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I am definitely in the minority on this one, but I just could not find my way into the story. Too many characters telling too many stories that overlap and are true but then aren’t and then are again. Instead of finding it intriguing like so many other readers, I just got annoyed. Continue reading Book Review: The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan
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I’m a fan of mysteries. I’m a fan of historical fiction. And I’m a fan of time-travel. All three elements are present here, and the result should have been a huge hit with me, but somehow it just wasn’t… 
I’m not normally a big fan of short stories, but I’ve had great experience with collections curated by 
This was a very interesting read, and I thoroughly enjoyed not only the discussions of her guilt or innocence but also of her life both before and after Julius Rosenberg entered it… So much about Ethel has gotten subsumed by the concept of “The Rosenbergs” as a unit – both at the time of the actual events and in the historical revisiting of their execution – that seeing the spotlight shined down on the woman herself feels long overdue. Sebba has done a fine job painting a picture of Ethel’s life that is straightforward, engaging, and easy to envision. 
This was an entertaining historical mystery. The construct – a thief-with-a-hear-of-gold turned patriot/spy – was a fun and less common spin on the mass of World War II novels that have appeared in the past year. Weaver has done a lovely job creating a cast of characters that, if a bit stereotypical, are highly relatable and engaging. Her writing style is easy and engrossing, and she does an excellent job painting a scene for the reader to relax into.