Our Woman in Moscow

Our Woman in Moscow

Our Woman in Moscow: A Novel Beatrice Williams Occasionally I come across a book that reminds me of the sheer joy of reading, opens a new world, and warms the heart. Beatrice Williams has done just that in Our Woman in Moscow (Morrow $28. 437pp). I could not wait to...
M, King’s Bodyguard: A Novel

M, King’s Bodyguard: A Novel

M, King’s Bodyguard: A Novel Niall Leonard British writer Niall Leonard has written an excellent historical mystery (M King’s Bodyguard Pantheon 264 pages $27). The book takes us to January 1901 in London where Queen Victoria lies on her deathbed. The...
Every Vow

Every Vow

Peter Swanson’s Every Vow You Break (Morrow $28) has a great premise and has gotten nice reviews (NY Times). But it may be the worst book I’ve ever reviewed. A great writer can take a well-worn premise or an old story like A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (based on...
Troubled Blood

Troubled Blood

J.K. Rowling has released another mystery, Troubled Blood (Little Brown, $29.00), under her pen name, Robert Galbraith, starring two memorable characters, Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. If you have not read any of the previous books, Strike is a private detective...
The White Russian

The White Russian

Evie has just graduated from college in New York in 1937. Despite her many questions, no one in her family ever will talk about her mysterious grandmother who was apparently married to or the mistress of a Russian general who fled the Soviet Union after the White Army...
The Holdout

The Holdout

Graham Moore The Holdout (Random House, $28.00) has written a 21st century Twelve Angry Men. Instead of Henry Fonda, Moore has created an obnoxious young woman named Maya, a recent college graduate. Living with her boyfriend and unemployed, she shows for jury duty...