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Showing posts with label Nature/Wildlife Preservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature/Wildlife Preservation. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Wildlife Mystery Series Opener a Sluggish Read
7:44 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a face-off with an angry gunman at a Boston ceremony celebrating a controversial wetlands preservation project, wildlife biologist Alex Carter is only too happy to get away. The chance to track wolverines in the Montana wilderness is a dream come true. She's eager to study the elusive animals, working to save the dying species. Not all of the locals are thrilled with her presence, however, and they're letting her know it. Determined not to bow to their scare tactics, she stays on at the abandoned ski lodge where she lives by herself.
When Alex's wolverine-watching cameras catch movements of a different kind of animal on film, she's puzzled. Why is a man who's clearly suffering from a severe injury roaming around in the woods looking dazed and confused? When Alex reports her findings, she's even more stunned at the authorities' dismissive response. Refusing to let it go, she soon finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous predator. Just what has Alex stumbled upon? And how far will someone go to keep the curious scientist from sticking her nose where it doesn't belong?
It's no secret that I dig immersive, atmospheric mysteries set in isolated places. From the looks of A Solitude of Wolverines, the first book in a new series by Alice Henderson, it appears to be just this sort of read. Is it? Well...I did like the setting, not just mountainous Montana but also the creepy lodge, which adds an eerie vibe to the story (always a plus in my book). I also appreciate that Henderson's passion for nature, animals, and the conservation of both really comes through in this novel. In fact, her prose (which is pretty humdrum otherwise) shines brightest when she's writing about these subjects. Unfortunately, the author has a tendency to drone on and on, adding so many unnecessary details that the plot drags under them. Add in a storyline that's contrived and convoluted, characters that are bland and unlikable, and narration that's melodramatic and wordy, and you've got yourself one sluggish novel. I persevered with A Solitude of Wolverines (which is saying something, I guess), but it ended up being, for me, an average read at best. Needless to say, I won't be continuing with the series. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets and The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half-dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Lyrical and Lovely, Echo Mountain An Enjoyable MG Historical
7:13 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The Great Depression has wreaked havoc all over the country, forcing people into strange, new circumstances. For 12-year-old Ellie, that means moving out of her comfortable home in town and into a cramped cabin on remote Echo Mountain. Although her family's reduced circumstances are far from ideal, Ellie loves the freedom she now has to roam about exploring the wonders of the natural world. The mountain is full of surprises and mysteries and she's determined to discover them all!
When a terrible accident leaves her father in a coma, Ellie's whole family is devastated. Unfairly blamed for causing his injury, Ellie feels responsible for saving him. She sets out to find a mystical mountain hag who is said to have otherworldly powers capable of curing any ailment. Can the witch bring Ellie's dad back to life? As Ellie separates Echo Mountain's fabled myths from its true magic, she'll discover the power of her own pluck, resiliency, and strength of character. Using her own unique talents she just might be able to save them all.
I love finely-wrought historical fiction that brings a unique time and place to life. Echo Mountain, the newest middle-grade offering from Lauren Wolk, certainly does that. Her descriptions of mountain life are vivid and compelling. Ellie is an easy-to-admire heroine who cares more about other people than herself. She and her fellow cast members are likable, although flawed. Plot-wise, there's enough going on in Echo Mountain to keep the story moving along at a steady pace. Because of its old-fashioned feel, I'm not sure how much kid appeal this novel has. Hopefully some since it teaches valuable lessons about listening to your instincts, respecting nature, not making assumptions about people, and using your unique skills and resources to help other people. Lovely and lyrical, Echo Mountain is also moving, hopeful, and engaging. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin, also of The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, June 02, 2016
Brilliantly-Plotted Falklands Mystery Keeps Me Guessing Until the Very Last Sentence
10:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's easy to feel isolated in a place as rugged and remote as the Falkland Islands. An archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, the area is home to more birds than people. And yet, when a Falklander goes missing, the loss is felt keenly by the residents of the islands' close-knit communities. When the individual is a child—the third to disappear in as many years—it's more than a tragedy. It's an indication that a serial killer may be lurking nearby, hunting for young boys.
Still reeling after the accidental death of her own sons three years ago, Catrin Quinn has cut herself off from the people in her town. A recluse, she ventures out only to care for the wildlife protected by the Falkland Conservation, the organization for which she works. Bitter and angry, the 34-year-old lets only one person come anywhere near her heart—her ex-lover, Callum Murray. She refuses to engage or trust anyone else. People will only let you down; Catrin's learned that lesson in the most traumatic way possible.
When a 3-year-old boy disappears while picnicking with his family in Stanley, Catrin is as heartsick as anyone else. In such a dangerous landscape, the child could easily have drowned. Only, it looks as if something much more sinister has happened. Suspicion falls on Catrin, whose grief—most would agree—has certainly driven her crazy enough to kidnap a toddler. The recluse harbors secrets, it's true, but she knows she had nothing to do with the boys' disappearances. Doesn't she?
As Catrin struggles to come to grips with her own impending madness, she becomes obsessed with finding the missing children. Callum and Catrin's former best friend, Rachel Grimwood, are hiding as many secrets as Catrin. As the search continues for a missing boy, both will have to confront their own pain and unseen suffering. Hidden deep in their broken souls, one of the three—perhaps all of the three—holds the key to finding young Archie West. Can they pull the truth out of their damaged psyches in time to save an innocent child? Or will he become the third victim of a ruthless, unknown killer stalking children in the beautiful but deadly Falklands?
I'd never heard of English crime writer Sharon Bolton (formerly S.J. Bolton) before picking up her 8th novel, Little Black Lies, back in March. Except for her newest book, which hasn't come out in the U.S. yet, I've now read everything she's ever published. That should tell you something about how mesmerizing I found Little Black Lies. From the beginning, the story grabbed me, pulling me into the bleak but utterly compelling world of Catrin Quinn. The Falklands make a stunning and intriguing backdrop to the tale, adding a gothic element to an already otherworldly setting. Its treacherous isolation makes the novel even more eerie and suspenseful. Add in complex characters; solid writing; and a twisty, brilliantly-plotted mystery; voilá, I was hooked from the first page to the last. This book kept me guessing—not just until the last chapter but until the very last sentence. If you like a good mystery/suspense, you can't go wrong with Sharon Bolton. Although Little Black Lies is my favorite of hers, all of her novels have sucked me in and kept me up reading way, way, way past my bedtime. She's that good.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of the Shetland mystery series by Ann Cleeves)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Another Tender Tale From An Author Who Always Knows Just How to Touch My Heart
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lucy Emery should be excited about her new home on the shore of a beautiful New Hampshire lake. She's never lived by the water before. It's a lovely spot, but the 12-year-old's nervous about starting over in a new place. She's not looking forward to a long, friendless summer, let alone beginning school without knowing a soul. It doesn't help that her mom's busy working and her dad, a famous nature photographer who promised her lots of father/daughter adventures in New Hampshire, is already off on another out-of-state assignment.
When she discovers that her dad's judging a children's photography contest, Lucy thinks she may have found the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone—not only will the photo scavenger hunt fill up her empty summer days, but maybe, she can use her pictures to convince her dad to pay more attention to his daughter. With the help of her new friend, Nate, Lucy goes in search of photo-worthy vistas. As she shoots the lakeside with its sparkling waters, towering mountains, and endangered loons, she finds not just beauty, but also a terrible truth. Revealing it could destroy the only friendship she's got. Does Lucy dare tell Nate what she knows? How will the knowledge affect his family? And what about the photography contest? If Lucy doesn't win, how will she keep her own relationships intact? As Lucy battles with herself over what to do, she'll discover even more startling truths—about friendship, family and, ultimately, about herself.
Cynthia Lord has a knack for creating tender, uplifting stories about kids grappling with everyday challenges. Her newest, Half a Chance, is no exception. As in her other books, Lord populates this one with likable characters who earn both our sympathy and our admiration. She moves them around in a rich, atmospheric setting while putting them through their paces. It's difficult not to care about the outcome of a tale with such a richness of people and place. I definitely cared. Half a Chance isn't my favorite Lord book (that would be Rules), but it's still a lovely, poignant story by a writer whose books never fail to touch my heart.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of any. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Half a Chance from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
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