The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read. There's no real rhyme or reason. I just go through my library list and my shelves and pick the books that are calling to me. Here are two that I've read recently.
Goodreads: Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea
Blurb: Thirty years ago, Baby Charlotte vanished. Today, she’s still in danger.
When Dr. Sloan Hastings submits her DNA to an online genealogy site for a research assignment, her goal is to better understand the treasure-trove of genetic information contained on ancestry websites. Brilliant and driven, Sloan is embarking on a fellowship in forensic pathology, training under the renowned Dr. Livia Cutty.
Sloan has one reservation about involving herself in the she’s adopted. Grateful for a loving home, she’s never considered tracking down her biological parents. The results of her search are shocking. Sloan’s DNA profile suggests her true identity is that of Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte”, who captured the nation’s attention when she mysteriously disappeared, along with her parents, in July 1995. Despite an exhaustive search, the family was never seen again, and no suspects were named in the case.
Sloan’s discovery leads her to the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada, the site of her disappearance. It also leads her to Sheriff Eric Stamos. The Margolis family’s influence and power permeate every corner of Harrison County, and Eric is convinced that in learning the truth about her past, Sloan can also help discover what happened to Eric’s father, who died under suspicious circumstances soon after he started investigating the case her disappearance.
Slowly, over the course of a stifling summer, Sloan begins getting to know her relatives. Though initially welcoming, the Margolis family is also mysterious and tight-lipped. Not everyone seems happy about Sloan’s return, or the questions she’s asking. And the more she and Eric learn, the more apparent it becomes that the answers they both seek are buried in a graveyard of Margolis family secrets that some will do anything to keep hidden—no matter who else has to die…
My Thoughts: I really liked this mystery and it definitely kept me reading. The pacing was blazing fast and the short chapters kept me reading far later into the night than I originally planned. I liked Sloan and Eric Stamos. I also liked that Sloan's parents weren't vilified. The end had me basically holding my breath to see how it played out. There's was one part of the solution that was stretched the believability to a little past breaking but since the conclusion overall made sense it didn't bother me too much. This is my 2nd book by this author and I'm really looking forward to reading more. My Rating; Really Liked It
Goodreads: Nosy Neighbors by Freya SampsonBlurb: Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, and especially not in crumbling Shelley House. According to her neighbors, she’s prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past.
Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling is Shelley House’s longest resident, and if you believe the other tenants, she’s as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Except there’s a good reason Dorothy spends her days spying on her neighbors—a closely guarded secret that no else knows and the reason Dorothy barely leaves her beloved home.
When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home. But when someone starts to play dirty and viciously targets one of the residents, Dorothy and Kat suspect foul play in their community. After the police close the investigation, it's up to this improbable pair to bring a criminal to justice.
My Thoughts: This was fun and heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. The stars of the book are Kat and Dorothy (and Ernie the dog but he is just pretty happy to be there from the beginning of the book to the end). From the outside the two women couldn't be more different but on the inside they're more than a little alike. I loved getting to know all the residents of Shelley House and how they all came together though it wasn't always in the most traditional of senses. I really enjoyed getting to know Kat and Dorothy more even though they frustrated me a bit at times. This was an enjoyable read - my first by this author but not the last. My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
