That Lonely Section of Hell: The Bothched Investigation of a Serial Who Almost Got Away by Lori Shenher

from goodreads

4 stars

Well, school is in full swing and that means illness. First my husband, then Miss P and then Mr S. And now it finally got to me. Lucky! What is with school time and illness. All our kids were healthy before school and then they get sick after the first week. Are illness causing germs on summer vacay too and then they think to themselves "schools on, let's get back to work boys". Or maybe their thinking "that mom looks like she is getting her life a little too organized, better bring her down a notch, ha ha ha."

Whatever the reason whenever the kids are sick I just keep my book close at hand for when I need to snuggle with a sick child and then when I get sick I hope I feel good enough to read. Might as well enjoy the downtime.

Synopsis
Lori Shenher was working on the case of missing women in Vancouver. This is her story about the pains of trying to solve the mystery and the tolls it took on her life both personally and professionally. We learn how easy it was for serial killer Robert Pickton to get away with murder.

My Thoughts

To sum this book up in one word I would use heartbreaking. This was such a heartbreaking read. Here you have a police officer trying to do her best by these women who don't have a lot of advocates and getting stonewalled by so many factors.

This is a tale that shows a broken policing system that still operates in a chauvinistic "atta boy" type culture. The disturbing apathy towards the addicts and prostitutes and other street people that was shown was so sad. The assumption that these people weren't worth the effort to look into their disappearances was sad and rather disgusting. We all have problems, some are more apparent than others. But no matter what our problems are we should be treated with dignity and respect. We should be helped not shoved aside.

The lack of co-operation between police forces was also disturbing. Who cares who gets credit. Why can't people just work together. It also is frustrating how a lot of this investigation came down to no money available, and because of that a murderer was going free.

It was rather ridiculous how long it took to get onto Robert Pickton's farm, especially after he had stabbed a woman and she got away. What did he have on government officials or cops that made them not want to go forward into looking into him. This book really shows how some people are more interested in keeping the status quo of their own life than to do the right thing even if it might affect them.

I really liked how she showed how this affected her. She was stressed and traumatised She showed how hard cases, like this, can lead to burn out and paranoia. It shows the need of mental support for these police officers. Mental illness is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes we don't see the personal sacrifices police officers go through because of their jobs. This gives us an appreciation for some of the hard things they do. To a lot of cops it is not just a job. It is personal.

As with any memoir or autobiography you need to take it with a grain of salt. This is one person's thoughts on what happened. But, even if there are some biases, this book is excellent at showing flaws in the legal system and allows us to question what ineptness we think is acceptable.

The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Sometimes I finish a book and am left breathless, thinking it is the best thing ever. Then with some time and distance and reflection its flaws come out and make themselves known. This leaves me befuddled. Should I claim I love it like I did when I first finished reading? Or, harp on all the flaws I have found out after the fact? Do you review on your heart or your head?

This is one of those books. It left me breathless and excited, but then with some distance I realized there were many flaws that I over looked and things that really weren't that great. This has left me feeling confused. I guess a book can't be all bad if it leaves you thinking about it after the fact.

Synopsis

This is the story of Alice. She has left her family farm to forge a life for herself as a factory girl in the cotton mills. There she makes a friend in Lovey, a woman who is kind, takes a stand and lives a bit dangerously. She also catches the eye of the mill owners son. This is a book of friendship, love, courage, murder, and standing up for what is right.

My Thoughts

This is a historical fiction that focuses more on the fiction side. If you are a stickler for historical accuracy this is not the book for you.

This is a great story of friendship and being willing to take a stand against injustice. The characters were varied but believable and you would want to be part of their group. The romance was a bit contrived but lovely.

I found the courtroom scenes to be tedious and it took too much time of the story. I wanted to know more about the ladies and the factory work then I cared to know about the courtroom proceedings. I felt it should have been the side story and not the main feature.

There was something about this book that kept me hooked. I read it in a day. It is a fun, heartrending story. And, while I read it in December, I could see this being a great summer read.

Sandrine's Case by Thomas H. Cook

from goodreads

2 stars

Reading is ultimate adventure. You really don't know what you are going to get. When you crack the cover you could be on the cusp of discovering a new favourite or a bitter disappointment.  I guess it can be a bit like russian roulette.

There are so many other factors that go into whether a book is a hit or not. A lot depends on you as the reader. The timing of books is so important. If you have just finished a favourite and the next book isn't as great it could be a greater disappointment then it would have been if it had been read after a different one. Sometimes it could be the mood you are in, the weather outside, how much reading time you have in your schedule and more.

This reading year is starting to wind down. So far, it has been a pretty good year for reading. I have read more than I thought I would. I have a had a pretty good mix of books. And there haven't been too many books that have been complete duds and that makes me happy. How has your reading year been?

Synopsis

Samuel Madison is on trial for the murder of his wife Sandrine, though he maintains it was suicide. During the trial Samuel lets his mind wander and he reflects on his life with his wife.

My Thoughts

This was not a favourite. I only finished it because it was a book club read.

I found the book boring and repetitive. I couldn't stand any of the characters and really didn't care what happened to any of them. And honestly what was the point of Albi. It kept coming up but it really wasn't this big revelation everything made sense kind of explanation. The ending was a let down. I figured there would have been some kind of twist or something but no.

I think I have a problem with stories like this because of the unhealthy promotion of relationships. I feel like I am the only person that seems to understand that long term relationships are not going to be hot and steamy the whole time. There will be disappointments with ourselves and our spouse. But we get on with it and move on. Relationships are about putting others needs before our own out of love and concern. It is about building up those around us. I know this is an ideal and not always easy, but I think a lot of the problems with the characters in this book, and others, could have been rectified if the characters had an honest and frank discussion with each other and weren't so wrapped up in themselves and their convoluted ways of doing things. Why can't we ever see a nice normal relationship? (sorry for the rant)

I did like how the story was told, through reflections. I did like the bit of redemption that Samuel went through to change his life for the better. But that was about it.

This was the first book that I have read from this author. I might give others a try. He is obviously successful as he has written a lot over many genres. But this book has definitely not made me want to rush out and read everything he has written.