Well, this week, I’ve been doing all things British, watching so much of the ceremony around Queen Elizabeth’s death and funeral, and King Charles. I’ve always been interested, reading British mysteries and novels. This week has just been an extension of that. How many of you have been watching, and who is ignoring every bit of it?
Actually, it all goes hand-in-hand with the book that I’m reading, very slowly, in between reviews for Library Journal. I ordered Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman, not just because it’s about Christie, but also because it’s by Lucy Worsley. If you’ve seen some of the historical shows about the royal palaces on PBS, Lucy Worsley is our tour guide. She s a British historian, author, curator, and television presenter. She is Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces but is best known as a presenter of BBC Television series on historical topics. I love her sly sense of humor, and wanted to check out the book. I’ve only just started it, but it looks so readable for a biography.
Here’s the blurb, since I’m not far in the book, and I’ll be picking it up in between other books.
“Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was.”
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was “just” an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn’t? Her life is fascinating for its mysteries and its passions and, as Lucy Worsley says, “She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern.” She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why—despite all the evidence to the contrary—did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world that had its own rules about what women could and couldn’t do. Lucy Worsley’s biography is not just of a massively, internationally successful writer. It’s also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley’s biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realize what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was—truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
What about you this week? Weather? The monarchy? What are you doing? But, most important – what are you reading?
Hello, all. I had a couple of fun card games with local women Monday and Tuesday–Crazy Rummy and Hand and Foot (I provided the snacks for the one on Monday). Today I got my flu shot, and I’m scheduled for my bivalent Covid booster next Thursday. I happily welcomed the new season of Jeopardy and am looking forward to Celebrity Jeopardy and the second chance tournament and tournament of champions. It was an interesting reading week–some excellent books, one disappointing.
I loved the first (The Art of the Decoy) in Trish Esden’s Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries series , but the second, A WEALTH OF DECEPTION, is even more impressive. I was absolutely blown away by the twisty art-related plot, this time focusing on some ultra-creative and disturbing collages by the trendy artist Vespa. One of Vermont art and antiques dealer Edie Brown’s new customers has such a collage hanging on her wall and might be willing to sell it along with other items her recently deceased mother has left behind. But Edie quickly discovers that there is much more to the collage than her client knows. While her family business could use a quick infusion of cash that might result with a sale to a collector, Edie suspects that fraud might be afoot and takes it upon herself and her business team to investigate. More details could lead to spoilers, which would be unfair to both the author and the reader. You need to read it for yourself! In addition to the plot, I admired the nuanced character of Edie and the supporting characters of her uncle, her quirky and crafty assistant, Edie’s detective beau, fellow art dealers–some professional, some on the darker side–and some talented, disabled artists. Highly recommended. (February)
LOVE ON THE BRAIN is a more-than-worthy successor to The Love Hypothesis in Ali Hazelwood’s excellent series of STEM-themed rom-coms. With a Ph.D. in neuroscience herself, the author is eminently qualified to concoct authentic plots and characters from the science world. She has created a gem in Dr. Bee Konigswasser–brilliant, highly educated, identical twin, purple hair, vegan, unlucky in love, cries over every roadkill, faints frequently, and can be frustratingly clueless when it comes to her personal life. A National Institutes of Health employee in a thankless job, Bee jumps at the opportunity to be co-leader of an exciting project at NASA involving enhanced astronaut helmets. The only catch is that the other co-leader was her nemesis in grad school. Some interesting subplots involve a “What Would Marie Curie Do?” Twitter account, a cat that apparently only Bee can see, and a female uprising against standard college admission tests, particularly the GRE. I loved Bee’s research assistant, Rocio, who is fearless, bright, and extremely eccentric. The writing is sharp, clever, and endlessly engrossing. What more could you want?
I was thrilled to discover THE LAST CIRCLE OF LOVE by Lorna Landvik, her first novel since 2019, as I have enjoyed all of her previous standalones. The through-line in this book involves All Souls Lutheran Church’s new minister, Mallory Peterson (“Pastor Pete”), who discovers quickly that the church is having financial difficulties. They’ve lost parishioners to the local megachurch, Prince of Peace (snidely referred to as PRICE of Peace), whose members can’t stop bragging about their state-of-the art facilities and activities. All Souls’ Naomi Circle, a group of women aged 52 to 80, know that another dull cookbook won’t raise the funds needed, so they come up with an idea for what some delight in calling an “ABCs of Erotica.” That’s when the real heart of the story evolves, told in a series of monologues by each of the women, as well as some of their relatives, the church janitor, and some new acquaintances. We discover that it isn’t really sex that they want to write about (well, most of them), but what they’ve learned, and are still learning, about love–some of it romantic, some bittersweet, some heart-breaking, and most of it life-affirming. And there’s enough humor to balance out the heartache. Of course, there are those in the church who, when the project is revealed, are outraged, and the very existence of the project is in jeopardy. After a slightly slow start, I was enchanted by each of the stories, with many details that the narrators had never revealed to their loved ones. The author excels as a storyteller, and although I am in the same age range as the circle members, I believe readers of any age will benefit, and may even feel a call to action, by the stories they tell. (December)
If you’re looking for an unusual, cleverly written mystery, Janice Hallett’s THE TWYFORD CODE may be for you, although it wasn’t for me. The story is told almost completely in transcriptions of audio files that Steven Smith, an ex-con, recorded on his estranged son’s old iPhone. Nearly illiterate himself, Steven found a marked-up adventure book abandoned on a public bus as a child in 1983 and took it to his remedial English teacher. Although the author, Edith Twyford, had been reviled for her old-fashioned, narrow-minded perspectives, the teacher claimed that Twyford’s books might actually contain a secret code. After reading the book to the class, she took the students on an unauthorized field trip, where an unexpected tragedy occurred. The teacher disappeared without a trace that day, leaving her students confused and disturbed. Roughly forty years later, after Steven finishes a stretch of 11 years in prison, he vows to round up his former classmates to discover what happened to their teacher and to determine whether Edith Twyford’s books truly contain clues to solving a mystery. Reading and trying to make sense of the transcripts, which are rife with misspellings, gaps, and unfinished thoughts, was initially intriguing to me but eventually felt exhausting. Interspersing the transcriptions with more traditionally narrated sections might have relieved some of the tedium and kept the plot moving more briskly. And although I found the character of Steven to be quite engaging, the book’s unrelenting format kept me from considering it a satisfactory reading experience. (January)
Interesting about the Hallett, Margie. I’m not going to read it, but she’s certainly playing with format as in The Appeal. I know some readers didn’t like that book because of the format.
I may have to look for The Last Circle of Love. I like some of Lorna Landvik’s books, and she hasn’t had anything for a long time. Thank you!
It’s cooled off significantly here. Only in the mid-80’s. That’s rare for mid-September.
I am 2/3 of the way through MRS. CLAUS AND THE EVIL ELVES by Liz Ireland, and I’m loving it. Lots of humor and creativity in the fantasy infused cozy mystery.
I enjoy that series, too, Mark.
Nice to hear it’s cooling off for you!
Hi Lesa and everyone,
The Agatha Christie book sounds very interesting Lesa. I am not a fan of Lucy Worsley on TV, but I know she’s good at what she does.
I am back from my holidays in the Outer Hebrides – where by some miracle, while the rest of Scotland endured a week of rain, we had almost constant sunshine.
We were staying in a house on Harris, the southern part of an island whose northern section is Lewis. Harris is probably the more scenic; every time you go round a corner there is another lochan, or a view of the sea. Lewis, particularly inland, tends to be mainly moorland. Lewis has the only real town on the island, Stornoway; the nearest settlement of any kind to our house was Tarbert, a very small village from which the CalMac ferry goes to Uig on Skye. Stornoway is the other main harbour, with the ferry there heading for Ullapool on the mainland.
We did a lot of walking – to be honest there isn’t that much else to do unless you are into watersports – kayaking, canoeing, surfing, etc. The beaches are absolutely spectacular, with miles of pale untrodden sands and the sea bright blue or turquoise. There is no beach development, no cafes, etc. So some of our walks were to beaches, others across peat bogs (not the best walking country – very squelchy…), and one, on Scalpay, to an amazing lighthouse. There are a few very small art studios on the island, and even fewer eateries of any kind. We soon realised it made sense to take food with us. Unlike Islay, Harris has no distilleries – apart from one that has recently started up and is therefore only producing gin for the time being – this is what new distilleries do while they are waiting for the whisky to mature.
The other thing Harris is famous for is its tweed. We did visit a tweed shop, but as you can imagine, the prices are quite something. When our son’s wife was on a work trip over there a while ago she managed to buy herself a purse, and then only because it was a ‘second’ with some sort of minor flaw in the weaving.
Our return journey was via Skye, and on the ferry across we were lucky enough to see many dolphins leaping and diving very near the boat. It was a beautiful day, the sun was sparkling on the water, and these wonderful animals were a joy to behold.
Of course the other big thing that has happened since I was last here is the death of the Queen. Her coffin was driven along North Deeside from Balmoral to Aberdeen and then down to Edinburgh. My husband went up to the main road (it is a minute’s walk from our house) and watched the cars pass. There were people lining the route, but nothing like the numbers in Edinburgh and now London. It does feel like the end of an era, and many people, including those who do not agree with the monarchy as an institution, have felt genuinely moved by recent events. How things will pan out with the royal family now is indeed a question. I don’t think Charles will be anything like as universally popular. I am not a royalist, but I respect the views of those who are.
Predictably I didn’t get through many of the books I took away with me. I finally finished SALLY ON THE ROCKS by Winifred Boggs. I really wanted to like it, as it seemed my kind of thing, and it was specifically chosen by my friend Simon Thomas as the first book to be republished in the British Library Women Writers collection (he is the series consultant.) Unfortunately I found it quite dull and repetitive, and couldn’t wait for the very foreseeable end to arrive.
I seem to have had a bit of a run of mediocre books lately. I have several still to review, but I have decided to give myself a break and instead read Richard Coles’ MURDER BEFORE EVENSONG. I don’t know how well Richard is known in the US, but he is something of a celebrity here, having first been the keyboard player in Bronski Beat and then the Communards, then returning to the Anglican church and being ordained as a priest. He was the vicar of parishes in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. He has also appeared on television many, many times, and took part in Strictly Come Dancing. He is the co-host of a weekly BBC radio 4 programme, and is very active on twitter.
After the early death of his long term partner he retired from the clergy, but he is still very busy in many fields, and has now written this, his first novel. I have two volumes of his autobiography too, and look forward to reading those – his years with Jimmy Somerville in Bronski Beat, etc were a very far cry from his more recent life.
One of the highlights of my holiday was – surprise! – discovering a wonderful charity shop in the absolute middle of nowhere. There are a few of these on the islands – outside Stornoway they tend not to be for national charities, but instead to raise funds for their local community – all of these tiny settlements are struggling, so it seems like a very good cause to me. Here’s what I bought:
Edmund Crispin: THE CASE OF THE GILDED LILY, LOVE LIES BLEEDING, BURIED FOR PLEASURE, HOLY DISORDERS
Len Deighton: FUNERAL IN BERLIN
Molly Keane: CONVERSATION PIECE
Arundhati Roy: THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS
George Bellairs: DEATH OF A BUSYBODY
Judy Blume: FOREVER
Georges Simenon: MAIGRET AND THE DEAD GIRL, THE FLEMISH HOUSE,
Anita Brookner: LATECOMERS
Mary Stewart: MY BROTHER MICHAEL
And also copies of two books I read years ago but don’t seem to have now, and would like to reread:
Wilkie Collins: THE MOONSTONE
JD Salinger: THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
I’m particularly interested to see what I think of the Salinger, as I last read it as a moody teenager, and wonder if I will feel the same about it now – somehow I doubt it!
The lady in the charity shop was so pleased to see us, and delighted that I bought so much (my husband also found some CDs) as she had not had a single other customer all day.
This week we have NEOS – North East Open Studios – in which hundreds of artists, makers, etc open their workshops to the public. Many are tiny – often in the artist’s garden or living room – some are more established. On Tuesday my friend Heather and I had a wonderful day out, driving down the coast south of Aberdeen. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the sea blue as blue (quite unusual for the North Sea!), and we visited potters, jewellery makers, painters, sculptors and glass artists. It’s a lovely thing to do with a friend – we stopped for coffees and cakes, and had a great chat. On the way back through the rolling Mearns countryside – which is still mostly arable farming land – we played lots of 80s hits from our youth. I went home very happy.
Yesterday I went into Aberdeen city and visited the WASPS studios, which are housed in an old print factory. Several artists have rooms in the building, and it is good to support them and to talk to them about their work – they are always interesting. And today Nancy and I are heading north, to the open studios around Strichen, Mintlaw, Fraserburgh, etc. I’m looking forward to it.
Last night was the final episode of this series of SHETLAND. I won’t spoil it for Jeff and anyone else who watches it, but we all know that Dougie Henshall is leaving at the end of the series. The last episode gives some hints as to what will happen next.
And on Tuesday we had the first instalment of this year’s BAKE OFF. My daughter Anna said, and I agree, that it is always a bit hard to get into at the outset, as there are so many contestants and you don’t really identify with any of them until you’ve seen more of them. But it was good, and I will go on watching.
Right, I need to get ready. I hope everyone has a great week. We have the Friends of Aberdeen Art Gallery open weekend, so I will try to get in and help with that.
Rosemary
While your vacation doesn’t appeal to me at all, Rosemary, this week’s tours of art studios does. I think it’s great that so many of them open up in one week so you can make a day of it with a friend.
A terrific selection of books from that charity shop! I have to say I read Catcher in the Rye twice, and still don’t get it. I guess I wasn’t a moody teenager, and it never spoke to me.
I never heard of Richard Coles, but I’m guessing Jeff has.
Enjoy your week! Sending hugs!
Sounds like a great trip, Rosemary. Sadly, we never got to the Hebrides but I can go vicariously through you, SHETLAND finally started here and we’ve watched the first episode so far. Love Tosh’s baby. We also started watching the first series of THE OUTLAWS – Christopher Walken is hilarious. And the very downbeat THE RESPONDER, just because Martin Freeman stars.
I’ve read those Edmund Crispin books and the Simenons, plus of course the Len Deighton and the Salinger (nearly 60 years ago!)
Jeff, Martin Freeman is having quite the career, isn’t he? Currently I’m hooked on Breeders. Haven’t seen the first season, though, so I’ll have to look for it. I think the first thing I ever saw Martin in was Love, Actually, where he played a standby for a porn actor.
Read “outside” by Ragnar Jonasson which I liked very much – takes place in Iceland during a storm and 4 friends are stranded together. So funny that you mentioned Agatha Christie because when I was reading this book I thought it felt a lot like something she would write. When I finished reading it I read about the author and found that he has translated 14 of her books into Icelandic!! So I’m sure her influence helped him write this book. I also started reading another book which didn’t “grab” me so I gave myself permission to opt- out which I don’t do very often. Weather has been great this week -we actually got some rain which we need. Hope everyone has a nice weekend.
Barbara Peters from The Poisoned Pen has been saying there’s a lot of Agatha Christie readalikes this year, Donna. I’m sure you’re right. If he translated that many of her books, she probably did influence him.
It’s nice to hear that weather is getting better for most people!
Good morning. Not much going on this week although this Saturday is the Smithsonian’s museum day so we got free passes to National Canal Museum in Easton, PA. We’ve never been to Easton so it should be interesting.
I read MURDER FOR GOOD MEASURE by Devon Delany. A fairly standard cozy mystery with some Irish folklore thrown in.
HONOR-BOUND WITCH by Deanna Chase. A paranormal mystery featuring a matchmaker with a ghost for her sidekick. This was lacking the humor that I’m used to in the author’s stories.
An ARC of THE MIDDLING AFFLICTION by Alex Shvartsman. The main character is a member of the NY watch, an organization of magic users who protect the mundanes in the city. However, the main character is a middling who can see magic but can only use it through magical objects powered by others and he has to hide what he is. The book started off strong but the author kept jumping from one action sequence into another and never really developed the characters.
KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE by Deanna Rayburn. Four female assassins who work for an organization known only as The Museum are sent on a retirement cruise after 40 years of service. During the cruise they find out that they are on The Museum’s kill list but they have no intentions of being permanently retired. I really enjoyed this one.
Success, Sandy! It sounds as if you had a so-so week of reading, but I’m glad you liked Killers of a Certain Age!
I will comment and talk about my reading when we get home. Right now we’re in Costco waiting to get the new COVID booster shots. Why wait for a doctor’s appointment when we can just walk in and get the Omicron shot?
I read mixed to negative reviews of the Christie biography, so I hope you can enjoying it.
To answer your question, Jackie watched some of the coverage and I am ignoring it as much as possible.
PS – just got the shot.
I got my shot at Walgreen’s on Monday. Easy to get an appointment right now. I made my appointment that day for after work.
My mother asked me if I’d seen the coverage Jeff, and I have to say my response was the same as yours.
It is becoming a real concern to many of us here that the establishment is pushing such a unilateral line on this one that any whisper of dissent is being suffocated. A man was arrested earlier this week for holding up a blank piece of paper.
The Westminster government is also doing all it can to conflate the Royal family and the Tory party.
And we have virtually no news of any kind but one on *all* of the BBC channels. ‘Respect’ is being used as an excuse for just about anything, and there’ll be no respite till that crown is firmly wedged onto Charles’s head. Meanwhile Truss (new PM) is pushing through some very dodgy legislation while she thinks no-one is looking.
Very glad to be in Scotland at least.
We are fans of Lucy Worsley. I follow her on Instagram, and she has been doing lots of press on the book. I will probably pick it up down the line.
Only one book this week. FELLOWSHIP POINT by Alice Dark Elliott a 580-page novel about a friendship between two octogenarians, Agnes and Polly. Both were very wealthy life-long friends with homes in Philadelphia and Fellowship Point in Maine. Agnes’ story was the more compelling of the two. She was a successful writer of children’s books as well as novels under a pseudonym. Polly was the more traditional wife and mother. I ended up enjoying this book very much despite wanting to give up on it several times. At times it was a real slog-fest and slower than slow despite the wonderful writing. And other times I found myself racing through the pages as the story unfolded. The payoff at the end was worth sticking with it for me. I think it is one of those books you either love or hate but either way it is definitely a commitment.
Happy Reading!
I read quite a bit about Fellowship Point, Sharon, but it just didn’t seem as if it was for me. I’m glad you stuck with it!
I love Lucy but didn’t know about this book. thanks!
You’re welcome, Ana!
We’re back. Shots were painless and everything is fine so far. Our last boosters were April 5.
Jackie needed something light to read so is enjoying LUNAR HEAT, a SF/space romance by Susan Kearney. She’s read several other of her books in the past. She tried Heather Graham’s DANGER IN NUMBERS but it was way too nasty for her taste so she returned it.
Still busy reading. And the short story volumes keep arriving. This week I read:
Chris Offutt, KENTUCKY STRAIGHT. His first book and first collection of short stories. Good, but he latest books (THE KILLING HILLS in particular) are better. I just got in his second collection, OUT OF THE WOODS, which I will read as soon as I finish some other stuff.
Jean Rhys, TIGERS ARE BETTER-LOOKING. Her second collection of stories, mostly written in the 1960s. I prefer her novels.
Chris Offutt, MY FATHER, THE PORNOGRAPHER. Fascinating, well written and moving book. Offutt’s father Andy (Andrew J. Offutt) was a well known science fiction and fantasy writer at one point, but most of the 400 books he published were porn, plain and simple. After his death, Chris, as the oldest child, spent weeks going through his books and papers as he tried to finally get to know the difficult man that he never really got along with.
Gil Brewer, DEATH COMES LAST: The Rest of the 1950s. Noir short stories.
Current reading:
John Creasey writing as J. J. Marric, GIDEON AND THE YOUNG TOUGHS. I’ve read all of Creasey’s George Gideon novels, so I’m glad to have this collection of his short stories, all original published in Ellery Queen MM. The stories are pretty short.
Michael Chabon, ed. McSWEENEY’S MAMMOTH TREASURY OF THRILLING TALES. Some of the authors include (yes) Chris Offutt, Chabon, Dan Chaon, Stephen King, Kelly Link and Michael Crichton.
Michael Robotham, GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL. More than halfway through it, the stories and non-fiction have robbed me of reading time for this. Otherwise I’d have finished it by now.
I find it interesting, Jeff, that you’re enjoying Offutt’s nonfiction more than the short stories. I think it’s going to be tough to top The Killing Hills now that we’ve read that one.
I liked Gideon and the Young Toughs. I just wish I had time to go back and read the George Gideon novels.
Hi Lesa — This week I’m reading Lay Down My Sword and Shield by James Lee Burke. It’s another of his character sub-series (which I’m reading out of order). Not sure what I’m tackling next, but I had a big recommendation this week from a cousin: Room by Emma Donoghue. I picked it up at the library yesterday, so maybe that’s the way I’ll go.
I haven’t read Room, Patricia, but I know it was very popular here at the library. I’ll be interested to see what you think.
Hi Lesa,
I just finished the audiobook of Dear Mrs. Bird by A. J. Pearce. I am currently reading in print The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander and Attack of the Black Rectangles ( a juvenile fiction about book censorship) by A. S. King.
I thought The Littlest Library was fun, Katherine. I never read Dear Mrs. Bird, but that’s another one that was popular here.
Katherine, I enjoyed Dear Mrs. Bird, but I haven’t yet read the follow-up, Yours Cheerfully, which also features Emmy Lake. Apparently, the author is working on a third Emmy Lake book, and the series is called the Emmy Lake Chronicles. I would really like to fit in Yours Cheerfully, but I don’t know if that’s possible this year. And, thanks for the mention of A.S. King’s The Black Rectangles. I’ve just put it on my order list. I’m always looking for good juvenile fiction, especially about book censorship. Some years ago I read The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King, and it became one of my favorite books.
I enjoyed Dear Mrs Bird even though I found it a little predictable, but I have heard that the second novel is not as good. I will try to get round to it one day.
It was horridly hot most of the last week here in Santa Barbara, and most bothersome at night because our upstairs heats up and we get little relief. But now it has cooled off a lot, and I just have to readjust from a week of sleep loss.
Regarding Queen Elizabeth’s death and funeral, and King Charles, I have watched no television on that, but read everything in the LA Times and lots of articles online in the New York Times. Very interested, and sometimes appalled (at how much money they have amassed). King Charles was born in the same month and year that I was (and my next door neighbor in Birmingham, Alabama was born on exactly the same day), so I have always been interested in him and his life, with its ups and downs.
The only book I read since last week was HEAD ON by John Scalzi. This is a science fiction mystery set in the near future continuing on the story of Chris Shane, a woman who developed a syndrome where her mind is fine but she has no control of her body. People with this syndrome can get around and interact in robot-like bodies that interact with a neural network implanted in their brains. The first book in the series LOCK IN.
I loved reading HEAD ON and it makes me want to go back and read LOCK IN. I just have to dig it out a box somewhere.
Now reading and enjoying:
ANNA KARENINA by Tolstoy. (830 pages)
THE KILLER IN KING’S COVE (415 pages, Canadian author, set in British Columbia, immediately after World War II)
Tracy, “They” say, it takes money to make money, so I was impressed as to how Charles was smart enough and hired the right people to double his money, but he had money and land to begin with.
I’ve enjoyed the John Scalzi books I’ve read, but I haven’t read either Lock In or Head On. I’m not sure I want to try either of them.
It does make sense that it is easier to make money when you have money, and it was intelligent to make sure that he was building up more money. I always felt bad for Charles that he had to wait so late to become the King, so it will be very interesting to see how he handles the challenges.
Trscy, me too! Charles is two weeks older than me.
I read those Scalzi books too. Not my favorites of his, but I liked them a lot. Have you read his REDSHIRTS?
Jeff, now I remember that your birthday is close to mine. I was born near the beginning of the month and you were near the end.
I have not read REDSHIRTS by Scalzi, and I would like to. I could of sworn I had a copy but not showing one in my catalog of books. I have several of his earlier books that I want to read. And I haven’t read THE KAIJU PRESERVATION SOCIETY yet.
I am also now reading (at a slow pace) THE HEIRS OF ANTHONY BOUCHER in there. You and Jackie are both mentioned and at least one photo of you in the book.
Thanks, Tracy. This year my birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day, whoch is always fun.
Yes, I’ve known Marv Lachman for over 40 years.
It’s really cooled down here. Nice for us, but it appears some of the plants are struggling with a 20 degree cool down over night.
I went to Cache Creek, which is way the heck out in the middle of nowhere to watch the Beach Boys. They gave a great show. It’s weird how these guys in their 70s and 80s can do better shows than their competitors who are sometimes over 50 years younger. The show was fun, but there was a melancholic feel, as California is farther away from the Beach Boy fantasy than it has been in a long time.
Also went to another Palladio concert. Mercy and the Heart Beats were the name of the group. They were okay, but the lead singer was indisposed they they brought in a ringer.
This week I read:
Off the Chain by Janice Thompson; A vet tech who wants to start a shelter, rescues a dog from a drain pipe. It’s presented as a cozy, but there isn’t a murder, and really, not even a mystery.
Wayward Son by Steven Goble; a PI in rural Ohio is hired to find runaway son…and the whole thing turns into a CA TV show.
Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste; Two immortals from 19 century classics are living in LA, and going to a drive in theatrer a lot,You don’t know where this is all going. Then Jayne Eyre shows up and you do.
Second Chance Against The Third Reich by Kent Hinckley; A WWI vet with PTSD goes to pieces when his daughter marries a German soldier in 1937. In 1943, as she is facing the death penalty for espionage, he crafts a hare brained scheme to rescue her. Like a 70’s TV movie, maybe with David Janssen.
Unleashed by David Rosenfelt; I might have read one of these several years ago, but I don’t remember. Andy Carpenter is wanting to retire, but when his friend Sam, calls, he’s pulled back in. Sam was supposed to be in a plane that crashed. Turns out the owner/pilot was poisoned. It all leads to a vast conspiracy that almost makes sense.
ChickenHawk by Robert Mason; The biography of a guy that joined the army to learn to fly helicopters, and got sent to Vietnam. He blames the military industrial complex.
The DC Job by Vince Milam; Case Lee is hired to find a Polish diplomat’s daughter, who was kidnapped in the Middle East. Nobody seems very interested in saving her. Of course, it’s all a vast conspiracy.
It Rides a Pale Horse by Andy Marino; A popular artist in a small town is blackmailed into follow directions in a book, not unlike The Necromonicon. Weird and horiible things start to happen. Sort of a cross between Stephen King and HP Lovecraft.
Quite a few conspiracies there, Glen.
I’m happy to hear, though, that The Beach Boys spill put on a good show. And, I have the feeling you’re right, that California certainly isn’t that surfing paradise from the 1960s. Sad.
I’ve been a tax season widow again this week so have been reading each evening. I finished a fun one – Love in the Time of Serial Killers – a woman writing her dissertation on true crime moves into her late father’s home to prepare it for sale and falls for the neighbor next door, once she figures out he’s not a serial killer.
Now I’m reading a fascinating book – Lost in Time by A.G. Riddle. Poisoned Pen hosted a virtual chat with the author and Diana Gabaldon since this is a time travel mystery/science fiction novel. One of the inventors of a machine that sends criminals back in time ends up framed for murder and must go through his own invention. When I saw back in time, I mean hundreds of millions of year back, to the Triassic Period. Meanwhile his daughter continues to search for whoever framed him for murder while his fellow inventors search for a way to bring him back. It’s really caught my interest.
Which is good because I still have to keep my now healing wounded leg elevated when possible. More excuses to read!
I’ve been watching about the Queen’s death and King Charles’ ascension to the throne as I catch it. I only got up early once to watch proceedings. I watch the recaps of what went on and read what’s online, too. Lots of subplots to follow. I will be watching the funeral on Monday.
In reading, I deviated from my planned reading (as happens so often) because I wanted to catch up in the Alaska Wild series by Paige Shelton. I read #3, Dark Night, where Beth River’s mother visits her in Benedict, Alaska, where Beth is hiding out from the man who brutally abducted her for three days. That man is still on the loose. So, I’m ready for the current #4, Winter’s End now.
Thanks to my friend Aubrey Hamilton, I just finished one of the best books of the year and new addition to my all-time favorite list. The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian is so powerful. The setting of the Serengeti in Africa during the year of 1964 was magnificent. A major Hollywood star gets married and as part of her honeymoon takes some family and friends along on an African safari. The star/bride, Katie Barstow, is paying for all of it, and it’s being led by a man with vast experience. What could go wrong. Well, everything, of course. I’m just now writing my review, and I hope I can do justice to this thrilling tale. This was another book that I fit into my already packed reading schedule, but I will keep interrupting my planned programming for amazing reads like this.
I’ve started reading A Killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonnette, the first book in the Hollywood Treasures Mystery series. It’s one I have been needing to read to do a review, and it’s one I’m looking forward to because it has Barry Manilow as a favorite singer of one of the characters. After The Lioness, I need a light-hearted murder mystery, and A Killing in Costumes promises to be that, with witty dialogue and a great nostalgia factor.
I know some of my friends are wondering why I’m not reading my early copies of Louise Penny’s A World of Curiosities or Elly Griffiths’ Bleeding Heart Yard, but I’m saving those for just a bit and trying to catch up on some current books. Next Tuesday has three books coming out I’ve been looking forward to–Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens (I have an early copy and will hopefully read it this weekend), Suspect by Scott Turow, and The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman (#3 Thursday Murder Club). The Osman book may be the UK edition, which I ordered from Book Depository. I’ll have to check on that. Anyway, there is never a dearth of reading material for me. Happy weekend to all!
Happy Weekend, Kathy!
I’m always happy when you remember to stop by.
I don’t read Chris Bohjalian, but Aubrey isn’t the only friend who loves his books. I just don’t remember if that was one Donna loved or not.
That’s okay. Kaye and I both read the Louise Penny for you, and we’ll recommend it. But, I always save a day to read it, and I need the right time. I totally get it.
I’m sure A Killing in Costumes was a nice break!
Thank you, again!
Well, I’m not sure how long I can last not reading the new Louise Penny. It’s hard to wait when it’s beside you on the bed. I meant to thank you for featuring the new book about Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley. I enjoy Lucy’s programs on PBS, and I will be buying this new book.
Checking in as the heat comes roaring back to Texas…. 95 tomorrow and Sunday and we may hit 100 again early next week. I blame my neighbors — 5 on this street of 9 houses—who have put up massive Halloween displays the last few days. The Sun God is clearly displeased as these are not the days when the Great Pumpkin shall rise…..
Anyway, current read is FUNERAL TRAIN by Laurie Lowenstein. This is the second book in her Dust Bowl Mystery Series. Even though I am not one for historicals, I very much enjoyed the first book, DEATH OF A RAINMAKER. I am 80 pages into the new one due out on 10/4 and very much enjoying it.
Kevin, I like your interpretation of the invasion of heat back in Texas. I agree with you. It’s too early for Halloween. Maybe I should say I agree with the Sun God.
I’m glad you’re enjoying Funeral Train!