It’s that quiet lull between Thanksgiving and the hectic pace of later December. I hope you’re enjoying some quiet reading time. Would you take time to tell us what you’re doing, and what you’re reading?
I’m reading the third Eve Ronin mystery by Lee Goldberg, Gated Prey. Eve is a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, hated by most of her fellow officers because of her quick rise to that position. She and her soon-to-be retired partner, Duncan Pavone are running a sting operation to catch a group of home invaders who are growing more violent. They do catch a group. In the opinion of the sheriff, it was a successful operation that ended in three deaths. But, something about that entire day bothers Eve, and she won’t rest until she’s satisfied with the case.
I really like this series and the characters. I hope you’re reading something that you enjoy. Tell us, please. What are you reading?
I’m keeping busy and still eating Thanksgiving leftovers!
This week I read:
Suburban Dysfunction by JJ Franks; as a woman in a blended family suffers various attacks, and somehow can’t figure out it’s her step kids and that they want her trust fund, even though it’s obvious on the first page.
Unforgiving Savage by Dave Edlund; A militia type steal a prototype weapon from Peter Savage, and tries to sell it to the North Koreans. Peter Savage does not at all appreciate this. Final book in a an odd duck series.
Bang Boom Burn by Wayne M. Miller; An arson cop tells us about various cases he investigated during his long career. Apparently, most arsonists don’t know what they’re doing, as they’re devices fail 80% of the time.
Sons of Valor by Brian Andrews; A terrorist group gets its hands on a drone and use it to attack American convoys and bases. The new Tier One has to find it and put a kibosh on it. Humanizes the terrorists to a degree rarely seen in this type of book. Published before August, it’s now historical fiction.
Oh, Glen. Unfortunately, most of my life is now historical fiction.
I put up my tree today and managed to get all the strings of lights going. My cat helped out by lounging in the Christmas tree bag as usual and then nibbling on the fake branches of the tree. I’m back to Toastmasters meetings and need to start on the next issue of my Sisters in Crime chapter’s newsletter. And I’ve been watching everything I can about Stephen Sondheim and shedding some tears. But there’s always time for reading.
Thanks to Kaye for recommending A MAGICAL NEW YORK CHRISTMAS by Anita Hughes! Sabrina, a freelance writer who lives from paycheck to paycheck, has a fantasy fulfilled when she gets to spend Christmas week staying in a deluxe suite at the Plaza Hotel in NYC, ghostwriting a memoir. The subject is elderly Grayson, who was a butler at the Plaza years ago. His favorite client was Kay Thompson, the author of the Eloise books, childhood favorites of Sabrina’s. Now a wealthy art dealer, Grayson pays all of Sabrina’s expenses, even buying her some clothes and providing tickets to exciting events. Also staying at the hotel are Spencer, a titled British aristocrat who loves to spend money on a series of girlfriends, and his longtime friend and secretary, Ian. Ian and Sabrina meet, and there is an instant attraction, but their relationship is hampered by mutual mistaken identities. I absolutely loved reading about Grayson’s fascinating background and lost love, the charming romance between Sabrina and Ian, and especially Sabrina’s experiences at the fantastic Plaza Hotel.
The Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery Book series features the team of Hawthorne, a British private investigator whose career as a Detective Inspector was cut short unceremoniously, and Horowitz, the author of the books that document Hawthorne’s most interesting cases. The fact that Anthony Horowitz is also the real-life author of the series that his character narrates makes it unique, providing a more intimate look at the inner workings of an investigation. In A LINE TO KILL, third in the series, the pair is invited to a book festival on Alderney, a tiny British island that suffered devastating losses during the German occupation and is now embroiled in a fight over whether to allow a power line to be run through town. But it is Hawthorne’s past history with one of the locals that convinces him to attend, taking Horowitz with him. It isn’t long before a particularly wealthy (and obnoxious) resident is found murdered under horrific circumstances. There are many persons of interest, including some of the other authors attending the festival, and no one is allowed to leave the island. I have seen an interview with Horowitz, whose history also includes creating and writing for multiple British TV series, and his enthusiasm and passion for what he does made me want to read his creative books even more.
Having enjoyed Kate Bromley’s first rom-com, Talk Bookish to Me, I was eager to read her sophomore novel, and I wasn’t disappointed. HERE FOR THE DRAMA is a more polished book, with more original characters and sparkling dialogue. Winnie is a highly-educated aspiring playwright who has been assistant to acclaimed playwright Juliette for five years. She hopes to enter her own work-in-progress in an annual competition and longs for Juliette to read and comment on it. When they travel to London for a restaging of Juliette’s most celebrated play, Juliette agrees to a quid pro quo–she will read and critique Winnie’s play if Winnie will consent to date a few British men and report back to her. Juliette plans to use that feedback to spark her creativity for her next work. But neither expects Winnie and Juliette’s attractive but nerdy nephew, Liam–the son of her long-estranged sister–to fall into an easy relationship that may or may not become more than they reckoned for. What I particularly enjoyed was the nuanced personalities and behavior of the primary characters. Winnie comes to realize that there is more to the woman she has idolized than she knew, and that Juliette has a depth of sadness that keeps her from being the person she wants to be. Winnie herself is agonizing over whether to stick with her current involvement in the theater or to strive for something bigger for herself. And then there’s that banter between Winnie and Liam that made me laugh out loud more than a few times. A delightful book! (July)
I’m adding the Bromley to my “Want to read list”, Margie. And, I have to get my hands on A Magical New York Christmas. It might be just what I need to get out of a reading slump.
Oh, Lesa, it is such a lovely, sweet book.
It is, and I’m happy your recommendation led to my ordering it from Amazon and reading it.
Oh, Margie, I am so happy you enjoyed the Anita Hughes book! I’ll be adding it to my annual Christmas re-reads.
I’m waiting for A LINE TO KILL to be published in paperback.
Gated Prey is on my nightstand. Hoping to get to it before the end of the year.
On Wednesday, I finished Stitched in Crime, the second Craft Fair Knitters Mystery by Emmie Caldwell, aka Mary Ellen Hughes. I really enjoyed it.
Today, I’ll be starting City of Shadows by Victoria Thompson. This is the fifth, and newest, in her Counterfeit Lady series set in the very late 1910’s. (I think we are in 1919.) I have no idea what it’s about yet (I’ve gotten so I don’t read plot teasers for books I intend to read anyway), so I’m looking forward to seeing what developes.
Mark, I’m with you. I’ve stopped reading the flaps of books I’m going to read because they usually contain spoilers, and I just don’t want to know until I’ve read it.
Even if they don’t have spoilers, I still enjoy the surprises sometimes.
Which, I think, means I need to revise a book review for next week. I’m not giving away anything the flap doesn’t give away, but I still enjoyed the surprise.
Good morning everyone – I’m actually writing this on Wednesday evening, as I have to go down to Edinburgh early tomorrow for my dentist’s appointment. It seems a long way to go just for that, but he is a great dentist, and from what I hear it’s hard to register with any NHS dentist up here (it all went wrong when the university decided to close its dentistry school some years ago – the students had to go to Glasgow or Edinburgh to train, and of course most made lives for themselves down there and didn’t come back.)
This week began with my booster vaccination, which I had last Sunday in the old (recently closed) John Lewis store in town. It was quite strange to be sitting waiting in what used to be the baby supplies department. Grampian NHS is being assisted by the local army in its attempts to roll out the boosters as fast as possible, so I received mine (Moderna) from a very nice young man. I did feel less than great that evening and on Monday, but it was manageable with a few paracetamol, and by Tuesday I was fine. I am so grateful to have been offered these vaccines.
We had a violent storm at the weekend – Nancy and I walked at the Crathes estate on Friday morning, and we ended our walk in blowing snow and strong winds, but these were as nothing compared with what was to come later that day and overnight.
In fact my little bit of Deeside somehow escaped the worst of it – there has been no structural damage, and there are not even any fallen trees on the river path – but we did have a power cut from Friday evening till late Saturday night, and it was FREEZING. All of our heating was off, our phone line was off, our mobile signal was gone. Very luckily for me, I have a gas hob (but an electric oven), so I could still cook on top of the stove and boil water for hot water bottles for me and Charlie (my husband, was conveniently for him, in France and then in Edinburgh throughout!)
The biggest problem was that it gets dark here by 4pm at this time of year, and only one out of three torches that I eventually found in the house actually worked. But then I remembered the reading light I had acquired just the week before – it’s a kind of halter shape that goes round your neck, with small lights in each end of the U-shape. I hadn’t even tried it before but it is brilliant, the beam was well strong enough to cook by, and the charge (thank goodness I had charged it that very morning) lasted for ages. What a lifesaver it was.
Unfortunately other people have suffered much more than us – some, only a few miles up the road, still have no power at all, and the damage is such that Scottish Power can’t promise to have them reconnected before next week. The number of trees down is unprecedented in recent times – some of the local woods near Nancy have been decimated, including one that was home to a large population of red squirrels. Up here we are used to quite extreme weather, but this was something else.
Books!
Yesterday I finished the proof copy, sent to me by Scotland Street Press, of THE QUEEN’S LENDER by Jean Findlay. This is fiction but much of it is based in fact, in particular the life of George Heriot and his connections with King James VI & I and his consort Queen Anna (called Anne in England).
One of the most famous private schools in Edinburgh is called George Heriot’s, and it was originally founded by this same man, who died in 1624. Although the school is fee-paying, it is known for its exceptional number of scholarships and bursaries for those who need them.
My knowledge of Scottish history is severely limited (having been to school in London) so I was fascinated by this story of the Scottish court. Heriot was the King’s official jeweller, and had an intimate (but not physical) relationship with James, and especially with Anna. The title of the book refers to the extravagance of the Queen (and the King, who would deny her nothing) – she was always ordering beautiful ornaments from Heriot, who ended up lending her the money to buy them from him.
When Heriot died he was a wealthy man, and his executors were able to call in enormous debts from the royal household – these were used to found the school, which he insisted must also be a hospital as ‘poor children are always ill, and ill children cannot learn’ (the hospital is no more, but the school is an Edinburgh fixture.) But the book is about his humble beginnings living in Fishmarket Close in the Old Town, and his gradual rise to fame and fortune. Throughout he remains a good and reliable man, a true friend to the Queen, a faithful husband, and an acclaimed goldsmith. Many tragedies befall him, but he just keeps on working.
This was a time of much anti-Catholic feeling in Scotland – some of the Presbyterians were fanatics, blaming everything on ‘the Papists’. There was huge superstition about witches – James himself was obsessed with them. It’s quite shocking to see how these Puritans can find heresy and witchcraft almost anywhere, reading evil motives into the most innocent speech or behaviour.(And of course in some parts of Scotland [and especially in the major football clubs], sectarianism is still all too prevalent.)
What I found most interesting about all of this was the way in which the court functions – the stylised way the king, courtiers and hangers-on live, the obtuse way in which they communicate – everything they say is in code, everything they do has a second, covert, meaning,; conspiracies are everywhere.
My younger daughter has also explained to me the symbolism used in the art of the time – how items were placed in portraits (and in most paintings) to represent certain things about the sitter. And of course the Metaphysical Poets – John Donne & Co, whom I studied at school and always loved much more than Wordsworth! – were very keen on symbols; their poems are like little puzzles.
But I don’t want to make Jean Findlay’s book sound long or complicated – it is neither, it’s an easy read and an enjoyable one, with some very funny scenes, and much to tell us about how life was lived in Edinburgh, and later in London (when Elizabeth I dies and James becomes king of England as well as Scotland, Heriot moves with the court to London).
I am also reading A CROWDED MARRIAGE by Catherine Alliott. I like this author a lot, she is very good at what she does, and although her books would not count as ‘literary fiction’ (whatever that may be..) I think there is as much skill in being a good romance/family saga writer as there is in being a Booker Prize contender. These authors also probably give pleasure to far more people! I’ve not got very far with this one yet, but it’s about a smart London couple who have a financial crisis and end up having to stay in a cottage on the estate of the husband’s ex. Alliott is especially good at writing about the English upper middle classes – I previously read and enjoyed her A CORNISH SUMMER.
I also came across an interesting article about the new popularity of cozy mysteries with a younger generation. This is it if anyone is interested: https://crimereads.com/millenial-cozies-a-new-generation-discovers-the-joys-of-the-cozy-mystery/
On BBC Sounds I’ve just listened to Agatha Christie’s A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, with the late and much missed June Whitfield as Miss Marple. I did for once manage to work this one out before the end, but it was well done, and the resolution did seem to me to be more convincing than some of Christie’s plots.
I am feeling a bit bereft re television after the end of Dalgliesh, the Bake Off and Shetland all in the same week. I suppose the TV channels are now filling in time before their Christmas schedules appear.
I did try a Netflix series that someone had recommended, EMILY IN PARIS, but I didn’t even get to the end of the first episode, it seemed to me to be like a poor version of The Devil Wears Prada (which I liked), but I probably didn’t give it a fair chance. The recommendation was made to someone on Twitter who had asked for new titles to watch, so I have made a list and will try some more of the suggestions. A film called LAST CHRISTMAS seems to have been popular. I’m still working my way through MRS AMERICA – I think Tracy Ullman is especially good as Betty Freidan.
Jeff, I think it was you who mentioned the MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES? I have tried to stick with this series, but I had to give up, I found it increasingly irritating. I think, unfortunately, that it’s Sally Lindsay who annoys me the most, she just seems so unconvincing. But she is a very well known and liked actress in the UK, so I probably just wasn’t in the right mood.
It’s time for me to think about dinner, much as I’d rather not. So I hope everyone has a good week, and keeps warm and stays safe; in this weather books are definitely one of our best options
No, wasn’t me who recommended it. I haven’t read them.
We have started SHETLAND and watched the second episode last night. I see Sandy’s reckless behavior continues.
Rosemary! I’m so glad you had Charlie for company in the midst of all the weather chaos there. The poor boy was probably letting you know he was cold! It is kind of funny to think, though, that it was a reading light that managed to get you through the cooking.
The King’s Lender sounds fascinating. You included all kinds of information I didn’t know just in your short summary. You’re right. I don’t know much about Scottish history, although I’ve read quite a bit of English history.
And, I’m going to check out your link to the cozy mysteries article when I get a chance. Busy day here. I’m on an interview team, and we’re interviewing prospective librarians all day today.
Good luck at the dentist!
Hugs!
Oh, that storm sounds awful! Like you, we has gas stove but electric everything else, and being without power is terrible. Glad you made it through alright. Thanks for the link to the cozy article, like Lesa, I’ll get to it when I can.
Rosemary, that is a brilliant idea for using those lights that loop over your neck. I use them all the time for reading, and have used them outside to water a bit in the dark, but I never thought of using them during a power loss for getting around the house. Luckily we don’t have a lot of power outages.
Good morning. My brother is bringing the great grandchildren up for lunch this Sunday and she’s decided that I should make a pan of baked ziti with meat sauce. That’d be fine except I’ve never made her meat sauce and there’s no written recipe. I’m going to make the sauce today and keep my fingers crossed that it turns out OK.
This week I read MILE HIGH WITH A VAMPIRE by Lynsey Sands on my mom’s recommendation. It’s the 33rd in the series – she still enjoys them but I think I’m done with them. I felt that it dragged and she’s gotten away from the humor the series started with and gotten darker and more violent.
THE REWARD GAME by Gerald Hammond. It’s the second in his series about Scottish gunsmith Keith Calder. Kieth and his friends attempt to beat out several groups of criminals to find stolen money and jewels to claim the insurance reward. I enjoyed this one .
It should say he’s bringing the great grandchildren to see my mom. Rush typing.
Thanks, I was wondering who the “she” was telling you what to cook.
Right there with you, MM. She changed it before I could ask.
I’ve had a really busy week and we are getting ready to leave for New Orleans today, so not so much reading time and even less in the week to come, I’m sure. And…books keep pouring in at the library! Isn’t that always the way? Jackie finished THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE and loved it. Now she is reading something else, maybe a Lara Adrian book. She just got the new J. R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood offshoot book, but it will have to wait until we get home, as it is a hardback. I’m almost halfway through 1979 by Val McDermid, another hardback that will have to wait. So far, I must say it has not engaged me the way the Kate Pirie series and some of her stand alones did. Maybe it’s just me. The main character, Allie Burns, is a young reporter in Glasgow in the title year. (Each book will advance the series 10 years.) The main case is a tax fraud thing, which is OK, but face, it, it’s not murder. And so far Allie (supposedly at least partly based on her own younger self by McDermid) is kind of bland and, to me at least, doesn’t really come into focus. Perhaps it will improve. I hate to quit halfway through but days have gone by since I last picked it up.
I’ve been reading mostly short stories, 87 in November. I finished the Hilma Wolitzer book (the last story was written when she was 90, and it is about the current pandemic), read Andrea Camilleri’s collection of early Montalbano stories, DEATH AT SEA, and I’m reading an Edward D. Hoch collection.
I have to finish David Sedaris’s second diary collection, A CARNIVAL OF SNACKERY, covering 2003-2020, since the deadline is tomorrow, so will read it on the plane. I also downloaded the new (yay!) Michael Connelly book, THE DARK HOURS, from the library yesterday, so that is next. With the Kindle, I don’t have to worry about which books to carry (I also got the newest Jeffrey Siger, so there is always a backup), only which of the hundreds on there I want to read next.
Have a good week, everyone.
I hope you and Jackie have a good week as well, Jeff. Enjoy New Orleans. And, enjoy whatever books you read on the trip!
Thanks (and to Kaye). We have friends in Slidell we are spending the day with on Saturday, which will be fun. And the weather forecast is great, so much warmer and nicer than it has been here. We’ve been there in December before, but that was at Christmas, when most things were closed. (This was almost 20 years ago.) We’ve been there once in January to meet my sister. And we’ve been there for Jazzfest (end of April/beginning of May), plus twice in the summer heat, once at Bouchercon. The other time was a teachers’ conference in July of 1998, our first trip there ever. Bill Clinton spoke to the teachers.
New Orleans! Oh, I envy you and Jackie! If you get to Mr. B’s Bistro have an Orange Julius for me and Lesa. Have fun!
Good morning! It’s still dark at almost 6 am, these short winter days are perfect for extra reading. Picked up four on-hold books at the library yesterday, so I’m set.
This past week I read:
Murder At Mallowan Hall (2021)
Colleen Cambridge’s (aka Colleen Gleason) charming and inventive historical mystery introduces Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie. A body is found during a house party at the home of Christie and her husband archeologist Max Mallowan. Well told story. I thought the best part was the private chats between the famous author and her housekeeper which are mined for book ideas. Of course these “ideas” actually worked in reverse from actual Christie books.
The Judge’s List is the latest by John Grisham and the second in his Whistler series. Investigator Lacy Stoltz investigates a sitting judge as a possible serial killer.
I have a soft spot for John Grisham dating back to the few years I lived in his hometown Jonesboro, AR. An appearance for one of his early books was THE local event. His family moved away before he was even school age, but he spent summers in the area on his grandparent’s cotton farm. He remained loyal to those roots and has raised significant funds for Arkansas State University.
In League With Sherlock Holmes, the fifth entry in Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger’s popular mystery series inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s acclaimed detective.
This anthology brings together sixteen new stories by the editors’ friends and colleagues. A mix as any anthology tends to be, but fun to see the variety and imagination.
“Do you really think you’re going you’re be able to do something that nobody could do for fifteen years? Prove something that nobody could prove?”
The Last Place You Look (2017) Kristen Lepoinka’s first Roxane Weary P.I. novel features a collision between a closed case, a tenacious detective and the local sheriff.
The Night Hawks 2021 Elly Griffiths
The latest entry in the Ruth Galloway series has the archeologist back at the University of North Norfolk. The writing is so descriptive one feels on location “…the North Norfolk coast, miles of sand and rocks and mangy looking vegetation…a horrible, rank, briny smell”. And the characters are ever so polite, even as they go about digging up bodies and finding murderers.
Happy reading!
Thank you, MM, for your review of Murder at Mallowan Hall. I have it sitting on a table, and just didn’t know if I’d read it. I’m more inclined after your review.
I can see why you have a soft spot for John Grisham!
I also like Lee’s Eve Ronin series. He gets LA right. It’s literature in translation for me at the moment . I’m reading THE ANOMALY by Hervé Le Tellier, the French sensational novel that everyone read there last year. Also reading MANASCHI by Hamid Ismailov, his latest novel, translated from the Uzbek. So far it’s my favorite of Ismailov’s novels.
David, It doesn’t surprise me a bit that you’re reading books in translation. I’m glad you like the Eve Ronin series, though.
Good morning my fellow book lovers
I read and very much enjoyed Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. The plot is wacky but entertaining. You just have to roll with it, enjoy the zaniness and not take it too seriously. The humor alone is worth the read.
I also read Penny for your Secrets by Anna Lee Hubar. I won this book, through you Lesa, a couple years back. An historical mystery series that I really like and plan to continue.
I went back to reading Silver Lies by Ann Parker, which I put aside when the Louise Penny book came in a few weeks back. I don’t know why, I just don’t seem to be into it. I don’t know if it is because I am using it as a “filler” while I wait for other books or it is just the wrong book at the wrong time.
My big news is my daughter defended her dissertation right before Thanksgiving and has now earned her Doctorate in Environmental Science (Marine Science). This has been her goal since she was 8 years old!!! It began when she tagged along with her older sister’s Girl Scout troop to view an IMAX movie on Dolphins. My husband and I are so very proud of her.
Wishing you all a wonderful week.
Congratulations to your daughter, LKathleen! That is a major accomplishment. You’re righ t to be proud.
Love this news about your daughter and that it’s what she’s aimed for since she was a little girl. Wow!!! Congratulations.
Congratulations to your daughter, Kathleen! You have much to be proud of.
Kathleen! That’s fabulous news abut your daughter, and her lifelong goal. Congratulations to her!
Oh, I loved Agnes and the Hitman. You’re right. The humor is great.
Many congratulations to your daughter Kathleen (and to you for being such expert parents!) It’s so lovely when our children achieve their goals, isn’t it? Imagine wanting to do that exact thing since she was 8 years old!
Thank you all for your kind comments.
Good morning!
I haven’t had much time for reading this week. Our youngest son just left on Tuesday. It was so great to be able to gather and spend time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday. I am looking forward to picking up Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl from the library today.
I finished The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker – this is the second book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series. The best part of this series is the location. The beauty of the French countryside comes across on every page. Not to mention the delicious food that is described in enough detail to make your mouth water. One of the highlights is when Bruno invites a small group of friends to his home for dinner. Each course is described in mouth-watering detail along with some information for those of us who aren’t French and need a bit of explanation about the more obscure items on the menu.
I have also been reading/listening to The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery. The Enneagram is fascinating. One of our sons knew something about it already and now our other son has become fascinated with it as well. It is the most helpful personality profile system I have come across.
Have a great week everyone!
Someday, I just need to get around to the Bruno books. I’m afraid I’d want to eat everything in sight, though, when I read them.
I scored an ARC of Harlan Cohen’s THE MATCH. We get to see what Wilde and friends have been up to. Loved it, except me not being of a scientific bent – although I DO believe in science, unlike so many these days – i found myself skipping some of the narrative. It hammers home some of the worms that can be released by joining places like Ancestry.com.
Jealous, Kaye, that you have The Match. I hope the judge appears in it! I loved her character.
No Thanksgiving leftovers but after only having two tiny, I mean tiny pieces of pumpkin pie, I asked if there was more. It was gone but my husband bought a sugar free pumpkin pie yesterday! Yay!
The egg drop soup made me hungry and I added that author to follow.
I am reading Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Strange book! It is an on and off truthful book about her childhood. I wanted to check it out because half of reviews were loved the book and another half either don’t waste your time, she is immoral.
I now know that I am very glad that my father was not a taxidermist!!!!!!!!!!!! There are a lot of tales about that and I just finished why she took LSD, pot and even cocaine once. Her childhood was the pits. I told myself, I wish I could adoped her before she started drugs. It ranged from laugh so hard humor that you have cover your mouth to “Oh my, she really needs different parents.
Also reading an Advance Reading Copy of Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy. I had it on the shef for a long time. I love going into the world where things will turn out alright even though they are dreadful now. I wanted pull the author of the other book into this one so that cousin Emiy could take her under her wing.
Carolee, That’s when characters really come to life when you want to combine characters in books.
We tried going Italian this Thanksgiving, with minimal success, I’m afraid. We just bought Stouffer’s lasagna and we’re disappointed, our Caesar salad dressing was bland, the garlic bread I made was limp. Barbara said the pumpkin pie was good, but I’m not a fan of it so had none and wound up with a dry cranberry muffin. Next year, back to turkey!
You tried something different, though, Rick, which is good. Just sorry it didn’t work.
Only one book read this week. But I really enjoyed it. LEGACY OF MURDER by Connie Berry. The second in the Kate Hamilton series. I am so glad I found this series through Thursdays with Lesa and company.
Now I am reading THE TWELVE JAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Donna Andrews. Typical Donna Andrews-lots of characters and chaos but I am enjoying it so far.
Sixty degrees today in Cincinnati. Hard to believe it is December.
Happy Reading!
Sharon, I’m happy you’re enjoying Connie Berry’s books. And, it’s nice to be reading an Ohio author.
I have the feeling next week is going to feel like December. Enjoy this week!
I am listening to the Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. It is non-fiction that’s heart wrenching and makes you so mad that all this really happened to Elizabeth Packard. In print, I am reading Anthony Horowitz/s A Line to Kill.
Nonfiction can just break your heart sometimes, can’t it, Katherine? Just knowing the events really occurred!
Things have not been going well with my husband’s journey with his cataract surgery. Most important, he has some problem with his retina … not a torn retina (which he has had plenty of), nor a detached retina, but more like a hole. Not sure. He may have to have “minor” surgery, but the doctor is try 2 weeks of drops that fixes the problem in 10-15% of cases. Plus the new glasses he got made the double vision worse not better so he is seeing his optometrist again tomorrow. We are stressed about all of that.
On the positive side, we get our booster shots this evening at 6:20 p.m.
That Lee Goldberg book sounds good, I will try the series sometime.
At the end of November I read one more novella, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, the second book in a science fiction series about a security robot with artificial intelligence who has some human parts. I am loving that series.
I also read THE SNACK THIEF by Andrea Camilleri, the third book in the Montalbano series. This was a wonderful book with a complicated plot. An elderly man is stabbed in an elevator when leaving his home one morning. A second case of a Tunisian seaman killed on an Italian fishing boat is one that Montalbano is trying to avoid working on, but it keeps coming back to haunt him.
Lately I have been reading short stories (although 60 pages per story is not short) from MAIGRET’S CHRISTMAS by Georges Simenon.
Now I am reading THE LAST NOEL by Michael Malone, and I am only one chapter in but it seems very good so far.
Tracy, I’m so sorry that your husband is still having eye problems. I’m sure he’s feeling miserable about it. And, he probably feels as if it’s a burden for you as well, since you’re undoubtedly driving him to the doctor’s. I’m sorry.
You’re right. Sixty pages is not short.
I’m glad you both got your booster!
Lesa, I don’t drive, so it is our son who is driving him — and me — everywhere. What is stressing me out is not being able to go with him to appointments, because of the pandemic. His first cataract surgery (plus additional retina surgery on that eye) was three years ago, so I was able to go into all doctor visits and be there for surgery, even though I was still working then. Thanks for your concern.
Oh, Tracy, I’m so sorry to hear of the eye problems! A hole in the retina and double vision sounds terrible. My cataract surgery (one one each eye, three weeks apart) went to smoothly I assume that would be true for everyone. Maybe you need an optimoligist instead of an optometrist? Whatever, I hope you get it solved soon!
I look forward to your Christmas short story reviews.
“Went SO smoothly”
Thanks, Rick. Glen has always (well, since he was fifty) had problems with both retinas, and that is what has caused some of the complications. Because he had so many tears on both eyes repaired, that has affected his vision. I don’t know what causes the double vision. The ophthalmologist that did his cataract surgery is the one who sent him to the optometrist for the prescription.
It is very frustrating, but I am hopeful that in the end his vision will be better.
After finishing short story collections DEATH THREATS AND OTHER STORIES by George Simenon, and DEATH AT SEA by Andrea Camilleri, I read DEATH STALKS DOOR COUNTY by Patricia Skalka, which was a very good first-in-series mystery novel about an ex-cop Dave Cubiak, who left Chicago after his wife and daughter were killed and moved to Door County to become a Park Ranger. I liked the setting, Cubiak is a strong character and the plot was good.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend we watched a lot of football, and I read more short stories for my Wednesday blog post.
Tuesday I got the second Dave Cubiak novel, DEATH AT GILLS ROCK from the library and I’m reading it now, about a hundred pages in. In this one he’s Sheriff of Door County – he was a Park Ranger in the first book – and is acting more like a cop: suspicious of everything, even deaths resulting from a faulty space heater filling a room with carbon monoxide. I can’t see where this is going yet, but has just been a major twist.
I’ll reply to other comments after I’ve read them.
Rick, I bought that Door County book a year or two ago. Maybe now I will be more likely to read it.
Rick, I read a later book in the Door county series, and really liked it.
I watched a lot of football over the weekend as well.
Have not gotten very much reading done the last few days. Scott and I were boosted late Monday morning and by early afternoon it was beating me bad. After about 48 hours they started fading fast and by yesterday evening I seemed to be back to my normal crappy self.
Gated Prey is finally listed as IN PROCESS in the system so hopefully I will have my copy in two weeks or so.
To answer the question, I am reading GRAVEYARD FIELDS by Steven Tingle in print. My eBook read is the latest issue of BLACK CAT MYSTERY MAGAZINE.
The Cowboys really need a win tonight in New Orleans–where they never play well–so I apologize in advance for the screams and language you will hear on the breeze tonight.
KRT
I am enjoying The Minister Primarily: a novel, by John Oliver Killens. The founder of the Black Arts movement (died 1987), this author’s book is published by his daughter this year.
Roger, I love it when you discover an author you enjoy. I hate it when they don’t have more books ahead of them, though.
Kevin, Those screams will probably be coming from several directions. My brother-in-law is a big Cowboys fan, so screams will come from Texas and Columbus.
I know you’ve been waiting for Gated Prey. I almost felt guilty posting it.
Never feel guilty about anything with me and books.
I continue to be surprised by reports of the booster shot bothering folks. Barbara and I both got 1st and 2nd vaccination shots (Pfizer) and our Pfizer booster shots with nary a moment of discomfort or feeling poorly. Sorry you had a bad reaction, but it’s good you got the booster.
Like you, Rick, I had no problems with any of my Pfizer shots.
From what I know of friends who have been boosted and what I see on social media, you both were lucky. Glad you were. Wish I had been.
More than anything and especially as I am at very high risk, I am just glad to be boosted.
Turkey leftovers are gone. Soup, pot pie, shepherd’s pie and a few sandwiches made them disappear like magic.
Thank you all for the wonderful recommendations. Always good to hear what others are reading.
I decided The Usual Santas: Collection of Soho Crime Capers would be my first Christmas Read. I’m glad I’m reading this early in the season as these are not your usual jolly, old Saint Nick stories. I knew this going in as the title explains the content as crime capers. So if the dirty deeds of mankind would bother you in this festive season, you’ve been forewarned. It’s not all rough and tumble though. Somehow the spirit of the season manages to poke its way through.
Various Authors with Various Narrators if you happen to listen. The stories cover many countries. I did not know all the authors which is a plus for me. A brilliant foreword by Peter Lovesey begins the action. First out of the gate was An Elderly Lady Seeks Peace At Christmas Time – Helen Tursten. If you’re familiar with this author’s Elderly Lady series you get the picture. If not, give them a try as they are quite humorous, dark humor, but I love them.
It would be hard for me to pick just one of these as a favorite. I’m not quite done but I did enjoy Martin Limon’s PX Christmas, and Jim Benn’s Red Christmas.
I’ve also started a new to me genealogy mystery, Peter Hey’s, When Beggars Dye, the first in The Jane Madden. Jane, an ex police officer switches careers and takes on her first genealogical quest to solve an ancestral mystery. There are three thus far in the series and I’m hooked.
Happy Reading One and All!
I checked the library for The Usual Santas and recognized the cover. Turns out I read it in 2017 when it was published.
Sometimes I write like I talk. Half sentences. I knew this was published awhile back and it might have been helpful to include this in my comments. I love the cover which is how I was attracted to it when it was originally published. I chose it as my first Christmas book to read this season. I try to read a few in December. I may pick one of the British Library Crime Classics.
RIck, Do you have any thoughts on The Usual Santas.
Mmmm. Shepherd’s pie! A favorite.
I’ll have to look for Peter Hey’s When Beggars Dye. I like genealogical mysteries. Thank you, Carol!