Last Month

2,338 pages read last month!
Best Book read last month: The Murder House
Book I'd re-read: The Angel's Share
Book I liked least: The Trouble with Women.

"No one ever leaves alive, The house at 7 Ocean Drive"....The Bookbabe Review of The Murder House by James Patterson & David Ellis

I have a fondness for mysteries; and it seems I also have a fondness this month for James Patterson novels. This is my fifth time reading Patterson; however, it's my third time reading him so far this year. (Yes I am aware we are only 25 days into 2017 lol) The Murder House was just the type of page turner I needed. It was dark, twisty, and fast paced. Boy, oh Boy, how it kept me guessing. In the novel we are introduced to Det. Jenna Murphy, who is resettling into a new job in Bridgehampton, NY. Jenna was forced out of a job with NYPD after turning over evidence on dirty cops to the wrong person. So disgraced and wanting to get back to the job she loves she finds herself working for her uncle; in a small town PD.
Just a few weeks after arriving Jenna finds herself trying to weasel her way onto a Murder investigation. However, her uncle (the Chief of Police) puts up road blocks and stops her from getting into deep.
This does not stop Jenna, who is only interested in the truth and finds herself ass deep in a mystery that begins to feel as if it involves the entrie town. And perhaps there is a cover up to keep some the lid on something big. Thrust into the story as well is Noah Walker, the man accused of a horrific double murder. Jenna just can not shake the fact that Noah is not a killer. She can just smell a set up. But she can not really figure out The Who, the what and the why of it all.
Noah himself is just trying to keep his head on straight - all the while trying to understand what's happening to him and how he really fits into all of it. Sooner or later, and very reluctantly, Noah and Jenna are forced to confront one another and join forces to catch a murderer.

This book was one hell of a ride, intense and dark and twisty. It lead you down the path of a sociopathic killer who paraded himself as a pillar of the community. He is the last person you would expect in the end. It also reveals a dangerous secret that about Det. Murphy that even she didn't see coming. I gave this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads.com.

Quotes I liked:
"Simpleton with violent tendencies and the empathy of a rattlesnake, but other than that a dear boy"

Seem like the 2nd time is the charm: My review of 1st to Die by James Patterson

Sometimes the second time is the charm: Bookbabe reviews 1st to Die by James Patterson

As many of you know, I was first introduced to the writing style of Patterson when I read The Murder of King Tut. I was seriously disappointed in that book and really had no desire to read 1st to Die; even though I had purchased the book around the same time I read the other. 
But, this summer I decided it was time to get through some of these paperbacks that had been taking up space on my shelves. Not to mention this book featured heavily into all the other mysteries I had been reading all summer. 
The book introduces us to Lindsay, a San Fran police officer. Clarie, a medical examiner. Jill, an assistant district attorney and Cindy, a reporter. Together these women work together to help solve and trap a murderer.  Each character is wonderfully and colorfully written; however, the friendships between them seemed a little odd. Almost stunted. I really found myself annoyed because the personal conversations between Lindsay and Claire felt phony, and felt like something that women would not really say to one another. It did not really feel genuine. But, aside from that I really really liked this book. I found that I could not put it down.
What I loved most about the book was the relationship that Lindsay developed with her partner, Chris Raleigh. However the partnership ends tragically which was a twist I was not expecting; especially since Patterson has already dealt Lindsay a pretty rough hand to begin with. 
One thing that was surprisingly impressive about the book were the twists. Right until the end I had the killer wrong. I thought it was one person and it ended being someone else; even though the killer was having their strings pulled by someone else. 
This alone is why I will most likely read the next book in the series. I hope that as it goes along that the dialogue gets better between the characters. 

Quotes I Loved:
"Never wrestle with a pig, Lindsay. You both get dirty. The pig likes it."

"I'm in shape. Round's a shape."

"There comes a point in everybody's life when you realize the stakes are suddenly changed. The carefree ride of your life slams into a stone wall; all those years of merely bouncing along, life taking you where you want to go, abruptly end."

"To the ice bitches of the world; and the men who can not thaw us out."

So many Books; so little time!

I attempted to conquer a few books during the month of September. I managed to read a few of the books from my back list and read at least two new recently purchased books. 
My favorite read of the month was Fangirl by Rainbwo Rowell; I have it 5/5 stars on Goodreads. 
My least favorite read of the month was Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 

What James Patterson and my Gran have in common..

I credit my grandmother for my steadfast love of reading. She was the woman that gave me my first copy of Charlotte's Web; she purchased my first copy of Anne Frank: Diary of A Young Girl. She never told me I could not read any book I choose. My grandmother has even been quoted as saying "I could eat away that child's television, phone, internet , and stereo but those books I could never take away. It would be to cruel", my gran recognized early on that my relationship with the written word was important. She herself only read the bible, and on one occassion a Terry McMillian book. My fondest memories are our monthly trips to the book store. I was allowed two books. She never read the synopsis and I was never told "not that one". For that I am eternally grateful; God blessed me with a very awesome Gran.

http://youtu.be/IOoztcs0--c

New Book Discovery

Here is the synopsis: 

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, their daughter Tandy knows just three things: 1) She was one of the last people to see her parents alive. 2) The suspect list only includes Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone—maybe not even herself. As Tandy sets out to clear the family name, she begins to recall flashes of experiences long buried in her vulnerable psyche. These memories shed light on her family's dark secrets, and digging deeper into her powerful parents'

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson ... My review

I was very skeptical about this book because of the author and because I found it in the History section of a book store. I'm not saying that Mr. Patterson is not capable of writing non- fiction; I am just saying that this book is clearly a work of Historical fiction. I loved the interweaving of Tut's & Carter's life.... However Patterson's interruptions with his hunches about A murder plot made me want to skip ahead. Thank God they only lasted a few pages. Also whats with Chapter 99! Its like he (Patterson) dropped the ball by naming Tut's beloved wife a will participant in the plot to kill him. This was particularly nerve wrecking because Patterson had set the plot up in such a way to have the reader believe that Tut's Queen was faithful and loyal to him. Not to mention that she feared for  her life as well as the well being of her country. She took steps that led one to believe that she was protecting herself and her nation from her husband's conspiring General & Scribe. I think he missed the mark on proving the wife as a conspirator. All and all I found the book very enjoyable and will definitely recommend it to friends.