The Carnivore

Mark Sinnett has written an amazingly good book in "The Carnivore". Set in 1954 Toronto, Hurricane Hazel is wreaking havoc, Ray Townes, a policeman, is having an affair. Mary, his long suffering wife is doing her best to hold things together.

When Ray is proclaimed a hero and is featured in the newspapers, but Mary has her doubts. Yes, Ray did warn people and possibly even saved a few, but he also committed a terrible act against another human being.

50 years later, when a reporter comes to their home to write another story about the hurricane, and its heroes, everything is churned up once more. Ray is ill, Mary is tired, and as the stories unfold to the reporter, memories are brought to the forefront, and feelings and actions of that awful night are nearly too much to bear.

Will they be able to get through this terrible time? Will the dredged up memories end a marriage, hanging on by a thread? Will Rays evil deed become known? Will the truth set them free or will it ruin them?

So many questions, but all is answered in the end. The exploration of a disaster and a marriage, is so well written, I felt like a fly on their wall, eavesdropping. This book was wonderful!

I received this book from Shelf Monkey for review. Thanks so much!

Doubleback

Libby Fischer Hellmann has written a novel of suspense, including kidnapping, bank fraud, drugs, cartels, people smuggling, murder, mayhem, and assorted bad guys.

When little Molly Messenger is kidnapped, and returned 3 days later, her parents are very closed mouthed about the circumstances. PI Georgia Davis and video producer Ellie Foreman are suspicious, and when Molly's mother is mysteriously killed in a car accident, they are on the case. Their search for answers take Georgia to Arizona, where a strange security company seems to be heavily involved.

Cartels, tunnels,people smuggling, and more murders follow, as the ladies refuse to give up.

The answers will surprise everyone.

This is the first time I have read any of this series, and I am not sure I will look for the others. It was somewhat disjointed for my taste, but followers of the series will probably enjoy it.

I received this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers.

The Help

Kathryn Stockett has written a WONDERFUL book about the relationship between Black maids and their White employers in 1960's Mississippi. In a time when Whites thought you got diseases from using the same toilet as Blacks,(huh??) when "the help" was told they were members of the family, but were treated like garbage, Skeeter, a white writer decides to write a tell all about how it really was to live in the charged atmosphere of Jackson, Mississippi.

Hilly is the Queen Bee of Jackson, and rules with an iron fist. She is small minded and evil.

Skeeter was Hilly's best friend, but begins seeing her for what she really is, as she contacts maids in secret to get to get their stories. Minny and Aibileen have been domestics since their teenage years, cleaning, doing childcare, elder care, and learning the secrets of the folks they serve. They help recruit the maids, who are fearful, but ready to shed some light on a dark secret.

It is a dangerous time and a dangerous place to be, and some people did not think twice about burning a house, bombing a church or maiming/ killing a Black person. A story of selfishness,

gossip, fear, triumph and change, it is a splendid piece of writing.

This debut novel was touching, and shocking, with heartbreaking, heart stopping incidents, that captured the time perfectly. It was pure heart!

I got this book from the library. My tax dollars at work!