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review 2019-11-18 23:43
Land of Careful Shadows by Suzanne Chazin
Land of Careful Shadows (A Jimmy Vega Mystery) by Suzanne Chazin (2014-11-25) - Suzanne Chazin

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I thought that this was a really well-done detective story. This is one of those books that I have had no my tbr forever but kept skipping over it for one reason or another. I am glad that I finally dusted it off and gave it a try. I liked this book from that very start and found that I felt invested in the mystery. I had a great time with this book.

Jimmy Vega is a detective in New York state. He is called to the scene when the body of an undocumented female is found. Jimmy is a Latino and he realizes very quickly that the small town that he is working in may not give equal treatment to everyone. There is a large immigrant population in Lake Holly with many being undocumented. Not only does Jimmy want to learn how the woman died, but he is also trying to find out what happened to the child in the photograph that she had with her.

I liked Jimmy right away. He was a smart cop and because of his heritage, he was able to see both sides of the case a little clearer than some of his co-workers. He was determined to get answers about the woman's death and make sure the child was safe. He also wasn't afraid to question how things have been done in town and worked to right as many wrongs as he could. He had a few more personal matters to deal with in this story which made him seem a little easier to relate to. He doesn't do everything perfectly in this story but he works to learn from his mistakes and I always felt like he was trying to do what was right.

I loved the way the author was able to incorporate the lives of undocumented workers in this story. I found that the way she painted the picture of what their lives were like both in this country and at home was really powerful. I thought that the motivation of the characters to risk so much to come to the states for a chance to work felt very authentic. I really liked the way that we really were able to see both sides of this story.

Armando Durán was the perfect narrator for this story. There was quite a bit of Spanish sprinkled throughout the book and I thought that he made everything flow very well. Don't worry, you don't need to know how to speak Spanish to enjoy this book (I don't) but I thought the fact that the narrator made those passages sound natural was a big plus. I thought that he handled all of the character voices very well and was able to add a lot of excitement to the story. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to his work again.

I would recommend this book to fans of detective stories. I thought that this was a nicely plotted, complex mystery with really fantastic characters. I would not hesitate to read more of the Jimmy Vega series!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.

Initial Thoughts
This was a really good detective story. When the body of an undocumented woman is found, Jimmy Vega is called into the small town in New York to help with the investigation. It becomes obvious right away that immigrants in this town are not always treated fairly. I liked watching Vega work to not only find out what happened to the woman but work tirelessly to find her daughter. At the same time, he is juggling some issues with his own teenage daughter. I really liked the way this book touched on what it is like for someone living in this country illegally and what motivates someone to take that path. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a fantastic job with this story.

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review 2019-06-04 22:33
A Good, Spooky Read
The Haunted - Danielle Vega
I don't normally read or watch horror, but I couldn't resist this one, and I'm glad I didn't. A family moves into a creepy house in a small town looking for a clean slate. Hendricks (the main character) not only has to adjust to a new school and new friends but also to a house that may be haunted. (Spoiler alert, it is.) The horror elements were a bit cliche, and you could see some stuff coming from a MILE away. However, it was still enjoyable. The characters were...also kind of cliche. But they were aware they were cliche. And honestly, I still liked them. I really enjoyed Hendricks' internal narration, and the writing is beautiful. The ending could have been handled a bit better, but overall, good, fun read. (But NOT one to be read at night alone!)

 

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review 2019-04-18 20:52
Vega puts a modern spin on the classic haunted house tale in teen horror novel 'The Haunted'
The Haunted - Danielle Vega

Hendricks is undoubtedly living in the house of many a person’s nightmares, and at least one little girl’s death, and as the new girl in town, she seems to be finding this out gradually through her friends at school. Steele House doesn't seem to be an ordinary house by any measure, and not only is it hiding a dark secret, so is Hendricks, one that sent her family packing from Philadelphia and to this tiny town of Drearford.

 

Once her family moves into Steele House, which is being renovated, she finds a new group of friends right away (to her surprise). Hendricks begins to craft a new social life out for herself, involving both the popular guy at school, but also the boy next door, who is also the brother of the little girl who died. She soon finds there are new and far more powerful ghosts than the ones in her past that she has to deal with.

 

This is a pretty basic horror novel, a classic haunting tale that author Danielle Vega has written for teens, and it's perfect for those who might be somewhat cautious about stepping into the genre.

The main character Hendricks embodies all those insecurities and anxieties felt when starting at a new high school and she has a lot of baggage from her past, the very reason the family has had to move. I appreciated these parts about the story, as well as the very real conflict she has with whether she should fall in with cliques at school, but because they couldn't be dealt with very deeply that conversely also frustrated me a bit. The parents also happen to be totally absent from Hendricks' world most of the time, which is pretty convenient (and actually pretty irresponsible).

 

As far as the very descriptive scenes that involve the haunted Steele House, these are vivid and full of horrible paranormal evil that will conjure up images that will stick with you. There's also a very deep-seated reason for the evil that resides in the house and it's actually very sad. I appreciate that Vega tied the narrative together at the end, even though it was quite an abrupt ending.

As an author, I think she has great instincts for what works well to both scare and satisfy, understanding that real life is a bit messy and not perfect. It's kind of why the ending left me with a punch to the gut.

I read a lot of horror fiction and love a great scare, so I love finding creepy books that suck me in; this is a quick YA 'haunted house' read, perfect for a spooky weekend.

 

*I also would have fallen victim to Steele house myself thanks to the cat at the beginning that draws little Meredith into the basement (even though everyone should know the first rule in horror is ‘don’t go into the basement’). But…kitty!!!!

Source: www.goodreads.com/book/show/40818627-the-haunted
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review 2018-05-09 03:23
Vega Jane training to use magic
The Keeper (Vega Jane, Book 2) - David Baldacci

The second book of the series. 

 

Not as engaging. There isn’t much tension or not as purpose driven in this one. Probably well I don’t like it as much. 

 

Vega Jane learned that she could do magic. She met someone who need to keep her where she is until she rebel and beat her at a magic duel. 

 

The spell learning is not that interesting to me. It would help them to get through the 5 circles to go outside. 

 

More exiting part is probably left for the finale book that follows this one. Therefore, this feel a bit flat. 

 

Still really readable. 4 stars.

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text 2018-05-07 03:38
Reading progress update: I've read 128 out of 448 pages.
The Keeper (Vega Jane, Book 2) - David Baldacci

Vega Jane and Delph escape danger with canine Harry Two out of Wormwood.

 

Now they are in the new place. 

 

And with new danger. 

 

What's going on here. They were told all their lives that there are no one outside of Wormwood. Now they meet new intelligent being and one that speak their language. 

 

 

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