Heartwood is a creatively plotted novel that follows the search for a missing Appalachian Trail hiker. Told from the perspectives of the hiker, the woman in charge of the search, and an unlikely, elderly armchair detective, the story serves up a lot of depth that seems to be absent from so many other current mystery/suspense novels. Continue reading
Category Archives: Fiction
Audio Book Review: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, Narrated by Aaliya Warbus et al
The Berry Pickers is an insightful and poignant novel that explores the impact of a kidnapping on the victim and the brother who last saw her. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: All the Broken Places by John Boyne, Narrated by Kristin Atherton
All the Broken Places is a gripping historical fiction novel that tells the story of Gretel Fernsby, whose father oversaw one of the Nazi’s worst concentration camps during World War II. Gretel’s brother was Bruno, one of the main characters in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Continue reading
Audio Book Discussion: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, Narrated by Michael York
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is C. S. Lewis’s classic fantasy novel that spins the tale of four children who discover and explore the magical land of Narnia. It’s a story of the fight between good and evil, with good prevailing in an unexpected but very familiar way. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica, Narrated by Brittany Pressly
Local Woman Missing is a highly engrossing suspense novel that explores the disappearance of two seemingly unrelated people and the toll it takes on family and neighbors over a decade later. A cleverly engineered plot that provides several surprising twists makes this story a winner for me. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Narrated by Stephen Fry
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is Douglas Adams’ well-known and much lauded satirical science fiction novel. It follows the adventures of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect who stowaway on a spaceship just as Earth is being destroyed. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: Absolute Power by David Baldacci, Narrated by Scott Brick
Absolute Power is a gripping political thriller that pits the powerful elite against everyday people. An interesting, suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and just the right amount of action make this novel an engaging and entertaining read/listen. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Narrated by Noah Galvin
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult, coming of age story that explores the challenges of being a young teenager through the eyes of a guy named Charlie. While I’m not in the target audience for the novel, I did admire that it tackled some tough issues, including mental health, homosexuality, drug and alcohol use, and sexual abuse. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman, Narrated by Marin Ireland
My Friends is chock-full of the wisdom and poignancy we’ve come to expect from Fredrik Backman. This time, he uses his insightful storytelling skills to spin the tale of four teenage friends who weather the hardships of growing up poor and dealing with stressful home lives. Twenty-five years after their last summer together, some of the now adult friends cross paths with a teenage kindred spirit and she becomes an ad hoc member of their tribe. Continue reading
Audio Book Review: Chenneville by Paulette Jiles, Narrated by Grover Gardner
With Chenneville, author Paulette Jiles, who also wrote News of the World, delivers another immersive, Civil War era historical fiction novel. This one is centered on John Chenneville, a Union officer who wakes up in a Virginia hospital after suffering a severe head injury during a battle. The story follows John as he returns to post-Civil War Missouri, discovers his beloved sister and her family have been murdered, and hunts the killer across Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Continue reading
Book Thoughts from Bed 