Hot, hot, hot in California. That’s what I keep hearing from friends. I hope those of you who are there are doing okay. I hope you still have air conditioning in California, Texas, and other states where they’ve been predicting that they’ll have to cut off electricity for a while. Take care of yourself.
I’m going to do something a little different today for my part of “What Are You Reading?” I’m not reading Elizabeth Gunn’s Triple Play. I actually read it years ago. Gunn wrote ten books in the Jake Hines series, and seven more featuring Sarah Burke. The first series, beginning with Triple Play, was a police procedural series set in the fictional town of Rutherford, Minnesota. Elizabeth Gunn died on August 30, at the age of 95. After she moved to Tucson, she spoke at the Velma Teague Branch Library, where I was manager. She came up with several other Tucson authors. Although her second series was set in Tucson, I loved the Jake Hines books. Jake was a young police officer at the start of the series, but he didn’t know his family background, so when people questioned his race, he had no answers. His multi-racial appearance stood out in a small Minnesota town, and that was an essential element of the stories for much of the series. Gunn wrote solid, small-town police procedurals, and told the library audience that she had a relative who was a police officer. By now, I don’t remember if it was an uncle, cousin, or brother. But, the stories were well-written, with ongoing storylines about the characters on the police force.
Triple Play is now available to purchase as an ebook or audiobook, but only as a used book. Even so, if you’re a fan of police procedurals, you might want to look for Elizabeth Gunn’s mysteries.
It might not be what I’m reading this week, but I was a fan of her books, so I wanted to mention them. You can find more about her background here. https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/gunn-elizabeth-1927
What about you? What are you reading this week? Or, what book or author have you been thinking about, since that’s where I went with the question?
Well, we’ve escaped threatened power outages two days running since apparently everyone cut back on their usage in time. Two more days of triple-digit heat are forecast, then on Saturday the temp is supposed to dip down about 15 degrees to the 80s, believe or not, and stay there for at least a week. I can’t wait! Right now, being without A/C is unthinkable. I’m even considering leaving it on all night tonight because the inside temp hasn’t gotten below 80, although the cool air is very nice. Stay cool, everyone! Autumn is (hopefully) coming soon. Here’s what I’ve been reading this week.
I am so impressed with the way Gigi Pandian has fashioned a seemingly impossible puzzle of a plot that sure-handedly leads the protagonist–and the reader–from one baffling clue to the next. Tempest Raj is singularly equipped to solve the puzzle, as she is both a stage magician and a member of her family’s construction business. Her magician background makes her an expert at recognizing misdirection, and Secret Staircase Construction specializes in designing and installing “real-life” magical features for their clients’ houses, including not only secret staircases but sliding bookcases, hidden rooms, optical illusions, and the like. In THE RAVEN THIEF, Tempest’s talents are challenged when the local cafe proprietor, a new client, asks Tempest’s magician friend to conduct a fake séance to clear her recently remodeled home of all traces of her cheating ex-husband. Tempest and her beloved Grandpa Ash are among the eight attendees, all of their clasped hands making a circle around a table, when the lights go out briefly. To their horror, the philandering spouse himself appears to fall onto the table, with a bloody knife in his chest, although an unbreakable alibi puts him miles away. When Grandpa Ash, a physician, is deemed the prime suspect, Tempest is determined to use her skills to identify the real murderer. The second in the Secret Staircase Mystery series is decidedly plot-driven, challenging the reader to solve the puzzle along with Tempest, who recognizes some similarities to the case in her own family history. The character of Tempest remains somewhat of a mystery herself, although we know her to be brilliant and loyal, with an undercurrent of sadness. As with the first in the series, I relished the descriptions of the way the family has furnished their own and their clients’ homes with wonderfully creative features. It appears that some of the family mysteries remain unsolved at the end of this book, which is encouraging because it must mean there will be more books in the series. (March)
In TWENTY-ONE NIGHTS IN PARIS by Leonie Mack (thank you, Kaye, for the recommendation), I love the author’s descriptions of Paris–so beautiful and so evocative for anyone who has ever experienced the City of Light. This story doesn’t revolve around Christmas, but it takes place during that season, allowing the reader to revel also in the fabulous Christmas markets and decorations that pepper the city during the holiday season. Ren (short for Irena) is wealthy, having inherited a prominent London auction house and antiques business after losing her parents at a very young age. Ren grew up with her only close relative, her aristocratic grandmother, and they weathered some tough times until they brought someone in from outside of the family to help run the business. An upcoming merger with Ren’s fiancé’s parents’ business should bolster the company even further, but will it still happen now that her fiancé has dumped her for another woman? Ren doesn’t really know how to live outside of her entitled status and her corporate role until, on a trip to Paris, she literally runs into Sacha, a man who is unacceptable to her grandmother in every way but who awakens in her a new sense of freedom and a burgeoning reality that there is more to life than the one she is living. I found Sacha engaging and refreshing as we slowly learned more about him, although I had trouble warming to Ren at first. I felt she could have been better described to lay the foundation for why she acted as she did, and sometimes her dialogue with Sacha seemed a bit stilted and inauthentic. I also felt there was too much agonizing by both characters about why they could never have a life together. Come on, this is a romance after all! But as things progressed, I was less bothered and more engaged in the story and in the fate of two people who started their relationship as a faux romance with little to no hope of making their relationship a meaningful one. (October)
Ashley Schumacher’s THE RENAISSANCE OF GWEN HATHAWAY, a YA novel, sounded like fun, as it is set over one summer in a Renaissance Faire, but it turned out to be so much more. Madeline (later nicknamed Gwen for reasons that unfold) is trying to find her way after the devastating death of her mother almost a year ago. She and her dad have continued to peddle their handmade jewelry and leather goods at a series of fairs along their annual route, while 17-year-old Madeline goes to school online from their RV home. Separated from her best friend when Fatima’s family opts out of the Renaissance Faire traveling lifestyle and reluctant to let anyone else into her life for fear of losing them, she sometimes makes decisions with a flip of an heirloom coin. Madeline never expected to find her mother’s favorite fair almost unrecognizable under new management. Nor did she expect to meet an unimpressive-looking boy her own age who plays the lute, fancies himself a bard, and begs her to be the princess of the Faire. It is the beautiful, insightful writing that makes this book shine. We agonize along with Madeline as she tries to “tame” her world and find a way to trust her own instincts and reconnect with life. Arthur, her new acquaintance, is one of the most surprising, engaging, and charming male protagonists I have encountered in a long time. It would be hard not to root for these two. Supporting characters such as Madeline’s father, her friend Fatima, Arthur’s two dads, and two theater kids from the local high school are sensitively and realistically portrayed. Finally, the way this particular Renaissance Faire is described is almost magical. I’ve already put a library hold on one of the author’s two previous books. Highly recommended, regardless of your age. (March)
I also read Emily Henry’s Book Lovers for a second time for one of my book clubs, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. I really admire her writing style. She’s got one coming out next year called Happy Place..
I like the sound of every one of your book selections, Margie. Enjoy the next week, and I hope it cools off for you!
Margie, as soon as I get a free minute, I have the first of Pandian’s Secret Staircase books waiting at the library. It sounded interesting enough to put on the list.
I was reading this earlier this year when I was called away and plan to get back to it. It’s quite different with rich descriptions. Hope you like it.
Lesa California has been excessively hot. The Bay Area and the Central Valley have seen temperatures akin to Death Valley. It is to break sometime Friday. I have a window air conditioner. California has the fewest homes, by percentage without air conditioners, because until the last few years they were not necessary.
Regarding Elizabeth Gunn I absolutely loved the Jake Hines books, the Sarah Burke ones not so much. She was a very good storyteller. If someone wants to read the Jake Hines books I would recommend they be read in order.
I agree with you, Jeannette. I didn’t enjoy the Sarah Burke books, and stopped reading them. And, yes, the Jake Hines books should be read in order.
Keeping my fingers crossed that you all get that break in your weather tomorrow.
Good morning. We finally had some much needed rain in central New Jersey. It’s a bit late for most of my garden since we’re starting to pull spent plants and prep the beds for next spring but the peppers, basil and green beans are still going.
This week I read BE THE SERPENT by Seanan McGuire. It’s the latest in her October Daye series. Toby is back from her honeymoon and hoping for a little peace and quiet. Which is hard to find when you’re a hero in the realm of Faerie.
Since my library doesn’t use Baker &Taylor I was able to get OTHER BIRDS by Sarah Addison Allen. It was a bit of a slow read for me but I did enjoy it.
And I jumped ahead In my ARC list to December and read RUM AND CHOKE by Sherry Harris. The latest in her Chloe Jackson series set around a Florida bar was a fun read featuring murder, mayhem and an old treasure map.
Baker & Taylor just came up for us yesterday, Sandy! Hopefully, we’ll start getting boxes of books soon, but they’re not here yet.
Sometimes, you just need to jump ahead and read a book by a favorite author.
We had seven inches in our rain gauge Sunday night through Monday morning for my corner of Cincinnati. My shrubs and flowers were happy. Fall seems to be to be in the air this week with cooler nights.
I am back to reading easy happy ending books this week. I enjoyed Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison from Kindle Unlimited. It is the third of her Lovelight Farms series focusing on bakery owner, Layla and Caleb.
Next, I gave up halfway through Meant to be Mine by Hannah Orenstein. Not sure why this one didn’t work for me. I think I was just not the target audience. I could not relate to Edie, fashion stylist in New York and couldn’t understand why she would break up with her current boyfriend because she didn’t meet him on the day her grandmother predicted she would meet the man she would marry.
I moved on to the third in the Bree Baker Seaside Cafe Mystery series, Tide and Punishment next. This was the Christmas themed installment involving the mayoral race for Charm. I was able to guess the murderer early on, but I like the characters and the setting. I don’t think I have too many more before I finish the series.
We started The Man, The Thief and The Canoe on Britbox this week. What an interesting true story about a man faking his own death to collect insurance money. It is unbelievable his long-suffering wife put up with his nonsense as long as she did.
Hoping for respite in the heat for those suffering in the west. We have family in Sacramento, Fullerton and Glendale. They’ve shared how miserable it’s been. Happy Reading!
I think we’ve actually been lucky in our little corner of the world, Sharon. Our summer wasn’t too hot, and we’re having nice weather, as you are, right now. A little cooler.
I have one more of the Bree Baker mysteries to read, the last one. I’m hoping for a happy ending to the series.
Meant to Be Mine sounded a little odd to me, too. Now, I won’t bother. Thank you!
Good morning, all. Not reading the other comments yet – I will get back to them – but I do want to second Lesa’s recommendation of the Jake Hines series by Elizabeth Gunn. I did know she was still alive and in her 90s. I will have to check back and make sure I’ve read the entire series. I did read the first Sarah Burke book and have the next two, but it wasn’t the same. I like procedurals set in small towns or, like the Hines books, smallish cities, and he was an interesting character.
Our weather has finally improved after a hote summer – we even had a day of much needed rain. My sister sent a picture of her dashboard showing it was 111 in San Jose. My other sister, in Scottsdale, is ready (as she can be) for another month of 108 (but it;s a dry heat, right?). It makes 80 look not so bad.
Anyway, to books. Jackie read THE WEDDING PLOT by Paula Munier and is now reading a new series by Heather Graham, starting with DANGER IN NUMBERS.
Good reading week for me. I finished the two short story collections I was reading, ANOTHER ROUND AT THE SPACEPORT BAR (an anthology) and I SEE YOU by Charlotte Armstrong. Now reading collections by Jean Rhys, and Chris Offutt, as well as the Gil Brewer. Plus I have a new collection of short stories by John Creasey written as by J. J. Marric, about his police detective George Gideon (all of whose novels I’ve read).
Chris Offutt is my discovery of the week. I think I’d read his second story collection years ago, but I’m now reading his first, KENTUCKY STRAIGHT (originally 1992). But I finally got around this his new series of backwoods mysteries about Mick Hardin, THE KILLING HILLS and SHIFTY’S BOYS. Mick has been in the Army for 18 years and is back in Kentucky to help his sister, newly appointed Sheriff, with a murder in the first book, as well as to see his pregnant wife for the first time in eight months. In the second book, set a year later, he is back home recuperating after getting blown up by an IED. Now his sister is running for Sheriff and again is faced with a backwoods murder. The writing is terrific, the setting is different and beautifully handled, the mysteries are good, and Mick is an intriguing character. Both books are good but the first one is great, one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. They are fairly short and highly recommended, but definitely start with the first one.
Besides the stories, I am also reading one of Offutt’s memoirs (his third, I believe), MY FATHER, THE PORNOGRAPHER. His father, Andrew Offutt, wrote over 400 pornographic novels, originally to pay for his son’s dental work. Fascinating story.
One more book read was William Shaw’s latest Alexandra Cupidi book, THE TRAWLERMAN. Alex is off duty to recover from the PTSD she is suffering from after the last few cases, but being who she is, she cannot stop herself from getting involved in a double murder locally, as well as a couple of other crimes. Then there is her teenage daughter to deal with, among other things. Start with THE BIRDWATCHER, which leads into the Cupidi series, which are set in coastal Kent. Very good writer,
Current book is GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL by Michael Robotham, first in a series (book three will be out net February) about psychologist Cyrus Haven. I’ve read a few of his earlier books and they are always really welll written and interesting.
Jeff, Your weather sounds so much better than your sisters’.
I haven’t read My Father, The Pornographer. It does sound like a fascinating story. Totally agree with you about the Mick Hardin books. Read them in order, and the first is the best. Oh, his descriptions of the settings and the people. Just beautiful.
And, you’re right about Jake Hines. He’s a fascinating character. I liked the way Gunn handled the personal situations with the members of the police department.
OK. I checked. I seem to have read the first 8 of the Hines books, I have #9 on my Kindle. I remember reading the first chapter at one point, but something else must have come up. I do have it, though, and book 10 is available as an ebook from the library – and available on Kindle from Amazon at $1.99.
Rutherford, Minnesota, where the Hines books take place, is her stand-in for Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic, a city of 120,000 in southeastern Minnesota.
Thank you, Jeff. I read Eleven Little Piggies, but never read Noontime Follies, so I ordered it for Kindle. Can’t go wrong with $1.99.
Hi Jeff, I have not read My Father, the Pornographer, want to read it. One of my memories is of my son when were living in California. He told me that his friend was crying because his father made pornographic films. When I was doing counseling in graduate school, I had a very young who whispered that his father was in the Mafia.
Oh gee. we just got the message that we have to pack up and evacuate the building!
Evacuate? Carolee, once you’re safe and back online, you’ll have to let us know what happened. Most of all, stay safe.
Jeff, I like this Robotham series as well. The next one is Lying Beside You, and NetGalley has already turned down my request. Guess I’ll have to get it at the library! My absolute favorite Robotham book is Shatter (2009).
I finally got around to reading Michelle Obama’s book Becoming. It was just what I needed now as the current political climate is so bad. It was so refreshing to read about two very smart people who really cared about this country, the constitution and democracy. I hope that there are more people out there like them willing to work in government – instead of people looking for power and glory. I also read a quick one – Desolation Canyon by PJ Tracy – very fair – would not recommend. We finally had rain on Tuesday which made me absolutely thrilled as everything is brown. Hope weather moderates for all!
Donna, I read the first in PJ Tracy’s Margaret Nolan series, and never bothered to pick up Desolation Canyon. I guess it didn’t excite me. Loved the Monkeewrench books.
What a beautiful wish – more people willing to work in government that actually care about the country. That’s a dream I could get behind.
Mornin’, all!
Thanks to NetGalley I read Paige Shelton’s WINTER’S END and enjoyed it lots. We learn more about the series characters in this one, and for me, books are all about the characters.
From NetGalley:
“The fourth installment in the gripping, atmospheric Alaska Wild series, Paige Shelton’s Winter’s End.
It’s springtime in Benedict, Alaska, and with the warmer weather comes an unseasonably somber local tradition…the annual Death Walk. At the end of each brutal winter, citizens gather downtown and then break into groups to search the community for those who might have somehow gotten stuck at home. Beth Rivers sets off with her friend Orin and dog Gus, toward the cabin of an elderly resident, intending to check on him.
When they reach the cabin, the old man is alive, but not in the best shape. Beth stays with him while Orin hurries to town for help, but it’s not Orin who returns. Gril comes back with shocking news, and it soon becomes clear that Orin has also vanished. When they discover that their friend has been doing some top-secret research, they start to worry he’s been exposed, or worse.
Meanwhile, Beth continues on her own search, for her father, who allegedly is alive in Mexico, but won’t return her calls. Still, she’s making progress in healing from her own trauma, though can’t quite shake the feeling she’s being followed…”
And I read the newest J.D. Robb, DESPERATION IN DEATH.
As i said, books are all about the characters for me, which is why i love this series. It may not have been one of my favorites in the series, but any Eve and Roarke novel sets my world right.
OK, major question here, Kaye. I know you used the NetGalley summary, and my LJ editor used it as well. Where the heck is Kate in this summary? To me, the entire book was about Kate and the feud between the families. This blurb doesn’t mention that at all.
And, what’s with those comments about Orin? “They start to worry he’s been exposed…” To what? I don’t remember this at all.
So, let me know what you think if you read this because I told my editor this blurb was not at all about the book.
Kaye, I’ve just started #3 in the Alaska Wild series, and I love the Alaska setting. Beth Rivers is a great character, and there’s always that shadow of being found by her kidnapper hanging over her. I’ve got Winter’s End waiting for me on NetGalley.
It does not mention the feud, you’re right. And yes, it was a major portion of the book, but this blurb didn’t bother me. Regarding Orin – Not exposed TO something, but his top secret dealings with the government may have been exposed.
Thanks, Kaye. I wrote my entire summary about the search for Kate, her killer & dealing with the feud, and my editor questioned it because there’s no mention of Kate or the feud in the blurb. And, I told her the blurb is just wrong.
Good afternoon.
I hope all the Thursday peeps are doing well.
I have not posted in several weeks so I am playing catch up. I enjoyed all the books I read/listened to in recent weeks. Among them are:
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
This is a character driven story. I am glad that I listened to it instead of reading it. Otherwise, I may have given up on it early on. That would have been a shame. I grew to love the characters of Izzy and Mary Jane.
Miss Kopp Won’t Quit by Amy Stewart
I was drawn to this series because it takes place in a town near to where I live in NJ. I like the spunky character of Constance Kopp. She is the first female deputy sheriff in Hackensack, NJ. The time period is 1916. This series is based on a real person.
The Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger.
He is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Everything I have read by him, I have loved!
A Dangerous Place (Maisie Dobbs #11)
It is 1937, four years have passed since Maisie left England. We find her in Gibraltar. In those four years, Maisie has found love and suffered loss. A tragedy difficult to overcome. As is Maisie’s style, she gets to work solving a murder that she stumbles upon.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I am a big fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. I have loved her previous books. This one did not disappoint. Carrie Soto was a big name tennis star beginning in the 70’s and has since retired. At 37 she is about to see her record broken. She decides to come out of retirement to prevent this from happening. I know nothing about tennis but with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing and character development it was anything but boring. Releasing this book at the same time as the US Open, I am sure was a marketing decision. However, the fact that Serene Williams retired at this time had to be a gift sent by the publishing gods.
You’re right about Carrie Soto is Back, and Serena Williams’ retirement, Kathleen. That might be part of the reason it shot to #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List.
I’m glad you stopped by today to catch us up. Thank you!
I finished SHUTTER a debut by Ramona Emerson. It follows a crime scene photographer in Albuquerque who can see ghosts. However she’s learned to ignore them or they latch on to her, sometimes not realizing they’re dead. One in particular who fought hard for her life was dropped from a bridge into oncoming traffic. It took more than a thousand photos to capture the entire scene. She is so insistent, plaguing Rita, our photographer, so much that she finally makes a deal. She’ll fight to find her killer if she’ll just let her rest. Rita is Navajo and in concurrent chapters we watch her come of age on the reservation. The two plots merge in an intriguing way to a satisfying conclusion.
Now I’m reading LOVE IN THE AGE OF SERIALKILLERS about a woman writing her dissertation on true crime. She’s so deep into the subject that plots and killers surround her, in her imagination.
Sandie, I really appreciate your comments yesterday about Shutter. I’ll be using your review. Thank you.
The Gunn novels sound good, Lesa. Thanks for the heads-up. I’m almost finished reading Delia Ephron’s memoir Left on Tenth. It’s hard to to stop reading so I’ll probably finish it this evening. Next up: The Dead Will Tell by Linda Castillo. I’m gradually working my way through Castillo’s list.
Here in Northern Colorado, it has been quite hot but we haven’t suffered any power losses. We’re supposed to get some relief starting tomorrow and maybe even a bit of rain. If it cools off, I can finally get out in the yard to do a little weed pulling. The city has fogged our area twice in the last week to get rid of the West Nile threat. It’s always something, right?
Yes, Patricia. You’re right. It’s always something. I hope you get a little rain.
You’re also right about Delia Ephron’s Left on Tenth. It was hard to put down.
Some of us were big fans of the Jake Hines mysteries by Gunn.
Yes, it has been hot here. We don’t have air conditioning at all but that is only a problem a few days a year. My biggest problem for me is the impact on my sleeping at night. We also are cutting back on energy usage during the evening hours, and the newspaper is saying that support for that is making a difference in preventing power losses.
After just getting home from a few errands, we learned that Queen Elizabeth had died. So I have been reading one of the longer pieces on that.
I have finished three books since last week. Two nights ago, I finished THE SANCTUARY SPARROW by Ellis Peters, a Brother Cadfael mystery, because I was awake reading until 2:00 a.m. The story was good as always, and the ending surprised me.
The other two books were:
CRAZYBONE by Bill Pronzini. I have been reading the Nameless Detective series by Pronzini since the mid-1970s. I introduced my husband to them in the early 80s after we got married, and he became a bigger fan than me. He still owns all the books in the Nameless series, in hardback, and several collections of his short story series. CRAZYBONE is the 26th book in the series and I still have 15 books left to read. They are short and quick reads; serious stories but there is humor along the way. Getting back to reading those seems like meeting an old friend that I haven’t seen for years.
THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES by Stef Penney. This one is my favorite so far this month. I read it for my Canadian Reading Challenge. Set in 1867, primarily in a small settlement in the Northern Territory. There are treks into even more remote areas to search for a murderer. It is far from being primarily a murder mystery; the focus is even more on the setting, the prominence of the Hudson Bay Company, the mistreatment of Native American trappers. And a lot of characters to keep up with. I loved it and the ending worked well for me.
Yes, Tracy. I came back from running errands on my lunch hour, and learned about Queen Elizabeth’s death. Like you, I’ve been reading articles in The New York Times and elsewhere. For many of us, even though we’re not British citizens, it feels as if we’ve lost someone we’ve “known” our entire lives, even though we never really knew her. I wish Rosemary was here today to comment, but I know she’s on vacation.
Someday, I’m going to have to go back and read the Brother Cadfael books. I only read a couple of them. And, I never read the Nameless Detective.
Stay cool.Take care of yourself.
I read and liked all of the Sarah Burke series but have not read any of the Jake Hines books. None of my local libraries have them, but luckily at least some of them are available on Kindle Unlimited.
For those who like historical novels and want to read one about Queen Elizabeth, I recommend THE GOWN by Jennifer Robson.
I just finished and liked THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS by Susan Meisner. It was nice to read a historical not set in WWI or II. Looking forward to reading BACK TO THE GARDEN as soon as it’s available.
I liked your comment, Cindy, “nice to read a historical NOT set in WWI or II.”
Thank you, again, for letting me know about Elizabeth Gunn’s death. I’m glad I was able to share that today. I’ll be interested to see if you like the Jake Hines books. I never got into the Sarah Burke ones.
A big thank you to Lesa for your reminder that it’s Thursday and “What Are We Reading” at your blog. I didn’t comment as soon as I saw your reminder because I’ve been glued to the TV about Queen Elizabeth’s death. I know she was 96 and in poor health, but she’s been Great Britain since right before I was born. I identify so much with England, my Boone family is from Stoke Canon, near Exeter, and my favorite setting for books is GB. I regret that I didn’t get to visit England before the Queen died. I’m hoping to go next year.
Reading. I finished reading The Case of the Disgraced Duke by Cathy Ace. It’s the 5th book in the WISE Enquiries Agency mysteries. I loved this book and have enjoyed all the books in this series. The setting is Wales, which Cathy Ace is responsible for making me want to visit there. Cathy is from there and goes back at least once a year to visit her mother and sister. Well, the word WISE stands for the different origins of the women in this agency, one from Wales, one from Ireland, one from Scotland, and one from England. They all met in London and have come to the charming Welsh village of Anwen-by-Wye to run their enquiries agency there. They are friends with the Duke of Chellingworth and his wife and his mother, and they have their offices in a converted barn on the estate grounds. With the Duchess soon to give birth to their first child, Henry is eager to get to the bottom of the rumors about the thirteenth duke, who might have murdered two people and been an addict. My review for this book is going up later today on my Reading Room blog.
I just finished reading No Deal by J.D. Allen. It’s the 6th book in the Sin City/Jim Bean series, which is a series that surprised me. I normally don’t like books set in Las Vegas, but these stories and characters are great reading. In No Deal, Jim Bean ihas taken a gig to protect a teenage heiress and ends up getting kidnapped with her. It’s a harrowing tale with a big twist. I’m sad to learn that J.D. contract wasn’t renewed by her publisher for this series. I hope it will continue from another publisher, but I’m not sure how much the author will pursue that.
I have so much to choose from to read right now (always), and I’m trying to read those I need to review first, but books keep slipping int, too. And, I just got two new books delivered from Book Depository today. Last night I let myself start Paige Shelton’s third book in her Alaska Wild series, Dark Night. Kaye talks about #4 above, and it’s waiting for me on NetGalley. I love the Alaska setting of small town Benedict, and I want to catch up in this series. (Yes, I have other books that were in the queue ahead of it.) I’ve just started this one, but Beth Rivers, who is hiding in this out-of-the-way place from a man who kidnapped her 7 months earlier and would have killed her if she hadn’t escaped, will have a surprise visit from her mother. How did her mother find her? This is troubling that someone could find her. And, there’s the census man in town, a man no one in Benedict wants there. Benedict is a place you go to get lost, not recorded as being there. So, I’m excited to know what will go wrong in this one.
The books that “should” be on my next-to-read horizon are Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen, The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian, Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths, Murder at the Jubilee Rally by Terry Shames, The Girl They Forgot About by Martin Edwards, and Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens.
I hope the weather is improving for those of my friends experiencing the heat wave. I know one friend in Oakland has been so miserable. Our temps are very nice right now, low 80s for high with some 70s coming in the first of next week.
I don’t blame you, Kathy. If I was home, I’d be watching all the coverage as well. 20% of my ancestry is from England, and so many of the family stories go back there. I had tears when I learned she died. I know she was 96, but no one served their country for as many years as she did, and with such grace.
I also read Paige Shelton’s fourth Alaska Wilde mystery. Now I could tell you which book on that next-to-read pile you could move to the bottom (smile), but I won’t do it publicly.
Thank you for stopping by!
It’s been really hot here, 112 or so. Newsom made a video telling us all to cut down our ac usage…while wearing a fleece. The NFL opening game is tonight in LA. Apparently, that won’t strain the grid at all, somehow.
This week I read:
The Huckleberry Murders by Patrick F McManus: Bo Tully finds some dead bodies near a huckleberry patch, and between making moves on all the female characters, manages to figure out who did it. I think I liked this one better than the first because I knew what to expect.
Murder at the Marina by Ellen Jacobsen; A UFO researcher’s husband buys her a sailboat for their anniversary. She wanted diamonds. When the agent who sold them the boat is found dead, she investigates, and finds the marina holds many secrets, And her husband doesn’t know how to sail.
Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton; A young Yalie learns photography to go on a fossil hunting expedition in 1876. The Ivy League has been ripping people off for that long, at least.
Men in Black by Mark Levin; A book about the Supreme Court getting too big for its britches. Written in 2005. What a difference a couple of court decisions can make. I wonder if we’ll ever find out who leaked the Roe reversal?
Cold, Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs; Never read a book in this series, but I watched an episode of the TV series a time or two. David Boreanaz does not make an appearance. Tempe’s daughter comes home, probably suffering from PTSd. Tempe also receives a human eyeball in a box. From there, she proceeds to complain about every character in the book, as well as some characters not in the book, as the team investigates the obvious red herring of preppers. Very condescending.
I almost forgot!
I took advantage of national Cinema Day on Saturday to watch Bullet Train. Based on a manga, it’s a Tarantino/Guy Ritchie imitation, with a bunch of nutty, but violent and dangerous people on a Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto. Occasionally funny, but just as often gross. When he’s not with a strong director, Brad Pitt tends to spend a lot of time with a dumb blank look on his face. A lot of cameos, like some 60’s movies. It was ok, but I’m glad I only spent $3 on it.
Glen, Thank you for the review of Bullet Train, as well as the books this week. I’m not a fan of Kathy Reichs’ books. I think I’ve read three. I didn’t like the combination of the French and English, probably just in the ones set in Canada. But, there were no translations even when you couldn’t guess it because it wasn’t in context.
Geez. Rhetorical question. Why would you buy a sailboat if you don’t know how to sail?
The husband is having a mid-life crisis, and wants to sail The Caribbean. Talk about putting the cart before the horse.
I thought to myself at one point “It’s Wednesday night, stop by Lesa’s.” And then I forgot. And I’m just now thinking about it. Maybe it’s heat related. But I think it’s more work stress related. I’m beginning to think the light at the end of the tunnel might NOT be a train after all, but we will see.
As to what I’m reading, I’m about 2/3rds of the way through DEADLY DIRECTOR’S CUT by Vicki Delaney. It’s set in a Catskills resort in the 1950’s. I’m enjoying it.
Well, you remembered, Mark, so it doesn’t matter when. I’m sorry about all the stress at work.
I just like Vicki Delaney’s writing.
I don’t have any reading news to share. I am not in a good place mentally and that is not helping the reading at all.
Did want to mention that Lesa made the Revue of Reviewers list curated by J. Kingston Pierce at The Rap Sheet today. I also made the list and did so with a review of mine that I do not feel is that great. Anyway, the list is at http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2022/09/revue-of-reviewers-9-8-22.html
Oh, Kevin. Sorry to hear you’re not doing well right now.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and mention the Revue of Reviewers!