The Review Broads Bros + Paws

Burial Rites  Author: Hannah Kent   Reminiscent of Smilla’s Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg  Hannah Kent’s ephemeral novel about an Icelandic woman who is condemned to death for the murder of her lover and master proves stunningly beautiful amidst sorrow, anguish and the inhumanity shown to her protagonist.  Agnes Magnusdottir, the convicted woman, creates a collage of emotions and endears herself to the family she is placed with until she is executed.  Kent’s writing, illuminating, ... continue reading...

Things in Ditches Author: Jimmy Olsen   Olsen writes a mean, lean flying machine of a novel, with characters that stumble, bumble and philosophize as they search out their good and base thoughts, feelings and actions. Jimmy Olsen twangs his way in and out of Anne Tyler characters, Carl Hiaasen twists, and The Garden of Good and Evil suspense, and yet in every way his originality is his own.  An absolute phenomenon, Things in Ditches held me in thrall as Olsen’s main character, Dutch ... continue reading...

Not For Profit  Author: Glenn Shepard, MD   First Chapter:  James Patterson Wannabe. As I read:  good job, Dr. Shepard. With all the elements of staccato chapters, well prescribed plot, and a thrust of a few syringes and some meds, Shepard’s characters pop from the page.  Very nice debut novel, with pop goes the weasel ending! Dr. Scott James is a mess.  He’s a mere plastic surgeon charged with two murders.  Obsessed with orchids, James is simply not the murder type; but when ... continue reading...