Peas In/Out of a Pod

 

Every once in a blue moon, I happen upon a wonderful read, and then a second by the same author, that make for a outstanding twosome.  It isn't necessarily that the pair is part of a series or even of the same genre, rather these two gems strike my fancy and keep me reading page-after-page until I'm looking at the back cover.  On the flipside, there are the less frequent and less happy times when I read that first book, open a second by the same writer, and end up with a serious case of reader's regret. 

Follow me down that road as I explore two such pairings.  The first, Reykjavik, published in 2022, I read in the late summer of 2023.  I had not heard of Ragnar Jonasson before I snagged  copy of Reykjavik, which I then devoured like it was my last meal.  Although I am definitely a thriller/mystery reader, this was unique and might be set aside in its own genre, perhaps calling it a noir thriller.  Below is the review I wrote and posted in the wake of finishing Reykjavik.  After reading it again, a year later, I find my thoughts and feelings are about the same - 4 big shiny stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟     

"This was a fascinating book for two reasons. First, I had never read a book set in Iceland and knew little of the culture, history or geography, which play important roles. Secondly, it was a great mystery/thriller written with a skilled, but delicate hand. Never revealing too much, or too little at a time. Simply what was needed to peak my interest and keep me turning page after page. 

There were several surprises parsed out throughout the pages. A shifting of characters and suspicion making for a stimulating and illusive “who dun it”. I sincerely enjoy a book that keeps me guessing  until the very last page. This was a fine example." 

Then came the second book, Death at the Sanatorium, in my Jonasson two peas in a pod pairing, published in September 2024.  On the heals of Reykjavik, I couldn't resist grabbing it and read it in less than three days.  It, too, might be called a "noir thriller" and I crowned it with four big stars!  Below is my review, which I feel will stand the test of time.

"I really enjoyed this book. With a great plot divided into basically two timelines, populated by a diverse group, it made for a rapidly developing story. 

The location, a sanatorium in northern Iceland, was as much a character as any of of the doctors, nurses, staff and police involved.  It provided a dark, foreboding atmosphere that was a perfect murder(s) setting. Add to it the fact that the sanatorium was once a TB hospital where many died gives it even more of that same flavor. 

What a bunch of strange characters Ragnar has written, starting with Heigel, the MA student trying to finish his post grad thesis. What an odd duck!  He couldn’t help but stir the pot creating a 30 year old soup of an investigation. Maybe even causing another murder. Then there’s his girlfriend and their living situation. What is going on there.?  No doubt he asks a lot of right questions and keeps the fire burning until the pot boils over and the truth spills out. 

This is the second book I’ve read by RJ. And I’ve enjoyed them both. They remind me of an old style mystery with a lot of drama and sleight of hand. Just when I think I have my hands on the culprit, they get whipped away only to be replaced by another."

Our lone pea IN the pod is We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker, first published in March 2020.  I read, or should I say enveloped myself in, this book that same month.  It ticked almost all the genre boxes for me; mystery, thriller, crime, contemporary, but most of all a true "quiet" thought-provoking read.  Here are my thoughts and the four star rating:

"Twists and turns galore!  We Begin at the End is full of them, some you see coming, some you don’t. At least, that was my experience with Chris Whitaker’s work!  

To have such a young character as Duchess grow and unfold this story alongside Walk, who was coming to the end of his career seeing his mortality in the mirror, seemed an unlikely pair to headline a book. For me, it was the perfect pair.  They were uniquely different, but both totally driven to care for and protect those they loved.   What wouldn’t they do to that end?  Nearly nothing it seemed. 

Some beautiful scenic settings in California and Montana were well-described by the author, only adding to the intensity of the story. It’s not often that I can actually see myself in the backdrops authors describe, but there was no problem doing so in the case." 

And finally, the outlier!  The book I couldn't find the love for, nor did it pair up with the expectations I had for Whitaker's earlier book.  All the Color's of the Dark published in June 2024, I began reading that same month with high hopes for the same caliber of work I found in We Begin at the End.  Sadly, I was disappointed and set it aside after completing about a third.  We Begin at . . . completely enfolded me in its pages, whereas All the Color's of the Dark left me floating on the surface of the pages.  The depth, or lack thereof, of the characters failed to evoke much feeling from me (love or hate).  I find that to be an important gauge of a book's success.  If I can't make that connection it's a tough slog through the muck of their story. So, since I couldn't put it in the same pod with We Begin at the End, I set it aside for now. That doesn't mean I won't return to it at some point, it's just not the book for me today.  Perhaps for you!

In next week's blog, I'll be featuring some of my favorite reads from 2024.  Not new, not old, just some enjoyable reading experiences.  For now I leave you with this -

"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read." - Harper Lee