Every so often I visit my book pages on Amazon to see if any new reviews have come in.  Some of the initial reviews were family and friends, of course, so I knew they’d be pretty positive.  But when the new reader reviews started coming in, I was fascinated.  Some were funny, some not so.

Just as in writing a book, writing a review reveals a glimpse into the writer’s true identity — on which side of the political aisle s/he stands.  How s/he feels about love, hate, money, ethnicity, religion, values and much more.   I learned something from all of them so I decided to share a few with you.

TIME EXPOSURE- 3 stars: 

“I’ve read worse books. Enjoyed some of the historical descriptions of uniforms and photographic advancements used during the Civil War.

Author reveals her irrational fear of guns, in true ivory tower northern liberal style. She cannot seem to fathom that fighting a war to save our Union was worth the sacrifice. She seems to think it was some sort of small misunderstanding and that the war was a way for the rich to get richer. I think the most illogical theory was that it was bad of a Union gun supplier to sell faulty guns to the Confederate. That was actually a great strategy which we should consider using today. How great it would be to give all Qaeda guns that blew up in their own hands. Like I said, serious anti-gun liberal.”

Love this first line!  I don’t know where he got the notion I have an irrational fear of guns.  Seems like a tough place to be in for a mystery writer.

DEADLY PROVENANCE- 5 stars:

“Deadly Provenance is the third book I’ve read by Ms. Kennedy and I am a RAVING FAN. The language is intelligent & colorful; downright “cheeky” when the timing is right, making for an enlightening and fun read. The smart dialog compliments intriguing characters that are human – accessible and credible. The plot is complex enough to keep me enthralled, eagerly winding my way through the maze of well researched fact and deftly organized fiction. I turn the last page smarter than when I started, longing for more. PLEASE, bring on the fourth book soon. Thank you for the excellent read.”

I’d love more of these, wouldn’t you?  Honest, I don’t know this person.  But I’d like to.

THE TRIANGLE MURDERS- 4 stars:

”This is an interesting combination of mysteries. Frank and his family are great characters and I like the tie to the Triangle Factory fire. One question is left hanging: what happened to Fiona’s murderer? There is also a small discrepancy where one character is labeled first a great grandson and later a grandson. The dialogue in the historical sections is a little stilted but not bad. All in all, a very good read.”

Aha.  Stilted dialogue.  I always worry about this.

PURE LIES- 5 stars:

“I am a history buff and really enjoyed Kennedy’s latest work. For me it was part Arthur Miller’s “Crucible” and part classic murder mystery. Maggie Thornhill was a difficult character to like at first, but she grew on me; Felicity Dale was easier to like. I respect Kennedy’s attention to historical detail and her ability to make it interesting and intriguing. We should all pay close attention to underlying message in the book as it relates to modern society. I’m looking forward to Lynne Kennedy’s next book.”

More, more!

I urge you to check out your own book reviews from time to time.  What did you learn?  Share them with us.