Liberty Square

Aimee Grant, Kate's partner, and a friend from Vietnam, Melanie conspire to get Kate to attend a 25th anniversary of people who worked together in Vietnam in 1968-1969, the most difficult time of the war. From previous Kate Delafied books, we know that Kate is reluctant to talk about this time, which puts a strain on her personal life. Even with Aimee, she can't talk about it. She wants to shelter her from the horrors and horror it is. If you know nothing about Vietnam, which I didn't this book is an education, especially about the contribution made by the women which is belitted even by the men who worked with them. In this book, we also get some insight into Aimee, which I found very interesting and I ended up liking Aimee even more than I did in Delafield's two previous books in which she appeared, "The Beverly Malibu" and "Murder by Tradition". Kate can't see that by not sharing with Aimee she is not protecting her but shutting her out. Although all the clues are there, the solution of the murder will probably be a surprise. The ending where Kate and her friends and Aimee visit the Vietnam War Memorial is very moving. Another fine selection in the Delafied series and a bit more insight into Kate's life, fears and experiences.

I think this book is absolutely the best of Katherine Forrest's work. It is well-written, emotionally engaging, the mystery is engrossing, and it gives attention to the role that women played in VietNam -- a rare subject in US literature of any genre.

Perhaps I haven't read too many books, but this is the first book I've read that mentioned a same sex relationship. I thought I was reading the wrong words at first. It was really interesting. I wasn't too comfortable with it at first, then later on I got used to it. I give the author all the props for such a different approach. The mystery itself isn't bad either. It wasn't putting me to sleep. The beginning was catching my attention already, it wasn't one of those typical boring openings. It was a good book.

My Hobby is mystery reading. I think Liberty Square is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. Katherine V. Forrest, this two-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Mystery, continues to surprise me. The best part of the book is the expertly crafted mystery itself. I kept asking myself: "How can this be?" But in the end the solution of the mystery sounds extremely plausible and satisfying. Trust me, you will not guess the solution yet the author keeps nothing hidden. The characterization is well done; the personal banter of Kate Delafield, the detective, is an exciting complement to the mystery; the author's descriptions of locale pull one into the story. In addition to reading a very satisfying mystery, I always learn a lot about life when I read a Katherine V. Forrest book. I have never reviewed a book before but this is one I can't let go.

I must say that this lady is one of the best authors ever to hit the creative writers industry