The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, 485 p.

"My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows.

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?" --Goodreads blurb

I read a Morton book earlier this year that was absolutely fantastic, so I was eager to get my hands on another story written by her. This was a sweeping, multi-generational story that had intrigue, mystery, and a pinch of paranormal in it. Engrossing story that definitely kept me knowing that I love Morton's storytelling. 
 

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble

(Pelican Harbor #1)

352 pages

"When Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, there's no time for an adjustment period. He is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, and Jane quickly realizes she's facing someone out to destroy her father.

"They escaped from a cult fifteen years ago, and Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother--who refused to leave--ever since. Could someone from the horrible past have found them?

"Reid Bechtol is a well-know journalist who makes documentaries, and his sights are currently set on covering Jane's career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.

"Jane finds herself depending on Reid's calm manner as he follows her around taping his documentary, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross." --from the publisher

Some good ideas for a story in this book, but there are a lot of characters here, and I found it difficult to follow the main story line. I think Coble introduced so many because she plans to highlight them in subsequent books in the series, but maybe should have waited on some of them. I give it three out of five stars.

Redemption by David Baldacci

Redemption by David Baldacci, 432 p.

"Detective Amos Decker discovers that a mistake he made as a rookie detective may have led to deadly consequences in the latest Memory Man thriller in David Baldacci's #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Amos Decker and his FBI partner Alex Jamison are visiting his hometown of Burlington, Ohio, when he's approached by an unfamiliar man. But he instantly recognizes the man's name: Meryl Hawkins. He's the first person Decker ever arrested for murder back when he was a young detective. Though a dozen years in prison have left Hawkins unrecognizably aged and terminally ill, one thing hasn't changed: He maintains he never committed the murders. Could it be possible that Decker made a mistake all those years ago? As he starts digging into the old case, Decker finds a startling connection to a new crime that he may be able to prevent, if only he can put the pieces together quickly enough..."

This latest Amos Decker book had a different vibe than previous ones. Amos' series is my favorite Baldacci series, and we got to see a more vulnerable Amos this story. Alex's usual role as "sidekick" is replaced by his old partner, and they make a great team, but I did miss Alex. I know she's not going anywhere, though! Great addition to the Amos Decker series.

Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier

Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier, 123 pages

I read this book over Christmas break, which it was perfect for.  Actually, this book also contains stories by two other mystery authors.  I read the Yule Log Murder because I love the character Lucy Stone.  This short story did not disappoint.  When a large movie studio comes to film a movie in Tinkers Cove, floods of extras come out to play parts in the period piece including Lucy Stone.  But when Bobbi the cook is found murdered, Lucy is left to discover who killed her.

Reading the Clues by Charlotte Carter

Reading the Clues by Charlotte Carter - 367 pages

This is the story of two sisters who live in a town where one sister's husband owned a Grist Mill.  He died then someone else in town began a lawsuit to take away the Mill from the sister.
This had a great review but I wasn't that impressed....the story moved pretty slow.

Mother's Day Murder by Leslie Meier

Mother's Day Murder, 234 pages

I try and read all of Leslie Meier's books that I haven't read around the appropriate corresponding holiday.  So, what better time to read Mother's day Murder than at Mother's Day. Although, murder and Mother's day don't really seem like they would go together.  But, I love mysteries and I love Lucy Stone murder mysteries.  Maybe, because she is some kind of hero to me because she is a mother and worker who tries to balance everything in her life.  Sometimes, her life gets a little chaotic.  In this current book, Lucy has to find out who killed the mother of one of her daughters classmates.  Before the murder occurred, the two of the mothers had been feuding.  One was the victim and the other the suspect, but when it is revealed who the true suspects are, everyone is shocked.

Seduced by Randy Wayne White

Seduced by Randy Wayne White - 383 pages

Not sure how to review this....so strange at the end.
A fishing guide is trying to unravel the mystery of why the orange trees are diseased.  In searching for original trees from hundreds of years ago....pythons are involved.
It was good enough to read through and the end was exciting but not sure I care for this author that much.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 432 pages
On the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick's wife Amy disappears. There are signs of struggle in the hose and Nick quickly becomes the obvious prime suspect. It doesn't help that Nick hasn't been completely honest with the police and, as Amy's case drags on for weeks, more and more vilifying evidence mounts against him. However, the evidence against him just seems too clear and Nick maintains his innocence. As revelation after revelation unfolds, it becomes clear that the truth does not exist in the middle of Nick and Amy's points of view; in fact, the truth is far more dark, more twisted, and more creepy than you can imagine. Told from alternating points of view between Nick and Amy, Gillian Flynn creates an untrustworthy world that changes chapter to chapter.

The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, 304 pages

The Pursuit is the fifth in the Fox and O'Hare series. Nicholas Fox is a con man on the run.  Nicholas has a secret working relationship with special agent Kate O'Hare and the FBI.  In the latest installment, Nick and Kate must stop Dragon Kovic from letting loose a small pox outbreak on a major US city. Traveling throughout Europe, Nick and Kate end up in the sewers of Paris. Can they stop Dragon before it is too late?

The Fifth Heart by Dan Simmons

The Fifth Heart: A Novel by Dan Simmons --- 617 pages

The most unlikely pairing you could imagine, as Sherlock Holmes ditches Dr. Watson to partner with the American novelist Henry James to solve a very complicated set of interwoven mysteries. Unbelievable? Yes, but Simmons makes it work in this fin de siècle story set in the United States. Far more than a simple Holmes pastiche, Simmons adroitly combines a Conan Doyle style sensational plot with the refined sensibilities of a James novel.

Virtually every major and many minor characters, places and events in the book are real people, places and events, with a few well known fictional characters mixed in, plus a running undercurrent about the relationship of authors to their creations. In the midst of all this Simmons unfolds his take on the suicide of Clover Adams, wife of the distingished American historian Henry Adams and the inspiration for James' The Portrait of a Lady, and how it relates to an anarchist plot to assasinate the leaders of the western world, beginning with President Grover Cleveland at the Grand Opening of the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, a schme masterminded by Holmes' nemesis, Professor Moriarty.

Be forewarned, this doorstopper of a book starts slowly. It requires persistence and patience, but once the gears begins to spin, the pay off comes. The wonderful cameo appearances of Sam Clemens, Teddy Roosevelt, and Clarence King (just to name a few), the vivd descriptions of Washington D.C., Boston, and Chicago's "White City" (site of the Columbian Exposition), are the icing on this improbable but engrossing literary conundrum.

Click HERE to read a review in The Guardian.

Click HERE to read a review in the Washington Post.

Click HERE to read a review in the Denver Post.

Dust by Patricia Cornwell

Dust by Patricia Cornwell 495 pages

 Published by G. P. Putnam, 2013

 Hardcover, ISBN 978-0399-15757-8

This 21^st   book in the Scarpetta series continues the saga of Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, her FBI profiler husband and a Cambridge detective who previously worked  as Scarpetta investigator. Their interpersonal relationships continue to be an annoyance as they work together investigating several murders. Could these murders be linked to a technological lawsuit, a serial murderer’s activities in D.C., or a 20 year old crime.  As always, there are misleading clues, scientific terminology, and autopsy descriptions to wade through.

Even though this is a series item, enough background is provided that a new reader will not be confused. There are some scientific terms and autopsy descriptions to wade through. 

Any Other Name by Craig Johnson

Any Other Name by Craig Johnson, 319 pages

This is the 10th installment in Johnson's bestselling Walt Longmire series, which is now also a television series. Walt's daughter Cady is having Walt's first grandbaby any minute now, and all Cady wants is for her Daddy to get his rear to Philadelphia for its birth. Walt's old mentor and former Sherriff Lucian Connally has other ideas. He's asked for Walt's help with a missing persons case related to an old friend of his. This missing persons case ends up leading to a trail of missing women, and a whole lot of trouble for Walt. Halfway through the book, Walt's sidekicks Vic Moretti and Henry Standing Bear simply want to get Walt to Cady, but they're having trouble getting him to wrap things up in Wyoming. Will Walt make it? And how many times will he get shot at, or shot, in the meantime? Craig Johnson hasn't lost his knack for keeping us absorbed in Walt's life. Great read.