Friday, March 30, 2018

The Education of a Coroner by John Bateson



  • Bateson describes how the duties of a coroner require a methodical scientist with real human connection and awareness.
  • By profiling the career of coroner Ken Holmes the reader sees trends and how things have changed in recent history.
  • This book looks deeper into cases involving seemingly straightforward deaths.

Monday, March 26, 2018

The Singles Game by Lauren Weisberger



  • The main character Charlie's life seems glamorous as a professional tennis player.  However, in reality it isn't with all the travel.
  • Charlie questions who she wants to be, and after some challenges, ends up in a good place.
  • This is an enjoyable chick lit novel.

Feast Days by Ian MacKenzi


  • This novel focuses on the disconnectedness of ex-patriots in foreign lands.
  • Reading this novel is an experience, not a plot-driven or detail-oriented project.
  • I enjoyed the slow pace and far-flung setting of this novel.

Dreamland by Sam Quionones


  • Quinones pieces together the history of how the opioid crisis became the problem it is.
  • The history of this issue involves economic, political, and social trends.  The history isn't limited to only the areas of the US impacted.  Innovative Mexican drug cartels and pharmaceutical companies also come into play.
  • This is a sad story, very much worth telling.

Friday, March 2, 2018

Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta



  • This novel caught me off guard. It is quite a bit different from Perrotta's earlier works in tone and focus.
  • There are a cast of normal, yet colorful characters in a smallish town.  This novel is about how their lives intertwine.
  • This novel is very much written out of contemporary culture with nearly each character having a realization that is chalked full of politically correct buzzwords.

The Wife Between us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen


  • This female-focused suspense novel will appeal to the fans of Girl on the Train.  As is standard in this sub-genre, there is a controlling evil man who seems perfect on the outside.
  • There are several truly unexpected twists in this novel that suspense readers will enjoy.
  • This was an enthralling and quick read as the story quickly unfolds.