Whispers from the Library

Yea it's been a while, but that's what happens when your live in/unemployed boyfriend is always home with you.

First this week was My First Murder (The Maria Kallio Series #1) by Leena Lehtolainen
     First I want to say that this series is HUGE in Finland. It has been turned in to a TV series and is a best seller. I am of Finish heritage and was glad to be able to read this in English. I don't believe it is a fault of the translator that this story falls a bit flat. Though it is well written, it just isn't an American Crime story. I know that's awfully xenophobic of me, but as a girl raised on CSI, Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie I must say this story is pretty boring. The story is just TOO real. This is literally what I think cops do all day, and I certainly don't want to read about it in my free time. If you don't mind reading the same interviews over and over, by all means give it a shot. I however will pass on the rest.

Second this week was Flimsy Little Plastic Miracles by Ron Currie Jr.
       Each page is a short little essay. Some pages are no longer than a sentence or two. I loved the existential angle. It is literally about love and loss and what it means to be alive/human. Absolutely worth a read, even if it takes a little bit to get used to the format. If you don't love it by page 34 there is something broken inside you.

Third this week is Where There's a Will.....There's a Murder (Maggie Flaherty #1) by Julie Ramson.
      Another hapless female -this one a recently fired attorney-with a complete lack of common sense. Maggie's brother is a Homicide Detective and Maggie decides she should turn her attention toward investigation. It is an interesting story with a couple of continuity errors (disappearing dog)  the most grating thing is the terribly immature and unnatural dialogue. With!! So!! Many!!!!! Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is supposed to be a comedic mystery, but what I remember most is the love affair that feels more like a sexual assault.
The exposition is well written and I will try again. I really want to like this.
Very Janet Evanovitch without the talent.