Review: The Silent Patient

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audio book excellently read by Jack Hawkins and Louise Brealey.

A page turner of a psychological thriller. A woman who murdered her husband is in prison, in a psychiatric ward. A young therapist has followed her trial and hopes to help her. We follow two storylines, his own private background and issues, and hers as he manages to get her to open up to him, no longer silent.

It is well written, and a compelling psychological thriller. I enjoyed the book and didn't see the twist coming until quite far on.

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Review: Salvation

Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First in a new sequence by Peter F. Hamilton. Its structure is very much like the rest of his books, so am unsure why so many folks find it confusing. He generally skips around through time and space to tell a story, then combines the threads as the story goes on.

It is a bit different from the rest of the books I've read by him, in that we are meeting a new alien species and we are early on in the development of the society and world he normally writes in.

I enjoyed the look at the history of the world and how things began to come together, and was intrigued by the new species and wondering just what they were up to. Not surprisingly, things are not what they seem. and although the humans realize this, it is difficult to see through the fog to what is really going on.

I'll definitely read the rest of this series, as Hamilton is a favorite writer of mine.

I listened to the audio read by John Lee excellently as always.

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Review: The Far Pavilions

The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed the audio very much. The reader very effective.

This was a re-read for me, having first read it in the 1990s. Held up pretty well, although it has more romance in it than I remembered. Still, well crafted story, with a plot that keeps moving, and much character growth.

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Review: Night Train to Rigel

Night Train to Rigel by Timothy Zahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

interesting and complex mystery, involving multiple alien species and a mysterious method of travel that no one understands.

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Review: The Poppy War

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't much care for the first part of this, as it was very YA, but toward the middle and beyond it got a bit better. Still, pretty stupid characters, motivated by revenge and hatred and not any thinking. I kept hoping the main character would wake up, but no such luck.

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Review: Karen Memory

Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun read! Spunky, steampunky, and a western to boot.

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Review: The Andromeda Strain

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy all the science and the puzzle, but was disappointed about how all the scientists are men, and only 'assistants' and 'nurses' are women. Not at all surprising given the state of things in 1969, granted. But still that stands out in this day and age.

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