"The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett

Several months ago I stumbled across a collection of old-time radio plays. Many of them were detective stories, and of those there was a large collection of Sam Spade capers. After listening to them, I became fascinated with Spade, learning that he was first made popular with the movie The Maltese Falcon, which was based on the book. After watching the movie, I found the book. 

Summary: Sam Spade is a detective who runs a small agency with his partner Archer. A woman hires them to follow a man so that they can find the client's sister who is with him. Archer offers to tail the man that night and before sunrise, he is dead off the side of the road. The prime suspect is killed later that same night and police suspect that Spade got revenge for the death of his partner.

The trouble with summarizing this story too much more is that it is full of twists and turns as new characters are brought in and new pieces of information are slowly uncovered. Spade is a very clever detective who takes big risks somehow knowing that they are going to payoff, when any other man would have made a safer choice only to be punished for it. He is also very efficient at putting the pieces together and keeping track of what is fact and what is only conjecture.

What I Liked: All of the characters in this story are enchanting. It is clear that they all are missing critical information of one kind or another, but they act boldly trusting that what they do know is enough to see them through. There are a lot of interesting ethical case studies in which people can argue what is the right thing to do in each situation, and there isn't necessarily one answer.

What I Didn't Like: Obviously, there is a cultural difference between 1930 and today. Many of the uncomfortable social relics of the past are preserved in this story.

Rating: Must Read.

Also Read by this Author: None.

Reviewed by: Nick

"Fool Moon" by Jim Butcher

I'm not going to lie.... I've been putting off book #2 of the Dresden Files for over a year.  I think it's because I don't want to like the series.  My husband and his band of merry gamers love the Dresden Files and I feel like if I add them to the list of books I enjoy it'll push me over the edge from somewhat cranky loner to full on geek myself.  And I really don't want to fall into that category.  I watch too much reality TV for that.

But pick up "Fool Moon" I did, and I fear there's no going back.

image via goodreads

Summary:   When a series of gruesome unexplained murders occurs in Chicago, Lt. Karrin Murphy knows there's only one wizard to call:  Harry Dresden.  And not just because he's the only self-acknowledged wizard in the United States.  Dresden is pulled onto the scene of a brutal and bloody murder with almost no evidence, except a large wolf paw by the body.  Harry uses his knowledge of the arcane, his talking skull Bob and information from an overly friendly demon to learn who the likely culprit may be...and where they may strike next.

My Thoughts:  The reason I read the Dresden series isn't to think all that much about what I'm reading.  It read them to be entertained, pure and simple, and Fool Moon does the trick.

Fool Moon begins with Harry dining with a younger colleague in the local wizard bar.  She asks him for help on something complex and dangerous, and his inner white knight refuses to help her--what she's asking is dangerous and above her skill level.  Harry's choice ends up in her dismemberment and sets Harry on a path to his inevitable near doom.  (Don't worry, reader, this seems to happen every book and to my knowledge the series is still going strong.)  What follows next is the epitome of entertainment - gruesome murders, hilarious encounters with Bob the skull, more insight into Dresden's own past, and an action packed who-dunnit that keeps the reader guessing til the end.

Rating:  A nice installment in the series.

Also Read By:
     Tami:  Storm Front 
     Nick:  Skin Game

Reviewed By:  Tami

"Skin Game" by Jim Butcher

I have been reading the Dresden Files series for several years now and started because many of my friends introduced me to the first book. I have recently gotten Tami to read the first book, and you can check out her review here.

Summary: Since this is book #16, let me first give a summary of the series. This is the first person testimony of  Harry Dresden, a wizard who lives in modern day Chicago. He begins his career as a freelance private investigator, who openly advertises his magical ability and uses it to solve mysteries. He has some key friends that help him out when things get complicated, each with their own unique abilities, magical and mundane, that make the difference between success and failure. Each book is a life and death investigation with Harry precariously placed in a position where he can tip the balance either way, but he doesn't have the info to make the right choice until the very end. This formula, used is basically all the books, is best summarized by a neat quote out of the newest book:

"The radio blared with static and a woman's voice spoke in the tones of a news commentator. '...other news, Harry Dresden, Chicago wizard, blindly charges toward his own destruction because he refuses to recognize simple and obvious truths which are right there in front of him. Dresden ignored several excellently placed warnings, and as a result is expected to perish in the next forty-eight hours..."

This is one of hundreds of examples of Butcher having fun with the reader by incorporating into the story a wink and nod that he is right there with you as you laugh at Dresden's adventures.With Dresden as the narrator, he will often throw in a joke, nerd reference or a shameful apology, as appropriate, giving the impression that the book is the transcript from a time Dresden recounted his tales on stage in front of an audience. And I can only imagine how fun that would be!

I am hesitant to put too much of the plot for Skin Game because the Dresden Files culture is very much anti-spoilers. So here is your warning that I will be providing spoilers for any book that comes before Skin Game but I will try and avoid spoiling this book.

In this book Dresden is living in self-imposed isolation on his island, because he fears the entity sharing his head. As the pain increases, and his friends become more distant, Mab comes to him with an offer he can't refuse. Harry is forced to work with his most dangerous enemy, so that Mab can repay a debt. Harry is forced to walk a thin line between helping the villain and betraying him at every turn. To fulfill the debt, Harry teams up with a group of bad guys and breaks into a vault to steal treasure of unimaginable value. 

And of course, he has three days to do it.

What I Liked: YES.

What I Didn't Like: N/A.

Rating: MUST READ.

Also Read by this Author: Storm Front, Fool Moon, Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Death Masks, Blood Rites, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Knight, Small Favor, Turn Coat, Changes, Ghost Story, Cold Days, Side Jobs. 

Reviewed by: Nick

"Storm Front" by Jim Butcher

The Dresden Files has been on my to-read list since it was first suggested to me back in 2008.  Actually, I don't know if it was really 2008, but you get my point....it was a long time ago.  I'm not sure why I put off reading a series that was suggested by so many different people.  Maybe in my heart of hearts I thought I could only love one wizard named Harry and that honor was already spoken for.  Anyway, I've noticed that I've been in a reading slump lately (nothing sounds good and the books I start aren't keeping my attention) so I thought I'd finally see what this series was all about.

Summary:  Need a wizard?  Call Harry Dresden - he's in the phone book.  Please no children's parties or love spells.

Based in Chicago, Harry Dresden is a smart-ass wizard PI who barely makes ends meet taking freelance jobs and occasionally consulting with the Chicago PD.  That's why he jumps at the chance to work two jobs at once; one searching for a missing husband who's taken a recent interest in magic and another consulting on a double a murder that looks to have been done by magical means.  But what at first appears to be a routine missing persons case takes a turn for the ugly when Dresden begins to suspect that the two cases may have more in common than he first thought.

What I Liked:  I liked this book.  That's right, I said it!  I liked this book and it actually surprised me.  I came into the story skeptical that it would be interesting or well written, and it was both and more:

• The Harry Dresden character starts off as rather straight-forward, almost simple, then rapidly evolves into something much more complex as the story unfolds.  While he tries to do the right thing, he's certainly not perfect.  While he can figure out what he needs to do, he's not necessarily an expert.  (This is doubly true when it comes to women.)  I really enjoyed how Harry's character developed throughout the book and how the facets of his personality changed as he encountered new people and situations.
• The story was fast paced and interesting.  While the entire book covered just a few days, the action was well paced, the plot line interesting and dialog witty.
• The world building dynamic was creative and fresh.  The author was able to build his story in the modern world with a magical twist, and he did it by showing instead of telling.  It was refreshing to jump into the story and accept that magic was a part of the world without having to spend half of a book with back story.
• The side characters! I am genuinely interested to read more about them!

What Drove Me Nuts:

• Oh Dresden.  He is the ultimate nerd hero.  While I find that endearing for obvious reasons, at times his dedication to doing the right thing even if it doesn't really make sense drove me absolutely nuts.  I definitely feel that Dresden is the ideal nerd/gamer archetype, and with that comes an inflated sense of chivalry and a bit of prissiness.
• I was able to figure out the plot of the book about half way through.  Humblebrag:  this isn't rare for me, but I was hoping for more a of a twist at the end.

Rating:  If you're open to the fantasy genre and are looking for a more adult take on the supernatural, check this book out.  If you are a self-proclaimed nerd, what are you waiting for?

Also Read By This Author:  Nothing yet, but I've already got the second book on reserve at the library.

Reviewed By:  Tami

"Size 14 is Not Fat Either" by Meg Cabot

Former mall pop sensation turned residence hall director Heath Wells is back with yet another dorm murder on her hands.  Will she be able to solve the latest mystery of Death Dorm?

Summary:  Winter break has come to a close and the New York College freshmen and sophomores have returned to Fischer Hall to kick off a new semester.  Heather herself is ready to spring into action when a gruesome discovery in the cafeteria puts the dorm on high alert and Heather in the middle of yet another who-done-it.

What I Liked:  I feel like I repeat myself every time I review an installment of the Heather Wells series, but I'll say it again.  These books are funny, cute and definitely lighthearted.  They are easily read over a few afternoons, or ideally a day at the beach!

Another side benefit: the farther I get away from the college, the more hilarious college students seem.  This story in particular poked fun at Greek life and boy bands in a clever, if slightly insane way.

What Drove Me Nuts:  I had to put the book down twice because the main character is sometimes just TOO DITZY.  But I always get over it, pick it back up, and enjoy how her moments of total airheadedness turn out.

Rating:  Drop the kids off with grandma, pick up a cocktail and enjoy.

Reviewed by:  Tami

"Size 12 is Not Fat" by Meg Cabot

I read the latest installment in the Heather Wells series first.  I like it so much I had to go back to the beginning and see how it all started.

Image from Google

Summary:  Meet Heather Wells, former teen sensation turned assistant director of a residence hall.  Only three months on the job, Heather is faced with catastrophe when one of her freshman residents is found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft.  The death is ruled as accidental due to elevator surfing but Heather thinks otherwise.  When a second freshman woman turns up dead, Heather knows she needs to find out what is really happening before a third resident dies on her watch.

What I Liked:  The dialog in this story is hilarious.  Meg Cabot has a flair for the ridiculous and she wields her skill in a glorious manner.  I literally laughed out loud while reading, which is both awesome (yeah, good dialog) and bad (nooo, don't laugh at a book weirdo.)

The characters are well developed, in that they are unique and different from other books I've read.  Cabot deals with former child stars in exactly the right way.  And Heather's landlord:  DREAMY.

I also appreciated some of the more random moments, such as the lip synch contest and any and all run ins with Heather's ex.

What Drove Me Nuts:  There weren't a lot of plot turns and the main character is really ditsy.  I occasionally found myself rolling my eyes (but then again, that might be the point and why the books are so fun to read.)

Rating:  This would be an excellent beach read (easy to pick up and put down, or to read while drinking a margarita).  Not too serious and just fun.

Also Read by This Author:  "The Bride Wore Size 12"

Reviewed By:  Tami

"Ravenor" by Dan Abnett

I have been a fan of the Warhammer 40k sci-fi universe for several years now. I am currently the Game Master of a weekly Dark Heresy game (think D&D in space) which takes place in this setting. So when I saw this book on the thrift store shelf I knew I had to read it.

Summary: This book follows Inquisitor Ravenor, a crippled psyker who uses his mind-bending powers to investigate serious crimes in the dreary Imperium of Man. He has a team of highly trained Acolytes who help him in his work and he commands them through telepathy. Ravenor discovers a drug-dealing cartel and believes it is more than simply a supply-chain for despairing addicts. He believes the 'flects' have a sinister origin, tainted by forbidden xenos. He directs his team through the dangerous criminal underworld and discovers a conspiracy beyond just the flects. There is a lot of gun-fighting and detective work on futuristic worlds and starships with epic environments that stretch the imagination. 

What I Liked: Abnett has a mind for adventure, knowing how to pace a story so that it is always interesting, but not overwhelming. He also has an attention to detail that lets the reader know he is not just improvising the plot to make it end up how he wants. I also like the feel of the Warhammer 40k universe, which Abnett is famous for portraying very well.

What I Didn't Like: Honestly, not much. I felt like an idiot when I realized some of the characters had already been introduced in the Eisenhorn series, which I have not read yet, but I don't think that detracted any.

Other Books Read by This Author: Gaunt's Ghosts (which I recommend)

Reviewed by: Nick

"The Wave" by Walter Mosley

I (Nick) listen to public radio a lot and the woman who hosts the morning show is a bibliophile. She regularly interviews authors and makes non literary guests talk about books. One of her favorite authors (because of the Easy Rawlins series) is Walter Mosley. I've heard her interview Mosley and when I saw his name at the library I figured it would be a safe bet.

Summary: In this book we follow Errol Porter in his journey of despair. Before the book starts, his father dies, he loses his job, his wife moves out to be with another man and he rents out the garage of the home he once owned. To cope with his misery he finds comfort in the arms of women. Many women. As he sleeps in his makeshift studio apartment, his phone wakes him up in the middle of the night, over and over. Instead of reporting the prank caller, Errol takes it upon himself to find the obviously disturbed man and care for him. What he learns is that the man is infected with a strange bacteria that wield powerful and awesome abilities. The Department of Homeland Security quickly moves in to get a handle on the situation and are eager to violate civil rights. In this crazy adventure Errol learns secrets about his father, the government and the history of life on earth.

What We Liked: Nick liked the idea of the bacteria invasion and plan to use it in a role-playing game I am running.  Tami didn't like much about the book, other than the fact that some of plot choices were ludicrous to the point of laughter.

What We Didn't Like: Errol sleeps with a surprising number of women, which is hilarious because the main character comes across as totally unappealing.  And Mosley describes a surprising number of men naked without advancing the plot.  There were a lot of scenes where Mosley just tells you something happened or told you how the characters felt when he could have painted a mental picture. It made the book feel distant and poorly written.  As a reader I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters, so I didn't really care when Errol was probed or probed someone himself.  (And that happened quite a bit.)

Rating: Not recommended. I might try his Easy Rawlins series, but I'm in no hurry.

Also Read By This Author: Nothing.  And it might just stay that way.

"The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul" by Douglas Adams

I aquired this book at the same time I picked up Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, which works out well because it is the sequel. 

Summary: This book starts with Kate Schechter witnessing a powerful explosion at the airport. Terrorist organizations take credit and utility boards apologize, but the official investigation turns up no explanation as to what caused it. There are no deaths, except possibly the check-in girl who leaves not a single trace. Unrelated, Dirk Gently is hired as a bodyguard for a successful record producer who fears for his life. When his fears manifest, Dirk searches for the killer. His non-linear investigation tactics lead him on a crazy adventure for the truth. His path crosses with Kate's and they enter into a hidden world of beings who are out of their place and out of their time. They are witnesses to a great and powerful conflict typically obscured from the view of mere mortals.

What I Liked: Douglas Adams is a funny author and can deliver dry humor in such a way that makes it feel serendipitous. He pokes fun at the government, religion and society in general.

What I Didn't Like: This book follows a very roundabout path and relies heavily on coincidences to move the plot forward. It felt more like a stand-up comedy routine than a novel.

Also Read By This Author: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (and sequels); Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Rating: If you like British comedy fiction you'll enjoy it, though it is not Adams' best work.

"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" by Douglas Adams

I received a copy of this book through a friend of a friend who was trying to sell it at a garage sale. I really enjoyed other books by Douglas Adams and so I figured I would enjoy this one too.

Summary: This story follows Richard MacDuff, a successful computer programmer working for the eccentric businessman Gordon Way. He is reunited with a former professor, Reg, who is shrouded in an aura of mystery. He also reunites with an old college friend, Dirk Gently, who has become a private investigator. Dirk is an astoundingly intelligent person, but does not conform to traditional logic paths. Instead, he sees each individual case as being entangled with the universe, leading to very peculiar detective work and problematic billing. The three find themselves on a crazy adventure to save the world.

What I Liked: Douglas Adams is very good about establishing early in the book a series of minor jokes which escalate, seemingly by coincidence, as the book progresses. Each time the joke reappears it seems like the final punchline, funnier than before. At the beginning of the book I thought it was slow, not really sure if it was worth continuing on, but by the end I was laughing out loud and having difficulty explaining the elaborate jokes to Tami. The final punchlines were so simple and delivered with Adams' dry sense of humor, if taken out of context they would appear dull. But cleverly placed in the book, each punchline was a solid hit.

What I Didn't Like: The book had a slow start. In Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy the book starts by putting the main character in mortal danger and the excitement continues from there. In this book, it takes a while for anything exciting to happen, and even longer for Richard to be pulled into it.

Rating: If you like comedy mixed with science fiction this is a must-read.

Also Read By This Author: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (and sequels)

Reviewed By: Nick