Author

Publisher: Putnam, 2007

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Format: Audio (Narrated by XX

Source: Public Library

My Rating: B+

So many people have recommended this series to me that I just had to give it a try. First I checked the Robert Parker website to see how many books were in the series (6) and which one was the first (this one). While there I learned that actress, Helen Hunt, urged Parker to create the character of Sunny Randall so she could play her on the screen. I loved the actress in Mad About You and the film As Good As It Gets and I kept her in mind as I “read” this book.

Sunny is a former cop, now working as a private investigator in the Boston area. Her father, Paul, is a retired police detective and a person that Sunny greatly respects. When her father is asked to come out of retirement to help solve a set of serial murders, he asks Sunny to join him.

Thirty years earlier Phil Randall was the lead investigator into a series of murders that came to be known as the “Spare Change Killer.” The murders were never solved and then they suddenly stopped. Now, after all this time, the murders have started again. There is no particular pattern other than the three coins left at the scene of the crime. First, Sunny and her dad must decide if this is the same killer or a possible copy-cat.

Sunny is smart and also has good instincts. While interviewing one particular suspect, she has a very strong hunch that something is up with this guy. She’s convinced of it even after extensive investigation proves nothing. He enjoys meeting with Sunny and she can feel the sexual tension within this guy when they talk about the murders. As the murders pile up the detectives begin to notice the victims eerily resemble Sunny. It looks like she could be the next victim.

The story covers more than just the investigation. We also get a good look at Sunny’s dad, mom and sister. The family dynamics are interesting. In addition, Sunny shares a dog with her former husband. It’s obvious she’s still in love with him even though he has remarried. The good thing about a Robert Parker story is that you always get a little biit extra worked into the basic story.

I read this book with my ears. The audiobook was narrated by Kate Burton who did an excellent job. I loved how some of the characters had good old Boston accents.

Now I know why lots of people like this series. Just add my name to the list of enthusiastic fans.
Check you local library for copies of this book. It’s also available at Amazon. (I am an Amazon Associate.)

by Sarah Blake

Penguin Group

February 9, 2010

My Rating: C

This is a World War II era story which centers around some of the people of a coastal New England town. The story is told primarily from the viewpoint of three of the young women in the town.

• Frankie Bard: Prior to the entry of the United States in the war, we meet Frankie Bard who is working as a reporter for Edward R. Murrow in London. It is the time of the nightly bombings and Frankie relates the stories of individual Londoners who spend their nights underground as the bombs devastate their town. Frankie is also able to travel to the continent where she witnesses what the Nazis are doing to the Jews. Frankie’s goal is to share these stories with people back home. The censors restrict her from full disclosure.
• Emma Fitch is newly married and new in town. Her husband, Will, is the young doctor in town. Emma’s story is of her adjustment to marriage and her new home, but also with her husband’s wishes. Will has a strong desire to go to England and help with the wounded. Emma is convinced that, if he goes, he will never come back. She doesn’t want to tell him she is pregnant.
• Iris James is the Postmistress of the town. She’s neat and organized and believes in following the rules and regulations.

I had a different reaction to each of the three characters. I found Frankie’s story very interesting and I was totally engaged in the story when she was “on stage.” I felt great sympathy for Emma and the fact that she was faced with being alone again soon after marrying Will. Iris, I didn’t get at all. The story jumped back and forth between characters so much that I was confused. I had to bribe myself to keep on reading.

I read this book as part of Barnes and Noble’s First Look Book Club. Other members of the Book Club loved the book, others hated it. I found myself right in the middle. I can recommend this only to those of you interested in more World War II stories.

20 Boy Summer

by Sarah Ockler

Little, Brown and Company, 2009

C

From the back cover: According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie—she’s already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer. — Little, Brown and Company

My Opinion:

20 Boy Summer has been on my pile all summer. I got in to it for about five chapters and then stopped. I didn’t stop because the writing was poor. On the contrary, the writing is excellent. So is the dialogue and the characterization. For those reasons I rated 20 Boy Summer a B. I would have rated it an A but for the message of the book. If this were an adult fiction I wouldn’t have had a problem. But, it’s recommended for 12 years of age and older. That’s where the problem lies for me.

As the synopsis says above, Anna is going on a 20 day summer vacation at the beach with her best friend Frankie. The real goal of the vacation, not mentioned in the synopsis, is to meet 20 boys so that somehow among all those boys Anna can lose her “albatross” – her virginity. Frankie said she lost hers a few months ago and they believe, at sixteen, it’s past time for Anna to lose hers too.

Somebody please tell me I am not off base here in finding this an unsuitable story line for 12 year olds. I know I’m sixty-something and I’m sure I’m considered old-fashioned but, has the world changed that much since I was a girl? At the heart of the matter is the fact that I’m the grandmother of two girls, one of whom is an advanced ten-year-old. Her mom and dad are very careful about what she reads but I’d hate for them, or any parent, to look at the back of the book and see the “Ages 12 and up” and let her have it.

On the other hand, this would be a good book for parents to read first, let their young teens read it and then have a discussion about the coming dating years, relationships, and so forth. Handled responsibly this would be a good resource.

Other bloggers have read and reviewed this book. If you are interested check out 20 Boy Summer on these sites:

Booking Mama

A Novel Menagerie

My Two Blessings

My Friend Amy

You can buy 20 Boy Summer at Amazon