by Joseph Kanon
World War II is coming to an end and the main character, Leon Bauer, does some undercover work for the American embassy. On one mission he is trying to get a Romanian into Turkey and pass him on to the Americans. On the first evening the weather is bad so the boat cannot make the journey to the rendevous. On the second night the boat arrives and as Leon is trying to get his man shots ring out. Leon has never fired a gun before but he shoots in the direction of the shots and hears a person drop to the ground.
He takes the Romanian to a holding place, and is told by a friend who has been assisting him, that the man they have "rescued" is a war criminal who has killed thousands of Jews.
Leon's wife was involved in activities to rescue Jews from Europe and get them to Israel. On one mission a boat is sunk and many people die. She has a nervous breakdown and is now in a care facility. Leon loves her deeply and visits her often to tell her about what he has been doing.
Leon finds out that the man he shot was in fact the American Embassy contact who recruited him for the mission. He is puzzled as to why his contact would be wanting to kill their "cargo" but he continues to hide and support the "cargo", despite things he is hearing about him.
Leon keeps trying to get the cargo sent on but the death of a second embassy staff person complicates things and the planned plane for the cargo is cancelled.
I couldn't figure out why Leon didn't just turn the cargo over to the Americans. He thinks he is free of any involvement but then the fisherman who brought the Romanian to Turkey in his boat comes to the embassy and asks for his full payment and identifies Leon as a contact. Leon has been asked to try to help find out who killed the Embassy employee (the man he killed).
Leon keeps trying to keep his involvement in the murder/espionage quiet but he soon finds out that others know what he has done. He doesn't know who he can trust. He wants to get out of the "espionage" business... but they keep his crime hanging over his head.
I really enjoyed this book, the plot kept building in suspense. I couldn't understand why Leon kept being so committed to the Romanian, but later it turns out that he thinks he could use him as a bargaining chip to gain his own freedom. The ending is unexpected.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Saturday, 6 October 2012
The Shape of Water
by Andrea Camilleri
This is the first book in a mystery series involving the Sicilian Inspector Montalbano. I decided to read it after the series was recommended in the book I read recently about Sicily.
In this book, an important political figure is found dead, on the edge of a "lover's lane". It appears that he has had a heart attack, but the Inspector wonders why a man, who generally was very discrete, would turn up in a place like that, and he is convinced there is more to it when the man's wife points out that is underwear was on backwards. She tells the Inspector Water doesn't have an shape.... it takes the shape you give it".
The series does a great job of portraying the atmosphere in Sicily, the distrust of police, the corruption, etc. The Inspector tries to be an honest man, when most around him seem corrupt. Even when the corrupt are murdered he tries to solve the case. However, he is willing to manipulate things or destroy evidence to help the underdog and the wrongfully accused.
I certainly enjoyed the story, the flavour of Sicily and the plot twist. I will certainly read other books in the series in the future.
This is the first book in a mystery series involving the Sicilian Inspector Montalbano. I decided to read it after the series was recommended in the book I read recently about Sicily.
In this book, an important political figure is found dead, on the edge of a "lover's lane". It appears that he has had a heart attack, but the Inspector wonders why a man, who generally was very discrete, would turn up in a place like that, and he is convinced there is more to it when the man's wife points out that is underwear was on backwards. She tells the Inspector Water doesn't have an shape.... it takes the shape you give it".
The series does a great job of portraying the atmosphere in Sicily, the distrust of police, the corruption, etc. The Inspector tries to be an honest man, when most around him seem corrupt. Even when the corrupt are murdered he tries to solve the case. However, he is willing to manipulate things or destroy evidence to help the underdog and the wrongfully accused.
I certainly enjoyed the story, the flavour of Sicily and the plot twist. I will certainly read other books in the series in the future.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
The Beautiful Mystery
by Louise Penny
This is the latest book by Penny. In this book Chief Inspector Gamache and his protege Jean-Guy Beavoir are sent to investigate a murder in a monastery located in a remote wilderness location. One of the monks has been murdered, the prior (leader of the choir). The monastery is renowned for its Gregorian Chants, it gained worldwide fame when it released a CD of its chants.
Gamache and his assistant find it difficult to get any information out of the monks who for the most part operate under a vow of silence. However, it soon becomes obvious that there is a split in the monastery between the Prior, who wants to release another CD and take the monks on tour, and the Abbott who is strenuously against it.
While Gamache and Beauvoir are investigating the head of the Surete, Gamache's boss, who hates Gamache, shows up. They cannot figure out why he is there, but he takes the opportunity to test Jean-Guy's loyatly to and respect for Gamache.
The mystery story is well told, the issues of faith and loyalty, explored through the monks and the police officers added an additional level of complexity to the story.
I think this is my favourite of all the books I have read by this author.
This is the latest book by Penny. In this book Chief Inspector Gamache and his protege Jean-Guy Beavoir are sent to investigate a murder in a monastery located in a remote wilderness location. One of the monks has been murdered, the prior (leader of the choir). The monastery is renowned for its Gregorian Chants, it gained worldwide fame when it released a CD of its chants.
Gamache and his assistant find it difficult to get any information out of the monks who for the most part operate under a vow of silence. However, it soon becomes obvious that there is a split in the monastery between the Prior, who wants to release another CD and take the monks on tour, and the Abbott who is strenuously against it.
While Gamache and Beauvoir are investigating the head of the Surete, Gamache's boss, who hates Gamache, shows up. They cannot figure out why he is there, but he takes the opportunity to test Jean-Guy's loyatly to and respect for Gamache.
The mystery story is well told, the issues of faith and loyalty, explored through the monks and the police officers added an additional level of complexity to the story.
I think this is my favourite of all the books I have read by this author.
Seeking Sicily
by John Keahey
This is the second introduction to Sicily that I read to while on our trip to Italy/Sicily. This was by far the better book. The author describes the country of Sicily as he has discovered it during several visits to the country, interacting with the locals and through research about the country.
He does a great job of describing the complicated history of the country, describing the spirit of the people and giving an affectionate description of some of the towns and cities and local customs. He also talks about some of Sicily's most famous writers and other artists.
He includes some folklore, anecdotes and recipes. It was an interesting and engaging introduction to the country.
This is the second introduction to Sicily that I read to while on our trip to Italy/Sicily. This was by far the better book. The author describes the country of Sicily as he has discovered it during several visits to the country, interacting with the locals and through research about the country.
He does a great job of describing the complicated history of the country, describing the spirit of the people and giving an affectionate description of some of the towns and cities and local customs. He also talks about some of Sicily's most famous writers and other artists.
He includes some folklore, anecdotes and recipes. It was an interesting and engaging introduction to the country.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Narcoplis
by Jeet Thayil
This is another book in the Man Booker Longlist. It takes place in Bombay and is the story of several people whose lives intersect because of their addictions to cocaine and later heroine.
The story is really dark and depressing, all of their lives revolve around getting and using the drugs, they have little if any contact with family and friends because of their addictions. There is affection, loyalty and even love among the addicts. A couple of them do manage to break away from their addictions. However, overall the book is just about their wallowing in their drugs.
I have to say it was difficult to finish the book, I was hoping there might be some redemption but there wasn't as far as I could see, just longing... for the old days.
Not a book I would recommend to anyone unless they want to get depressed. I suppose it could be a cautionary tale.
This is another book in the Man Booker Longlist. It takes place in Bombay and is the story of several people whose lives intersect because of their addictions to cocaine and later heroine.
The story is really dark and depressing, all of their lives revolve around getting and using the drugs, they have little if any contact with family and friends because of their addictions. There is affection, loyalty and even love among the addicts. A couple of them do manage to break away from their addictions. However, overall the book is just about their wallowing in their drugs.
I have to say it was difficult to finish the book, I was hoping there might be some redemption but there wasn't as far as I could see, just longing... for the old days.
Not a book I would recommend to anyone unless they want to get depressed. I suppose it could be a cautionary tale.
Friday, 31 August 2012
One Book in the Grave
by Kate Carlisle
This is one of the books in the Bibliophile Mystery series. The story is about a bookbinder who seems to get involved in many murders. In this case, she is asked to repair the binding on a copy of Beauty and the Beast which she once owned. She had given the book to a couple as a gift and the book was later stolen. When she goes to speak to the bookseller who sold the book she comes upon his dead body. At the crime scene there is a book binders tool and her tire has been slashed with another bookbinder tool, which has the initials of a friend of hers who died three years before.
As she and her boyfriend set off to find out why someone is trying to frame a deadman, they find the man is not dead after all but hiding for his life.
The book was okay, but I found the romantic aspects of the book and the behaviour of the main character always mooning over her handsome beau and other men distracted from the story. The fact that there were several obsessive criminals involved in the story made it all a bit much to take. I don't think I'll bother with any other books in this series.
This is one of the books in the Bibliophile Mystery series. The story is about a bookbinder who seems to get involved in many murders. In this case, she is asked to repair the binding on a copy of Beauty and the Beast which she once owned. She had given the book to a couple as a gift and the book was later stolen. When she goes to speak to the bookseller who sold the book she comes upon his dead body. At the crime scene there is a book binders tool and her tire has been slashed with another bookbinder tool, which has the initials of a friend of hers who died three years before.
As she and her boyfriend set off to find out why someone is trying to frame a deadman, they find the man is not dead after all but hiding for his life.
The book was okay, but I found the romantic aspects of the book and the behaviour of the main character always mooning over her handsome beau and other men distracted from the story. The fact that there were several obsessive criminals involved in the story made it all a bit much to take. I don't think I'll bother with any other books in this series.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
The Dewey Decimal System
by Nathan Larson
As a retired Librarian I was of course intrigued by this title.... I guess I thought it would be a story about a library or librarian. However, the library is only incidental to this very violent story.
The main character, who it appears is a victim of PTSD, doesn't know his real name or recall his past (was he given false memories and had others erased while he was in a miltary hospital?). The character, who is being called Dewey Decimal because he is living in the New York Public Library, is living in a New York that has been devastated by terrorist attacks. Most of the people have fled from the city and only the special/rich/useful people like him have the privilege of riding the subway.
Dewey Decimal is supported in his drug habit by the New York DA who has him carry out various illegal activities including assasinations. His latest task is to kill a Ukranian labour organizer. But as the story goes on Dewey starts to wonder what the real story is and who the bad guys really are. A woman he has been asked to kill has been kind to him-- she only shot him in the knee, didn't kill hiim.
This is not a book I would normally read and I did not enjoy all the gratuitous violence. The character, despite his propensity for violence does seem to have some sort of morals, but do we really care? NO!
This is a book I will gladly give away, I would never read it again.
As a retired Librarian I was of course intrigued by this title.... I guess I thought it would be a story about a library or librarian. However, the library is only incidental to this very violent story.
The main character, who it appears is a victim of PTSD, doesn't know his real name or recall his past (was he given false memories and had others erased while he was in a miltary hospital?). The character, who is being called Dewey Decimal because he is living in the New York Public Library, is living in a New York that has been devastated by terrorist attacks. Most of the people have fled from the city and only the special/rich/useful people like him have the privilege of riding the subway.
Dewey Decimal is supported in his drug habit by the New York DA who has him carry out various illegal activities including assasinations. His latest task is to kill a Ukranian labour organizer. But as the story goes on Dewey starts to wonder what the real story is and who the bad guys really are. A woman he has been asked to kill has been kind to him-- she only shot him in the knee, didn't kill hiim.
This is not a book I would normally read and I did not enjoy all the gratuitous violence. The character, despite his propensity for violence does seem to have some sort of morals, but do we really care? NO!
This is a book I will gladly give away, I would never read it again.
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