Daily Archives: May 4, 2010

Caught by Harlan Coben

Caught Caught by Harlan Coben

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Harlan Coben is one of my favorite mystery/suspense writers. His Myron Bolitar books crack me up (and I have this total crush thing going for Win). His stand-alone books are always solid pageturners and Caught is no exception to that.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading mysteries is that I love trying to figure out “who done it”. I think that’s a big draw for anyone who reads these sort of novels and one of the reason I love reading Coben’s so much is “who done it” is never a clear-cut answer. There’s layers and twists and turns and the last 50 pages I can guarantee that I’ll say “huh” more than a dozen times.

In Caught we follow a reporter who is out investigate a story that she might just have gotten wrong. Every step she takes into the investigation reveals a bit more but also raises questions. Caught is a solid, fun mystery and I read way into the night last night because, as is normal with Coben’s books, I just couldn’t put the book down.

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Two-Sided Tuesday: May 4, 2010

Two-Sided Tuesday is a day where I take a more popular read that people are familiar with and offer another book that’s similar and (in some cases) better, in my own opinion.  This week I want to talk a little bit about two books that rank high up there in girl-power, action and adventure (with maybe a touch of romance?).

If you are a YA reader you’ve probably at least heard of this book.  Katsa is a kick-ass chick with a Grace that allows her to beat the odds over and over again.  She’s easy to relate to, fun to read about and I finished the book aching for more.   You can read my full review of Graceling here.

I’m ashamed of myself.  I never wrote a review on this series.  But I do plan to read them again this year so I will fix that!  Despite the super dopey covers on these books I picked them up, and then I fell in love with the story.  Sharon Shinn writes some fantastic sci-fi and fantasy novels (including some YA books) but this series in particular holds a special spot for me.  Senneth, the main warrior character, is a strong, able woman and drives the story along at a relentless pace.  When I finished Mystic and Rider and moved quickly on to the next book and then the next, devouring every bit of information available on the party you first meat in Mystic and Rider.  If you haven’t read these books I highly recommend that you do so.  There’s magic, adventure, twisted evil and strength of character that is lacking too much in today’s popular novels.