52+ in 2009

[lumineaux]

Wow, I am *really* behind.  That's because most of these books are re-reads and some of them are out of print:

New Moon by Midori Snyder
Sadar's Keep by Midori Snyder
Beldan's Fire by Midori Snyder

This three book series is out of print but it is one of my favorites.  Oran is an elemental magical realm, ruled by the Fire Queen with the assistance of a repressive foreign invading army.  A band of rebels is gathering.  Essential to their plan are four young women, each representing one of the elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth.  If by any chance you can find these books, I highly recommend them.  The characters are quirky, deep and fully drawn, both the heroes and the villains.  The author has a real feel for language and invents an authentic-feeling street slang for her urban characters.  The plot doesn't play out in the expected way.  My only regret is that Snyder doesn't show us what happens *after*.

 

Snake Agent by Liz Williams
Demon in the City by Liz Williams
Precious Dragon by Liz Williams
The Shadow Pavillion by Liz Williams

This series is about Detective Chen, a detective in near future Singapore who is responsible for handling supernatural cases.  Williams has created a world where technology, Heaven and Hell closely co-exist -- uniquely Chinese versions of the Heaven and Hell at that.  Hell is an enormous bureaucracy with Ministries governing its responsibilities (War, Lust, Epidemics, Wealth, etc.).  The world building is exquisite. 
Chen himself is a little bland as a character, but I love his partner, Seneschal Zhu Irshz, a demonic vice cop.  His job in Hell was to promote vice, of course.  He's a far more flamboyant character and tends to steal scenes from the more prosaic Chen.  In fact, he ends up stealing two of the books (Demon in the City and Shadow Pavillion) almost entirely.

 

'Til Death Us Do Part by Vincent Bugliosi

A true crime tale from early in this storied prosecutor's career.   It's a sort of twisted real life version of Double Indemnity -- two lovers marry and re-marry other people and then arrange their deaths in order to collect on insurance policies. 

 

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

I'd forgotten how many twists on genre expectations are packed into this one book.  McKinley's book are always more complex than meet the eye.

 

Conviction by Len Leavitt

The tale of the reporter's involvement in reviving the Martha Moxley case and the investigation that led to the conviction of her neighbor for her murder.