Great Escapes #3
by Bill McCleary
These books are available from the Popular Reading Collection located next to the library circulation desk. Any titles currently checked out can be placed on hold. See a staff member at the circulation desk for assistance.
McNally's Dilemma, by "Lawrence Sanders"
This book isn't by Lawrence Sanders--he died awhile back. In tiny, tiny print on the copyright page is the message that Vincent Lardo (who???) has been selected to create this novel based on the McNally characters of Lawrence Sanders. I've got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I've enjoyed the McNally series and I hated to see it die with the author. On the other hand, I really dislike the idea of a book being represented as something that it's not. I think what galled me the most was seeing Lawrence Sanders' name at the top of each left-hand page. Bad enough that it's on the cover in huge letters but printing it page after page throughout the book is really too much. Doesn't the publisher have any shame? I'm sure its argument would be that Lawrence Sanders is a valuable brand name. OK. So call it Lawrence Sanders' McNally's Dilemma, by Vincent Lardo and I'll be happy. Sort of. How's the book, by the way? Well, Lardo does a pretty good job of mimicking Sanders' writing style. If you're unfamiliar with the series, Arch McNally is a Palm Beach private investigator who lives with his parents in their oceanfront mansion and investigates cases for his father's law firm. In this latest installment, Archy has two investigations going. He has been asked by his father to find the blackmailer of one of the firm's richest clients. At the same time, he is also looking into the murder of a playboy husband by his rich wife--both friends of the McNally family. All the quirky, likable characters of the series are here and they make the book a breezy, enjoyable read.
Trouble in Paradise, by Robert B. Parker
Are you like me? Did you tell yourself you were going to get into the "Spenser" books but you've procrastinated and now Parker has written twenty or more titles and you feel you'll never catch up? Well, take heart. Parker has a new series and you still have time to get in on the ground floor. The first book is called Night Passage and it introduces Jesse Stone, an alcoholic ex-LA cop. After hitting bottom, Jesse decides to go east and he applies for the job of police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts. He's only hired because the town leaders who selected him are crooked and they think Jesse is such a mess that he'll never find out what they are up to. Bad decision! This second book finds Jesse still the police chief. His life continues to be somewhat messy, though, with several romantic entanglements vexing him. Actually three, but who's counting. While he is trying to sort out his personal problems he also has to deal with a gang of criminals who are planning to invade and loot a very wealthy island enclave next to Paradise. Both books have great plots, characters, and dialogue. Start with Night Passage--still available in the Popular Collection--then savor this one. More, please!
The Last Resort, by Alison Lurie
Lurie wrote the delightful Foreign Affairs, about American academics in London, and The War Between the Tates--good book, so-so movie. The Last Resort is her latest. Jenny Walker is the much younger wife of Wilkie Walker, a world famous author and naturalist. She has devoted her life to his care and feeding. Now, Wilkie is depressed all the time. Jenny decides they need a change of scenery and she rents a house for the winter season in Key West. During their stay they meet an interesting cast of Key West characters and Jenny blossoms for the first time in her life. Wilkie, meanwhile, has a tough time trying to stage his death by drowning--always being upstaged by other events or foiled by the weather. This book is great fun--both touching and amusing.
Black Notice, by Patricia Cornwell
Cornwell's latest finds Kay Scarpetta still trying to cope with the death of Benton Wesley--and having a hard time with it. To make matters worse, there's a new female assistant chief of police causing a lot of trouble for her and Pete Marino, her favorite police investigator. As she is dealing with these problems she is also looking into the cause of death of a man found in a ship's cargo box. It almost looks like the man was killed by a werewolf. But, that's not possible. Or, is it? Finding the answer makes for a fast-paced story that takes Kay and Pete to Paris in search of clues to the killer who has murdered there and now seems to be on the loose in Richmond. Nicely done.
I Know This Much is True, by Wally Lamb
So, I pick my sister Bonnie up at Dulles and we're motoring up to Pennsylvania to visit the folks. We start talking about good books we've read and she raves about this novel she just finished called I Know This Much is True. Tells me it's about twins and she's always been fascinated by them. Tells me the book's nearly 900 pages long but it's wonderful. I nod my head and say I'll have to read it sometime while in my mind I'm thinking I've never been that fascinated by twins--or 900 page books for that matter! Well, I find myself between books so I halfheartedly look up Bonnie's recommendation in the catalog. Not only does NOVA have the book, but the only copy is at Loudoun. And, it's on the shelf! There went all my excuses for not reading it. I start the book and before I know it I am totally absorbed in the story of twin boys--Thomas and Dominick. At the age of nineteen one of the twins is afflicted with schizophrenia. The novel tells their story before and after this event and portrays how the illness forever changes their lives and impacts the lives of their family and friends. The book is terrific on its own but within the novel is another tale by the twins' grandfather--who just before his death had written down the fascinating story of his life. Lamb does a wonderful job of bringing all the characters in the book to life. They are believable and real and you care about what happens to them. You care so much that you keep reading all 897 pages. Wonderful, wonderful book. I know this much is true--it's good to listen to your sister!
THIS ISSUE'S OLDIE BUT GOODIE
The Charm School, by Nelson DeMille
This is the book that put Nelson DeMille on my radar screen. He's had many bestsellers since (last summer's movie 'The General's Daughter' was based on one of his novels) but this book remains one of my favorites. And, he remains one of my favorite authors. The Charm School is set in the 'Evil Empire' days of the Soviet Union. American Greg Fisher, a recent college graduate, is touring Russia in his graduation present--a brand new Pontiac Trans Am. On his way to Moscow he gets lost and makes a shocking discovery. It's hard to say more without spoiling the story but Greg's incredible discovery of a 'Charm School' will lead to death and will pit members of the American embassy in Moscow against the KGB. The KGB wants to keep the Charm School a secret and the Americans want to verify its existence and expose the Soviet treachery. This book has great suspense, interesting characters, and a wonderful description of Moscow and Russia during this time period.
RECENT ARRIVALS
Cuba, by Stephen Coonts
The Edge, by Catherine Coulter
Jupiter's Bones, by Faye Kellerman
Heartwood, by James Lee Burke
Worst Fears Realized, by Stuart Woods
The Devil's Teardrop, by Jeffrey Deaver
Revised Aug. 9, 2000
Comments to Bill McCleary