tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post439668135052788947..comments2024-03-18T12:02:03.293-07:00Comments on The Misadventures Of Super Librarian: #TBRChallenge 2017: ToxicWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-80192325016602962922017-11-12T16:54:52.679-08:002017-11-12T16:54:52.679-08:00Jill: Look how late I am in replying to comments! ...Jill: Look how late I am in replying to comments! Argh! Anyway, yes - this wasn't perfect but it was interesting. It had that slightly sleazy feel of Florida-set noir with this steamy erotic romance vibe running through it - which I thought was fun. A little style over substance - but the author totally nailed the style.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-61445274605756924362017-10-18T09:19:39.765-07:002017-10-18T09:19:39.765-07:00Wow, this sounds really intriguing. I also love n...Wow, this sounds really intriguing. I also love noir (when I'm in the right mood) and may have to try these out because I've never thought of trying to combine noir and romance. <br /><br />I don't have a lot of paranormal or romantic suspense on my TBR so I cheated a little bit and read the alternate history "Half A Crown" by Jo Walton.<br /><br />First of all, this is the end of a trilogy and I personally don't think you can read it on its' own. The only main character that overlaps all the books in Peter Carmichael, who starts out as a police inspector and becomes the head of the secret police. The backdrop is an England where the prime minister struck up a quick armistice with Hitler after Dunkirk in WWII, consequently the Nazis are still leading Germany and fascism is slowly gaining in power in England.<br /><br />Yeah. Not a happy topic and almost scary relevant to current news. I had put off reading it for just that reason, but I opened it up for the TBR challenge and just fell into it *because* it felt so relevant. Two things it did well. None of the good guys are 100% good and the creepy contrasts between regular life (debutante balls and beaus) with creeping fascism everywhere.<br /><br />In this one it is 1960, Hitler is alive, but an old man. Peter Carmichael's ward, Elvira, is coming out as debutante and she's been almost been completely sheltered from who her uncle really is and what he's doing (smuggling Jewish people to Ireland while simultaneously working for the government). She learns more as she and Carmichael get slowly drawn up in layers of political intrigue. To say much more is spoiler territory.<br /><br />I really ended up loving this. There is not a "romance" and definitely not a happily ever after ending, but the ending was mostly optimistic, maybe almost too optimistic considering the state of the world today. <br /><br />Probably an A read. Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15364220221782320521noreply@blogger.com