Tuesday Book Review

Five star review of The Gemini Connection by Julie Hamstead

This different kind of spy story about two MI5 computer jockeys sent to find an asset is set off by the interception of indecipherable messages and the chance encounter of one of the two men with the asset, an anesthesiologist because of an appendicitis attack. The novel is filled with enjoyable characters in exciting situations. I don’t want to give away too much of this story, but I will say I hope it really is the start of a series as the subtitle A Bridges and Rivers Mystery implies. The plot contains scenes in Paris and Turkey including lots of action and humor. Even the love story is handled realistically. 

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

Four-star review of The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

This time travel story that didn’t introduce any time travel until half way through would have been fine without that part of the novel, although I tend to enjoy stories that include time travel. I used that phrase three times in one sentence, but how else could I explain it? And yet, that was the main reason this stood out from the many stories about unwed young girls running away from home and joining a commune that turned out to be a cult. The best thing for me about the story was the emphasis on reading and words and how they take you out of the worst of situations. I’ll admit, I never read much Hawthorne in my life and might have been happier with another book (and author) to focus on other than The Scarlet Letter, although I guess it was appropriate for the story. The writing is beautiful and a few of the characters were very interesting. I’ve been to many of the areas mentioned in the story so that added to any enjoyment I got from the book. 

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

 

Four-star review of The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen

Not long before World War II, Madeleine Grant, a half-French, half-British student, meets Giles Martin at the Sorbonne. What follows is a sometimes interesting, occasionally romantic, and sometimes unbelievable story. I understood the need to include many scenes of abuse (not by Madeleine or Giles), especially during the war, but in addition the number of coincidental meetings were way too many. I’ve read other stories by Bowen and knew her penchant for happy endings but the manipulations to get there were also bothersome. On the other hand, like all of her work, this novel was well written, the characters were interesting, especially the heroine, and it was a fast read. I also learned more about what was happening in England and France during the war.