Before we even dive into books, I have to know if you’re all okay. Weather is so uncertain right now, but I don’t think any of us were in the path of Hurricane Idalia. Just checking. And, I don’t know if Margie will be here today. She’s attending Bouchercon this week, and I’m sure she has a busy schedule.
I’ve been wrapping up things at work, cleaning out my office, taking personal items home, accepting flowers from family and friends, and enjoying a retirement party. Tomorrow is my first day of retirement, so, of course, I’m going to the dentist at 8 a.m.
As to books, I’m finishing up Andrea Carter’s sixth mystery set on the Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland. Death Writes features solicitor Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe who is juggling several difficult situations. Her parents seem caught up in a scheme by a member of their grief group, but he clears out when he learns Ben’s boyfriend is a Garda. She invites her parents to stay, just in time for Glenfest, a literary festival. The organizers scored a coup, securing a keynote speaker who is local and a Booker Prize winner. When he keels over and dies onstage, Ben’s caught in a messy situation. She holds his original will, and his estranged wife and adult children consult her. Then, his assistant shows up with a second, later will. No one will benefit, though, until the police find a killer because the cause of death is poisoning.
I know it sounds as if I revealed too much, but there’s not a spoiler in that above paragraph. That’s in the original book summary.
What about you? What are you reading this week?
Congratulations on your well earned retirement. At first it was a bit strange not having a structured day.
The Bay Area California finally had the hottest day of the year, we have had an exceptional summer weather wise. Twenty miles east of my town and they have had typical 90 to 100 degree days.
Currently reading two books, Ellie Brannigan’s Murder at an Irish Castle and am enjoying it. Earlier someone mentioned that Rayne was whiny, and she is but the rest if the characters make up for it.
Finally an reading the first book in the Zoe Chambers series by Annette Dashofy, Circle of Influence. It is not a cozy and the setting is in the Pittsburgh area where I grew up and before moving to Northern California. It is character driven. I would call it a police procedural. I plan to continue with the series.
Next up will be the new Matt Goldman book. A Good Family. Loved his Nils Shapiro books.
Lesa, enjoy a day or two before continuing your chores
Thank you, Jeannette. I can’t enjoy a day or two before continuing the packing. My Mom & sister are coming in Monday afternoon to help with it. But, a little over 2 weeks & I’ll be living in Columbus! That’s great.
I like the characters in Murder at an Irish Castle.
Don’t you like reading about an area that’s familiar to you?
All is well with my family and me. We could do without the heat however and are looking forward to spending cool outdoors with family and friends. We have filled the coffee table with books and magazines. I tried some new topics to read about. I keep going back to my favorites however like those by Louise Penny. I have avoided more than a small number of those I usually like that regard today’s concerns to all.
I don’t blame you one bit, Reen, for avoiding books about today’s world. Good to hear, though, that all is well. Enjoy the time inside with family & friends!
Congrats on your retirement!
All safe here weather wise. I’m heading down to Bouchercon on Saturday. Unfortunately, with work the way it is, I can only be there for the one day, but at least I get that. It will be busy try to see everyone.
I am going to say that just because something is in the teaser on the back of a book, it can still be a spoiler. I’ve read quite a few that had spoilers in them, which is why I usually avoid them for books I know I’m going to read.
On to what I’m reading. I’m reading another Diane Vallere book right now – Fahrenheit 501. This is in her Samantha Kidd series, which really dives into the fashion. This one deals with a secret society devoted to fashion history and the murder of an expert on jeans. It has the typical timeline issues, but I am enjoying it overall.
Enjoy Bouchercon, Mark! I love that conference. This year just wasn’t a good year for me to attend. I can’t believe it will be in Nashville next year, right after I move away. Nashville is only three hours from Evansville.
I really don’t think there is much in that summary as a spoiler, even if it is on the book. Too many twists and complications in the book.
Hello, all! I am indeed at Bouchercon in San Diego, which started yesterday. Earlier today I heard Naomi Hirahara’s interview and it made me want to read Clark and Division and her new Evergreen. I was lucky enough to score a seat at her table for the Saturday night Anthony Awards banquet. I do by have access to my computer so my reviews will have to wait till next Thursday. Happy last day of work, Lesa!
Do not have– sorry, I don’t type well on my phone.
Have a good time Margie! You’ll have to give us a round up next week.
Good to hear from you, Margie! You’ll have to share highlights next Thursday. Have fun!
Happy last day of work, Lesa! Although I would rather go to work than go to the dentist!!! Anyway, congrats to you and hope retirement brings nothing but happiness your way.
That’s funny, Jennifer. I do have a good dentist.
Getting ready to go to lunch with my best friend!
Good morning from a sunny Deeside, where the temperature is now 53F and will only rise a little all day. To me this is perfect autumn weather. There are still blackberries in the hedgerows, everywhere is still green and lush, but the rosebay willow herb is over for another year, and soon the swallows will leave and the pink footed geese will return from their summer homes.
I got back home on Sunday evening and it is so good to be somewhere peaceful after all the festival excitement. I didn’t see any more events after the Jeremy Corbyn session, I decided enough was enough; I only finished writing up the last review yesterday. David and Anna went to see a Gill Scott Heron tribute act at the Jazz Bar and enjoyed it very much, but by Saturday night I could not face another thing.
I can’t remember if I said before that Anna and I went to see the Barbie Movie? It was great, so funny and clever, though the ending was far too saccharine for me. It certainly made a change from all the Fringe stuff – big comfortable seats for a start.
The Andrea Carter book you mention sounds really good Lesa, I will add it to my never-ending list. I’ve often thought that solicitors would make good characters for mysteries, as they know so many secrets.
I have just about finished Joan Lingard’s NATASHA’S WILL, which is quite interesting but rather predictable (a family who lived in a huge house in the Highlands with an old Russian lady is sure she made a will leaving the house to them. The will can’t be found and in the meantime her only relative, a wealthy man from London, informs them that the property is his under the Intestacy Act and he wishes them to leave.
They then spend days on end looking for a treasure trail of clues that Natasha has left in various books. I suppose this was intended to encourage children to read the classics, but to me it just seems ridiculous – why on earth would she not simply have given her will to the family before she died?
There are also long flashbacks to Natasha’s childhood in pre-revolutionary St Petersburg, where she lived a luxurious life in a palace with servants. When the Bolsheviks take control Natasha, her mother and another family have to escape from the city and travel as peasants across Europe to Paris. Lingard does a good job of describing the hardships being suffered by poor people throughout the country, but Natasha is far too perfect to be true.
However, this book was written for children, not me, and as a 10 year old I’d probably have lapped it up. Lingard’s books, especially the series she wrote about Kevin and Sadie, a Catholic boy and a Protestant girl living in Belfast during the Conflict, are still immensely popular today.
I’m about to start THE BOOKSHOP by Penelope Fitzgerald. This was one of my 20 Books of Summer. I am going to fail miserably to complete my reading of all 20 by the end of the month (ie today!) but I’ve decided to allow myself September as well, as August really isn’t available to me for anything but reviewing. So far I’ve read 11 (The Bookshop will be number 12), so I’m not even sure I’ll make it by the end of September – never mind.
On TV I have finally watched most of A SPY AMONG FRIENDS, the dramatisation of Ben Macintyre’s non-fiction book about Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliott. I’m still quite confused – there are a LOT of flashbacks – but the acting is very good, notably from Anna Maxwell Martin, Damien Lewis and Guy Pearce. Maybe I should read the book.
Anna is watching the new drama about the notorious Magdalene laundries in Ireland, THE WOMAN IN THE WALL (starring Ruth Wilson) and says it’s excellent, so I will watch that next.
And apologies, I think I did know the right title for the series set in Aberdeen (Granite Harbour) but for some reason I decided to rename it Granite City last week. I blame the festivals 🙂
On Tuesday Nancy and I had a good walk and catch-up at the Crathes Castle estate; beautiful weather too. Tomorrow I am meeting my friend Heather for another catch-up (6 weeks away is a LONG time!) but today it is my date with the hairdresser, hoorah, can’t wait.
And had better not wait, as I need to catch the bus into town.
Have a good week all, and enjoy your first week of freedom Lesa. It might seem odd for the first 5 minutes, but it’s amazing how soon you get used to it!
Rosemary
Six weeks away! That is a long time, Rosemary. I’ve never been away from home that long, and certainly not as busy as you’ve been for the festivals. Abandon, I feel bad that I’ve been on the phone all evening, and too busy today to get back to the blog. You seem to have found time for everything.
I do agree. I probably would have enjoyed Natasha’s Will as a kid.
I’m glad you’re not killing yourself to finish your summer reading list!
I’m currently reading A Line In the Sand by Kevin Powers and at this point all I can say is it is not over-whelming – I’m hoping things get a little more exciting so that I don’t fall asleep when reading it! I wanted to stop by to wish you all the best in your retirement. You are so lucky that you are going to have your sisters and mom near by so you won’t be bored. The weather here in CT has been great and we are expecting a perfect holiday weekend. Hope everyone has a lovely holiday.
Thank you, Donna. I’d drop that book if it’s too boring.
Thank you for the kind wishes. Mom and one sister are coming in Monday to help me pack, and I’m looking forward to their visit.
Not really too long now before the move!
Congratulations on your retirement Lesa and best of luck with the move. Summer has been quite pleasant here although there is a bit of haze from wildfires to the NW and cold, windy weather for the weekend.
I started this week with a few books from 2022 off my TBR list:
“…a great novel is a painting – a world offered to the reader to be wrapped up in the immense illusion created by the author’s brushstrokes.”
I’m was so taken by Joel Dicker’s THE ENIGMA OF ROOM 622 (translated by Robert Bononno). Exceptional! A set of nested stories, at the center is a crime and its solution. Then a layer of victim and suspects – a layer of Swiss banking ‐ a layer of amateur sleuth – all finally layered with the fictional author’s beginnings and an homage to his late publisher. At 575 pages it should seem too long, but it flows with continual reveals.
On the lighter side and one of Margie’s favorites from 2022, Clare Pooley’s IONA IVERSON’S RULES FOR COMMUTING. Human interest of tender type without veering over into the overly sweet.
“an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute, discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you–and even more about yourself”
From October 2022 Treasure Closet Mark de Castrique’s SECRET LIVES introduces a heavy dose of cryptocurrency & new quick-witted senior sleuth. Grandmotherly Fiona Crestwater, a retired FBI agent who runs a boarding house and remains a legend among her former colleagues. Our sleuth manages to avoid all the cryptocurrency details with the help of her resident twenty-something nephew.
And to finish the week, Helen Schulman’s latest LUCKY DOGS (2023) Based on real life, the author creates a kind of time capsule of current events in this provocative novel about sexual assault and Hollywood predators. Lots of buzzy words and current references, fascinating and not my typical reading.
Thank you, MM. I’ll take the good wishes for my move.
I liked Secret Lives, but I liked the sequel even more. No cryptocurrency!
Thanks Lesa – just placed a hold for Dangerous Women
Congratulations on your retirement. The weather here in NJ is nice today although it’s supposed to get hot again over the weekend. Our town had their last concert of the summer yesterday. It was an Elvis impersonator and he was pretty good.
I’m currently reading For Love of Magic by Simon R Green. I’m only a few chapters into it but so far I like it.
Thank you, Sandy. I liked For Love of Magic. It was a little different. I hope it doesn’t disappoint you.
Congratulations on your retirement, Lesa.
Yesterday was a good weather day for us. Temperatures only in the 70’s. We opened up our doors and windows. The heat dome returns this weekend-ugh.
This week I read the book Kaye recommended last week, Escape to Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson. It had heavier themes than I expected but I enjoyed it, particularly the secondary characters.
I also finished Murder in the Book Lover’s Loft by Ellery Adams. Margie reviewed this one several weeks ago. This was my favorite book of the week. Edwin and Jane are finally getting some much-needed vacation time to Oyster Bay, NC only to have murder follow them when the victim is found. I agree with Margie, this seems to be the ending of a much-loved series.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Sharon. That nice weather went by too fast, didn’t it? I enjoyed it.
It will be interesting to see what Ellery Adams does next. Her series are fresh and interesting.
Happy Retirement!
We have the summer heat as the SUN GOD tries to kill us all every damn day. Local long range forecasts have us in the 100s until the middle of September, at least. Canadian wildfire smoke is also here. BLAH.
After starting and discarding a couple of books that seemed cliched as heck, I m reading Indulgence in Death by J. D. Robb and trying to get a better attitude.
I also agree that book jackets often reveal far too much or are flat out wrong. If it is a book I know I am going to read, I don’t read the book jackets. I treat them like reviews. Ignore all.
You’re right, Kevin. I usually only read the flap after I finish the book.
You might be in a reading funk, but I appreciate the reviews! Thank you.
100s would be tiring even for me.
Happy retirement, Lesa!
I’ve been reading a British crime novel, Penance by Eliza Clark, coming out from Harper on Sept. 26. I started it believing I wouldn’t finish — stories about sociopathic teenage girls are not my favorite reading — but Clark’s talent and insight soon pulled me in. It’s styled as a true crime book about a murder in a wealthy English beach community. Three schoolgirls tortured a classmate for hours, then set her on fire. Ten years later, a journalist is digging out the story behind the killing and interviewing everyone touched by it, including the murderers. Along the way, class structure and rivalry between economic classes are examined and some dark history in the community is dredged up. Despite occasional overindulgence in irrelevant matters, the writing is sharp, chilling, at times psychologically brutal, and unforgettable. Second novels are expected to be disappointing, weaker than first efforts, but that isn’t the case here.
I’ve also been reading something of my own: the manuscript of a non-series suspense novel I *almost* finished writing in 2015 before I became seriously ill and began a cascade of calamities that left me painfully disabled. I have worked on it occasionally when I’ve felt well enough, but a few weeks ago — inspired by a personal hero, Andrew Kaufman, and his drive to finish another book while his body is ravaged by myasthenia gravis — I decided to make a genuine effort to finish it. I’m starting with a read-through of the whole draft, and I am happy to report that I still love the characters and the story — if I didn’t, I would put it aside and forget it. Getting it published is not a worry. I just need to summon the mental and physical stamina to finish it, however slowly (and it will be slow). I’m a writer, and writers write, and I don’t want to leave an unfinished book behind.
Sandra, what a great attitude. I’ll be rooting for you to find the strength to work on your book. So glad you still like the characters.
Thank you, Susan.
That is fantastic Sandra, well done on getting back to your novel.
I have no excuses whatsoever and I still haven’t even *started* the novel I always intended to write, so I truly admire people who just get on with it. Very best of luck with finishing it, what a sense of achievement that will bring.
Thank you, Rosemary. I’ve managed to get 6 published with good reviews, so I know I can do it. 😀 And Drew Kaufman really has inspired me. He has published about the same number of books I have, and has been ill with a neuromuscular disease the same length of time I have, but when he wasn’t hospitalized he worked on that book. He says if he can do it, so can others. I’m taking that seriously. (Buy his books and read them if you haven’t already!)
Sandra, I was pleased to find out my local library system has several of your book. I hadn’t seen them before as I seldom venture to the downtown branch.
However there are several authors named Andrew Kaufman, including two Canadians. I think this is the link to the one you mentioned
https://www.andrewekaufman.com/
Yes, MM, Drew uses the middle initial.
Thank you for looking for my books at your library. 😀 I don’t think I will ever lose the thrill of knowing that books I wrote are in libraries around the country.
Thank you, Sandra.
Penance doesn’t sound like it’s for me at all. I’m glad it’s better than you expected.
Good for you for going back to finish your book. Good luck, Sandra.
Starting your first day of retirement with a visit to the dentist. Yes, Let’s get that out of the way and move along.
One book to recommend this week. I love Leesa Cross-Smith’s work. Goodbye Earl did not disappoint. I loved it.
Description from NetGalley –
Four women take fate into their own hands in this big-hearted story of friendship, resilience, and revenge on monstrous men, from the award-winning author of Half-Blown Rose.
Taking inspiration from the infamous, empowering song, Goodbye Earl follows four best friends through two unforgettable summers, fifteen years apart.
In 2004, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey are in their final days of high school and on the precipice of all the things teenagers look forward to when anything in life seems possible . . . from falling in love, to finding their dream jobs, to becoming who they were meant to be.
In 2019, Kasey has returned to her small Southern hometown of Goldie for the first time since high school—and she still hasn’t told even her closest friends the truth of what really happened that summer after graduation, or what made her leave so abruptly without looking back. Now reunited with her friends in Goldie for a wedding, she’s determined to focus on the simple joy of being together again. But when she notices troubling signs that one of them might be in danger, she is catapulted back to that fateful summer. This time, Kasey refuses to let the worst moments of her past define her; this time, she knows how to protect those she loves at all costs.
Uplifting, sharp-edged, and unapologetic, Goodbye Earl is a funeral for all the “Earls” out there—the abusive men who think they can get away with anything, but are wrong—and a celebration of enduring sisterhood.
Mom and Christie are coming in on Monday, Kaye!
Oh, I loved the song and video of “Goodbye Earl”. Sounds like an interesting book.
Happy last day, Lesa! Very cool weather here in eastern Washington state, and the smoke is less at the moment.
I have tried and discarded about five books this week. Hope something good comes into the library soon!
Thanks, Cindy! Enjoy the weather. I hope a good book shows up soon!
Congratulations again on your retirement. I’m sure once everything is settled about the move, you’ll enjoy it tremendously. I hope Margie is enjoying Bouchercon. I’m afraid our convention-going days are mostly over. We’ve been to many Bouchercons over the years, starting in 1977 in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria, believe it or not. Two in New York, two in Philadelphia, two in Baltimore, one in D.C., one in Toronto, one in Raleigh, one in St. Petersburg. One in Indianapolis, three in Chicago, one each in Milwaukee and Madison, one in St. Louis, one in New Orleans, one in Las Vegas, one in Dallas. That’s 20, plus 15 Malice Domestics.
Books? Jackie read COLD FEAR, which she liked a lot more than I did. She is now reading SECOND SHOT by Cindy Dees. A retired CIA assassin tries to settled into “normal” life, but finds herself the target of hired killers. Of course, her grown children have no idea of what she did for a living.
Matthew Scudder, the former cop turned “unofficial” PI, is one of Lawrence Block’s best known series characters (along with burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, I’d guess). Now Block (in his mid-80s) has written THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MATTHEW SCUDDER (he and Block are the same age), and it is surprisingly entertaining and well worth the time of any Block fans. (Joe Lansdale says, “This is a wonderful book!” and he is not wrong.) He starts with his childhood and pretty much goes up to his retirement from the NYPD, with asides of former cases, some of which were in the books. I liked it a lot.
Tod Goldberg’s THE LOW DESERT is an entertaining book of short stories . My favorite story is the (rare) humorous “Thug Number Four.”
Bruce Borgos, THE BITTER PAST. This is a very good first novel (and the first in a series, according to the book) about Nevada Sheriff Porter Beck, another former intelligence agent who became Sheriff when his father got dementia. There are flashbacks to 1955-57, the era of nuclear testing (near what is now Area 51), Russian spies, the FBI, etc. It’s a fast read. I liked it.
Currently reading two collections of stories, one by Mary Lavin and the other a new Otto Penzler collection, GOLDEN AGE BIBLIOMYSTERIES.
Also started reading last year’s Edgar Award winner for Best First Novel, DON’T KNOW TOUGH by Eli Cranor. Think FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
It’s sad, Jeff, that I received two fabulous awards, and haven’t been to a convention since. COVID, retirement, and now I don’t like the sound of the delayed flights and colds going around Bouchercon. I hope those are only colds.
I liken the sound of that Matthew Scudder.
Yes, we’re moving on to 90s and humidity, too.
Oh, weather. Like Donna in Connecticut, we have been having some greast weather the last half of August. Today is supposed to be mid-70s with a cool breeze and low humidity; just perfect. Unfortunately, they are predicting heat coming early next week, like 90 for several days.
Rosemary, I see THE CHELSEA DETECTIVE is finally back with a second series here (Britbox, I think), with Adrian Scarborough getting a new sidekick. And I think I read that LONDON KILLS will indeed have a fifth series coming…sometime.
Oh that’s great about LONDON KILLS Jeff, I thought it had disappeared for ever.
I don’t think I’ve seen The Chelsea Detective but I do love Adrian Scarborough, such a versatile actor, I’ll look for that (though I don’t have Britbox.)
It’s been another beautiful day here too. It seems to me that in recent years the weather has always been decidedly disappointing for the festivals, then as soon as they’re over it is fabulous for a few weeks. The most annoying thing about that is overhearing a lot of rather loud and opinionated people, up in Edinburgh from London and the south of England, sounding off about ‘Scottish weather’ – but as my husband says, if they think it’s like that all the time, at least that’ll stop them all from coming any further north on holiday!
i know what you mean about festivals. We’re not going to the Islay Jazz Festival this year, I think we’ve done that one enough for a while. And although i enjoyed Latitude, I doubt I’d go again. Too many people and too much white middle class entitlement for my liking. There’s a lot to be said for staying at home in summer, and just enjoying the local area, and a few days out.
This morning Anna managed to secure tickets for she and I to see Young Fathers in Edinburgh. Their two dates in Glasgow had been sold out for ages, but I noticed last night that they’d added an extra date at the Usher Hall. I was out and couldn’t leap onto the presale site, but luckily her café is having a post-festivals holiday this week, so she had time to sit in front of the computer and book the minute the site opened. I’m always quite glad when the autumn/winter season of concerts starts up again.
We’ve watched the first episode of the new season of Chelsea Detective. We liked the replacement for the DS. We also finished Stonehouse about the MP who faked his own death and possibly spied for Czechs during the Harold Wilson era. Unbelievable he thought he could get away with it.
Happy retirement, Lesa! I did ok in central NC during tropical storm Idalia, just quite a bit of rain. Spent the night at a co-workers house since I live an hour away from work and it would have been tough getting home last night during the storms. Light sprinkles this morning.
I am currently reading “The Quiet Tenant” by Clémence Michallon and “I Didn’t Do It” by Jaime Lynn Hendricks in print. “Hello Stranger” by Katherine Center is on my kindle and “The Nigerwife” by Vanessa Walters on audio.
Thank you, Katherine!
It’s good to hear you made it okay through Idalia. I hope that’s the only one you have to go through this year.
Weather is hot here (for Santa Barbara) and it will stay warm through September and October, at least based on the past.
So glad that you are now retired. And after you get moved to Columbus and settled you can really relax.
I read (or finished) a lot of books last week. I finished OPERATION MINCEMEAT by Ben MacIntyre, which I had been reading for three or four weeks. It was a very good read, and I learned a lot.
I also finished 84, CHARING CROSS ROAD in one evening. A wonderful story. Then I read a graphic novel, A FIRE STORY by Brian Fies, about the horrible fires in northern California in 2017. The author / artist lost his home in Santa Rosa in the fire.
Last I read A MAN’S HEAD by Georges Simenon. Another very short book which is why I got so much read. A MAN’S HEAD was my last book for 20 Books of Summer, and this is only the 2nd time I have read all of them. I don’t know why I like Simenon’s Maigret books so much, I guess I just like following Maigret around while he does his detecting.
Glen is reading INTO IRAQ by Michael Palin, published in 1922. I will probably read that one before the end of the year.
Sorry, Michael Palin’s book was published in 2022 (not 1922), discussing his most recent travels.
Congratulations, Tracy, on finishing your summer list!
I love 84 Charing Cross Road, and I’m always happy to hear someone else loved it.
Good reading week!
Congratulations on your retirement, Lesa! I am very excited for you. The surprise of this week was how much I enjoyed THE CLOISTERS by Katy Hays, which I think others have also liked. The story of a working-class student from a small college out West trying to make it in academia and the big city, it had overtones of Greek tragedy and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. I liked the way it looked at socioeconomic class in academia, what we get from and owe our families, and the moments that make up a friendship. I also started the nonfiction WHAT AN OWL KNOWS, which is pretty fun, and HARLEM AFTER MIDNIGHT (the second Canary Club mystery by Louise Hare). I am not remembering all of the details of the first one, which is slowing me down.
The Cloisters was really differently, wasn’t it, Trisha? I liked it, but I didn’t really know if others would, too.
Happy retirement, Lesa! After the dentist, things should look a lot easier.
Nothing too bad here, for August. We’re supposed to get cooler weather tomorrow, so that’s nice.
I ended up going to not one, but two concerts last week. Thursday, I saw Duran Duran at Golden 1. I hadn’t been there in a while, and forgot what a complete pain that place is. Parking is impossible, as is exit. The stairs and aisles are small, and the seats are so small, I think they were built for gnomes, and they very uncomfortable.
Still, Duran Duran gave a great show. They were opened by Nile Chic, a group populated by former members of the disco group Le Chic. They sang more David Bowie numbers than I’d expect for a disco/funk group. Then Bastille. Apparently, they’re a major band, but I’d never heard of them. They were pretty good, even though I think it’s odd for a British group to name themselves after a French landmark. Duran Duran answered Nile Chic’s Bowie songs with a really excellent rendition of Super Freak. I’m sure they do it on every stop on the tour, but it was an unexpected treat for the audience. What a great show. I read they have a new album coming out, and I’m now pretty excited about it.
Saturday, I went to Thunder Valley Casino and watched Chicago at The Venue, the casino’s new showplace. It was very nice. The seat have cushions, and are fairly roomy. You have room to move in the aisle without worrying about falling to your death. The acoustics are such that you don’t even need ear plugs.
Chicago gave a great show, but I wish they would reconcile with Peter Cetera.
This week I read:
Steeped in Malice by Vicki Delaney; When her tea shop is running out of china, our sleuth goes to an antique show to buy more. Later, an obnoxious lady wants one of the sets. We know what happens to obnoxious people in cozies…Fairly good, but with less boyfriend stuff than most cozies.
The Darwin Awards 3 by Wendy NorthCutt; There seems to be an endless supply of stupid ways to die.
Rescue! by Elliot Abrams; The story of the Air Rescue Service. Told in the journalistic style of the 1950’s, back when journalism was a thing.
The Pharaoh Key by Preston and Child; Gideon Crew finds his job has run out, and he only has a couple of months to live. Some skullduggery provides a treasure hunt for his final days.
The Silence of the Library by Miranda James; Our sleuth gets the author of a Nancy Drew type series to make an appearance at his library. There are rumors of unpublished manuscripts, and someone is willing to kill to get them. Actually a very realistic motive for people like us.
Professor Birthday Isn’t Famous; The being in charge of making birthdays fabulous has a inferiority complex concerning Santa Claus, and tries to become famous. A funny kids book, but it needs more pictures.
Witness to a Prosecution by Richard V Sanders; The lawyer of Michael Milken tries to make his case about the notorious financier. Sanders says if the government really wants you it will get you. The flip side, if it really doesn’t want you it will be sure not to get you, as shown by Peter Pelosi, who was buying wineries and porsches while Milken was in jail for insider trading.
Dead Fall by Brad Thor; Something of a return to form for Thor. Scot Harvath goes to Ukraine to rescue an American woman from a subset of the Wagner group. She wasn’t someone important like a professional bsketball player, but Scot goes anyway. He has a small unit to help. This is like a one of those Dirty Dozen TV movies, and is very well done. The subplot, set back in the states about a conspiracy theory, even though Thor goes on and on against conspiracy theories wasn’t so great. This bizarre tension about conspiracy theories is becoming more and more common in these sorts of books.
Good weather, good concerts, and most of the books sound interesting, Glen. It seems to have been an enjoyable week.
Congrats on your retirement! I wish the best for you on your move. Lately, I’ve been on a reading spree with Deborah Crombie’s Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series. I had read a couple of her most recent ones, and then decided to get all the other and read them in order.
Thank you, Bonnie. I’ve read and enjoyed a good number of Deborah Crombie’s books. Not all of them, and I sort of skipped around. I like her characters.
Happy Retirement, Lesa! Hope your move to Ohio goes well. I’ve been retired 5 years now and not having a schedule is absolutely great! I’m currently reading the 8th book in the Dave Gurney series by John Verdon. Dave is a retired NYPD detective who takes on old cases. I’ve enjoyed the previous 7 books, and this one, The Viper, is good as well. Next up is the new Jennifer Weiner book, The Breakaway.
Thank you, Linda! I’m looking forward to it.
I have a friend who is a fan of John Verdon’s books. Sounds as if the series holds up.