Well, you’ve already heard about my week. Reading, reading, reading for Library Journal, with a short break on Sunday to see Lisa Scottoline. Gorgeous, sunny weather most of the week, but I was inside reading.
I’m currently reading a book for me, Krista Davis’ cozy mystery, The Diva Goes Overboard. After seventeen books in the series, I’ll admit I return to these books for the characters, the fun tips from Sophie Winston, the “diva”, and the setting, Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Especially the characters, and the food shared in the books. This time, the emphasis is on charcuterie boards.
After Orson Chatsworth, a local businessman is murdered at his engagement party, Sophie is shocked to learn she inherited his antiques store. She has no idea why, but she suspects he had a mystery he wanted her to solve. She’s right, but his family members are suspicious, wondering what her relationship was with the dead man. Sophie recruits a few of her friends, swearing them to secrecy, as she investigates Chatsworth’s past and secrets.
I’m 2/3 of the way through the book, so I’ll have a review on Saturday. I suspect I’ll have my usual complaint about the book, but praise for Davis’ characters.
What about you? What have you been doing this week? What are you reading?
We had a fun day this past Monday – it’s a family tradition for anyone who’s available on the Victoria Day holiday to meet at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens (55 acres, 7500 plant species) in Vancouver for our son’s birthday. A small group this year; just our son, his wife, and their daughter, my husband and me, and one of our daughters. Those gardens are gorgeous – paths everywhere; themed areas such as the pretty ‘laburnum walk’; and an area with blue poppies; and a boardwalk to a small island to see turtles sunning themselves on rocks; and an Elizabethan maze; and a meditation garden; and a fern dell; and so much more. Then back to our son and daughter-in-law’s for tea and birthday cake. A good day.
I read two books this week. The first was EARLS TRIP by Jenny Holiday. Set in the regency era, every year three male friends – two earls and a viscount – go on a two-week holiday together. There are ‘rules’ that must be followed and a good time is had by all. This year’s trip gets complicated by a situation involving two sisters who end up tagging along on the earls’ trip, although they’ve been ordered to stay out of the way and out of sight. Naturally that doesn’t happen and high jinks ensue.
The book is billed as a historical rom-com. I found it a fun, entertaining feel-good story with wonderful dialogue and some surprisingly insightful and thoughtful conversations between the earls. I was rooting for happy outcomes for all five characters. I understand there’s to be a another book in the series. Looking forward to it already!
The second book I read was CHRISTA COMES OUT OF HER SHELL by Abbi Waxman. The premise was interesting. From the blurb on the cover: ‘After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Barnet has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father – long thought dead after a plane crash – turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga ….’
Not much about this book fascinated me though. None of the characters resonated with me; they felt one dimensional and a bit shallow; for the most part they didn’t react to things in a believable way, there was little depth in much of what they said, which seemed at odds with what would have been a traumatizing and emotional time. There were a few moments where one or other character seemed to find some backbone and speak up, but not nearly enough of those moments. Speaking for myself I didn’t like the book enough to recommend it although I know of other people who loved it.
I did very much enjoy ‘The Bookish Life of Nina Hill’ by the same author and wholeheartedly recommend that one.
What a wonderful tradition! I was able to visit Van Dusen Botanical Gardens one year in the fall, spring would be even better.
The gardens and Earls Trip both sound great! I just put a hold on Earls Trip, thank you for mentioning it.
Thank you for the recommendation. I downloaded Earl’s Trip to read next.
It’s true that it’s beautiful in the spring but fall definitely has its own charms, as does every season. I’m glad you were able to visit it!
Just put Earl’s Trip on hold – it sound like great fun
Oh, I agree with the comments from MM and Trish! Your tradition at the gardens sounds wonderful. And, I may have to look for the Earls’ Trip. I could use a good historical RomCom right now. Thank you, Lindy!
Thanks Lindy for the reviews. I just put Earls Trip on hold and canceled my hold for the Abbi Waxman book. I too loved The Bookish Life of Nina Hill but have been disappointed in several of hers I have since read.
Susan, I really didn’t like the Waxman one where the character was on college visits. I liked Christa Comes out of Her Shell more than Lindy.
We haven’t done much this week. The pollen count has been really high and we have had bad allergy symptoms. Not getting much done in the yard currently. Thursday a.m. I have a doctor’s appointment and Friday I get my hair cut.
This week I read CORPSE IN A GILDED CAGE by Robert Barnard. This is a standalone novel about a distant cousin of the eleventh Earl of Ellesmere inheriting the title and the estate. The new earl is a simple man with simple tastes. He doesn’t want to live in the huge family estate; he plans to sell everything but it isn’t that simple. His three children and their families and hangers-on come to stay for his 60th birthday party. I don’t think I have ever read a book by Barnard that I did not enjoy, but this one is very, very funny, even with all the unlikable characters.
Now I am reading THE KAIJU PRESERVATION SOCIETY by John Scalzi, which I am enjoying. Glen is still reading KRAKATOA: THE DAY THE WORLD EXPLODED, AUGUST 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester. It started off too scientific but has gotten more into the historical side of things that he is more interested in.
Sorry about your allergies, Tracy. Lousy pollen.
Oh, I really enjoyed Scalzi’s The Kaiju Preservation Society. I hope you like it!
I’m glad you and Glen both enjoy reading. It’s so tough when one person doesn’t.
Yesterday I went to see the new film, IF (Imaginary Friend) with a couple of friends and enjoyed it. I especially loved hearing (on a podcast) from the movie’s writer/producer/
director/actor John Krasinski of “The Office” fame about how he wrote it for his daughters during the pandemic. It was charming and great to look at, with a lot of prominent actors voicing the IFs. but a little confusing at times, and I’m not sure children will enjoy it. Walked from the theater to a restaurant for dinner, which was lovely. I barely managed to finish three books this week.
Sarah Stewart Taylor starts a new mystery series with AGONY HILL, a Franklin Warren novel, which takes place in 1965 in Vermont. Boston detective Warren has moved to small-town Bethany after the murder of his wife and the unwarranted suspicions of his fellow detectives. He’s now the newest detective on the state police force, paired up with young officer Pinky. When a universally disliked farmer dies in a barn fire with the door locked from the inside, suicide is the first conclusion. More trouble ensues when the victim’s obstreperous brother comes to town as his estate executor and angrily protests the contents of the will, which leaves all but one book to the farmer’s much younger wife, the mother of his four sons. Committed to proving himself in his new position, Warren tirelessly sifts through the clues and interviews suspects and persons of interest. I’m not sure he has become a real person for me this early in the series, but I admired the author’s depiction of characters such as the farmer’s surprising wife and sons, Warren’s neighbor–a self-appointed, unofficial investigator with secrets of her own–,and a young man fleeing from his parents’ expectations and failing to find a viable way to earn a living in Bethany. There are several subplots that are left unresolved, such as the story behind Warren’s wife’s murder and his neighbor’s secrets, which left me hanging. I am a big fan of Taylor’s four Maggie d’Arcy mysteries, so I know the author is a great storyteller. I am confident that subsequent entries in the new series will see Warren becoming a more engaging protagonist, and one that I look forward to exploring (July)
My enjoyment of Jessica Joyce’s current novel, The Ex Vows, led me to look for her 2023 debut, YOU, WITH A VIEW, and I wasn’t disappointed. It didn’t evoke tears from me, as The Ex Vows did, but protagonist Noelle herself is often–maybe a bit too often?–moved to tears, both happy and sad. In the process of organizing the belongings of her beloved Gram after her death six months earlier, she finds a series of old photos of Gram and an unknown suitor, along with a love letter. Determined to learn more about the man, who is NOT her grandfather, Noelle puts her photography skills to use making a Tik Tok video and asks viewers to help. Unexpectedly, she receives a response almost immediately, indicating the man in the photos is Psi;. the responder’s grandfather. A much less pleasant discovery is that his grandson is Noelle’s high school rival, Theo, who has hit it big as CFO and co-founder of a fast-rising company, while Noelle is despondent about losing her first job as a photographer. When Noelle meets with Paul and Theo and hears about Paul’s romance with Gram so many years ago, she decides to go on a trip planned by the couple before they suddenly had to part, in order to feel closer to Gram. Paul asks to go along with her and, unhappily for Noelle, wants Theo to go along as well. The rest of the story is about the 2-week road trip and, of course, the enemies-to-lovers relationship between Noelle and Theo. It is a beautiful story, although I felt the romance was a bit rushed and there were no real roadblocks until very late in the story. Although this is an impressive debut romance, I am thrilled to see how Joyce’s skills in character development and plotting have matured in her impressive second book, and I plan to look for her next novel in 2025.
I don’t think I’ve ever before read a book where the inhabitants of a small town resort to such shameless lies to attract tourists to the town itself, and to their first-ever book fair, as I encountered in Katarina Bivald’s THE MURDERS IN GREAT DIDDLING, set in Cornwall. Did Winston Churchill really visit the town during the evacuation of Dunkirk? Had the rare brown booby been spotted there? And did Margaret Atwood and other literary luminaries actually serve on a panel at the book fair? Not a chance, but it’s quite hilarious how it all comes about. Of course, it’s also a mystery, so the more serious plotline includes two murders, one explosion, multiple thefts and/or attempted thefts, and a bevy of suspects, several of whom are not at all who they appear to be (or who the townspeople think they are). Confusing? Well, yes. But an author visiting the town for inspiration and the detective inspector leading the murder investigation manage to keep the plot from becoming totally untethered. Nevertheless, getting to the conclusion is entertaining, and delving into the backgrounds and motives of the suspects is a fascinating look at characters who are unconventional, to say the least. This book is quite different from the author’s The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, so it was a surprise for me, but it is definitely worth a read. Side note: Every time there is a referral to the local pub–The Queen’s Head, Arms, and Legs–as well as multiple dictionary entries for “diddle,” I laughed out loud. (August)
With just this one post you’ve given me eight(!) books I want to add to my wish list! What am I to do?
I feel your pain, Lindy! I request ARCS on NetGalley, and I have to be careful not to request too many because that can lead to more books than I could review by the publication date, which would give me a lower feedback ratio (books granted vs. books reviewed). Having too many good things to read is a common dilemma, but in many ways a happy one!
Oh, I loved The Murders in Great Diddling, Margie! I thought it was fun, and I enjoyed how the town came together to lie and make up stories about their history. Just funny. I thought Bivald did a great job with her first mystery.
Well, if you say If is confusing, I think I’ll skip it. Naturally, I’ve seen a lot about it, but I don’t think it’s for me.
I liked Sarah Stewart Taylor’s new book, but you’re right about the hanging threads. She’ll get there, I”m sure.
I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all week, but I’m not certain I’ve accomplished that much. The weather is nice, though.
This week I read:
K-9 Odin by Lisa Slater; a biography of an amazing police and military dog. Told through the dog’s voice, which got pretty old, though.
Silence of the Hams by Jill Churchill; What they used to call soccer moms investigate the death of a neighborhood busybody. It’s like a time capsule to the Clinton years complete with the contrived explanantions.
Rolling Thunder by Kent Wright; a sports tale about NASCAR before all the commercialization. Back when everyone used to be a bootlegger, and before helmets and fireproof suits. Reminded me a lot of Fireball 500 with Frankie Avalon and Fabian.
Spillage by Michael Gross; It’s 1976, and New York City is crumbling. Former folkies and a pitcher for the Yankees based on Mark “The Bird” Fyddrich have comedic adventures. I feel like Elliot Gould would be in the cast. It’s that kind of 70’s cynical, sardonic comedy that was popular for a few years. Nobody ever talks about Gould and Donald Sutherland, who were a popular comedic duo for some reason, and I don’t think they’ll reunite and remind anybody.
I read all of Jill Churchill’s cozy mysteries back then, Glen. I’m sure you’re right about the time capsule.
Oh, I’d like to see the movie of Spillage. Too bad it won’t be made.
Finally, some good weather in your area!
Happy Thursday, everyone!
I have read every book Wm. Kent Krueger has written, and I think he is one of the best.
His next, Spirit Crossing, the 20th in his Cork O’Connor series, will be released in August. It explores some important topics in a respectful sensitive manner. An important book, I think.
Description from NetGalley –
A disappearance and a dead body put Cork O’Connor’s family in the crosshairs of a killer in the twentieth book in the New York Times bestselling series from William Kent Krueger, “a master storyteller at the top of his game” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
The disappearance of a local politician’s teenaged daughter is major news in Minnesota. As a huge manhunt is launched to find her, Cork O’Connor’s grandson stumbles across the shallow grave of a young Ojibwe woman—but nobody seems that interested. Nobody, that is, except Cork and the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police. As Cork and the tribal officers dig into the circumstances of this mysterious and grim discovery, they uncover a connection to the missing teenager. And soon, it’s clear that Cork’s grandson is in danger of being the killer’s next victim.
I haven’t read all the Cork O’Connor books, Kaye, but his family is in jeopardy in every one I’ve read. I did like the one that took Cork back to his boyhood, though. That was my favorite of the few I’ve read in the series.
Our weather has continued to be unseasonably cool. It was in the lower 60’s on Monday. It hit 70 today, but we’ll be dipping again by Saturday.
Reading wise, I’ve just finished two non-mysteries. The first was I SLEEP AROUND by Sue Ann Jaffarian. She is a mystery writer, and I’ve loved her mysteries. This is a non-fiction book about her first two years on the road as a nomadic writer, which she started doing after she retired from her day job as a paralegal.
Then came Villains’ Realm, the latest Kingdom Keeper book from Ridley Pearson. It’s middle grade fantasy involving kids fighting off Disney villains who are trying to take over the parks. They can be fun, and this one had it’s moments, but it is the middle of a trilogy, and it knows it. Nothing really resolves – it just stops. But I’ll be back for the final in this particular trilogy (it’s book 13 overall for these tales since this trilogy is a spin off.)
Next up for me is a short story anthology – Murder in the Air. It’s a collection of 8 (I think) short stories by a variety of cozy mystery authors. It’s the fourth in the Destination Murders anthology, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the authors do with this theme.
I’m glad you reminded me of I Sleep Around, Mark. I bought that for Kindle a while ago, and want to read it. Great reminder!
Sorry about your weather. I know it’s cooler than you’d like.
I was reading an ARC for I Sleep Around, and I’m planning to review it next week. It’s official release date is June 4th.
I didn’t read my galley soon enough, Mark. Now, I’ll have to wait until it comes out in June.
A couple of freezing nights snuck in this week to confuse the trees just leafing out and break the spell of unusually warm weather.
Just a bit of reading this week. I finished an older book (2006) from Naomi Hirahara in her Mas Arai series, SNAKESKIN SHAMISEN. It’s the only one in the series I’ve found, but hearing of the unique hero featured I had to give it a try. “A curmudgeonly LA Gardener, Hiroshima survivor and inveterate gambler”. The title refers to a traditional Okinawan musical instrument. Interesting, but one was enough.
Also read NORTHWOODS by Amy Pease from Kevin’s blog recommendation – I think Jeff also commented here. Set in Wisconsin, the Sheriff has a small town caring attitude but is dealing with big city crimes. Her deputy/son is investigating the crime while also dealing with personal issues. The author created several well defined characters in this debut novel. It’s been promoted quite a bit by William Kent Krueger.
Currently reading the fourth (?) in Cara Hunter’s DI Hawley series, ALL THE RAGE. I borrowed the ebook from the Clark County library. All Nevada residents are allowed access to the Clark County e-library (Las Vegas) which vastly expands our reading selection.
Hope you enjoyed NORTHWOODS. I did.
I really like the DI Hawley series, MM. I love that everyone in Nevada has access to the Clark County e-library. That’s fabulous!
Good morning. It’s been in the high 80s here and a busy week. It looks like my mom might finally be close to moving out of rehab and back into senior living. I’ve also just gotten her house on the market so I’m hoping it sells quickly since there aren’t a lot of homes for sale in town. And I’ve got a guy coming in and out setting up a sale of the contents.
I did manage to finish an ARC of Haunting License by Carol .J Perry, the third book in her Haven Florida series. While walking her dog, innkeeper Maureen Doherty finds the body of a local fisherman on the beach. It was a quick read but I prefer her other series set in Salem, Massachusetts.
Sandy, I just read Carol J. Perry’s forthcoming one in the Salem series. Love that series. I have Haunting License on hold at the library. You’re right. I prefer the Salem books, but I lived in Florida, so I do enjoy that one, too.
I’m reading the new Salem book now
Good morning, all. As long as I’m up I might as well get this in early. The weather has finally improved and warmed up – and it’s really nice. Unfortunately, Jackie got a head cold and has been inside for several days, but she’s nearly better and for once, she didn’t graciously pass it on to me. She’s been enjoying her reading, first the Cynthia Eden book and now a Lora Leigh, DANE’S MARK.
Now that I finished the books I was reading, other than the Theodore Roosevelt biography (which is ongoing), I have several other things I’ve been reading. First, in the Roosevelt, he just completed four years as a feisty Civil Service (reform) Commissioner, fighting his own Republican Party more than the Democrats, under President Benjamin Harrison. He’s 31, happily remarried, with three young children. It’s 1893 and he is 8 years from the Vice Presidency.
I read some good things about Irish comedian Maeve Higgins’ new book of essays, Tell Everyone On This Train I Love Them, with an illustration of her (presumably) on a New York City subway train, so figured I’d start with her earlier book, Maeve in America, subtitled Essays By a Girl From Somewhere Else. It was pretty good, so now I’ve started the new one. She is from Cobh in southern Cork and she has seven sisters and one brother.
Since I finished the three volumes of short stories I was reading, I’m now reading three more! I read (as a rule) one story from each per day. Current reading:
Philip K. Dick, Second Variety and Other Classic Stories. Dick was a science fiction writer, most famous for Man in the High Castle and several short stories that were turned into movies.
Frances & Richard Lockridge, Flair for Murder.The Lockridges are probably most well known for creating Mr. & Mrs. North. The Norths’ Siamese cat graces the cover of this new collection, but there is only one North story (which I haven’t read yet). The rest feature Captain Merton Heimrich of the New York State Police, in Putnam County north of New York City. He’s a low key guy and these are pretty straightforward police stories, mostly published in EQMM in the late 1950s. I like it. This is the one I’m closest to finishing.
Another friend reviewed a Carol Shields story on her blog last week, and I realized that I hadn’t read her three collections of stories, so got her COLLECTED STORIES and started with the first, Various Miracles. Shields, most well known for THE STONE DIARIES, was American, but moved to Canada after her marriage, and she lived there the rest of her life.
I’ve still got an even dozen books on hold at the library, plus five for Jackie.
Have a good week. And Happy Memorial Day.
You talked me into Maeve in America, Jeff. Irish! From Cobh! My brother-in-law’s family is from Cobh, and my goal the next time we go to Ireland is to get to Cobh and County Cork.
Flair for Murder sounds good. I should have picked it up when I had the chance.
Hope Jackie is feeling better, and you don’t get it!
Hello! I flew to the US from Switzerland to visit friends and relatives in the Northeast for two weeks and spent a wonderful day yesterday visiting a New York sculpture park. I’m taking a short break from reading Mick Herron’s Slough House series and Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie books to try Loreth Anne Whites’s THE UNQUIET BONES, with Sergeant Jane Munro. I only just started the book, but I like it so far and am delighted that it’s set in the Vancouver area, where my family lived for four years when I was a teenager.
I hope you like The Unquiet Bones, I really did!
I finished listening to Catherine Mack’s EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES. It’s a light romp of a mystery set in Italy. Quite different from her usual suspense novels written as Catherine McKenzie. Catherine is on 2 panels at this week’s Montreal mystery festival.
I started reading the first book of another scheduled panellist. Marcie Rendon’s MURDER ON THE RED RIVER. It isvan award-winning debut book introducing Cash Blackbear, an Obijwe woman whose visions & grit help solve a brutal murder. I have seen Marcie at past Bouchercon panels but had not read her books until now.
Oh, I like the Cash Blackbear series, Grace. I think I’ve read all the books.
Kim, I’m with Trisha. I really liked The Unquiet Bones, too. And, it’s always interesting when you’re familiar with the setting.
Enjoy your time in the Northeast! I’m so glad you keep in touch when you’re out of the country. Thank you!
Oh my! I finished Rain Breaks No Bones by Barbara A. Taylor and I am overwhelmed by the book. It spoke to my soul and now I want to read the previous books but they are in small print too.
Oh the day that I finished the book, Tomorrow is For The Brave by Kelly Bowen came! I have started it and it is OK but I want to read the others in series by Barbara Taylot.
Got an e-mail from a real estate person telling us that the condo we sold before moving to Texas has almost tripled in selling price. We could not have stayed there, but wow!
Well, that wasn’t nice of the realtor to send you that information, Carol.
I’m sorry the other books you want to read are all in small print.
I have a large outdoor weeding day ahead for me today. The mulch that I ordered is not arriving until next week now and the weeds are out of control. I want things looking good for the giant foot race that occurs every year on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. There will be over 7,000 runners going by our house and the roads are closed until it is over. It does take some planning to make sure everything that needs to be bought from the stores is done before the weekend!
This week I read the 2nd Cyd Redando book “Drowned Under”. This book finds Cyd on a cruise to Australia to look for her missing ex-in-laws. This book started out great, but then it seemed to get really jumbled up the last two chapters. Lots of action and great characters, so I’m willing to try the next book in the series.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all!
Mary, I like the Cyd Redondo series, but sometimes Cyd’s adventures do get a little muddled. I love Cyd, though.
Hi everyone! This week I read Off the Air by Christina Estes, which I was lucky enough to win here. I really liked it. The mini-lectures about aspects of local history got a little tedious, but I thought they were of a piece with the way the protagonist keeps a distance from emotional entanglement with other people and from any kind of engagement with her own feelings and childhood trauma. I plan to send it to my friend who works in local news in Florida (once the PWHL sweatshirt part of her care package arrives).
The new season of Bridgerton inspired me to re-read Romancing Mr Bridgteron, which is the best one and which I originally learned about from Lesa here.
Yesterday I started Shards of Glass by Michelle Sagara, a fantasy mystery book set in a world I find so interesting I’ll read anything set in it! This book is an offshoot of the main Cast in (blank) series.
I’ll have more to report next Thursday since I have two books on hold that came up this week! Take care, all.
Off The Air is on the top of my TBR stack, tempting me when I walk past.
I’m glad you liked Off The Air, Trisha. And, of course, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton!
We are on the way to Chicago for my grandson’s high school graduation. Not sure how that happened, he was just a little boy not too long ago. The first half that I drove to Indianapolis was rather uneventful with not much traffic but as we are nearing the Chicago area there are mire trucks and cars for the holiday weekend.
Two books for me this week. I finished The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. It was a Reese’s book club pick a few years ago. My neighbor asked me to read it with her. I really didn’t like the characters a whole lot nor the story lines of infidelity and abuse but I found I could not put it down.
I am finishing up The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson. It about a group of women after WWI trying to remain in the workforce. I am enjoying it very much.
Happy Reading!
Safe travels there and back, Sharon. Congratulations to your grandson!
I saw Simonson’s book on a list just today. I’ll watch for it. Thank you!
Hi Lesa –
I’m glad you’re having sunny weather, even if you’ve not been outside much. It’s hot and humid down in south Texas!
After a bit of a reading slump, I’ve read several good books recently:
Table For Two by Amor Towles – I don’t usually read short stories, but I enjoyed this collection,
Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano – I loved Hello, Beautiful and will read anything by this author! I’ve now read everything of hers,
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl – I totally enjoyed this book! I’ll go back and read other Fiction by this author.
Summer at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews – I enjoyed this author’s latest and many others of hers.
Long Island by Colm Toibin – I loved Brooklyn by this author and also loved this one!
I’m now reading David Baldacci’s new stand alone novel and am enjoying it so far.
There are lots more new releases to come this summer, and I’ve got a long list to read!
Thanks for all you do –
Linda
Thank you, Linda! I hate humidity! That’s why I preferred Arizona over Florida.
I have The Paris Novel to pick up at the library tomorrow. I’m glad you enjoyed it! And, another friend recommended Long Island just the other night.
You’re right. So many new releases coming out!
Odd, my original comment was posted as a reply to Kim Hays’ post!
I really do hate WordPress’ odd behavior.
I’ve had that happen a few times Grace!
Thanks for sharing part 2 of your recent trip to Singapore on the Murder is Everywhere blog. All that wonderful food, great fun! Although I’d have found it difficult to leave the Botanical Gardens.
I’m reading Colleen Cambridge’s MURDER BY INVITATION ONLY. It’s part of her series about Agatha Christie’s housekeeper and confidante, who is also an amateur detective in her own right. This book is about a murder mystery dinner party that goes awry when an actual murder occurs. The author is in town this evening, and I’m attending a murder mystery party/book event that she’s hosting. I’m excited about it, but wish me luck that life doesn’t imitate art tonight! 🙂
Oh, Kate! You’ll have to tell us all about the murder mystery party/book event. Now, I’m curious. You’re right. I hope life doesn’t imitate art!
Finished First Frost by Craig Johnson and still have to write my review for the blog.
Current read is CLETE by Craig Johnson.
Headed to the foot doc in a little while. Hopefully, no new ugly surprises.
I did enjoy Northwoods Kevin. Thanks for the recommendation. Do you know if a series is planned?
I don’t. It did seem set up to me to be the first one in the series.
First Frost sounds really good, Kevin.
Good luck at the doctor’s!
I enjoyed the read.
It did not go so well. He sees issues, took pics and sent them to my primary and my cardiologist, and then worked on me a bit.
Hi Lesa — I’m not sure there’s anything better than reading…unless it’s sitting outside in lovely weather to read.
I just finished Night Bird Calling, which I thoroughly enjoyed for the young girl’s POV as well as the main character’s first person POV. The story takes place in Appalachian country just as WWII is starting and involves many of the cultural and political issues of the times such as women’s legal status, abuse of women and girls, racism, etc. Cathy Gohlke handles these subjects with a delicate touch but lets the reader know the times were hard. I will read more of her books.
Now I’m back to thrillers with Shadow of Death by Heather Graham. Just started it this morning but it hooked me right away.
We all know I’m a fan of Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series, Patricia. I hope you enjoy Shadow of Death.
You’re right. Nothing better than reading!
I’m reading: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller and listening to The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann. It wasn’t planned that way but these two titles could have been made for each other.
That’s interesting, Marleen, that you are reading them at the same time. I haven’t read Lula Dean yet, but it sounds as if I should!
Hi Lesa and everyone
I will be travelling back up from Edinburgh again tomorrow, so I am starting this on Wednesday yet again, just before I go to the bus station to travel down. We are forecast torrential rain by this afternoon and right through tomorrow, so I have just been outside moving all my smaller pots and tubs either nearer the house or into my tiny mini greenhouse for protection. I don’t want to see all my new geraniums and violas trashed before they’ve even got started.
The book I am taking with me is GAUDY NIGHT by Dorothy L Sayers. I probably read it years ago, but it’s been so often acclaimed as her best work that I am re-reading it. I like quite a lot of Sayers’ Peter Wimsey books (NOT Five Red Herrings, which bored me to tears) so I am looking forward to this. It’s about Peter and Harriet visiting Harriet’s old college at Oxford, where poison pen letters and obscene graffiti are disturbing the calm of academic life. In those days, of course, there were no mixed colleges, so this is all about women.
In her 2026 introduction, the actress Harriet Walter, who starred in a TV adaptation of the novel, says,
‘In Gaudy Night Sayers examines a particular female dilemma close to her own heart: how to develop one’s intellectual independence from men and not miss out on the joys of sex and equality in a harmonious domestic life. A tall order now, but so much taller in the 1930s…..This is Sayers’ most personal novel, in which the love story the crime story are brilliantly intertwined.’
She also says that when they were recording the series, the producer changed some of it to ‘make it more appealing to a wider audience’ – ie to emphasise the romance between Harriet and Peter at the expense of the mystery. In the book Peter W doesn’t appear for some time, and Harriet investigates things on her own; in the TV series he is brought in much earlier, the knight in shining armour to save the women from themselves. I don’t think Harriet Walter was impressed.
I also recently bought THE LATE SCHOLAR by Jill Paton Walsh, which is the author’s continuation of the Peter Wimsey series. It seems to have good reviews, so I will be interested to see how she manages it – it must be a bit daunting to follow on from someone like Sayers.
Before this I was reading WILD MARY, Patrick Markham’s biography of the author Mary Wesley. I was just up to the Second World War and the extremely lively social life people like her lived at that time (she was by then married to a titled man, Carol Swinfen, but they lived almost separate lives and she had numerous affairs. Her second son was not Carol’s. This was never mentioned by her, Carol, or the real father.) I got to about page 83 then began to realise that nothing was making sense – the book had jumped to page 167. There was no evidence of any pages having fallen out, and I then noticed that after page 198 the next page was 119. Presumably this (hardback) copy should have been pulped by the publishers, Chatto and Windus, but somehow slipped through the net. I must’ve bought it years ago in a charity shop but had only now got round to reading it.
So frustrating! I have ordered a paperback copy from eBay – I was by then too invested to give up, but I just hope that I remember what I’ve already read when it’s eventually delivered.
This coming weekend we have our Culter Gala. Galas are a tradition in northern Scotland, and involve all sorts of games, stalls, a ‘duck race’ (plastic ducks released along the river – you buy a ticket for a numbered duck), a treasure hunt, etc, often followed by a somewhat rowdy marquee dance in the evening, though I’m not sure that Culter still has one of those. I’ve been to other galas in the past but not this one, so I might give it a go – I do hope the weather improves for them.
I’ve been very busy with art gallery stuff this week, so my walks have been mostly local, along the river or the old railway line path. This morning I looked out of the back bedroom window to see a heron standing in the burn at the end of the garden. I tried to get a photo but he/she must have sensed my movement and flew gracefully away up-river.
Gardening has also taken up quite a lot of time lately – planting out of annuals in particular. You have to be so quick to buy them here – unless you have a heated greenhouse there is no sense in buying them before at least mid-May, in case there is a frost, then there is a mad rush to snap them up, as the garden centres don’t seem to restock after the end of this month. I have planted pansies, fuchsias, geraniums, violas and sweet peas. The sweet peas already look unhappy – I don’t know what I do wrong with them, they seem to grow so freely on people’s allotments.
Well I am back from Edinburgh – absolutely soaked, the weather was just as terrible as predicted, though there is a certain sort of cosiness about being inside a bus when the rain is pouring down outside. So I will just finish this off.
On TV I discovered a new series of QUEER EYE – I know it’s formulaic and silly but I enjoy it. I also came upon LIFE ISN’T ALWAYS HAHA HEHE, an older series which I had somehow not seen. It was written by Meera Syal, who also plays one of three Indian women living in north London. They were all very close friends as children, and now they are reunited for the wedding of one of them. In the interim their lives have taken very different paths – Meera Syal’s character had been a promising academic, but gave it all up to marry her psychotherapist husband – who is played by Syal’s real husband, Sanjeev Bhaskar, whom Jeff will know from Unforgotten. They now have two children and the marriage is veering on the edge of trouble. One friend has turned her back on her heritage and loathes the Indian community’s ideas and traditions; she has become a successful television producer, but is still hampered in her career by people’s preconceptions that she can only make programmes about her ethnicity. The third character is a slightly naïve woman who is now marrying a playboy and has been swept away by his looks, smooth talking and money. He and the TV producer are former lovers. He is already trying to control his new bride’s life, as – although it’s fine for him to take his pleasures where he will – he now wants a ‘traditional’ marriage, with his wife kept firmly at home.
I’m hoping to get through this series quite quickly, as it’s leaving Netflix soon.
I am fascinated by the Asian communities in the UK – in many ways they are totally assimilated into UK culture, and are far more ‘anglicised’ than, for example, many Muslim groups, but in other ways they still retain their own customs and heritage. Life Isn’t Always Haha Hehe (which is the advice one of the Indian matriarchs gives to the new bride on the subject of how to cope in a long marriage) is funny, but it also addresses the problems that all women face in balancing the numerous parts of their modern lives, and in particular the challenges facing women from backgrounds where things have traditionally been done very differently – these second or third generation immigrants were born and grew up here, but their parents may have very different ideas from those of their schoolfriends’.
It must be so interesting to live in a very culturally diverse city like Birmingham or Bradafter the war, and more came when Poland joined the EU – and left when the UK withdrew from it. Even Edinburgh lacks diversity – it has quite a lot of international students, but few international residents.
I’d like to read more books about the Indian community, so if anyone can recommend any novels or indeed non-fiction I’d be delighted – doesn’t have to be prize winning stuff either, easy reads are very welcome. Are there any cosies?
Time for tea so I will stop. Have a good week all – and Lesa, I would like to echo Linda’s words, thank you so much for all you do for us, this weekly chat is so much fun.
Rosemary, we’ve watched the first two (of four) episodes of AFTER THE FLOOD, which is equal parts entertaining and annoying to me. Also watching COBRA (series 3). There are people from both shows who were in THE BAY. And now we just got the new (#4, I think) series of McDONALD AND DODDS. And we’re watching the latest series (#10?) of the New Zealand show THE BROKEN WOOD MYSTERIES, which resembles MIDSOMER MURDERS in a lot of ways. We’re waiting to start the second series of TEMPLE.
I always get a vicarious thrill when you write about Edinburgh, one of my favorite cities. Believe it or not, we first went there in 1972, and I can still remember driving into the city and seeing Princes Street and up to the Castle and the Royal Mile. One year we stayed at a Trust House Forte hotel that was – literally – next door to the zoo, and we heard the lions roaring all night long!
Rosemary, Although I’ve always lived in places with kinder climates, I have a cousin who lives in Montana. She bought her flowers and strawberries, hoping to get them in, but they had snow this week, and 31 degrees! So, they’re in her garage right now.
I want to thank you. Your posts tell us about Edinburgh and events such as the Culter Gala that we don’t have here. We don’t have festivals and fairs, but they’re not the same.
I think I’ve seen some romantic comedies featuring the Indian communities in the U.K. Now, I’m going to have to look. I don’t know about mysteries, though. Hmmm.