Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 60 - A Study in Scarlett Women by Sherry Thomas, The Quest by Dani Hoots, The Four Thousand, the Eight Hundred by Greg Egan

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I requested this book on Netgalley but was not approved. On Black Friday week-end I had a 30% off coupon from Barnes and Noble and went in to browse. I did not have a specific book in mind but when I saw A Study in Scarlet Women I decided to pick it up. There have been quite a few take-0ffs on the Sherlock Homes stories. This is another where Sherlock is a woman. Charlotte Holmes is rather different in the role. She is one of the Scarlet Women and the other is part of the mystery. There is a lot of world building, backstory and character development in the story. By the end the mystery is solved and everything is in place for the next book in the series. I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next book due out in 2017.


The Quest by Dani Hoots
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don't mind a cliff hanger in a book that is part of a series. However when there is one I want something solved and a another problem as the cliff hanger. The Quest did not have that. It just ended with the entire cast of characters in place for some kind of solution and then a bright white light and wait for the next book. The book was mainly backstory, world building and some plot development.

In spite of the length the character development left something to be desired. I did not warm to any one in the book and did not understand what their motives were. That left me wondering how or if they even fit into the very loosely woven plot. I will give the second book a chance. If it does not move the characters and plot alone better than book one I will leave the series behind.

 The Four Thousand, the Eight Hundred by Greg Egan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was not an easy story to read or review. It says a lot about human nature and what we will do or not do to our fellow humans. Although set in space it has elements that are applicable to today. I found it very disturbing and a little depressing. Not the kind of story I usually like to read. No happy ending here.

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