Welcome to our March, 2001 fiction and mystery book reviews. As
we say, good fiction is mastery of the art of storytelling, where the imagination soars, the intellect is
broadened, and the heart yearns for more. We try to review the best mystery books, sharing amusing works of
fiction and other novels that you probably won't find covered in your local newspaper. Here are some
fiction books we know you'll enjoy. We hope you enjoy this look back at our March 2001
fiction and mysteries reviews.
Maddy and Jack are a power couple with the same network. Maddy is a star reporter on television and Jack is the advisor to the President of the network. From the middle of a handsome and pleasant marriage, things begin to go a little sour. The final blow comes when Maddy joins a group at the invitation of the First Lady and becomes friendly with her. The group is working to come up with solutions for battered wives. As she hears story after story, Maddy learns that the use of control isn't always physical in a relationship. Maddy begins to take a closer look at her own marriage and finds herself in real danger.
We revisit Straley's character, Cecil Younger, who is a private eye in the small town of Sitka, Alaska. Younger is not even a good P.I., which he admits. Now he finds that he cannot give up on an old case that occurred three years ago. Four people were killed on the scow Mygirl in a gruesome way. Now the man who was accused of the murder, but found not guilty, has vanished and his wife believes that someone has taken revenge. As Younger looks again at the case, more deaths occur and during a wild storm the truth is found.
Mall is a thirty-something speed freak who shoots his mother and set fire to his house. Danny is a voyeur who likes underwear models. Jeff is a teenager who embarks on a bad LSD trip. Donna is a restless housewife looking for a one-night stand. There is also a guard at the mall whose name is Michael who is looking for salvation. They all intersect in a glitzy shopping mall, and the explosions cause some biting comments from the author regarding the American culture.
Gregory has written a fable to us to enjoy. Isobel Latimer is a respected literary novelist. Her husband Phillip has been in failing health for some time, and their life in the country has settle into a predictable path. Isobel's books do not bring in much money, and her husband's illness has been costly, so she decides to write a book with money in mind. She selects the nom-de-plume of Zelda so as not to sully her own pristine reputation. She tells no one but her agent that the real author of this sexy romance novel is herself.
When the new book is published it is a big hit and her agent transforms the formerly dowdy author into the glamorous Zelda. At the same time, the agent also turns himself into Zelda and proceeds to have an affair Zelda the first. The plot gets complicated with all of its secrets. Isobel's husband decides he needs a swimming pool for his health, and we meet the buff carpenter who is right out of a romance novel himself. Full of twists and turns this sexy mixed-up group of characters will keep the reader well in hand to the end.
We meet a man named Gary who takes odd jobs when he feels like it, and who finds himself in Venice, Florida where the circus has it winter-quarters. He goes to work for the circus on a whim. Starting at the bottom of the rung as a "bullhand" who sweeps up behind the elephants Gary moves from job to job within the circus. As he learns each new job and moves to new living cars on the train, we learn more about a traveling circus and the people who live by the thrills and the flourishes of the show. Gary loves the life, the train and almost every job he learns. One day he discovers the high wire, and knows that this is where his future lies. Gary moves through the training and the injuries to become a major star of the high wire.
The plot sounds trite when it is put in print here, but trust me, this author has written a beautiful story of a life that will enchant you all the way. Schmitt knows his circus lore very well. He introduces us into the tents with a hypnotic series of words and characters that we all can enjoy.
Be sure to visit us again next month when we'll
review more helpful fiction and mysteries. Our
fiction book reviews are written by our Editor, Richard L. Trethewey.
Rainbo Electronic Reviews' fiction book reviews are published monthly. Back issues of our
reviews are available from the Rainbo Reviews Backissues Archive.
We're proud to announce that the reviews archive is now searchable by category so you can find great mysteries we've reviewed in the past.
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