Melody's Reading Corner: September 2018

Melody

St. Martin's Press | March 2018 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

This is the first book of A Noodle Shop Mystery series featuring our 27-year-old protagonist, Lana Lee, and her family-owned restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House set in an Asian community in Cleveland, Ohio.

To begin with, Lana hasn't wanted to work at her family restaurant but after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she has decided that working as a server at the restaurant would help pay the bills and for putting her life back together. The restaurant business is going on well until Thomas Feng, the restaurant's property manager, was found dead after eating their shrimp dumplings. Thomas has shellfish allergy and everyone on staff knew about it; after all he was their regular customer. Now the head chef, Peter, and Lana are under suspect since she is the one who delivered the order to Thomas. To clear their name and to find out the killer, Lana decides to do some little investigation together with her roommate, Megan Riley.

Police detective Adam Trudeau is meticulous and never leave any stone unturned. When he knew that Lana is investigating the case, he is annoyed yet he couldn't deny his attraction towards her despite they got on the wrong foot the first time they met and that she is on his suspect list. Lana, on the other hand, has her ways of digging information since she knew almost everyone in the community and she would not let Trudeau get in her way even if it means putting herself in danger.

I've to admit I rarely read cozy mysteries but this was quite a fun read. I enjoyed reading about the cast of characters, including Lana's black pug, Kikkoman, who is named after a soy sauce's brand. The setting was interesting as it surrounds the restaurant and the Asian community, thus allowing the reader to get a feel of the Chinese culture and how their daily livelihood is like. Lana was an interesting character; she is an Eurasian with an English father and a Chinese mother and what makes her stand out is her lively personality. Plot-wise, it was mostly focused on Lana's investigations but of course the intensity wasn't as much as compared to a suspense thriller considering this is a cozy mystery but it still kept me engaged and like Lana, I wanted to find out the identity of the killer. All in all this was a good start of a new series, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Lana and Trudeau in the next book, Dim Sum of All Fears.

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Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Cozy Mystery 16 comments |

Circe by Madeline Miller

Melody

Bloomsbury Publishing | April 2018 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Retellings can be tricky. Most often they offer a fresh perspective from the originals but if not done well they could be a miss. In Madeline Miller's Circe (Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles), I'm glad to say it not only offers an interesting perspective based from the Greek mythology but also it has a few underlying themes which I felt to be quite moving.

Circe is the daughter of Helios. He is the god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans. Unlike her other siblings, Circe is often cast as an outsider due to her mortal voice. Her looks isn't outstanding and in the eyes of the gods, she is only a plain nymph and that she is noticeable because she is Helios' daughter.

"The thought was this: that all my life had been murk and depths, but I was not a part of that dark water. I was a creature within it."

Then an unexpected act out of anger and jealousy had her exiled in a remote island, Aiaia. Out of boredom, Circe finds herself immersed in growing herbs and making use of them in her witchcraft (a specialty which she isn't aware until later). The days go by and countless ships had stopped by her island and she'll give the sailors food and wine but she'll turn them into swine should they dare to touch her. Life goes on until mortal Odysseus' arrival disrupt her isolated life and to protect what she holds dear, Circe will have to decide between the deities world where she belongs and the mortals she has come to love and protect.

"I thought once that gods are the opposite of death, but I see now they are more dead than anything, for they are unchanging, and can hold nothing in their hands."

Circe is a beautiful story. I loved Madeline Miller's storytelling and her prose; I loved that Circe has elements that vary from Greek mythology (yes, there are conflicts and there are obstacles which come in various forms) to coming-of-age and to love and kinship. Most of all, I liked Circe, the narrator, for her courage and her strong determination despite she made mistakes and that she is not afraid of dangers and consequences. Though a goddess, she has a mortal's heart which differ her from other deities.

I could go on and on, but this is a story you have to read it yourself and experience the journey (all the more if you love Greek mythology).

Labels: 4 5 stars, Book Review, Fantasy, Mythology 16 comments |

Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li

Melody

Holt, Henry & Company, Inc. | June 2018 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

This debut novel by Lillian Li is a story about family and dreams; and most of all it is a story about the relationship between parents and children, youth and aging and one's value and devotion.

The Beijing Duck House in Rockville, Maryland, has made its name through Bobby Han's foresight and his belief of traditional Chinese cuisines and the connections it bring people together, be it a place for celebrations or merely for gatherings. This legacy is passed on to his youngest son, Jimmy Han, after Bobby's death and the oldest son, Johnny, left for Hong Kong to start off a new life. Johnny has no intention of running the Duck House although he is the more capable one among the two brothers. His only nineteen-year-old daughter, Annie, remains in the States as she works as a waitress at the Duck House.

Nan and Ah-Jack are longtime employees at the Duck House and knew the family-run restaurant inside out. Despite each is married, they never find the love they've for their spouse and over the years friendship and familiarity have slowly take a turn into something else but both of them chose to let things as they are even though they care too much for each other. Nan has a seventeen-year-old son, Pat, and he works as a dishwasher at the Duck House. He is one troubled teen filled with angst.

Jimmy has plans to leave his late father's homespun establishment for a classier one; ditching their old menus for an Asian fusion dishes. But of course setting up new business needs financials and he isn't sure if striking up a deal with Pang, an old family friend, is wise until tragedy strikes, implicating Pat and Annie to the already complicated Hans family saga as they're somewhat involved in setting the Duck House in flames. How would the Hans brothers and Nan react and how much are they willing to sacrifice to help their children?

There are a lot of things going on in this story. The friction within the Hans family household, the relationship between Nan and Ah-Jack and the vulnerability side of Pat and Annie as they are most often cast aside by their own parents due to work demands and their own selfish needs. It's a great exploration and an in-depth look of various relationships, but I felt there should be some backstory about Pang, considering how he played an "important" role in all the connections to the Duck House. Overall it was a promising debut and I look forward to the author's next book.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Fiction 12 comments |

The Sudden Departure of the Frasers by Louise Candlish

Melody

Penguin | May 2015 | 512 pgs

Source: Library

I enjoyed Louise Candlish's latest book, Our House, so much so that I decided to check out her backlist and this is one of the titles released in 2015.

Christy and Joe Davenport couldn't believe their luck when they found themselves as the new owner of a luxurious house situated in a suburb neighbourhood at Lime Park Road. Bought it at a much lower price with full furnishing, the Davenports did wonder about their predecessor's haste in selling the house. After all, they renovated the entire property yet moved out within a year. However, the thought of moving into a bigger place has replaced that little unsettling thought, and Christy is ready to get settled down but she has noticed that none of the neighbours are willing to talk with her.

Eager to break the ice and hopefully to dig some info about the previous owners, Christy found herself being brushed off by the neighbours when she tried to invite them to her house as a get-together. Christy also noticed that they are reluctant to talk about Jeremy and Amber Fraser, the previous owners, and most of all, she is intrigued by the mysterious Rob Whalen who is just living next to her. Their silence surrounding the Frasers and Rob arouse her curiosity and she is set to unravel this mystery and what had made the Frasers depart so suddenly. But what she didn't realise is what she is doing will open up a whole new can of worms.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as Our House. Although both books have a house as the setting, the concept is entirely different and while Our House is very much a plot-driven thriller, this one was more on the perceptions of the characters, in particularly Amber and Christy. The reader see things through their perspectives between the past and the present and this builds the intensity as the story slowly unfolds. However, the "secret" was a bit of a let down as I felt it was too ordinary (more so on the way the said characters handled that particular secret which snow-balled into a huge mess which was unnecessarily) but the ride was compelling and held my attention throughout, thus a 4-stars rating.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 10 comments |

I Know You Know by Gilly Macmillan

Melody

William Morrow | September 2018 | 384 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

I've enjoyed Gilly Macmillan's books in the past so I was eager to read her latest release, I Know You Know.

Twenty years ago, eleven-year-olds Charlie Paige and Scott Ashby were murdered and their bodies were found near a dog racing track. Their other friend, Cody Swift was supposed to join them but because of a ripped new shirt, he was forbidden to leave the house as a form of a punishment by his mother. This had saved him from following his friends' fate, but that fateful day and what happened to his friends continue to haunt him right into his adulthood.

Now a filmmaker, Cody still has questions over his friends' murder and the trial which had put a man behind bars. But an article from an investigative journalist has roused his suspicion that the case isn't what it seems to be; and most of all he is perplexed by the suicide committed by the "perpetrator". With these in mind, he decided to start a podcast as a means of uncovering new evidences and at the same time, encourage people to speak up should they know anything what happened on that fateful day.

Meanwhile, the police has found a long-buried body located near the location where the two boys were; and this discovery led the police to launch an investigation and makes Detective John Fletcher (who investigated the boys' case) to reopen his files and decide if the two cases are linked.

I Know You Know has a gripping plot and once again I was captivated by Gilly Macmillan's storytelling. What I liked about this story is aside from the alternative timeline between the present and the flashbacks, there are also the podcast narratives in between which made this story such an intriguing read. This format was a huge draw in my opinion because of the different accounts and opinions of the narrators and made me wonder about them and what their motives are. The characters development is great too, and I liked reading about the three boys' friendship - the only happier moments among all the dark sides of human nature and behaviours. I do have one or two questions surrounding the case, but they don't affect my reading pleasure and my overall view of the book so that says a lot about the author's writing.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 12 comments |

You Were Made for This by Michelle Sacks

Melody

Little, Brown and Company | June 2018 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

You Were Made for This has a gorgeous cover, but there is nothing pretty about this story as it is a domestic thriller with a cast of twisted characters.

Sam and Merry Hurley left behind their old life and careers in New York to live in Sweden. Together with their infant son, Conor, they are often viewed as the perfect family in other people's eyes. However, behind their pretentious life Sam and Merry each harbours a secret and an ugly past which their other half is not aware of. For Sam, his switching of career from an anthropology professor to an inspiring filmmaker has actually to do with an inappropriate act he had committed in the past and his present infidelity. As for Merry, she feels bogged down by motherhood and the perfect wife image she has to hold and then, there is her past which the reader will get to know as the story unravels. The intensity and thrill only begin when Merry's best friend, Frank, decided to visit them.

Frank (otherwise known as Frances) is Merry's childhood friend. Their friendship is so close that people often mistake them as sisters and Frank doesn't deny about it whenever she is asked about their relations. When Merry heard Frank is going to visit, she is elated. After all, she hasn't seen Frank ever since she has moved to Sweden and she thinks Frank's presence might lighten her boring life. And boy, how her visit would turn the Hurleys' world upside down. Although Merry and Frank are close like sisters, their friendship is also filled with secret envy and jealousy of each other but yet they also complement each other during their own difficult times. When their complications involve Sam, the dynamics among these three take a turn and intensify until tragedy happens.

I mentioned in the beginning that this story has a cast of twisted characters but what most bothered me is each character in this book, including a few supporting characters, have no redeeming qualities in them (well, except Baby Conor and my heart went out to him for what he had been through). I'd say this was rather more of a case of character study kind than a domestic thriller because at some point you'd more or less figure out what'll going to happen but it's the characters who will drive you insane. The ending bothered me too, and after some thoughts after closing the book my verdict was this would be a hit or miss to readers. The writing style with no dialogue marks would either intrigue or frustrate readers, but it didn't really bother me but it did take some time getting used to it. Overall it was an unforgettable story with the characterisations and the ending would make an interesting topic for discussion.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 12 comments |

The Ever After by Sarah Pekkanen

Melody

Washington Square Press | June 2018 | 272 pgs

Source: Library

If you've read The Wife Between Us, you should be familiar with author Sarah Pekkanen as she wrote that book together with Greer Hendricks and it has received positive reviews from many readers. Sarah has also written several books in the past and this latest domestic drama explores a marriage in crisis and a woman's determination in finding the truth surrounding her husband's infidelity.

Josie and Frank Moore have been married for ten over years and live in the Chicago suburbs with their two young daughters. Although their life are hectic and Josie feels burn down by the girls' attention and the domestic life at times, she thinks she is lucky considering Frank is a great father and husband; and that he still showers her with love throughout the years. Until one Saturday morning she borrows Frank's phone to make a quick call and sees an email that shatters her world.

Frank met Dana at a work conference and they have maintained their "friends" relationship for seven weeks. When Josie confronts him about his infidelity, he says they have only kissed twice and nothing beyond that. Josie doubts it, and thereafter set her plan in uncovering Frank's secret by every means.

The Ever After may seem like a domestic thriller but is actually more of a women's fiction and an account of a woman's determination in finding out about her husband's infidelity. While Josie's findings may seem aggressive at times, there isn't much intensity and the pace is rather slow as it is very much focus on her emotional state, her rants and her "investigations". The first part was interesting but the second part was mostly bogged down by her rants and her reminiscent of their past. She is also indecisive if she should move on or take any actions; and once or twice she left her daughters to stay in a hotel simply because she is too angry and she needs to think. At some point I figured I was tired of reading it with the plot going nowhere but plodded along since I was hoping to see some resolution, which to my relief there was in the end. As a first-time reader of Sarah Pekkanen's book, this is certainly not my favourite mainly because I dived into this book with an impression that this was a domestic thriller but it turns out otherwise (I think I'd have liked this more under different circumstances). Then again, it wasn't a bad read as Sarah's writing was engaging and would probably appeal to readers of the women's fiction genre.