I just want you all to know I need today. Thanks for being here. Let’s talk weather and books, and ignore politics.
Oh, and before I jump straight into a book I’m actually reading, just a reminder that Andrew Welsh-Huggins is up tomorrow for Favorites of 2024. Andrew is the author of The Mailman, and a number of other books.
I’m reading nonfiction today, and I’m halfway through it. Lisa Rogak’s book is Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS. It focuses on four women from various walks of life who ended up working for “Wild” Bill Donovan writing propaganda or encouraging our troops. Every one of them spoke a language besides English. Betty McDonald was a reporter living in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. Zuzka Lauerss was from Czechoslovakia, and knew five languages before she was twenty-one. Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of an American attache in Tokyo, and her family was imprisoned in the embassy there for over six months. And, Marlene Dietrich, was the star who renounced her German citizenship, and performed for troops at the Hollywood Canteen and through USO tours.
Each woman has a fascinating story to add to our knowledge of behind-the-scenes activities during World War II.
What about you? What are you reading this week? What have you been doing?
Big hug Lesa!
We’ve had a few days between winter and allergy season, so got busy in the yard. Another chance of rain and snow again next week, I’m sure I’ll be able to fit in more reading.
I enjoyed listening to CRIME AND PARCHMENT: A Rare Books Cozy Mystery by Daphne Silver. It revolves around a hunt for the jewel encrusted covers (or shrine) of the Book of Kells and the possibility the priceless items were hidden in Colonial Maryland. A bit of history, a bit of romance, a rare-book librarian visiting family in an old Maryland town. Nicely balanced.
“It was the one thing the case had been missing. A locked room.”
Set in 1938, CABARET MACABRE, is the third in the GoldenAge style ‘Locked Room’ murder mystery series by Tom Mead. The series features a mostly retired stage magician turned sleuth, Joseph Spector. This book is labeled as a locked-room retelling of The Revenger’s Tragedy. The mystery is intricate and multi-layered. Fortunately, a “Dramatic Personae” is included.
For those of you disappointed in The Murder Wheel, Joseph Spector is central in this book, using his understanding of magic tricks to reach a solution.
I’ve also been catching up with The Sparks & Bainbridge series (Alison Montclair). I’m currently listening to #5, THE LADY FROM BURMA. But also found a short story set in 1946 London (possibly 2.5). The duo are expanding the Right Sort Marriage Bureau and solve a cold case in THE HAUNTING OF THE DESKS. Such a delightful series.
Good morning, MM! It sounds as if you had a good week of reading. I had given up on Tom Mead’s books after the second. Good to know the third one is better.
Winter and allergy season. Isn’t that the truth?
OMG my allergies have kick started and it’s only March (almost!). I’m finishing up a book about the lead up to Fort Sumter, then I am going to start a true crime book and All the Light We Cannot See.
This week I have been fretting. It’s something I do well. Briefly – two years ago David was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer, had everything removed, and all has been holding steady until his blood test yesterday which showed a sudden doubling of his PSA number (which should have been zero but never was). For it to double now is significant. Phone call with the surgeon next week. There always seems to be something or other to worry about, doesn’t there. Sigh.
One book this week:
ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND TREACHERY by Celeste Connally
Set in Regency London, this is the next book in the series after Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.
Lady Petra and Duncan are at odds; she has found out that Duncan (childhood friend and current lover) may have been involved in the death of her beloved fiancé. She is hurt and angry and determines to investigate and find out the truth. Meanwhile, the Queen has asked Petra to look into the murder of the matron of a girls’ orphanage. And at the same time, the royal family is under threat by violent reformists who want to abolish the monarchy; and what’s more, it seems Duncan is in league with the reformists. So right off the bat there are three mysteries to be solved.
This new book has all the characters I loved from the first book, and it was such fun that there’s a focus on the friendships between several of the women characters this time and how they all have contributions to make towards solving the mysteries. This made the romance between Petra and Duncan take a bit of a backseat but the book is better for it, as we get to know the women much better.
This was a more historical novel than the first one in the series. Very political and based on real events. Nothing wrong with that but there were a lot of names and it got a bit confusing, and I wasn’t as emotionally invested with this book. I still liked it though, with all the witty banter and great characters. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope there will be one.
Oh Lindy, I do feel for you, what a worry. Such a long time to wait for a phone call too. I am thinking of you from the other side of the Atlantic.
it’s so hard to concentrate in these circumstances, isn’t it? I’m glad you found a book you could get into.
So sorry to hear about your husband, that is such terrible news to deal with. My best friend’s husband was diagnosed with leukemia this week, so it is a very hard week. Best hope for you and your husband.
I am very sorry, Lindy. Sending good thoughts.
I am sorry to hear about your husband’s test results, but thankful that the doctor has been monitoring. Hoping for a positive outcome! Will be thinking of you both this week.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s test results. Hoping for a good outcome.
Lindy, sorry to hear about the cancer. Five years ago – just as the pandemic was starting – I had a prostate issue (not cancer, thankfully), that resulted in three MONTHS of waiting before Green Light Laser treatment to get rid of it. (You can look it uop.) So far, so good, but it is always out there, right? I don’t understand how this happened if he had it removed, though. Best of luck.
Thinking of you, Lindy, and sending good thoughts.
Keeping you and your husband in my thoughts, Lindy. I hope you’re finding some comfort in reading.
Lindy, sending a hug and will be thinking of you and David.
I’m so sorry about your husband’s news, Lindy. I hope it al turns out well in the end.
Lindy, I’m so sorry you and David are going through this. It’s hard to concentrate when medical uncertainty hangs over your head. I hope you can find a book or audiobook for a bit of escape.
Sending good thoughts that all will be well.
Isn’t it awful when it’s a loved ones health, Lindy? Almost worse than when it’s your own. I’m sorry. I’m sending good thoughts your way. And, I’m a fretter, too, so I understand that part.
I’m glad you had a good book for distraction. Sending hugs.
So, sorry for what you both are going through. For what it is worth— the same thing happened to my Dad. Prostate cancer runs through the men of my family. It is not a case of when we get it, it is when. I’m 63 which means I am already older than Dad when his was first discovered. They took everything from Dad in the late 90s. Said his number would go to zero.
It never did. It hung around 1.2. Then around 2005 or so it suddenly doubled on the every six month screening. They said watch. It stayed there. They ran tests and found nothing. That was his new baseline number for a number of years.
Dad was told that this can happen and it, allegedly means nothing. Obviously, that was 20 years ago and how things are treated now is far, far different. I just pass it on for what is worth as my Dad had the same thing happen.
Thank you Kevin. What you said is oddly comforting to me today. I appreciate it.
I can relate to what you are going through, Lindy, and I hope all future news is good.
Lindy, I am adding my hopes that you soon receive good news about your husband’s situation. It seems like it always takes a long time to get a medical response when you need it. And you two have had more than your share of medical issues. I will be thinking about both of you.
The weather here has been nice, too nice, as now I have allergies in February.
This week I read:
The Case of the Abandoned Aussie by BR Snow; A couple of women who run a dog hotel find a dog, and his dead owner in a river. The dead guy’s entire circle hated him. Our judgmental sleuths decided to check around.
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston; The true story of how the ebola virus we were all scared of before COVID got started. Patient zero handled a sick bird, EXACTLY how they tell you not to do.
Blood Trail by JT Sawyer; I’m on Sawyers advance team, which is nice, as I get a book from him about every quarter. It’s almost like the old days with Mack Bolan and Remo Williams. In this one, our Spec op hero is motorcycling up the Pacific Coast, when some criminals with a plan frame him for murder. Big mistake. He depopulates the county putting a stop to them.
Flesh And Bones by Sarah Andrews; An unemployed geologist needs work. A rich oil man needs someone to befriend his daughter, who is the only witness to the murder of his wife, her mother. She’d have been better off applying to Wal-Mart.
Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton; You know, I started reading these because I won a David Housewright book in a goodreads drawing, but couldn’t find them easily in my area. Now I’ve read almost the whole Alex McKnight series, and his other one about an assassin. Apparently, he’s having problems with his publisher. Anyway, this is a sad, sad story all the way around. It’s a year that’s not as cold as usual, although Alex is spending most of his time plowing snow and hanging out in his favorite bar, drinking Canadian beer, when the Chief of police, with whom he has a rocky relationship asks him for a favor. It seems the son of his former partner committed suicide for no reason, and the partner would like some answers. That’s sad enough, but then the partner is found with his throat slashed. They learn other sons of cops have committed suspicious suicides. Then it gets really depressing.
Raging Spirits II: Hong Kong Heat by Thor Bernard; The bouncer, trying to get rid of the angry spirit attached to his soul, finds himself in Hong Kong, beating up Triad dudes, and bringing old lovers together.
The Mailman by Andrew Welsh-Higgins; Reminded me a lot of the books by Stewart Sterling back in the 1950’s where the protagonist was an insanely dedicated niche detective, like a hotel or a store detective. The stuff about being a mail cop was pretty interesting, and I almost would rather read the adventures of one of those guys, but we get a sort of Jack Reacher type deal. I thought it was pretty good. Definitely better than The Gatekeeper, but the book did get lost in the weeds for a bit before finding its way again. To be honest, I found the stepdaughter tiresome.
Ten Silver Bullets by Andrew Millard; Anthology of 10 werewolf tales. Not bad, but post modern takes are not scary.
Wilder and Wilder by Robert J. Conley; A married couple are authors. He writes westerns, she writes mysteries. They get invited to a dude ranch in Wyoming, and there’s a murder. They were so busy being folksy, I felt like I was watching and Andy Griffith marathon.
Revenge of the Manitou by Graham Masterson; I remember the first book was all over the place when I was a small child, but I didn’t read it because, well, I was a small child. I watched the movie years later, starring Tony Curtis, and that’s probably why I didn’t read it since. I saw this, and since I’m not in the habit of reading a series in order, I started in. It’s unsettling from the first pages. While the author obviously doesn’t know a whole lot about Native Americans, he manages to use the duality of the Noble Savage stereotype to full advantage. One of the best horror books I’ve read in a while.
I love how you can write your book reviews so succinctly yet capture the spirit of the book – kudos!
Glen, I’m not at home now, of course, so no access to my books, but there was a 4 book series written in the ’90s (perhaps) about a postal inspector in Maryland, I think, that was pretty interesting. I think I still have a couple of the paperbacks, but I can’t remember the author offhand.
Found it ! You really can find anything online with a little patience. The author was Sean McGrady and the Inspector was Eamon Wearie. The books were: Dead Letters, Sealed With a Kiss, Town Without a Zip, and Gloom of Night. They were paperback originals and worth looking out for.
Thank you Jeff!
Ah, Glen. You and MM both mentioned allergies, and I don’t think of those in February! Good luck!
Steve Hamilton’s books are always so tragic. I gave up on them quite a while ago. And, yes, I think he did have problems with his publishers.
Isn’t it wonderful to be on a list for an author you like?
I echo what Mary M said. Perfect little reviews!
It’s been warm here in So Cal. I got out and enjoyed it – went paddle boarding on Saturday and played disc golf on Sunday. This is only the second time I’ve been paddle boarding since I hurt my shoulder almost two years ago. It was a little sore off and on after that, but on the whole, I think it did okay.
On the reading front, I am part way through RUNNING ON EMPTY by Karin Fitz Sanford. The mystery/crime aspect isn’t strong, but I’m still really enjoying it. (And it bills itself as a mystery). It’s set in my home town of Santa Rosa, so I am enjoying those references, although it is a fictionalized version, so some things have been changed.
Good for you, Mark, in getting out and enjoying the weather!
It’s always fun to read books when you’re familiar with the setting. Except for one series that had it so wrong my sister and I both stopped reading it.
Good morning everyone from a cold, frosty but sunny and bright Aberdeenshire.
We’ve had some beautiful days lately, and it’s been so lovely to walk by the river again. Nancy and I also had a great walk at the Blackhall Fisheries, where you follow the Dee for some way before turning off onto a quiet country road that takes you past some fabulous country houses before returning you to Banchory. There were lots of fishermen on the river – these are people who pay huge sums to come up for a week’s holiday and seem to enjoy standing in waders in the middle of the freezing water.
I also recently acquired a ‘litter picker’ from a guy who is very active in the Community Clean Up Facebook group. He explained that the idea is to encourage people to look after their local area, rather than just keep moaning about litter – the group aims to enthuse more people to get out and help, and also to promote the health benefits of a litter-picking walk.
So yesterday I had already done one walk, but in the late afternoon I decided to attack the area very near my house armed with litter picker and bag. I filled that (big) bag within a few hundreds yards of my doorstep, and only stopped because I didn’t have a second bag. It’s extraordinary the things people would rather push well into bushes and hedgerows than put in a bin or take home – bottles, cans, lots of plastic bags, numerous vapes…. By the time I had finished (and I was only out for 45 minutes) things looked so much better, and more importantly I had reduced, albeit in a very small way, the risks all this rubbish poses to wildlife, especially at a time when birds are nesting and other small animals like hedgehogs are coming out of hibernation.
As I live in a largely rural area, littering only gets worse as the year progresses and more people come here to walk, cycle or drive. All along the country lanes there are beer cans, sandwich and pizza boxes thrown carelessly to the side. But no, I’m *not* moaning! – I am on a mission! It’s good exercise too.
Last week we were at the Usher Hall to see Edinburgh musician HAMISH HAWK. A great concert slightly marred by the poor acoustics in what is supposed to be Edinburgh City Council’s flagship venue. And as ever, the endless up and down to let people out to go to the bar. I really don’t know why people can’t last a couple of hours without alcohol.
We’re also excited to have managed to get tickets to see PULP at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow later this year. Jarvis Cocker is such a brilliant performer, and we very much enjoyed seeing the band at the Latitude Festival in 2023.
David and I attended a little discussion group at one of the city libraries that we’d never visited before. It was part of their ‘Memories of Scotland’ series, and it is particularly aimed at people with dementia, but I checked in advance and they said absolutely everyone is welcome. In fact there were only 8 of us plus the organiser and a library helper, and so far as I could tell nobody was showing the slightest signs of memory loss, in fact quite the opposite. It was such a fun afternoon – the topic this month was ‘Gigs in Aberdeen’ and the organiser had put together a talk with pictures about the numerous concerts that have taken place in the city over the years.
Back in the 70s and 80s (I did not live here then) many really famous names came to Aberdeen (now you almost always have to go down to the Central Belt to see them) – David Bowie, Iron Maiden, The Who, Status Quo, Aretha Franklin…they’ve all been here. Two of the men in the group not only remembered all of this but had actually been there, and they shared amazing memories of those nights. From what they said, gigs were allowed to be a lot wilder back then! Many of the smaller venues are no more, so it was most interesting to see photos from the time. A fascinating afternoon, and so friendly, everyone was encouraged to join in.
I am hoping to go to the next session in the programme, which I think is about Aberdeen’s Parks & Gardens. Aberdeen has won many awards for its floral displays, and has some excellent parks, but I’m sure I’ll also hear about gardens I didn’t even know existed.
We also went to a talk by two guys who had walked the whole of the Aberdeenshire coastline. They had done this partly as rehabilitation for one of them, who had had a really terrible cycling accident. He started the first few walks when he was still on crutches! It was really moving to hear him talk about how the walks had brought them together (they had been work colleagues in the past) and how much he had appreciated his friend’s support.
Again a very interesting and informative talk, and I bought the book the guys have put together about their adventures, through which they are making donations to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds – our coast is home to many thousands of seabirds) and the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute, which is getting so much horrible criticism for saving the lives of refugees trying to cross the Channel in small and dangerous boats.)
On Tuesday my friend Heather and I went to the Tivoli Theatre to see JENNY RCLAIR. She is a stand up comedian and writer (she’s published several novels) and has appeared on TV and radio as well as the stage. She has just published her autobiography JOKES, JOKES, JOKES which I had already borrowed from the library but had not had time to read before the show. It was a great night – Jenny is now 63 and her show took us through each decade of her – and of every woman’s – life. She was so on point about all the things that women go through – very, very funny, but also so indentifiable. The show was pretty forthright and the language was colourful to say the least, but I’ve now started reading the book, which is a lot ‘cleaner’ (probably at the request of her publisher) and a very enjoyable read.
Jenny was born in Malaysia as her father was in the army. The family moved around a lot until her older sister was about to go to senior school, whereupon her father resigned from the army because he did not want his children to have to go to boarding school. They returned to the UK and lived near her mother’s parents in Lytham St Anne’s, but they were very hard up as they had always been provided with army accommodation, and her father went from being a Major to returning to college as a student. For a time the entire family of five lived on his one student maintenance grant (we still got grants rather than loans in those halcyon days.)
I’ve just got up to the part where Jenny, now aged 14, is rapidly becoming the rebel in the family, in contrast to her clever and hardworking sister and her ‘perfect’ little brother. Both of her siblings eventually became barristers – as she said in the show, ‘if only I’d followed in their footsteps I wouldn’t still be having to work to pay off my mortgage.’
Other books I am reading are:
WAY BEYOND A LIE by Harry Fisher, whom I saw at one of the local library talks last year. It’s about a man who goes with his (second) wife to the supermarket, only for her to disappear. The police can find no trace of her, but Ross gradually begins to realise that Carla was not the person he thought she was – and the truth becomes all too obvious when he tries to use his bank card, it’s rejected, and the bank informs him that someone has emptied every single one of his own and their joint accounts. Now he is on Carla’s trail, as are the police. The book is set in Leith, the lcoation of our house in Edinburgh, so the local detail adds interest.
PLOTTED IN CORNWALL is the next one in Janie Bolitho’s Rose Trevalyn series. Rose has been commissioned to paint a portrait of two reclusive sisters living in a house on Bodmin Moor with no electricty or gas. They clearly have secrets, but I haven’t worked them out yet.
Last weekend I was at Peacock Printmakers in the city for a tour of their new BOB BAIN exhibition. Bob was one of their early printmakers, who sadly died suddenly at the young age of 40. Peacock has received many of his amazing prints from his stepson, but many more are thought to be in circulation – in fact some visitors came from Estonia to see the show, and told them that they have one of his prints at home! So we are all on the lookout for Bob Bain prints, and if you happen to have one, or know of one, or have seen one in a collection, please do let me know! The curators would be thrilled to have even a photograph of it.
I hope you all have a good week. Lindy I’m sure I’m far from alone in thinking of you and your husband. Very best wishes to you and him.
Shocked by the trash problem. We don’t have anything like that in residential areas and hardly see anything like that in the shopping/business areas. How rude to just throw garbage around like that. Shows no respect for the environment.
Totally agree Donna. I’m sure most people don’t do it, but those who do are very persistent. Same as the one or two people around here who don’t clean up after their dogs. There are lots of dog owners in my neighbourhood and I’d say 99% are conscientous about this – then you get one or two who don’t see why they should bother.
I’m so proud of you for attacking that litter problem with a vengeance – yay, you!
Littering is disgusting, and it’s a problem in the US as well.
Thank you Kaye. It’s actually quite an enjoyable way to spend an hour, at least in this weather, thuogh the bag does get quite heavy towards the end of my walk.
Oh, Rosemary. If anyone should be a litter picker, it’s you. I know how much you appreciate the countryside on all of your walks. I’m sorry there’s so much of it, though. When my father was alive, and my parents lived in the country, they did litter picking. They’d take their walks and take along bags to pick it up. Why don’t people care more?
You and David find such interesting talks to attend!
Nature, talks, programs, books. Thank you for sharing so much with us.
Thank you for having me here Lesa – what would we all do without our Thursday meet-ups?
What a great post Rosemary. Far more entertaining than some of the books I read! If you ever write a book, please put me on a list to buy it.
Oh thank you Lindy, you’re too kind. I can never think of anything to write a book about!
It feels like spring here so naturally we had thunder and rain last night. Not sure winter is over for us but hopefully the last round won’t be quite as cold.
Sunday we went to see The Cemetery Club at the Mason Community Theater. We really enjoyed it.
I read Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. Gail is divorced and losing her current job. Her ex husband is back for their daughter’s wedding with a rescue cat and her daughter learns something disturbing about her fiancé that puts the wedding in jeopardy. It is more of a novella (154 pages) and takes place the day before, the day of and the day after the wedding. I thought it was good not great.
I loved my second book. It was translated from German. The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn. Carl works at the bookstore owned by his old friend now owned by his daughter. Every night he hand delivers specially chosen books to customers he affectionately names from characters of beloved books. One night he is joined on his route by a precocious 9 year old who turns his life upside down with an unexpected friendship. It was charming.
Hope all is well, Lesa. Happy Reading!
Sharon, I love the sound of that book, The Door-to-Door Bookstore. I hope our library has it.
I hope spring is going to come early this year, or at least, as you said, the remnants of winter aren’t quite so bad.
Bad week for allergies and body pain. I finished The Moonshiner’s Daughter by Donna Everhart and I highly recommend it. It is important book on Eating Disorders and violence that occurred where moonshine was made in North Carolina in the 1960s. A scary time in a scary place, where people made moonshine as a defense against poverty and rival families in the business carried hate through generations.
Jessie Sasser was determined not to follow in her father’s footsteps and wanted her father to talk about her mother. She witnessed at the age of four, her mother being burning to death while making moonshine. Not knowing what to do, she turned to food and stuffed herself until ridicule made her turn to eating and purging. As the story progresses, she slowly learns more about her mother and there are scenes that will turn your stomach, at least mine. I kept reading because I cared about Jessie and hoped that she would find a way to cope. So this is a great book but you must be strong to read it.
Also picked received the last book in a series because I forgot that I read the third one it did feel right to me! The Last Keeper of The Dreamland Saga by Kathryn Butler. Too late, I can now unpick, so I am skinning parts of it and will to review it. Some but not much is worth reading.
And to console myself, I am going to start Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen. I wanted to read the book that she wrote about her grandmother in Russia but it was too expensive. When this book was temporarily reduced, I jumped at the chance to read it. I have been looking through what is available at my local library on the on-line search site. Most of the books I have already read and the ones that I want to read are not there. We live in a red state and the one with the most banned books.
Oh, Carol. I’m sorry you can’t get the books you want through your local library. It shouldn’t be that way.
And, I’m sorry your allergies and body aches were bad this week. It’s debilitating, isn’t it?
You have an interesting way of consoling yourself.
Good morning. It was nice yesterday so we took a 40 minute ride to my favorite charity used book store. It’s in a big barn and not really very well heated so not something fun on a cold day. Afterwards we stopped at a Chinese / Japanese restaurant nearby. I must go to the book barn more often than I realize because the restaurant owner has gotten to know us.
This week I read DECKLES AND DEATH BYACF Bookens. Book dealers Poe and Baxter travel to Mumbai to attend a rare book auction but they find the auction house owner murdered before the sale. I enjoyed traveling the world with this series and I’m sad that this is the last one.
ADRIFT IN CURRENTS CLEAN AND CLEAR by Seanan McGuire. A girl born with one who’s been adopted from an orphanage in Russia by a couple who live in Denver. She’s unhappy after they force a prosthetic on her, runs to a nearby pond, and falls though a door in the weeds at the edge, landing in a world where everyone lives underwater and nobody cares about her arm.
I’m currently reading Open Season by C. J. Box. It’s the first book in his Joe Pickett game warden series. I’ve read a batch of them but realized I’d never read the first book.
Isn’t it funny when you realize people recognize you because you’ve been there so often, Sandy? The Book Barn sounds fun. I went to one in northern Indiana or southern Michigan once with a friend, and you can be there all day!
I had such a fun weekend – I attended a trial run glass art class – a neighbor is thinking of starting up classes in her home. I’m picking up my finished project today as it had to go through a kiln. On Sunday, I organized my co-workers to join me at a BoardandBrush event. This is a national chain and is so well run. Easy to make beautiful boards to decorate your house with. I made a “Hello Spring” board and already have it hanging up (although I also have a “Hello Winter” board up too from the last class I went to). I think it works though as March is the in between month, right?!
I finished two books this week – the 2nd in the Riley Thorn series (The Corpse in the Closet). Another fun romp with Riley and Nick. Riley agrees to help Detective Weber try to solve the case of a murdered social media influencer – a truly self absorbed woman whose whole focus is on accruing material things and getting plastic surgeries. In the midst of solving this murder, Nick is hired to find a missing ex-husband by his ex-wife who needs her ex to come and take the kids off her hands for his assigned weekend. Eventually it’s determined that both cases are tied together by the receipt of glitter bombs. And then a potential third case arises when Riley receives a glitter bomb. Keeping Riley alive requires the help of their apartment house’s cast of octogenarian characters, the psychic members of the Thorn family and Gabe, who is Riley’s psychic coach. Never a dull moment towards the eventual unveiling of the murderer. If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum novels, you will love this series!
The other book was “You are Here” by David Nicholls. It was recommended on this blog a while ago. I listened to the audio version, and perhaps my sporadic listening influenced how I felt about this book. A nice enough story but it felt long to me. It was almost a do-not-finish but finally got some spark about 1/3 of the way through. The beginning 1/3 just felt like a downer reading about two lonely people going through the aftermath of break-ups. But once they started to get past dwelling on the past it got more interesting.
I just finished the 1st in the Riley Thorn series. Such a fun read! Now I’m on the wait list for the 2nd one.
Your class sounds.so fun!!
Mary, I listened to You Are Here on BBC Sounds and quite enjoyed it, but I agree, it was slow and I did sometimes want to give the pair of them a shake!
I love people who are crafty, Mary. My sister has made some beautiful pieces over the years. I would be excited about seeing my glass piece.
The Riley Thorn series sounds fun! I’m not familiar with those books.
Mary, I have The Corpse in the Closet all ready to read after I finish my current book. I’m looking forward to it, especially since the first Riley Thorn book was on my favourites list for last year!
I hope that you enjoy it!
Good morning! Last week I saw Menopause 2: The Musical (Cruising Through Menopause) at the Harris Center, and while I enjoyed it and laughed a lot, I didn’t think it was at the same level as the others in the Broadway Tour series. I had a lovely meal with the family, celebrating my DIL Melany’s 39th birthday, and saw my grandson play basketball. Yesterday I had 4 (!) cavities filled by the dentist, and I have continued to provide some guidance and editing to the very bright daughter of a Toastmasters friend, who (the daughter) is applying for STEM internships and prepping for the SATs. And today I will be Chief Judge for my Toastmasters club’s Table Topics (impromptu speaking and International Speech Contests. So as you can imagine, I only finished two books this week.
I finally got read to a book authored by our own Kim Hay!. SPLINTERED JUSTICE is the first Linder and Donatelli Mystery that I have read, but it wasn’t difficult to pick up on the two Bern (Switzerland) homicide detectives’ backstories and jump into their fascinating new cases. Renzo Donatelli is investigating his first solo case. A glassworker at the historic Bern cathedral is injured in a fall when a teenager shakes the scaffold on which he is working. He doesn’t want to press charges because he was friends with the young man’s sister many years ago. The issue of “why” is ultimately solved with a sad story of family dynamics that had led to a suspicious death 15 years earlier–was it suicide, accident, or homicide? At the same time, Giuliana Linder is working on the case of a wife who helped her terminally ill husband die. I learned that Switzerland has one of the most liberal laws on assisted suicide, but the couple hadn’t signed up with one of the approved services, and the husband had declined into dementia. I enjoyed learning about the Croatian community in Bern and their often-brutal reasons for emigrating to Switzerland, and I became aware of Renzo and Giuliana’s prior and current relationship. The descriptions of the medieval city of Bern enhanced my immersion in the story. The characters are all distinctly portrayed, including the supporting ones, and I am happy to see that three prior entries in this entertaining series are available. (April)
On the basis of my love for the delightful five-book Lomax and Biggs mystery series by Marshall Karp from a while back, I was happy to come across Karp’s new standalone, DON’T TELL ME HOW TO DIE. But I must confess to wondering what type of book the author intended to write. The first two-thirds or so presents as a family drama, but then the book suddenly and (for me) unconvincingly takes a huge swerve into psychological thriller territory. And where was the “darkly funny” humor promised in the blurb? To be fair, the multiple twists in the latter part of the book were unexpected and entertaining to read, but because I found the female protagonist, high school senior class president and current town mayor Maggie, so unrelatable and unlikeable, they ultimately fell flat for me. I much preferred Maggie’s slightly younger sister, Lizzie, but her story all but disappeared partway through the book, as did the stories of Maggie’s 16-year-old twins. In addition, much of the story involves terminal illness (not a spoiler–it’s in the Amazon description), which could have been more deeply affecting, but which suffered from the matter-of-fact way those involved reacted to it. I know Karp is a talented writer with a wonderful sense of humor, but I unfortunately didn’t find any of that in this book. (March)
Thank you so much for this lovely review of my upcoming book, Margie–I’m very happy you enjoyed it. And thanks, too, for your review on Goodreads! It’s exciting to have a fourth book coming out on April 15, but it hasn’t had many reviews yet. Still, I can brag to you about BookLife Reviews calling it “ . . . A twisty, humane procedural . . . that keeps [its] pages turning with urgent personal stakes, twists that make logical sense, and a deep humanity.”
If anyone else wants to read and review the MS before publication, it’s available on NetGalley.
I admire so many people, Margie, who lead such active lives and still find time to read. It sounds as if you had a good week.
I am sorry, though, that Marshall Karp’s book didn’t live up to expectations.
We’re having a false spring here in Idaho. Yesterday’s high was 55. It’s supposed to be nice weather for next week. Yay!
This week, I read THE DEAD BODY NEXT DOOR by Lucy Score. This is the first book in the Riley Thorn series. Riley’s next-door neighbor is murdered, and all sorts of mayhem takes place. My library categorized this book as romance, I thought it was more of a romantic suspense. You got a murder, a mob, and a cute private investigator. In any case, it’s a fun read.
I also read THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER by Lucy Score. Naomi’s evil identical twin calls and says she needs Naomi’s help. Naomi had just left her groom at the altar and had nowhere else to go so she heads to Knockemout, VA. She arrives in town to the most hostile environment ever thanks to her sister. Her sister steals her car and money and leaves her with her daughter to take care of. Another cute fast read.
I gave up on THE BUSY BODY by Kemper Donovan. It wasn’t holding my interest. I think it needed more character development.
I agree with you, Bev. I read The Busy Body, but, frankly, I enjoyed my interview with the author for LJ more than I did the book itself.
The Riley Thorne books must be hot right now.
Good morning, everyone. I will read all the previous comments after writing this. Feel better, Lesa! The weather has been good here compared with up north, a little cool (relatively speaking) with occasional light rain, though the day we were threatened with “an inch or two” of rain was later dropped to half an inch, and we ended up with just a few scattered showers. We stayed home that day, anticipating rain. Still, a week ago it was 69, today could be ten degrees warmer. I just checked back at last year and it was similar – more 70s than anything else, with some (but not that many) warmer days. Perfect. What did we do this week? The usual. Oh, Friday, we did our monthly Friday lunch visit to Texas de Brazil, the steakhouse where they come around carving as much steak, sausages, and lamb as you can eat.
Books. Jackie does not recommend the new (stand alone) book by Kelley Armstrong, I’LL BE WAITING. She called it “creepy” and not terribly interesting, without a satisfactory conclusion. In fact, she skimmed all the scenes with the (supposed) nasty ghost. Now she is reading a book she likes a lot better, Ashley Poston’s A NOVEL LOVE STORY, which she says is fun and reminds her of the first one of hers she read, THE DEAD ROMANTICS. A woman’s favorite romance writer dies before finishing her fifth book set in this small town, and when the heroine (an English professor) drives upstate, she finds herself in the “imaginary” town where she recognizes all the people from the previous books. She also likes that she can’t see where it is going.
I mentioned Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins last week. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. Good book.
As previously mentioned, I am a big fan of James Byrne’s Dez Limerick books, and just read the third, Chain Reaction. Dez is a Gatekeeper, who can open any door and keep it open as long as necessary, but he also has many other skills. This one starts with a bang. A huge new Liberty Center is opening in Newark, New Jersey, with three hotels, an arena, restaurants, etc. A band Dez has played with (guitar and keyboard are among his talents) needs him to play with them, so he flies across country and immediately finds himself smack in the middle of a hostage situation, with more than a dozen heavily armed Russians taking thousands of hostages. Not on Dez’s watch. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, something else is going on, as we see a couple of people being murdered, and not by Russians. Dez does his thing, with help and with his usual humor, and by page 100 it is all over. That was part of the problem for me. Though the book is exciting, and Dez & co. go through many exciting adventures before the end, nothing in the rest of the 400 page book quite lives up to the first 100 pages. So, definitely recommended, but be warned.
Russell Hoban was known originally for writing dozens of picture books for children. But he did move into the adult market. A couple of weeks ago, one of the New York Times reading newsletters had a recommendation for his Turtle Diary (1975), which was made into a movie 10 years later with Ben Kingsley and Glenda Jackson. It is actually told in two alternating diaries, by William, a clerk in a London bookshop, and Neara, a (surprise) children’s book author & illustrator, who each becomes obsessed with the giant turtles in the London Zoo. They decide independently (encouraged by the zookeeper) to “free” the turtles and return them to the sea. Most of the book builds up to that caper. I liked it. Hoban was American. After 25 years of marriage, he and his wife moved to London, where their marriage fell apart. He later remarried.
I found another Dorothy M. Johnson collection of western stories at the library here, The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance, which also has her “A Man Called Horse.” I like her writing.
While waiting for new books from the library, I dug into the hundreds on my Kindle and pulled out Lionel White’s early (1953) caper novel, The Snatchers. A small group kidnaps the 8 year old daughter of a rich man for the ransom. I will wait until I finish it to talk more about it. White is probably best known for writing CLEAN BREAK. which became the great early Stanley Kubrick movie THE KILLING, about a racetrack payroll robbery.
Jeff, Tell Jackie thank you for her recommendation of A Novel Love Story. I just put a hold on it at the library.
I didn’t know Russell Hoban wrote books for adults! Of course, as a librarian, I’m familiar with all of his children’s books.
I like to read your descriptions of the weather in Florida. Thank you.
I read First Lie Wins early last year and really enjoyed also. Many readers thought it too confusing, but I think they might be victims of the dreaded multitasking.
Mornin’ and Happy Thursday, all!
Lesa, I have had a long-time fascination with the OSS, and this book intrigues me – gotta read i! Thanks for the heads up.
An author I love is Pamela Terry. Her voice just speaks to me. Her novels ( Through an Open Window is her third) are “A mashup of Fried Green Tomatoes and You Can’t Go Home Again with a sprinkling of William Faulkner.”—BookPage
“This book is a treasure. Pamela Terry writes with a poet’s ear and a wicked sense of comic timing.”—Nationally bestselling author Barbara O’Neal
Description of Through an Open Window
A charming, heartfelt novel about the bonds of family, whether found or foretold from the author of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.
In the small, Southern town of Wesleyan, Georgia, where the air smells of red clay and sea salt, Margaret Elliot has lived a seemingly charmed life—until the recent loss of her beloved husband. Since then, Margaret has been seeing visions of her Aunt Edith, the indomitable woman who raised her after her parents died when she was a baby. As these mysterious and undeniable visitations continue, Margaret becomes convinced that Aunt Edith is trying to tell her something important, and as she follows the clues that almost magically present themselves, it becomes clear there is a secret from Margaret’s past waiting to be uncovered.
As Margaret grapples with each new revelation, she also worries about her three grown children. Her stoic and inscrutable eldest daughter, Mouse, continues to struggle with the grief of losing her father. Her son Lawrie, always his mother’s favorite, faces life-altering changes that he both longs for and fears. While Tom, Lawrie’s twin, must grapple with the consequences of a work decision that has blown up his entire life. Despite the tensions amongst the siblings as they argue about how best to support their mother, the whole family is soon embroiled in uncovering the truth the ghost of Aunt Edith is striving to reveal.
Through an Open Window invites us to see the grace that is so often there in the background, just waiting to be revealed. And reminds us that not even death can keep love from winning out in the end.
That sounds like a great read! Thanks for the review.
Kaye, I can see why Pamela Terry is a favorite if Barbara O’Neal is recommending her.
I hope you get a copy of Propaganda Girls. But why is the word “Girls” so popular in book titles? None of these women were “girls”. I think the youngest is twenty-three in 1941.
Hi, Kaye! I requested and received Pamela Terry’s new book, and I am very much looking forward to reading it. I’ve loved previous books I read from her. Glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Lesa — I’ve been busy with the process of retiring from writing and increasing my time for reading. I do love books. At the moment I’m reading The JFK Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. Fascinating and written like a thriller, this book describes an attempt to assassinate JFK before he’s even sworn in to the office. Highly recommended.
Retiring from writing, Patricia, and increasing your reading time? That just gives you more time to spend with us on Thursdays, and other days of the week. My late husband would have probably loved The JFK Conspiracy. He was a conspiracy nut.
I’m listening to JFK Conspiracy on Audible. I agree with you, it is fascinating!
I’m sending you a hug, Lesa–it sounds like you might need one. I’m feeling very cheerful this afternoon because the biggest bookstore in Bern, which has a whole floor of English-language books, is staying open after closing hours to sponsor a book launch for me when my fourth mystery, SPLINTERED JUSTICE, comes out. I’ve had lovely launches for the first three books at other places, but this is really a splendid offer in a store that’s likely to attract more people.
OK, on to reading. I mentioned last week that I was starting Allen Eskens’s THE QUIET LIBRARIAN, about a woman who has survived Serbian massacres in Bosnia and lives quietly in Minnesota for decades until a Bosnian friend of hers is murdered, apparently in a revenge killing. That’s as far as I’ve gotten, and it’s very good so far, but obviously NOT cozy–not that any of Eskens’s books are.
I’m also in the middle of Geraldine Brooks’s HORSE, which jumps from horseracing and slavery in the pre-Civil War South to several likeable characters in present times with fascinating professions. At two-thirds through the book, I can tell you it is excellently written, and the time switches are perfectly handled, but I will have to give you a final verdict next week.
Oh, I love that, Kim, that the bookstore is staying open for your book launch. Congratulations!
I know how excited I was to see Kaye Barley’s book front-and-center at WHSmith in Paris when we were there. And, that was me, not the author. Getting a book launch at the largest bookstore in Bern sounds so exciting! Enjoy!
And, thank you. I’ll always take hugs.
That’s great, Kim. As a fan of the first three, I am looking forward to the fourth one very much. And I was happy to see George Easter mention it specifically in his “Looking forward to reading” list in the new issue (#106) of his Deadly Pleasures. George likes procedurals a lot and was touting Cara Hunter last year.
Good afternoon! Read a book that was recommended here, perhaps by Jeff, called In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan. A detective is paired with an A.I. ‘detective’ to look at cold cases to see if A.I. would be useful in solving cases. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was a really well written book. I could not wait for my grandson to take his nap so I could read. I will be picking up the second book in the series this weekend.
I have almost finished Dangerous Women by Mark de Castrique. This is the second one in his series featuring retired FBI agent Ethel Crestwater. Ethel runs a boarding house in Arlington for federal agents. One of Ethel’s renters, who works at the Supreme Court is attacked. Ethel, with the help of her double-first-cousin- twice removed, Jesse, are on the case. Ethel is a smart, resourceful woman and the supporting cast of characters are all enjoyable. Not a deep read, but a fun series.
Lindy, will be thinking of you.
And Lesa, I hope you will feel better. Am sending a big hug your way. Please take care of yourself.
Thank you, Jennifer. I appreciate the hugs!
I thought Dangerous Women was better than the first in the series, although I enjoyed both books. It is a fun series, isn’t it?
I think Jeff might have recommended that book, as you said.
Yes, it was me, Jennifer, and I think her second book was even better.
When I need to escape real life, a soothing, mild read won’t do it. I need something strong enough to take a strangle hold on my attention. Freida McFadden’s current bestseller The Crash did the job. Tegan is pregnant after an encounter in a bar and a night she doesn’t even remember. The father, wealthy and influential and married with a family, is ready to pay her off handsomely and support her and the baby for life in exchange for her silence.As she’s about to sign the agreement, the smell of the man’s cologne triggers a memory that horrifies her and sends her running. Her car crashes in a snowstorm, Tegan suffers a fracture, and a hulking, rather frightening man comes to her rescue. The story of Teagan’s experience in the man’s house with him and his wife, cut off by the snowstorm, unable to communicate with the outside world, is harrowing, and it leads to a climax that will take readers by surprise. McFadden excels at manipulating the reader’s expectations through character point of view. She’s one of the best writers I’ve encountered at twisting the story like a pretzel. After years of self-publishing, McFadden is now enjoying fabulous success, and it’s nice to see her books published by Poisoned Pen Press (my own publisher) riding high on bestseller lists.
You’re right, Sandra. In order to escape, you really need to find something that grabs you. Perhaps that’s why I sometimes go a few days and nothing seems to fit.
Freida McFadden is doing well in the publishing world right now. Great to see!
Pretty nice weather here in VA though it is supposed to rain this afternoon which will usher in cooler weather. We just came back from a vacation and I have the usual post flying head cold. Hope it’s short lived.
I have been in a reading slump. I read 3 new releases this week and can not recommend any of them. I don’t want to post the titles because maybe it’s just me. I mean, 3 dud books out of 3? I have been listening to a delightful book THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE, a very old book by Ken Follet. I remember the plot but what makes this so good is the reader is Samuel West, Siegfried from the new All Creatures Great and Small. He is a very good audio reader. I’ll be looking for other books he narrates.
Sending a hug your way Lesa.
Thank you, Susan! I hope that post-flying cold doesn’t last long. Good luck with it.
It’s sometimes hard to get back into reading after vacation. I don’t blame you for not mentioning the books.
Body pains and bad allergies, among other stuff, has made it a very unfun week so far. I’m dragging myself out to the store for a few things later because it has to be done and then over to the library because stuff is past due. Our first major severe weather event is predicted for next Tuesday already and that means the prediction will only get worse from here. It always escalates.
Last week we were below freezing for over 70 consecutive hours. The high last Wednesday was 28 at DFW. Yesterday, it was 83. And for the second night in a row , we heard crickets chirping everywhere. It was a freaking block party.
As to reading— My current read is The Silence of The Dead by Frank Zafiro and Colin Conway. This is the latest in the Charlie-316 police procedural series.
Sorry to be so long winded.
Oh, that isn’t long-winded, Kevin. I always like to hear how you’re feeling and what the weather is in the Dallas area. You seem to have such extremes of weather there.
I’m sorry to hear allergies and body aches are getting to you. I can sympathize. And, I feel the same way. I have to drag myself out this afternoon, and sometimes, it’s just not fun.
Thank you to so many of you for caring and wishing us well. It means everything.
Sorry to be so late. We went out today to look at a faucet for our kitchen sink; tried two stores and did not find anything that we wanted or knew would work out OK, so on to a different approach. And we took a load of donated books to the book drop for the Planned Parenthood book sale.
Glen and I recently finished mystery novels. Glen’s was COZY by Parnell Hall, no. 14 in the Stanley Hastings series. After Glen finished reading the Nameless Detective series by Bill Pronzini (41 books), the Stanley Hastings series is his current favorite mystery series. He only has 6 books left to read.
I finished SCENE OF THE CRIME by Margot Kinberg. It is no. 5 in her Joel Williams series; the series features a college professor in Tilton University’s Department of Criminal Justice (set in Pennsylvania). He is an ex-cop and sometimes gets involved in investigations. So part academic mystery, part police procedural, sort of. I have read the four previous books and this was another good one.
Up next for Glen is NIGHT SIDE OF THE RIVER by Jeanette Winterson. That is a collection of ghost stories. I have not started a new fiction book yet, but I did also read THE GOODBYE CAT by Hiro Arikawa recently. A collection of seven short stories about cats and their families. I liked that one too.
Never too late, Tracy! Sorry you didn’t find what you were looking for.
But, your series by Margot Kinberg does sound good, combination academic and police procedural.
How I would love to have a new kitchen faucet! I’ve looked once or twice; at first it seems there are so many to choose from and then when looked at closely suddenly there are none that are perfect.
I haven’t heard of Margot Kinberg before; I shall see if any of her books are available here.
Hey Lesa, Last week in NC we had temperatures in the teens and snow/ice. This week we’re at 75. What a difference. My current reads are The Haters by Robyn Harding in print, The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson (a netgalley audio) and on my kindle is a netgalley of I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones
Katherine! I guess that’s a difference. I’ll take the 75 degrees any day. I like the title of The Perfect Rom-Com.