Murder on the Silk Road

Rating:
Summary: Interesting background material; unbelievable heroine
Review: As with most of the Matteson's I've read so far, this one is well-researched, and presents some interesting background info (I'm convinced Matteson must be the nom de plume of an academic of some kind). Problems remain with our dauntless heroine, Charlotte. Why must she be so perfect? The author takes shots at all of the other characters (especially other women) but her heroine is so perfect (five academy awards--give me a break!!) she's awful. Loosen up Matteson! Silk Road is perhaps her best attempt yet.

Rating:
Summary: I really didn't like the main character.
Review: I agree with the reviewers who noted that the book was well-researched, but still unsatisfying. I gave it an extra star precisely for that research, but that shouldn't imply it's worth reading. Because unfortunately, it isn't.

Matteson needs to go back to some basics and learn how to write characters. Charlotte Graham is entirely unbelievable and the plots are incredible, even by cozy standards. As much as I wanted to give her extra points for the clear research efforts, I just couldn't. My credulity as a reader was constantly being strained to the breaking point.

Skip this one, unless you're really bored.

Rating:
Summary: Verbose
Review: Page after page of words that take you no where. Paragraph after paragraph with no relief in sight. The main character is a snob and the writer must be a drone. I have read two of these soporifics and that was two too many. Read two Mattesons and call me in the morning...