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TOKYO VICE by Jake Adelstein

February 27, 2010

FASCINATING TRUE-LIFE STORY of an American police reporter in Japan offers eyewitness account of crime, justice. B PLUS

TOKYO VICE: AN AMERICAN REPORTER ON THE POLICE BEAT IN JAPAN
Pantheon Books
2009

Grade: B PLUS

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DUSTED TO DEATH by Barbara Colley

CHARM ABOUNDS in sweet, if slow, mystery starring a New Orleans house cleaner/sleuth solving a movie-set death. SOLID B

DUSTED TO DEATH
Kensington
2010

Grade: SOLID B

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THE PRIVILEGES by Jonathan Dee

February 26, 2010

LYRICAL WRITING, wealth of detail are plusses in tale of rich, social New Yorkers; downside is meandering plot. SOLID B

THE PRIVILEGES
Random House Publishing Group
2010

Grade: SOLID B

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ONE AND THE SAME ONE AND THE SAME by Abigail Pogrebin

February 25, 2010

AN INSIDE LOOK at the lives of twins, by a journalist who’s an identical twin herself. Fascinating interviews! B PLUS

ONE AND THE SAME ONE AND THE SAME: MY LIFE AS AN IDENTICAL TWIN AND WHAT I’VE LEARNED ABOUT EVEMY LIFE AS AN IDENTICAL TWIN AND WHAT I’VE LEARNED ABOUT EVERYONE’S STRUGGLE TO BE SINGULAR RYONE’S STRUGGLE TO BE SINGULAR
Random House USA Inc
2009

Grade: B PLUS

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THE PUZZLE LADY VS. THE SUDOKU LADY by Parnell Hall

February 24, 2010

ZIPPY MYSTERY, 11th in the Puzzle Lady series, features a sleuth-off between Cora and her rival Sudoku Lady. A MINUS

THE PUZZLE LADY VS. THE SUDOKU LADY: A PUZZLE LADY MYSTERY
Minotaur Books
2010

Grade: A MINUS

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EXCEPT THE QUEEN by Jane Yolen

February 23, 2010

CHARMINGLY WRITTEN tale of fae exiled to a mundane modern world is evocative, spooky, but a bit formulaic. SOLID B

EXCEPT THE QUEEN
Roc
2010

Grade: SOLID B

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DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS by Catriona McPherson

February 22, 2010

MAGNIFICENT 1920s country-house mystery; unforgettable Scottish sleuth Dandy Gilver goes undercover as a maid. A MINUS

DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS
Hodder & Stoughton General Division
2009

Grade: A MINUS

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PILL HEAD by Joshua Lyon

February 21, 2010

CANDID LOOK at pill addiction shares the author’s own experience, interviews with current and recovering users. B PLUS

PILL HEAD: THE SECRET LIFE OF A PAINKILLER ADDICT
Hyperion
2009

Grade: B PLUS

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OBJECT OF DESIRE by William J Mann

February 20, 2010

EVOCATIVE WRITING, a convincingly flawed protagonist, rich detail rescue this Big Gay Novel from soap-operadom. B PLUS

OBJECT OF DESIRE
Kensington Publishing Corporation
2009

Grade: B PLUS

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THE LADY QUEEN by Nancy Goldstone

February 19, 2010

RICHLY DETAILED BIOGRAPHY of the little-known 14th century Queen Joanna of Naples foregrounds medieval politics. B PLUS

THE LADY QUEEN: THE NOTORIOUS REIGN OF JOANNA I, QUEEN OF NAPLES, JERUSALEM, AND SICILY
Walker & Company
2009

Grade: B PLUS

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