Mary E. Trimble

I was a huge fan of Netflix’s Longmire series. Having watched this contemporary western gave me instant recognition of the novel’s characters. Craig Johnson’s The Cold Dish: A Longmire Mystery was a joy to read.

Walt Longmire is sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. He learns that the body of a young man has been found, dead of a rifle bullet, apparently shot from long distance. The victim is a young man, one of four boys who were tried for raping Melissa Little Bird, a niece of Walt’s friend, Henry Standing Bear. Even though the boys were found guilty, the judge gave them limited sentences in juvenile facilities.

A second boy is shot and killed and the need to find the killer increases. Walt’s deputy, Victoria (Vic) becomes involved as they not only try to solve these murders, but attempt to stop any more attacks on the boys.

The Cold Dish is an absorbing read. I love Craig Johnson’s easy-going narrative and the plot was intricate enough to keep me guessing. I’m looking forward to reading more of the Longmire Mystery series.

Book Review: Striking Range

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Mary

Striking Range: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima, the seventh novel in the “Timber Creek K-9 Mystery” series, takes place in the Colorado Rockies.

Sheriff Deputy Mattie Cobb meets with cold-case detective Jim Hauck at the Colorado state prison with the intention of interviewing the man who tried to kill Mattie and who may have killed her father thirty years before. But when the prisoner is summoned, he is found dead in his cell. They’re left with only one clue: a hand-drawn map leading to Timber Creek and rugged Redstone Ridge.

Mattie and Robo, her K-9 German shepherd, and detective Jim Hauck, attempt to find clues from the map to solve that mystery. Before they can finish their search, Mattie is called to investigate the death of a young woman found by elk hunters in a nearby campground. The victim appears to have recently given birth, but the infant is nowhere to be found. The weather worsens, covering the forest with a layer of ice and snow, making the search for the infant even more difficult, dangerous and desperate.

In the meantime, veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie’s love interest and often her partner in solving crimes, is occupied at his clinic delivering a valuable litter of pups. Cole also remembers the deceased pregnant woman being in his clinic just the day before with her dog. Cole is eventually freed from his duties and joins in the search for the infant.

When Cole goes missing and is stranded and alone in the high country with a person Mattie suspects is the killer, she and Robo begin their search for Cole. But, it seems, the killer is one step ahead.

I was intrigued with this mystery, and especially appreciated the information given along the way about police K-9 service dogs. Also of interest to me were details of systematic law enforcement procedures. People who like mysteries, and especially people who love reading about working dogs, will enjoy this novel.

Book Review: In an Instant

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Mary

In an Instant , a novel by Suzanne Redfearn, is a highly suspenseful story of survival, both physically and mentally, when faced with tragedy.

When the Miller family planned a skiing trip, they never dreamed it would end in tragedy. The family of six, plus friends and a young fellow who needed a ride, were involved in a devastating accident when their car skidded in the snow and plummeted down a mountainside. Sixteen-year-old Finn Miller died instantly, her father was severely injured, and others received cuts, bumps and bruises. But as time went on, freezing temperatures, and no adequate food or water were their real enemies.

The story is told by Finn Miller, deceased but suspended between worlds. Finn watches as her family struggles to survive. Decisions have to be made, action taken, but it seems there are no good answers for the survivors. Blame is cast, regret and guilt dominate, best friends become enemies. In an instant, their lives are altered forever.

In an Instant made me wonder what I would do if faced with such tragedy, when there were no good solutions. The story, written in first-person, is a realistic view of a family in crises. The relationships between siblings is compelling, as is the drama between the adults of the involved families. I was captivated by this heartrending story about the power of love, and recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful story.

Book Review: Blind Man’s Bluff

Posted on July 18, 2022 by Mary

Blind Man’s Bluff: A Memoir by James Tate Hill is a humorous story of a not-so-funny condition. From his teen years, Tate’s eyes began to fail due to a rare degenerative disease, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, that left him legally blind. The story begins in 1998, when Hill has just graduated from college. The narration uses flashbacks to his childhood struggle to cover up his disability.

The title of the book refers to a children’s game, but also refers to Tate’s efforts to hide his disability, and to attempt to live a normal life rather than appear needy. As a teen he manages to get by at school by accepting mediocre grades, rather than admit he couldn’t see the blackboard or read assignments.

At college, he refuses to use a cane or a guide dog. At times he puts himself in danger, trying to navigate walking along busy streets. Since he can’t read a menu, he usually orders the same food in restaurants. When shopping for groceries, he can distinguish eggs from canned goods, but he can’t read labels, so he learns to eat strange combinations of food. He marries, but because of his choice not to disclose his blindness to others, the relationship is strained and his marriage is in trouble.

Despite the gravity of Tate’s condition, Blind Man’s Bluff is laced with humorous situations, anecdotes, and hope. I enjoyed the reference to books, movies and music of the 80s and 90s. As an observer, I often wondered why Tate didn’t just tell people of his blindness. His life would have been so much easier. But it wasn’t my choice, and I enjoyed reading the author’s perspective of dealing with the challenging circumstances of a very personal debilitating condition. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those dealing with personal challenges. The book is available in print, in e-book format, and also in audio.

Book Review: Ordinary Wolves

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Mary

Ordinary Wolves: A Novel by Seth Kantner offers an extraordinary look at life in Alaska from the viewpoint of a white boy who longs to be native.

Cutuk Hawcley was born and raised in the Arctic. Before he was born, his parents moved to Alaska, built a sod igloo and subsisted in the wilderness. His father earned a living by hunting, trading, and selling his paintings. His mother grew weary of the Alaska wilds and abandoned the family, leaving the father to raise their three children. The novel is written in first-person in the voice of their youngest child, Cutuk.

Cutuk becomes expert in dealing with the hardships of the far north, the endless freezing cold, the caring for sled dogs, subsisting on caribou and bear they have killed, or berries they have gathered. Eventually his older brother leaves home, and then his sister leaves to attend college.

Although proficient at providing for himself, Cutuk is never accepted by many of the native peoples, especially the boys. When he travels to the nearby Iñupiaq village, he is jeered and pummeled by the native children for being white. Cutuk observes how many of the native people live—excessive drinking, disinterest in planning for the future, and mismanagement of money. However, he idolizes the indigenous hunters who taught him how to survive.

As a young man Cutuk moves to Anchorage only to realize he doesn’t fit in with that society either. He gives up his Iñupiaq name and becomes known as Clayton. He is amazed by the consumer culture, and the appalling waste. He’s bewildered and confused by urban slang. Although he finds work, he never finds “home” in Anchorage.

When Cutuk returns to Alaska’s far north, he finds a different environment than when he left. He is disappointed in the Iñupiaqs’ adoption of American fast food, gadgets and fads. He’s angered by hunters who kill for the sake of killing, who shoot for sport from airplanes. Cutuk realizes he must make his own world, follow his own sense of living in the frozen tundra.

Ordinary Wolves is an amazing, insightful novel written by a man born and raised in northern Alaska. What he writes about Alaska rings true—the good and the bad. This is a coming-of-age story people of all ages would enjoy.

Book Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Posted on July 4, 2022 by Mary

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, a novel by Mitch Albom, more than met my expectations. I loved Albom’s excellent Tuesdays with Morrie and hoped this book would be as inspirational. It was.

Eddie, an old, wounded war veteran, is really too old to be the head maintenance man at the Ruby Point Amusement Park. But he’s worked there for years and knows the inner workings of the rides better than anyone. An accident is about to happen with one of the daredevil rides and Eddie rushes to try to fix the problem.

The next thing Eddie knows he is in heaven. While in this surreal place, he meets five people who made important impacts during the different stages of his life. He has lived a long, rather ordinary life, had a difficult childhood, fought in a terrible war, married the love of his life, and was widowed.

In alternating sections, the book flashes back to Eddie’s birthdays, to parties he never wanted which nevertheless marked important moments.

In heaven, as Eddie again sees the five people who impacted his life, new awareness arises. He sees purpose to his life, even in simple mundane things—the accidents he prevented, the rides he kept safe, unnoticed little things he did every day that brought joy to families. Even the tragedy of war is revisited, and the horrific part he was forced to play.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is an inspirational book, poignant with everyday living that adds up to a lifetime of lessons to share. People of all ages would gain insights and hope from this book. It is a story to remember.

Book Review: Like Dust, I Rise

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Mary

Like Dust, I Rise, a novel by Ginny Rorby is an uplifting story written in the first-person voice of young Winona “Nona” Williams. The story begins in Chicago, 1928, when Nona is eleven years old.

Nona’s father works at a slaughterhouse. He comes home to their rooms at a boarding house, reeking of blood and raw meat. His job is depressing and he wants more out of life than killing animals. He wants to work in fresh air. He leaves Chicago for Texas when he hears of an opportunity to have their own land, homesteading in the Great Plains. Nona’s mother is hesitant to leave the known, but unhappily follows her husband with Nona and her two siblings to a scrubby ranch near Dalhart, Texas.

Inspired by Amelia Earhart’s heroic flights, Nona clings to the dream of becoming a pilot. She saves every penny toward the hope of learning to fly. She’s an optimistic girl, hopeful that her dad will succeed in work that he likes, and that her mother will eventually be happy with their new living arrangement.

Once on the ranch, the family manages to build a small house so they can live in something other than a dugout. The first year’s crop of wheat is encouragingly good. But then their dreams turn to dust, literally. Between the Dustbowl and The Great Depression, the family barely manages to survive. Her father, ever hopeful that things will turn around, works feverishly to eek out a living for his family. Her mother, never pleased with their desolate prairie life, struggles with trying to keep house in an environment that is constantly gritty and where food is scarce. People are dying of dust pneumonia. It’s impossible to grow crops with the constant sand and dust storms.

In the meantime, Nona clings to her dream of flying. She squirrels away pennies so that some day she can afford flying lessons. She takes on many responsibilities at home, trying to encourage her mother to accept their situation.

Like Dust, I Rise is a well written account of the Dustbowl and Depression days. I appreciated Nona’s strength and determination. I ached for her father, seemingly beaten at every turn. I became impatient with her mother, but realize that her character was not unusual for a woman at that time finding herself in a position she didn’t want, in a place she hated. Like Dust, I Rise is a story of determination, endurance and survival.

Book Review: The Summer House

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Mary

The Summer House, a poignant novel by Hannah McKinnon brings home the meaning of family and the value of cherished memories.

Flossy Merrill summons her children to their Rhode Island beach house, a place that holds treasured memories of summers past. On the agenda for the week-long gathering will be the celebration of the seventy-fifth birthday of Richard, her husband, their father and grandfather, a retired university professor.

As the families gather, we learn about each one. Clementine, the youngest and the mother of two young children, is still reeling from the sudden death of her husband. Next is Clem’s older brother and the middle child, Sam, who is gay. Sam and his husband are currently in the arduous process of trying to adopt a newborn baby. Paige, the eldest sibling, a super-charged achiever, is a veterinarian and the mother of two teens. Her husband has recently lost his job and is anxious about seeking another.

We discover how much a part of their lives the summer house has played. We also learn of old rivalries and misunderstandings, of teenage angst. The siblings fall back into their old arguments and accusations, but for all their talking, so much goes unsaid. They also enjoy good times with endless days of sun-drenched sandy beaches and nighttime bonfires.

Flossy, a loving mother and grandmother, is anxious about the coming party, wanting it to be flawless. She feels deeply about her family and endlessly strives to make things perfect for them and for the sixty-five expected party guests.

I enjoyed The Summer House. Family dynamics have always been of interest to me and I found the various family situations believable. The author does a good job of putting the reader right into the thick of various family endeavors, detailing the many aspects of combining families for an important occasion, but realizing that there will be bumps along the way. I enjoyed the seaside house, the salty, sandy beach with its endless waves, together with memories the place invokes. This novel is ultimately about family and the importance of memories shared.

Book Review: Run Rose Run

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Mary

Run Rose Run, a novel by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, is a fun read written by two pros doing what they do best. Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, coupled with James Patterson, the world’s bestselling author, have combined their impressive talents to produce an engaging, modern-day suspense thriller.

AnnieLee Keyes arrives in Nashville, broke and on the run with nothing going for her except a million-dollar voice and her determination to make a name for herself. She shows up at a bar and talks the bartender into letting her take a turn singing for the crowd. AnnieLee impresses the crowd, including Ethan Blake who is sitting at the bar and who plays studio guitar for the bar owner and famous retired country legend Ruthanna Ryder. Ethan convinces Ruthanna that she should hear AnnieLee sing.

Ruthanna Ryder, now retired from public life but still a famous name, takes AnnieLee under her wing. AnnieLee, feisty and independent, appreciates the help, but hesitates to fully embrace all that Ruthanna offers. AnnieLee and Ethan become close, but although Ethan shares his painful past with her, she holds back, giving him very little of her background, including her real name. Although AnnieLee is on the rise as a country music star, there’s always a hint of terror, of fear it will all come crashing down.

When AnnieLee’s past catches up to her, she runs away, leaving a promising career and people who care about her. Ethan goes in pursuit, not knowing what it is AnnieLee fears but determined to protect her.

I enjoyed Run Rose Run and particularly appreciated the combined talents of Dolly Parton and James Patterson. I’m a long-time fan of Dolly Parton, not only for her country music, but for her many philanthropic contributions. I found it interesting learning the ins and outs of writing, singing and recording country music. I’ve read, reviewed and enjoyed other books by James Patterson and I rate this one as favorably as the others. For an entertaining and satisfying read, I recommend Run Rose Run.

Book Review: Orphan Train

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Mary

Orphan Train, a warm, compassionate novel by Christina Baker Kline, hooked me from the start. The story is at times horrifying and shocking, but also reveals courage and resourcefulness.

The tale begins with Molly, 17, in Spruce Harbor, Maine, 2011. Molly has been in foster care for years. She isn’t really an orphan, but her father died and her mother was unable to care for her. She’s a bright girl, but with an attitude. Her foster mother isn’t tolerant of her Gothic style, nor her vegetarian tastes.

Orphan Train toggles between Molly and Vivian, whose story begins in New York, 1929. Vivian immigrated from Ireland to New York with her family. When the rest of her family dies in a tenement fire, she is suddenly an orphan and placed in the care of the Children’s Aid Society. Vivian, 9, along with many other orphans, is put on a west-bound train to be placed with families. At appointed train stations, the children are paraded out on a platform and inspected by possible future foster families, not all of whom have good intentions. Some are looking for strong boys for farm labor; some for girls to assist with child care and household chores. A few are looking for a son or daughter to be cared for and loved. Vivian’s situation goes from dire to dangerous as she’s shuttled from one home to another.

Back to 2011, Molly’s circumstances worsen when she steals her favorite book, Jane Eyre, from the library. To her credit, she steals the shabbiest copy, leaving two in better shape. Nevertheless, the incident is reported and she must serve time in community service hours. Arrangements are made for her to help an old woman clean out her attic.

Vivian, now 91, and Molly work together in Vivian’s attic and in the process get to know one another. They find similarities in their lives and their relationship grows.

I enjoyed Orphan Train and found the characters and situations realistic. From other research, I find the practice of children placed on orphan trains historically correct. Vivian’s situation was probably similar to many children, ranging from horror to love and security. Likewise, I think Molly’s story is typical of today’s foster care system. The author does a good job of weaving the two situations. The story kept my attention as it followed the lives of two girls with similar experiences but in different time periods. I recommend this book for its historical value, and also for its compassion and hope for second chances.