#122. The Return Of The Dancing Master by Henning Mankell

Title:	The Return Of The Dancing Master
Author:	Henning Mankell
Genre:	Scandinavian Crime Fiction/Police Procedural
Synopsis:	A retired policeman is found brutally beaten to death and the investigation uncovers a dark past.
Verdict:	The characters’ problems and the use of the plot to explore current social issues both worked really well. The difficulty the lead character has focusing on events due to his own circumstances frames things well and also gives a personal flavour to the things he discovers.
Pages:	406
Read:	June 2011

#121. Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon

Title:	Drawing Conclusions
Author:	Donna Leon
Genre:	Italian Crime/Police Procedural
Synopsis:	An old woman is found dead in her apartment and whilst her death is ruled natural, the circumstances around it seem suspicious to the policeman called.
Verdict:	Well written, incorporating current Italian politics, sociological issues and nicely presented through the characters’ roles and personalities.
Pages:	260
Read:	June 2011

#120. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

Title:	Devil Bones
Author:	Kathy Reichs
Genre:	Crime/Thriller/Forensics
Synopsis:	When skeletal remains are found in a basement in what looks like a Satanic configuration it kicks off unrest and causes greater problems in the community.
Verdict:	The complexity of the relationships and the nature of the plots continue to be enjoyable. It’s realistic to see characters slip at times and I’m glad Reichs doesn’t spare hers this fate as it strengthens the series.
Pages:	304
Read:	June 2011

#119. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Title:	Jane Eyre
Author:	Charlotte Brontë
Genre:	Classic Literature
Synopsis:	A young woman, orphaned and raised in an institution, takes a position as a governess in the house of a wealthy but mysterious and taciturn man.
Verdict:	One of my friends has been after me to read this for years and I finally got around to it and wish I had sooner. It’s a lovely book. Despite the Christian aspect, the characters seemed well drawn, intelligent and likeable with strong convictions and little tendency towards dogmatism.
Pages:	468
Read:	June 2011