The Perfect Suspect and Train Dreams

Ever get tired of reading books from the same genre all the time?

I wouldn’t say I get tired of reading them, I just find I don’t seem to have as much enthusiasm when I read too many back to back. I enjoy the variety of switching from one genre to another. It makes each read more refreshing to me. 

With that in mind I have two completely different style books to share with you today. The first is a novel of suspense and intrigue, while the second is a novella of poignant fiction almost a memoir.

THE PERFECT SUSPECT by Margaret Coel

Reading a murder mystery, the reader tries to discover the killer’s identify before the author reveals it near the end of the book.

With THE PERFECT SUSPECT, author Margaret Coel has given readers a new challenge. She reveals the killer at the start and keeps readers guessing how and when the killer will finally be caught.

Here’s the blurb that sparked my interest: A scream renders the early morning quiet of an upscale Denver neighborhood when David Mathews, the wildly popular candidate for governor, is found murdered. It quickly becomes a high-profile homicide and local investigators are pressured to make an arrest. When David’s estranged wife, Sydney, is arrested for first-degree homicide, journalist Catherine McLeod receives an anonymous phone call from a woman who claims she saw the real killer leave the scene of the crime and it was not Sydney. Because the caller is afraid to confide in the police, Catherine risks her career—and her life— to uncover the truth and find another witness who can identify the candidate’s real murderer: Detective Ryan Beckman, the lead investigator in the case.

 

Pitting a reporter against a murdering detective leads to suspense, intrigue and a gripping story. The author’s writing is smooth and flowing as it draws you further into the plot with the turn of each page. While you know who the killer is, it’s a fascinating story of cat-and-mouse as you guess how the killer will finally be brought to justice. The twist at the end may surprise you.

The story deals with three independent women who face life’s adversities in very different ways - the killer, the reporter and the witness. Two of the women, McLeod and Beckman, are strong and determine. It’s a case of good, evil and one trying to do the right thing.

THE PERFECT SUSPECT is a sequel to BLOOD MEMORY, but is a stand alone read. 

The Perfect Suspect by Margaret Coel, A Catherine McLeod Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-425-24348-0, Hardcover, 304 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

TRAIN DREAMS: A NOVELLA by Denis Johnson

TRAIN DREAMS begins with the attempted murder of a ‘Chinaman’ in the American West before the turn of the 20th century.

Young day laborer Robert Grainier has joined with some of his fellow workers who are attempting to throw a Chinese worker off a bridge for allegedly stealing. The man breaks free while screaming at the men in his native language. Grainier feels certain the ‘Chinaman’ has cursed them all.

From there the story follows the few triumphs and many defeats Grainier faces throughout the course of his life. He works as a logger, a bridge builder, and as a freight hauler. He loses his wife and baby daughter to a great fire that sweep the area just hours before he returned from a logging job.

The novella tells of various people and situations Grainier encounters. It tells of the harsh life many faced. It also tells of how the landscape of the west changed, as well as the changes the people experienced. It talks of Grainier’s first airplane ride, his seeing the world’s fattest man and his encounter with the ‘wolf girl.’

The story is rich in history and Will Patton’s powerful narration adds great emotion to the story. Patton gives each character in this tale great depth.

TRAIN DREAMS is a short audio, but well worth listening to. The characters will stay with you long after the story ends. 

Train Dreams: A Novella by Denis Johnson, Read by Will Patton, Macmillan Audio, @2011, ISBN: 9781427213778, Unabridged, 2 CDs, Run time: 2½ hours

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.