non-fiction by Grisham

Posted : 11 months, 2 weeks ago on 26 July 2007 10:34 (A review of The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town)

Grisham has finally written a non-fiction book. He goes straight to the point, by describing the murder of Debbie Carter in the town of Ada, within the first chapters. He then continues on how the police caught the suspects, allegedly Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz; how Williamson got to Death Row through a corrupted justice system; how Williamson and Fritz never got a proper trial; how Williamson lost his mind (to say the least); how the prosecutor didn't present all the facts and didn't research *all* possible suspects; how important evidence is; how corrupted cops, judges, prosecutors, etc. are.

I already knew the American justice system was corrupted, and that MANY innocent men (and women) were sent to jail/death row because of bad trials. But reading it, and particularly reading Williamson and Fritz's story, is infuriating, and maddening.

It is refreshing though to see groups like the Innocence Project exist and do their best to provide new trials based on DNA testing to exonerate innocent men.

The testimonies of Ron's sisters, Annette and Renee, his older friend Bruce Leba, and several other contacts, add to the incredible injustice Ron has gone through his entire life.
Grisham delivers a moving, poignant story, which is almost a biography of Ron Keith Williamson, who many people still believe guilty of Carter's murder even though DNA testing proved his innocence!!

Extremely well researched, it is a well written book that is worth reading, and which may prompt you to take action, especially if you live in the USA.

I can't help but wonder, after reading this book, how George Clooney (who recently bought the rights to the book) will adapt this to the screen.


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the best of this series (so far)

Posted : 11 months, 3 weeks ago on 16 July 2007 05:44 (A review of Hitched (A Regan Reilly Mystery))

In this ninth title of the Regan Reilly Mysteries, private investigator Regan Reilly gets married! But of course before she can say "I do" she will have to get her dress back... That's right, her dress was stolen along with 3 other wedding gowns *one week* before the wedding day.
In the meantime, her husband-to-be, Jack "no relation" Reilly, is trying to locate The Drip, a bank robber that strikes in New York, only on rainy days.
Wouldn't you know it, those two stories are somehow linked.

The story was much better developed than the previous books in the series. The numerous characters were fabulously funny, while some can be annoying (mainly the other brides).

Fast-paced, easy to read, this is an entertaining and enjoyable novel.


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good but predictable

Posted : 11 months, 3 weeks ago on 14 July 2007 05:58 (A review of Burned (Regan Reilly Mysteries))

Regan Reilly, a private investigator based in Los Angeles and whose fiancé, Jack "no relation" Reilly, is in New York, takes off to meet her best friend Kit in Hawaii. There, a woman, Dorinda Dawes, has been found dead, and soon enough, Regan is on the job, instead of on vacation.
Regan will have to discover who murdered Dorinda, who's playing pranks at the hotel, and who stole the royal leis.

Regan Reilly Mysteries are always fun to read. The author doesn't have a particular writing style. It's simple, easy, fast-paced and has witty dialogue.
Unfortunately this eighth adventure in the Regan Reilly Mysteries is a little too predictable.
Yes, the characters are fun, but anyone reading this will see where the ending leads.

Still an enjoyable read.


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unpredictable

Posted : 11 months, 4 weeks ago on 12 July 2007 09:52 (A review of Popped : A Regan Reilly Mystery)

Regan Reilly, a Los Angeles based P.I., goes to Las Vegas to help out Danny Madley, a childhood friend. Danny is producing a reality show that is competing against a sitcom, and both shows are being presented to Roscoe Parker, a very rich man, who is fond of hot air ballons. Danny's show is getting sabotaged; Regan's job is to find who's behind everything.
And will Jack "no relation" Reilly propose to Regan?

Carol Higgins Clark has an easy-to-read writing style, that makes her novels a lot of fun. Her unusual, somewhat clichéd characters make for an enjoyable read, and the witty dialogue are amusing.

Fast-paced, this is the seventh book in the Regan Reilly Mysteries.


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better and better

Posted : 12 months ago on 10 July 2007 06:01 (A review of Jinxed)

In this sixth novel in the Regan Reilly Mysteries, P.I. Regan Reilly must find actress Whitney Wheldon before it's too late. Why? Because she will inherit two million dollars just by going to Lucretia Standish's wedding, and so will her mother Lilac, and her two uncles Earl and Leon.
But what Whitney doesn't know is that Lucretia's husband-to-be, Edward Fields, knows Whitney, and he will do anything he can to marry 93-year-old Lucretia, including hiring a con man, Rex aka Don, to kidnap Whitney.
Meanwhile, Jack "no relation" Reilly, Regan's new beau, is investigating con artists in New York, and the road will lead him to... Altered States, Whitney's winery.

This novel was more entertaining than others, and certainly more exciting. It has more parallel stories than the earlier Regan Reilly Mysteries, the characters are better developed and there is more action.
Although somewhat predictable, it is nonetheless a very enjoyable book!


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good and unpredictable

Posted : 12 months ago on 9 July 2007 06:49 (A review of Fleeced: A Regan Reilly Mystery)

This is the fifth book in the Regan Reilly Mysteries.

Los Angeles P.I. Regan Reilly is going to NY to attend a crime conference organized by her mother, famous author Nora Regan Reilly. She has a new beau, Jack "no relation" Reilly, who works in law enforcement in NY.
A family friend, Thomas Pilsner, president of the Settlers' Club on Gramercy Park, needs Regan's help in locating four missing diamonds, whose proceeds would have gone to the Club if only the two owners would not have died of unusual circumstances.

Carol Higgins Clark's writing style remains simple, but her plots are becoming less and less predictable - a good thing!

The novel involves a certain number of characters that are fun to read.

A nice little adventure that reads fast.


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an improvement

Posted : 12 months ago on 8 July 2007 07:48 (A review of Twanged)

This is the fourth installment in the Regan Reilly Mysteries.

P.I. Regan Reilly is getting ready for her vacation in the Hamptons' with her parents, Nora and Luke, and best friend, Kit. However, Regan is called at the last minute to become new singing sensation Brigid O'Neill's bodyguard. Brigid has received a fiddle (said to have magic powers and engraved with the initials CT) from Ireland. It seems that if taken out of Ireland, the fiddle will not bring luck but... an accident, and even death.
In the meantime, Chappy Tinka is planning to steal the magic fiddle and replace it with an exact copy. He believes that the CT initials are for his name.

Numerous characters are part of this novel: Duke (Chappy's accomplice), Chappy's wife Bettina and her dog Tootsie, Bettina's live-in guru "Peace Man", Ned the feng shui specialist, Claudia the theatre's architect, Louisa the fact-checker... and the list goes on.
Everyone is important in this book and ultimately will help Regan in solving this mystery.

Carol Higgins Clark's style is getting better with each book, and this one has again, an unexpected ending.


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better than the first 2

Posted : 12 months ago on 8 July 2007 07:39 (A review of Iced)

This is the third title in the Regan Reilly Mysteries.

P.I. Regan Reilly is going on vacation in Aspen, where million-dollar paintings have been disappearing. A friend of Regan's, an ex-con Eben Bean, has vanished and is thought to be the paintings' thief. Regan believes in Eben's innocence and is out to prove it.
In the meantime, Geraldine, a seventy-something lady, has hired another P.I. to discover a shocking secret.

Carol Higgins Clark has a simple writing style.
In this book, nothing was predictable, and the ending delivers an unexpected twist.

An enjoyable novel.


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entertaining

Posted : 1 year ago on 2 July 2007 06:46 (A review of Snagged)

Miami. Two conventions: panty-hose and funeral. Regan Reilly, daughter of novelist Nora Regan Reilly and funeral director Luke, is down in Miami for her friend Maura's wedding. Her seventy-something uncle, Richie Blossom, has just invented *the* perfect panty-hose, and is trying to sell it to big companies to save his home, the Fourth Quartet.
Attempts are made on Richie's life, and Regan will chaperon him, until he is safe.

The second in the Regan Reilly Mysteries, SNAGGED is an effortless read.
Carol Higgins Clark's character development improves in this book.
Simple writing, good descriptions, an easy plot are the ingredients of this book, which is a funny, entertaining mystery that reads fast.


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easy to read

Posted : 1 year ago on 2 July 2007 06:38 (A review of Decked)

Regan Reilly, a private investigator, attends a reunion in England, when the body of a friend, Athena, turns up.
Unfortunately, Lady Exner's companion gets sick and Regan is given the opportunity to accompany Lady Exner on a transatlantic cruise.
Clues to Athena's crime will follow her on the Queen Guinevere boat, and she will in no time solve her friend's 10-year-old murder.

The first in the Regan Reilly Mysteries, DECKED is an easy read. (I read it in one day.)
Plain writing, good descriptions, a simple plot - good ingredients for an adventure at sea.

A funny, entertaining book.


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