90s and humid this week, so I’m tucked up at home reading in the evenings. I have a few books to read yet on deadline, so I’m reading something really light and fluffy. What about you? What are you reading this week? And, how are you doing?
I have two covers to show you from the book I’m reading because I love the edition I have from the library. I don’t know why there’s a difference. I thought maybe one was the British cover, and one was the American, but the book I have says printed in the U.S. Amazon shows the other cover. It’s okay, but I prefer mine.
Here’s the library book, Aria’s Travelling Book Shop by Rebecca Raisin. It’s about Aria Summers, a widow in England who has been living as a Van Lifer, travelling around from festival to festival with other Van Lifers. Her van is a book shop, the Little Bookshop of Happy Ever After, and she lives in it. Her best friend, Rosie, has a tea shop van. When festival season is over, Aria and Rosie head to France, although Aria had just met a mysterious man named Jonathan. But, after her husband’s death, Aria swore she would only find love in the pages of books. (See, I said light and fluffy.)
Here’s the other cover, the one they’re showing on Amazon. Cute, but I prefer the one with books. Just my personal opinion. Of course, I’m also reading a dark crime novel at the moment for review. You’ll all see that review at the beginning of October.
So, tell me what you’re reading this week, please. Let’s catch up.
Well, that sounds fun!
I am getting ready to start a new book that I’ve been looking forward to forever. Actually, it’s an ARC and the book will be available in October. The Lincoln Highway by Armor Towles who wrote one of my all time favorite novels ever; A Gentleman in Moscow. I
It’s been a very good week for reading. Here ‘s what I’ve read. All recommended.
The Perfume Thief by Timothy Schaffert –
Clementine is a seventy-two year-old reformed con artist with a penchant for impeccably tailored suits. Her life of crime has led her from the uber-wealthy perfume junkies of belle epoque Manhattan, to the scented butterflies of Costa Rica, to the spice markets of Marrakech, and finally the bordellos of Paris, where she settles down in 1930 and opens a shop bottling her favorite extracts for the ladies of the cabarets.
Now it’s 1941 and Clem’s favorite haunt, Madame Boulette’s, is crawling with Nazis, while Clem’s people–the outsiders, the artists, and the hustlers who used to call it home–are disappearing. Clem’s first instinct is to go to ground–it’s a frigid Paris winter and she’s too old to put up a fight. But when the cabaret’s prize songbird, Zoe St. Angel, recruits Clem to steal the recipe book of a now-missing famous Parisian perfumer, she can’t say no. Her mark is Oskar Voss, a Francophile Nazi bureaucrat, who wants the book and Clem’s expertise to himself. Hoping to buy the time and trust she needs to pull off her scheme, Clem settles on a novel strategy: Telling Voss the truth about the life and loves she came to Paris to escape.
Complete with romance, espionage, champagne towers, and haute couture, this full-tilt sensory experience is a dazzling portrait of the underground resistance of twentieth-century Paris and a passionate love letter to the power of beauty and community in the face of insidious hate.
The French Gift by Kirsty Manning –
A forgotten manuscript that threatens to unravel the past…
Fresne Prison, 1940: A former maid at a luxury villa on the Riviera, Margot Bisset finds herself in a prison cell with writer and French Resistance fighter Joséphine Murant. Together, they are transferred to a work camp in Germany for four years, where the secrets they share will bind them for generations to come.
Paris, around about now: Evie Black lives in Paris with her teenage son, Hugo, above her botanical bookshop, La Maison Rustique. Life would be so sweet if only Evie were not mourning the great love of her life.
When a letter arrives regarding the legacy of her husband’s great-aunt, Joséphine Murant, Evie clutches at an opportunity to spend one last magical summer with her son. They travel together to Joséphine’s house, now theirs, on the Côte d’Azur. Here, Evie unravels the official story of this famous novelist, and the truth of a murder a lifetime ago. Along the way, she will discover the little-known true story of the women who were enslaved by German forces in WWII.
Bringing together the present and the past, The French Gift is a tender and heartbreaking story of female friendship, sacrifice and loss, and the promise of new love.
The Bookbinder’s Daughter by Jessica Thorne –
The song surrounded her now, the murmuring of the library insistent, and her foot took the first step on the winding stairs. She knew it wasn’t entirely a dream. It was the library calling her, its magic driving her.
When Sophie is offered a job at the Ayredale Library – the finest collection of rare books in the world, and the last place her bookbinder mother was seen when Sophie was just a teenager – she leaps at the chance. Will she finally discover what happened to the woman she’s always believed abandoned her?
Taking in the endless shelves of antique books, the soaring stained-glass windows, and the grand sweeping staircase, usually shy Sophie feels strangely at home, and is welcomed by her eccentric fellow binders. But why is the Keeper of the Library so reluctant to speak about Sophie’s mother? And why is Sophie the only person who can read the strange spells in the oldest books on display, written in a forgotten language nobody else understands?
The mysteries of the library only deepen when Sophie stumbles upon an elaborately carved door. The pattern exactly matches the pendant her mother left behind years ago, engraved with a delicate leaf. As the door swings open at her touch, Sophie gasps at the incredible sight: an enormous tree, impossibly growing higher than the library itself, its gently falling golden leaves somehow resembling the pages of a book. Amidst their rustling, Sophie hears a familiar whisper…
‘There you are, my Sophie. I knew you’d come back for me.’
An absolutely spellbinding read about long-hidden family secrets and the magic that lurks between the pages of every ancient book. Perfect for fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Night Circus and The Binding.
Happy Reading Everyone!
Forgot to place the book descriptions in quotes! Those descriptions all came from NetGalley or Amazon. Sorry!
I definitely need to read The Bookbinder’s Daughter. Thank you, Kaye!
Looks like some interesting choice. Thanks for sharing.
Wow–The Bookbinder’s Daughter sounds fantastic! Thanks for the recommendation, Kaye. It will go on my TBR list for sure.
You read some wonderful books! Like Lesa, I must read The Bookbinder’s Daughter!
None of the libraries has it! I’ve pre-ordered a Kindle copy.
I finished Isn’t it Bromantic? By Lyssa Kay Adams and loved it. A romance novel with a contemporary twist. I’ve just started Juliet Blackwell’s 11th witchcraft mystery where Lily Ivory and her hubby are returning from their honeymoon in Europe. The return to normal life finds a dead body the first day back. I always enjoy Blackwell’s books.
We have Tropical Storm Fred heading straight for us, due to hit over the weekend and hopefully struggling to make hurricane status. We’ll just have to wait and see. We just had solar panels installed to power our house. 47 panels covered the garage with a few on our main roof. We’ll be connected to the power company who will take any extra power we generate and pay us for it at the end of the year. While we had to pay for the panels, they financed it at just 1% which makes it less than our average power bill so we’ll be saving money from the beginning. And going very green! While power prices head upward, we’ll stay the same and see our bill heading downward.
Sandie, I hope Fred ignores you, and doesn’t become a hurricane. Good for you for installing those solar panels! I hope Fred doesn’t disapprove. Stay safe!
Well, at least Lily had the chance to get away & have a honeymoon before another murder.
The heat and humidity are back here too, for a little while at least. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be 94 but feel like 108! (And not in a good way, like the “dry heat” of Arizona, where 108 is OK as long as you have water.) But by Sunday we should be back to more comfortable weather. Until then, we’ll stay home and read.
I really did enjoy Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza, as mentioned last time. Trying to solve a murder while having to worry about what do do with four children under ten (with #5 only a couple of weeks away) is not easy for anyone, even if you’re as smart as Andrea Stern. She does have the help of Kenneth Lee, the disgraced reporter trying to rebuild his reputation. It’s set in the affluent suburbs around Princeton, New Jersey. I hope there’s a sequel.
Currently reading (only 16% so far) Jeffrey B. Burton’s The Keepers, his sequel to the first Mace Reid book, The Finders (which Jackie is reading now). This brings back Vira and all the other “kids” (as Mace calls his search dogs), with a new one, bloodhound Billie Joe, in training to join the team and replace a “retiring” Sue. There are terrific covers on both of these books.
Short stories. I finished Never Trust a Partner, the collection of con men tales by Robert Edward Eckels, and liked them, though you shouldn’t read more than one a day as there is a certain sameness about conning people. They are clever and fun, though. Currently reading Christopher Fowler (yes, the author of the Peculiar Crimes Unit books)’s horror stories, Red Gloves, Volume 1. I also read Fowler’s terrific The Book of Forgotten Authors, whose title is self-explanatory, and a book which gave me a bunch of new authors and titles to seek out and read. One that he recommended who I’d never heard of before was the Italian Dino Buzzati, whose Catastrophe and Other Stories I am reading now. These are not your typical plot-driven mysteries but almost existential tales without end, as in the title story. A man is on a high-speed train heading north when he notices, at every station they speed through without stopping, that people seem in a panic. They are gathering their belongings and heading south, but as there are no stops (and, obviously, no cell phones!) who knows what is happening? Then finally arrive at their destination, but everyone has fled and we never find out what happened. War? A bombing? a natural disaster? Very interesting book.
Besides the Burton, I have borrowed another library ebook, Steel Fear by Brandon Webb, whose review made me want to read it. It is set in a closed society – 6,000 men and women at sea on an aircraft carrier. Plus, I have three books in transit to the library – S. A> Cosby’s Razorblade Tears (at last!), Marcia Muller’s Sharon McCone book, Ice and Stone, and another I got from Fowler’s forgotten authors book, which I will discuss when I get to them,
Stay safe, everyone!
Between heat, COVID, and possible hurricanes, we do want everyone to stay safe. Thank you, Jeff.
I had Suburban Dicks at home when it first came out, and took it back to the library. Now, I really want to find time to read it. Between work, reviews and reading so I can moderate that mystery panel, more reading time is at a premium.
I just love the “kids” in Burton’s books. And, I loved Razorblade Tears, so I can’t wait to see what you think!
I have The Keepers here from the library, but haven’t gotten to it…see my comment waaaay down below.
Good morning!
Lesa, Aria’s Traveling Book Shop sounds intriguing. We have had stormy weather this week. It had been so dry, but over a couple of days we received over 8 inches of rain! Now some areas are dealing with flooding. But, it looks to be dry and lower humidity for the next seven days.
This week I read:
When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin – Evelyn Brand is a foreign correspondent working in Berlin at the dawn of the second world war. It is difficult being a woman in this line of work and she is constantly being passed over for important stories. When she is sent to cover a story about American students’ experience at the university in Munich she meets Peter Lang. He is an American professor working towards his doctorate in German. He is conducting research on language teaching and has come up with a way of teaching American students to speak German that helps them sound more like native speakers. Peter also has contacts in the Nazi party and he is able to use these to help Evelyn get better stories. However, this is a dangerous game they are playing and soon they are on someone’s list of people who need to be dealt with. I enjoyed this story. It was fascinating to learn what Berlin and Munich were like in these days leading up to the beginning of the war.
Closely Harbored Secrets by Bree Baker – This is the fifth book in the Seaside Cafe Mysteries. It is fall in Charm, NC and residents are preparing for the annual ghost walk. There are lots of legends about the town and every fall all the best stories are told accompanied by actors in costume. Everly Swan is providing the refreshments and her aunts are involved in the story telling. As if the event isn’t creepy enough, one of the actors is found dead on the beach. And, of course, Everly discovers the body. This was a great addition to the series with lots of fall ambiance. These always end on such a happy note.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!
I’m enjoying Aria’s Travelling Book Shop, Gretchen, with its combination of books and interesting characters.
I’m glad you like Bree Baker’s books. I just picked up the sixth one at the library yesterday, Partners in Lime. This is another series with interesting characters.
Good morning! I learned about Bill Loehfelm via a tweet by Alafair Burke. He writes a series set in New Orleans about an inexperienced police officer named Maureen Coughlin. I am reading the third title Doing the Devil’s Work. Loehfelm is a staggeringly brilliant writer. I stop to admire his sentences every two or three pages: finely honed descriptions, mood conveyed in a few well-chosen words, fresh characters. Incredible. This book has starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist. I see why.
I recently finished The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah, her fourth Hercule Poirot. I avoided them because I couldn’t see how she could convey the same Poirot we all know and she doesn’t. She tries but there are two epic fails. Can any of you see Hercule Poirot allowing a dog to chew on his leather glove? Or to lick his face?
I am not sure what’s next, I have a formidable TBR pile. Closest is a couple of ECR Lorac books and an early Mick Herron checked out from the library.
Severe storms have moved through the past two evenings, knocking out power everywhere and disrupting my prime reading time. Making sure the tablet and Kindle are fully charged today.
That’s the book in Sophie Hannah’s series that I read, too, Aubrey, and I just found the entire book tedious. I agree with you. That is not Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. I won’t bother to try any of the other books.
Interesting that Loehfelm has really been forgotten (ignored?) if he writes so well. I only heard about him because of you.
Good luck with tonight’s reading & the weather.
Off to check out Bill Loehfelm! Thanks, Aubrey!
Lesa, I read, among other things, The Radar Girls. I had it on hold at the library and then discovered that it was in my box from your last visit. It was a good historical fiction that again, for me, shed some light on a role of women during WWII of which I was not aware. That was a good box, there were four ARCs of books I had reserved and could cancel since I had my own copy. They will be going to the Little Library soon, since I have finished reading them.
Oh, Mom’s going to be so happy with more bounty for the Little Library, Christie. I’m just starting to think about October boxes, and I have one ARC that you’ll definitely want.
In the last couple years, there has been so much WWII fiction with interesting roles for women that most of us didn’t know about.
Current read is THE NIGHT HAWKS by Elly Griffiths. This is the latest in her Ruth Galloway Mystery Series.
As much as people love Elly Griffiths’ books, Kevin, I just can’t get into them, and I’ve read three different series.
Lesa! Same here.
Thank you, Kaye! I feel better now.
Ditto. I got her first book signed at a Bouchercon and she was very nice, but I just couldn’t get into it at all.
You’re right, Jeff. She is very nice.
I haven’t read them Lesa, but I tried giving one to my mother and she didn’t likeit at all.
I heard podcast of an interview with the author though, and she was great, very funny and interesting – it always seems a little strange when that happens!
Finished it late yesterday afternoon and enjoyed it a lot.
Kevin, I love Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series so much! In fact, Lesa can tell that I love everything Elly Griffiths writes!
I know, Kathy! That’s why authors need all of us as readers. We all have different taste! And, we need to speak up on behalf of our favorites, just as you do.
I just like the Ruth Galloway ones. I have tried her other series, but they are not for me.
I hope it’s all right to post this. Lesa, please delete if not. Lorie Lewis Ham of King’s River Life has released a new book of her own after a long hiatus. She has a few review copies to give away to bloggers and Goodreads/Amazon reviewers. Anyone interested should get in touch with Lorie and say that I mentioned her book.
That’s fine, Aubrey. I didn’t even know Lorie Lewis Ham wrote novels.
Lorie had a musical series with Alexandra Walter, I think there were four books, and a stand-alone from about 15 years ago. This new one is a fresh start with a different setting and lead character.
Interesting. Thank you, Aubrey!
Good morning.
I am finishing up This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. I loved it. I connected with, and cared about the characters, at the very beginning and stayed with them until the end. I wanted to adopt them and give them their forever home! Lol.
On the lighter side, I am listening to the audio of A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman. I like it and plan to continue with the series. I have to admit, that as a woman, I am so glad I was born into this more modern time for women! We still have a long way to go but “we’ve come a long way baby”.
Have a wonderful week and I hope this humidity moves out of here soon!
Hi Kathleen,
You are so right! Every time I read one of those books set in Victorian or Edwardian times, I’m grateful that we live now. Sarah MacLean mentioned something about that in one of her recent books. She said that women did have more freedom, and it was under Queen Victoria that it changed, and some of women’s occupations were taken away from them.
So happy to read all the good things about the new William Kent Krueger. I can hardly wait to read this one! One of my very favorite series.
Oh, you’re going to love it, Kaye!
Good morning! There have been several days I haven’t gone out walking in the morning because of the heat. This morning it should be around 70 at 8:00 when I go walking with the “Walkie Talkies,” so I’m going to chance it. It was a fun week, with grandson Henry going to elementary school for the first time. He will miss the September 1 deadline to hit age 5 for kindergarten (birthday is November 1) so he’ll have a year in TK (transitional kindergarten). He’s one of the tallest in the class and very social, so he should have fun.
In THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley, Patrick is the gay uncle (hence the title) of Maisie and Grant, age 9 and 6, respectively. Their mother, an old friend of Patrick’s, has recently passed away after a lengthy illness, and their father, Patrick’s brother, has asked Patrick to take care of the children for the summer while he spends 90 days in rehab. Patrick isn’t sure he’s up to the task–it’s been four years since he stopped being the popular star of a long-running TV show, and he is reluctant to contact his agent, who has treated him disrespectfully. In addition, he hasn’t yet gotten over the accidental death of his beloved partner, Joe. But he can’t disappoint his brother, who wants the children nearby with Patrick in Palm Springs. Over the summer they gradually adjust to each other. Patrick talks to the children as if they were adults, although they at first find it difficult to understand what he is saying to them. The children introduce Patrick to a life with young children, which he had never experienced before, and together they begin to take every opportunity to celebrate life. More importantly, they all find ways to finally voice and learn to live with their grief. I loved the way the author led Patrick to discover what he really wanted from his life and his career, as well as the amusing banter between Patrick and almost everyone else in his life. This one’s a keeper.
Thank you, SandyG, for recommending A WIZARD’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING by T. Kingfisher. Mona is a 14-year-old with a knack for baking at her aunt’s bakery and for working a bit of real magic with bread dough. For example, she is able to bake and mobilize a tiny gingerbread man, who becomes her constant companion. One day she finds the body of a dead girl in the bakery, and she is whisked off to the palace of the city’s ruler, the Duchess, for a quick court trial. While one of her shady captors wants her convicted, the kindly Duchess realizes there is no evidence of her guilt and allows her to go home. However, there is definitely trouble brewing in the town. Those residents who are wizards, or magickers, are told to cease and desist and to leave town, under peril of arrest. And an army of mercenaries is planning a violent takeover of the city, while the town’s heroic military leader and his soldiers are several days away. When Mona learns that one of her captors is actually the murderous Spring Green Man in disguise, she breaks into the castle with the help of a young petty criminal and alerts the Duchess to the situation. Ultimately, Mona is called upon to help defend the town from the militia using her own self-admittedly low-grade magicking skills and with the assistance of the almost human, wildly unrestrained sourdough starter in her basement! While it may seem at first like a whimsical YA novel, the latter scenes of the book cover a truly exciting and creative battle that make the slow buildup well worth waiting for. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek and her husband, TJ Mitchell, made a a presentation at a recent Sisters in Crime NorCal meeting, “Getting Your Murder Scene Right,” which inspired me to read their memoir, WORKING STIFF: 2 YEARS, 262 BODIES, AND THE MAKING OF A MEDICAL EXAMINER, which covers Dr. Melinek’s two years of training in New York City in the early stages of her career. The details about death investigation are fascinating, the descriptions of autopsies often stomach-heaving, and the account of her work immediately following September 11, 2001 heart-breaking and intense. A memorable, if sometimes challenging, read.
You and Sandy sold me on A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, Margie. I ordered a copy. I have no idea when I’ll around to it, but I will have it. And, I know I have a copy of The Guncle on some TBR pile. Thank you!
I gave up on A WIZARD’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING. I just didn’t care enough about the characters to finish it.
I finished three other books though. OUT OF RUSHMORE’S SHADOW: THE LUIGI DEL BIANCO STORY by Lou Del Bianco. Luigi was an Italian immigrant and trained stonemason who did most of the finish carving of Mount Rushmore. The book is about his family’s 25 year struggle to get his role as master carve on the project recognized by The National Park Service despite overwhelming documentation from The Library of Congress.
An ARC of BE MY GHOST by Carol J Perry. This is the in a new series about a woman who inherits a haunted inn from a woman she doesn’t know. I liked the concept but I didn’t care for the main character and I figured out who the killer was early on.
An ARC of A DEALER DEAD AHEAD by Scarlett Moss. Also the first in a new series, this one is set on the Oregon coast and features a retired K-9. I enjoyed this one even though the author occasionally gives us the dog’s thoughts which isn’t something I’m fond of in a book. But I like the characters and the story moved.
Well, you might have given up on A Wizard’s Guide, Sandy, but some of us are interested. So, thank you!
Wow, there seem to be a lot of K-9 books out there!
Good Morning. A traveling bookstore sounds intriguing. Unfortunately with the smoke filled skies and seasonal allergies, it’s turning into another indoor summer. The Dixie Fire is over a half million acres and still moving northeast, slowing a bit as it moves into previous burn scars.
First off this week was M.E. Hilliard’s debut mystery, The Unkindness of Ravens which was reviewed here earlier this year. With its catchy title and library setting, it is a fun read. It includes many references to mystery authors and characters as the librarian tries to solve the murder.
Next Laura Lippman’s latest, Dream Girl, a suspense novel with bits of humor. It features an unlikable novelist, incapacitated by injury, plagued by mysterious phone calls from one of his characters.
Not a bad book, but I didn’t find it as captivating as other books by this author.
But what are the odds of reading two novels in a row that mention Josephine Tey?
And a second suspense novel to finish the week. Camilla Lackberg’s latest, Silver Tears, the sequel to last year’s The Golden Cage. Translated from the original Swedish. This had me guessing as the story played out. With unresolved story lines another sequel is undoubtedly in the works.
Happy Reading everyone.
I’m glad you found the Unkindness of Ravens to be fun, M.M.
And, I’m sorry. If it isn’t COVID, it’s fire. I’m sorry you have another indoor summer. I just can’t imagine what people do indoors if they don’t like to read.
I reading Silver Tears now also.
I’ve put a hold on the Hilliard. We’re starting to get the smoke here in Portland, too.
Maryann Forrest, (real name Polly Hope) Next (Away From It All) was the third book in transit, the Christopher Fowler recommendation. How could I resist something described as an adult LORD OF THE FLIES”?
But now I see a fourth book is also in transit – Linda Castillo, Fallen.
Oh, you’re going to have a dilemma on your hands, Jeff. Good thing you read fast.
Now reading and laughing over The Genius Under The Table By Eugene Yelchin, It is a short memoir of a Russian Jew growing up in Leningrad during the Cold War. The iliustrations are amazing and his memories are great.
His family, papa, mama, grandmother, older brother lived in one room apartment, One 1/2 bath. Not much room, no bedroom, every night, his father had to move all the furniture so they could sleep. He slept on a metal cot that his family pushed under the big table that grandma had inherited. His brother slept on three chairs. Reminds me of when we had cousins come, and I had to sleep on two chairs! Painful and no sleep.
Have to go to PT right now. Love the book, hope that everyone can read it. Very short -200pp.
So glad you’re enjoying the book, Carolee. We always need laughter.
It is very hot and humid here. We finally got a rainstorm last night that cooled everything off but along with that came a power outage. Today is a repeat of yesterday.
Not much reading this week. I did manage to finish THE SUMMER SEEKERS by Sarah Morgan. I enjoyed this one very much. Kathleen is in her 80’s and decides she wants to drive Route 66. She advertises for a driver and 25 year old Martha applies. In the meantime Kathleen’s daughter Liza is overwhelmed in her own life. I enjoyed reading about all three generations over the course of road trip.
Sharon, My best friend found Liza a pain, but she hadn’t finished the book when she said that.
I didn’t sleep very well last night. My plan for today was to get through the final 100 pages of MURDER MOST FOWL by Donna Andrews, but I hope I can stay awake long enough to do so. No reflections on Donna or the book, just how tired I am.
I’m sorry, Mark. I hate it when I can’t sleep. It does affect me the next day.
I finished the book! Now, we’ll see when I go to bed tonight.
I just started listening to Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown. It’s a departure for Sandra as it’s a historical fiction set in the 1920s
That is a departure for her! I hope you enjoy it, Katherine.
It was really good, kept me entertained on my commute.
I’m late, late, late, like a certain white rabbit.
Here in Portland, we had a few cooler days, Friday through Tuesday, but has now returned to triple digits, with 101 yesterday and 104 is expected today. So, so tired of this Summer! Bring on cool Fall weather, please.
Reading: I returned Winter Counts to the library, because I kept picking it up, reading a couple of paragraphs and setting it aside, while there were many waiting for it. So I read the first in the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series, Killing Trail, by Margaret Mizushima. It started out with a definite cozy feel, the writing full of character descriptions of the protagonist’s fellow police officers, including hair and eye color, muscular tone, height, etc. “Uh oh” thought I. But as I read I became more invested in the characters, especially Robo the K-9 dog, and I found the plot involving. So, on to the next in the series? Sure.
Like an idiot, I checked the library to see two more of the series on the shelf. Yay! Mistakenly thinking there were 4 books in the series and having seen here that the new one was on the way, I assumed (you know…) and without checking, the two were numbers 2 and 3 and went and got them. Only afterward did I discover I now had books 4 and 5 in hand. So I put holds on books 2 and 3 and am waiting. Yes, I’m serious about reading series in order. Then I started something else, and the books 2 and 3 showed up, at both libraries (I have cards in the three adjacent county systems), so I now have five copies of books 2-5 here.
While waiting for the library stuff to get sorted, I decided to reread a favorite, Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor, the first of her Chronicles of St. Mary’s novels. So good, so much fun! Anyone who hasn’t sampled one of these should definitely do so.
The Last Commandment by Scott Shepherd is “an Austin Grant of Scotland Yard novel”. I got it at the library after reading a review, though I don’t now recollect where. The novel begins with a murder, the third, apparently, in a series as each victim has a Roman Numeral, I, II, III, carved on the forehead. There seems no connection between the dead. I’m about halfway through the book, which is either a standalone or the beginning of a series, and enjoying it a lot.
As soon as I finish The Last Commandment, I’ll start Stalking Ground, that 2nd book in the Timber Creek K-9 series. Also The Keepers just came from the library. Whew, lots of books here just now!
I am with you, Rick. I want to read series in the order written, it makes a huge difference, I think.
As Kaye said, I want to read them in order. And you really should read that series in order. She’s right. It makes a huge difference.
I reviewed Scott Shepherd’s book, but I did say it read as if it was written for TV, and I saw the ending coming. Fortunately, I know you’ll tell us what you think when you finish.
Ow I remember that remark you made, Lesa. I’m not wild about the romance that got inserted at page 109, but I’ll keep going. I hope there’s a solid plot reason for it.
Our air quality is degrading, as it gets quite smoky on top of the heat. Bleah.
Rick, I plan to read One Damned Thing After Another in September. One of the first things I read after I finish my 20 Books of Summer list. I am looking forward to it.
It has been cooler here than usual for this time of year. We did go for a walk this morning but in the sun it was pretty hot.
I finished reading THE ART OF VIOLENCE by S.J. Rozan, the thirteenth book in the Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series. I loved it. It was about finding a serial killer, but with a twist. Bill’s client thinks he has killed two women and he wants this proved one way or the other. Strange, but still very good. And without the normal aspects of serial killer thrillers that I dislike. I loved the ending.
I am currently reading WAY STATION by Clifford D. Simak. This is a science fiction book, a classic from 1962. Enoch Wallace has been running a station on earth to allow aliens from other planets to travel from planet to planet. He lives in an isolated area in the US and the station is disguised as a small cabin. The story is fascinating. I am about halfway through now.
I think Rick is the one who mentioned Simak last week, Tracy. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. And, I really need to get to Rozan’s books sometime.
I’d sayi need to get back to them too, but I still haven’t started, though China Trade has been on my shelf for years!
Way Station is a true classic of science fiction, really excellent. I read it a year after it was published, and reread it in 2006. It held up.
Rick, too bad I waited this long to read anything by Simak. I may have a couple of other novels by him that I got at the book sale a few years ago. I will have to check.
I read WAY STATION a few years ago, and a collection of his stories a couple of weeks ago. I liked the book.
Jeff, I am sure I will finish Way Station tonight. I am enjoying it. I have one short story collection in trade paperback and two other collections on the Kindle. I look forward to trying some short stories too.
I just finished and reviewed “Devil by the Tail” by Jeanne Matthews. It’s the first historical mystery I’ve read in a long time and I loved it. Quinn Sinclair, a Civil War widow, teams up with Garnick, a hack driver recently released from a Union POW camp, to start a detective agency. Their first case involves corrupt politicians who frequent houses of ill repute. The chaotic atmosphere and tastes and smells of Chicago during that era leap of the page and Quinn’s efforts to pioneer a role for women in her chosen field are both believable and exciting. Can’t wait for the sequel!
I’m so happy to hear that about Jeanne Matthews’ book, Joyce. I have a copy of it on a TBR pile. As I said to someone earlier, though, I just need more time.
The fluff book you lead with could be fun, but I’m busy that night, sorry (😉). But the covers: I like the library copy cover better too, EXCEPT I am not a fan of books arranged by color. Alpha by author, please. The older 21 window VW bus is cooler, though. Either way, I’m not convinced a VW van is big enough to live in, let alone and run a shop from, unless it’s the pop-up camper model, which neither cover shows. Also, the term Van Lifer is new to me.
Van Lifers was new to me, too, Rick. I thought maybe it was a British term, but when I looked it up, it didn’t say that. There were all kinds of articles listed. The story does mention pop-up, but I took it to mean a pop-up just as shops are pop-ups nowadays, wherever they move. Who knows? I’m halfway through, and she didn’t really mention that. All of the nomad Van Lifers have some sort of shop, but they set up at festivals in England and France in this book, and they set up outside.
Van culture is coming back. I remember vans with murals and vastly improved interiors were popular when I was a kid.
Pop up means that they have compartments that pop up. Maybe you’ve seen RVs that have that feature.
Glen, When pop ups where an early craze, my father did it to a van we had. We travelled all over the country in that van, and his two oldest daughters learned to team up with Mom and Dad to put it up. His was manual, but it worked great for us.
In the VW, “pop up” referred to the top, which could be raised.
It’s hot, it’s smoky, and it’s humid. Still, could be worse. We haven’t lost any towns since Greenville, yet.
I read:
Departure by Joseph Reid; Air Marshal Seth Walker is sent to find a missing engineer, who may be a terrorist, and the vice president is coming to town. Not bad, although most of it is Walker running around SFO like a chicken with its head cut off.
To Live and Spy in Berlin by Max Allan Collins; The final book (so far) in the John Sands series. Sands and his wife, along with his French ex, go down to South America to pursue the usual neo-nazis.
Lethal Blossoms by Scott Harrington; A female ninja is killing off Yakuza in Japan. Inept martial artist Trace Conner is called in to stop her. Luckily, he gets a lot of help.
Killer Aboard by Sean Blaise; Captain John Otter (what a name for a sea captain) is at the helm of a student ship going from South Africa to Brazil, with a stop at St. Helen’s. The students and crew have various dramas, then there’s a murder aboard, and a big storm. The maritime stuff is definitely better than the mystery. The stop at St. Helen’s was interesting, but I’m not in a big hurry to visit.
Lavon’s Hunt by Chuck Dixon; Lavon hunts down various child molesters, while law enforcement finds itself stymied by judges and politicians. That part seems a little TOO real.
Glen, It’s so good to hear there hasn’t been another town lost. And, as usual, very good summaries. Not quite as funny when the books seem more readable. (smile)
Hello Lesa and everyone – I am dreadfully late today and don’t even have a good excuse – since my daughter Anna was here last week I don’t think I’ve really got back into my routine. However, today was a beautiful sunny one, and I was back beside the river with my book, so maybe I’m finally getting myself sorted out!
The book I finished today was Mary Wesley’s Harnessing Peacocks. As with all of her books that I have read, this one is mostly about wealthy, upper class people, but the central character, Hebe, who ran away from home at the age of 16 when she discovered she was pregnant, does question the values of her snobbish family. Fourteen years have passed, and she now lives in Cornwall and makes a living out of (i) cooking for rich old ladies and (ii) providing sexual services to a few carefully selected men. The money she makes is used to pay the school fees for her son Silas. Silas hates his boarding school and wants to attend the local comprehensive with his friend Giles, but he tells his mother he is very happy at school because he wants to please her. Towards the end of the book, Hebe starts to wonder why she is sending him to a school that fosters all the beliefs and attitudes of the family she ran away from.
In between, we are introduced to the women Hebe cooks for – most of whom are former lovers of another friend of Hebe’s, Bernard Quigley – and to the men she provides services for. The story really is in many ways a comedy of (posh people’s) manners, as although Hebe strives to keep all of the men very separate indeed, they are inevitably all connected (as upper class people always seem to be!) and two of them in particular end up competing for her affections.
There is also an especially good chapter in which Silas goes to the Scilly Isles to stay with a school friend and his extremely hearty parents, who are there on their annual sailing holiday. (Also present are the two sons of one of Hebe’s men friends – they are full of bravado about their father’s ‘mistress’, none of them realising that the mistress is Silas’s mother.) The horribly loud and insensitive sailing clan are so true to life – anyone (like Silas) who has no idea about sails and tillers is mercilessly mocked. Meanwhile the parents refer to the person they have employed to do the cooking and cleaning as Mrs Thing becasue they can’t be bothered to remember her name.
Mary Wesley grew up in this world, but was a true rebel and had a very exciting life.
And Jeff, my little library managed to get The Book of Forgotten Authors for me in just a few days – I collected it this morning, so now I have another interesting book on my mile-high TBR pile! Thanks for the recommendation.
I’m not sure what I will read next, but I did want to tell everyone about a festival that is coming up at the end of September.
It is called WayWord, and although it is based in Aberdeen (Scotland) almost all of the events are online and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. And it’s all free.
Here are the first paragraphs of the website:
‘WayWORD is a student and youth-led literary arts festival brought to you by the WORD Centre for Creative Writing, University of Aberdeen. Workshops, author events, panel discussions and performance nights are all FREE and live online and include BSL interpretation.
Performers include Leila Aboulela, Graeme Armstrong, Claire Cunningham, Harry Josephine Giles, Kirstin Innes, A.L. Kennedy, Val McDermid, Zakiya McKenzie, Ely Percy, Karine Polwart, Dan Schreiber, Alan Warner, Irvine Welsh, Alex Wheatle, and more!
WayWORD celebrates unconventional forms of artistic expression from LGBTQ+ documentary opera to poetry, novels, spoken word, choreography, painting, zines, animation, songwriting and comedy – something for everyone. Includes events and invited speakers working in Gaelic, Doric, Polish, Arabic, and BSL.’
Some of the sessions look very good – there are a couple about witches and the witch trials in 16th and 17th century Aberdeen, some videos in which artists and poets explore the connections between storytelling and various locations in the shire, an event with Katrine Polwart (a highly acclaimed folk singer, writer and author) AND a session with Val McDermid in which she will talk about her latest book.
If anyone wants to read more, here is the link:
https://www.waywordfestival.com/
I have persuaded my husband to come with me to one of the very few live events, North East Voices at the Blue Lamp. He said ‘I’d better brush up on the Doric…’
It’s already past 9pm here so I will stop. I haven’t yet had the chance to read everyone else’s posts this week, so apologies re anything I have missed or repeated!
Lesa, I meant to say, I agree with you about the cover of the book you’re reading – I like the books one best too.
Have a good week everyone. We will be spending the weekend moving our youngest from Edinburgh to Glasgow, so I hope the torrential rain they have been having (Madeleine said the bus she was on last Sunday had to drive through a foot of water – and this is in the city centre) dries up before then.
Rosemary
Good luck with the moving, Rosemary! I’d hate to do it in that kind of rain.
With an earlier comment, you mentioned Ellie Griffiths’s books, and it’s hard to put the author together with the books. There’s a well-known author here in the States who had several bestsellers. I could never get into her historical novels. The voice never seemed right. I LOVE her on Facebook. I’ve been following her for several years. She really just talks about her life, but I enjoy that voice so much more than her writer one.
Thank you for the link to the festival. I hope it goes well, and I”ll have to check the schedule.
Have a good week!
“The Hygge Holiday” and I highly recommend it. Very uplifting.