Riptide by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

First sentence:

"On an afternoon in June 1790, a Maine cod fisherman named Simon Rutter became caught in a storm and a strong riptide."

Description:

"For generations, treasure hunters have tried to unlock the deadly puzzle known as the Water Pit: a labyrinth of shafts and tunnels that honeycombs the heart of a small island off the coast of Maine. Reputed to be the hiding place of pirate treasure, the Water Pit possesses an inexplicable ability to kill those who venture into it, from professionals to innocent explorers. But now one man has made a startling discovery: The Water Pit is actually a carefully designed fortress, conceived for pirates by a renowned seventeenth-century architect who hid his plans in code. Unlocking the code will break the curse of the Water Pit. Or will it? The most comprehensive, high-tech expedition ever assembled has come to Maine and to Dr. Malin Hatch, owner of the island. While the treasure hunters have their reasons for mounting this assault--$2 billion in gold--Hatch has his own motives to join them. For Hatch, whose brother died on Ragged Island thirty years before, the only escape from the curse is through the black swirling waters and bloodstained chambers of the Pit. With more computing power than a small university, the recovery team slowly chips away at the mystery. But as the seekers try to conquer the Pit, men begin to die. Hatch is confronted with his childhood memories of the tragedy even as he is drawn into a complex relationship with a beautiful French diver. All the while, the last, secret chamber of the Pit waits to unleash the most lethal mystery of all. . . ."

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this thriller set off the coast of Maine. It had pirate lore, secret codes, booby traps - and a sense of impending doom as both the weather and the dangers of the pit's contents become more dangerous by the day.

Date read: 10/28/2007
Book #: 95
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Thriller

ISBN-10: 0446607177
ISBN-13: 9780446607179
Publisher: Warner Books
Year: 1999
# of Pages: 496
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl

First sentence:

"I present to you, Your Honor and Gentlemen of the Jury, the truth about this man's death and my life."

Description:

"Baltimore, 1849. The body of Edgar Allan Poe has been buried in an unmarked grave. The public, the press, and even Poe’s own family and friends accept the conclusion that Poe was a second-rate writer who met a disgraceful end as a drunkard. Everyone, in fact, seems to believe this except a young Baltimore lawyer named Quentin Clark, an ardent admirer who puts his own career and reputation at risk in a passionate crusade to salvage Poe’s.

As Quentin explores the puzzling circumstances of Poe’s demise, he discovers that the writer’s last days are riddled with unanswered questions the police are possibly willfully ignoring. Just when Poe’s death seems destined to remain a mystery, and forever sealing his ignominy, inspiration strikes Quentin–in the form of Poe’s own stories. The young attorney realizes that he must find the one person who can solve the strange case of Poe’s death: the real-life model for Poe’s brilliant fictional detective character, C. Auguste Dupin, the hero of ingenious tales of crime and detection.

In short order, Quentin finds himself enmeshed in sinister machinations involving political agents, a female assassin, the corrupt Baltimore slave trade, and the lost secrets of Poe’s final hours. With his own future hanging in the balance, Quentin Clark must turn master investigator himself to unchain his now imperiled fate from that of Poe’s."

My thoughts:

This book had a good attention to detail as I learned a lot about Baltimore and Paris in the late 1840s-1850s. I did find that the plot sometimes dragged a bit as Quentin's personal fate overshadowed the mystery of Poe's death, but it was nicely wrapped up at the end. I also liked Pearl's notes at the end as he explains how he used actual newspaper quotes and letters throughout the narrative.

Date read: 10/24/2007
Book #: 94
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

ISBN-10: 1400061032
ISBN-13: 9781400061037
Publisher: Random House
Year: 2006
# of Pages: 384
Binding: Hardcover
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Dragonne's Eg by Mary Brown

First sentence:

"'Please, Miss! Ern's 'avin' a fit again...'"

Description:

"Life was hard for Sophie: tragically orphaned not so long ago, she eked out a living as a teacher in a poor-house school in a Dickensian London slum. Then her life was turned upside down when she was informed that a previously unsuspected uncle, now deceased, had left her a handsome legacy - which she could redeem only after fulfilling a Last Request: to return a dragon's egg to its rightful place in the uncharted wastes of Central Asia.

And so she begins her reverse quest, accompanied by a unicorn figurine that turns into a living, speaking know-it-all when no one is looking, a telepathic cat who wants nothing so much as three willing kisses from her sweet lips (so that he can, he says - but who would believe a tomcat on such a matter? - turn back into a prince), a feckless law clerk who doesn't want to be there, and an itinerant Irish would-be adventurer who should be anywhere else. On her journey, Sophie will learn that all of them, even the unicorn, will need more help then they can give - and that healing theme of their life's sorrows is as much part of the deal as dealing with that damned egg.

In the course of her journey, she will be betrayed by a treacherous guide, captured by fierce Mongols, caught in an avalanche, and lost in an underground maze, all while the clock keeps ticking toward a deadline, after which the egg will die, her heritage be lost, and the arduous journey, incredible hardships, and terrible danger will have been for nothing..."

My thoughts:

This was a good mix of historical fiction and fantasy set in the late 19th century. I liked the characters Sophie, Toby and Ky-Lin. The only downside was that I sometimes got annoyed at Sophie when she seemed to forget about the magic she learned and would think that she was dreaming. Now, to find the first three books of the Pigs Don't Fly series: The Unlikely Ones, Pigs Don't Fly and Master of Many Treasures.

Date read: 10/24/2007
Book #: 93
Series: Pigs Don't Fly #4
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0671578103
ISBN-13: 9780671578107
Publisher: Baen
Year: 1999
# of Pages: 339
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier

First sentence:

"When the blind man arrived in the city, he claimed that he had traveled across a desert of living sand."

Description:

From Kevin Brockmeier, one of this generation's most inventive young writers, comes a striking new novel about death, life, and the mysterious place in between.

The City is inhabited by those who have departed Earth but are still remembered by the living. They will reside in this afterlife until they are completely forgotten. But the City is shrinking, and the residents clearing out. Some of the holdouts, like Luka Sims, who produces the City’s only newspaper, are wondering what exactly is going on. Others, like Coleman Kinzler, believe it is the beginning of the end. Meanwhile, Laura Byrd is trapped in an Antarctic research station, her supplies are running low, her radio finds only static, and the power is failing. With little choice, Laura sets out across the ice to look for help, but time is running out. Kevin Brockmeier alternates these two storylines to create a lyrical and haunting story about love, loss and the power of memory.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this bittersweet book about memory, family, friends, life and death and how just knowing people - even from a distance - makes a difference. I also liked the alternating chapters between the events in the City and Laura Byrd's struggles in Antarctica.

Date read: 10/13/2007
Book #: 92
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Fiction

ISBN-10: 1400095956
ISBN-13: 978-1400095957
Publisher: Vintage
Year: 2007
# of Pages: 272
Binding: Trade Paperback
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Mother Aegypt and Other Stories by Kage Baker

First sentence:

"The young man opened his eyes."

Description:

A brand new short story collection from Kage Baker, including an original novella set in her ongoing series of The Company, "Mother Aegypt".

Contents:

• Leaving His Cares Behind Him
• The Briscian Saint
• Desolation Rose
• Miss Yahoo Has Her Say
• What The Tyger Told Her
• Nightmare Mountain
• Merry Christmas from Navarro Lodge, 1928
• Her Father's Eyes
• Two Old Men
• The Summer People
• How They Tried to Talk Indian Tony Down
• Pueblo, Colorado Has the Answers
• Mother Aegypt

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this anthology of fantasy and science fiction stories. I especially liked "Nightmare Mountain" (myths of Eros and Psyche combined with an eccentric Californian), "Merry Christmas from Navarro Lodge, 1928" (changing the future from the past), and "Pueblo, Colorado Has the Answers" (alien manifestations and a time bubble).

Date read: 10/13/2007
Book #: 91
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Fantasy/SF

ISBN-10: 1597800570
ISBN-13: 9781597800570
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Year: 2004
# of Pages: 249
Binding: Hardcover
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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

First sentence:

"Mariam was five years old the first time she heard the word harami."

Description:

"Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.

A stunning accomplishment, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love. "

My thoughts:

A beautifully written book that's both moving and bittersweet. Hosseini shows the reader how the Soviet occupation, the tribal conflicts and the Taliban rule of Afghanistan affected the people on a daily level through the lives of Mariam and Laila.

Date read: 10/11/2007
Book #: 90
Rating: 4* = great
Genre: Fiction

ISBN-10: 0670064912
ISBN-13: 9780670064915
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Year: 2007
# of Pages: 367
Binding: Hardcover
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Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

First sentence:

"The night was quiet."

Description:

"In this exciting debut, author Keri Arthur explodes onto the supernatural scene with a sexy, sensuous tale of intrigue and suspense set in a world where legends walk and the shady paths of the underworld are far more sinister than anyone envisioned.

A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne’s Directorate of Other Races, an organization created to police the supernatural races–and protect humans from their depredations. While Rhoan is an exalted guardian, a.k.a. assassin, Riley is merely an office worker–until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The timing couldn’t be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to the moon heat, the weeklong period before the full moon, when her need to mate becomes all-consuming.…

Luckily Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother….Easier said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is confronted with a very powerful–and delectably naked–vamp who raises her temperature like never before.

In matters carnal, Riley has met her match. But in matters criminal, she must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior–by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind–and just how much it needs her."

My thoughts:

This was a good mix of paranormal mystery and romance. At times I worried that Riley's urges would hinder her, but she was able to use them to her advantage or resist them when she needed to. I also liked many of the characters, specifically Riley, Quinn, Rhoan, Jack and Liander. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Kissing Sin.

Date read: 10/5/2007
Book #: 89
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Series: Riley Jenson, Guardian, #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN-10: 0553588451
ISBN-13: 9780553588453
Publisher: Dell
Year: 2006
# of Pages: 372
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters

First sentence:

"The events I am about to relate began on a December afternoon, when I had invited Lady Harold Carrington and certain of her friends to tea."

Description:

"The joys of home and hearth are about to drive Victorian gentlewoman Amelia Peabody Emerson mad. While she and her husband, the renowned archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson, dutifully go about raising their young son Ramses, she dreams only of the dust and detritus of ancient civilizations. Providentially, a damsel in distress - coupled with a promising archaeological site - demands their immediate presence in Egypt.

The damsel is Lady Baskerville, and the site is a tomb in Luxor recently discovered by Sir Henry Baskerville - who promptly died under bizarre circumstances. The tabloids immediately scream "The Curse of the Pharaohs!"

Amelia and Radcliffe arrive to find the camp in disarray, the workers terrified, and a most eccentric group of guests. A ghost even appears. This is not at all what Amelia considers an atmosphere conducive to scientific discovery. Never one to deny others the benefit of her advice and example, the indomitable Victorian sets about bringing order to chaos and herself that much closer to danger. How Amelia triumphs over the forces of evil - and those who would stand between her and her beloved antiquities makes for a delightfully spirited adventure."

My thoughts:

This was a good historical mystery. I liked the interaction between Peabody and Emerson as they both try to solve the string of murders surrounding the archaeological dig. I look forward to reading third book in the series, The Mummy Case.

Date read: 10/2/2007
Book #: 88
Rating: 3* = good
Series: Amelia Peabody, #2
Genre: Mystery

ISBN-10: 0445406488
ISBN-13: 9780445406483
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Year: 1988
# of Pages: 285
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

First sentence:

"By day, the Nicollet Mall winds through Minneapolis like a paved canal."

Description:

"Eddi McCandry sings rock and roll. But her boyfriend just dumped her, her band just broke up, and life could hardly be worse. Then, walking home through downtown Minneapolis on a dark night, she finds herself drafted into an invisible war between the faerie folk. Now, more than her own survival is at risk—and her own preferences, musical and personal, are very much beside the point.

By turns tough and lyrical, fabulous and down-to-earth, War for the Oaks is a fantasy novel that’s as much about this world as about the other one. It’s about real love and loyalty, about real music and musicians, about false glamour and true art. It will change the way you hear and see your own daily life."

My thoughts:

This is a beautifully written book that is both poetical and fantastical. liked the mix of music and magic. All the characters are well defined, and I especially liked Eddi, Willy and the phouka.

Date read: 9/29/2007
Book #: 87
Rating: 4* = great
Genre: Urban Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0765300346
ISBN-13: 9780765300348
Publisher: Orb Books
Year: 2001
# of Pages: 336
Binding: Trade Paperback
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