Clymer Library Reader's Advisory

I have just finished reading "Spider Bones" by Kathy Reichs. If you like the TV show "Bones", you should find this novel by Kathy Reichs interesting! The "Bones" TV show character, Dr. Temperance Brennan, is loosely based on Ms. Reichs' character of the same name in this book. Both characters are forensic anthropologists. The TV show Dr. Brennan is almost always clinical and somewhat socially inept; the book Dr. Brennan is often clinical, frequently amusing, and is pretty adept at the social stuff.

Now to this book's specifics. John Lowery was declared dead in 1968; the victim of a Huey crash in Vietnam, his body buried long ago in North Carolina. Four decades later, Temperance Brennan is called to the scene of a drowning in Hemmingford, Quebec. The victim appears to have died while in the midst of a bizarre sexual practice. The corpse is later identified as John Lowery. But how could Lowery have died twice, and how did an America soldier end up in Canada? Dr. Temperance Brennan sets off for the answer, exhuming Lowery's grave in North Carolina and taking the remains to Hawaii for reanalysis--to the headquarters of JPAC, the U.S. military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, which strives to recover Americans who have died in past conflicts. In Hawaii, Dr. Temperance Brennan is joined by her colleague and ex-lover Detective Andrew Ryan and by her daughter, who is recovering from her own tragic loss. Soon another set of remains is located, with Lowery's dog tags tangled among them. Three bodies -- all identified as Lowery.

This book is a page turner and there are a few exciting moments! Also, you must pay closely attention to what you are reading because it gets a bit complicated (whose bodies are they, anyway?). I do recommend this book.

Barbara Land, Clymer Library Technician

Elizabeth Lynn Casey is the author of the Southern Sewing Circle mystery series and will visit Clymer Library to discuss her latest release, "Dangerous Alterations" on Thursday, November 3. To become more familiar with this author, I have read the first four books in this series (there will eventually be 10 books in this series); "Sew Deadly", "Death Threads", "Pinned for Murder", and "Deadly Notions". I found them to be an easy read, filled with funny and charmingly Southern characters. These are cozy mystery stories, no gore, no bad language, no horror; just a classic "Who Done It?". Since I work at a library, I could relate to the main character, Tori (aka Victoria) the Librarian. The library is just as an important aspect of these stories as are the characters. Tori is part of the Sweet Briar Ladies' Society Sewing Circle and they work together to solve mysteries that they find themselves smack in the middle of! I am anxious to get to the next book; I feel like I know the characters and I can't wait to see what happens next. I will definitely read all 10 books in this series! (Review submitted by Melissa Lopez, Clymer Library Technician.)

Tick Tock by James Patterson is another page turning thriller!

A rash of horrifying crimes tears through New York City, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Quickly it becomes clear that these offenses are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind. All too soon, another appalling murder leads Detective Michael Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan.

There is a bit of romance for our Detective Bennett in this story. Also, his ten adoptive children are front and center in his chaotic life. You should read this book for all the details!

Looking for a good romance? Try Christine Feehan's Ruthless Game.

Ghostwalker Kane Cannon is pure male—animalistic, sexual, protective, instinctive—and his past missions have prepared him for anything. But his newest assignment, to rescue hostages in Mexico , plunges him into a hot zone he never anticipated: the hiding place of Rose Patterson—fugitive, ex-lover, a fellow Ghostwalker pregnant with his child.

Rose is in flight from the insidious experiments that still live in her dreams, and from the madman who’d do anything to take her child. Of all the Ghostwalkers enlisted to hunt her down, Kane is the only one she can trust. But as their passion reignites, the stakes are raised. Because Kane is now a wanted man as well. And together they’re about to face the most desperate challenge of all: staying together and staying alive.

"A Good House" is set in 1949 in Stonebrook, Ontario home to
the Chambers family. It begins with the introduction of a young couple
somewhat forced into wedlock through pregnancy. Bill and Sylvia are
kind, simple, small town dwellers, who attempt to raise
their three children with strong morals and a stable home. The postwar
boom and hope for the future color every facet of life; the possibilities
seem limitless to Bill and his family.

Their life takes a twist when Sylvia falls terminally ill and must say
her goodbyes at a young age.
This was beautifully done, it was written the way a mother would
prepare her family for her death.
I especially enjoyed the way the family would stay together at night
just talking and joking the way only a family does. It truly captured
the spirit of a family.

With three children and a house, Bill understood the importance of having
a wife and soon marries Margaret, the bookkeeper from his
hardware store. Their love is based more on necessity than passion, but
they are compatible and in the years that follow grow to love and respect one another.
Bill confronts the onset of old age less gracefully than anticipated, but
throughout, his second wife, Margaret, remains suprisinigly, the family anchor.
The children eventually grow up and move on, pursuing their own
careers and discovering their own loves.

I enjoyed this book, it quite simply told the story of a family. I would
recommend it for a cold winter night.