The Mystery Starts Here

Did you hear me scream? I did – long and loud. I was going to throw the book against the wall but, it’s a hard cover library book and I didn’t want to pay for the damage. That bad you say? YES.

I read mysteries almost exclusively. I always have. Why? Because I love to follow the story, the clues, and the characters to that final, satisfying conclusion. I didn’t get that with “The Associate.” No, it was one of those annoying novels that do not end – they just stop! There was no conclusion! I hate that – did I tell you?

The book starts with an interesting premise. Kyle McAvoy, a senior law student at Yale, is approached by a group of men who blackmail him into stealing information from a prestigious New York law firm on a HUGE upcoming law suit, when he starts working for them. It’s either work for the bad guys or…face charges of rape, possible imprisonment and certainly good-bye law career. The bad guys have a tape of the supposed rape and even though Kyle did nothing wrong, he was there. Kyle is torn because he loves the law and has ethics but what choice does he have?  As usual with a Grisham novel, Kyle is brilliant and outsmarts the blackmailers left and right even though they are seasoned professionals.

Throughout the novel we meet Kyle’s old college buddies, the “victim” and some of his new law firm friends. Unfortunately we get WAY too much of the boring law firm information, but hey, Grisham’s an attorney, maybe HE likes that stuff. Grisham is a good writer which makes the ending that much worse! It was almost as if he only had three days to finish the darn book and just scribble down something to get it done!

In the end, Kyle remains a good guy. He finds a way to get out of the mess but…the bad guys are not apprehended and…we really never know who they were working for! It could have been a foreign power, it could have been another law firm – it could have been our own government but of course we never know – unless Grisham is planning on resurrecting Kyle and the gang for another book! If he does, I won’t be reading it.

“True Blood” has to be one of the most inventive and unusual new television programs in come along in a while. It has everything! Mystery, blood and gore, sex, nudity – what’s not to like? I didn’t write about the first program of the season because I was really busy last week but also because I wanted to make sure the first program of the season wasn’t a fluke – it wasn’t.

By now you no doubt know the body in the car wasn’t (whew) Lafayette! Nope, he was kidnapped by Eric and his gang at Fangoria and held in the basement in a sort of vampire food locker! Too funny – gotta love this show. Well, last night Lafayette escaped the cellar but didn’t get far. He got shot and captured and then begged Eric and company to turn him into a vampire! Ohhhh, I can’t WAIT for next week to see if they turned him or just….eat him.

Jessica manged to talk Sookie into driving her to her parents house and…she went inside. Bill showed up – pissed and will have to clean up the mess – another fingernail biter. Jason, sans shirt, thank goodness-is at Leadership Camp and thing are heating up there (and here! Oy, that body!)

The biggest mystery so far this season is Marianne. I told my husband at the close of last season that I think Marianne is a witch. After last night episode I’m more convinced than ever. When Sookie tried to “hear” Marianne’s thoughts, she heard some weird chanting vocalization. Then Sookie asked Marianne where she was from and Marianne said, “Cape Cod.” Not Salem, but close enough! I’m not sure what Marianne plans to do with poor same, but it should be interesting. Last night Marianne had everyone in Merlot’s dancing and practically having sex on the dance floor!

“Eggs” came to visit Tara and I almost fainted! Oy, where do they get these gorgeous men? I hope they continue the male shirtless trend because I’m loving it! Can’t wait till next week!

Let me know what you think – is Marianne a witch? And….when will the werewolf show up????