The three books I'm reviewing today were written by a French (English & Russian, too) author, an Australian writer, and a British butler, respectively. Not that it really matters, it's something I just noticed.
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay New York Times Bestseller
The nightmare of a young Jewish girl during a Nazi roundup is amplified because she leaves her brother behind, locked in their secret hiding place to protect him. Though she had promised to return for him, her separation from her parents and placement in a youth camp prevent it. Her guilt and concerns are sometimes secondary to survival as she escapes. The author weaves in the story of a journalist, Julia Jarmond, sixty years later, who investigates the roundup and becomes fascinated with Sarah Stazynski and what happened to her.
This is not a fast-paced book, but it flows with suspense and mystery. As you would expect, the editing by publisher St. Martin's Griffin is good and the dialogue is appropriately child-like with Sarah and sophisticated and regional with Julia's French friends and family. It was a very memorable, enjoyble book.
Slave Trader : In the Name of Freedom by Carol Marvell E-book on Amazon
Action-packed is an understatement for this story of policewoman Billie McCoy, taken by slavers when she stumbles upon their operation. The other girls are loners and mostly ex-cons or prostitutes with no family to miss them and they give Billie a hard time, physically and emotionally. Fight scene after fight scene eventually leads to some understanding between the women, but it is when Billy fights the ultimate fight to the death for everyone's freedom that she earns respect. Fast-paced with quick dialogue, the book is enjoyable but unresolved at the end. There's a slight manipulation to get you to buy the sequel, but it promises to be enjoyable, too.
Stonebridge Manor by Peter Bradbury
The backstory of the lives of the servants at Lord Baldwin's two estates is what makes this book. The author is a former butler and knows well what goes on. The murder of Lady Baldwin is expected and not sad for some, but of course, the police pursue the killer. The pace is okay and the dialogue is filled with colorful English expression. I understand that Mr. Bradbury has a traditional publisher for this book now and I trust that will resolve some of the editing problems. All in all it was quite enjoyable.
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