It doesn’t even feel as if I’ve done anything except work this week. I know I haven’t read much. Instead, I’ve just been going to bed early or talking on the phone with family and friends. My mother’s birthday was Tuesday, and we all piled on. My youngest sister and some of her family visited. The rest of us called throughout the evening. She had a great day.
I’m just about to start Heather Graham’s latest Krewe of Hunters novel, Sound of Darkness. You all know I’m addicted to this series. The Krewe of Hunters is an elite group of FBI agents who have abilities to hear or see the dead. Since I haven’t started this one yet, here’s the blurb of the 36th in the series.
The cries of the dead are deafening
Women are being taken in Virginia, and FBI agent Mark Gallagher is determined to put a stop to it. Certain he’s closing in on the killer known as The Embracer, Mark is less than thrilled when he’s partnered with rookie agent Colleen Law, worried she’s a liability when there’s so much at stake.
But like everyone in the Krewe of Hunters, Colleen has talents that extend beyond the usual investigative toolbox. She can hear the voices of the victims in her head, and they’re telling her she and Mark are near to uncovering the truth.
When Mark’s prime suspect takes a liking to Colleen, he’s surprisingly protective of his new partner, even as he admits her connection to the victims is key. But tense interrogations turn dangerously personal when someone close to Colleen goes missing, luring the agents deep into the shadows of wooded rural Virginia, where nobody can hear them scream.
What about you? What have you been doing this week? And, what have you been reading?
Making some progress on my stack of library books. But the weather has been so nice, I’ve spent many productive hours in the yard.
J.A. Jance has written over 60 books and thanks to Kevin Tipple I just read one. His review of NOTHING TO LOSE while Lesa was away in New York prompted me to read the latest entry in the JP Beaumont series. A solid procedural, mostly set in Alaska, investigating a missing person which then morphs into a larger case. Entertaining read although it was a little jolt to have one of the life-long Alaska residents use the phrase “sitting in tall cotton” to note someone’s success.
THE MURDER RULE finally became available in the US. This is the fourth novel by crime novelist (previously a solicitor) Dervla McTiernan. Irish by birth, but authoring in Australia, her first three novels were police procedural set in Ireland with Garda detective Cormac Reilly. This a stand-alone suspense novel with law student Hannah Rokeby volunteering at the Innocence Project in Virginia. Great characters, full of unexpected twists. “They think I’m a young, idealistic law student, that I’m passionate about reforming a corrupt and brutal system. They’re wrong.”
And almost finished with a memoir, FINDING FREEDOM: A Cook’s Story Remaking A Life From Scratch by Erin French.
MM, loved the earlier McTiernan books and just picked the new one up from the library yesterday.
I don’t blame you, MM, for taking advantage of the weather while you can. Enjoy it! There’s still time for books.
I am afraid of jinxing myself, but I think we finally have quarter end close and the extra reporting behind us. Now, I just need to focus on account reconciliations, which are due earlier than normal. AND I’m starting on them later. Such fun.
It’s getting HOT here. I probably won’t be running at lunch time again until fall. I’ll have to run after work and go back to reading at lunch time.
Speaking of reading, I’m currently working on THE DROWNING SEA, the new book from Sarah Stewart Taylor. I’m hoping I can get a little more in before I got to bed tonight, but I’m already feeling sleepy.
I did not get far into my book, Mark, before heading off to bed. And, it sounds as if you’re going through some busy times at work. I don’t blame you for getting sleepy. Enjoy The Drowning Sea!
Hello Lesa and everyone,
I’m glad your mother had such a great birthday Lesa, it must be lovely for her to have such attentive daughters!
I’m writing this on Wednesday in a very wet and windy Edinburgh, as I’ll be visiting my own mother then travelling back tomorrow. I’m here for a dentist’s appointment, which I had this morning – decided to walk there and back, got soaked, but dropped into just about every charity shop en route, which more than made up for the weather.
I tried to be quite restrained with my book buying (hahaha), but when I saw FIVE Jane Duncan novels on the bargain shelf in All Together Edinburgh, a charity that offers training and work experience for special needs adults, I could not resist. So I bought:
MY FRIENDS THE MISS BOYDS (which I already have…)
MY FRIEND MONICA
My FRIENDS FROM CAIRNTON
MY FRIEND COUSIN EMMIE
MY FRIEND ROSE
And I know if I hadn’t I’d have regretted it.
In other shops along the way I found:
AMERICAN WIFE by Curtis Sittenfield – I know nothing about this, but it looks interesting. Has anyone read it?
NEWS FROM THRUSH GREEN by Miss Read
THE WYCHFORD POISONING CASE by Anthony Berkeley – again I know nothing about this, and a book blogger for whom I have a lot of respect says she had a very big issue with it, so i dread to think what lies waiting for me…
THE QUARRY WOOD by Nan Shepherd, whose THE WEATHERHOUSE I loved, and who lived most of her life just a few miles from our home on Deeside
THE DIVISION BELL MYSTERY by Ellen Wilkinson – another British Library Crime Classic, and I do have very mixed experiences with these, but there’s something about the covers that I simply can’t resist – at least for £1 anyway.
My main reading this week has been one of my 20 Books of Summer, Graeme MacRae Burnet’s HIS BLOODY PROJECT. I really don’t know why I had put this off for so long, I was fairly sure it would be very good, and of course it is. A story about a young man living on a remote croft in 1850s Scotland who murders three members of the same family in the tiny, largely impoverished, community in which they all live, might not sound very attractive, but Graeme is such a fantastic writer that I could hardly put this down (which is unusual for me, I have an embarrassingly low boredom threshold…).
The story is very easy to read and zips along, but it raises many questions about the nature of truth, perception, control and the results of the abuse of power. You don’t need to think about any of these if you don’t want to, it’s still an excellent story and Graeme never forces his overarching themes on the reader at all. But other books I have read by him – none of which have any similarity in setting or time – also look at these things. He has a wonderful, understated, way of writing. I’m not surprised His Bloody Project was shortlisted for the Booker – it should have won, but I bet it was just too readable…
I’ve just started another of my 20 Books, NINE COACHES WAITING by Mary Stewart. Orphan Linda Martin travels to France to be the governess for Philippe, a 9 year old boy who has inherited the title of Comte de Valmy as his parents have been killed in an accident. He now lives with his unmarried uncle, an archaeologist. The uncle has had to go on an overseas trip, so Philippe is staying with his other uncle and aunt. Needless to say there is an air of mystery about this pair; Heloise, the enigmatic aunt, meets Linda in Paris and escorts her to the Chateau Valmy; within moments of arriving there Linda is introduced to Heloise’s husband Leon, who has been crippled in a hunting fall, but is still wickedly handsome, spirited, fiery, etc etc – I’m sure you get the picture. There’s also – handily – an English housekeeper, Mrs Seddon, who has been there about 150 years and fills Linda in on all the family background, including the news that Leon has a wayward (but no doubt devilishly handsome…) adult son from his first marriage.
Who can imagine what might happen…I’m sure I haven’t a clue . But I enjoy most of Mary Stewart’s books, so here goes.
On the radio I listened to PD James COVER HER FACE, though I soon realised that I had heard it before, the very same adaptation. The cast included Hugh Grant and Sian Phillips.
I’m still working my way through the 2005 Radio 4 adaptation of Paul Scott’s RAJ QUARTET and have just started the first instalment of the last book, A DIVISION OF THE SPOILS. I was glad that Shelley Silas, who adapted this for radio, spared us the details of poor Miss Crane’s death, I could hardly bear to watch that in the TV series (The Jewel in the Crown). In this 2005 version, Geraldine James plays odious Mildred Layton, which is interesting as in the TV adaptation she played Mildred’s elder daughter Sarah (the only sensible one). She has managed to do both very well. I fear we are now approaching Partition and the terrible events that brings. I’m afraid I do hope they’re not told in graphic detail – the scenes from the TV version have stayed in my head for decades.
When my husband David got back from his work trip last weekend we sat down to watch the rest of the second series of THE BRIDGE, only to find that it had disappeared – the BBC has apparently sold it to Prime, who are charging per episode. It really galls me to hand over any more money to Amazon, I feel the annual Prime fee is quite enough, so we are going to wait and see if it eventually becomes free to watch. So it was back to Schitt’s Creek – which we love – for us that night.
And now I have at last persuaded David to watch MAD MEN. He’s been avoiding it for years, but I know he will like it if he just gets past the first episode. In fact when we did watch that very episode he enjoyed it – I do think having subtitles makes such a difference, as those New York advertising executives do seem to us to swallow their words, and to talk quite quietly in general. I suppose they are too cool to shout! I have seen all 7 series twice already, but not for some time, and I am happy to watch it all again as the acting is just so perfect. Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, January Jones – every single cast member is so good.
Jeff, I wonder when we will finally see the next series of THE CROWN? They did say 2022 – but no sign of it so far.
I have left Charlie Parker in the care of my husband while I am away. I had to type a list of instructions….I expect they’ll manage. I’ll probably find that Mr C has been allowed to sleep on the bed all night…’he seemed to want to’…
Hope everyone is well and having a good week so far. And Rick, if you are reading this, we are, I am sure, all thinking of you very much, and looking forward to your coming back to chat to us soon.
Rosemary, I know how you feel. That can be infuriating when a series you really like disappears. Netflix did it to us with the Spanish Ministry of Time (El Ministerio del Tiempo) series, suddenly pulling it off the air IN THE MIDDLE OF SERIES THREE and selling it to HBO Europe (so far), so even though we have HBO we can’t get it. It is a fun time travel series. There are doorways under the Ministry that lead to different dates in history. The main characters come from various eras themselves -Amelia from the late 19th Century, Alonso a 16th Century soldier, and Julian a modern paramedic (replaced by “Pacino” when he left – he was a cop in 1981). The shows are somewhat reminiscent of QUANTUM LEAP here, but they range all over Spanish history (much of which I was totally unfamiliar with), making sure things are not changed. Real people appear – Velasquez, Goya, Pizasso, El Cid, Cervantes, etc. One of my favorite streaming shows ever,
But I digress, as usual. No news on when THE CROWN will be back.
Rosemary, I caught the photo of your first haul from the charity shops. I think it’s funny that you didn’t want to leave My Friends The Miss Boyds on the shelf by itself.
I never read Nine Coaches Waiting. Now, you make me want to pick it up.
Oh, I’m sure your husband and Charlie Parker will get along fine. I think it’s good to leave the two together. Maybe your husband will be a little more accepting afterwards.
I talked to my mother just for a couple minutes this morning. She LOVED her birthday, and told me how wonderful it was with the visits and the phone calls. It was great for her.
Rosemary, I read American Wife back in 2008 but don’t remember much about it except that I rated it as only average. I enjoyed a couple of other Sittenfeld’s books more. However, I loved Mary Stewart (and Victoria Holt) and really enjoyed reading all of them too many years ago to mention!
I didn’t get much reading time this week but I did finish a fantasy book, A Hob’s Bargain by Patricia Briggs. When wild magic returns to the land and raiders threaten her village a young woman makes a bargain with a hob to protect the village.
Sandy, what is a hob?
Lesa, usually they are a small household spirit but in this book it’s bound to a mountain
Lesa, usually a hob is a small household spirit but the one in this book is bound to a mountain. Fantasy authors tend to change things up for what works best in their story
Happy Birthday to your Mom!
Busy week at my house with lots of rain in Cincinnati.
Two good books this week.
I think Margie recommended Search by Michelle Huneven. I was unexpectedly wrapped up in the search for a new minister for the Universal Unitarian church in Southern California. It was fascinating to read how they tried to accommodate all the special interest factions as well as the power struggle within the committee. I wished someone had read it with me so we could discuss it.
Next I Read Book Lovers by Emily Henry. I think Lesa reviewed it here. I enjoyed Charlie and Nora very much.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Sharon. I think you’re right that Margie may have recommended Search. It sounds interesting – not what most of us would ordinarily pick up.
Happy Reading, and have a good week!
Good morning.
I am reading The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani. The story switches between two timelines. Domenica beginning in 1920 and her daughter Matelda, as an elderly woman, in present day. I loved the descriptions of Italy and Scotland. Both are countries I have always wanted to visit. Someday, sigh. There was an historic aspect included in the story that I found interesting. Quite frankly, I was more interest in Domenica’s story than Matelda’s. Although I enjoyed parts of this story, this was not my favorite by this author.
I am listening to The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery. This is an easy read chick lit.
Wishing you all good health and relaxation in the week ahead.
My mother didn’t find Adriana Trigiani’s book to be an easy read, Kathleen. Like you, she liked it, but didn’t rave about it.
I have The Boardwalk Bookshop on a TBR pile. I hope to get to it soon. I love books that involve bookshelves.
Have a good week!
Lesa, The Boardwalk Bookshop is more of a romance. The bookshop plays little role in the plot other than the 3 characters are in business together.
GOod morning. As sometimes happens, I seem to be inundated with library books this week. I returned three and went to pickup one, but by the time I got there the one had become four (including the aforementioned Dervla McTiernan). And last night and this morning I got e-mail notices that two more e-books were available to download. I am already reading four or five books at once!
This week, then. First, Jacie read J. R. Ward’s LOVER ARISEN. Now she is reading the third (she read the first two some time ago) in a Linda Lael Miller trilogy, COUNTRY BORN. (Now that she has had her second cataract surgery, her eyesight has improved dramatically.)
First, read COME TO ME, the first short story collection (1991) by Amy Bloom, which I liked enough to borrow her second, A BLIND MAN CAN SEE HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, which I am about to start.
Read Mary Laura Philpott’s engaging memoir, BOMB SHELTER: LOVE, TIME, AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES. What set her off (so to speak) was the seizure her 15 year old son had on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night, when they discovered he had a form of epilepsy. I like her writing.
Roger Angell, as mentioned before, recently died at 101. He had a long career at The New Yorker, following his mother and stepfather (Katherine and E. B. White)’s footsteps, as well as a successful run as a baseball writer. LET ME FINISH (2006) is a memoir he published in his mid-80s and it is wonderfully evocative. If you want to read about cross-country driving trips in the 1930s or riding the New York City subways and buses when they cost a nickel, or seeing Babe Ruth and Mel Ott play in person, or even his time as a machine gun instructor in World War II Denver, you will surely be impressed, as I was, by the amazing recall and depth he has here. Yes, occasionally the name dropping is a bit much, but overall a charming book.
Still reading the Bill Pronzini book of short short stories, and have added Edward D. Hoch’s collection CONSTANT HEARSES and Other Revolutionary Mysteries. The largest group (and by far the better) of stories here concern Revolutionary War spy (for George Washington), Alexander Swift. They are set largely in New York, and deal with Benedict Arnold’s betrayal several times. If you have an interest in the history of the period you will enjoy these, but either way they are, as always with Hoch, good mysteries.
What else am I reading currently? When Ann Hood was a girl, she had two ambitions – to be a writer and to be a stewardess. She accomplished both, and so far I am really enjoying her FLY GIRL: A Memoir.
I’ve mentioned Chris Hauty’s Hayley Chill thrillers here before, and I decided to skip the in-between novella and go to the third full length book, STORM RISING. Highly recommended series, but start with the first, DEEP STATE.
But wait, there’s more (as Ron Popeil used to say). I also got the new David Sedaris collection and Delia Ephron’s memoir. So no shortage of reading material here.
This was a very mixed reading week for me. Two books that I had been eagerly anticipating didn’t do it for me and I ended up DNF’ing both. They are SOMETHING WILDER by Christina Lauren and THE LOST SUMMERS OF NEWPORT by Beatriz Williams/Lauren Willig/Karen White. The Lauren book was more of an adventure than a romance, which I wasn’t expecting, and I found parts of it difficult to swallow. In the other book, I had trouble keeping track of some of the characters in three different timelines, so I wasn’t really engaged. In both cases, I read more than half of the book before giving up. They probably were not the right books for me right now. But I was luckier with other books.
During the pandemic, I’ve been bingeing The Office, to my great delight (I’ve finished season 6–three more to go). And I discovered it’s even more fun when I also listen to the Office Ladies podcast, which recaps each episode with behind-the scenes insight from the actresses who played Pam and Angela and interviews with cast members and writers/directors/producers. So of course I had to have Jenna and Angela’s brand new book, THE OFFICE BFFs, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve heard many of the stories related by these two best friends on their podcast, of course, but there is a wealth of candid photos and I love the way the book is organized. Unlike the podcast, it doesn’t recap episodes (well, maybe a couple) but focuses more on character relationships, award shows, the extraordinary work environment, real and fake pregnancies, friendships among the cast, and much more. Totally entertaining if you’re a fan of the American version of The Office.
In my opinion, the music scenes in THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb are what makes this book worth reading, thanks to the author’s years of experience as a music educator and performer. Watching young Black violinist Ray McMillian prepare for a prestigious international competition is nothing short of exhilarating. Where the book let me down is with the lack of character development. Ray struggles against racism and a mother who is adamantly opposed to his dream to become a professional classic musician. She would prefer that he quit high school and make money in a fast food job rather than accept a full-ride university scholarship! But I found Ray to be a one-note (no pun intended) character who never really engaged me. Some of the supporting characters came off as stereotypes. I was also disappointed by the bare-bones mystery. It’s not a spoiler (it’s in the book description) to say that the mystery surrounds the theft of Ray’s Stradivarius violin, passed down to him by his grandmother. It’s not a surprise who the culprit turns out to be, and some of the plot turns didn’t seem well thought out or believable. The premise of the book is quite interesting. This is the author’s debut novel, and I think he shows promise. I’m hoping his writing style will mature as he continues his literary career.
From the title and the name of the protagonist (Nory Noel), I expected MEET ME AT THE MISTLETOE by Jenny Bayliss to be a Christmas romance. It’s really “Christmas-adjacent,” as it takes place from late November through December, and the holiday is not the focus. Nory owns a secondhand book store in London, where she enjoys finding the perfect book for each customer, but that’s not the focus of the book either. Most of the action is set at a castle near Nory’s childhood home and her exclusive boarding school. It’s a week-long house party with her friends from boarding school leading up to a wedding, and there are lots of parties, events, and drama. One undercurrent is that her wealthy schoolmates look down on the local townspeople (with the exception of Nory, although she was a scholarship student), and the latter (including Nory’s older brother) distrust those who have inherited their money. Her brother, who works in the family nursery business, also objects to Nory’s burgeoning relationship with Isaac, the estate’s head gardener. Isaac and Nory knew each other back when his father was head gardener but now there’s a new spark between them. My favorite part of the story is the relationships between the old school friends–some fond and friendly, some fraught and alienating. I felt the romance resolved rather abruptly, and I wish there had been more about both the holiday and Nory’s bookstore, but I appreciated the writing and especially the epilogue. (September)
I reread Nita Prose’s THE MAID, terrific book, for a book club (I reviewed it here in January), and I was happy to do so. It’s a quick read, the author’s debut novel, and the writing is wonderful. If you haven’t read it, I recommend you give it a try. The movie is upcoming!
I didn’t get very far in Something Wilder either before giving up, Margie. I got as far as the bar fight between the two women.
Good to know it wasn’t just me.
Jeff, It sounds as if you and Jackie are in a reading marathon! I like that ending – “But wait, there’s more…” There’s always more, right?
I’ve enjoyed some of your nonfiction reading, the Hood and the Ephron. Let Me Finish sounds excellent, too. Thank you!
Lesa, i love what good daughters you and your sisters are. Elizabeth raised lovely women.
My reading has been somewhat limited this past week.
We spent a few days in Birmingham with Donald’s family celebrating his parent’s 70th wedding anniversary.
70 years of marriage. Isn’t that amazing?!
Aside from that though, honestly, I’m just not reading as much as I usually do, and much of what i have picked up just hasn’t really been all that great so i have found myself giving up and moving on.
I am reading James E. R. Breslin’s MARK ROTHKO and enjoying it, mostly. As usually happens, while reading a biography, you learn things you’d rather not know, but it has not taken away any of my appreciation of Rothko’s work, which i do love.
And I read, and enjoyed, ON GIN LANE by Brooke Lea Foster. I am drawn to books about women realising their own strengths and worth.
“After her fiancé whisks her off to the glistening shores of Southampton in June of 1957, one young socialite begins to realize that her glamorous summer is giving her everything—except what she really wants—in this new novel from the author of Summer Darlings.
Everleigh “Lee” Farrows thinks she finally has life all figured out: a handsome fiancé named Roland, a trust in her name, and a house in Bronxville waiting for her to fill it with three adorable children. That is, until Roland brings her out to the Hamptons for a summer that will change everything.
Most women could only dream of the engagement present Roland unexpectedly bestows on Lee—a beachside hotel on the prized Gin Lane—but Lee’s delight is clouded by unpleasant memories of another hotel, the Plaza, where she grew up in the shadow of her mother’s mental illness. Shaking off flashbacks, Lee resolves to dive into an unforgettable summer with poolside Bellinis, daily tennis matches, luncheons with her Manhattan circle, and her beloved camera in tow. But when tragedy strikes on the hotel’s opening weekend, the cracks in Lee’s picture-perfect future slowly begin to reveal themselves, and Lee must look deep within herself to determine if the life she’s always wanted will ever truly be enough.
From the regal inns to the farmland, the well-heeled New Yorkers to the Bohemian artists, the East End of Long Island is a hodge-podge of the changing American landscape in the late 1950s—and the perfect place for Lee to discover who she really is.”
Thank you, Kaye. I can say the same about your parents. You’re a good daughter-in-law. Sending hugs.
Her husband gave her a hotel? Really? That sounds like a fascinating book. I just had to check our catalog to make sure I ordered it for the library.
Happy Birthday to your mother. When I lived in Californa, I called every Saturday to chat and loved those times. We used to trade books back and forrth, Miss that so much,
I have started listening to sA Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. It starts with a hostage situation in a clinic that handles abortions. Before I started I read a lot of angry reviews on her book. But so far, I am hearing a very balance story wirh empathy on both sides. Ir is odd but even though there is an active hostage situation going on, I do want to hear about that so much as the portraits of people on both sides.
Also reading Confessions of the Other Sister by Beth Harbison. Two grown up sisters and their relationship involving competition, envy, but also love for each other. I identify some with the responsiable older sister. At first the book seemed too “fluffy” but it is getting better. The younger sister lives in L.A. which I miss.
Thank you, Carolee! She really enjoyed her birthday.
Interesting about all the angry reviews of A Spark of Light. I only ever read the reviews before the book came out. I never went back to look at the ones afterward. Interesting that so many were negative.
Good morning all!
It’s so interesting that Rosemary mentioned she started Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart. I just finished it! It was the first Mary Stewart book I have read and I loved it. I will definitely be looking for more by her.
I also read Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron – this is the second in the Cajun Country series. Maggie’s co-worker, Vanessa, has asked Maggie to be Maid-of-Honor in her upcoming wedding to Police Chief Rufus Durand. Vanessa is the epitome of a Bridezilla. She has given Maggie a to-do list a mile long. When Vanessa’s cousin Ginger shows up unexpectedly, Vanessa assumes Maggie’s family will find room for her at their Bed and Breakfast. Maggie has heard Vanessa and other family members complain about Ginger, so Maggie is expecting a terrible experience. However, when Ginger shows up she is very polite and generous. Maggie is relieved that she has one less thing to worry about.
Her sense of well-being comes to an abrupt end when Ginger’s body is found at the edge of the Bayou. Suspects abound as the truth about Ginger’s life comes to light. The Pelican Police Department is on the case, but Vanessa begs Maggie to find Ginger’s killer. Maggie tries to tell Vanessa that finding a killer is outside of her Maid-of-Honor duties, but Vanessa won’t let it go. As Maggie begins looking into Ginger’s life, she finds herself compelled to solve the mystery.
I really like this series, but I admit that the premise of her new series has me intrigued. The idea of turning a love for vintage cookbooks into a business sounds really interesting. And, if the characters and setting are anything like the Cajun Country series, I am sure I will enjoy it.
We are expected to have temperatures in the 80’s for the coming week. That sounds about perfect to me. Have a great weekend everyone!
Gretchen, the setting is wonderful in Ellen Byron’s new series. The characters are as eccentric as usual for her. I think you will enjoy it.
80s! I agree with you. Those temperatures sound about perfect. Enjoy!
Read the latest John Sandord -The Investigator – which introduces Letty Davenport. I usually like his books but this one wasn’t that compelling. One thing I noticed was that one of the main characters in the book is Jane Hawkes and she has a middle name, however, a few years ago Dean Koontz had a very successful trilogy with a main character called Jane Hawke. I thought if I was his publisher I would a have told him to change the name.
I noticed that, too, Donna. I would have told him to change it as well. I have that same problem with one of my favorite series. There is more than one series whose protagonist is named Kate Hamilton. I always have to adjust.
Deer Season by Erin Flanagan. Fantastic book. Now I’m halfway thru a charming romance – Roomies by Christina Lauren.
You’re the first one to comment on Deer Season, Kathy. Thank you.
We got strange weather here, raining very late in the season, right before heating up to the triple digits. I think we got one really nice day, but I was out in all of it. Went to a 50 Wedding anniversary, which was really nice. It’s always good when the people who throw the party are caterers.
This week I read:
Vigilante Assassin by Mark Nolan; When a man is murdered via doctored headphones, Scott Wolfe leaps into action. He eventually joins the mofia to get the job done, which is a bit strange ofr an action hero.
Reasonable Fear by Scott Pratt; When three dead strippers wash up on a lake, the local DA begins to investigate. The main suspect is a rich and powerful man, who threatens his family, and kills the witnesses. Somehow, the press misses all of this.
The Demon of Yodok by Adrian Campbell; A privileged teen in a state much like North Korea loses everything when her father is arrested. She tries to overcome her programming to figure out what is actually happening, but finds it very difficult. Not different enough from here for comfort.
Girl Gone Missing by Erin Kate Ryan; described as a psychological thriller/thought experiment, a troubled woman tries to find missing women in the 1950’s. It’s all connected to a real life missing persons case, that of Paula Jean Welden in 1946. The author left out the Indian legends of carnivorous rocks in the area.
You’re right, Glen. Just odd that the press missed all of that in Reasonable Fear.
Well. “Indian legends of carnivorous rocks”. Interesting. Your summaries are always so interesting.
This week I finished reading THE LONG GOODBYE by Raymond Chandler, my first book for 20 Books of Summer. Previously I had read the first three books in his Philip Marlowe series, but I skipped over books four and five to read this one. We had just purchased a new Blu-ray version of the adaptation of the book starring Elliott Gould, and I wanted to read the book before watching the film again (after 20 years).
I am now reading another book from my 20 Books of Summer list, A PITYING OF DOVES. This is the second book in the Birder Murder Mystery Series; the main protagonist is DCI Domenic Jejeune. The setting is the Norfolk town of Saltmarsh. Two people are killed at a bird sanctuary; one of them is a Mexican national working at the consolate in London. There government steps in and doesn’t want there to be any embarrassing diplomatic incidents as a result of the investigation. That situation provided a lot of interesting information. Jejeune is a birder and really would rather be doing research in that area than doing his job, even though he is very good at it. I am only halfway through, I will see where this investigation takes him. I enjoy reading about birds and learning more about them, in a fictional setting, so that is a big plus for me.
That is about it. I am not reading or blogging as much as I would like because I have a lot of other things I need to get done this month.
Tracy, Life just sometimes gets in the way of reading and blogging.
You didn’t say what you thought of The Long Goodbye. Or, maybe you just want to tell us about the adaptation after you watch it.
I have had problems explaining (to myself) what I liked about THE LONG GOODBYE. The writing is beautiful. The reading experience was wonderful, even if the plot confused me (and defies description without spoiling the story). This seemed very different from the first three books. Marlowe never has a real client in this one. He tries to help two different people, over several months time, and neither one seems to deserve his help. The whole experience seems aimless but does come together in the end, with some surprises. And I did enjoy it. The only negative part was that I remembered some plot points from the film, even if it was twenty years since my last viewing. The film is based only loosely on the book if I remember correctly, but still this knowledge did affect my reading experience. I am not sure why, because I loved reading THE BIG SLEEP, and I had watched the film with Humphrey Bogart many, many times.
And I should mention that there is lots of social commentary and that was interesting too.
Thank you, Tracy. Every time I try to explain a book to someone else, I understand my own feelings for it just a little bit more. I appreciate it! – Lesa
It was helpful to me to put some time into thinking about it, so thanks for asking.
I just finished Read and Buried (book 6 in the Lighthouse Library series) by Eva Gates. Currently listening to James Patterson’s memoir on audio (he reads the book himself). Reading in print The Cage by Bonnie Kistler (little tidbit of info, Bonnie was a contestant on Jeopardy about 2 weeks ago. She didn’t win, alas.)
Katherine, I’m a big Jeopardy fan, and when Bonnie said she was a published author, I looked her up. I haven’t read anything by her yet. Another former Jeopardy contestant is Brendan DuBois. I actually saw him when he was a contestant on The Chase. When I found him on Amazon, I learned that he had written a book about his experiences on Jeopardy, and it was fun to read. Brendan is now a Facebook friend. He writes books with James Patterson as well as on his own.
I’m on the waiting list for James Patterson’s memoir, Katherine. Unlike, Margie, I didn’t look Bonnie up when she was on Jeopardy. I’ll be interested to see what you think of her book.
I have read several of Brendan DuBois’ books.