book review

Review: “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt

McCourt, Frank. Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir Scribner, 1996Paperback, 364 pagesISBN 0-684-87435-0 Highly Recommended Frank McCourt’s memoir about his childhood well deserves all the accolades that have been heaped upon it. When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly […]

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“Unnatural Exposure” by Patricia Cornwell

Cornwell, Patricia. Unnatural Exposure (1997)   G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 338 pages, $25.95 hardcover    ISBN 0 399 14285 1 After Cornwell’s two recent disasters, Cause of Death and Hornet’s Nest, I approached Unnatural Exposure with trepidation. Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns in a novel that doesn’t exhibit Hornet’s Nest’s lack of focus but that does, like

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The Best Books I Read in 1997

Listed alphabetically by author Ambrose, Stephen E. Undaunted Courage Atkinson, Kate. Behind the Scenes at the Museum Byatt, A.S. Possession: A Romance Dorris, Michael. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water Finney, Jack. Time and Again Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying Mistry, Rohinton. A Fine Balance O’Connell, Carol. Stone Angel Smiley, Jane. A Thousand

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“The Night Crew” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. The Night Crew (1997)   G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 371 pages, $23.95 hardcover   ISBN 0 399 14237 1 The action has moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles and the protagonist is a woman, but otherwise fans of John Sandford’s “Prey” series won’t notice much difference between the earlier novels and this one. The

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“Sudden Prey” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. Sudden Prey (1996)   G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 360 pages, $23.95 hardcover   ISBN 0 399 14138 3 On the trail of bank robbers Candy LaChaise and her sister-in-law Georgie, police have staked out the Credit Union they think the duo will hit next. When Candy cold-bloodedly shoots a man inside the Credit Union

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“Mind Prey” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. Mind Prey (1995)Berkley, 354 pages, $6.99 paperback  ISBN 0 425 15289 8 Mind Prey opens with a memorable simile: “The storm blew up late in the afternoon, tight, gray clouds hustling over the lake like dirty, balled up sweat socks spilling from a basket” (p. 1). Soon Andi Manette, a psychiatrist, and her

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“Night Prey” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. Night Prey (1994)   Berkley, 400 pages, $6.99 paperback  ISBN 0 425 14641 3 Back in Minneapolis, Lucas Davenport’s new business producing police training simulation software is making a fortune when Rose Marie Roux, the new police chief, asks Davenport to come back to the force. Roux, who has her eye on an

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“Winter Prey” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. Winter Prey (1993)   Berkley, 343 pages, $5.99 paperback   ISBN 0 425 14123 3 Lucas Davenport is spending the coldest winter anyone can remember in his cabin in northern Wisconsin. When a multiple murder occurs in a nearby small town, the local sheriff realizes he’s in over his head and calls in

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“Silent Prey” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. Silent Prey (1992)Berkley Books,  $6.99 paperback   ISBN 0 425 13756 2  This book opens with the escape of Michael Bekker on the day the jury begins deliberation at his trial.  Soon bodies with no eyelids start turning up in New York City and scientific journals begin receiving long, scholarly papers from Bekker

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“Eyes of Prey” by John Sandford

Sandford, John. Eyes of Prey (1991). In John Sandford: Three Complete Novels G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 725 pages, hardcover  ISBN 0-399-14007-7 At the end of Shadow Prey Jennifer, Davenport’s former girlfriend, and Sarah, their baby, are wounded in a shootout. After this experience Jennifer has withdrawn from Lucas and now allows him to see Sarah only

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