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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
Oddly this is the third book I have read in 2018 with sort of the same general plot description: Troubled, maverick, once-captive woman searches for missing girl.
This one was my favourite. Sunday Night is a terrific character - sassy and sarcastic in a way that comes through in the whole delivery of the story. I look forward to more of her (I hope) as I feel there are still parts of her story left to learn.
There were some things about it that felt unrealistic to me - she seems to get away with things that I would have thought would land her in jail. But let's face it, as a Canadian, I don't really understand how gun laws in America work. ;-)
This one was my favourite. Sunday Night is a terrific character - sassy and sarcastic in a way that comes through in the whole delivery of the story. I look forward to more of her (I hope) as I feel there are still parts of her story left to learn.
There were some things about it that felt unrealistic to me - she seems to get away with things that I would have thought would land her in jail. But let's face it, as a Canadian, I don't really understand how gun laws in America work. ;-)
I haven't read anything by Kathy Reichs in a few years, but really enjoyed her previous series. This new one - I'm not sure yet. The character development may have been too subtle - I had trouble getting attached enough to be truly hooked. That said - can see potential for this to go somewhere so I would be up for giving a follow up a try. Note that this is not a forensics based novel, just in case that's your jam.
Sunday (Sunnie) Night has a pretty big chip on her shoulder and a dark past. Ex-military and a former cop, Sunnie is hired by Opaline Drucker, a wealthy older woman, to look into the bombing that killed her daughter and grandson and left her granddaughter, Stella, missing. The case has some strong parallels to Sunnie's past and despite her better judgement, she agrees help Opaline. Sunnie quickly finds herself in a web of danger and deceit--with little chance of escaping unharmed.
I must admit that I'm probably one of the few people who haven't read any of Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. I actually love the show Bones, but have never picked up the books--one of the few times where I've tended to prefer a show to date. So, you won't get a comparison of the Brennan series to this novel in this review (there are plenty of reviews out there with those observations, if you're interested). I am, however, a huge mystery and thriller fan. Reichs presents us with a pretty stereotypical cynical, truculent cop-turned-PI in the character of Sunnie (though Sunnie doesn't have a formal PI license). She's quirky, of course (see such exhibits as her pet squirrel, Bob) and has a distaste of rules of all forms. The story is told primarily from Sunnie's point of view, and we learn about her past only through her own recollections and memories as her present-day case causes her to occasionally think back on or mention old times. I imagine the author aiming for a Harry Bosch or Kinsey Millhone-type: I don't think Sunnie is to that level, but she's definitely a complicated and engaging heroine.
The story was certainly a compelling one, if not a bit bizarre at times. Sunnie shoots a man at the Ritz in Chicago, but is allowed to continue staying at the hotel: okay then. The Chicago P.D. allows her to continue investigating (the Drucker family bombing is technically still an open case for them) with surprising magnanimity, even with Opaline's family fortune in play. There are also portions of the novel where Sunnie has various characters under surveillance that drag on a bit (there's only so much tracking of someone back and forth that I can take).
Still, for the most part, the plot is pretty tight and exciting. Sunnie may be a bit cliche, but she's a strong character and an interesting one. She has a great wit and sarcasm to her that I loved. She's smart and savvy, even if damaged by her past. The novel also presents a couple of great twists that were excellent surprises--definitely made it worth reading for the mystery alone. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I'd be curious to read more about Sunnie in the future. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 07/11/2017.
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I must admit that I'm probably one of the few people who haven't read any of Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels. I actually love the show Bones, but have never picked up the books--one of the few times where I've tended to prefer a show to date. So, you won't get a comparison of the Brennan series to this novel in this review (there are plenty of reviews out there with those observations, if you're interested). I am, however, a huge mystery and thriller fan. Reichs presents us with a pretty stereotypical cynical, truculent cop-turned-PI in the character of Sunnie (though Sunnie doesn't have a formal PI license). She's quirky, of course (see such exhibits as her pet squirrel, Bob) and has a distaste of rules of all forms. The story is told primarily from Sunnie's point of view, and we learn about her past only through her own recollections and memories as her present-day case causes her to occasionally think back on or mention old times. I imagine the author aiming for a Harry Bosch or Kinsey Millhone-type: I don't think Sunnie is to that level, but she's definitely a complicated and engaging heroine.
The story was certainly a compelling one, if not a bit bizarre at times. Sunnie shoots a man at the Ritz in Chicago, but is allowed to continue staying at the hotel: okay then. The Chicago P.D. allows her to continue investigating (the Drucker family bombing is technically still an open case for them) with surprising magnanimity, even with Opaline's family fortune in play. There are also portions of the novel where Sunnie has various characters under surveillance that drag on a bit (there's only so much tracking of someone back and forth that I can take).
Still, for the most part, the plot is pretty tight and exciting. Sunnie may be a bit cliche, but she's a strong character and an interesting one. She has a great wit and sarcasm to her that I loved. She's smart and savvy, even if damaged by her past. The novel also presents a couple of great twists that were excellent surprises--definitely made it worth reading for the mystery alone. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I'd be curious to read more about Sunnie in the future. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 07/11/2017.
I received a copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley.
Sunday, previously a soldier and then a police officer, and now a recluse with a pet squirrel living on an island accessible only by private boat, is persuaded by her former foster father to take on a case for a rich old woman called Opaline. Opaline's daughter and grandson were killed year ago in a bombing at a Jewish school and her granddaughter, Stella, disappeared. Sunday is to try to locate the four bombers and find out if Stella is still alive.
Sunday agrees to take on the case, recruits her twin August, and soon makes progress. Progress involves a lot of Sunday shooting people with guns and getting more guns and considering how to fly on commercial airlines with her guns. I found the story fast-paced, although the chapters from the perspective of the girl in the cult/terrorist organization were perhaps longer than they needed to be and slowed things down. Sunday was unlikeable and unnecessarily rude to everyone except Gus. (I wouldn't rush to read another story about her.) The constant references to her traumatic past became tiresome, although that thread came good in the end. I'm not sure that the writing of the character of Kerr really convinced me that she had a low IQ.
Overall an exciting read; the scene at the race course was well written and clearly described. It was all just a bit dark and humourless and Gus was the only character you really felt had a heart.
Sunday, previously a soldier and then a police officer, and now a recluse with a pet squirrel living on an island accessible only by private boat, is persuaded by her former foster father to take on a case for a rich old woman called Opaline. Opaline's daughter and grandson were killed year ago in a bombing at a Jewish school and her granddaughter, Stella, disappeared. Sunday is to try to locate the four bombers and find out if Stella is still alive.
Sunday agrees to take on the case, recruits her twin August, and soon makes progress. Progress involves a lot of Sunday shooting people with guns and getting more guns and considering how to fly on commercial airlines with her guns. I found the story fast-paced, although the chapters from the perspective of the girl in the cult/terrorist organization were perhaps longer than they needed to be and slowed things down. Sunday was unlikeable and unnecessarily rude to everyone except Gus. (I wouldn't rush to read another story about her.) The constant references to her traumatic past became tiresome, although that thread came good in the end. I'm not sure that the writing of the character of Kerr really convinced me that she had a low IQ.
Overall an exciting read; the scene at the race course was well written and clearly described. It was all just a bit dark and humourless and Gus was the only character you really felt had a heart.
I wish I could give this book more stars. But I can't. I've listened to audiobooks that were so good, I had to go by the printed book. This is the first time when I've read a printed book, hoping, wishing, it has to be better in audiobook form. Because the print book didn't engage me.
Please let me start by saying I have great respect for Ms. Reichs. But, there were three things I could not get past. One, I couldn't visualize the lead character, Sunday Night, as a woman. The scar, her size, the male-like characteristics had me visualizing her as a man. Second, any time I could visualize her as a woman, I always pictured her as Emily Deschanel. Last, a critique of the writing style. It seems like every time the main character said something, it was followed by an emotion. Like the reader can't draw their own conclusion. Or, like Ms. Reichs was writing this as a screenplay. Or she couldn’t get out of screenplay-mode from Bones. Examples:
"PSO ruled it a justified shoot." Curt.
Or,
"I'd give myself five stars out of five." Terse.
Or,
"Excuse me?" Shocked reflex.
Or,
“Am I gonna regret laying this thing in your lap?” Snappish.
Or,
"Back where?" Unsuspecting.
Or,
You get the idea.
This got really old, really fast.
I commend Ms. Reichs on steeping away from Bones and trying something new. But, this didn’t work for me.
Please let me start by saying I have great respect for Ms. Reichs. But, there were three things I could not get past. One, I couldn't visualize the lead character, Sunday Night, as a woman. The scar, her size, the male-like characteristics had me visualizing her as a man. Second, any time I could visualize her as a woman, I always pictured her as Emily Deschanel. Last, a critique of the writing style. It seems like every time the main character said something, it was followed by an emotion. Like the reader can't draw their own conclusion. Or, like Ms. Reichs was writing this as a screenplay. Or she couldn’t get out of screenplay-mode from Bones. Examples:
"PSO ruled it a justified shoot." Curt.
Or,
"I'd give myself five stars out of five." Terse.
Or,
"Excuse me?" Shocked reflex.
Or,
“Am I gonna regret laying this thing in your lap?” Snappish.
Or,
"Back where?" Unsuspecting.
Or,
You get the idea.
This got really old, really fast.
I commend Ms. Reichs on steeping away from Bones and trying something new. But, this didn’t work for me.
Bleh. I actually finished it (isn't very long) mostly because my next audio book was not yet ready...
I thought it was confusing, the characters were not at all compelling... just don't bother.
I thought it was confusing, the characters were not at all compelling... just don't bother.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, with the introduction of a new character separate from the Bones universe. The protagonist, Sunday (Sunnie) Night, is a strong, flawed woman with a tragic past that lead her to live a life of self imposed exile. When one of the only two people she trusts thrusts her headlong into a search for a missing girl, she can't help but feel obligated to at least hear the case out. As the case unfolds, the reader also finds out what happened in her past that led her to her current lifestyle.
With lots of action, some gore (though not as much as can be found in most of Ms Reich's books), a few scenes that could have trigger warnings attached for some readers, and just enough twists to keep thing interesting, this is a book that any fan of mysteries would enjoy.
I hope to see more of the cast of characters introduced in this book in later stories from this author.
I really enjoyed this book, with the introduction of a new character separate from the Bones universe. The protagonist, Sunday (Sunnie) Night, is a strong, flawed woman with a tragic past that lead her to live a life of self imposed exile. When one of the only two people she trusts thrusts her headlong into a search for a missing girl, she can't help but feel obligated to at least hear the case out. As the case unfolds, the reader also finds out what happened in her past that led her to her current lifestyle.
With lots of action, some gore (though not as much as can be found in most of Ms Reich's books), a few scenes that could have trigger warnings attached for some readers, and just enough twists to keep thing interesting, this is a book that any fan of mysteries would enjoy.
I hope to see more of the cast of characters introduced in this book in later stories from this author.
Two Nights is a stand alone novel by Kathy Reichs, I was lucky to get an ARC copy of this book for a review. The book is realised either 29th June 2017 or 11th July 2017 depending on your country.
Two nights follows Sunday Night, she has retired the military and now she has after left the police forces due to disability, she is brought into a case to pull her out of being a recluse. 1 year ago a bomb was set of at a Jewish Girls school, killing a mother and son her daughter never found. Sunday is hired by the grandmother to find the people responsible and to find out the fate of her granddaughter. When Sunday goes to Chicago and starts digging for the truth, Sunday realise that there is more going on that just a missing Girl, and why she feels so connected to this missing girl.
I must admit that when I first started reading the book I didn't realise that Sunday was a women, as we are first information we are giving is her situation and not her appearance. The story was really interesting, the outcome of the story isn't one I would have guessed at the beginning. I also like the way in which the author gave us information about Sunday without realising it. I want to know more about Sunday and her twin brother Gus maybe a prequel as from some smell pieces of information sounded interesting.
If you like crime fiction where the character are not restricted by the rules of law enforcement than give this book a read.
4.6 out of 5
Two nights follows Sunday Night, she has retired the military and now she has after left the police forces due to disability, she is brought into a case to pull her out of being a recluse. 1 year ago a bomb was set of at a Jewish Girls school, killing a mother and son her daughter never found. Sunday is hired by the grandmother to find the people responsible and to find out the fate of her granddaughter. When Sunday goes to Chicago and starts digging for the truth, Sunday realise that there is more going on that just a missing Girl, and why she feels so connected to this missing girl.
I must admit that when I first started reading the book I didn't realise that Sunday was a women, as we are first information we are giving is her situation and not her appearance. The story was really interesting, the outcome of the story isn't one I would have guessed at the beginning. I also like the way in which the author gave us information about Sunday without realising it. I want to know more about Sunday and her twin brother Gus maybe a prequel as from some smell pieces of information sounded interesting.
If you like crime fiction where the character are not restricted by the rules of law enforcement than give this book a read.
4.6 out of 5
In reality I think my rating would be more like 3.5 stars rather than just three. It took me a while to get into this book and I found so much of it completely unbelievable...but eventually it got to the point where I couldn't put it down. I think Sunnie is a great character and I like Gus too - would have been good to see a bit more of him. Nice satisfying ending.