Motherless Brooklyn
Jonathon Lethem
336 pages, published 1999


To be honest, I only found the story so-so – though I will be fair in admitting that I am not a great fan of detective novels. That being said, I would still recommend this book for it’s insights into the main character alone.

Set in the seventies, Lionel finds himself an oddity in an unkind world – a man suffering from Tourette’s before his condition has gained public knowledge. Told entirely from his perspective, the reader is exposed to the uncontrollable mind of the well meaning Lionel as he follows the clues to discover the killer of his boss and mentor.

Watching this poor man utterly incapable of maintaining control over the words he says or the manner in which he focuses his attention – and being filled with dread at the smallest things, knowing just how it will affect him - just makes one glad they are not put in such a position. 3/5

Nineteen Minutes
Jodi Picoult
588 pages, published 2008

I have not yet come across a Jodi Picoult novel that I have not yet enjoyed, so it is at no surprise that I once again recommend her latest novel. Exploring the ‘behind the scenes’ intricacies of a school shooting, Picoult again presents a complex scenario that, when combined with the particulars of family life, becomes utterly impossible to come to a resolute decision either way on matters of guilt or responsibility. 3/5

The Dante Club
Matthew Pearl
370 pages, published 2006

Revolving around Longfellow and his collection of poets and authors working on the first American translation of the Divine Comedy, this murder mystery combines cleverly inventive crime fiction and nerdy insights into academia. I can’t really tell you anything else without giving away the plot, but it is highly recommended for anyone who loves Dante or who just enjoys a good literary crime fiction.

I did feel that the book dragged a little towards the end – though to be far, I’m not an avid crime reader and may have just wanted to get to it’s conclusion. Despite this, it was beautifully written and I found several passages over which I hovered. 4/5