I've read most of Wittig-Albert's books,and I've liked them. This one, though, attempts a stronger thematic element: relationships between mothers and daughters. And in an effort to let the reader know that this is NOT just plot, but an examination and a message, she over-does it. There are several sets of mothers and daughters whose stories are woven here, to the point that we want to cry out, "Ok, ok. Enough! I get the point." Now, who killed Wylie? Add to that some gratuitous recipes and a ghost who conveniently leaves old diaries around and trails lillies of the valley scent throughout the house, and you have one long and slightly boring experience.

Les Roberts' Cleveland settings were what attracted me to him in the first place: I went to college near Cleveland, and have family there. But having been attracted, I found myself delighted as well: this is a great series of detective novels...good plot, interesting characters, and some very masterful writing. I recommend the whole series--highly.

...P>But I think what we have in this novel is pure craftsmanship, the kind where the artist paints the leaf and the twig and leaves the tree and the landscape to the viewer's imagination. Jesse Stone doesn't NEED to say any more than he does, nor do any of the other characters in the book. And the plot is really quite complicated and intricate, with all lines coming together by the last page...as well as the final hint of more to come and life and intrigue resuming even after we have put the book down.

Parker, you get better with every novel. Reader, don't be decieved. This is one really well written book!

I've read all of Paretsky's books so far, and I will read more--because she's a good writer, and I'm not giving up after one grindingly boring experience. Yes, there were good moments in this book, and a glimmering of history which redeems it. But in a world saturated with holocaust stories, Paretsky's use of this background and character motivation was neither exceptional nor believable. And in a genre which depends on strong characters, suspense, and careful plotting, the obsession with the WW II background causes the novel to trip and stumble, and the reader to yawn and wish the book would come to an end.

At least one review has called Les Roberts a 'hard-boiled' writer. Not so! "The Indian Sign" is a mystery of intricate structure, and overtones of Greek tragedy...with traditional elements from the tragic hero/stoic Indian grandfather to the chorus of whining women who populate the novel and comment mournfully on the action. And it all rests upon the human shoulders of Milan, the flawed detective whose very human-ness moves the action to the surprising ending.

This is a fine reference! It asks the hard questions, and the workbook exercises are designed to help everyone over the tough answers. Readable, practical, most helpful.

Want a quick course in mystery story formula writing? Look no farther: "Reservations for Murder" has them all. Here's a partial list: undeveloped main character with no real human foibles or conflicts; dumb sheriff; small town police force; good cafe where everyone gathers; nice scenery; love interest for the main character; hints of seamy sex for the secondary characters; a murder victim disliked by everybody; many motives for the killing; a lot of tea-drinking and assignations by the rosebushes. Season this recipe with 180 pages of really unimaginative writing and here you have it: a cliche of a novel, written quickly and without much skill, a Saturday afternoon time-waster if it's raining outside and there's nothing on tv.

"The Woman Who Married A Bear" is an incredibly wonderful novel. It is filled with one-of-a-kind characters who mesh into a compelling, tangled story line. Add to that mix the uniqueness of Sitka, Alaska and and the craftsmanship of Straley as a writer, and you have a fine reading experience. I've ordered the other novels in the Cecil Younger series, and I can't wait to get at 'em.

I always get excited when I seem Mary Daheim's name as the author of a new bed-and-breakfast mystery...or at least I always USED to get excited. "Suture Self" takes place in a hospital--the ultimate bed and breakfast--and is as cutsey and improbable as its title implies. The largest problem is the location, as you might guess: it's difficult to have three murders on your floor, have the various characters wander in your room and confess, and observe the hit and run from your hospital window. It just doesn't work. And the humor that Daheim usually exhibits doesn't work either: it's strained and artificial, filled with weak puns and plays on words.

I'm saddened to see Daheim turn out such a weak product: this is a formulaic novel based on her past work but, unlike the hospital in which it is set, the novel is sterile and lacking in credibility and color.

Perhaps winter in Northern Michigan brings out my desire to prove to myself that there ARE people in the world who are colder than I am, and that's why I have been reading mystery novels with Alaska settings. Whatever the reason, "A Deadly Quiet" is one of the best I've read in recent months. Christopher Lane's prose is masterful, and evocative of the shivering stillness and sheets of snow. The characters are sharp against the landscape, and the setting is unusual and intriguing. I recommend this book: it's well written and suspenseful. Perfect for a quiet evening by a fire!