Today, I’m here to actually participate in What Are You Reading? I hope you have books to talk about this week.
I”m reading Leslie Budewitz’ fourth Spice Shop mystery, Chai Another Day. It’s been three years since the last book in the series. Pepper Reece is the owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. This time, Pepper doesn’t find a body, but two of her friends find an interior designer who is dying, murdered. I like the fact that there is a list of characters in the front of the book. And, Leslie does an excellent job introducing characters and background for those of us who have forgotten details since the last book came along. It also works for readers who want to start with Chai Another Day.
What are you reading this week? Please share.
I finished the two short story collections I was reading -the Robert Silverberg Science Fiction Megapack (these "Megapack" editions give you a lot of reading on the Kindle for $1.99 or less; there are MANY collections of older mysteries available, as well as SF and others), and Mollie Panter-Downes's Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories. The one that stood out in the latter book for me was "The Hunger of Miss Burton." I am also reading Panter-Downes's London War Notes 1939-1945.
The other book I read was the new first novel by W. M. Akers, Westside. It's set in 1921 Manhattan, but a Manhattan quite different from the read thing. People are vanishing, first a few and later hundreds. A wall is built along Broadway down the center of the city to (supposedly) keep the contagion on the West Side. Gilda Carr is a PI of sorts, but she will only take on "small" cases, like the search for a missing glove that starts the story. It is a historical mystery, but one with other (some would say "woo woo" elements). I raced through the last couple of hundred pages yesterday.
Just finished reading Patti Callahan Henry's "The Favorite Daughter," which I loved. Ms. Henry is one of my favorite authors. Today I'll pick up Imogen Robertson's "The Paris Winter."
That's always a good sign, Jeff, when you race through a couple hundred pages.
Two favorites, Kaye – Patti Callahan Henry & Paris. Happy reading & hugs!
Lesa already reviewed Kate Carlisle's THE BOOK SUPREMACY in detail, so I'll just say that I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I have all of the books in this series, although I thought the villain was improbable and over the top (hissing at people?).
I won an ARC of THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center in a giveaway. Cassie is a non-nonsense, award-winning firefighter who has shunned any kind of personal life because of an encounter with a predator when she was 16 and because her mother had suddenly abandoned her and her father on that same day. Leaving town and her beloved job after an unfortunate event and at the invitation of her estranged mother, who asked for her hep with a crippling malady, Cassie has to prove herself again with another firefighting unit and overcome her negative feelings about her mother and about life in general.l I found the details of Cassie's first-ever love affair (with a colleague) difficult to accept, given the way she was previously portrayed by the author. Disappointing, since I very much enjoyed Center's last book, HOW TO WALK AWAY.
I bought KILLER KEEPSAKES by Jane K. Cleland at a Sisters in Crime event where Cleland gave a presentation on suspense and plotting, because it was one of only 3 in her 12-book Josie Prescott Mystery series that I hadn't read. Josie's assistant of 4 years, Gretchen, has disappeared. She was to have returned to work after a Hawaii vacation, and several strangers seem to be looking for her. An investigation reveals that Gretchen's Social Security Number is only 7 years old, so Josie wonders if Gretchen is who she says she is, and whether she has a secret past (spoiler alert: she does). Two of Gretchen's friends, an unsavory boyfriend of one of them, and a missing antique vase from Gretchen's house are all part of the investigation. As always, Cleland writes masterfully about antiques and tells an engrossing, multilayered story with interesting characters. One of the best cozy series around.
My alma mater, Dickinson College, has just announced a new online book club, and the first selection is EDUCATED by Tara Westover, a book I've been meaning to read for a couple of years. The Read It Forward book club (on Facebook) also made it their new selection. Have you read it? I bought it on Kindle. I'm glad it's nonfiction because we're supposed to read only 8 chapters a week and I tend to read much faster than that.
I’m just starting ONE TASTE TOO MANY by Debra H. Goldstein. I’m only 20 pages in so it is too soon to form an opinion. And I’m working on the audio of Sue Grafton’s N IS FOR NOOSE. I’m about a quarter of the way into that one and it is moving very slowly so far.
This week I finished MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin. The last 150 pages made it worthwhile to stick with it. It is a historical fiction novel about Blanche and Claude Auzello who worked at the Ritz during WWII. They both were involved with the Resistance movement while kowtowing to the Nazis who took over the Ritz. In the author's notes she said there is scarcely any material on Blanche Auzello which I think is what I found wrong with the book. The last 150 pages made their story a fascinating one but the first half of the book seemed like just filler to me. I was not disappointed I read it but it was not nearly as good as my favorite book of hers, THE AVIATOR'S WIFE.
Have not decided what to pick up next from the pile to read. We spent a delightful evening last nightinstead celebrating our 42nd wedding anniversary seeing Finding Neverland at the Ohio Theater.
Happy Reading!
I finished THE BODY IN THE WAKE by Katherine Hall Page. It was more of a novel about drug abuse in Maine than a mystery but I enjoyed the interaction between the characters
I haven't read Educated, Margie, and it's not even on a TBR pile, although I've thought about reading it. A book club is a great way of picking up books I normally wouldn't read.
I totally agree with you about Jane K. Cleland's series. One of the best cozy series. Well-written, with excellent character development over the the course of the series.
I'm afraid I never read all of Sue Grafton's books, Mark. I just wasn't attracted to some of them.
Oh, Finding Neverland, Sharon! I saw it on Broadway, and really enjoyed it.
I love Melanie Benjamin's actual personality on Facebook, but I just can't get into her books.The characters just don't come to life for me.
Perfect summary, Sandy, of The Body in the Wake.
A big hello to Lesa and everyone who checks in today.
Interesting books shared today.
Hi, Charlotte!
Sending hugs!
I read:
Once We were Brothers by Balson; First book in the Liam Haggerty series. The PI stuff is just a frame for a Nazi story.
Fever Dream by Preston and Child; Pendergast finds out his wife was murdered and pokes around the swamps of Louisiana. I was disappointed he didn't find any skunk apes.
Layover by David Bell; A psychological thriller about a guy who finds love during a layover, and almost ruins his life.
The Impeachers; A very odd history book. Prognostication produces poor history. The author swears she started the book six years ago, when no on was thinking about impeachment, and it isn't about Trump.
It is about Trump. Here's what I think happened. She started an anti-impeachment book because she thought, like everyone else, even Trump, that HIllary would be the next President. Everybody also knew she would probably be under investigation from day one.
If you want to make God laugh, make plans.
I'm reminded of the afterword in Puddin'Head Wilson, where Twain says he started a story featuring a Siamese Twin, and had had to pull it out of the rest of the story with a pair of pliers.
Brandywine needed better tools.
I finished "A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World" last night and loved it so much that I've already reviewed it on Book Chase. (bookchase.blogspot.com). It is that exciting. But it's one of those books that can so easily be spoiled by someone leaking the wrong part of the plot that I had to be very careful in the review not to do that. Every time I thought I had figured out how this one would end, boom! A new twist would have me shaking my head at its cleverness.
Anyhow, "A Boy" is probably my favorite book of 2019 to this point, and it may very well still be on top the list at the end of the year because it's going to take something pretty powerful to knock if off.
Glen, There are people here who write great reviews, but yours are the ones that always make me laugh. I look forward to ending the day with your comments. It's everything from you were disappointed they didn't find skunk apes to your astute comments about The Impeachers. Thank you.
Sam, I'm glad you found your way to my blog, and commented about "A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World." Thank you. I'm going to check out your blog as well.
I picked up a small book at the library by Willie Nelson – Pretty Paper – a fictionalized story about the Christmas song he wrote…I will let you know if I like it.
I really like this series! I'm looking forward to reading this book.
Looking forward to hearing your opinion, Gram!
Only have two more discs to go for The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
by Phaedra Patrick. I hate to see it end. Already have picked another book by her in the future. It will have to be on audio.
Almost finished with Marcia Clark' s Guilt By Association,
My computer lost it this morning. Everything was changed when I turned it, I think the recent updates have been messing it up. Hope that I have go things back to normal by next week.
Oh, good luck with your computer, Carol. I hate that when a computer messes up.
That's a book I know I'd like, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. Just never had a chance to get to it.
I just finished The Things I Know by Amanda Prowse and The Road She Left Behind by Christine Nolfi. Both wonderful reads I would recommend without hesitation. My weekend reading is an advance copy of Strangled Eggs and Ham by Maddie Day. All her series are so enjoyable, looking forward to this book.
Hi Leesa,
I am currently reading Read on Arrival by Nora Page and Skin Game by Stuart Woods. On audio, it's The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz.
Isn't it great, Grandma Cootie, when you can recommend books? I like Maddie Day's books, too. I'm just not up-to-date with that series, which is a shame since it's set in Indiana.
I'm behind in Horowitz' series as well. Katstev. (sigh)