The Truth About The Devlins: Book Reviews

 

The Truth About The Devlins

By Lisa Scottoline

Netgalley

I have read several novels by Lisa Scottoline. I have to say this has to be the best yet of her thrillers. I had hoped she would write another historical fiction. I was disappointed it wasn't another one like Loyalty. But, its ok, still love Lisa's novels. 

I don't know what it is but thrillers are different now adays, from the younger authors. I love the thrillers from the old school, like Grisham, and of course Scottoline. The newer thrillers are mostly, domestic thrillers( husband, wife). It doesn't give me a thrill as much as the older thrillers who have been around for years. 

Anyway, the novel takes place in Philly with a legal family. The family has wealth, prestige, and connections of course. All the kids are are well established lawyers except TJ. TJ unfortunately isn't exactly a black sheep. He just made some bad mistakes, and decisions. 

His brother, John calls him during their father's birthday celebration. His brother, John thinks he accidentally killed someone. They go out to the scene of the accident, he is missing. At this time he is also working for the family's legal corporation. His Sister, a lawyer asks him to investigate a lawsuit involving a correctional facility connected with a pharmaceutical company testing inmates without consent. The victims have long term health issues after which causes a lawsuit many years later.

The novel deals with wealthy families who think they can't be touched( insular) with their money, connections. Do you keep helping your children get out of their messes and bring you down? What ever the cost to the family? Do you pay? Or do you do "tough love"?

There is a lot of heart, love, family, social justice, and morals. You expect to know where the novel is going with TJ, you don't. There is so much more I can say. But, I don't want to spoil it.  This is much more than a thriller, its family dynamics, and character without being too deep. FYI- Its not too deep and preachy, no lessons( at all). But, you realize there is looking at abuse( alcohol) a different way, and the prison system as well. 

I Recommend if you love the author. I think its her best( thriller). Loved the fast pace, kept you thinking, and captivating...

The Great Divide: Book Review

The Great Divide

By Christina Henriquez

I loved The Great Divide even though it was not a sweeping historical fiction epic. The Great Divide grabbed me from the first page. Back when I was in my twenties, Panama was a big topic and talked about. You hardly hear anyone talk about it. When I was in college my room mate was a Panamanian. I have not read many books about the area, fiction or non-fiction. I knew a few facts but not enough. Didn't hear much about how the Canal was built, who built it. So, I was glad to read about it.

The book opened my eyes to the history, and the US involvement. A dark part of history. The action of the US and other countries action with colonialism.  After reading, I'm sure there is much more to know about in the people, country, and the culture. For instance, I wasn't aware Panama was actually Columbia, and became part of the US for 100 year lease. Which actually did happen.

 There was illness, sickness, poor living conditions, and poor treatment of the workers which all did actually happen. 

In 1906 in Panama, history is being made. There are few inter-related main characters. They tell their stories and narrate the history which is interweaved into the story. 

It is a page turner and it was captivating, and kept the story moving. There are three main characters, Ada from Barbados, Omar from Panama, and Marian, from the US( Tennessee). 

Ada, a teenager was born out of wedlock, as well as her sister, Matilda. Her Mother, born as a slave. The slave, and plantation owner finds out about her, and her husband's affair. He has no choice but to cast her aside. Ada's mother leaves with her children and a new beginning, and a house.  After the girls become teenagers. Her Sister becomes ill. Ada feels she has no choice but to travel to Panama for work to raise money to help her sister. 

Then Omar, a Panamanian teenager wants to work on the construction of the Panamanian Canal. His Father, and him don't see eye to eye when it comes to trust the Americans. They don't speak for months.

This is where the story becomes interesting. I loved the story. Only two critique of the author. It was too simplistic in writing, and style. I was expecting a bit more. The traditional historical sweeping epic of a novel. Because I felt the Panama Canal was a large project. I think I expected the same from the story. Just my opinion. The other the ending, was wrapped up in a pretty bow with a conclusion. It maybe because I am a literary fiction snob. Most lit-fiction never wraps up knowing the conclusion with character and story. Usually there is no ending, and us as the reader imagine ourselves.

I still recommend it and loved it. If you don't know the history of the Panama Canal, PBS, Discovering the Panama Canal or History Channel has one as well. You can find both of YouTube. 

Medgar and Myrlie: Book Review

 

Medgar & Myrlie

By Joy -Anne Reid

If the only name you know is MLK Jr, There is so much else to read about in Medgar and Myrlie. There is one name you most likely don't know about is Medgar Evers and Myrlie. This book is not only about the civil rights movement. Its about the love story of Medgar and Myrlie. How she loved, supported him all his life unfortunately till his death. Even after his death she continued on. 

He was more instrumental and did more for the movement than most people are aware of in the white and black community. Possible because he was doing his work in the south as the central cause not as a federal issue like MLK. 

If you think being Afro-American is dangerous now. You should go back before the 1960's. Black people couldn't go to the same schools, bathrooms, water fountains, restaurants, etc. Killing, lynching, disappearances, suspicious killing( lynching, suspicious disappearances and killings were rampant in the south. Court cases were unjust. 

How would you feel serving your country during WW2 and return to the country you sacrificed your years of service to and wasn't acknowledged by  certain people mostly in the south. You still would have been beaten, lynched and been treated with disrespect. This was exactly what happened to Medgar and others that served. When Medgar returned he met Myrlie and married and then moved to Mississippi.  He became an insurance agent and talked to his customers about the inequality in our country. He started holding meeting in churches, civic centers. Which was dangerous and many times had to meet in secret. He was then hired by NAACP who had a different agenda. Where he was looking for a movement in the cities, and towns throughout Mississippi. Through sit-ins, protest, but the NAACP wanted to fight in the courts which was too slow. They felt it was too expensive to bail the protestors out of jails, or security to keep them safe. 

He was instrumental in the movement with other names, MLK, John Lewis, Malcolm X. He is less known because his fight was in his state Mississippi, Where he's life and family was always in danger, including his neighbors who some didn't want no part of  Medgar because of the danger if they were associated with him. One night ended it all for Medgar, Myrlie and his family, Mississippi and the nation. Myrlie after his death kept his memory alive by continuing his work. Now Myrlie is still in love after his death of many years and continues his work even now.  Yes, I would recommend the book if you are unaware of the the civil rights movement.