Rating: 
Summary: a gem of a book
Review: "Cold Flat Junction" is the conclusion of the mystery/coming-of-age tale begun in Martha Grimes'magnificent "Hotel Paradise." (Be sure to read "Hotel Paradise" first!)It's set in an indeterminate time (there's a mention of nouvelle cuisine and the United Nations on the one hand, yet the novel is riddled with train travel, small-town drugstores with soda fountains, a McCrory's, records and horsehair sofas)in an indeterminate place (somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard north of Maryland). You get the sense that both books are a fable of sorts. Grimes' sequel (a continuation really) surpasses the first novel in recounting the cleverness and tenacity of its 12-year-old heroine. Every character is true-to-life from the sympathetic sheriff with the philandering wife to Maude, the good-hearted waitress at the Rainbow Cafe, to the speech-addled Wood brothers to the nasty and domineering 16-year-old Reejane, Emma's nemesis. The ending gives me hope that Ms. Grimes will continue the saga with yet another book about Emma Graham.
Rating:
Summary: a gem of a book
Review: "Cold Flat Junction" is the conclusion of the mystery/coming-of-age tale begun in Martha Grimes'magnificent "Hotel Paradise." (Be sure to read "Hotel Paradise" first!) It's set in an indeterminate time (there's a mention of nouvelle cuisine and the United Nations on the one hand, yet the novel is riddled with train travel, small-town drugstores with soda fountains, a McCrory's, records and horsehair sofas)in an indeterminate place (somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard north of Maryland). You get the sense that both books are a fable of sorts. Grimes' sequel (a continuation really) surpasses the first novel in recounting the cleverness and tenacity of its 12-year-old heroine. Every character is true-to-life from the sympathetic sheriff with the philandering wife to Maude, the good-hearted waitress at the Rainbow Cafe, to the speech-addled Wood brothers to the nasty and domineering 16-year-old Reejane, Emma's nemesis. The ending gives me hope that Ms. Grimes will continue the saga with yet another book about Emma Graham.
Rating:
Summary: I love Emma even more in this second novel...
Review: First thing you need to do is throw out any ideas of this being like a Jury novel. Then get Hotel Paradise so you can read it and understand what is going on in this book.
Emma is simply a wonderful character and she jumps out of the book and comes to life. It's almost hard to imagine she is 12. The mystery still isn't quite over I wonder if Martha Grimes will tell us more in another installment.
Rating:
Summary: I love Emma even more in this second novel...
Review: First thing you need to do is throw out any ideas of this being like a Jury novel. Then get Hotel Paradise so you can read it and understand what is going on in this book.
Emma is simply a wonderful character and she jumps out of the book and comes to life. It's almost hard to imagine she is 12. The mystery still isn't quite over I wonder if Martha Grimes will tell us more in another installment.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!***But NOT Insp.Jury,**Read Hotel Paradise 1st!
Review: For Fans of Martha Grimes Inspector Jury, and Melrose Plant-This isnt a part of that series.
But don't miss it. It is definitely preferable to read Hotel Paradise first, this is a sequel, and assumes knowledge from the prior book. You could read it alone, but I think it would become frustrating. The best is to read them together.
***This is not a classic who-dun-it*****
In fact, we're barely sure of the details of the crime itself, or the long ago events that caused it. This is the story of a (lonely-though I doubt she'd describe herself that way)-12 year old girl's mission to decipher the meaning of a recent crime, and to discover its connection to crimes or sins commited long ago. It builds on the mystery she (mostly) deciphered in "Hotel Paradise".
This book is wonderful. Not only are the old and new mysteries hauntingly engaging, but Emma's journey to decipher them made me laugh and cry at how well it describes what it's like to be 12. Not yet accepted as an adult, but old enough to have the persistence and ingenuity to get help from the adults who can help her investigate, while pretending to be nonchalantly wandering, just like a child. Emma made me remember what it was like to almost believe, that if you didn't stare at someone, they wouldn't notice you. She is precocious, but very realistic and likeable. Sheriff Sam DeGheyn,even seen through her critical eyes, is obviously wonderfully kind, caring and intelligent man.
she finds help from unlikely allies, finally coming to a resolution, that is wonderful, solving unanswered questions from "Hotel Paradise" as well.
Again: don't expect a "Jury and Plant" story-
but you'll get something rare and precious.
Rating:
Summary: Intricately Beautiful Grimes
Review: Grimes' love of words and literature are unseen characters in this "coming of age" novel. The heroine, Emma, is waking up to life and the twin powers of history and the telling of it. Through Emma, the reader remembers the delight of discovering everything from Greek myths to Patsy Cline to murky and murderous family crimes.
The mystery itself (continued from "Hotel Paradise") is wonderfully convoluted and woven with tantalizing care. Don't bother reading this one if you like to skim brain-candy; savor it like a fine, rich dinner.
Rating:
Summary: Intricately Beautiful Grimes
Review: Grimes' love of words and literature are unseen characters in this "coming of age" novel. The heroine, Emma, is waking up to life and the twin powers of history and the telling of it. Through Emma, the reader remembers the delight of discovering everything from Greek myths to Patsy Cline to murky and murderous family crimes.
The mystery itself (continued from "Hotel Paradise") is wonderfully convoluted and woven with tantalizing care. Don't bother reading this one if you like to skim brain-candy; savor it like a fine, rich dinner.
Rating: 
Summary: answers?
Review: Having grown the love the Richard Jury mysteries, I was bitterly disappointed by this novel. I tried to wade through it but it was so gawd-awful boring that I just gave up.
Rating: 
Summary: very disappointing
Review: Having grown the love the Richard Jury mysteries, I was bitterly disappointed by this novel. I tried to wade through it but it was so gawd-awful boring that I just gave up.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling character
Review: I found I preferred this book to the Richard Jury mysteries. I used to read them avidly, but I tired of his recurring characters. I thought they were flat and cartoonish. This book, on the other hand, portrays a complicated and endearing main character. The mystery itself is not that complex. The enjoyable part is the way in which the story is told.
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