Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussman
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Publication Date: July 2012
Categories: Coming of Age, Suspense, Literary
Source: Public Library
Description via Indiebound.org:
Nick and her cousin, Helena, have grown up sharing sultry summer heat, sunbleached boat docks, and midnight gin parties on Martha’s Vineyard in a glorious old family estate known as Tiger House. In the days following the end of the Second World War, the world seems to offer itself up, and the two women are on the cusp of their ‘real lives’: Helena is off to Hollywood and a new marriage, while Nick is heading for a reunion with her own young husband, Hughes, about to return from the war.
Soon the gilt begins to crack. Helena’s husband is not the man he seemed to be, and Hughes has returned from the war distant, his inner light curtained over. On the brink of the 1960s, back at Tiger House, Nick and Helena–with their children, Daisy and Ed–try to recapture that sense of possibility. But when Daisy and Ed discover the victim of a brutal murder, the intrusion of violence causes everything to unravel. The members of the family spin out of their prescribed orbits, secrets come to light, and nothing about their lives will ever be the same.
My Quick Thoughts:
- This is told from different characters viewpoints. I liked Nick’s section best and missed her voice throughout the rest of the read.
- Hughes was wooden. Helena was a boozy stereotype. Ed was one dimensional. Meh.
- This didn’t read like a suspense to me…until the last few chapters. In fact, I was surprised to see the big red SUSPENSE sticker on the spine when I was halfway through the book.
- I would take this one for what it is, a nice and easy read that doesn’t strain your brain.
The Relentless Reader 
I LOVED this book (and reviewed it at http://bit.ly/10LECig). I have a soft spot for the summer cottage/love affair books with the inner struggles and family secrets (and yes, I am aware of the fact that I described almost all literary fiction). Regardless, I think she did a great job and I am looking forward to her next one!
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As we discussed on Twitter I think I would have liked this one better if I hadn't just finished Gone Girl! 😉
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I think I liked this one more than you did. However, everyone I know has to come down off the high of \”Gone Girl\” and the book right after \”Gone Girl\” can be nothing more than rebound material – sacrificed to the greatness of a previous lover – er, book I mean.
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Hi Belle!!!You're completely correct…this was sacrificed to the twisty turny craziness of Gone Girl. 🙂
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I have been waiting for what seems like forever for this book at my local library. I still think I'm like number 33 or something. I really need something like this with all that's going on around the holidays. I'll be able to share more when I've actually read it, but you've reminded me that I only have to wait a little longer!
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This sounds like a lighter read, and it sounds decently popular with these comments!!!! But you didn't really like it. . . . Hmmm. . . not sure what to do then. . . it might be a skip unless I randomly come across it!
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Glad you enjoyed it – nice, easy books that don't strain the brain are just what we all need sometimes 🙂
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This sounds like a fun summer read — maybe well-suited for a readathon? Since some other commenters seemed to really like it, maybe I'll look for it at the library (though keep my expectations of suspense low and think of it as historical fiction).
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It could be a really good book to read around the holidays, you don't have to think too much 😉
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I'm pretty sure everyone in the world liked it! I thought it was just ok..but like I said I read it after Gone Girl which was probably a big mistake!
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You are absolutely correct about that!
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I think it would be much better to think of it that way Rayna! I do love the time period of when the book first starts…late 40's.
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Hmm, this book sounded fascinating until I read up to the part in the description about the murder. The post-WWI, coming of age, family tension elements are intriguing, but I'm not much of a mystery/thriller reader. Might be a fun summer read though?!
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Brain strain. Ha! I think I might have this one at home on audio but would need to look. I do remember being drawn to the cover–it's so beautiful! Sorry it was kinda meh for you, though.
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The mystery/thriller parts are neither very mysterious or very thrilling if you ask me 😉 You'd be safe!
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I wish I had read it while I was in a different frame of mind. I have the feeling that I would have liked it a whole lot more this summer.
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Hmmm. . . I'm not sure I will read it then. The cover's beautiful, and it sounds like a lighter type of read, but I'm not too sure it's my type of book!
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