“Demon of Unrest” and other short reviews from readers

Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot and often dictate what the rest of us put on our nightstands. So we asked them and all Denver Post readers to share their mini-reviews with you. Have any to contribute? Email [email protected].

“Wish You Were Here” by Jodi Picoult (Ballantine Books, 2021)

Most of us remember where we were when the world stopped on March 13, 2020. But what if an unprecedented virus emerged on March 14 and challenged our notion of reality, and what is real only to us? Diana, who lives in New York City, leads a reasonable life with the perfect fiancé and a promising career as an art broker. But a solo trip to the beautiful Galapagos Islands makes her question the trip she so carefully planned, for she finds herself trapped and isolated there, like many of us at home, and wonders how it could be that we were so vulnerable and unprepared. In her usual style, Picoult builds in a twist about halfway through that makes the reader question their own memories of the early pandemic, what we’ve learned, and how we’ve evolved since then. Are we still the same as before the pandemic began, and would we want to be? — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Karen Hartman, Westminster

“The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War,” by Erik Larson (Crown, 2024)

How exactly did the American Civil War really begin? That was the question Larson set out to answer in his latest nonfiction book. Larson’s exhaustive research drew on countless letters, telegrams and diaries, as well as historical and military documents. He sheds light on the opinions, actions and thoughts of politicians, military officers and everyday figures from both the Southern and Northern states to dramatize the many threats and actual events that led to the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 and sparked our Civil War. A compelling story full of human errors, misunderstandings, much bluster and both moral and amoral individuals. It’s also a bit of a cautionary tale about underestimating extremists. — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

“The Paris Apartment” by Kelly Bowen (Forever, 2021)

This novel has the misfortune of sharing the same title as at least three other books. I like Bowen’s version best because it contains several compelling and connected stories with characters and plotlines embedded in WWII and the post-war period. Aurelia inherits an opulent Paris apartment from her grandmother with a hidden treasure of famous art and couture dresses. She wants to return stolen items and begins working with Gabriel, an art restorer. Was Grandma a schemer and opportunist or a quiet hero? Why did she die sitting on all that wealth? The timelines and relationships across generations, as well as the Nazi-era mysteries, keep readers eagerly following clues to solve puzzles and root for the good guys. — 2 1/2 stars (out of 4); Bonnie McCune, Denver (bonniemccune.com)

“Flight of the Wild Swan” by Melissa Pritchard (Bellevue Literary Press, 2024)

This novel is a fictionalized account of the life of Florence Nightingale. Its subject is a wayward child, a teenage norm-breaker, and a tenacious adult who overcomes many obstacles to bring about improvements in the then-new field of nursing. Her time in Crimea was particularly bleak. Nightingale’s passion for her work and tireless perseverance brought her fame during her lifetime and worldwide recognition thereafter as a pioneer of nursing. A powerful story. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

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