The fourth book in the Women’s Murder Club series finds Lindsay Boxer being shot in the line of duty and facing a highly publicized trial. The story zips and zags along like all Patterson books do. The added ‘Order’ element to the usually ‘Law’ heavy (as in Law & Order) plotlines was a welcome change (as well as an obvious way to fill a spot in the Club that was vacated in the last book). A quick and enjoyable read, as always. The key to Patterson books is to not read too many of them at once. *cough*Lisa*cough*

The Figure in the Shadows

The second story by John Bellairs following Lewis, Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman in their experiences with scary forces also introduces, Rose Rita, Lewis’ now best friend. Again, on these re-reads, the characters and stories really remind me of Harry Potter, with Rose Rita being parallel to Hermoine Granger in many ways. Maybe this is why I like the Harry Potter books so much, they connect with my childhood reading memories in a way that I am just now realizing. This book deals with a civil war medallion, a snow storm, and an intense car chase through the backwoods of Michigan. It was great fun to re-read since enough years had passed that I really did not remember how the stories ended.

When you were young was there a book that you read over and over again? One that the school librarian nearly just gave to you to keep because you just kept checking it out? Can you remember how it looked and felt?

For me, that book was

I had forgotten about it. Then one day I was in line to check out a book or dvd or two at my library, and as I glanced back over the shelves of the juvenile fiction secion, there it was on top of a bookshelf on a little highlight stand.
The story by John Bellairs introduces us to Lewis Barnavelt, his Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann, Uncle Jonathan’s next-door neighbor. Published more than 20 years before the first Harry Potter book, the storyline has similar elements. Lewis is a young boy who is orphaned and sent to live with his Uncle, but instead of Lewis being a wizard or a witch, his Uncle and Mrs. Zimmermann turn out to be the enchanted characters. Many magical things happen as Lewis struggles to fit in and make new friends. There is a scary evil force to be reckoned with that I found well-written and still chilling even after all these years since I read it as a 3rd grader.