January books

 January 2025 books

BOOK TITLE: The Marriage Portrait

AUTHOR:  Maggie O’Farrell

GENRE: Historical Fiction   355 pages

BLURB: Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.

MY REVIEW: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell is an exquisite work of historical fiction that blends beauty, mystery, and deep emotional resonance. Drawing inspiration from the painting of Lucrezia de' Medici, the wife of Alfonso d'Este, O'Farrell weaves a rich tapestry of love, power, and self-discovery that will captivate readers from start to finish.

The novel is a masterclass in character development. Lucrezia, though a historical figure, feels vividly alive—her complexity, vulnerability, and quiet strength emerge through O'Farrell's lyrical prose. The narrative is compelling, with a gripping mix of suspense and poignant introspection. O'Farrell explores Lucrezia's life and marriage with such depth that readers can't help but empathize with her struggles, her desires, and her quiet rebellion against the constraints of her time.  I will read more works by this author!

BOOK TITLE: The God of the Woods

AUTHOR: Liz Moore

GENRE: Thriller     490 pages

BLURB: Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

MY REVIEW:  Enjoyed this one. Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods is an evocative and haunting novel that combines elements of mystery, coming-of-age drama, and psychological depth, all set against a backdrop of natural beauty and rural isolation. In this atmospheric novel, Moore invites readers into a world where the line between the mundane and the supernatural feels thin, and where the forest—its dense, dark, and enigmatic presence—acts as both a literal and metaphorical force.

BOOK TITLE: The Crone's Stone: An Occult Detective Mystery (Griffin Woodbury Supernatural Detective)

AUTHOR: Joe Talon

GENRE: Thriller, paranormal, spooky    Jan 2025       130 pages

BLURB: Griffin Woodbury, a reluctant Royal Marine Commando, who now works for the Department of Paranormal Investigations, is hunting answers in dark, hidden places.

MY REVIEW: As usual with a Joe Talon novel it was downloaded and devoured in a few days! This is a fast moving novella that grabs you and does not let go. Great start to what will be more tales of the interesting story of Griffin Woodbury and his pals at DoPI. I for one can’t wait for the next.

BOOK TITLE: Death at La Fenice Brunetti 1

AUTHOR: Donna Leon      270 pages    Jan 2025

GENRE: Mystery

BLURB: There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice.

MY REVIEW: Lively, pun intended, story set in Venice. Interesting and well written cop story. Did not see the end coming at all….enjoyed very much.  Happy there a many more.