Danville Public Library has been using Beanstack for reading programs this year, where patrons can track their reading and share reviews. For the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting Patron reviews from Beanstack.
Cal, a retired Chicago police officer sets out to make a completely new start in life. His choice is to move into a ramshackle home set in a tiny village in Ireland. Arriving there, he expects peace and opportunities to engage in physical work to mend his home, his heart and his spirit. A totally different and unexpected life begins when a very poor, unmannerly and fatherless youth invades his small Irish world. The youth, Trey, requests that Cal work with him to find out what happened to his missing elder brother. The lively pub, local store, and the pastoral sheep meadows all take on a darkness once the duo start their queries to the tight knit locals. I was truly surprised at how the mystery played out and wished for the light to return to both Cal and Trey’s lives. A bit of the sorrow was lifted by the presence of a local widow, Lena, and her litter of pups in need of homes. The story held my attention but, alas, I need to know “what happened next”. Well written with descriptions that I viewed easily in my mind’s eye.
Review by Kathy Hoaks
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Danville Public Library staff or Library Board of Trustees.
(The Fugitive is based on a tv show in the 60’s as well as a real-life murder mystery.)
Daniel Silva began his writing career as a journalist and was UPI’s Middle East correspondent for a while. Upon his return to the United States he worked for CNN in Washington and also began to write spy/thriller fiction. He wrote three novels in the late nineties before he began the Gabriel Allon series with The Kill Artist in 2000.
The Silent Wife by award winning writer Karin Slaughter is the 20th, and most recent, book in her “Atlanta” series. Her earlier, “Grant County” series is connected to the second series through several characters and incidents. Though not absolutely necessary to enjoying the books, whichever series you choose, I recommend reading the books of that series in order. I didn’t know I would want to do that originally and wound up going back to earlier books because I wanted to know what had happened.
In Des Moines, IA area young paperboys have gone missing without a trace. Crystal, an awkward high school senior, dreams of going to college. She wants to be a writer and practice her skills as the editor of the high school newspaper. She lives with her single mother, who works hard at a local salon, barely make ends meet. Crystal is often left to care for her 12 year old brother, Sammy. Sammy is a paperboy and he is scared and upset The things that used to bring him joy and happiness, now only brings pain, regret and sadness. No one knows or sees.
