Here on a hill in Massachusetts, the fog is lifting and the sun, still in the east, is turning the yellow leaves gold. The wind is from the east, too, and the clouds are rushing ahead of the bend of light. It is late October. Still in flower are the goldenrods and asters, now waving, […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/10/26/the-language-of-the-field/

Original source: https://www.squarebooks.com/wish-lists

Original source: https://www.squarebooks.com/wish-lists

I was looking for a good murder-mystery thriller for the Fraterfest Readathon when Twenty-Three by Murray McDonald came across my desk. Narrated by Elizabeth Wiley, this clever tale hooked me from the onset and kept me listening into the wee hours.

Twenty Three
by Murray McDonald
Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.3x

When Kay Miller arrived as the newly appointed Deputy Sheriff of Vinalhaven Island, she couldn’t have anticipated the chaos that would turn the tranquil island into the murder capital of America.

It’s down to Kay, the newest member of Knox County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by Maine State Detectives Abercrombie and Winters, to uncover the shocking events behind the murders and bring those responsible to justice.

As the story twists and turns to its stunning conclusion, nobody could have anticipated the final outcome in this action-packed, murder mystery thriller.

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Kay Miller travels by ferry to her new job as a deputy sheriff. The quaint tourist destination of Vinalhaven Island will be her new home and she is looking forward to life on the island. Kay’s quiet island job quickly becomes complicated by a series of seemingly unrelated murders. She is soon joined by Maine State Detectives Abercrombie and Winters. The tale that unfolds was well honed with plenty of twists.

Kay is troubled and a little quirky. Her professional record is impressive, but her SUV is loaded with criminal procedure text books and she needs two bottles of wine each evening to sleep. I loved Detective Abercrombie “Fitch” and his backstory was heartbreaking. Winters took longer to warm up to, but he was redeemed in the end.

This is a well-crafted murder mystery thriller that slowly built into something more diabolical and kept me guessing. The murders, it seems, are connected and the more the three investigate, the more intense things got. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers, but you won’t be disappointed.

Twists, turns, dark revelations and a side dish of romance made for an engaging tale. Elizabeth Wiley narrates and does a wonderful job of reading this tale. From her tone to her pacing, she enhanced the tale.

Loved the reveal on the title and the ending. I will definitely look for more mysteries from this author. Fans of well-done murder mysteries will want to listen to this clever tale.

Amazon* | Audible

*Available in Kindle Unlimited

Read by Elizabeth Wiley, Twenty-Three by Murray McDonald delivered a clever murder-mystery thriller that will keep you listening. #audiobook #audiobookreview #TantorAudio #bookreview
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2022 Audiobook Challenge

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/twenty-three-by-murray-mcdonald.html

The Orphan by James Lloyd is about a character called Omar, who is a man in his forties.  Within the first few pages of the book, Omar is introduced to the reader as a blunt character as he navigates through his professional life.  The reader soon finds out that Omar is not the most lovable character that one might expect from a protagonist.  As the plot develops, it becomes apparent that Omar’s character has more to it than meets the eye and has to learn the lesson that many people have to face: if you don’t reconcile with your past, it will show up in one shape or form.

This thought-provoking book is written in the third-person narrative, which further prevents the reader from becoming attached to Omar straight away.  I like how James Lloyd wrote the narrative, as it gives the reader the time to make up their own mind on how they want to view Omar.

The book contains a detailed plot that ties the story together intricately.  Although the novel falls into the drama genre, James Lloyd combines various elements of the mystery and detective genres which lead up to a suspenseful event.  James Lloyd explores Omar’s past through devices like flashbacks and through the curiosity of other characters.  Learning about Omar in this way pushes the reader to question who Omar really is, whether he is a product of his life experiences or using them as an excuse for his actions in the present.

The Orphan is a deeply thoughtful drama with Christian values intertwined. I would recommend this insightful book to anyone who enjoys complex storylines and reading texts by authors who do not share everything with the reader immediately, giving the reader time to think retrospectively.

Pages: 358 | ASIN : B0B7KNMSS3

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/26/the-orphan/

Being different can be an extremely tricky thing, especially for young children. In Let’s Celebrate Being Different by Lainey Dee, we are introduced to a very special and remarkable character, Todd. He is part bird, bear, and tiger. He is visiting his grandmother for the weekend and will be attending the Friday Night Club with other children he has never met before. He does not have many friends because he is homeschooled, and hopes that his being different won’t keep him from making some friends. He is rightfully nervous, but his grandmother cheers him on and reassures him that being different is not a bad thing.

I adored that the author’s purpose going into writing this book was to help others not only recognize but embrace how different we all are. That we should celebrate that fact and fully live happy, joyous lives because of it. Everyone can relate to feeling out of place or even strange when we compare ourselves to others. The author does a remarkable job of shedding light on this issue and creating a scenario where the worries are shared and acknowledged but then ratified of any negativity.

The writers’ characters can find common ground and be made to see how we are more alike than we realize but still so unique that we are able to shine in our own way. It is such an important message for growing minds and can aid in improving self-esteem and self-image. Also, learning to accept others is another important message given in this story, which is also critical for adolescent minds. It helps in learning more about other cultures, religions, and even civil courtesy.

Let’s Celebrate Being Different is a well-written children’s book for younger elementary-age children that teaches them self-confidence and self-acceptance. This would make a wonderful story for teachers to have in their classrooms to help children adapt to new environments and new classmates.

Pages: 23 | ASIN : B0BCH7DT6Z

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/26/lets-celebrate-being-different/

Leonard is, by his own description, a “twenty-one-year-old nerd” in Columbia on a research grant from Australia. Maria is a sixteen-year-old local claiming to be a pregnant virgin, set to give birth to a new Christ, as prophesied by her pet parrot. Despite having exactly nothing in common, a chance meeting brings the two together to form an instant, unexplainable bond that neither could have imagined. Over the course of their friendship, Leonard is forced to question everything he has ever believed about the conflicting ideologies of religion and science. Maria also must confront new ideas and experiences as she faces an ordeal far beyond her years.

Holy Parrot, by Angel A, is a beautiful and thought-provoking novel set in the lush, idyllic landscape of Buritaca, Columbia. The friendship between Leonard and Maria is established almost immediately while treated in a delicate tone that never comes across as either inappropriate or predatory, despite their age difference. It’s easy to understand how Leonard is so quickly spellbound by both Maria and his surroundings, as both are written in such a way that creates a heady atmosphere. Soon Robin is introduced, and he fills out the trilogy of main characters with a group of people who are so incredibly different yet complement each other wonderfully. There are actually few books where each and every character brings the perfect amount of support to a story, but this one manages that feat quite well. Every character, no matter how minor, is a necessary addition to this miraculous tale.

Holy Parrot covers many ideas and themes throughout its pages, including love, loss, religion, faith, and family. At its core, it could be argued to be a story about destiny, setting your own path while finding your true self amid past pain and present conflict. Leonard positively shines as the story’s narrator, slowly revealing himself to be a character with an incredible amount of depth, stepping outside his comfort zone time and time again in the unexpected role of protector. Even as he struggles to justify his own actions, Leonard never fails to stand up for Maria or stand beside Robin, all the time traveling toward a better understanding of what it truly means to live a fulfilled life.

This book gets an easy 5 out of 5 stars from me. It was extremely hard to put down, and the characters became as familiar as old friends. Even though I would love to know more about their lives after these events, I think the book ended in the most perfect way it could have. In addition, the ideas presented in regard to faith left plenty to consider far beyond the pages of the book without weighing it down with a glut of religious dogma. It was a perfect balance in every way!

Pages: 300 | ASIN : B0B8SL82J6

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/26/holy-parrot/

Born in 1903 on a homestead in Manitoba, Sofiya is the third-born daughter of a poor Ukrainian immigrant family. Expected to work, at thirteen-years-old, Sofiya is sent to work as a maid for a wealthy English family in Winnipeg, where she experiences firsthand how prejudiced Canadian society really is.

While the first world war raged in Europe, a different type of war was being waged between the social classes in Canada. Ukrainian-Canadian men are arrested without charges and thrown into labor camps across the country. After the war, unemployment was high, and many workers were unable to make ends meet. Food and housing were near impossible to afford, and among the hardest hit were working-class immigrants. The continuous buildup of anger and resentment led to the largest strike in Canadian history.

As Sofiya navigates through this new and complicated world and its harsh political climate, she must figure out what her views are. Most importantly, she must find meaning in her own identity as an immigrant and as a woman of the twentieth century.

Them Days is a historical fiction novel by Canadian author Glenn P. Booth set in the early 1900s in Winnipeg, Canada. This well-researched novel depicts the harsh life of immigrants and the discrimination and prejudice they face in their day-to-day lives. The story follows the life of Ukrainian immigrant Sofiya, a young girl who´s bright, spirited, and enthusiastic about experiencing life to the fullest, which for her may sometimes include a harsh and difficult path. With her strong and positive character, she faces these obstacles in stride, and as the story progresses, the reader will witness her development as a person.

This coming-of-age story is narrated through the main character’s perspective. It is incredibly interesting and provides an accurate description of early twentieth-century Canada and its social situation. The narrative is captivating and makes a topic that may otherwise sound dull seem incredibly fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, the story flows beautifully, and the characters are very captivating. I suggest any historical fiction fan pick it up for an informative yet entertaining read.

Pages: 334 | ASIN : B09YNSK548

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/26/them-days/

Life can be an exquisite or boring journey depending on your perspective. In A Bluebird’s Memories by Tuula Pere, a grandmother bluebird exemplifies to her grandchildren how even being a small bird, they can live impactful, meaningful, and beautiful lives.

Near a summer cottage, the owner built a nesting box in which the grandmother bluebird lives. She is cleaning and readying her home for her grandchildren’s visit. She reminisces of the days when she was with her mate and all the beautiful memories she cherishes. She isn’t lonely, though, and has many friends and events keeping her busy. She has lived a long full life, and the little curious chicks want to hear stories from her past. She tells them of moments when she helped others without receiving praise or recognition and moments of overcoming terror.

The lovely illustrations by Outi Rautkallio fully encompass the wholesome naturalness of the characters and the environment with a waterlike soft look that brings the reader into the world. The stories the grandmother bluebird told were so heartfelt and perfectly encased with symbolization that it is easy for young readers to understand. She sheds light on how significant everyone’s life is and to be a good person. To live life fully and appreciate every moment, even when they are scary or hard. To find what truly matters in life which is the people we keep around us and that we love to no end. To see life as an opportunity and all its possibilities. I loved the story and how sweet the relationship she had with her grandchildren was.

A Bluebird’s Memories is a heartwarming children’s book that teaches children the value of kindness and how even small things can make a big impact on someone. This story is inspiring and will help kids realize that they do have an important role in life, even though they are small.

Pages: 18 | ASIN : B07HY9JNH6

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/26/a-bluebirds-memories/