Beatrice and the Basilisk
Highly recommended adventure tale for tween girls. Beatrice and the Basilisk is an modern updating of an adventure tale. However, it seems so realistic that it could happen again tomorrow in your town. This book is perfect for tween or younger girls. While the heroine is 12, she acts moreContinue Reading
Purloined Puzzle
Amusing quick cozy mystery read! The Purloined Puzzle is the 19th book in the Puzzle Lady series but still feels fresh. Cora Felton has a problem. Her least favorite ex-husband Melvin is in town doing another shady real estate deal. Also, there is a pesky teenager first losing, then finding,Continue Reading
Coincidence Makers
Like light science fiction, fantasy and/or romance? Don’t mind a slow build-up to a fantastic finish? If so, the Coincidence Makers is for you. Emily, Eric and Guy meet in a 16-month training class for Coincidence Makers (CMs). CMs are secret agents that work for the government. They “are creatorsContinue Reading
People vs Alex Cross
#FrugalFridays short review for March 9, 2018. Alex is accused of shooting unarmed people and blondes are being abducted for a dark web snuff film. Interesting technology, dramatic courtroom scenes and great sound effects in the audiobook enliven the 25th entry in the series. The only Patterson series I stillContinue Reading
Burger
Everything (plus more) that anyone wants or needs to know about burgers. Burger is part of a Bloomsbury Academic series of object lessons. Each brief book takes a noun and writes an interesting essay about it. Each is written by a different author. I really enjoyed Souvenir, which I gaveContinue Reading
New Short Reviews on #FrugalFridays (because everyone is short of time on Fridays!)
Beginning March 9th, Diane Reviews Books will publish a short (<=100 word) book review each Friday. Most of the books will be popular, slightly older books with plenty of other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. This will not decrease the usual two to three full reviews weekly. First up onContinue Reading
Again Vol 1
With dyed blond hair and a hostile resting face, Imamura is finally graduating from his high school as Again Vol 1 opens. He transferred to the high school three years previously but had neither made friends nor joined a club. Imamura has also made no plans for his future careerContinue Reading
Last Equation of Isaac Severy
Complex and completely different from other thrillers, the Last Equation of Isaac Severy is highly recommended. Isaac Severy is a famous mathematician. Now retired, he is still working on his last equation: how to use chaos theory to predict Los Angeles traffic. As the book opens, Isaac is preparing aContinue Reading
Girls Burn Brighter
Girls Burn Brighter is a thick flavorful soup of a novel full of the spices of India. It is also a heart wrenching tale of two poor young Indian women’s hopes, dreams and grim realities. Young Poornima is the oldest of two sisters with a younger brother when her motherContinue Reading
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles
The famous Sherlock Holmes story is adapted into a graphic novel. Holmes is asked to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Sir Charles appears to have died of fright while walking on the foggy moors near his estate. Mysterious footprints of a hound are found nearby. The locals suspectContinue Reading
Lethal Licorice
Characters that feel like family and a deliciously different setting make Lethal Licorice a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The small, mostly Amish, town of Harvest, Ohio is finally hosting the annual Amish Confectionery Competition (ACC). Bailey is competing for her grandparent’s Amish Candy Shop, Swissmen Sweets, along withContinue Reading
Carbs & Cadavers
A quick cozy mystery read with a male point of view that is not recommended for readers that struggle with weight loss. James Henry’s ex-wife is marrying a rich lawyer. His mother has just died. He decides to quit his dream job as an English professor and move back homeContinue Reading
Raspberry Danish Murder
Where is Ross, Hannah’s husband? As the Raspberry Danish Murder opens, Hannah’s new husband, Ross, has left town with no explanation. Has he left Hannah or has he been a victim of foul play? Ross’ assistant, P.K., is drugged with candy addressed to Ross. Was Ross or P.K. the intendedContinue Reading
Black Comix Returns
Good survey of black comic artists by the creators of Kindred. Black Comix Returns contains a short biography and representative art from over 70 comic artists of color. Both established and emerging talents are showcased. Most of the artists have the plot of one of their comics or graphic novelsContinue Reading
Future of Humanity
There are not enough synonyms for fantastic to adequately describe this book. I’ll just stick with awesome and awe-inspiring! Written in layman’s terms, the Future of Humanity goes from mankind’s move to Mars to its eventual move to a new universe. It discusses what famous science fiction books, television showsContinue Reading
Night Moves
Milo and Alex are back in a twisty and compelling tale. The body was found in a quiet suburban Pacific Palisades neighborhood with its head disfigured by a shotgun blast and its hands removed. The residents, a family of four, claim to not know the victim. When Milo feels aContinue Reading