I’m sorry. I haven’t been around this week. I was in Columbus, Ohio, looking for a place to live since I’m planning to move there in September or October after I retire. Speaking of weather, it was lousy there, low 40s, rain or drizzle, and wind sometimes. Drove back to Evansville yesterday where it was in the low 60s, sunny, with blue skies. Hmmmm.
So, I didn’t read anything this week, but my friend, Donna, and I did go to two independent bookstores and the Bexley Public Library when we were in Columbus. We went to The Book Loft in German Village, and Gramercy Books in Bexley. Why am I telling you this? I’m discussing a book I bought at Gramercy Books yesterday, a signed copy of A Ritchie Boy by Linda Kass. Kass is the owner of Gramercy Books. Naturally, I haven’t had a chance to read it yet since we had a five hour drive back to Evansville. But, here’s the summary of A Ritchie Boy.
1938. Eli Stoff and his parents, Austrian Jews, escape to America just after Germany takes over their homeland. Within five years, Eli enlists in the US Army and, thanks to his understanding of the German language and culture, joins thousands of others like him who become known as Ritchie boys, young men who work undercover in Intelligence on the European front to help the Allies win World War II. In A Ritchie Boy, different characters tell interrelated stories that, together, form a cohesive narrative about the circumstances and people Eli encounters from Vienna to New York, from Ohio to Maryland to war-torn Europe, before he returns to the heartland of his new country to set down his roots.
Today, I’m moderating the Mystery Panel for Library Journal‘s Day of Dialog, and, of course, I”m catching up with five days worth of email at work. I promise I’ll do better in the next week!
What about you? What are you reading this week? I hope you’re doing okay.
Glad you are safely home.
Thank you, Kevin! My cat was glad to have me safely home, too.
Lesa, I’m glad you had a good trip and got home safely, and that the weather is better there right now than in Ohio. We are having a roller coaster ride when in comes to weather in Northern California. After a day or two with highs of 90, we are now back to cold, rainy weather. But it looks like it will be 80 again around Mother’s Day. Here’s what I have been reading:
Abby Stern, the protagonist of Jennifer Weiner’s newest novel, THE BREAKAWAY, bears several similarities to the author–devoted long-distance bicyclist, Philadelphia hometown, and body weight issues. Abby is 34 and is in a relationship with Mark, whom she met as a young teenager at a weight loss camp. Mark is arguably the perfect boyfriend–loving, kind, and attentive, with a lucrative medical career—and it may be time for them to move in together. But a one-night stand a few years earlier has made a deep impression on Abby, one that Mark has been unable to match and she has been unable to forget. So Abby agrees to lead a bike tour from NYC to Niagara Falls, hoping to gain some time to figure out, while she’s away, whether she really wants to commit to Mark. It’s a surprise to both when Sebastian, her one-night stand, turns out to be on her bike tour with his best friend, and he is currently unattached. There are a number of subplots related to the 14 people whose bike tour Abby is supervising, which keeps things lively. Supporting characters include four seniors whose relationships can be confusing, a teenage girl with a calamitous secret and her mother, Abby’s own mother (who secretly signed up for the tour), and a husband and wife with their teenage boys. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of either of the love interests. In particular, Sebastian’s erratic behavior and unresolved family issues seem to continue on way beyond credibility, and Mark is passive-aggressive in his response to some undiscussed differences between his lifestyle and Abby’s. I also felt that fat-shaming and other important topics took up too much of the focus of the book. However, I enjoyed reading about the details of a bike tour, and I appreciated the fact that the conclusion didn’t try to resolve everything. (August)
The Emmy Lake Chronicles stand out among the many novels set during World War II by focusing on regular people dealing with daily life under truly irregular circumstances–London in the early 1940s. In MRS> PORTER CALLING, Emmy has matured during her 3-year tenure with the weekly Woman’s Friend magazine. She is the “Yours Cheerfully” advice columnist, taking very seriously her responsibility to respond to women struggling to survive and thrive in this difficult period. In fact, everyone at Woman’s Friend is devoted to providing realistic and creative information about cooking, fashion, war work, and personal issues, and the magazine has never been more popular. But when The Honorable Cressida Porter becomes both publisher and owner, inheriting the magazine from her recently deceased uncle, radical changes ensue, and they are neither realistic nor welcome to either employees or subscribers. Mrs. Porter’s goal is to turn the real-world magazine into a society periodical, featuring glamorous clothes, upscale food, and elegant events that most readers can’t afford, and to substitute her own frivolous column and poetry for most of the “grim” letters and all of the reader contributions. I have enjoyed all three of the books in the series, but Mrs. Porter Calling is my hands-down favorite. Most of the characters are grounded, sincere, and easy to root for. In particular, the children (ages 9, 11, and 13) of Emmy’s housemate and old friend are not stereotypes and don’t whine or act out, even under dire circumstances, They are refreshingly funny, curious, and flexible. Emmy’s best friend, Bunty, and her boss, Guy, are solid and loyal, and Emmy’s narration is heartfelt and sometimes quite clever.. All three of the women have been affected by loved ones’ experiences during the war and are quick to support each other when needed. The emotions are real, and I was brought to tears more than once, which I did not expect. This book will definitely be on my list of favorite reads of 2023, and I’m hoping there are more to come in this series. (August)
THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS, the third book of an excellent trilogy by Alka Joshi, features Indian-born Radha, who lives in Paris in the 1970s with her French husband and two daughters. Radha works for a master perfumer, mixing the scents and strengths Delphine has identified into what hopefully will become a bestseller for the House of Yves. She’s been told she has the “nose” to become a master perfumer herself, and she dreams of the day when she attains that status. Unfortunately, her husband doesn’t appreciate the long hours she works, and she worries that in the absence of a nanny, her mother-in-law will have too much influence on her children. But when she has the opportunity to work on a perfume of her own, she knows she must return to India for the elusive ingredient she lacks, with the help of her older sister and the courtesans of Agra. Radha is also bombarded with memories of the baby son she had to give up for adoption, especially when she learns that he may suspect she is an important factor in his life and is on his way to Paris to meet her. Her husband and even her best friend are unaware of what transpired 17 years earlier. What I particularly like about all three books is the character development. The main characters and many of the supporting characters evolve and show sides of themselves that are unexpected. I also love being immersed in the perfume industry, as well as the lives of Agra’s aging but still lovely courtesans and their offspring. If this is truly the last in the series, I hope the author will begin a new one for admiring readers.
Margie, I don’t think I liked Yours Cheerfully quite as much as you did, but it sounds like this third instalment is good.
I wonder if you have read Rachel Johnson’s A DIARY OF THE LADY: MY FIRST YEAR AS EDITOR, which is the true story of Johnson’s time at The Lady magazine. The Lady is a very old publication, well known for its classified ads for ‘staff’ – nannies, housekeepers, butlers, etc. Johnson was brought in by the owners to try to turn the magazine around and revitalise its extremely old fashioned and staid content.
Johnson is Boris Johnson’s sister (though she doesn’t always agree with his politics), so she is a pretty forceful character – but even she was almost defeated by the wall of hostility she met when she turned up at the magazine’s premises in central London. The Lady had been run for decades on ridiculously lax and uncommercial lines. Some of its paid staff didn’t seem to have any role at all. Much of its content was quite frankly ridiculous. Johnson pressed on, and did improve the circulation numbers considerably (she’s now left). Her account of her time there is sometimes shocking, and often absolutely hilarious. It was also made into a documentary, equally entertaining.
R0semary, I haven’t read that one, but it does sound like a real-life version of the Pearce books, so I will definitely look for it. I do agree–Yours Cheerfully wasn’t as good as the other two, so I was thrilled that Mrs. Porter Calling was so much better. I hope you enjoy it.
I’m sure, Margie, that Jennifer Weiner has dealt with fat-shaming a lot in her life, but it’s a shame it was such a focus in her latest book.
I don’t even remember reading about The Emmy Lake Chronicles, so thank you for sharing that!
Margie, unless I missed it, you didn’t list the author of the Emmy Lake Chronicles. I looked on Amazon and it is A. J. Pearce.
Thanks, Jeff. I copy and paste my reviews from a spreadsheet I keep of what I’ve read, and the author’s name is in a different column from the review itself so I sometimes miss it. I post these same reviews on NetGalley (if appropriate) and Goodreads, so I don’t need to mention the author’s name because it’s already there. No excuses, though! I appreciate the reminder.
Sounds like a good trip.
We are expecting rain starting pretty much any second, and it should rain most of Thursday. And it’s been cold this week. I live in So Cal. I shouldn’t have to deal with this!
On the reading front, I’m back on schedule, which means I’m pretty much between books. I just finished up IF I HAD A HAMMER by Teresa Trent. This is a historical set in 1963 Texas. While the focus of the book is on a fictional case, it does have the assassination of President Kennedy as a backdrop as well. I enjoyed it.
I’m currently two and a half chapters into A NOVEL DISGUISE by Samantha Larsen. This one is set in 1780’s England and is about a spinster who disguises herself as her late half brother in order to keep his job. That’s as far as I’ve gotten so far. I’m anxious to see where it goes.
You are so right, Mark. Actually, I don’t think any of us should have to deal with this cold, rainy weather. After all, it’s May! We should at least have 60s and sunshine.
I saw A Novel Disguise, but haven’t picked it up. I hope you enjoy it!
I’m complaining about 60 degree weather. 🙂 That’s fine for January, but not May!
Actually, it is only been in the 50’s so far this week.
It’s been cooler and rainy here in NJ. They say it’s going to be warmer next week so we’ll see.
I finished tow ARCs this week:
BLUEBERRY BLUNDER by Amanda Flower. The newest book in her Amish Candy shop series has Bailey finding a body at the construction site of her new candy factory. I like the author’s mix of mystery and humor and this one had plenty of Jethro the spotted pig moments.
I AM RUIN by Jeff Schanz is the third book in his Merrick the Drifter series. All three books are an ongoing story about a homeless drifter who turns into a monster when his life is in danger and who is being chased by agents who want to capture or kill him. All he remembers about his past is escaping from a lab somewhere. Overall I’ve enjoyed this series but the author used book three to explain everything and that really slowed down the pace of the story
You know what I love about this list, Sandy? That we all like different books. I don’t care for Amanda Flower’s books with the spotted pig. But, I did like her historical mystery, Because I Could Not Stop for Death. That one just won the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery.
Lesa, And I couldn’t get into her historical mystery
Good morning from Aberdeenshire,
Our weather has been mixed, but mostly dire! Wet, windy and cold, though yesterday was a lot better. Today is very cloudy. I remember the summer of the first lockdown in 2020 being fabulously sunny and warm by now – I had such wonderful walks that year. But maybe things will improve soon.
I have started reading RAZORBLADE TEARS by SA Cosby – as recommended so many times by Lesa and many others. I saw it on the library shelf so thought I’d give it a try – and I am absolutely hooked. I’m already a third of the way through and I only started it yesterday afternoon – that is quick for me. I’m so glad you recommended it Lesa, as it isn’t the kind of book I think I would’ve picked up if you hadn’t. There is a reserve on it at the library, so I need to finish it soon, but at this rate that shouldn’t be a problem.
Having finished PAUL TAKES THE FORM OF A MORTAL GIRL and then Charlie Laidlaw’s THE SPACE BETWEEN TIME, both of which I enjoyed very much, I was finding it difficult to get into a book. Having read an interview with Jill Mansell I started one of her romances but I just couldn’t engage with the characters, especially the main one, and I could see what the ending would be after 20 pages, so I decided to ditch it. I’m therefore especially glad to have found Razorblade Tears.
Earlier this week I was listening to an old episode of Radio 4’s A GOOD READ, and one of the two guests recommended a Tessa Hadley book, THE PAST. I’d seen Hadley’s books in the library before, but must admit I’d assumed they were chick lit. The guy (yes, a man!) who recommended this one is James Marriott, a book editor for The Times, so I started to pay attention. It sounds very good, and our library had a copy, so I borrowed that yesterday. It’s about adult siblings returning for a holiday at their late grandparents’ house, somewhere they used to spend summers at in the past. We shall see.
On TV I watched HATING, a documentary about the life (so far) of Peter Tatchell, a well known LGBT rights activist. In this he was interviewed at length by Sir Ian McKellan, the actor who these days is in the ‘national treasure’ class. McKellan is a wonderful person, and a good interviewer too (unlike some – especially some of the people who chair Edinburgh Book Festival events – he does not make it all (or at all) about him.) There were also contributions from Stephen Fry, Chris Smith (the first openly gay UK MP), Tom Robinson and even the former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey.
It was very interesting, and there is no doubt that Tatchell is a fantastic activist and totally committed to his cause – not just in the UK, but internationally – but I think he’d be an extremely difficult person to live with. Even some of the people equally involved in LGBT causes, eg the former head of Stonewall, felt his extreme actions hadn’t always helped. But he has no thought for his own safety (eg he confronted Robert Mugabe during the dictator’s controversial visit to London, and one of Mugabe’s hugs/bodyguards punched him to the ground with such force that Tatchell now has some motor difficulties.)
And last night I started watching FORTUNES OF WAR – the 1987 BBC TV adaptation of Olivia Manning’s novels (which I have but have not read.) This was, I think, the first time that Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh worked together, as the main characters, Guy and Harriet Pringle. Guy is an academic returning to work at the university in Bucharest. He brings with him his new wife, Harriet/Thompson. It is 1939. Guy is highly idealistic and refuses to believe that the Nazis will invade Romania – he tells Harriet they will be safer in Bucharest than in London.
The city in 1939 is full of eccentric expats, spies, competing journalists, and chancers.
Harriet may be far less educated than Guy, but she is much more aware, and sees what is already starting to happen in the city, whereas he tries to maintain his very blinkered views. He believes Russia will be able to protect Romania. Then the Jewish banker father of one of Guy’s students, a close friend, is taken away. At the end of the first episode the Romanian Prime Minister has just been assassinated.
So far I’m enjoying this a lot.
Thompson and Branagh married two years later and for a time were the darlings of the British acting world – then she eventually discovered that he had been carrying on a long affair with the actor Helena Bonham Carter, and they divorced.
Last weekend I visited the Deemouth Artists’ Studios open day. It was really nice to chat to some of the makers, especially one girl who is about to complete a Masters looking at the therapeutic benefits of water and swimming. She had interviewed lots of people who had memories of Aberdeen’s old Bon Accord Baths – where I myself used to swim when my children were small, but which have been closed for years. Now a volunteer group is aiming to restore the Art Deco building to its former glory, and they have already had art shows, and musical performances in which the musicians play from the floor of the (drained!) pool. Her research has turned out to be especially topical, as the city council has just closed several of the community pools, and there is a big campaign to get them reopened.
On Tuesday I walked with a friend at Crathes Castle – thankfully the weather improved briefly and it was great to see all the trees and shrubs coming into flower. My usual walking companion Nancy will be back from visiting her sister in France this weekend – we are both looking forward to resuming our weekly outings.
Last Friday we also attended a concert by Blue Rose Code (Scottish singer and songwriter Ross Wilson) at the Lemon Tree here in Aberdeen. It was a great night. This coming Thursday we have tickets to see a modern Scottish folk band, Talisk, in Banchory. And Heather and I are about to book to see Matthew Bourne’s ballet of Romeo and Juliet – I have seen Bourne’s production of The Nutcracker and it was absolutely brilliant, head and shoulders above any other version I’ve been to.
So that was my week really! Of course I’ve been walking by the river here most days too – and yesterday the heron reappeared after a few weeks’ absence. Where do they go, I wonder? Presumably to another stretch of the river.
I’m off to the local garden centre in a minute, as it is at last possible (I hope) to take a chance on there being no more hard frosts and start planting zonal geraniums and other bedding plants.
I hope everyone has a great week!
Rosemary! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Razorblade Tears. And, I don’t think the book will disappoint you at all. I’ve actually read the one that comes out in June, All the Sinners Bleed. Loved it, and it will undoubtedly go on my Favorites of 2023 list, but it’s not Razorblade Tears. That book is exceptional.
I love your reports of art exhibits, walks, concerts, books, and radio shows. Thank you!
Rosemary, I am a big fan of FORTUNES OF WAR. I have always meant to read the two Olivia Manning trilogies about the Pringles but every time I’ve started, I just haven’t gotten very far into it. I wouldn’t mind watching the series again. I think you’re right about it being the first time Branagh and Thompson acted together.
Add me to the the rather long list of folks who loved RAZORBLADE TEARS by SA Cosby!
Add me, too, to those who loved Razorback Tears. I need to make sure the new one coming out is on my list.
A Ritchie Boy sounds good to me! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Reen. I hope we both enjoy it!
Lesa I’m glad you had the chance to visit the high points of Columbus on your relocating trip – two bookstores and a library!
Here in Northern Nevada we’re getting a time delayed version of Margie’s roller-coaster weather. Piles of fresh snow yesterday, completely gone before noon. Reminded me of the Mark Twain saying “If you don’t like the weather in ____ now, just wait a few minutes.”
I had a good reading week. Finally read Jane Harper’s EXILES. I read The Dry back in 2018, but apparently forgot what a captivating story she weaves set in small-town Australia.
THE LATECOMER by Jean Hanff Korelitz casts a witty eye on an array of American life. The Oppenheimer triplets were conceived in a petri dish and Life was destined to be unusual from there. These heirs of a wealthy Brooklyn family are the subject of her dazzling novel from 2022. Beautiful writing and a wide ranging plot.
A MURDER OF CROWS by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
In the start to a delightful new series set in rural England, the police investigate the murder of Sophie Crows. The best suspect is Dr. Nell Ward, Ecological Consultant, who just happens to be on-site conducting a habitat assessment & bat survey. Of course Nell needs to take matters into her own hands. I found the science and detection quite interesting.
Oh, the bookstores definitely were a highlight, MM. Every booklover should see The Book Loft. And, Gramercy Books is a wonderful bookstore.
Oh, a new mystery series! Don’t you love to discover a new one that you like?
Good luck with your house hunting, Lesa. Glad you made it home safe. We lived in Columbus for 24 years before moving to Cincinnati. First in the Pickerington area and then Grove City.
Two books this week. Wherever the Wind Takes You by Kelly Harms. A 40 something year old woman gets divorced and learns to sail to get the boat she received in her settlement to Miami to sell it. It was rather predictable and only okay.
I enjoyed my second book better-Off the Map by Trish Doller. Carla travels to Ireland for his best friend’s wedding and falls for the groom’s brother. The more serious plotline involved her father’s dementia. My favorite of this trilogy was the first book, Float Plan.
Happy Reading!
My sister lives in Pickerington, Sharon.
I did enjoy Off the Map. I read the second and third in the series. I’m told I should go back and read Float Plan.
Happy Reading to you, too!
I finished Silver Alert by Lee Smith and was disappointed in it. I’m now reading All That is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay. Next up is Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns, a two book series that caught my eye. I’m really looking forward to The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, as soon as my hold is available.
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! I retired in 2017 and moved from southern Indiana to San Antonio to be close to my grandsons.
I’m looking forward to retirement, Linda. I’m going to miss Donna, my best friend, but I’m looking forward to being closer to family.
Well, darn. I’m sorry about Silver Alert. It’s on my TBR pile.
I’m doing fine, Lesa. The weather has been lovely and I don’t have spring fever (yet), so I’m getting things done. Currently I’m reading Dust Child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai, a story of a bar girl and a soldier during the Vietnam war, secrets and PTSD, and the Amerasian children left behind.
Well, someone with lovely weather, Patricia! That’s good. Enjoy the weather and your book.
Ah, Bexley and German Village. We had a good friend who lived there and we visited them in the early ’80s. Still remember the bakery in German Village. Yum. Good luck finding a place.
Yeah, our weather has sucked too. It’s supposed to be 68 this time of year and we’re 10-15 degrees below that. And after a very dry month we had over FIVE INCHES of rain last weekend. Current predictions say it will warm up to the 70s by Sunday, so we’ll see.
Jackie is reading the Linda Lael Miller vampire book, with GHOSTLY GAME by Christine Feehan next in line.
I’m still reading teh Bill Pronzini short story ciollection, HIGH CONCEPT.
Read two non fiction books this past week:
Judy Gold, YES, I CAN SAY THAT: When They Come for the Comedians We Are All in Trouble. This was the basis for the one woman show we saw a couple of weeks ago. A powerful support for the First Amendment.
Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, AWKWORD MOMENTS: A Lively Guide to the 100 Terms Smart People Should Know.
Also read the final Dr. Siri book by Colin Cotterill, THE DELIGHTFUL LIFE OF A SUICIDE PILOT. I liked this one a lot, but you definitely need to start with the beginning of the series to see if the writing and quirky characters appeal to you.
Currently halfway through Chris Knopf’s A BILLION WAYS TO DIE, third in his Arthur Cathcart trilogy. Years ago Bill Crider recommended the first book, DEAD ANYWAY, and boy, was he right. Arthur Cathcart, a financial advisor and computer expert, comes home and finds a man with a gun holding his wife and forcing her to sign some papers. Seems the wife, despite a successful business, sstole millions of dollars. After she signs the man shoots both of them in the head.
The wife is dead, but since Cathcart is the narrator, obviously he survives. He figures he better stay dead so gets his surgeon sister to help fake his death, and he goes on the run, using several aliases he conjures up online. Along the way he meets and gets involved with Natsumi Fitzgerald and she joins him on his round the world excursion.
In this third book they are again in mortal danger and I am anxious to see if this indeed wraps the series up.
Up next: the final Alan Banks book by Peter Robinson.
Well, that is a memory of German Village, Jeff, if you still remember the bakery. I don’t know if that was Schmidt’s restaurant, or a bakery. Schmidt’s is known for their giant cream puffs.
Saving that Alan Banks book since it’s Peter Robinson’s last one?
I’m ready for spring weather, not cold, windy and drizzle.
The cream puffs definitely ring a bell, so that was probably it.
Welcome home, Lesa!
Doing okay. Having roller coaster weather here as well.
Two books to report on –
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane is one powerful book. “Powerful” is a word I try to avoid when talking about books because it’s so overused, I think. But it’s the best word I can think of in this particular case. It was, for me, a very hard book to read and I almost put it down a couple of times. Lehane’s writing kept me captured though. While I certainly can’t say I related to the small time organized crime aspects in Small Mercies, i am of an age that the race issues did resonate having grown up in the days of busing in an attempt at integration. As I said, this was a tough read for me.
I needed a light read to offset Small Mercies and was happy to find Summer on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet where I was able to catch up on characters originally found in Bohnet’s Christmas on the Riviera, and it was just right.
You’re right about Small Mercies, Kaye. Powerful. In fact, I thought it could be read side-by-side with Razorblade Tears because of the parents. One of my favorite books this year.
I can understand needing to take an entirely different direction for the next book. Glad you found Summer on the French Riviera!
I too just finished Small Mercies by Dennis Leanne and was deeply affected. I grew up in Somerville, MA (3 miles north of Boston). I am not a Southie but knew many Mary Pats. Her character was true to life and couldn’t get the book off my mind. We left Boston in 1967 so not there during the busing, however did follow the news and had many relatives living in Boston. This book was thought provoking and truth telling about race relations in South Boston. Highly recommend.
I am now reading the 2nd book by Janet Dawson. Just the ticket after Small Mercies.
Doreen, Sounds like you needed a break after Small Mercies, too.
Thank you for sharing your comments about Small Mercies. It’s interesting to read your comments and Kaye’s because you both knew the area.
Happy Star Wars Day! May the Fourth be with you!
Good luck finding a house, Lesa.
Last week, it was so hot people were passing out, now it’s cold and rainy again. Allergy season is going to last awhile this year.
This week I read:
Moving Targets by William J. Reynolds; This is the second book in the Nebraska mystery series. The first book was apparently wildly popular in the 1980’s, as for many years it seemed like every used book store had a couple of copies. I remember reading it some years ago, and thought the detective was a bit of an ass. I read this one, and like the first book, the mystery is pretty good, but the detective is still a bit of an ass. As 80’s as a neon skinny tie.
A Deadly Deletion by Lorna Barret; Someone has been reading Joanne Fluke, as the protagonist gets two marriage proposals one after the other. Luckily for all of us, one of the suitors is immediately run over by a white pickup and killed. Turns out he was in the witness protection program. Completely unrealistic setting.
Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker; Chief Bruno is doing his thing in the French countryside, when there is a car rally, a hunt for a priceless classic car hidden since WWII, a family feud, and a bullied teen to keep him busy. Bruno complains about working more than 35 hours a week. Oh, the French.
Murder On The Rocks by Karen MacInerney; The usual amateur sleuth, right down to the unmanageable hair, buy a B&B on a Maine Island. Just as she’s about to turn the corner, an obnoxious guest reveals he is a developer, and her lighthouse is about to become a parking lot. He’s killed, she’s the prime suspect, and accidents begin to happen, including an epic bicycle accident. Maine in the summer is nice, but in the winter, I’d stay away.
Last Breath by Scott Harrington; The Chinese Triad comes back for another try at ninjutsu expert Trace Connor. This time they kills some people close to him to get him to come to their territory. Big mistake. Trace does a lot of scuba diving. I once saw a movie called 5 Element Ninjas. Guess he’s a water ninja.
Glen, Since an author just made me cry with his kind comments about librarians, I needed to read your fun comments next. Thank you! They all made me laugh, but especially Lorna Barrett’s “Somebody has been reading Joanne Fluke”. Oh, Glen.
That book sounds wonderful. I looked it at Amazon and it has small print. Maybe if the audio CDs, I could do it.
I finished The Promise by Beth Wiseman and the story was very intense. https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/87355776 That is the review that I posrted on GoodReads.
Now reading an ARC of But I Already Said Goodbye by Wendy Thatcher Jensen. A high school graduate gets a job at an animal rescue center. After the job interview, she gets invited to a cat hoarder rescue. The elderly woman never had the animals spayed and they multiplied into a huge number. The kittens were easy but many of the older ones were feral. The crew got down to one cat, a Tomcat with thick gray hair and very big. He was hiding under a bed and Amber, the new hire got him. One eye was missing and he had fleas. They told her that to just leave him there. Incredibly empathic, she requested to adopt him. Named him Tom.
As the story goes on, we find out that she is controlled and abused by an older man who comes to her apartment that she shares with other renters. Because she did so well at her job, she was promoted to write articles against animal abuse, visit grade schools with the aim of promoting the humane treatment of animals, and do research for more articles.
The main trouble is the abuse from the man. Tom, the big gray cat doesn’t like and always hides from him. Now, Tom loves to sit on her lap and purr. That is where I am now!
I’m a crime fiction reader, Carol. In my world, the cat would kill the abusive man.
The review could not be posted here for some reason, but too tired to sum it up now. James could sleep last night so he got up early and I could get back to sleep.
I just finished Star Fall by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. I continue to enjoy Bill Slider and his colleagues and family. This was another good mystery. There has been a shipping delay with the next Slider book, so I checked out Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride. I am only two chapters in, but enjoying it so far.
As for the weather, we had snow flurries the beginning of the week, lots of cold rain and by the weekend it is supposed to be in the low 70’s….could it be that spring is finally here?
Oh, I hope spring is finally here, Jennifer. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I love the Bill Slider books.
How exciting, looking for a place to live in Columbus and retiring. At least I hope it is exciting. (I was 71 when I retired so I was very glad to move on to retirement, but it is an ambivalent situation for some, I know.)
I finished two books this week. One was a book of short stories: MURDER BY THE BOOK: MYSTERIES FOR BIBLIOPHILES. I like almost all of the stories, and my favorite stories were by Victor Canning and John Creasey. I have read novels by both authors, but I was really surprised to be so impressed with the John Creasey story.
Last night I finished PAPER CHASE by Bob Cook. It is a humorous book about four old spies who retired years ago, and only get together at the funerals of other old friends who were intelligence agents. They are forbidden to publish their memoirs, and they decide to deal with this by writing and publishing a fictional story based on their memoirs. I enjoyed the book, it was short and fun but serious enough too. Originally published in 1989, it was reissued by Felony & Mayhem in 2014. The author wrote another spy fiction book which I just discovered I have on my kindle, so I will read that one soonish too.
Yes, it is exciting, Tracy. I’m ready. I’ve loved my career, but I’m ready for retirement, so it is. Nobody is pushing me out.
Paper Chase sounds really good!
Hi everyone! It has been a quiet reading week for me. I finished and enjoyed Gigi Panadian’s The Raven Thief. It was a clever mystery, and I enjoy the glimpses into stage magic that the author provides.
I really need to get to that series, Trisha. I know I’ll like it.
While waiting, I downloaded Gigi Panadian’s The Christmas Caper. A short story in the same series that has the family visiting Scotland.
Thank you for letting me know about the story!
Congrats and best wishes on your coming retirement and move to Ohio. I am currently reading “The 23rd Midnight” by James Patterson in print, an E-ARC of Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing and listening to a netgalley e-audio of All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
I hope you like All the Sinners Bleed, Katherine. I thought it was terrific.
Lesa, I am very much enjoying it. I have around 3- 4 hours left. I can’t wait to find out how it ends.
Lesa, your retirement is getting real. Did you find any home or apartment you like yet, or did you decide what area of Columbus you want to settle in? Having a choice of independent bookstores where you live is so appealing. And, of course, your sister so near is a big bonus. I’ve enjoyed the cool weather here, but I like it with the sun shining. I am just gobsmacked that this Friday is once again supposed to bring rain. I’m beginning to feel sorry for that day.
In my reading, I did finish Blackstone Fell, the third book in the Rachel Savernake series by Martin Edwards and loved it. I already described it last week, so I won’t do that again. Martin just won an Edgar for his non-fiction book, The Life of Crime, and he also received the EDWARD D. HOCH MEMORIAL GOLDEN DERRINGER FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT. Martin is on a roll.
This past week I read Annette Dashofy’s new Zoe Chambers book out next week. Helpless is #12 in the series, and I think it’s Annette’s best in the series yet. Her ability to handle the intertwining plots and keep the action moving forward at a fast pace made for one heck of a read. Of course, the knowledge about storms and flooding and fixing farm machinery and medical emergencies was so impressive and so seamlessly a part of the story. I think Annette is doing her finest writing these days. I’m not going to describe the story because I’m working on that in my review now, and I’ll post that in a few days.
I’m currently reading Patricia Wentworth’s The Case is Closed, a Miss Silver mystery. I have been wanting to read one of these for ages, and I finally am letting myself sneak it into my reading schedule. I’m trying to make room for reading some Golden Age mysteries, and this one was first published in 1937. I’ve just started it, so I can only tell you that a man, Geoffrey Grey, has been convicted of murdering his uncle. He was caught in the locked room with his uncle and holding the gun. Geoffrey’s uncle had called him and asked him to come right over, and Geoffrey entered through the door to the garden, like he always did. The door was locked when the servants knocked to get in, just after Geoffrey discovered the body of his uncle and picked up the gun lying on the floor. This is all flashback. The story starts with the cousin, Hilary Carew, of Marion Grey, Geoffrey’s wife, taking a wrong train and having an encounter with a woman who says she knows her. The woman asks after Marion and Geoffrey, and says some strange things relating to the trial. There’s a man traveling with the old woman who left the compartment for a few minutes, which gave her the opportunity to speak to Hilary. The old woman is scared of the man and indicates she is always under his supervision. Then, Hilary is home with Marion, who has just returned from a prison visit with her husband. Things seem bleak, but I know that Miss Silver will soon be engaged to try to clear Geoffrey’s name.
I did, Kathy. I found two apartments that are possibilities. Now, I’ll just see which one has openings at the right time.
Thank you for your comments about the books. I’ve never read a Miss Silver mystery, either. Aubrey Hamilton would tell me I should at least read a couple. I hope you enjoy it!
Yes, Martin Edwards is on a roll, a well-deserved one, I think.
My current read is AN AMERICAN INN SCOTLAND: A SCOTTISH ISLE MYSTERY by Lucy Connelly. Am enjoying it.
Oh, good! I’m glad you’re enjoying An American in Scotland, Kevin!
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement Lisa. I know you are glad to soon be closer to your family.
I have only one question……Are you going to be continuing your blog? I surely hope so. 🙂
Oh, yes! Pat and Carol, I am going to continue the blog. Retirement does not mean I’m going to stop reading. And, moving to Columbus means I may go to more book events. So, there might even be more variety in the blog.
I hope that you continue this blog, Lesa! It is very hard to let go of people you love!