"Close to the Bone" by Lisa Black

Close to the Bone by Lisa Black is a murder mystery that mostly takes place at the Cleveland medical examiner’s office! Theresa, acting supervisor for Trace Evidence, finds one deskman dead and the other missing when she heads into the office around 3 a.m. Upon investigation, it comes to light there is a serial killer on the loose targeting people who work at the medical examiner’s office who were connected to a murder of one of their employees ten years ago.

This is a pretty sad, gruesome book. It has several murders and an abduction in it. It is pretty good, but why Theresa is the one to solve the mystery instead of the cops was a bit puzzling to me. I liked the suspense and that it kept me guessing for most of the book.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 1:  The corpse under the sheet left her to it.  The dead are courteous that way.

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"My Brother's Keeper" by Donna Malana - Mystery

In My Brother's Keeper by Donna Malana, Karen hires Diane, a missing person expert, to track down her 14-yr-old daughter, Sonny, who she lost contact with while serving seven years in prison for killing her son and attempting to kill her daughter.  Karen wants to make sure Sonny is all right.  Diane tracks down Sonny and even sets up a meeting for her to meet her mother, but her mother doesn't show!

This is a dark, twisted mystery that I finished in one day.  It takes place in New Zealand and moved along quickly.  I thought this was a good mystery and felt bad for Sonny and the mother.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page10:  'That's what I went away for.  I tried to kill my daughter.'

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"His Risk" by Shelley Shepard Gray

His Risk by Shelley Shepard Gray is part of The Amish of Hart County series.  When Cal goes back to his Amish home to help with his brother who was diagnosed with Cancer, he falls for, Alice, the pretty Amish preschool teacher who is living across the street.  He is afraid of bringing danger though along with him so tries to keep his distance, but finds it impossible.  He is in a tough spot because of some bad choices he made in his past.  Can he become the man he would like to be?  Could he and Alice have a future together?

This was pretty good because Cal was an interesting character.  None of the characters were very well developed though, so I really didn't feel like I knew them.  This did have an interesting plot line besides just the romance between Cal and Alice.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 4:  "You hope not?"  Her voice rose.  "Calvin, if your being here is going to bring your gun-toting, drug-running friends, too, then you need to stay away," she hissed.

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"Have Dog, Will Travel--A Poet's Journey" by Stephen Kuusisto

Have Dog , Will Travel by Stephen Kuusisto is his true story about being born legally blind but trying to pass as sighted.  He rode a bike, went to public school and even read.  He became a professor, but when he got laid off at a young age, he had to do something.  That is how he came upon getting a guide dog and a whole new way of living!

I thought this book was pretty good.  I learned a lot about guide dog training and how people react to seeing someone with a guide dog.  It is a very short book, only 232 pages.  I loved Corky, his guide dog!

Teaser from page 43:  I wasn't sure what I thought about walking around with a "pretend" guide dog.  Somehow it seemed embarrassing, oddly performative, but my comfort wasn't as important as my safety, and ultimately getting the right dog.
 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)  

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"Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is fantasy that received a lot of hype.  The land where Zelie lives once was a happy place.  But the king has banished magic and people are without power,  without hope. Zelie has a chance to bring magic back, and with the help of a rogue princess, can she give her people hope again?  or will the king reign forever?  I heard so much about this book I just had to read it and am glad I did!!  Zelie is a great character.  The story line is such that you never know what will happen next!  The ending is great and makes me look forward to book 2.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 29:  They broke him that night, battered his heart and shattered his soul.  Maybe he would've recovered if he hadn't woken to find Mama's corpse bound in lack chains.

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