Thursday, March 03, 2011


Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

In ten words or less: Dysfunctional family, rotten boyfriend--only Dawn's dog Chuck understands her.

Review: Twice-divorced Dawn Tarnauer's life is a mess. Her self-absorbed family blame her for all their troubles; she's between jobs; and her mostly-unemployed boyfriend leaves to follow his dreams of fame and fortune. And then her dog dies.
Dawn hadn't planned on getting a new dog soon, but something about the mongrel at the shelter "spoke" to her. And little did she know that Chuck--for that was his name--could actually speak. Other dogs also spoke to her, and much of it was not complimentary.

Why bother? Terribly funny story of a girl and her dog by Emmy-winning writer Markoe.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011


February's Books

In Black Tie Affair a vintage clothing expert passes out while examining some historic gowns, which are giving off toxic fumes. She teams up with a hunky department store executive to solve the mystery and rekindle their old romance. Lots of local Chicago tidbits.

I Shall Not Want by Debbie Viguie
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Trail of Murder by Christine Andreae
Death in Show by Judi McCoy
Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
Phi Beta Murder by C.S. Challinor
Black Tie Affair by Sherrell Bodine
It Happened One Knife by Jeffrey Cohen
Squeeze Play by Jane Leavy
Murder in the Raw by C. S. Challinor