Catherine Dain - Darkness at the Door

This story evolves around a psychic who has a twin brother whom she hasn't seen and doesn't even know if he's alive. She starts having dreams about him.

She works as a psychic and the people she works with are trying to help her. Psychic work is like any other, little jealousies and such. One night at a channeling, man that was a customer that day is thrown against the door,dead. He's been stabbed by a crystal stake. Soon a religious commune becomes involved. As does a cop who takes a special liking to the sister and her ex-boyfriend who ends up in a coma trying to save her life from a speeding car.

I will give Ms. Dain credit there is plenty of action and one thing does happen after another. The biggest letdown for me was the ending which should have been more exciting after all those event. Before I go any farther, books like these are of course mostly why I'm writing this blog to hopefully save you the time of reading them. I am NOT saying anything about these authors talents. What I wouldn't give just to have a little bit of the writing talent of Catherine Dain. It's just that I have to have a cut off mark to save you the time of reading everything.

Catherine Dain - Darkness at the Door 1/2 of a star out of 5

Anne Enright - The Gathering

This book is written in the style of prose, which is a beautiful way to be written, not only does it show the talent of the author, but it sets an aura throughout the whole book. The book won the prestigious Book award.

The story centers around a dysfunctional Irish family who have just discovered that their brother Liam, has just committed suicide and it's told through the eyes of the sister who picks up the body. She remembers back to their childhood, until she finally realizes a terrible secret.

Maybe I was left with too many unanswered questions or maybe it was too true to life and I wanted things to turn out better, but I wasn't satisfied. I wasn't physically abused, but consider it the worst thing a person can do. You have no right to take a childhood. So while I give my opinion about the book as always feel free to use it to form your own opinion. That's what this blog is all about.

Anne Enright - The Gathering 1 Star out of 5

Stephen King - Salem's Lot

I read the paperback version of this and loved it. I'm a big fan of Mr. King's and this is one of my favorites.

The story is about vampires. Horrors, thrillers, and mysteries have been my favorite genre ever since I was a child. However they rarely make me nervous. This one did. For me that is a lot of fun. If it isn't for you, then please don't read this book.

Before I read the book I was able to (several years before) see a t.v. version starring David Soul. If you get the chance check out the t.v. movie. It was excellent and won't ruin the book or vice versa. They should either have it as repeat on cable sometime or it might be out on DVD and rentable. The movie will also make you nervous. Again I had a great time, some people won't.

I rate Stephen King's Salem's Lot the book and the t.v. movie (both) - 5 stars.

Patricia Cornwell - Post Mortem

Ms. Cornwell is a very popular and an award-winning author. It might be just the one book that just didn't do it for me or I could be right and I just don't like this style of writing.

I could tell of course that she has plenty of talent. I'll tell you why I don't care for it and you might decide this is just your cup of tea. I don't care for feminist writing. For me it becomes the plot and tends to make the lead into a super hero and a lot of the plot's twists and turns unexplainable.

The characters weren't very likeable and the ending was just a let down.

I give Patricia Cornwell - Post Mortem 1 Star.

Lawrence Sanders - the Arch McNally series

Arch McNally is my favorite crime investigator. He's a complete cad and loser. which should tell you something about me.

He does manage to solve the crime though. I love the others in the stories, too. There's Consuela Garcia, Arch's long-suffering?? "feisty "girlfriend. My favorite line of yours "Are you being good, Your not cheating on me, I have my spies you know." Which of course he has been and she knows it.

Then there is Archie's best friend Binky Watrous who lives with his aunt (whom he calls The Duchess) who's hounding him to get a job. Arch takes pity and let's him help him on some cases. When Al Rogoff the police officer who helps Archie hears of the he says "What the village idiot!"

Archie lives with his parents, goes into vivid descriptions of meals (eating his a passion), and wears a Mickey Mouse watch. He works for the law firm McNalley and Son-he being the son. You can't accuse his father of showing preference Arch's office is the worst in the building.

As I said Arch Mcnally does solve the case and he may refer to it as genius although it seems more like luck or dumb luck if you will. But it's a lot of fun no matter what it is.

I give the Arch McNally series written by Lawrence Sanders 5 star rating.