WARTIME EXPLOITS OF some unlikely US spies, Julia and Paul Child among them. Fascinating, but a bit confusing. B MINUS

A COVERT AFFAIR: JULIA CHILD AND PAUL CHILD IN THE OSS
Simon & Schuster
2011

GRITTY LOCAL COLOR, vivid Florida characters star in thriller that could have used a bit more polish and focus. B MINUS

DEVIL’S SLEW (DETECTIVE BARRETT RAINES MYSTERIES)
Minotaur Books
2011

EVOCATIVE, BEAUTIFUL, VIVID writing ultimately founders on the shoals of this novel’s soap-opera plot twists.

AMBITIOUS HISTORICAL THRILLER begins with interesting premise, but tries too hard and ends up over the top.

FASCINATING TOPIC–the history of UFO disinformation campaigns–suffers from distractingly unfocused approach.

MEDICAL/LEGAL THRILLER’S timely Big Pharma theme, vivid courtroom detail are sadly undermined by clunky prose.

COZY MINNESOTA COOKING mystery is as charming as its 13 predecessors, but skimping on central whodunnit annoys.

JOKEY COZY MYSTERY, 25th in a series, never picks up steam despite its cross-country train trip setting. B MINUS

LOCO MOTIVE (BED-AND-BREAKFAST SERIES #25)
HarperCollins Publishers
2010

LONELINESS, viewed through personal experience and scholarly research, is the topic. Interesting but choppy. B MINUS

LONELY: A MEMOIR
HarperCollins Publishers
2010

FLUFFY JET-SET CAPER features jewel robberies, TV stars, makeovers, a pampered chihuahua, way too much plot. B MINUS

IT ALL BEGAN IN MONTE CARLO
St. Martin’s Press
2010