Category Archives: Historical Fiction

Choosing the words, telling the stories

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS. By Pip Williams. Ballantine Books. 371 pages. $28. Pip Williams’ remarkable debut novel is imaginative, original, intelligent and delightful. The Dictionary of Lost Words is also a book for our … Continue reading →

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The ticking bombs…

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE KING’S JUSTICE. By Susan Elia MacNeal. Bantam Books. $17, paperback. Over the course of eight previous novels, Maggie Hope has been an assistant to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a code breaker, a spy, a … Continue reading →

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Life and love amid the chaos

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA. By Isabel Allende. Random House Audio. Read by Edoardo Ballerini. 10 hours; 8 CDs. $40. Also available in print from Ballantine Books. A Long Petal of the Sea, Isabel … Continue reading →

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A fitting farewell

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Linda

Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer I love it when Bob Moyer is in reading/reviewing mode. So many books to add to my list…. METROPOLIS. By Philip Kerr. Putnam. 381 pages. $28. In 13 books, Philip Kerr established detective Bernie Gunther as … Continue reading →

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An American in Paris – surrounded by Nazis

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson MISTRESS OF THE RITZ. By Melanie Benjamin. Random House Audio. 12 hours; 10 CDs. Read by Barbara Rosenblat. $45. Also available in print from Delacorte Press. Melanie Benjamin’s trademark gift is to take real historical … Continue reading →

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Gifts: Good story and good advice

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Linda

Philip Kerr, one of Bob Moyer’s favorite authors has died. Bob reviews his newly published book, amid reports that there may be one more yet to appear. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer GREEKS BEARING GIFTS. By Philip Kerr. Putnam. 511 … Continue reading →

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To have and have not…

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson LOVE AND RUIN. By Paula McLain. Random House Audio. Read by January LaVoy. 11 ½ hours; 9 CDs. $40. Also available in print from Ballantine Books. Paula McLain is brave, choosing to write historical fiction/memoir … Continue reading →

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No. 20: Inspector Rutledge, at his best

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE GATE KEEPER. By Charles Todd. William Morrow. 306 pages. $26.99. It’s hard to believe that The Gate Keeper is the 20th entry in Charles Todd’s mystery series starring Inspector Ian Rutledge, a British World War I … Continue reading →

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Lights, camera, action, love and friendship

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Linda

Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE. By Melanie Benjamin. Random House Audio. Read by Kimberly Farr. 16 ½ hours; 13 CDs. $50. Melanie Benjamin has made quite a successful career by spinning the real-life stories of … Continue reading →

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Watch out for Miss (Deputy) Kopp

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Linda

Bob Moyer takes a slight diversion into history and an entertaining novel based on the true story of a woman crime fighter. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer MISS KOPP’S MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS. By Amy Stewart. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 384 pages. $26. Don’t judge this … Continue reading →

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