*** stars P. D. James continues the story Jane Austen’s novel "Pride and Prejudice" by turning it into a tale of murder. It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems stable. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy’s sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball. Then, on the eve of the ball, a coach arrives carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, who largely because of her devious husband Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. The Darcys' lives now involve a mystery. I have loved P. D. James mysteries since 1962. I could not wait for the new Adam Dalgliesh to be printed. I enjoyed this novel, and Ms. James is a superb writer, something that cannot be said about far too many novelists whose books bring out the urge to edit as you read. I recommend the book, but I think I was simply disappointed that this was not a Dalgliesh and that I may never encounter him again as Ms. James is now 93. If you have never read an Adam Dalgliesh, start with "Cover Her Face" or try "An Unsuitable Job for a Woman" with Cordelia Gray and be prepared to revel in one of the greatest mystery writers of the 20th century.   posted Jun 19, 2013 at 1:33AM

***** STARS "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." thus begins Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina". So begins Mr. Koch who then sets out to prove that the self-described happy family of the protagonist is very different from other happy families. Two brothers and their wives go out to dinner. I was prepared for a literate book of table talk - Wow was this narrative a surprise. I highly recommend this book + I also highly recommend that you begin the book with as little knowledge of the plot as possible. Just let a superb author lead you down an amazing garden path!!!!!   posted Jun 19, 2013 at 1:11AM

*** 1/2 stars. I have enjoyed Mr. Mosley's well-spoken, intelligent African American protagonists for more than 20 years. My favorite, of course, is Easy Rawlins, but this book introduces a new character, Leonid McGill, PI. Mr. McGill is attempting to turn over a new leaf and give up his willingness to participate in shady deals to earn a buck - changing from crooked to perhaps slightly bent. Mosley's noir style has moved to contemporary New York. Leonid has been hired to track down four men, knowing only the street names they used as teenagers. His client won't say why he wants to find these men, but what does McGill care? It's a job. He delivers their current whereabouts. When all of them end up dead, he realizes that he may know too much and be the next victim on the list. Meanwhile he is struggling with a loveless marriage and a teenage son headed for trouble. Mr. Mosley is a great writer of characters and mysteries. He has created a complicated and intriguing new "hero". Recommend   posted Jun 11, 2013 at 3:40PM

*** stars. You can always count on Michael Connelly for a good read! My favorite of his protagonists is Harry Bosch, but I am falling for Mickey Haller, the "Lincoln Lawyer" who operates out of his car. When times are tough, Mickey turns to a lucrative and abundant source of cases: foreclosure. He acquires a client named Lisa Trammel who is a "poster child" for the homeowner fighting big banks. When she is accused of murdering one of the "bankers" involved in her case, everything becomes much more complicated than it seemed. Recommend.   posted Jun 11, 2013 at 3:22PM

*** 1/2 stars. First of all, I am in love with precocious 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, the heroine of this mystery series. She has her own chemistry lab and is far too smart for her own good. It’s Christmastime, and Flavia is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. She must know "scientifically", once and for all, if he really exists. This may sound like at best an amusing subplot, but Bradley incorporates Flavia’s trap into the main mystery. "I am half-sick of shadows" is a quote from Tennyson's "The Lady of Shallot" who is tired of living a shadow life and wants to engage the real world. Due to financial problems, Flavia’s father rents the family estate Buckshaw to a film company over the holidays. The title most aptly applies to the lead actress in the movie production. One of the actors is murdered on a night when practically the entire village is stranded at Buckshaw during a snowstorm. Shadows is the most Agatha Christie-like of Bradley’s mysteries, featuring a classic country house whodunnit. The mystery itself is an intellectual puzzle, with wonderfully placed clues and red herrings. This is book 4 in the series. I recommend the books and especially love to listen to these mysteries and Flavia's unique voice.   posted Jun 11, 2013 at 3:09PM