No Way Out by Tower Lowe

No Way Out is a crime novel with some interesting twists. The heroine of the story is Molly, a woman who witnesses a murder. She had recently left a position as a fraud inspector for an insurance company to move to New Mexico. She'd taken a new position as a receptionist in a real estate office, which is where the murder occurred. Gloria, a friend and coworker, was killed. Molly sets out to solve this crime, along with a man named Miguel who was in the office when the murder occurred.

Molly and Miguel each have obstacles they need to overcome. Molly had a stroke when she was fourteen and has not been able to move her left arm since then and Miguel has a history of drug abuse. The way they deal with these problems makes this novel unique.

The murder and the crimes that surround it are also interesting and unusual. One of the characters is running an empowerment seminar that sounds a lot like the NXIVM organization that Allison Mack was involved with. That was fun to read about.

This is a good read for people who enjoy unique mysteries that explore real life issues.

The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig

 

The Bartender's Tale tells the story of life in a rural town in northern Montana, as seen through the eyes of a young boy being raised by his single father. The book takes place in the late fifties/early sixties in a bar where the patrons are mostly farm hands. Tom, the bartender, provides a good life for his son, Rusty, at least that's how the boy sees it. Rusty spends a lot of time in the backroom of the bar with his best friend, Zoe, eavesdropping on the patrons. That's how they learn about life until they are joined by Francine, a young woman out of Tom's past life and Del, a man working on collecting audio stories of life in that area.

I felt the characters were all interesting and the many vignettes were believable and well written. I liked the picture this book gave me of an area of the country I do not know well. I didn't know this was the second book in a series until I was done reading it, which shows how well it stands on its own. I'll probably read the others.

Troubles in Paradise is the third book in a three part series. Winter in Paradise is the first. What Happens in Paradise is the second. The series is set on St. John in the US Virgin Islands. They are light, beach books with some interesting relationships and situations. Many of the characters work in the tourist industry, so there is a constant stream of discussions about the best bars or restaurants on the island. The main plot revolves around a family from Iowa that comes to St. John after their husband/father dies in a helicopter crash and they discover that he had a mistress and a second life he'd been hiding from them. The books are quick reads and lots of fun.

ASK by Amanda Baker

ASK has a fascinating concept. Amanda Baker has published poems (and song lyrics) she wrote starting at age fourteen and continuing up through her early thirties. This is an autobiography, but one that doesn’t include details of travel or family or friends. Instead it shows the author’s inner thoughts. In the end it is a very unique and interesting picture of a person.

Here is the first stanza of a reaction to a relationship that didn't work out when Amanda was fourteen. The work is entitled “Maybe.”

Maybe I’m not in your dreams, but you’re in mine

Maybe I’m not good enough, but I’ll be fine

Maybe you’re just scared you’ll fall in love again

Maybe that is why we can no longer be friends

Here is the first stanza of a poem about love Amanda wrote at age thirty-two. It is entitled “End With Love Reprise.”

This love sees the broken

The withered

The uncertain

This love accepts that space you’re in

I was there too

And that is how I am able to love

It is clear there is a greater sophistication in the work of the woman compared to the work of the teenager, but the search for understanding and meaning in relationships remains the same.

At age twenty-seven, Amanda wrote “Who To Be,” a search for her own identity. Here are the first two stanzas.

Slowly. You can’t hear me.

Softly. Speaking lines

Cautiously.

Parallel to scattered feet

Confused. Sparking mixtures.

Aloof. To signals that just

Prelude

To the next chapter of our youth.

These words show the conscious effort the author is still making to find herself.

Amanda Baker’s work is both personal and brave. I recommend ASK to anyone who enjoys learning the thoughts of a girl as she grows into a woman.