The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

By Maggie O'Farrell

I've seen this novel around for a few months now, but just got to reading it last week. I actually bought it on Barnes and Noble on the CD format. I listened to it at work and then finished it on a trip to San Diego. I like it so much that I think I'll go buy it in book format just to have a copy around! The author does an excellent job of grabbing your attention and keeps you guessing until the very end.

The main character, Iris, is shocked to discover she has a great Aunt Esme that has spent the last 61 years in a mental institution. With the institution closing it's doors, the staff is forced to find housing for the residents. Iris receives a phone call inquiring if she would be able to care for her aunt and when she meets her, she's anything but old and feeble. The novel is written in the present time with flashbacks by Esme to explain how the situation came to be. An intriguing novel about family and the lengths people will go to keep a secret! A must read!!

Similar Novels: Light on Snow by Anita Shreeve and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Length: 256 pages

Copyright: 2007

Double Whammy

By Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is easily one of my favorite authors. He always makes me laugh and has great story telling skills. I've almost read all of Hiaasen's novels, but somehow this one slipped by me and I'm sorry it did until now. I think I laughed out loud about a dozen times as his characters fumbled through a murder investigation and pro-bass tournament (only Hiaasen could connect those two events!).

Double Whammy starts with an investigation into cheating at pro-bass tournaments and then escalates quickly into a murder mystery. The main character is a private investigator with homicidal tendencies (actually just a bad temper) and his antics are contantly getting him in trouble. His sidekick, Skink, turns out to be just about the funniest character I've ever seen in print. Anyone who hasn't read Hiaasen yet should start with this novel!!

Similar Novels: The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

Length: 416 pages

Copyright: 1987

There's No Place Like Here

By Cecelia Ahern

Here is one of my books that I ordered from my Barnes and Noble giftcards for Christmas! I was in the middle of another book when I started this book and had to finish it. I loved the angle the author took when writing this novel. Have you ever lost a sock in the dryer or a book you know you had, but can't find? Ahern addresses this very phenomenon with a novel about being lost when you want to be found.
The protangonist of the story is Sandy who is a detective that makes a living out of finding lost people. She's devoted her life to help families of loved ones that have gone missing. While pouring herself into her latest case, Sandy herself finds herself missing. Where does everything go when it goes missing? This novel is a highly creative way to tell a story about a subject we are all too familiar with.

Similar Novels: Notebook by Nicolas Sparks and If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern
Length: 341 pages
Copyright: 2007

Mr. Darcy's Daughters

By Elizabeth Aston

This novel is a continuation novel to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I call it a continuation novel instead of a sequel because while it mentions Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, it really has nothing to do with them and focuses on their five daughters living in London. The novel is very similar in plot with Pride and Prejudice and at times, I thought it was the same story. I wouldn't even begin to compare Aston with Austen, but she does right and interesting novel.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are sent away on a diplomatic mission to Constantinople and their daughters go to live with cousins in London. Similar to the first novel, the girls are all single and the talk of the town. Unlike the previous novel, the girls are rather wealthy and pursued by all eligible bachelors in town. This causes some upheaval and some interesting pairings. As I mentioned earlier, I don't like to call this a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, but it is an interesting novel in it's own way.

Similar Novels: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Length: 360 pages

Copyright: 2003

The Gift

By Richard Paul Evans

I decided since I loved Finding Noel and Grace so much that I'd check out a few other Evans novels. This book was very similar to the others. It was an easy read and I finished it in about four hours. The story line was intriguing and thought provoking. I'm now a Richard Paul Evans fan and will wait excitedly until next Christmas for his new novel.
The novel starts out with a story from the past and then weaves it into the present story the narrator is trying to tell. It involves Tourette's Syndrome, divorce, cancer, and most of all, a love story. It reminded me of Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult, except without the contraversy. I recommend this to anybody who loves the holiday seasons and needs a good cry!

Similar Novel: Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
Length: 332 pages
Copyright: 2007