As I mentioned yesterday, I’m in Cincinnati with my family today, heading home after we go to Pompeii: The Exhibition at the Cincinnati Museum Center. So, I won’t be around until late to talk about books. I can say that I never read anything when I’m with my Mom and sisters, too much laughter, and too many things to do. I’ll update you later about our activities.
In the meantime, I hope you still let us know “What Are You Reading?”, and keep the conversation going. I’m looking forward to catching up later today. Have fun!
Glad you’re having a great time with your family, Lesa! Yesterday I had a card game, then went to see The Fall Guy at the movies with a group of women (fun movie!), followed by dinner. Today was a lovely luncheon with a LARGE group of women at a restaurant 5 minutes away from my home. The only problem was that it was outside, which was beautiful, but very, very windy today. Oh, well . . . I had a somewhat mixed reading week.
I love how clever and intricate the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mysteries can be, and the latest, CLOSE TO DEATH, by Anthony Horowitz, is a sterling example. In the fifth in the series, the author, Horowitz himself, is again a primary character, working with disgraced cop-turned-private investigator Daniel Hawthorne on a true crime book that we see unfolding as the story progresses. It’s the first time one of his books covers a case that was solved five years in the past, and Horowitz isn’t thrilled with the way Hawthorne is feeding him the information bit by bit and doesn’t reveal the murderer to his collaborator until late in the book. The center of the plot is a classic “neighbor from hell.” The inhabitants of the other five houses in Riverside Close in Richmond, England may not be close friends, but they support each other and seem to get along well. But their newest neighbors, Giles Kenworthy and his wife, Lynda, seem to delight in annoying everyone else in the Close. Their cars often block a driveway they share with a doctor who needs to get to work quickly. Their two young sons have broken a window and destroyed a chess master’s favorite chess set, not to mention ridden their skateboards through a cherished memorial flower garden. The beloved pet of two elderly women has been digging up Giles’ back yard and leaving steaming piles in his wake . . . until he disappears. And that’s just the beginning. Anyone who regularly reads mysteries won’t be surprised to learn that Giles meets a grisly end (not a spoiler), and there are too many suspects who wished him dead. Horowitz skillfully alternates between the book he is writing (and we are reading) and his contact (or lack thereof) with Hawthorne, who seems to be more and more difficult to work with. Can we trust that Hawthorne is telling Horowitz the truth about the resolution of the case? A new and fascinating character is a man who assisted Hawthorne on cases back then, and whose perspective becomes important to the story. And, of course, delving into the lives of each of the neighbors, several of whom are not who they seem to be, is the heart of the story. You don’t have to read the early books in the series to appreciate this one, as each is a delightful read it its own right. I hope there are more in store.
Hannah Langdon wrote an excellent Christmas romance, Christmas with the Lords, which was one of my favorite holiday reads of 2023. So I was disappointed to find that I wasn’t nearly as invested in her second novel, ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY KITCHEN. Juliet, the female protagonist, has a successful career writing and drawing satirical cartoons, and she also paints flowers and is writing a children’s book. She is in a family of artists, but her recently deceased mother always put her down and made her feel inferior. Juliet has come home from London largely to escape her manipulative and denigrating ex, who is still trying to interfere in her life. The male protagonist is Leo, a celebrated French chef who opens a cooking school with Juliet’s aunt, He has broken up with his ex-girlfriend after learning she is married, and now she is out to ruin him in the media. It’s a promising setup, but–strangely for a romance–I didn’t feel any real emotion from either character, and their sudden “falling in love” with each other didn’t ring true to me at all. Juliet’s two sisters and aunt are prominent in the plot, but their stories are never resolved, and the ending is so abrupt that I thought I was missing pages. I know that the author is talented, so I’m hoping future books will revive the delight I felt with her debut novel.
I couldn’t be more impressed with Diana R. Chambers’ THE SECRET WAR OF JULIA CHILD. Through many years of extensive research, and utilizing an active imagination, she has created a thrilling, fictionalized account of Julia Child’s experience as an intelligence officer for the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Asia. The book is set during World War II, many years before Child’s stunning success as a celebrated chef and TV host. Starting as a very efficient file clerk, Julia finally convinces her boss to allow her to take on increasingly more important responsibilities, leading her to highly challenging–and often hair-raising–assignments in India, Ceylon, Burma, and eventually China. Reading this book is an immersive experience. I felt many times that I was there with Julia, experiencing the sights, smells, language, and culture of the places she travels for her job during WWII. It becomes more of a mission than a job for Julia, as she observes deep suffering and unlikely joy, friendship and betrayal, and spends time with many memorable characters. Some will prove loyal, while others have their own agendas. The prose is dense, the dialogue believable, and the stories unforgettable. I truly enjoyed learning about this lesser-known part of Julia’s life. It was also entertaining to read about her early days with the man who would eventually be her husband, Paul Child (she didn’t care for him at all when she met him!).The author is quick to emphasize that the book is, indeed, fiction, although based on solid, detailed research, but she has succeeded in writing a suspenseful, entertaining book that will appeal both to Julia Child fans and fans of historical novels. (October)
Glad to hear you enjoyed The Fall Guy. I wasn’t impressed by the previews, but I’ve been hearing great things about it, so I think I’m going to try to go next week.
(This is the What We’re Watching post, right?) 😉
Mark, it’s one of those movies where you probably shouldn’t try to analyze what’s happening, just go with the flow. I thought it was very entertaining, though, and Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have a lot of chemistry together. Stunts are awesome, of course! Be sure to stay through the credits.
I’m looking forward to that latest Anthony Horowitz book Margie. I’m amazed by what a creative author he is with his multiple series and intricate plots.
MM, I have never been disappointed by one of his books!
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. Sometimes follow up books can be disappointing, but this one is not. How can an author write about difficult subjects in such a lyrical style? Tommy Orange can! I sure hope it earns him another Pulitzer nod.
Margie, I also very much enjoyed Christmas with the Lords. I didn’t know the author had a second book out so thanks for talking about it. I’ll probably still give it a try but will go in with more realistic expectations now.
Margie, Thanks to you and Kaye, I read and loved Christmas with the Lords. But, now I won’t be trying the other book.
Love Mark’s comment – This is the What We are Watching Post. I’ve seen Ryan Gosling and the stuntmen on a couple shows, and they just made me laugh. I really should go see The Fall Guy.
The Secret War of Julia Child sounds fascinating!
Lesa, I hope your trip to Cincinnati went well and that you enjoyed the Pompeii Exhibition. We are going out for an errand Thursday morning so I am adding my comments to your post early.
I finished reading THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles. I have been trying to formulate my thoughts about it, unsuccessfully. It is about three young men, all 18 years old, traveling across the United States. The main character, Emmett, has a younger brother, Billy, who is traveling with them. Emmett’s plan is to drive from his childhood home in Nebraska to Texas, but the trip eventually leads them in a different direction. All of that sounds good but I did not really grow to like any of the characters. Yet I found the ending to be satisfying, in a way.
I also recently finished NEWCOMER by Keigo Higashino. Higashino, a Japanese author, has two series detectives, Kyoichiro Kaga and Detective Galileo. This was the second book I have read in the Kyoichiro Kaga series, and the second in the series translated to English. He has many books that have not been translated yet. Detective Kaga follows up clues related to the death of a translator who lives in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. In each chapter, Kaga visits one shop or one person in the area, looking for evidence related to the crime. I enjoyed the book, as I have all the others by Higashino that I have read.
Glen is continuing to read MOSQUITO: THE ORIGINAL MULTI-ROLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT by Graham M. Simons. And he is still enjoying reading it. It is a very interesting aircraft… a British twin-engined, multirole combat aircraft, used during World War II, and made mostly of wood. He is also reading HOLLYWOOD’S SPIES: THE UNDERCOVER SURVEILLANCE OF NAZIS IN LOS ANGELES by Laura B. Rosenzweig.
Great trip, Tracy! Thank you. I’ll post pictures and background sometime soon.
You and Glen read such books that sound interesting. Newcomer sounds interesting, and so does Hollywood’s Spies.
I’ve timed things perfectly – I’m once again between books.
Earlier on Wednesday, I finished A Midnight Puzzle, the newest Secret Staircase Mystery from Gigi Pandian. I enjoyed it overall, but the pacing was off. Still, the ending packed a punch. Glad to know there will be more (actually, I’ve already preordered the next one, due out next March).
I’m kind of waiting for a couple of review copies to come, so I’m shifting what I was going to read next. I think I’m going to go with The Last Thing Claire Wanted by Karin Fitz Sanford. I’ve had the book for over a year now. Sounds more traditional than cozy, but what really drew me to it is that the series is set in Santa Rosa, California, where I grew up. Should be fun to see that area in fiction. Still have family there, so I visit a few times a year, although I don’t know it as well as I used to since I haven’t lived there for almost 30 years.
You and I are both in that spot, Mark, in between books. I need to start something tomorrow. Just exhausted after our terrific family trip to Cincinnati.
I always enjoy reading books set in areas I’m familiar with. I hope you enjoy The Last Thing Claire Wanted.
It’s 3am here. My boyfriend’s sister is on vacation in Europe and forgot about the time difference so now we’re wide awake.
I read an ARC of A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson. The first in a new mystery series, set around a combination yoga studio- cat adoption. It was entertaining but the killer was too obvious and the main character had a few to stupid to live moments.
Welcome back from Pompeii Lesa!
We had this year’s typical weekend weather… rain and snow. The snowfall was a season record for single day total at the Sierra Snow Lab, only a few melty inches here. But the winds were Arctic and continued on through yesterday.
I had a good reading week. Starting off with COLD TO THE TOUCH by Kerri Hakoda. It was reviewed here last month with praise “an outstanding procedural”. The story is set in Anchorage, Alaska, and stars a likable yet flawed police detective, DeHavilland Beans, investigating a series of murders.
Then the third in Gigi Pandian’s Secret Staircase series A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE continues the story with the family construction business being sued. When the plaintiff is murdered, Tempest has to investigate even though the police don’t want her help. But she doesn’t want to be accused of being TSTL! The story includes her usual group of friends and relatives along with a flashback to her beloved Las Vegas show.
I’m currently reading a book I discovered via a column in Kevin’s Corner last month about the Pinckley Prize. Sascha Rothchild is the winner of the 2022 prize for debut novel for BLOOD SUGAR. Ruby might not have killed her husband, but she’s certainly not innocent. A fun thriller.
The Pompeii exhibit today was so good, MM. And, one of my sisters had been there, so she was able to supplement the exhibit, telling us what she saw and experienced.
Oops, sorry Sandy. My post somehow arrived as a comment to yours. I guess I’m not as wide awake as you are.
No problem
Thanks, Sandy. I think I’m going to skip A Pose Before Dying. Sounds like it could have used some editing.
Glad you’re having a good time with family. Weather here is still up and down (though trending up), with 86 yesterday, low 70s today, and back to the 50s tomorrow. It’s hard to take the forecast seriously, and harder to know how to dress every time you leave the house.
Books, then. Jackie is nearly done with the second of Kelley Armstrong’s time travel books, THE POISONER’S RING. She likes it. It’s set in 19th Century Edinburgh.
I believe I mentioned last week that I was reading SIX books at a time, which is really nuts. I really need to stop doing that. I’m still reading the same books, though I’ve finished one and I’m close on most of the others. The one I finished was James Patterson & Matt Eversmann’s THE SECRET LIVES OF BOOKSELLERS & LIBRARIANS: TRUE STORIES OF THE MAGIC OF READING. This is a wonderful book that, for the most part, makes you feel good. The people (here and in Canada) talk about their love of books, of helping other people (especially kids) find books, how they got into bookselling or became librarians, and the joys and sorrows of their jobs. I couldn’t help but notice that the people interviewed for the book are overwhelmingly women. And that the one bane that too many librarians share is book banners. It’s infuriating the way some people are treated. But most of the stories are wonderful. Tracy mentioned Amor Towles and there is a great story about him showing up at a bookstore (near Vail, Colorado) and just dropping in and offering to sign books for them. There are managers at Books-a-Million and Barnes & Noble (plus a couple of Canadian chains), but also many independent booksellers that make you wish you lived near them.
The other book about to be finished is RAYMOND CHANDLER’S PHILIP MARLOWE, published in 1988 and edited by Byron Preiss. A confession here: I’ve always been more of a Hammett than a Chandler guy, though I like both of them. What’s interesting here is how some people do manage to get a feeling of Chandler’s style of writing down fairly well, while others, not so much. Just doing a PI story with a femme fatale and thugs doesn’t make it Chandler. It is worth reading as there are a lot of good writers included, though sadly at least seven of them have since died – Edward D. Hoch, Ed Gorman, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Benjamin Schutz, John Lutz, Jeremiah Healy, Robert Campbell.
Have a good week.
Based on your experience reading the book, I will be getting a copy of THE SECRET LIVES OF BOOKSELLERS & LIBRARIANS sometime soon. That was interesting about Amor Towles. After reading THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY, I checked his website and he had lots of good information about the book and his experiences while writing it. He sounded like a very nice person.
I will also look for a copy of RAYMOND CHANDLER’S PHILIP MARLOWE later in the year. Just based on some of the authors you mentioned (Edward D. Hoch, Ed Gorman, Stuart M. Kaminsky), I would enjoy the stories.
Jeff, I’ll admit book banning was one of the reasons I was glad it was time to retire. In my position, I would have been the one responsible for dealing with book banners, and I’ve seen one manager suffer through a terrible time with that. I was lucky. It didn’t happen before I left.
Fascinating book, wasn’t it? But, some of those people were treated terribly.
It was such a good week with family. I’ll post some photos and a summary soon.
I am SO jealous of your cultural outings, Lesa. It’s one of the things that I miss about living near a big city. Can’t wait to hear all about your most recent visit!
This week I finished The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. A fascinating story of a little girl who wandered away from the family estate, only to be found months later with a family in a different state and returned to her family. Ruby McTavish then grows up in her family’s mansion, in North Carolina, gets married 4 times, gets away with murder 4 times, and becomes the richest woman in Tavistock when she inherits the estate. I listened to the audio and the narrators were fabulous, especially the one who did Ruby‘s voice. This is a story of family fighting over who should inherit the estate, is Ruby really the little girl that went missing or was she stolen from her true family and how did she manage to get away with murder four times. ?
In order to redeem herself, Ruby adopts a little boy who she tries to raise to be the best in the family of back stabbers and weasels. After Ruby‘s death, her son Camden inherits the estate ,moves away for 10 years, returns with his wife and learns about the secrets behind his mother‘s marriages and her childhood. Plot twists abound surrounding members of the family, including Cam’s new wife.
While the story kept my interest, I ultimately gave it only three stars based on too many people getting away with murder and their spouses, upon learning about said murders, seem to dismiss them and carry on supposedly happy lives with their partners.
Those cultural outings are what I missed, too, Mary, when I lived in Evansville. I was lucky to be able to travel to NYC in those years, but there certainly wasn’t much locally. I’m so glad to be someplace where those opportunities are available.
I can see why you gave The Heiress just 3 stars. I would have given up with all the people who got away with murder.
We saw the Pompeii Exhibit at the Museum Center earlier and really enjoyed it. I know you and your family will love it too. Enjoy your time together.
Two books this week for me. Both were winners. Christa Comes out of her Shell by Abbi Waxman. Christa lives on a remote island studying snails. When the father she thought dead for 25 years comes back to life from Alaska, she goes back to be with her mother and sisters. I really liked it.
Juniper Bean Resorts to Muder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell was just escapist fun. Juniper is an indie writer trying to branch from writing romance to mysteries. When she uncovers a real-life murder, she is off to the races trying to solve it. I loved Juniper.
Happy Reading!
We did enjoy it, Sharon! And, one of my sisters had been to Pompeii, so she was able to supplement the exhibit with her knowledge. That was great! And, the Museum Center itself! What a beautiful building!
Isn’t it nice to find a character you love in a mystery?
I love Cincinnati, so much to see there, I have gone from a town that had a cockroach museum (never went( to one with nothing to see or do.
I finished A Fountain of Blood and loved it, want to read the rest of the series by Claire Julia Spencer.
Starting The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish. There seem to be three story lines that connect. A little confusing. I got it at the Library Bookstore, discontinued to I was too exhausted to get my library cards and explore the rest of the library because of so many doctor appointments and tests. Good news about the library, it is three stories high and has its own parking garage. Hope to get my card next time.
Carol, I too loved A Fountain Filled With Blood. In fact, this is a great mystery series written by Julia Spencer-Fleming. The first book in her series, In The Bleak Midwinter, won just about every award the year it was published. I highly recommend this series.
Oh, I get that about cities, Carol. There certainly wasn’t much for me in Evansville, other than my best friend.
I hope you’re able to get your library card soon.
Hi Lesa and everyone! I am recovering from surgery and have had a lot of time (but not always the energy) to read this week. The author is about my age so I was interested in TOUGH BROAD: FROM BOOGIE BOARDING TO WING WALKING-HOW OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IMPROVES OUR LIVES AS WE AGE by Caroline Paul. As you might guess from the title there is a lot going on in the book. Each chapter focused on a different activity (like the ones in the title or orienteering , etc.) and a woman who would be considered old who does it. I found myself always wanting more about the activity or about the women who were the focus of each chapter. But I am glad I read it, and it was especially appropriate to finish it on my birthday.
I also finished WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE: A MURDER AT HARVARD AND A HALF CENTURY OF SILENCE, kind of a true crime story but with really good insights about why this particular murder and victim called out to the author. An archaeology grad student was murdered in her apartment in 1969, and it was commonly thought that a professor was involved. Of course that person remained on the faculty, and her story becomes a cautionary tale. But what really happened and what is the story really saying? It was very good.
And two super fiction books this week were A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE and THE PROSPECTS. The first is about a woman looking to find her way outside of the definitions and boundaries imposed by her wealthy and proper black family. She sets up shop in Harlem partly as an homage to the Harlem Renaissance and gets entangled in a time-traveling romance. I think folks here would really like it.
THE PROSPECTS is a sweet story about a trans professional baseball player in the minor leagues and their arch rival from college. There is lots of baseball (yay) and also big questions about what it means to settle out of fear and what it means to dream.
Oh, Trisha. I hope you have a smooth recovery. I do understand the lack of energy when dealing with health issues. I’m sorry.
I’m glad you were able to find two novels you thought were super.
Happy Belated Birthday Trisha – the Tough Broad book does sound interesting
Lesa, you do so many interesting things! You could write a book about all your experiences. I’d buy it for sure. The most interesting thing I did yesterday was buy new shoes for walking.
As I’ve mentioned, a fast reader I am not. The one book I read this week was WOMEN OF GOOD FORTUNE by Sophie Wan. I was drawn to it first by the cover (I will often choose a book because of the cover; and will also often pass up a book because I don’t like the cover) Anyway, the story is about three friends – Lulu, Rina, and Jane – all of whom have problems they feel will be solved if only they had enough money. Lulu is getting married to ‘Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor’. She doesn’t want to, and yet her husband-to-be’s family money will solve her problem. The three friends decide to pull off a heist at Lulu’s ‘social event of the season’ wedding and steal all the red envelopes full of money gifted by the wealthy guests.
A fun premise, and some of the characters were very well portrayed, especially the rich mother-in-law. But I didn’t find myself truly invested in any of the three friends or their problems for some reason, and enjoyed the stories of the men in their lives more. Still, the story was enjoyable enough with some entertaining scenes, and I’m glad to have read it.
Lindy, I won’t say “never”, but I have no plans to write about my experiences. Thank you, though!
Oh, I agree with you. I’ve rejected a number of books because I just didn’t like the covers. I’m glad you did enjoy Women of Good Fortune.
Good evening everyone.
I hope you’re having a brilliant time with your family, Lesa! From the photos on Facebook it certainly looks that way. Books can wait!
At last we have had some really sunny days, I’ve even been out without a coat (occasionally…) The temperature here today has been up to 64F. The river is full and the oyster catchers are screaming across the water. Last night I saw the heron (not Manderley…) again; soon the salmon will be jumping.
Last Friday I had a great walk with a friend at Park. It is only 10 minutes drive from my house, and yet I had never realised it was a large country estate, I thought instead that it was simply a quarry (signposted from the road) and a little shop.
We parked off the main road and headed down to the old railway line path – which I have walked many times – but then cut across a playing field and down to the Dee. This was a section I had never seen before, and it was so peaceful and quiet, with just a couple of fishermen standing in the river (which they seem to find fun.) It was a lovely sunny day, the water was sparkling, the birds singing – it was just perfect. We then headed through the estate, which is privately owned, back to our cars. It’s very well kept, with beautiful woodlands, and Park House itself could be seen from the path.
In Scotland there is no law of trespass as there is in England – you are entitled to walk just about anywhere unless a farmer or other landowner can think of a good reason to stop you (and of course you must not cause damage or leave gates open.) The reasons a few of the landowners think up to try to keep everyone out are quite ridiculous, and they are constantly challenged by the Ramblers’ Association and others. Of course it is perfectly fair to tell people to keep out of a bull field, or to keep their dogs away from lambing sheep and their babies – unfortunately not everyone does this, and there have been some terrible incidents when sheep have been attacked, or even just terrified into miscarrying. There has to be respect on both sides. You are not allowed to go within a certain distance of someone’s house – though that doesn’t seem to apply to well established paths, as the old railway line path does run along the back of many properties – just as the train itself would have done many years ago.
On Tuesday I was up in Old Aberdeen and took some time to visit the university’s botanic garden. The Cruickshank Garden is much smaller than the Botanics in Edinburgh, but it is still a great place to spend an hour or so It’s always quiet, well cared for, and with some beautiful plants and trees. At the moment the azaleas are in flower, so there is colour everywhere.
The garden is on The Chanonry, the old cobbled street that leads to St Machar’s Cathedral. In the opposite direction is the High Street – this is not a ‘high street’ as most people in the UK would think of it, ie a main shopping thoroughfare. Instead it s a quiet little cobbled road running past King’s College, the original university buildings, dating from 1495. They are built on three sides of a wide lawn. I always enjoy spending time there. On Tuesday it was busy with students either going into or coming out of exams – I’m so glad that’s behind me!
I met Nancy for a coffee and a delicious scone, and for the first time this year it was warm enough to sit out in the café’s courtyard.
In the afternoon I attended an author event at the Central Library. Four Scottish crime authors each talked about their work. They were all very interesting and I think I enjoyed this so much more than some of the Edinburgh Book Festival sessions because it was relaxed, unscripted, and felt far more genuine. These are all ‘normal’ people, not superstars of the literary world, and they were all good fun.
One author, Marsali Taylor, writes murder mysteries set on Shetland; her detective is also a sailing enthusiast (as is she.) Marsali said that, as an Edinburgh-born person who has lived on Shetland for decades (she first went there as a young schoolteacher), she wanted to show the world that Shetland is a great place, it’s not always freezing, and there is lots going on throughout the year. DEATH AT A SHETLAND FESTIVAL, the 12th book in her Shetland Mystery series, is published today (at least in the UK.)
The second author was AJ Liddle. He is a retired BP project manager who worked for 15 years in the Georgian Republic, so he sets his thrillers there. He told us about Georgia, which is a beautiful and unspoilt place where he still has many friends, and said that anyone who is thinking of going there for a holiday should go soon, as it is already being westernised and in ten years will have lost much of its unique culture. His detective is Lieutenant Ramaz Donadze. The third book in the series, NO RULES APPLY, was published last year.
The third author, Lydia Travers, was an absolute hoot. She writes a series called THE SCOTTISH LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY, which she describes as cosy crime set in the Edwardian age. She said that she chose that period largely because no-one had mobile phones or DNA testing, and she loved the clothes of the time. The most recent book in the series, DEATH IN A SCOTTISH CASTLE, will be published on 11 July. Lydia previously worked as a Children’s Panel Reporter – like me she qualified in law in England, then immediately had to move to Scotland for her husband’s job, so she has never been in practice as a lawyer up here (I had to requalify.)
The fourth author, Adam Oyebanji, works in international intelligence and financial counter terrorism. He writes the QUIET TEACHER series. The ‘quiet teacher’ is Greg Abimbola (or is he?), a language teacher at a prestigious Pittsburgh school (Adam lived in the US for many years.) In the first book a parent is murdered on school grounds and Greg’s friend and colleague is arrested; will Greg act to help her if that means exposing his past? The second book, TWO TIMES MURDER, is out in November of this year. Adam also writes science fiction.
Of course one of the good things about events like these is that the library actually has all of the books available to borrow. The staff said they hope to arrange many more events going forward, which will be great.
I myself have finished the truly dreadful WILD MOUNTAIN THYME by Rosamunde Pilcher, and now I am reading a proof copy of THE ECHOES OF US by a new Edinburgh author, Emma Steele. Not quite sure where this one is heading yet – the cover says ‘They had all the love in the world…but did they have time?’
I don’t usually read this kind of thing, but I agreed to review it for The Edinburgh Reporter.
I’m also pressing on with WILD MARY, Patrick Markham’s biography of the author Mary Wesley. As is so often the case with biographies, the first couple of chapters were quite confusing. Biographers seem to feel they have to explain all the complicated details of their subject’s grandparents, great-grandparents, etc and I’m not sure this is always the best way to start.
On television I am watching the second series of KIN, which is set in the Dublin underworld and focuses on a family whose members have their criminal fingers in many pies, chief among them the highly lucrative drugs trade. The terrifying father of the family, Bren (Francis Magee), has just been released from prison, and is determined to take back control of the business from his son’s clever wife Amanda (Clare Dunne.) The violence and cruelty – not to mention the language – in this series is quite something, but it’s a gripping story, and one that no doubt reflects the real (under)world of gangland feuds and reprisals. The Dublin accents take some getting used to – subtitles really come into their own with this one.
On BBC Sounds I am listening to another Charles Paris mystery, MURDER IN THE TITLE. Charles has managed to get a small part in a terrible play being staged in a provincial theatre threatened with budget cuts and closure by the local council. Before too long, someone tries to stab him through a curtain, and another member of the cast almost dies when a scene in which his character is hanged goes badly wrong.
As ever Simon Brett provides a great cast of suspects, and the interaction between the dissolute Charles (Bill Nighy, of course), his long suffering wife Francis, and his evasive and self-important agent Maurice, is very entertaining. I think I’ve worked out who the killer is (these books do follow a format) but for me that’s only a minor point, I just enjoy the story.
So that’s me for now – have a good week everyone.
Rosemary
Rosemary, you make me want to get some of the old Charles Paris mysteries by Brett and reread them. I read a good number of them long ago but definitely not all of them. I tried some the Mrs. Pargeter books, but not any of the later series.
Rosemary! I read the first in the Quiet Teacher series. It was good, and I reviewed it for Library Journal. I hope the library is able to bring more authors in, and I hope the community shows up and supports the authors and the library.
Thank you for telling us about the difference in trespass laws in Scotland and England. That’s so interesting, and somewhat explains how you can walk all the places you do. In my family, we enjoy reading your descriptions of your walks.
Have a good week!
This week we had rain, high winds, and a couple of nice days sandwiched in there.
This week I read:
The Spring Dance From The Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler; Another book club choice. A kid is scared about the spring dance. He learns how to dance a little, and feels much better bout it and has a great time. I tried to convey that what the kid was really scared of wasn’t the dance but looking ridiculous in front of his friends. That preparation will help to alleviate such feelings. Hopefully, it got through.
The Age of the Tail by H. Allen Smith; A book that parodies a history of people all of a sudden growing tails. Apparently, they thought it was a hoot in 1960, but the humor didn’t age well with me. I wondered why anyone ever thought it was funny.
Mad River by Donald Hamilton; The creator of Matt Helm also wrote westerns, like everyone else in the 1950’s. In this one, a guy comes back after serving 5 years in the hoosegow for a crime he didn’t commit, only to find the town has changed, and so has he. Somebody killed his father and brother, and having read Destry Rides Again, he just goes on about his business, hoping the killer will break. Hamilton was a great writer, but he just tried too hard with this one, and nobody acts rationally. The climax is pretty thrilling, though.
The Story of Henri Tod by William F. Buckley Jr.; The Berlin Wall is going up, and Blackford Oakes has to do…something. Then we get a story about somebody else. The chapters featuring JFK trying to figure out Kruschev are hilarious, and written in a time when making fun of JFK was verboten. Then I read that RFK Jr. Had worm in his brain, and had mercury poisoning…What the heck? Did I fall into a spy novel or something?
A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delaney; ARC from Netgalley. This is part of the Christmas Village series, where Christmas is a year-round celebration. Merry’s best friend buys the local haunted house, after the death of the owner. A man claiming to an heir to the house is mean, so he is immediately killed. Of course, the friend and her fiancee are the prime suspects. The solution to the puzzle is a bit iffy, but not really out of place in this setting.
Stealth Camping with Hundreds of my Closest Friends by Zinnia Abbott; Abbot retires from her job as a nurse, has a bad break up with her boyfriend, via e-mail, and decides to drive solo across the country in a camper van to get over it. Her goals are to see a bunch of national parks and other touristy type spots, and go to an AA meeting in every state. Every chapter starts with pithy sayings from the meetings. After the second chapter, they all sound alike. I don’t think I’d want to sit next to her on an airplane, is all I’ll say.
Glen, I think your reading is getting even more interesting with these book club choices. I appreciated your conclusion (recommendation?) for The Spring Dance. Preparation!
You’re right. My sister read to us this morning about RFK, Jr. That is just so weird, but it could explain a lot.
Not much reading for me this week. I finished The Price of Malice by Archer Mayor. Really enjoy these mysteries, set in Vermont, and it is always good to catch up with Joe Gunther and his team. I realized that I skipped one in the series, so have gone back in the series to begin The Surrogate Thief. I am really enjoying this one although I know what happens to some of the personal story lines in the series, which is a bit of a bummer.
Hope everyone will have a good week!
I know that happens, Jennifer. Sometimes I have to review a book that’s later in a series, and then I know some storylines, and don’t want to go back and read earlier ones. This is a series I need to read sometimes. I know you and Jeff both like the Joe Gunther series.
Lesa’s review of the newest Victoria Houston got me interested in the Loon Lake series. I went back to the beginning and have read the first five (thank you Washington Digital Library!). I like the plotting and interactions between the characters and I don’t mind the fishing and the setting – we spent a couple of weeks in Land O Lakes WI a number of years ago when our daughter was working there so I could visualize the area. But Houston needs a better editor, at least for the first books. Paragraphs in the second book are lifted straight from the first one. Characters appear in one book and are not mentioned until two or three books later, and I was sure Dr. Osborne’s daughter has three children early on but there are only two in the fifth one.
Someday I’ll go back and read more of the series but meanwhile the Walla Walla library bought a bunch of books on my TBR list. I read CIRCLE IN THE WATER by Marcia Muller in one evening and was not impressed. I thought the last one might be the last in the series and this seems sort of an afterthought. Similarly, THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER by Nancy Thayer was a quick read and not her best IMO. I read AGAINST THE LOVELESS WORLD by Susan Abulhawa for book group. The beginning is hard to get past but then I got into it. Very revealing account of Palestinian refugees, a bit graphic and gory but not too much. I am almost finished with THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl and it is wonderful! Guaranteed to want you bake and paint and write an autobiography. Next up is CROW TALK by Eileen Garvin, set in the San Juans and looks engrossing, I will report next week.
Cindy, I also had a hard time getting into Against the Loveless World and then found it really compelling. It was part of a Diverse Voices book club at my library, and I was really glad I found the book.
Cindy, I didn’t read Victoria Houston’s books one right after another, so I never caught the repetition. I always feel bad if I think an author could use an editor, or a better editior.
But, I’m happy to hear that about The Paris Novel. I’m on the waiting list for that one!