I got lucky at the library last week and scooped up a couple of books that had been on my to-read list (love it when that happens!). My summer reading is off to a great start!
The River, by Peter Heller (available now)
I did not enjoy Heller’s previous novel (Celine), so I approached this one with skepticism, despite its good reviews. The River is the gripping adventure of two college-aged boys on a long-distance and isolated canoeing trip that goes horribly wrong when they are caught between a ferocious forest fire and potentially dangerous men in their path. Beautifully written, I loved this book from start to finish! This one will stay with me for awhile. Some of the very detailed descriptions of fishing/canoeing, etc. became tedious but I was so drawn into the saga of the boys’ survival that it didn’t bother me much. Highly recommend!
Daisy Jones and the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (available now)
Thanks to Michele Grace for the heads-up on this novel, which follows the complicated story of a late 1970’s rock band. It’s formatted like a book-length interview of all the relevant characters, which takes a bit of getting used to, but provides interesting insight into how different characters view the same events. I just loved this book, and was sad when it ended. Side note: I know this was fiction but how do these rocker types do SO MANY drugs and survive? If I have 2 margaritas I pay for it for days! Anyway, highly recommend!
The Nowhere Child, by Christian White (available now)
I’m not sure what’s in the water in Australia lately, but Australian authors are turning out some really fine mysteries! In this debut novel, Australian Kim Leamy discovers that she may actually be Sammy Went – a child who was abducted from rural Kentucky over 20 years earlier. Her journey to discover the truth is expertly juxtaposed with the story of Sammy’s disappearance. Extremely well done. Highly recommend!
Only Killers and Thieves, by Paul Howarth (available now)
Another Australian book (I seem to be reading a lot of those lately!). This book is really hard to review. The writing is exceptional and the story is interesting (two young brothers searching for justice in the 1880s Australian frontier) and I was interested in it because it reminded me of Philip Meyer’s The Son (historical Texas family saga). But I struggled to get through it because it was so graphic and so violent — I had to keep putting it down and reading other books in between. In the end, I’m glad I finished it, but I have reservations about recommending it. You might read some other reviews and decide if it’s for you.
Just no:
Neon Prey (Lucas Davenport #29) by John Sanford (available now)
What is it lately with usually reliable series going off the rails? There’s no need to summarize this one. It was so bad that I have a sneaky suspicion that it was ghost-written. Pass.