Suzanne's Stars

A historical thriller set in Tudor England in 1583, Heresy introduces the erudite and excommunicated Giordano Bruno, a Italian Catholic priest on the run from the Inquisition. The book cover says: "Choose a side, Know your enemies, Stay alive." In the academic setting of Oxford, being ambivalent about religion or having an interest in philosophy or alchemy can be treasonous. It can also be deadly, and as soon as Fra Bruno arrives to debate Copernicus' theories (and on a secret mission for Queen Elizabeth's master spy, Sir Francis Walsingham) a series of grisly, macabre murders commences. The tension between doctrine and science, between the cloistered scholars and newly entitled and enriched students builds to a thrilling climax of good v. evil. The heretic Bruno has to solve the murders in order to save himself and uncover the treasonous plot to save the Queen. The plot is surprisingly thrilling and the details historically accurate. The atmosphere of the cold, dank stone architecture and pedantic academics reminded me of The Name of the Rose. An excellent and intelligent mystery by Parris, a pseudonym for an English journalist.

Requiem in Vienna is a procedural mystery that takes place in 1899, during Gustav Mahler’s tenure as Court Opera Director in Vienna. Jones, an authority on Vienna, has written a series of excellent books, both nonfiction and fiction, and excels in historical thrillers. An interesting and diverse set of main characters, including lawyer Karl Werthen (newly married to ardent feminist, Berthe Meisner) and visiting criminologist, Hans Gross, become involved in solving a series of incidents surrounding Mahler that turn from accidents into murder. In the tradition of other fin de siecle Viennese stories like The Fig Eater and The Little Book that combine fictional and actual characters, this story includes a scheming Alma Schindler and Arnold Schoenberg. Requiem in Vienna highlights the social tension between Austrian aristocracy and Jewish intelligentisia, as well as the contemporary obsession with music, furniture, art and journalism. There’s plenty of action in the opera house, as many of us fans know, and here we find stage accidents, murdered musicians, crushed singers, poisoned conductors, and artistic envy that provide enough motives to keep all three detectives frantically trying to save Mahler. This is a perfect book for a January winter day -- stay by the fire, drink Viennese coffee, put on Mahler’s 9th Symphony and enjoy a satisfying whodunit. 
--sd

Silver Phoenix has all the components of a YA fantasy: magic, talking demons and monsters based on Chinese mythology, good v. evil and a universal quest. In this case, the exotic fantasy adventure has a heroine, Ai Ling, who meets the chivalrous and reticent Chen Yong as they join together to travel to the Emperor's Palace. Although each of the main characters has their own story line, after they meet, the strength of their relationship and their combined abilities gives the reader an action filled page turner. Pon provides a stunning landscape, a setting both believable by our notions of Chinese geography and mysterious and fantastical. Ai Ling is always resourceful as she and Chen Yong part and reconnect and finally become travel companions. Ai Ling is on a quest for her father and for truth, there is no gender stereotyping as she grapples with her new found powers in fighting the demons that she comes to realize are not just stories from her childhood, but dangers to her life. Chen Yong has extraordinary martial arts training and fights his own past as he challenges each of Ai Ling's demons. Silver Phoenix reflects Asian values: the characters have a respect for elders and ancestors; our heroes value their education, and their knowledge of their religion and mythology provide them with the means to escape their enemies. Ai Ling and Chen Yong's assurance grows with every obstacle they overcome and as their relationship develops it is handled with restraint and sensitivity. This well written, engaging and absorbing debut adventure was voted by Booklist as top 10 fantasy. The conclusion of Silver Phoenix leaves us eager for another adventure with our heroes, a promise sure to be fulfilled by local author Cindy Pon.

--sd