Two Mysteries

Talking to the Dead (e-book ARC from Net Galley)  is the first in a new series about DC Fiona Griffiths, a young woman who has difficulty naming her emotions.  Or feeling them, perhaps, emotionally, although intellectually Fiona can process them.

The technical term for this syndrome is Alexithymia:  Alexithymia is the inability to talk about feelings due to a lack of emotional awareness. Alexithymics are typically unable to identify, understand or describe their own emotions. (from Anxiety, Panic, & Health)

I enjoyed the book, but found it a bit off-kilter.  Well, what can you say when the protagonist is a bit off-kilter?   I will read the next in the series to see if the series jells with me.  Or not.

From Booklist:  When a prostitute and a young girl are found murdered in a run-down South Wales apartment building, police immediately place the blame on drugs. But when a dead millionaire’s credit card is found at the crime scene, Welsh Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths suspects something even more sinister afoot. Faced with cracking her first big case, the Cambridge-educated rookie cop must take care not to ruffle feathers as she pursues leads. Everyone on the squad knows she suffered a psychological breakdown years before joining the force, and her supervisors err on the side of caution when assigning her tasks. DC Griffiths may be battling demons, but she’s not going to let them win, proving herself more than worthy as she closes in on possible culprits, including a corrupt former cop who’s equal parts trouble and charm. She also finds a romantic diversion with a handsome blond colleague. In his American debut, British novelist Bingham renders a sympathetic heroine and a crackerjack mystery. Happily for readers, he’s already working on the next series installment. --Allison Block

Net Galley.  Random House.  Delacorte Press.

Mystery.  2012.  print version 352 pages.

Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeil is another Net Galley e-book and continues the adventures of Maggie Hope from MacNeil's Mr. Churchill's Secretary.  If you liked the first one, you will probably like this one as well.

Truthfully, I wasn't as taken by the first one as many readers were and only read this one because I wanted to see if my opinion would change and because it was free.

Most reviews I've read have been extremely positive, but neither book really engaged me.  Since I really love this period in history, I'm sorry that the series doesn't appeal to me.

Net Galley.  Random House.  Bantam Dell.

Mystery/Historical Fiction.  2012.  print version 380 pages.