A Night To Die For
by Lisa Schroeder

“A Night To Die For” by Lisa Schroeder is a YA mystery. While I am a senior, I find them uncomplicated in a good way. Relational, but not a lot of sex, lots of personal drama, but escapist in a non-adult bills and taxes way. Just what I want to get away from covid, politics, and ALL the bad news on CNN. PLOT: A group of friends having fun at prom, what could be more natural? Well, there is the dead prom queen and the fact that the prom king, not her date, is accused of killing her. Now Mario is in jail. So much for helping his mother out by taking her boss’ daughter to the biggest social event of the season. First dates can be deadly…LITERALLY! CRITIQUE: This book has a lot going for it. Small town politics, social class issues, and while not explicitly stated racial/ethnic conflict. So normal. The good guy gets in trouble for just being a nice, helpful guy. Realistic in the fact that characters aren’t honest. They lie… A LOT! Makes for a more challenging mystery. I never figured out who did it or even how they did it until the end and the great reveal. FINAL ANALYSIS: WOW! Great book! This is a keeper! Even if you think you know who did it, you can’t figure out how. The truth is hidden under so many lies. I will read it again just to follow the depth of lies and see if anyone messes up earlier in book.
 
 

The Group
by Mary Mccarthy

“The Group” by Mary McCarthy has been on my reading bucket list for decades. It was a book I had heard whispers about since I was a child. I learned that the biggest shocker was that one of the characters was a lesbian. By 2022 standards, it is a shocker if one of the characters is NOT a LGBTQIA+ character. So here’s my review: PLOT: Eight women of the Vassar class of 1933 head out into the world. They face the trials of deflowerment, careers, marriage, motherhood, and finally, death. Each chapter looks at a different woman and her particular challenges. The book begins with a wedding and ends with a funeral. CRITIQUE: The book reads like a college class gossip blog. Minor characters are introduced according to their college and year of graduation…even family members. (Mother, Mary Flanagan (Vassar ’04) There is considerable name dropping of people, places, and products. (Lunch at the Plaza in my new Bendel’s floral wrap.) Yes, it is graphic – if you consider sex and breast feeding that reads like a description from an auto repair manual. (Grasp wrench firmly, rotate clockwise, if stuck, tap lightly with rubber mallet.) Honestly, if you want to understand the plot, save yourself the agony of reading almost 500 pages of small print, and rent the 1966 movie. (I did!) It is accurate and complete. I am sorry to say, “The movie is better than the book.” FINAL ANALYSIS: Frankly darling, if you want a salacious read, pick up Peyton Place by Marie Grace DeRepentigny. You remember her, married George Metalious (UNH ’48) right out of high school. (What else could she do, but write?) Goodness, those New England farmers really got up to it. I guess there’s not much else to do once the chickens roost for the night. Well my dear, off to Macy’s for a fitting. Ta ta for now!
 
 

Crossword and chamomile
by Elizabeth Adams

Cozy mystery comtinuin the Tearoom mysteries series
 
 

Doctor Sleep
by Stephen King

King is my all-time favorite author and the only reason I gave this book 4 rather than 5 stars is that it’s a bit dark, even for King and I had some trouble getting through parts of it. And unlike much of King’s other work, which is really about human nature and how people will react in certain situations, this one is primarily about some really terrible creatures. The books two main characters are Dan Torrence, the young boy, now a man, who survived the story described in “The Shining”, and a young girl named Abra who shares Dan’s ability to “shine”. They come together in this story to battle the evil creatures but they also discover something about themselves and their relationship. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you like a story that may frighten you, then you will enjoy this one.
 
 

The Story Of Arthur Truluv
by Elizabeth Berg

This is an amazingly beautiful story about loss; loss of a spouse, loss of a parent, loss of a true love. And it is about how people cope with loss and how they sometimes find beauty and purpose in themselves and others. It’s also about getting older and what that can mean. Great book; I highly recommend it.
 
 

The People Who Eat Darkness
by Richard Lloyd Parry

Pretty grim reading - suggested to me by my son who knows I like horror , this is a horror like story but it is true crime - could have been edited down a few hundred pages but the story was written in a journalistic fashion .
 
 

Saving Ceecee Honeycutt
by Beth Hoffman

I adored this book. Sweet and light read…perfect for the beach. I couldn’t put it down and finished in one day!
 
 

Pride And Prejudice
by Jane Austen

I loved this booked! I was always so intimidated to start it but once I started I couldn’t put it down. What a love story!
 
 

Survive The Night
by Riley Sager

This book kept me guessing at every turn I really enjoyed the way the other spoke in multiple points of view! Will try more of sagers books!
 
 

British manor murder
by Leslie Meier

Cozy mystery on the series