4. Last Car to Elysian Fields by James Lee Burke – This dark novel of multiple murders in and near a small town outlying New Orleans is complex and engaging, with characters you will not soon forget. It covers two time periods in its fashion, the early 1950s and the early 2000s, with each period brought to life beautifully. Burke has won two Edgar Awards and one CWA Macallan Gold Dagger for other novels and was once nominated for a Pulitzer. Reading this book, you can see why. (finished 2/1)
5. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs – The most recent book in the Temperance Brennan series is a good read. I enjoyed the format (present time and flashbacks), which built the tension effectively and had me asking several times, “Is this it?” and looking for clues that the “it” in question was imminent. I won’t spoil it for you by elaborating, but I will suggest you read it. (finished 2/10)
6. Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert (finished 2/21)
7. The Penny Tree by Holly Kennedy – This novel took a few chapters to hook me, as I found it a little heavy on exposition and the author’s style occasionally interfered with the story, but it was well worth the extra time. Kennedy packs an emotional wallop in this story of all-too-real people in all-too-real lives, with all-too-familiar problems. If this novel doesn’t get to you, you just may be a little dead inside. (finished 2/24)
