I would say that the central part of this book is solid and enjoyable, but some of the peripheral stuff I could do without, including names of many people who have little or nothing to do with the story. And maybe it is just me, but I found the ridiculousness of the names, virtually all of them, to detract from the serious central plot. There is a god story in here, but you just have to wait for it to rise to the top.

Let me first say that this was a really good book and I definitely recommend it. BUT I read a lot of read a lot of Stephen King and books like this, and I am good at suspending disbelief so that I can fully enjoy the story. And I don’t want to give anything away, but who, or actually what, the author chose to be the evil overriding force in this story was something I could just not buy into. And once I found that out, it took a little bit of the enjoyment of the book sway from me.

This is the second time I read this book, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time, picking up parts of the story more intensely this time. This is a perfect story of 2 generations who are in need of each other and who come together in the best way possible. While each of the 3 central living characters (and I have to include living as one character who feature prominently is deceased) has their challenges, they come together to help one another perfectly, even if for some the motivation may be selfish. This is a story that will touch your heart.

Not sure what I was expecting from this book and I guess for its time, 1513, it was insightful, but reading it today with statements that say you cannot avoid war and should only postpone it to your own advantage was disturbing. The book is Machiavelli’s perspective on how rulers must conduct themselves in order to be successful. And while I imagine that there are some who would agree even today, reading statements that say people must fear you and some brutality is needed, is disturbing to be reading now.

This is a wonderful tale that everyone can relate to; the anxiety and anticipation surrounding a high school reunion, and Smith tells a wonderful tale here. And as the old classmates gather, grudges come to the surface, and secrets behind them are revealed.

I did this book as an audio book, and I felt like someone was telling me a story nor reading an audio book to me. This is based on a true story and is sad, and wonderful, and hopeful, and amazing. It’s about a small group of people who live isolated, though harsh and beautiful, lives until someone comes and wants to help them. The display of humanity here will evoke feelings here and make you think about how society creates rules and how people are affected.

A fun academic mystery in a beautiful location. Great cast of characters to spend a little time with in the summer.

I started this as an audio book on a day that was challenging, and I found it was just want I needed. What fun!! This is done as an old-time radio production complete with authentic and amazing sound effects. Guy, the detective and central character, is brought such exciting cases as the theft of a four-year-old goldfish. If you are looking for something really fun, you will not be dissatisfied with this!

So here is a perfect example of why I prefer not to know too much about a book before I read it, because this is a western. It’s not a genre I would normally select, but this one was very enjoyable. On the surface, it’s a simple story about a man looking for gold, but it’s also the story of fear, loneliness, and hope. It’s about making tough choices and doing the right think. I look forward to reading something else by this author.

This is one of those books you can read more than once because there is a lot going on and there are parts of it I still am not clear on. An investigator is hired to check on large payments that were made by the client’s late aunt. The investigation uncovers more than initially suspected and reveals a well-crafted web of deceit. A good book but I feel like I missed some things.