Tag Archives: Mystery

The Ralestone Luck by Andre Norton

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Andre Norton’s Ralestone Luck is a simple mystery of three young people trying to make it in the world of the 1930’s when all they have is a house and some legends.

Val Ralestone and his sister Ricky are taken to the Ralestone mansion in Louisiana by their brother Rupert in an effort to make a life for themselves after they have lost everything but an old rundown house. They try to make themselves useful while Rupert hides away. Ricky is looking for the Luck of Lorne, a family sword which has been lost for almost 100 years. Val explores the grounds and finds himself on the trail of a false Ralestone, swamper’s and oil diggers.

Like most of Andre Norton’s novels there is a lot going on in the background. However, Val is a strong character that is willing to make things happen for his family. It is a charming mystery tale, a quick light yet good read.

Sleep, My Love by Elizabeth Norman

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This novel’s a little hard to pin down. Elizabeth Norman’s Sleep, My Love is a romantic mystery. It was well written, face paced and interesting. However it depended completely on the naivety of the heroine, Louisa. I pretty much figured out the major points but the motives weren’t learned until the end. The end is slightly disturbing with “the queen did it so can I” attitude. Over all it was a fun read, deeper that one might suspect. I did not like either of the love interests. One beats women while the other is a megalomaniac (you figure out which one she ends up with). For me the book was not satisfying in that way. Plus there was a major flaw in the inheritance scheme. Really, why worry about heirs when you can leave it all to whoever you want?

Still the whole low person thing was brilliant. It was a great device in which the meaning is not clear until the end. I liked this book a lot, even with its problems.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

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How does one begin to review a book which is rife with technical story writing errors, made up statistics, a single fact page which confuses millions of people and characters who are dumber than a box of rocks?

I could just say it sucks, don’t read it, but that would not be true. Brown has issues but the story core is sound. Brown has trouble with motive and possibility making large plot holes on how characters got their information but can still create a lovable female character. Brown can’t seem to help himself when it comes to historical (seemingly anyway) detail.

The book is infuriating. It is incomplete. It takes 146 pages to get out of the Louvre. 489 pages to get to the point (literally). The few reason whys you are given are flimsy and do not connect well. People change their mind without a why. The only truly believable characters are Collet and Sophie. The ending is great though and deserves a better book attached.

Go ahead read it. Just remember the only facts are on the page that says FACT: and you, with just a little education, can be smarter than Langdon.

BTW: Only prudes never talk to their grandfathers again when the walking in on their kinky sex party.

Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron

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Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel not only tackles writing using a formula but the art of writing itself. Ephron has the writer start with the main character then build the type of mysteries around them. She gives lessons on dialog, plot and character beyond filling out forms and formulas.

I picked up this book by accident. I had meant to buy another book and for whatever reason, did not notice I had bought the wrong book until I got home. It looks extremely good for a mystery novel and does not play well with other genres. However the plot, character and dialog sections could come in handy. My plan is to give this to the first mystery writer I come across.