** ½ Part of my Mysterious USA Challenge Macavity Award Nominee for Best First Mystery Novel (2005), Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2005) Maybe I’m being a little unfair. It’s not that Uncommon Grounds as a mystery novel is boring, it’s more that Wisconsin is not depicted as a very fun or interesting place. […]
September
29
Kind of boring Wisconsin but keeps you guessing: Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo
posted by lasesana
August
07
Gritty Maryland: What the Dead Know, Laura Lippman
posted by lasesana
***½ Part of my Mysterious USA Challenge William Morrow, 2007 ISBN 0061128856 (ISBN13: 9780061128851) Literary awards: Barry Award for Best Novel (2008), Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel (2008), Anthony Award for Best Novel (2008) Two young teenage sisters go missing in the mid- 1970s after their father drops them off at the mall on a Saturday afternoon. […]
August
03
Majestic Alaska: A Cold Day for Murder, Dana Stabenow
posted by lasesana
*** 1/2 Part of my Mysterious USA Challenge Berkley, 1992 042513301X (ISBN13: 9780425133019) Winner, Edgar Award, 1993 A Cold Day for Murder introduces Kate Shugak, a young Aleut woman who worked in the Anchorage D.A.’s office, but has returned to her home in a fictional park in northern Alaska after a horrifying experience with a child molester. […]
August
03
Mysterious USA Reading Challenge
posted by lasesana
Inspired by an article about a writer who read books from 196 countries to broaden her horizons, I decided to challenge myself as well. Not being a native of the USA, but living here for the past 16 years, I want to read and review one mystery novel from each of the 50 states. I’m […]
August
02
Mary L. Tabor, Who by Fire
posted by lasesana
***** ISBN 0982993145 (ISBN13: 9780982993149) I absolutely LOVED this book. In fact, it has been the best book I’ve read in a long time and wished I hadn’t finished it as quickly as I did. I feel lucky to have discovered this author and can’t wait to read her next piece of work! Mary L. […]
July
24
8 reasons mosquitoes prefer some people over others
posted by lasesana
WASHINGTON, July 19, 2013 – For years scientists and researchers have been trying to explain why some people seem to get bitten by mosquitoes more often than others. Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood, but females need the protein in blood to produce eggs. “One in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes,” says Jerry Butler, Ph.D., […]
July
20
Just picked this baby up at a garage sale for $50, Vintage NSU (1940s?) bicycle
posted by lasesana
So I was riding my bike down the street on my way to the gym when I saw a garage sale going on just a block from my house. I did a total double-take, almost wrecked, but managed to U-turn and saw this baby: I wavered and waffled, finally deciding that if it was there […]
July
20
Big Brother 15: Do we need to have a talk about the open racism?
posted by lasesana
WASHINGTON, July 18, 2013 – The racist, homophobic, and sexist atmosphere in CBS’s “Big Brother” house this season has led to two cast members losing their jobs. Even though the cast members are unaware of the general focus on race in the past week, their words and actions may be indicative of a conversation we all […]
July
19
On abortion, does Maryland have the right idea?
posted by lasesana
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2013 – The Texas abortion confrontation is emblematic of similar political battles taking place in over 29 states where new laws are forcing several abortion clinics to shut down. In light of the recent trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell and other similar scandals, pro-life advocates claim that more stringent abortion laws are necessary […]
July
17
Nuclear plant at Fukushima leaking since 2011
posted by lasesana
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2013 — The Japanese nuclear power plant at Fukushima is thought to have been leaking contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean for the past two years, according to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. The announcement came after experts from Japan’s nuclear regulator analyzed readings of radiation levels in the waters surrounding the plant. Continue […]
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