The Spellman Files

by Lisa Lutz

I tried to read so many other books this past month but had such trouble committing to one. Than, out of the blue, I picked this one up out of my to-be-read bookshelf and ended up finishing it in record time and loving every moment of it. What a hilarious family, it could be my own with how seriously dysfunctional they all are, and I loved that about this novel. Besides the fact that it got me focused on a book so intently it was a great story with endearing characters. Isabel Spellman (Izzy as she called by mostly everyone) tells her story of growing up rebellious in a family of Private Investigators, including the "interrogation room" in their house she mostly had to inhabit in her growing up years, under the accusing eyes of one or both of her parents. At one point she finally tries to get out of the family business when her exasperation with them tailing her and investigating her boyfriends reaches the boiling point. But like all families they just won't let her out easy and they make a deal for her to do one more case, an unsolvable case they are sure. Izzy will stop at nothing to get out so she commits to the case, even when trouble abounds and it looks like even the closest family members to the missing person she's trying to find, does not want the case solved. I'm waiting too impatiently for book two and book three to come in so I can start devouring them as well.

Black Water

by Joyce Carol Oates

I was inspired to read this book with the recent passing of Ted Kennedy, for some reason my die hard Democrat conscience, held off out of respect for the historical family. Now that the first generation is gone I read it and thought, "pure fiction because none of us but those two people know what really happened in that car at Chapaquitic". It was good but the conclusion of most chapters was "Kelly" died, followed my more of her reminisces, kind of confusing for a brain challenged reader such as myself. My sympathies are all for Kelly than for the entitled Senator in her story but I think the book needed more. I love the more emotionally wrenching stories; such as "The Lovely Bones", by Alice Sebold, "My Sisters Keeper" by Jody Picoult,this one needed more to keep me interested in picking it up again. For a small book it took a long time to finish, she's a well respected writer so I think it was just a matter of personal taste.

Dexter by Design in audio form

by Jeffry Lindsay

Boy is Dexter Morgan back in a great way. I wasn't a fan of the last installment "Dexter in the Dark" but this one was terrific, just kept me so enthralled it came out of my car and into my house when I got home, a rare feat for most audio books. I was once called "perverse" for liking this series, so let me preface this review for those who don't know about this character, let me tell you, he's not for everyone. He's a blood spatter expert (now a Showtime series but it's different from the books although still very good, in my opinion) who also moonlights as a serial killer for the bad guys who escape justice. He has a dark passenger (his murderous alter ego) a family who he mostly attached himself to for his "cover" and has a profane, tough sister Deborah, a cop. In this novel, there are gruesome displays of dead bodies with most of their insides cleaned out and decorative items put in to replace them. Following a lead with Deborah because he can basically never say no to her she is seriously hurt and Dexter is left reeling from the surprise. His stride is off because of this new development but he still manages to get into the thick of things as always. Really enjoyable book, I was so happy to hear the story was back to where I loved it.

Bending the Rules

by Susan Andersen

A lighthearted series about three best friends who inherit an estate from their childhood mentor, Agnes Bell Walcott. "Cutting Loose", the first book, is about Jane, the serious one, this second one is about Poppy, the soft hearted artist. I always enjoy reading this author after all the murder and mayhem that I also read and enjoy. This one features a memorable hero, Jason de Sanges, a sexy cop who reluctantly crosses paths with the woman he considers a liberal minded trouble maker Poppy Calloway. Always the right ingredients for an enjoyable escapism romance. She wants to redeem three young teenagers who get in trouble for vandalism and Jason is put on the case due to politics in his department. They clash many times and in protecting one of the teenagers who has a killer chasing her they feel a strong attraction and than eventually, and reluctantly for him especially, love. Another strong romance in an entertaining series.

Smash Cut in Audio form

by Sandra Brown

I don't normally buy the abridged form of audio books but they've become so difficult to find now in book stores and finances being what they are right now I was really pleased to find a reasonably priced Wal Mart edition. I didn't regret my decision at all, besides being more affordable, it made that particular book fast paced and even more exciting. Derek Mitchell is a successful criminal lawyer and after meeting a beautiful woman on an airplane from Paris, his life from that point on is one complication after another. She happens to be the girlfriend of a recently slain man, Paul Wheeler, and what he doesn't know is she knows exactly who he is. Julie Rutledge is sure that the man responsible for the murder is Paul's nephew, Creighton, and the last thing she wants is a lawyer with a good trial record taking the case. Creighton is a piece of work, a man with a passion for spending money made by others, movies, and prostitutes. Derek is glad after meeting the man that he can't take the case but now he has a problem, no one says no to Creighton Wheeler without repercussions. I listened to this book quickly, couldn't wait to get back in the car to hear the next twist and turn. Exactly what I look for in a good book.