Twenty years ago, John Costello’s life as he knew it ended. He and his beautiful girlfriend, Nadia, became victims of the deranged "Hammer of God" killer who terrorized Jersey City throughout the summer of 1984. This murderer went after young courting couples in an attempt to "save their souls." Nadia was killed by the first blow of the hammer. John survived, but was physically and psychologically scarred to an extent that few people could comprehend. He withdrew from society, hid in his apartment, and now only emerges to work as a crime researcher for a major newspaper.

Damaged as he may be, no one in New Jersey knows more about serial killers than John Costello. So, when a new spate of murders starts-all seemingly random and unrelated-John is the only one who can discern the complex pattern that lies behind them. But could this dark knowledge threaten his own life?

For a long time John Costello tried to forget what happened.
Perhaps pretended that it had not.
The devil came in the form of a man, around him the smell of dogs.

I didn’t find this to be as lyrically beautiful as A Quiet Belief in Angels was, but it was still quite good.  Ellory doesn’t write crime novels like you expect them to be written.  The book is really more about the people involved than it is about the crime.  In this case, you have a triumverate of main characters: Detective Ray Irving, journalist Karen Langley, and John Costello, a researcher who works for Karen who also happens to be the survivor of a serial killer.

John has spent his adult life reading about and researching serial crimes, so when there’s a series of seemingly unrelated murders in NYC that happen to mimic earlier serial murders, he is the only one who recognizes what is going on.  It’s brought to Ray’s attention via an article that Karen plans to publish, and Ray slowly comes to realize that he can’t solve this crime without their help.

With the exception of John, whom Ray refers to as "the fucking Rainman" at one point, our main characters are refreshingly normal. Ray is a bit lonely (his girlfriend suddenly passed away a few months before), but he doesn’t have any of the gigantic flaws you would expect from our down and out detective.  The one thing about the novel that did bug me was that every time Ray thinks of his deceased girlfriend, she is referred to by her full name: Deborah Wiltshire.  We only need her last name once.  It’s not like there was another Deborah in the book.

I think Ellory does a great job of capturing the feel of New York.  I’m always impressed when a foreign author is is able to portray the U.S. so well.  I think it shows their dedication to the story they write. I was a little surprised by the ending of the book, but it wasn’t completely unexpected. And I thought it was fitting.

Overall, this was a book I really enjoyed.  Ellory is a master of the character-driven crime novel.

This book was a review copy.

Page count: 400 | Approximate word count: 120,000

2009: The Accidental Human (Dakota Cassidy)
2008: Neon Rain (James Lee Burke)
2007: Portrait of a Killer (Patricia Cornwell)
2006: The Grim Grotto (Lemony Snicket)
2005: Hell at the Breech (Tom Franklin)

Used in these Challenges: Countdown Challenge 2010; The Four Month Challenge – Part 4; ARC Reading Challenge 2010; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; 2010 Pub Challenge; 2nd Reading Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This isn’t my current read, but it’s the book I have with me today because I need to write my review.  It’s The Anniversary Man by R.J. Ellory. I’m gonna share three sentences instead of two.

About to come back at her with some acidic one-liner, Irving stopped.  He looked at himself. For a moment he really believed he was seeing himself from a distance–what he was thinking, what he was feeling, what he had planned to say to this woman at the other end of a phone line… a woman he barely knew, a woman he actually cared for in some strange and awkward way.

You can check out other responses at Should Be Reading.

Last week, I finished…

Last week was one of those weeks where the stars aligned, and I managed to finish every book I had in progress. So, between Friday and Sunday I finished:

• Broken by Karin Slaughter
• Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown (audio)
• Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie

Last week, I reviewed…

• Standoff (Sandra Brown) 
• See Jane Write (Sarah Mlynowski & Farrin Jacobs) 
• Dead in the Family (Charlaine Harris)

This week, I’m reading…

• Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (for next month’s book club)
• Heat Lightning by John Sandford (audio)
• Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton

Flirt is super short, so I expect I will finish it by Wednesday. Not sure what I’ll pick up after that.

What are you reading this week?

Follett takes you to a time long past with brio and razor-sharp storytelling. An epic tale in which you will lose yourself."
-The Denver Post on World Without End

Ken Follett’s World Without End was a global phenomenon, a work of grand historical sweep, beloved by millions of readers and acclaimed by critics as "well-researched, beautifully detailed [with] a terrifically compelling plot" (The Washington Post) and "wonderful history wrapped around a gripping story" (St. Louis Post- Dispatch)

Fall of Giants is his magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families-American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh-as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage.

Thirteen-year-old Billy Williams enters a man’s world in the Welsh mining pits…Gus Dewar, an American law student rejected in love, finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House…two orphaned Russian brothers, Grigori and Lev Peshkov, embark on radically different paths half a world apart when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription, and revolution…Billy’s sister, Ethel, a housekeeper for the aristocratic Fitzherberts, takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert herself crosses deep into forbidden territory when she falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German embassy in London…

These characters and many others find their lives inextricably entangled as, in a saga of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, Fall of Giants moves seamlessly from Washington to St. Petersburg, from the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty. As always with Ken Follett, the historical background is brilliantly researched and rendered, the action fast-moving, the characters rich in nuance and emotion. It is destined to be a new classic.

In future volumes of The Century Trilogy, subsequent generations of the same families will travel through the great events of the rest of the twentieth century, changing themselves-and the century itself. With passion and the hand of a master, Follett brings us into a world we thought we knew, but now will never seem the same again.

Family drama, war, and the fight for equality.  What more can a historical fiction lover want?

Friday Finds is hosted by MizB at Should be Reading.

Ambitious TV reporter Tiel McCoy is driving through New Mexico when she hears over the radio that Sabra Dendy, the 17 year-old daughter of Fort Worth multimillionaire Russell Dendy, has been kidnapped.  Tiel calls her editor and learns that Sara was "kidnapped" by her boyfriend Ronnie and is pregnant.  Tiel is at a gas station store when an armed couple robs the cashier and orders all the customers to the floor.  The girl goes into labor and Tiel realizes that she has a huge story on her hands.

A tense standoff begins as the FBI and Russell Dendy wait outside.  Tiel learns that Sabra and Ronnie are more afraid of her father-who plans to put the baby up for adoption-than of the FBI and would rather die together than surrender and be kept apart.  Now it is more than just a story to Tiel as she fights to prevent these two kids from becoming a tragedy.

This was more a novella than a usual Sandra Brown novel, and as such, was pretty blah.  The story never fully develops beyond the actual standoff situation, and we’re never given a chance to really connect with our main characters.  Brown also uses a main character combo (a successful tv reporter and the man she has mistakenly wronged) that she returns to in a later novel, Smoke Screen. We get the obligatory sexual tension between Tiel and Doc, followed by the obligatory sex scene, but it all feels very… obligatory. Step 1: Woman finds herself in life-threatening situation with mysterious, handsome man. Step 2: Woman and Man band together to escape situation and bring it to a happy ending. Step 3: Woman and Man have life-affirming sex to cope with traumatic situation. This could have been great if it had been written with the complexity you usually find in a Brown novel.  Instead, it just left me wanting more.

Page count: 261 | Word count: 55,535

2009: I Smile Back (Amy Koppelman)
2008: Homeport (Nora Roberts)
2007: The Double Bind (Chris Bohjalian)
2006: Plain Truth (Jodi Picoult)
2005: Bridge of Birds (Barry Hughart)

Used in these Challenges: The Four Month Challenge – Part 4; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

1. Hunter’s Moon – C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp
2. Glass Houses – Rachel Caine
3. Shogun – James Clavell
4. Kitty Takes a Holiday – Carrie Vaughn
5. Heat Wave – Richard Castle
6. Ivory Tower Cop – George Kirkham & Leonard Territo
7. Outrageous – Christina Dodd
8. London Bridges – James Patterson
9. Already Dead – Charlie Huston
10. The Seventh Commandment – Lawrence Sanders
11. Shakespeare’s Landlord – Charlaine Harris
12. Rest in Pieces – Rita Mae Brown

If you participated, I hope you enjoyed the challenge too! The Random Reading Challenge was hosted by Caribousmom.

With chick lit novels popping up on every bestseller list, millions of readers are all thinking the same thing: I could write this stuff and never go back to the office again! And here’s the guide that will show you how. Bestselling novelist Sarah Mlynowski and veteran chick lit editor Farrin Jacobs cover every stage of developing and selling your novel, with chapters on:

• Developing an idea
• Deciding on a point of view
• Making your characters likable
• Learning the basics of plotting, pacing, and conflict
• Finding an agent

This book also features humorous tips and advice from scores of established writers (including Meg Cabot, Melissa Senate, and Sophie Kinsella). If you’ve got stories to tell, See Jane Write will take care of the rest!

I picked this up because my current work-in-progress is ending up to be somewhere between chick lit and a cozy mystery.  Cozy chick lit? I thought this was a fun and informative read, especially since I don’t read a ton of chick lit. When it comes to the actual mechanics of writing, there’s not much here that you won’t get in any other guide, but the tone makes it a super fast read. I especially appreciated the section on clichés, because I was in danger of falling face-first into one. I also liked the "it happened to me" vignettes provided by the authors, and the use of actual examples from published novels. This is definitely a book that will remain on my writing shelf.

Other reviews:

Writing the Chick Lit Novel « The Dark Phantom Review

Page count: 191 | Word count: 40,964

2009: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Carrie Vaughn)
2008: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Lauren Willig)
2007: Blood Sport (Dick Francis)
2006: Danse Macabre (Laurell K. Hamilton)
2005: Silent Partner (Jonathan Kellerman)

Used in these Challenges: The Four Month Challenge – Part 4; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; 2010 Reading From My Shelves Project; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

last updated 7/23/10

5 Point Challenges

Read a chick lit book

Read a name with a proper name in the title — See Jane Write by Sarah Mlynowski & Farrin Jacobs

Read a historical fiction book

Read a book with a one word title — Standoff by Sandra Brown

Read a book made into a movie

10 Point Challenges

Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)

Read a Biblical fiction book

Read a hardcover book — The Anniversary Man by R.J. Ellory 

Read a book about a king or queen

Read a book set in France

15 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author you’ve never read before

Read a biography or autobiography

Read a book with a number in the title

Read any book and then post a review — Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Read any book but read it outside

20 Point Challenges

Read a book in a series AND the one after it

Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Read a book considered Christian fiction

Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100

Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October

Points earned to date: 35 / 250

5 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author you’ve never read before – Anthem by Ayn Rand

Read a book with a one word title – Outrageous by Christina Dodd

Read a book with an animal name in the title – The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

Read a book with a proper name in the title – Shakespeare’s Landlord by Charlaine Harris

Read a fantasy

10 Point Challenges

Read an ‘Austenesque’ book

Read a book with a two word title – Desert Heat by J.A. Jance

Read a book that is part of a series – Already Dead by Charlie Huston

Read a book about a real person

Read a mystery – Black Seconds by Karin Fossum

15 Point Challenges

Read a book written in the 60’s (any century)

Read a book with a number in the title – The Seventh Commandment by Lawrence Sanders

Read a book by an author born in March, April, May or June. – What Do We Do Now? by Keith Malley & Chemda

Read a book with a three word title – Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Read a book by an author with three names – Rest in Pieces by Rita Mae Brown

20 Point Challenges

Read a book with over 500 pages – White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

Read a book with a four word title – Gossip of the Starlings by Nina de Gramont

Read a book by two authors – Ivory Tower Cop by George Kirkham and Leonard Territo

Read a book written in the 70s (any century)

Read a book that has been number one on the NYT Best-sellers list – London Bridges by James Patterson

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she’s angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he’s under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie’s connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry…

And with this book, I am officially caught up with the series! Unfortunately, this one wasn’t that great.  There was no overall story or theme here, just a bunch of smaller problems that have to be solved all at once. Sookie is starting to lose some of her depth, and is almost becoming a parody of herself.  I’m hoping that the next book is a little more thoughtfully written.

Other reviews:

Dead in the Family by C. Harris | Literary Escapism
All About {n}: Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Writings Of A Wicked Book Addict – Dead In The Family
Charlaine Harris – Dead in the Family « Fyrefly’s Book Blog
Review: Dead in the Family « Stiletto Storytime

Page count: 320 | Approximate word count: 87,939

2009: High Noon (Nora Roberts)
2008: A Living Nightmare (Darren Shan)
2007: The End (Lemony Snicket)
2006: Narcissus in Chains (Laurell K. Hamilton)
2005: Nora, Nora (Anne Rivers Siddons)

Used in these Challenges: Countdown Challenge 2010; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; 2010 Pub Challenge; E-book Reading Challenge; Finish That Series Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;