I hope you’ve all had a good week of reading, and a week of good weather. It’s been a little cooler here, which has been nice.
My current book sent me down a rabbit hole. As a librarian, I love rabbit holes of research.
I know I mentioned that when I was home, we went cemetery hopping. It’s part of our search and interest in family tombstones. My sister, Linda, gave me a gift on Sunday of a new book, This Place of Silence: Ohio’s Cemeteries and Burial Grounds. Ian Adams, one of the photographers for this gorgeous book, said the site Find a Grave, suggests there are 10,000 cemeteries in Ohio. But, he looked at figures for the Ohio Genealogical Society’s website, and, with Ohio’s 88 counties, he estimates there are 17,072 cemeteries statewide.
And, some are stunning, so don’t laugh about it. Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati encompasses 733 acres, the largest one in Ohio. It’s also an arboretum. Adams and fellow photographer Randall Lee Schieber photographed cemeteries throughout the state.
I’m finding the book fascinating, and, if I wasn’t also reading a terrific thriller for Library Journal, I would have finished this by now.
Rabbit hole? On Monday night I was reading it, and I am still intrigued by unusual markers in a cemetery where my third great-grandparents are buried. I dug around online, couldn’t find anything, emailed someone from a historical group in that town who answered immediately, and ended up watching an hour long video until 1 AM, which didn’t answer my question, but filled in a little information about my family.
So, that’s what I’ve been doing late at night this week. What about you? What are you doing? Are you reading something you enjoy?
Lesa, This Place of Silence seems like a beautiful book; what a special gift. The cover photograph is gorgeous. So peaceful.
The main event this week centred around mattresses. Ours, even though only four years old, had deteriorated to a hard, lumpen miserable thing. Warranty was useless since the depth of the ‘dip’ had to be 1 ½”in order to qualify and ours had merely dipped ¾”. I can tell you that that ¾” made for very uncomfortable sleeping. We were forced to buy a new mattress (certainly not from that unhelpful store) and it arrived yesterday. I hope we like it.
Two books this week:
MURDER AT THE WHITE PALACE by Allison Montclair, Book 6 in the Sparks and Bainbridge series (Book 1 is called The Right Sort of Man)
I love this series; it has everything I like – engagingly believable characters, interesting plots, excellent dialogue, substance, some humour, some poignancy; and it’s just so well written. The books are never written in a formulaic way. Yes there’s always a mystery that gets solved but it’s the stories about what happens in the personal lives of Iris and Gwen woven throughout are what truly make this series stand out.
These two women – Iris, who did something secret during the war and Gwen, an aristocratic war widow with a young son – have started a business together called The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, where they match up their clients with the ultimate goal of seeing them get married; all in the interests of creating some happiness in the post-war period. Although they never mean to, they always get involved somehow in a murder investigation.
Murder at the White Palace is just as good as the other five books in the series. I can’t say much about it without giving away information about what’s happened to the characters in previous books; that is much more impactful if you discover it yourself along the way as you read the series, and I wouldn’t want to spoil anything in case you decide to read it. This is definitely a series to read in order of publication, just for the full pleasure of experiencing how Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge get on in the world. If I could, I would offer you a money-back guarantee on this series; I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment.
Book 7 comes out in February and already I can hardly wait!
THE ORNITHOLOGIST’S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE by India Holton, the first book in a new series by the author (the other is the Dangerous Damsels series, of which The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is the first book; such an inventive and ridiculous, but very fun series)
The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love is a ‘historical fantasy rom-com, purportedly set in the late 1800s and is filled with magical birds, some of them exceedingly dangerous, there are madcap characters aplenty, there are utterly unbelievably absurd situations, and funny dialogue/banter.
The IOS (International Ornithological Society) has just announced a special contest: whoever finds the rare caladrius will be named Birder of the Year. The race is on and everyone is in it for individual glory and bragging rights. Oh, and also tenure. Anything that can be done to hinder other competitors is fair game. Taking part are Beth and Devon, two rival professors who are often thrown together and who eventually team up to find the caladrius, perhaps finding romance along the way.
This book has a lot of amusing wordplay and fun dialogue, which for me was the best part as it provided many chuckles and made for a diverting read. However, I loved the author’s other series so much that somehow this book didn’t quite measure up. The plot is not as varied but at the same time it’s also a bit of a confusing one, and the characters felt more one-dimensional. I still enjoyed the book but if you’ve not read any books by India Holton and are thinking of giving them a try, I would definitely recommend her other series.
Lindy, I should probably get a new mattress, but the whole experience feels daunting. Sounds as if you had to get one, though.
I have a friend who continues to recommend the Sparks and Bainbridge series. I keep saying someday. I know she loves it, but I have so many other books to read!
This Place of Silence is as beautiful as it appears!
Oh I love Sparks and Bainbridge! The plot twist at the end has me wondering what direction the pair are going in next. Clearly one romance will not be working out as it seemed it would.
Lindy you sent me down my own rabbit hole this morning!
I’ve only read the first two in the Sparks & Bainbridge series and wanted (per your suggestion) to get the proper order. I stumbled upon a 2022 blog entry from Jungle Red Writers where Alan Gordon explains the pseudonym Allison Montclair.
Thanks
I need to dip into Sparks and Bainbridge!!
All of a sudden, it feels like Fall might be coming, but Summer is definitely not over.
This week I read:
Swift and Silent by Wayne Stinnett; I can’t believe I’ve read 25 books in this series. Some modern day pirates try to take Jesse’s ship and get nothing but bullets for their trouble. Of course, the pirates think they’re the ones wronged…So they have more bullets coming their way.
Gunman’s Song by Ralph Cotton; A Fastest gun In The West finds out why it isn’t a good idea to let that sort of news out, as every gunny comes after him. His wife is shot, and he tries to go on the vengeance trail, but all these wannbees keep getting in his way. I could see Glenn Ford Starring in the movie.
The Damages by Shelly Costa; A PI goes to hardscrabble Carthage, Ohio to find a missing young woman, Everybody but her and her Ivy League loser friends are subhuman. This kind of attitude is really taking hold in literature lately. I’m not a fan. I think poor people are human, too.
A Question of Guilt by Richard Posner; I’m always a sucker for adaptations of movies and TV shows, especially TV shows I’ve never seen. It’s based on the Lucas Tanner show, about a painfully earnest teacher helping troubles youths. I found it unintentionally funny, but YMMV.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao; What they’re calling a romantasy nowadays. A young woman takes over a mystical pawn shop that buys memories, dreams and the like. When someone is meant to be in the store, they find it. On her first day, a dream is missing, and so is her father. She has two days to get the dream back. Fortuitously, a young eligible bachelor just happens to stop into the store at just that time. It has some good ideas, but the story just wasn’t there for me. It was like something from a manga, and I’m not talking Dragonball Z.
You’re right, Glen. That’s the same atmosphere here. Fall is coming, but summer not over.
I have a question. What is YMMV? You said it in conjunction with A Question of Guilt.
I like the sound of Swift and Silent.
YMMV = your milage may vary
Thank you, Aubrey!
I started out the week with BETWEEN A FLOCK AND A HARD PLACE, the latest from Donna Andrews. Book 35 in my Meg Langslow series, if you can believe it. As always, I enjoyed it. It’s also so fun to slip back into Meg’s world.
Right now, I’m about a quart of the way into FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT, the third Vintage Cookbook Mystery from Ellen Byron. I’m enjoying this one as well.
It’s been a good week for reading.
Thank you, Mark. I have a copy of French Quarter Fright Night. I’m happy to know you’re liking it so far.
Hi everyone! It has been a busy week (finishing up radiation, hooray) but I did get some good reading done. The Last Note of Warning by Katharine Schellman is the third in a series of Prohibition-era books centering on Vivian, an Irish immigrant in NYC who works for a dressmaker by day and a speakeasy at night. She stumbles upon a wealthy man’s body while delivering a dress for his wife and is the easy and obvious suspect for the murder. Vivian has to investigate because the police probably won’t. As the mystery unfolds we learn more about her friends, family, and co-workers, so you definitely want to read the first two books in the series first.
The review of the second Bet Rivers mystery led me to read the first one, All We Buried by Elena Taylor. I liked the atmosphere and how well drawn the town & characters were but I had a hard time keeping track of all of the people from Bet’s parent’s generation. I have the new one on hold at the library.
And lastly I am savoring Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor. I especially enjoy the chapters from Alice’s point of view.
Yes! Alice in Agony Hill. I really like Alice, too, Trisha.
I never read the first Bet Rivers mystery, so I didn’t know about the difficulty with all the characters.
Congratulations on finishing up your radiation! Yes, hoorays are in order!
Cemeteries are so interesting to walk through, Lesa, so much history and unique headstones. I can totally relate to rabbit holes derailing your time – but often its so enriching! Thanks for sharing.
This week I read Love at First Book – my first read by this author, Jenn McKinlay, and it won’t be my last! I couldn’t put this book down – cleaning my house on a Saturday had to wait! Absolutely loved this book! Emily Allen finally makes a break from her controlling mother by heading to Ireland where she has been hired as a writer’s assistant and bookshop clerk. And not just any writer. Siobhan Riordan is the author of the Tig McMorrow series of books that helped Emily survive her unhappy childhood with her overbearing mother, and now Emily is her assistant! As a bonus – Siobhan has a hot son, Kiernen, who is her boss at the bookstore. What starts out as a contentious relationship eventually blooms into romance, in spite of misunderstandings and emotional turmoil as Siobhan writes her final book as her life on earth is coming to a close. Kiernen and Emily have much in common, both coming from broken families and both having the ability to remember lines from famous books which they recite often during this story. A lovely testament to one’s ability to heal and find new chapters in life, if only one is brave enough to try.
You’re right, Mary. I learned more about my Mom’s family by going down that rabbit hole. And, the book is wonderful.
I’m so glad you enjoyed Jenn’s Love at First Book. I don’t often buy a book after I read it, but I did buy that one. Ireland, books, and such a lovely romance.
I read an out of print ECR Lorac, which is so rare no copies are available on Bookfinder. It was in a Detective Book Club anthology that I acquired as a lot. Place for a Poisoner is excellent with an ending that took me by surprise. Lorac is an outstanding plotter.
I awoke this morning to learn my request to review the next thriller by Patricia Wolf on NetGalley was approved, so I am chortling in delight. These books published in Australia generally require a bit of time to reach the US. So I think it will be the next book on my stack. Set in an opal mine, it should be good.
Good morning, Aubrey! Oh, a Lorac with an ending that surprised you! That’s a surprise right there.
Enjoy Patricia Wolf’s forthcoming book. Don’t you love it when NetGalley comes through?
Good morning. It was nicer and cooler (around 80 with low humidity) for a few days, which was great. A little warmer now, and rain and humidity are returning over the weekend.
/end weather update
Before I get to my reading, Jackie is reading and enjoying the third Kelley Armstrong time travel book, DISTURBING THE DEAD. She particularly enjoyed the scene where they were reading the book that was supposedly about their exploits. But overall, she says that she prefers her Rockton series.
Taking a break from Philip K. Dick while I wait for the fourth collection of his stories to come to the library. I’m nearly done with the Gerald Kersh book of stories. Also about done with a book gifted to me by a friend, John Hayden Howard’s Reawakened Worlds Vol. 1. It’s a collection of mostly science fiction stories, writing in the 1950s and 1960s. So far it is entertaining without being anything special, but I haven’t read the Hugo and Nebula Award nominee “Arctic Invasion” yet, so we’ll see.
As mentioned previously, I did enjoy Cara Hunter’s first DI Adam Fawley mystery (set in North Oxford), Close To Home. I even guessed a big part of the solution, though not the entire thing. But her second, In The Dark, was much better, a book that really blew me away with one major twist. A man (a jerk, to be clear) is renovating his North Oxford house when a workman accidentally breaks the wall in the basement into the house next door, and discovers a young woman, barely alive, with a two year old child. Clearly, they’ve been locked in the basement. The house’s owner, a nasty man with dementia, denies all knowledge, and the woman can’t talk (at first). So who is she and how did she get there? Eventually, she tells a tale of abduction and rape. Meanwhile, Fawley realizes the house is a block or two away from where a woman disappeared two years previously, leaving her young child in a stroller miles away. Then (Possible Spoiler) her body is found in a shed in the old man’s back yard(End Spoiler). What is the connection between the two cases? Because it would be way too much of a coincidence to not be connected, right? Without giving you Spoilers, let me say that after days of methodical investigation, there are a couple of twists so startling that even this experienced reader didn’t see them all coming. Outstanding book, and now I am waiting for book three. Highly recommended.
I got two books from the library and started both of them yesterday, so can’t really tell you much yet, but they are:
Kim Hays, A Fondness For Truth. This is the third in Kim’s Giuliana Linder/Renzo Donatelli series, set in Bern, Switzerland. More next week, but the story looks fascinating.
Evan Friss, The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore. There was never a chance that I would NOT read this one, and so far it is 100% in my comfort zone. He starts with a discussion of a neighborhood bookstore in Greenwich Village, Three Lives, then goes into the history with a long chapter on Benjamin Franklin, who impresses me more and more with every new story I read about him. Who doesn’t love old bookstores? Certainly not me. We spent weeks (sometimes two months) every summer for over 30 years combing the bookshops of, first, London, and then much of the British Isles looking for books, both for my own collection and for resale, and it was all good. Check it out.
I’m so glad, Jeff, that you’re enjoying Cara Hunter’s series!
You’re not the only one fascinated by bookstores. I put a hold on that book, and I”m #31 on the waiting list at the library. I’m not in a hurry, so that’s fine.
Tell Jackie I enjoyed that portion of the Armstrong book, too.
Much cooler here at least for a few days, highs only in the eighties. This Place of Silence sounds fascinating. In the early days of this country, Ohio used to be the fabled West, I imagine you find a fair bit of history. And the markers can be unusual, I remember seeing headstones shaped like logs in Nebraska to signify a fraternal organization.
THE DARK EDGE OF NIGHT is Mark Pryor’s second book in the police detective, Henri Lefort, series. The setting is Paris during the German Occupation. Henri is tasked with finding a missing German doctor – or else.This series is darker than the author’s popular Hugo Marston series set in contemporary Paris. The third book in the series is out this month.
I enjoyed listening to the Dagger Award winner THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE by Alan Bradley. A mystery with a unique heroine, 11 year old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison. She is appalled and delighted when murder comes to the family home. Fun story as she thinks through the clues while annoying her older sisters.
It’s actually the first book in a series (currently 12) by a now 86 year old Canadian author. An upcoming novel, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust, to be released September 3rd.
THE LIES YOU WROTE is a psychological suspense novel with a great cast of characters. It features FBI forensic linguist, Raisa Susanto, along with true-crime podcaster, Janna Shaw, investigating a murder that mirrors a decades-old crime. The author, Brianna Labuskes, handles the material well; trickling out clues, red herrings and surprise twists, all the while playing fair with the reader.
Oh, you do find history in this book, and in the cemeteries, MM. I could go on, but I won’t.
I’m not usually into psychological suspense at all, but The Lies You Wrote sounds interesting.
Good morning. We’ve had nice weather this week with highs in the low 80s and low humidity. Our town is still doing free outdoor concerts and last night’s had August Zadra from Styx so instead of the usual 40 or 50 people there were several hundred.
This week I read FOUR THOUSAND PAWS: CARING FOR THE DOGS OF THE IDITAROD: A VETERINARIAN’S STORY by Lee Morgan. It was an interesting look behind the scenes look at the race from the viewpoint of one of the vets who volunteers at the race every year.
EIGHT MILLION GODS by Wen Spencer. A horror novelist with an obsessive compulsive disorder runs off to Japan to escape her mother who keeps having her committed to mental hospitals. There she finds out that what she writes really happens and the gods and monsters in her stories are real. It’s a strange book but I’ve been enjoying it.
Hi Sandy, I’m glad most of us had a little bit better weather this week.
Four Thousand Paws does sound interesting. I’ve been reading a little more nonfiction lately, when I can.
For comparison, I checked Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, the largest one that I have ever been to and it was much smaller 540 acres. James Whitcomb Riley and much of my family is buried there. It must be a great book.
Started a win from GoodReads, Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger. it is off to a great start and I received that book from you, The Burning which almost made me jump for joy but I thought I had better. would break some bones!
Carol, it’s a wonderful book. I’m so fascinated by the stories of people buried there. And, I don’t care if they’re famous. I like to know about my own family, too.
Glad you didn’t jump and break anything!
I read The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce. Georgia and Eli started off as friends in high school who then started dating. Things went south when they moved to New York for Eli’s job. They’ve been apart for five years with minimal contact but come together for their best friend’s wedding. Parts of this were funny, parts were swoony but there was a little too much angst in reliving Georgia’s memories of Eli for me.
Next was City of Book by Nicole Meier. Jo Waterstone has been working at Bruebaker’s Books in Portland, OR for the majority of her adult life. It is a cornerstone of the city three floors and numerous author signings. When Mr. Bruebaker suffers a stroke, his daughters want the bookstore shut down immediately. Jo and a handful of employees decide to occupy the store
while fulfilling online orders to try to save it. I have no idea why I didn’t love this one more. It had all the right elements for me, but I found myself oddly detached from the characters. I was rather disappointed.
Your book sounds interesting, Lesa! And Lindy, I am anxiously awaiting the Sparks and Bainbridge book to come in from my library. I loved the other five in the series too.
Happy Reading!
Oh, I”m sorry about City of Book, Sharon. That’s too bad because it did sound interesting.
Lesa, this book is so intriguing. I love old cemeteries, and I adore a good rabbit hole where there are new and interesting things to be discovered.
And right now I am reading The Murders in Great Diddling at your suggestion and enjoying it lots!
Kaye, I could go on and on about this book, and I did at lunch today with Linda. It’s so interesting!
The Murders in Great Diddling is a fun book, with some unexpected twists.
We went out to do some errands this a.m. and of course had breakfast out too. So I am late to comment here but that is not unusual.
Glen enjoys walking through cemeteries and taking photos, and he is from Ohio. So I pointed THIS PLACE OF SILENCE out to him. He has put that book on the wishlist to get very soon. (We are still in a book buying ban until end of August.)
This week I read A GREAT RECKONING by Louise Penny. It is the 12th book in the Inspector Armand Gamache series. It might be my favorite in the series so far.
Now I am reading THE LADY IN THE LAKE by Raymond Chandler. I am enjoying Chandler’s beautiful writing, but so far the story seems pretty standard compared to the last one I read, THE LONG GOODBYE.
Glen is still reading DEAR CALIFORNIA: THE GOLDEN STATE IN DIARIES AND LETTERS by David Kipen. He has about 120 pages left. I hope to read it soon; at least before the end of the year.
Well, Tracy, by the time Glen finishes California, he’ll be able to buy the book on Ohio cemeteries.
Don’t you love breakfast out? I seldom eat breakfast at home, but I love going out for breakfast.
I had to look up A Great Reckoning to remember what it was about. I liked that one, too.
I have Ohio ancestors that are buried somewhere in Ashtabula county, so I will definitely try to find this book. Thanks for the recommendation.
I just finished Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo and it will definitely not be my last. What a great start to a series. I am nearly finished with The Drop by Michael Connelly, part of the Harry Bosch series and I would love nothing more than to sit down and read until I’m finished, but alas work gets in the way of my reading time.
Don’t you hate it, Tracy, when work interferes with reading time?
I love to find a new series, so I”m glad you enjoyed Sworn to Silence. You have some good books ahead of you!
You’re welcome. I’m enjoying this book.
I have been reading the Rowland Sinclair mysteries by Sulari Gentill for the pst few weeks. It is a 10 book series, so far, and is set in 1930s Australia. I don’t know a great deal about contemporary Australia, not to mention historical times in this country so it has been a fascinating glimpse into the between the wars. Gentill has written a couple of stand alone thrillers as well. So well written.
I rarely comment as I seem to get to the blog so late in the day, but I never miss reading it and love all of the wonderful book suggestions. Thanks to Lesa and all of you.
Eileen, I’ve read the first four books in the Rowland Sinclair series, and I too like them very much.
I did also read one of the author’s stand alone thrillers – The Woman in the Library – and I didn’t like it at all; not the tone, not the premise, not the characters, not anything really. It was too bad, as I’d been expecting something special in light of the fact that I quite enjoyed the Rowland Sinclair books.
Eileen, We’ll always take your comments. Thank you for mentioning Sulari Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair books. I was lucky enough to meet Sulari when she came to the U.S. with a small group of Australian authors. They had a grant to come here. She’s just delightful.
Like Lindy, though, I read The Woman in the Library. I liked it, and I read one of her other standalone thrillers, but, honestly? I just don’t get them.