What We're Reading

Book Reviews by the staff of the Mendocino County Library

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Phryne Fisher mystery series by Kerry Greenwood


People kept recommending these and I kept thinking if her name is Fern, spelled it Fern.
Well it is not. She is named for Phryne, fry nee, after the Greek Courtesan.
Here is a link if you want to know more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phryne

Of course, she has a sister who only plays a very small part, named Eliza (consecrated to God)
What were her parents thinking.

Well I just jumped in and read the first one I came across. It would probably be fun to read them in order so here is another link: http://www.phrynefisher.com/books.html

Phyrne is a wonderful liberated woman of her time. An exact opposite of the Stepford Wives.
She is single by choice, in charge of her life, has fallen into the field of a private investigator but has enough money to live in style. She is always fashionably dressed, does most things well and has a great mind. She left England and moved to Australia to be as far away as possible from her family.

I just finished reading #16 Murder in the Dark an exotic tale about exotic people during a week long party at an old mansion with costumes, hunts, polo matches, a goat that loves mint, murder and kidnapping, drugs, drinks and more and more. I think you will love this series and this book.

I am already reading another in the series.

And just for the fun of it. Take a look at Simply Irresistible by Ellen White. The cover says "unleash your siren and mesmerize men" She speaks of different women, Angelina Jolie in the present, but mostly historical. I think it was the introduction that really got my attention.
The author says that "it was under two generations of maternal guidance that I tossed aside my schoolwork and boned up on my flirtation techniques. It was rough going". She was 10 years old at the time.

Eliza

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Monday, June 01, 2009

the rivers run dry


Sibella Giorello

Special Agent Raleigh Harmon began as a forensic geologists. Wanting to know more about the cases her work helped and to be part of the team that brought truth and closure, she went to the FBI Academy and became an agent. In this, the second book in the series, she has proved herself as a good agent but bad politician and has been transferred from Virginia to the state of Washington. The characters are fun, the storyline kept me reading and while I am still a little vague about her character, I enjoyed the tale and will look forward to the next in the series.

Skip the reader's guide section. In a word, dumb.


Eliza


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