Little Bites

Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin

Another Swedish mystery, this one takes place on the remote island of Oland. Many years ago, Julia Davidsson’s son disappears from his grandparents’ home on the coast and he is never found again. Julia never recovers but when her estranged father receives the boy’s sandal in the mail, she travels to the island in search of answers. Theorin moves back and forth in time also telling the story of Nils Kant, a wealthy young man who is known as the island’s most notorious murderer. I thought this was a good read although it dragged a little in the middle. I was wrapped up in the story and the mystery’s solution was a little surprising.

Boston Noir edited by Dennis Lehune

When I was in college I spent a summer visiting relatives who lived outside of Boston. I loved going in and exploring the city – while I didn’t know all the neighborhoods the stories were set in, I did know enough of Boston to understand the various nuances of those differing neighborhoods. The best story in the bunch was by Dennis Lehune (author of Shutter Island). I have never read any of his work but if the rest is the same quality as the short story, I definitely have to explore more.

Last Night at the Red Lobster by Stewart O’Nan

In the corner of a run-down New England mall, in a snowstorm, in the last few days before Christmas, the employees of a Red Lobster come in for the last two shifts of the day before the restaurant closes for good. This short novel is a slice of everyday life – nothing earth shattering happens; it is just about everyday people dealing with everyday events. It is a good, short read, perfect for a rainy afternoon inside.

In Free Fall by Julie Zeh

Two physicists, friends since college and rivals in work “begin a dangerous dance of distrust.” There is an apparent kidnapping and a murder and two very intriguing detective trying to sort things out. I had some things sort of figured out but the ending, the reasons why totally flabbergasted me. I liked how the author incorporated various points from physics in the plot, as well as the philosophical ideas behind the theories.  And I loved both detectives.

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