PositiveThe Christian Science Monitor... twisty good fun and a dense and, at times, over-complicated plot ... a boatload of colorful characters, including a resentful wife, an estranged son, law associates, FBI and Homeland Security agents, media personalities, high-tech engineers, and a female chief justice. As the stakes rise, and murderous villains lurk, readers come to understand that horrific moral and ethical boundaries have been crossed. The unfolding morality tale, \'the labyrinthine game the law demanded,\' plays out in the final fireworks scene at the Supreme Court. Abrams plays it to the hilt.
Jenny Lecoat
RaveChristian Science MonitorAn abundance of goodness, courage, and humanity, which are expressed in spades in Jenny Lecoat’s historical fiction debut based on the events of the occupation ... Lecoat advances a narrative of optimism ... Eventually, Hedy encounters Lieutenant Kurt Neumann, a sympathetic German officer. The two are drawn together despite their differences, and despite the fact that Hedy continues to hide her identity. Still, their unlikely romance is an antidote to the confining, inhumane rhythms of wartime life. And romance branches out into acts of resistance: Hedy steals petrol coupons and gives them to island doctors so that they can travel to patients ... Lecoat provides generous descriptions of the island setting, and her dialogue captures the emotional nuances of each moment. Flashes of humor lighten the weighty plot. (Lecoat’s background as a comic likely helps with this.) Scenes featuring villains, meanwhile, produce visceral reactions of dismay ... The plot intensifies, until it finally reaches a conclusion that is well worth the wait. The Girl from the Channel Islands sends a timely message of hope and underscores the incredible importance of embracing forgiveness and inclusivity.
Marie Benedict
RaveThe Christian Science MonitorHer brilliantly inspired historical fiction, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, boldly speculates on what could have happened during those unexplained days. Several other books and movies have tried fictionalizing this stretch of time, with mixed results, for example the 1979 film Agatha with Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman. But Benedict’s imagining stands out from the pack, cleverly positing that Agatha’s private tragedy was the genesis of the legendary author’s success ... , a rich dual storyline unfolds ... Benedict shines as a suspense writer, paying excellent homage to Agatha’s novels with twisting motives and deftly described actions. Her vivid characterizations and sweeping prose transport the reader right back to the 1900s. News reports and event timelines from the era fit effortlessly into Agatha’s observations of the happiness and pain that fill her world.
Madeleine Henry
RaveThe Christian Science MonitorIf you’re looking for an unusual love story that spans decades, that feels modern but has an old-fashioned heart, then Madeleine Henry has written a book for you. The Love Proof is no ordinary romance novel. Although it unabashedly embraces sincerity and kindness, Henry’s writing also contains intellectual as well as emotional heft ... unique and surprising depth ... Sophie Jones is a delightful conundrum of a character ... a literary journey in which time is filled with meaning, purpose, and caring. Through the arc of Sophie and Jake’s romance, Henry demonstrates that the expression of love is the most important undertaking.
Denise Mina
RaveThe Christian Science MonitorIt’s a brilliantly plotted, deeply complex psychological thriller, and also an intelligent black comedy with emotional depth and an uplifting outlook. The story is gritty at times—it includes some violence and profanity—but the gutsy heroine at its center grabs the reader’s heart as she and her sidekick crime-solver grapple with clues and villains, seeking justice and redemption as the tension mounts ... It’s exhilarating to watch [Anna and Fin\'s] self-esteem and friendship grow while they dodge dangerous assassins from her past. The incredibly connected modern world of social media (and its negative and positive effects) becomes an impressive character in its own right. Mina is a master storyteller: Conviction reels you in, daring you to keep up with the clues and surprises that its entwined mysteries share.
