Q&A

This novel by Vikas Swarup is now being published as Slumdog Millionaire, which of course is the 2008 Oscar winner for best picture. It's about Ram Mohammad Thomas, the orphan boy who wins a billion rupees on a television show and is then arrested for cheating. Throughout the course of the book, he explains to his lawyer, Smita, why he knew the answer to each question. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know how it is different, but I tore through the novel. Ram's story is compelling, and the voice is at times both hilarious and tragic. I can't wait to see how it was adapted into the film.

A few light reads

~The "High Heels" series by Gemma Halliday - I'm loving this chick lit mystery series. I've read Spying in High Heels and Killer in High Heels, and I'm in the middle of Undercover in High Heels. The protagonist, Maddie, is just a little bit silly but also has a good head on her shoulders, and the cast of characters supporting her is funny but also realistic. I love Halliday's writing style and the suspenseful plots keep me turning the pages. Very similar to Julie Kenner's The Givenchy Code series, which I also loved.

~I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter - I listened to this young adult novel on CD, and at first I couldn't stand the narrator, but then I got used to her. Cammie Morgan is an ordinary girl, except for the fact that she goes to spy school instead of regular school. What will happen to her when she wants to date a "normal" boy from town? This is a series too, so I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

NEW! Dog On It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery

by Spencer Quinn

A light, humorous mystery, Dog On It is told from the perspective of Chet, a dog whose owner, Bernie, is a private detective. Charming, witty, and a suspenseful, this book was a delight to read.

In this book, Chet helps Bernie solve the disappearance of a young girl who may or may not have run away from home. The unique perspective gives flavor and wit to the story as Chet uses his canine senses to track down the bad guys. He loves his master, though he doesn't understand some of his human worries, like divorce, money, or even the odd chemistry between him and the attractive reporter named Suzie.

I read this book in two nights and found myself laughing out loud at some of the canine humor as well as being completely absorbed in the mystery. A great book.

Available as of February 10.

The Wolfman by Nicholas Pekearo

The Wolfman was Pekearo's first and last book. (He wrote other things but I don't think they were published). Tragically, he was gunned down while volunteering in NYC as an auxillary policeman. The Wolfman is Marlowe Higgins, a vet from Nam. The narration is hip, with lots of slang and swearing. Higgins has a family curse that has been passed down through generations. When his father dies, he becomes a werewolf. His father never warns him. He becomes a werewolf while in Viet Nam. It helps him to survive there. He has to kill every full moon. Higgins has a moral code and being a killer does not sit well with him, so he trains "the beast" to kill bad people.

I loved this book. Pekearo had a unique voice that I enjoyed and I would love to read more. This mystery novel could have been the first in a series but sadly stands alone.