The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Official Summary
Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

My Two Cents
Apparently, this is a much covered subject within the world of fiction, but this is really the first book that I have ever read about the Salem Witch Trials.  And what a grim time in our country's history this was - it is  a brutal read, awful - and frightening - to think that events similar to what is described in this book actually did take place.  What balances out the disturbing turn of events is the love and devotion the Carrier family maintained throughout.

Well written, told from a 10 year old's perspective - an interesting take on this subject.

Down River by John Hart

Official Summary
Adam hase has a violent streak, and not without reason. As a boy, he saw things that no child should see, suffered wounds that cut to the core and scarred thin. The trauma left him passionate and misunderstood---a fighter. After being narrowly acquitted of a murder charge, Adam is hounded out of the only home he’s ever known, exiled for a sin he did not commit. For five long years he disappears, fades into the faceless gray of New York City. Now he’s back and nobody knows why, not his family or the cops, not the enemies he left behind.

But Adam has his reasons.

Within hours of his return, he is beaten and accosted, confronted by his family and the women he still holds dear. No one knows what to make of Adam’s return, but when bodies start turning up, the small town rises against him and Adam again finds himself embroiled in the fight of his life, not just to prove his own innocence, but to reclaim the only life he’s ever wanted.

My Two Cents
I love love love this author, but I've got to say, that out of the three books I've read, this one was the least compelling.  Not by any stretch bad, but just not as good as Iron House or King of Lies.  Interesting mystery, disturbing outcome...just a tad bit of a disappointment after the other two books.  I will absolutely still be reading The Last Child by this author, we'll see if that one holds up - if you just want to check out one book by this guy, I'll let you know which one to pick.

Great summer reads - !!  Fast paced without being insulting to your intelligence.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

Official Summary
One night, after the first snowfall of the year, a boy named Jonas wakes up and discovers that his mother has disappeared. Only one trace of her remains: a pink scarf, his Christmas gift to her, now worn by the snowman that inexplicably appeared in their yard earlier that day.  Inspector Harry Hole suspects a link between the missing woman and a suspicious letter he’s received. The case deepens when a pattern emerges: over the past decade, eleven women have vanished—all on the day of the first snow. But this is a killer who makes his own rules . . . and he’ll break his pattern just to keep the game interesting, as he draws Harry ever closer into his twisted web. With brilliantly realized characters and hair-raising suspense, international bestselling author Jo Nesbø presents his most chilling case yet—one that will test Harry Hole to the very limits of his sanity.

My Two Cents
My brother-in-law Steve actually said it best when he said "when foreign books make it to the States, they're always good - they have to be or they wouldn't make it here."

And I've heard told that Martin Scorsese is making this into a movie.  Good, good choice.

I have one word for this book.  Cree-py.  Parts of this one made the hairs on my arms stand up.  It should make a really good, scary movie.  Should be better than the "Dragon Tattoo" series.

It was not an easy read, you can definitely tell that English was not its first language.  So it was a little - not totally, mind - slow going...but the end (last 100 pages or so) was amazing.

It reminded me a lot of "The Usual Suspects" in that almost every character had the potential to be the killer.  It kept me guessing and got me through some pretty long flights to and from California.  I will be checking out more from this author, he has me intrigued.

The King of Lies by John Hart

Official Summary
Jackson Workman Pickens—known to most as Work—mindlessly holds together his life: a failing law practice left to him when his father, Ezra, mysteriously disappeared, a distant wife, and a fragile sister, Jean, damaged by the shared past they’ve endured.

And then Ezra’s body is discovered.

Set to inherit his father’s fortune, Work becomes a prime suspect. But so does Jean. Fearing the worst, Work launches his own investigation, crossing paths with a power-hungry detective, a string of damning evidence, and the ugly rumors that swirl within his small, moneyed Southern town.  Desperate for the redemption that has eluded him for so many years and stripped of everything he once valued, Work fights to save his sister, clear his name, and regain the love of the woman to whom he gave his heart so many years before.

My Two Cents
The quick and dirty review on the front cover (from Pat Conroy, no less, one of my favorite authors) is "...moves and reads like a book on fire" - and he hit the nail on the head.  This book reminds me of John Grisham a bit - well, the way John Grisham wishes he could write a story, anyway -

It took me awhile to figure out the "who" of the "whodunnit" part of this book - and that is saying a lot because usually I have these kinds of books figured out from about page 50.

It was exciting, interesting, and not written so the "lowest common denominators" could understand it.  I recommend picking it up if you like this kind of fiction...