wrong. I honestly think I was so ready to dislike the book and it's sequels merely because I thought she was going to end up writing as poorly and as hackneyed as Stephanie Meyers and the truly heinous TWILIGHT series. At my daughters urging I picked up The Hunger Games once more and read it in it's entirety. Yes, there are are parallels to The Wizard of Oz and to the seminal 1984 and Animal Farm but Ms. Collins  manages to bring a freshness to the subject therein.  Despite the not so subtle allusions to reality shows, the American Revolution and the formation of the 13 states the author manages to engage the reader; to imbue her characters with a vibrancy and a sense of pathos rather than bathos so prevalent in todays YA Lit. To be clear, this is not YA Lit. per se but a book that can be read, enjoyed and discussed by all ages. I am presently finishing the second book in the trilogy; CATCHING FIRE, and if my daughter does not finish the third book, MOCKINGJAY in a timely matter I shall be forced to buy a copy for myself. In conclusion I must implore all readers to give each and every book they are reading or skimming to try once again at the beginning. One never knows. One might  find a truly gifted author or a truly engrossing tale. If the reader is lucky they will find both. And if one is really fortunate one will discover an author who will continue to write excellent books.

Really excellent authors.

I am going to keep this short and sweet. I have been reading like a mad fool but due to issues beyond my control ( i.e. the computer and Network blogs) I have been unable to post recent reviews. In the spirit of brevity I say this; if anyone really enjoys well written, well plotted mystery novels then I encourage you to read all of the books by Vicki Lane and Cornelia Read. You will not be disappointed. I discovered both authors by lucky chance (and Facebook) and tore through all of their books at quite an unseemly pace. The authors and their characters are vastly different in plot, backstory and general tone of their stories. Both writers are at the top of their game and are not to be missed. Trust me, I read all the time.