Archive for the ‘US South’ Category

DEVIL’S DREAM by Madison Smartt Bell

This is a slave talking about his master, Nathan Bedford Forrest, a real character who became one of the most respected Confederate generals in the Civil War. At one point, Bedford breaks a pot over Ben’s head in rage at his insubordination, only to realize that there is a better way to gain his cooperation. So at considerable expense of time and treasure, he seeks out Ben’s wife, who had been sold away from him, and buys her back to be his companion. A former slave-trader who nonetheless treats his people with respect, this is only one of the contradictions that make Forrest so fascinating.

November 26, 2010 · Judi Clark · No Comments
Tags: , , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Facing History, US South, y Award Winning Author

THE HANDBOOK OF LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS by Michele Young-Stone

Michele Young-Stone’s debut novel, THE HANDBOOK FOR LIGHNING STRIKE SURVIVORS has, at its premise, the impact of lightning strikes on people and their loved ones. It is primarily about a young woman named Becca who comes from a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic mother and a philandering father. It is also about Buckley who loves his mother very much but is filled with guilt and remorse about his life.

November 2, 2010 · Judi Clark · No Comments
Tags: ,  Â· Posted in: Contemporary, Debut Novel, Family Matters, Humorous, New York City, US South

DEXTER IS DELICIOUS by Jeff Lindsay

In Dexter Morgan’s fifth outing, DEXTER IS DELICIOUS, our devilish and alliterative slasher and narrator is in danger of becoming a mushy and sentimental softie. His wife, Rita, has given birth to an adorable baby girl named Lily Anne, and Dexter is head over heels in love with his brand new bundle of joy. As he stands in the nursery gazing at the baby, he suddenly wants to embrace life, not death. “I want to hold her. I want to sit her on my lap and read her Christopher Robin and Dr. Seuss.” In short, he decides, “I don’t want to be Dark Dexter anymore.” If he were to kill again, it would be to protect his beautiful child from any predator who would dare to touch a hair on her lovely head.

September 19, 2010 · Judi Clark · No Comments
Tags: ,  Â· Posted in: Florida, Humorous, Sleuths Series, US South

THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE YOU by Drew Perry

Jack Lang is not great at being in the world. At the start of this quirky and original book, he has impulsively purchased a second ranch house – right across the street from his original house – at an auction. His wife Beth, a teacher at a local college, his just left him for his good friend Terry Canavan. Terry’s long-time girlfriend, Rena, may or may not be coming on to him.

To really complicate things, he is left in charge of his autistic savant son Hendrick, who has a penchant for memorizing the Weather Channel and mimicking advertising (in its entirety) and sloganeering verbatim.

And that’s just the start of things.

July 11, 2010 · Judi Clark · No Comments
Tags: , , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Contemporary, Debut Novel, Humorous, Reading Guide, US South

BROKEN by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter brings together some of her most memorable characters in BROKEN, her latest thriller. Twenty-one year old Allison Spooner is at the end of her rope. She is short of money, her boyfriend has disappointed her, and her rusted-out hulk of a car is on its last legs. She is struggling to keep up with her college classes at Georgia’s Grant Tech while earning a pittance as a waitress in a diner. Sadly, her dream of escaping her tedious life are shattered when she is attacked and killed by an unknown assailant.

June 23, 2010 · Judi Clark · No Comments
Tags: ,  Â· Posted in: Sleuths Series, US South

BLOOD TIES by Kay Hooper

BLOOD TIES, by Kay Hooper, is set in the small town of Serenade, Tennessee, where a runner stumbles over the body of a man who has been tortured and murdered. The local sheriff, Des Duncan, who is not equipped to deal with such matters, calls in the FBI to assist. The agents who show up are members of the highly trained Special Crimes Unit, all of whom have one or more psychic abilities that they use in their work. When more bodies turn up, the SCU suspects that a vicious and demented serial killer is on the loose.

January 26, 2010 · Judi Clark · No Comments
Posted in: Sleuths Series, Speculative (Beyond Reality), US South