The Traitor's Wife

This is the first historical fiction I've read in a while, and I really enjoyed it. Set in the reigns of England's Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III, the story centers on the granddaughter of Edward I married to the son of a courtier who rises under the reign of the second Edward only to overreach himself and later fall. All the characters male and female alike are well rounded, and the period of history is one I'm less familiar with, but enjoyed, especially having been to Scotland and learning more about Robert the Bruce. I'm not sure I want to continue on with the sequel, but maybe I'll come back to it later. The fact that these characters were all real and that the author did lots of research for setting her story made me enjoy the book all the more.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

April's Book Club selection. What a great book. This is a great melding of a human interest story with a science story with morality and ethics and economics mixed in. Science is not my thing, but I loved this story of Henrietta, her cells and her family. Well researched and well-written. Definitely a book I'll recommend and look forward to discussing.

Dracula

I'm not sure why this is written in the form of letters and journal entries, but it's a really, really good read, if a little long. I especially liked the first part at Dracula's castle. There's a reason this has endured all these years.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

I hated this book. Treacly, predictable. Is it supposed to be simplistic because the dog tells the story? If so, there's a reason dogs aren't authors. The "hero" Denny is an unsympathetic ninny who can't run his own life much less the life of a daughter and dog. Yuck!

Billy Boyle:A World War II Mystery

Another free Amazon book. It started a little slow mainly because I found the main character a Southie Boston cop who has benefitted from nepotism hard to relate to. But the secondary characters were very enjoyable and the twists and turns of the mystery on top of the history of WWII England pre D-Day made the pace I wanted to read at speed up. I don't know that I'll read any more of these, but it is a unique setting for a mystery series.

Waverley

Scott's first Scottish novel, credited with saving the old ways in Scotland after their culture had been essentially banned after the battle of Culloden Waverley was a very enjoying read. Scott's characters are very well rounded; character definitely dominates plot. And of course since we all know going in what will happen to the biggest character I guess that makes the sense. It makes me want to go back to Scotland.

The Justice Game

Another Kindle find. A very good, fast-paced legal thriller set around issues of gun control. Engaging lawyers, both sympathetic and villainous clients, shadow juries and their minders, pasts that haunt. Definitely a fun read.