I hope I didn’t mess up too many people with the change in the blog schedule this week, but today just seemed to be the best day to talk about our week and our reading. I hope your days were as nice as mine. Christmas Eve I went to Midnight Mass with my Mom. Then we drove around the neighborhood to see the lights. When we were home, I watched NORAD Santa Tracking. (I still get excited about watching Santa travel around the world. And, I loved the faces of the NORAD volunteers who were answering phone calls.) Christmas was at Mom’s where my sister Christie’s family dropped in all day and into the evening. It was a wonderful day with family, good food, laughter, and two of Mom’s little great-grandsons. Just a warm, cozy Christmas. It’s good to be home with family after a lot of years away.
I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas, too.
Now are you ready to talk books?
I have to share the story of the book I read yesterday. It’s a children’s book designed for kids 5-7, and, unfortunately, I’m not able to recommend it because, as far as I know, it’s out of print. Pumpernickel Tickle and Mean Green Cheese is by Nancy Patz. I can attest to its success with five-year-olds. In my first library job out of grad school, I did storytime for pre-schoolers, and had two five-year-old boys in a group who rolled on the floor with laughter. I don’t know how my sister, Linda, tracked down a copy of the book, but she gave it to me for Christmas because she knew how much I loved it.
My sister, Christie, and my Mom, were a good audience when I read it to them yesterday before others arrived. Once again, I did storytime, and my audience once again rolled on the floor with laughter. Linda gives good gifts. I never forgot this story, and she tracked it down. Over the years, she’s given me several other books that I loved for one reason or another when I was younger.
Thank you, Linda, for the gift of a book and a memory.
What about you? What would you like to share about your week? Have you had time to read anything this week?
I had a very nice Christmas, even if the power went out twice!
I’ll have to get cracking on my Best of 2025 list!
This week I read:
Ghost Gold by Tom West; A good old fashioned western by a guy who was usually creditted for the short half of those old Ace Double Westerns.
Willful Behavior by Donna Leon; Commisionarre Brunetti is asked about pardoning someone, who is already dead. There’s the art theft of WWII involved. We were all supposed to be outraged by that for a while. There’s no there there.
The Weird: Short Folk Horror Stories by Lee Rawling; I feel like horror stories should be called “tales,” but that’s just me. No Wicker Man here. Most of the stories weren’t all that scary, but one about The Boat Witch was pretty creepy.
Flight 12 to Rome by Gary Ponzo; One of those books they call something .5. It’s a plane hijack novel. Not bad, but the series really depends on mafiosi Tommy Bracco, who is absent from this book. The newest full entry in the series just came out.
Murder on the Farm by Bruce Beckham; Almost all caught up with the Skelgill series. This is the second to last. Unfortunatley, you have to wade through a fictionalized true crime case to get to the actual novel.
In Our Name: Poems by Curt G. Curtin; A collection of poems about violence and war and such. A lot of them seem like a poor man’s Maya Angelou at her most political, but a couple of them stuck with me, and inspired some thought.
Death of a Preacher Man by Alex Wagner; On the edge of the Roman Empire, a rich merchant is coerced into sheltering druids and Christians, both persecuted religions at the time. Of course, there’s a winter storm, and we get an old fashioned mansion mystery, only really old fashioned, with togas and all. Unfortunately, the solution is slipped in too soon, and the ending just seems padded, for a lame point of the author.
Been there, Glen. It’s not fun losing power on Christmas. I’m glad you enjoyed the holiday. Now, back to thinking about books. Looks like you never really took reading time off. That’s good. I’ll take the western. I like a good western. They have a lot of the same feeling as a good mystery, just a different setting.
That reminds me of A Christmas Story, when The Old Man plugs the tree lights into an outlet that has a dozen other things plugged into it, and all the lights go out,
What a delightful Christmas you had Lesa. I would have given much to be part of the audience when you read the book Linda tracked down for you! David and I spent Christmas Eve at my brother’s house; good fun and there was a 6-month-old baby to play with. She’s so cute. We gave her a copy of ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ by Judith Kerr. Published in 1968 and still in print, it’s the story of a little girl and her mother and a big tiger who ‘invites’ himself in for afternoon tea and eats all their food and drinks everything he can find. Great illustrations. Our three kids loved it, our 8-year-old granddaughter Evelyn loved it, and David can probably still recite it verbatim, he read it out loud so many times.
Then this afternoon and evening we went to our son and daughter-in-law’s for a delicious dinner and were entertained by Evelyn showing us her magic tricks; some with more success than others but all definitely worth the price of admission just for entertainment value.
Then tomorrow (the 26th) all the family will come to our house for lunch and dinner, and they will moan about how hard the questions are on the20-question quiz I’ve prepared for them (they complain every year) but there are prizes so they do actually try to win. It’s generally a day of fun and mayhem.
And in case anyone wants to know, the results of David’s PET scan show no cancer anywhere else in his body. This was great news. What that means is that he will undergo a series of 20 daily sessions of radiation beginning sometime in the next six weeks or so. Every day Monday to Friday except for weekends and holidays until the 20 sessions are finished. The oncologist thinks there might be a 75 – 80% chance of a cure, and a 15% chance of lifelong urinary and/or bowel issues. We’re hoping for the best.
I only managed to read one book this week:
A BORROWING OF BONES by Paula Munier
Several people here at Lesa’s have mentioned the Mercy Carr mystery series, so I thought I’d give the first book in the series a whirl.
Story of Mercy, medically discharged due to injuries sustained in an ambush attack in Afghanistan, the same attack wherein her fiancé, Martinez, was killed. She’s now back home in Vermont, wracked with grief after the death of Martinez, with his service dog (explosives sniffer) who suffers from canine PTSD and is also grieving the loss of his handler. The two are getting used to each other and slowly but surely are forging a bond as they go for long hikes in the woods.
This is a mystery story, and in short order there’s an abandoned baby in the wilderness, some bones have been discovered nearby, and Mercy wants – needs, in fact – to help with the investigation but she’s a civilian now and has no authority to do anything like that. She persuades Game Warden Troy to help her but this gets him into hot water with his boss. But he’s a good guy so he nevertheless helps her as much as he’s able to along with his own dog Suzie Bear, a search and rescue dog.
I can see why so many people liked not only this book, but the series. I think a big reason for that is that the author did a fabulous job with the characters – they felt real and I genuinely cared about them. The mystery was twisty as well. There was lots to enjoy and I will happily carry on with the series!
Lindy, You buried the lead! I’m so glad David had positive results from his Pet scan! Even with the radiation, it sounds like great news! Do you have to stay away from him after his radiation? A co-worker had radiation, but not as frequently, and none of us had to stay away from her. Hoping for the best for him. Since he’s such a positive person, did he tell you, See, I told you nothing to worry about?
I love the idea of your family quiz, even if it’s a tough one. Enjoy your family day today. There’s nothing like those days, is there?
I love the characters in Paula Munier’s series. I love her writing, the setting, the plots. Here’s something funny to end with. You read my review of her last book. So did Paula Munier. She messaged me, told me how much she loved the review, and said she’d work on her ending for the next book, and hoped it wouldn’t be muddled.
Once again, enjoy your day, Lindy. Now, you truly have a reason to enjoy that family celebration. Tell David we worried about him.
Wonderful news about the PET scan!!!
Thanks Carol. Now on the next step of this. And I wish you the best with all your own troubles!
Sounds to me like the best possible news on David. Sandi went through something similar–25 sessions Monday thru Friday with no weekends or holidays–and I did not have to stay away from her. We were told “no intimacy” as if that would happen as she was too sick all the time. Apparently, some people can do that anyway as they feel just fine the whole time.
Thank you Kevin. We’re hopeful. I’m sorry you and Sandi had to go through so much. And you are still having more than your fair share of troubles. Sigh.
Sorry, so busy with the family Boxing Day festivities yesterday I had zero time to reply. I was surprised, but David did not actually tell me there’d been nothing to worry about! I think in spite of himself he was a bit worried. He seemed more relieved than anything. (I don’t think I have to stay away from him after his radiation, but I don’t know for sure.)
We went to visit my mom at her assisted living facility yesterday. My niece who lives in CA and I had arranged to surprise her by setting up a FaceTime session since my niece wasn’t able to visit this year.
The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Ross Harper.
After the death of her father from Alzheimers, Emerson takes his good luck charm, an old typewriter that he kept locked in a cabinet. Emerson accidentally learns that the typewriter can grant wishes and makes several wishes to try and improve the relationship between herself, her alcoholic mother, and her teenage daughter. But each wish comes with an unexpected twist. And even as she begins to believe that her father used wishes to control herself and her mother, Emerson struggles with the pull of the typewriter and the chance to change things.
Although I liked the overall idea of the story there were several things I struggled with. The first was that I didn’t really find Emerson very like able. And the second was that there were sections of the book where it felt that the author was just using the story to push her political views.
The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kirisu.
Another Japanese translation, this consists of a number of short stories tied together by a candy store that’s located on a street between worlds which only appears to humans who meet certain criteria. My favorite story was the last one which told about the origin of the candy shop.
Sandy, I hope you had a good visit with your mother and niece.
I like some of those Japanese and South Korean translations I’ve read. The candy shop one sounds good.
Lindy, I’m glad you and David got a positive result on the PET scan.
Thanks Sandy.
I’m so glad about David’s results Lindy. I’m sure everyone here has been thinking of you both. I wish him all good things in his forthcoming treatment.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea was a favourite with all of our children. I still have our copy, and like david I could probably still recite most of it by heart. It was so 1960s – the mother was pictured as half the size of the Dad, who was also the only one who got any beer!
Judith Kerr was a remarkable woman whose family escaped from Nazi Germany.
Her husband wrote one of the first tv science fiction series, Quatermass, and when I saw her at the Edinburgh Book Festival she talked about how she and their children had been roped in to help with the special effects.
She and Nigel worked in adjoining studies at the top of their house in Barnes (London) and their children were told not to disturb them – I don’t know if they had a nanny or just had to amuse themselves!
Judith also wrote the children’s series about Mog the cat.
We do a quiz on Boxing Day, but each of us has to set ten questions. My family always complains about mine, no matter how easy I try to make them. This year I’ve chosen Food & Drink as my subject.
Rosemary, I never read Judith Kerr’s books, but When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit was a popular one in the public libraries. I didn’t know her family escaped from the Nazis. That must be where the inspiration for the book came from.
I think that’s funny that you and Lindy both create quizzes that are hard for your families, and they complain. I’d be lousy at ones about popular culture. I don’t know my current music or celebrities. But, books and history would be fun. And, you get to pick a subject! Sounds fun. Enjoy your family day!
Thanks Rosemary. And thanks for that information about Judith Kerr! I had not known any of it.
(The winning score on the 20-question quiz at yesterday’s family Boxing Day festivities was 8. Not very high ha ha ha.) I love that your family does a quiz too.
Lindy, Thanks for sharing the good news! Am so glad there is no evidence of a spread of the disease! Hope the treatment will be curative, with no side effects.
Fingers crossed. Thanks Jennifer.
Lindy, such wonderful news about your husband! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Margie!
Great news on the PET scan.
Glad you liked the Paula Munier book.
Thanks Jeff.
There are so many great books out there! I’ll never manage to read more than a fraction of the ones I would like to.
Lindy, like everyone here, I held my breath a little hoping for good news about your David. ❤. Thank you so much for sharing the goid news. Sending warm hugs.
What a sweet message Kaye. Thank you very much.
You must be relieved at the results of the scan, Lindy. Very good news for the new year!
An excellent start to the new year as you say Sharon. I hadn’t even thought of it like that!
I’m so glad the news about David was good. I hope the radiation will do its job. Thinking healing thoughts!
Thank you Kim. I’ll take all the healing thoughts you can send!
I am so glad to hear the good news from the PET scan! I am one of the Paula Munier fans here.
Thanks Trisha.
I have found so many good book ideas from all the people here! My reading list was fairly manageable before I found Lesa’s blog.
Thank you for the update, Lindy! I have been waiting to hear. The news sounds very positive – so happy for you both. I know that radiation isn’t a cake walk – I hope that all goes well for your husband! A New Year with new hope!
Thank you Mary. I know David will try to make the best of whatever the radiation throws at him. New hope indeed.
Lindy, the first thing I checked when I got here (so late) today were the results of David’s test. What a relief, and I am sure Christmas was happier after getting that good news. The prognosis with the plans for radiation treatment sounds good.
Thank you very much Tracy. Christmas was happier after that news for sure! We’re very lucky.
I will be back here a little later. Got up late this morning (7 instead of 6) and I have to drop Jackie off to have her nails and hair done, then we have to pick up food and get home before the dreaded SNOW starts this evening. We could get “some” snow, or A LOT of snow. As far as I’m concerned, either is bad, one is unacceptable. It’s supposed to be in the 40s on Sunday and the 50s with rain on Monday, which should take care of it, but if we really get a lot, will that be enough? Why couldn’t it wait until after January 3? But then, November wasn’t great and December has been pretty horrible.
We had our Chinese food yesterday (after watching A Christmas Story the night before), and watched IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (I never noticed before how like Trump old Mr. Potter is) and LOVE ACTUALLY. Tonight will be MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and back to the Christmas episodes, starting with the new Call the Midwife and Beyond Paradise shows.
Will get to the books after I drop Jackie off.
Hope everyone got what they were wishing for on Christmas.
Jeff – what great film choices! We watched the Christmas Bake Off last night, it was fun. Earlier this week we watched Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse in a festive episode of Gone Fishing, which we enjoy despite knowing absolutely nothing about fishing. The chat between these two comedians is always entertaining in a very gentle way. This time they were in Cornwall and their special guest was Dawn French (Vicar of Dibley.)
I hope you don’t get too much snow. We’ve had none here in Scotland since November.
Jeff, I got time with my mother for Christmas, and that’s what I wanted.
Snow! You can forget about it. It’s the strongest, worst four-letter word in my vocabulary. I hope you don’t have to deal with it much, and you get out of town before the next storm.
Do you know I’ve never seen Meet Me in St. Louis? I really should watch it sometime.
Now that June Lockhart died at 100 in October, I believe 88 year old Margaret O’Brien is the last surviving cast member from MEET ME IN ST, LOUIS. I predict you will love it (though we like some parts better than others).
Will get to the books as soon as I finish reading the comments. It’s not terrible out so far, but it is very cold, clearly good conditions for the dreaded You Know What. It’s winter coat, gloves, scarf, and earmuffs weather.
I think I’ll love it, too, Jeff. I’m just terrible about sitting down to watch a movie, although my sister did ask if I wanted to go see Song Sung Blue with her when I get back home. If I sit at the movies, though, I don’t have home distractions.
Good morning, all! It’s been a lovely two days with the family. On Christmas Eve we had our official holiday dinner, with turkey and all the trimmings, plus some games of Rummikub. Yesterday we spent the whole day with them, starting with a 3-hour (!) period of gift-giving. We open presents one at a time so everyone can enjoy what is opened. Throughout the day we snacked on leftovers, then made what we call New Mexico Enchiladas, a recipe Mike and I got from his parents’ friends in San Diego, whom we visited during our honeymoon. Everyone but me took the dog for a walk, and an unexpected shower made them rush back much sooner (and wetter) than expected. Overall, despite high wind and rain warnings, we were lucky as we traveled between our houses. Tomorrow we will celebrate my son Nick’s 46th birthday at Q1227, the same fabulous restaurant where we had my birthday dinner. The 1227 in the name of the restaurant comes from the owner’s birthday, which is the same day as Nick’s. I didn’t have a lot of time to read this week, but I did manage to finish two books.
Heather Fawcett’s latest novel, AGNES AUBERT’S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER, is set in 1920s Montreal and sports a fabulous cover. As the title suggests, it is a cozy fantasy led by Agnes, who rescues cats from all over the city and finds suitable homes for them as she recovers from her husband’s untimely death two years earlier. The non-profit enterprise run by Agnes and her younger sister Elise falters when a feud between magicians in the neighborhood damages the building, and Agnes must look elsewhere for a new location at a price they can afford. After little success, she finally happens upon an appropriate location she can rent for much less than her previous store. Although there are disturbing rumors that Havelock Renard, the dangerous King of Witches, may be using the basement for his experiments, Agnes takes the plunge and moves her coterie of cats to the new location .It seems that magicians were disdained and feared in those days, but Agnes is curious about the rumors and ultimately cannot restrain herself from seeking out the fabled Havelock in the basement. Unfortunately, the cat shelter is negatively affected by an equally talented female magician who knows Havelock all too well and is determined to possess the most dangerous of his Artifacts, including those that led to an event where Havelock brought the world to a point just short of its total destruction. For me, this book falls short of the author’s outstanding Emily Wilde trilogy. While I enjoyed the characters of Agnes and Elise and, of course, all of the cats with their individual personalities, I found the plot to be confusing, and several characters have no follow-through. Some attempt to interject romance is unnecessary and unfulfilled. I was also mystified as to why the story was set in the 1920s in particular, as there is no mention of the events of that period. While I was disappointed with the book, Heather Fawcett’s writing style is entertaining and her creativity and imagination are admirable. (Feb)
I’m glad I waited to read YOURS FOR THE SEASON by Uzma Jalaluddin until Christmas week, as I found it to be a charming faux romance novel with a holiday setting. Sameera is a hard-working associate in a prominent law firm whose formerly-stellar billable hours have suffered during the past year. She’s had to add a part-time job to begin to recover from the significant debts her boyfriend of five years has left her. And now there are rumors of impending layoffs. Tom owns a catering business and would love to have a career as a TV chef, and he needs more exposure of his online cooking videos. When they meet at Sameera’s employer’s Christmas party where Tom is the caterer, they share some enjoyable banter, and Tom concocts the idea of a faux romance that will benefit both of them. Sameera will pretend to be his girlfriend to satisfy his family and to boost his online popularity, and Sameera will have an opportunity to land a huge client–who happens to be Tom’s friend–to keep her job.
What results is an extended holiday in Alaska, where Tom’s parents host Sameera’s family, and a pretend relationship that, of course, could possibly result in something real. Family dynamics are a large part of the plot. Sameera has only recently rekindled her relationship with her family, after a three-year absence before her boyfriend betrayed her. And Tom’s father has never respected his cooking business, preferring that Tom return to Alaska and work in the family’s network of enterprises. Although I feel the characters of Sameera and Tom could have been a bit more developed, they were nevertheless relatable and worthy of rooting for. Supporting characters, especially Sameera’s teenage brother and her best friend, Bee, are interesting and fun. There is also the interesting subject of Sameera as a lapsed (but guilty) Muslim, juxtaposed with her practicing Muslim family. The holiday vibes are charming, and the epilogue is particularly satisfying.
Margie, You mentioned Rummikub before, but I only now looked it up to see what it is. It sounds fun. Aren’t you glad you didn’t walk the dog?
It sounds as if you had good days with family, with another good one planned for today.
Thank you for taking time to join us for a little bit today.
Margie, my husband and I only play two games. Rummikub and Quiddler. Every weekend and on holidays.
I’m going to look up Quiddler–not familiar to me, but I’m always open to a new game. Thank you, Sharon.
Hello from Edinburgh. I hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday; our daughter Anna hosted us all in Leith and made an excellent meal of roast gammon with dauphinois potatoes, red cabbage, peas, apple sauce and gravy.
Today we are having the traditional Christmas Day dinner of roast turkey – a day late as our youngest daughter Madeleine spent yesterday with friends.
Earlier in the week david and I had a great long walk along the Water of Leith, and yesterday we went with Anna and Molly to portobello beach. They brought breakfast of warm croissants and pains au chocolat and a flask of coffee. We sat on the sea wall and watched all the dogs and small children running around – it was a lovely way to start Christmas.
My reading has been even slower than usual. I’m reading THE PEDANT IN THE KITCHEN which is a collection of the author Julian Barnes’ thoughts on food and cooking. It’s very entertaining.
For my Secret Santa gift I received four great books:
GOOD EVENING MRS CRAVEN, , a collection of Mollie Panther- Downes’ wartime short stories – all describing life on the home front, where women toiled on, coping with the absence of their partners, food rationing, air raids and the blackout.
Russell Tovey and Robert Diament’s TALK ART: THE INTERVIEWS, based on the podcast they host. It includes artists and art collectors, from Rachel Whiteread to Tracy Emin and Elton John.
BEWILDERING CARES by Winifred Peck , reprinted by Furrowed Middlebrow. It’s the fictitious diary of Camilla Lacely’s ‘charming, witty diary of life as a vicar’s wife’ in a town near Manchester in the ‘anxious, early days of World War Two.’
THE TENTH MUSE: MY LIFE IN FOOD by Judith Jones – a memoir by the publisher of Julia Child, James Beard, MFK Fisher, Claudia Roden and many more. Jones featured in a book I read a while ago – PROVENCE, 1970 so I was interested to read more about her.
Dinner is ready so I must stop. Apologies for any typos!
Rosemary, I read that Mollie Panter-Downs collection a few years ago. You really get a picture of the times.
We have the last two BLUE LIGHTS episodes to watch (probably tomorrow). Just saw Andi Osho, who plays Sandra (the Sergeant) in a new MIDSOMER MURDERS episode.
You can’t go wrong with roast turkey. Our friend Deb, who emigrated with her family from London to the U,S, in 1968, still makes Yorkshire pudding with her turkey dinner every Christmas. Yum.
Enjoy.
Jeff, I have to admit I really do
Not like Yorkshire puddings! But I lniw many people who do.
Thank you for the endorsement of the Mollie Panter-Downs collection – I’ve wanted to read it for some time, the new Persephone cover is gorgeous.
Rosemary, It sounds as if you had a good day with your family, and another nice one coming up.
Your Secret Santa sounds as if they know you well. All those books sound good.
Enjoy your day! Sending hugs!
Thanks Lesa!
The Secret Santa website that our son uses allows each person to add a list of suggestions, which is so useful. This year I think everyone got exactly what they wanted.
Some people really listen and remember. My husband thinks he hears..got me a new coat. I said I needed a bigger one (got same size). Said he remembered I wanted a hood! No I did not..I said I would need to pick it up myself! He does try and I really love him for it.
The latest of my reads were disappointing..The Tortoise’s Tale. Not read and Tilt..read but left unsettling..like not ended
Merry Christmas, Carol Jeanne. I’m sorry the coat didn’t work out. I’m even more sorry about The Tortoise’s Tale because that was on my Treasures last month. Now, I’ll know to avoid it.
I’m so pleased you told me about the replies. Maybe I didn’t give the Tortoise Tale enough time…???
Carol, I couldn’t get into The Tortoise’s Tale either.
Carol Jeanne, you made me laugh. Mostly I love that you said this – “He does try and I really love him for it.” ❤
Hmm, Carol Jeanne, I just downloaded The Tortoise’s Tale on my Kindle. I wonder if it will appeal to me once I get started.
Reporting from Round Rock, TX! I finished Fannie Flagg’s Wonder Boy. Good book, of course, she is my go-to for anti-stress. I started Michael Connelly’s The Crossing from my TBR pile, and slid into a great start. I have forgotten how good his writing is. Just at the beginning. Stressed because, my primary doctor is quitting so that he can take cafre of his ailing parents. All of the candidates for a new primary are far away and my lab test were cancelled because they are not coming to the office anymore. So my primary put an order in for Labcore. There is one in our town and it is far, far away. We would have driven by the site said that I had to get them through GetLabs, they come out to where you live, good, but for the trip they charged $35 -bad. I didn’t make the appointment. The lab tests would be paid for by insurance but not the GetLabs trip. What made me more upset was that they will not go to people on Medicaid because they did not think they would get their $35. So sorry for this rant, I had to get it off my chest. Books are my escape right now.
Carol, You’re always allowed to do personal rants here. I’m sorry that it’s more difficult for you right now. Nothing medical is easy at the moment.
I can understand why books are your escape. Take care of yourself.
Good Morning and Happy Day After.
Yesterday I spent most of my day reading one if the best books I’ve read this year. THE KEEPER by Tana French. It’s the final book in a.trilogy, but honestly, it can be read alone and I recommend it highly. Atmospheric, suspenseful, poignant, and some of the best wtiting you can even imagine.
THE KEEPER by Tana French
Description from NetGalley
From the iconic crime writer who “inspires cultic devotion in readers” (The New Yorker) and has been called “incandescent” by Stephen King, “absolutely mesmerizing” by Gillian Flynn, and “unputdownable” (People), comes the third and final book in the million-copy-bestselling Cal Hooper trilogy.
On a cold night in the remote Irish village of Ardnakelty, a girl goes missing. Sweet, loving Rachel Holohan was about to be engaged to the son of the local big shot. Instead, she’s dead in the river.
In a close-knit small town, a death like this isn’t simple. It comes wrapped in generations-old grudges and power struggles, and it splits the townland in two. Retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper has friends here now, and he owes them loyalty, but his fiancée Lena wants nothing to do with Ardnakelty’s tangles. As the feud becomes more vicious, their settled peace starts to crack apart. And when they uncover a scheme that casts a new light on Rachel’s death and threatens the whole village, they find themselves in the firing line.
“One of the greatest crime novelists writing today” (Vox) crafts a masterwork of atmospheric suspense that brings the story of one of her most beloved characters to a spellbinding conclusion.
And a whole different sort of book was THE FARAWAY INN by Sarah Beth Durst. If ou ferl the beef for some maic, this is a book fir you.
THE FARAWAY INN by Sarah Beth Durst
Description from NetGalley
After a devastating heartbreak, a teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn—but the fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret—in this cozy and irresistable new YA fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.
This stunning first edition of The Faraway Inn features gorgeous designed edges!
When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s B&B in rural Vermont for the summer, she’s shocked to find a rundown inn rather than the cozy bed-and-breakfast she was expecting. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.
To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B&B—and its guests. Something almost . . . otherworldly.
The inn is hiding a magical secret—but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back . . .
Omg my fingers and auto correct had a major collision! eek! that mess is supposed to say If you feel the need for some magic, this is a book for you.
Happy Day After, Kaye! I hope Annabelle is comfortable again after all the celebrating. And, I hope you’re all cozy and warm, tucked in with good books, in your mountain retreat. I love you!
Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas, Lesa. My family book that we all still quote is Who’s a Pest? by Crosby Bonsall. My husband was in the army, and we never lived on the same side of the Mississippi as my mom. She used to go to the library and check out books to read to my daughters on cassette. She’d mail them to wherever we were living so the girls could listen to her read bedtime stories. Who’s a Pest? was the one they listened to over and over again. So, thank you for sharing that memory of children’s books.
I read two books this week.
The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick was fairly predictable, but I enjoyed it. Greta Perks starred in a serial coffee commercial for Maple Grove Coffee. She met her husband on set and their marriage, and family became part of the commercial storyline. The commercials were discontinued, and she is separated from her husband, and her daughter has become a sullen teenager. Work has dried up, and she is at a crossroads with what to do. Then she comes across a flyer for the White Rabbit Coffee Shop. It serves a magical brew that makes wishes come true. Greta wishes to go back to idyllic life in Maple Grove, the setting of her commercials. She then has to decide if her life is in Maple Grove or the present. Nothing earth shattering but a nice read over Christmas.
My second book was more of a miss for me. One December Morning by Emma Davies was billed as a mature romance. The premise started off good, but it failed in execution for me. Peg comes across Henry at a gas station while traveling home from visiting her aunt. Later she ends up in the same traffic jam with him and a connection is made. But then there is an accident, Henry’s son’s troubled marriage, Peg still grieving her husband’s death four years ago and lots of pontificating in between. It just didn’t work for me.
It feels like springtime at my house this week with temperatures in the 60’s. Lots of walkers out and about in my neighborhood enjoying it until the bottom drops out on Monday and winter makes a return.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Oh, Sharon. That is such a nice memory about your mother reading on cassettes for your daughters. I love that story. It’s funny what books we connect with. I can vaguely see the cover in my memory of Who’s the Pest?
Enjoy the warmer weather for a couple days.
I hope 2026 is everything you hope for. Happy Reading!
Books, then.
Jackie read the new Iris Johansen/Eve Duncan book, THE DEATH MASK. She said it was good, but she cast doubt as to whether the 87 year old author wrote it alone, as she thought it was way more violent than most of her books. I know she has written books with her son in the past. Now she is reading (and very much enjoying) the third in a related trilogy by Abby Jimenez, JUST FOR THE SUMMER. She says it is a fast read and really likes it. Seems both characters (related to others in the first two books) have been dumped, and the dumpers have since found their “soul mates,” so their friends tell them if they get dumped – again – they will find theirs.
I finished two books this week, but I am reading many others. First was the Paula Munier, The Snow Lies Deep. It is 9 month old baby Felicity’s first Christmas, and Mercy Carr (and her husband Troy, plus her very extended family) is determined to make it perfect. But of course no Mercy book would be complete without two or three murders, and this is no different. Good book, but you definitely need to start with book one and read them in order.
I mentioned the British Library collection edited by Martin Edwards last week, and Who Killed Father Christmas? and Other Seasonal Mysteries is both timely and good. He has his usual mix of authors, plus several new ones this time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I seem to be reading a lot of short stories lately. My total this year is way down from last year’s record (928! – but there were a lot of very short stories there), but still more than respectable. I seem to have lists going back to 2012, and have averaged more than two stories per day since then, though this year is lower. Will give you the total next week.
Currently reading:
John M. Floyd, RIVER ROAD and Other Mystery Stories. The latest Crippen & Landru original collection. Floyd has written hundreds of stories, though I can’t remember coming across him before. These are divided into three sections: first about Mississippi Sheriff Ray Douglas and his sometimes girlfriend/assistant, about PI Tom Langford and his fiancee Debra Jo Wells, and other stories. Good so far (the Sheriff stories).
Brandon Sanderson, TAILORED REALITIES. I’ve read a few of this science fiction writer’s books but not his short stories before. So far, I’m really enjoying them.
Frederic Brown, THE CLASSIC COLLECTION. This inexpensive Kindle collection has 11 of his novels, both mysteries and science fiction, and a whole bunch of his short stories. I’ve probably read all or most of these before, but I’m enjoying revisiting them.
Ann Packer, MENDOCINO and Other Stories. Straight fiction. Never read her before, enjoying this.
I’ve pretty much been reading one story from each most days.
Then there is EVERYDAY I READ: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum, recommended by Tracy’s husband Glen. These are short essays about books and reading, easy to read a few each day and somewhat – mildly – interesting.
The NYT recommended THE WASP TRAP by Mark Edwards, and I found it sounded interesting enough to try it. (These two books and the Sanderson are from the Cloud Library.) In 1999, a group of college friends got together with their mentor to devise an early online dating site, and devised a sort of psychopath detection tool (I believe; I haven’t read enough yet to get the details). Now the group has gotten together 25 years later, after the professor’s death, in the house of one of the couples, who have become quite rich. But – and this might be a Spoiler but it is the blurb about the book – apparently there is a home invasion and people start dying, one by one. So far it is still interesting enough to keep reading. We’ll see where it goes.
Hope everyone has a great end of the year.
Jeff, Tell Jackie I haven’t read any of Johansen’s recent books, but I have the same suspicions she does that she didn’t write the book on her own.
I totally agree with you that you need to read the Mercy Carr books in order.
I always enjoy hearing about the story collections you’re reading. I’ve read a few more this year than I normally do, but nowhere near the number you do. I think it’s a great way to discover new authors and add variety to reading.
I hope the end of the year goes well for you without that four-letter word. Hugs to you and Jackie.
Hello and Merry Christmas, everyone! Late last week I got whatever cold/flu bug that is tearing through my area, so we ended up staying home for Christmas instead of driving to a family dinner 3 hours away. We had a nice, quiet day, watching Dune (kiddo’s idea) and enjoying our presents. I’ve been comfort rereading a silly magical series about a woman coming into her power and herself at 40, and when I had a little more energy and brainpower I reread Writers and Lovers by Lily King (as a counterpart to last week’s Heart the Lover). I’d be happy to take everyone’s snow if you want to send it here.
Trisha, You can have any snow that shows up here.
I’m sorry you ended up with that bug. I know it’s going around the Midwest. Fortunately, no one in our immediate family had it. A quiet day is always nice, though.
Relax and take care of yourself!
Happy Saint Stephen’s Day, everyone–or Boxing Day, but it’s Saint Stephen’s Day here in Switzerland. I’ve had a lovely Christmastime so far. I cooked all day on the 24th, but it was worth it. We had stuffed mushrooms, roast pork, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots and celery root cooked with the roast, and brownies with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce for dessert. All this was followed by Swiss Christmas cookies baked by my 90-year-old mother-in-law, who was the guest of honor at our Feast of Stephen. My husband, our son, and I made up the rest of the guests.
On Christmas Day, we (my husband, son, and I) had a late breakfast of eggs, bacon, and a traditional coffeecake that I buy (not bake!) called Dresdener Stollen–it’s delicious. We’ve had days of gray weather here in Bern, so early in the afternoon we drove less than an hour into the mountains to get above the fog and into gorgeous, sunny weather surrounded by snowy peaks. We had a wonderful walk and got home in time for a dinner of soup and bread; I only had to defrost the homemade soup I’d made weeks earlier.
Walking with a friend this morning (in the gray of the city this time, but at least along the river), and this afternoon a trip to a nearby museum to see a large exhibit of the year’s best political cartoons. Talk about black humor! Easy dinner again tonight–but I’ll be doing another feast on December 31, this time for friends, not family.
I only read one book, Lee Goldberg’s second in his Eve Ronin series, BONE CANYON. I enjoyed this one as much as, if not more than, the first, although Eve’s mother is SO awful that I almost can’t stand it. Lots of interesting information about what you can learn from the bones of the long-dead. Two excellent police procedurals so far.
I listened to WILD DARK SHORE, by Charlotte McConaghy, who also wrote MIGRATIONS, a book I read this year and enjoyed despite its extreme darkness. This one was even darker. It’s about a not-too-distant future when the Earth is being destroyed by massive floods and wildfires, leading to starvation. A man lives on an island between Australia and Antarctica with his three children, tending the last surviving seed bank on Earth. A woman arrives on the island by boat, looking for her husband, who was one of the group of scientists also caring for the seed bank. According to the man, all the scientists are gone. It turns out all the seeds are in danger of being washed away by flooding, and the island’s communication system has been destroyed. And it only gets worse from there. Still, excellent writing, fascinating characters, amazing descriptions of nature, and more action than I wanted to deal with, although I am glad I listened to the book. Not an ideal book for the Christmas season!!
Now I’m listening to a so-far very entertaining fantasy called THE RAVEN SCHOLAR, by Antonia Hodgson. Many typical fantasy motifs, including trials for the new emperor, with the heroine being forced into competing, but I’m enjoying it. Will keep you posted.
Happy St. Stephen’s Day, Kim. There’s so much I enjoy about the blog, but I love that we learn about other customs, foods, and celebrations. Thank you! And, I’d love to see your mother-in-law’s Swiss cookies and the stollen. (I have a sweet tooth.)
I second the comments about Eve Ronin’s mother. Just a pain, isn’t she?
Have a good week, and enjoy the time spent with family and friends!
That roast pork dinner sounds great, including the dessert.
Yes, Eve Ronin’s mother is awful, and she really doesn’t improve as the books go on. No wonder Eve avoids her as much as possible,
Well I’m arriving late to the party today – for some reason I didn’t receive my usual email from your blog, Lesa. And then I remembered that you said that the day after Christmas we would do “WAYR”, so here I am. We woke up to sleet and slippery roads, so we are staying inside today (other than a quick outdoor walk with the dog). We had a very nice Christmas with lots of good presents. Got to see the grandkids last weekend, and the kitchen is 99% done! All is well.
I read the best book for Christmas – A Scrooge Mystery by Andreina Cordani. Fabulous book – it was just what I needed to get in the holiday spirit! Scrooge is haunted by some new ghosts – recently deceased people from his hometown. And they won’t stop until Scrooge finds their killer. Lots of great twists and turns. The author does a wonderful job of tying everything in with scenes from the original book.
Mary, I’m so happy you remembered we were talking books today. I wrote down A Scrooge Mystery. I don’t care that it’s after Christmas, but I want to read it. I’ll reserve it when I get home.
I’m glad it worked out that you had the chance to see your grandkids, and had a nice Christmas. Stay safe despite that weather!
Good afternoon from NE Dallas where it is FREAKING 90 DEGREES. DFW has it at 86. Record is being broken. It is also the 10 year anniversary of a big tornado outbreak here and now storms are in the forecast with a cold front Sunday afternoon. BLAH on all of it.
Remember the whole point of Boxing Day. Take the heads of your enemies that are still bagged and put them in the boxes for the big freezer. Remember to label each box. Over time, the frozen heads all start looking alike and you are going to need those labels. You want to do this now so that you have more room in the other freezer for the next year and storing the new heads.
Good time to sharpen knives and saws too.
Current read— The Hadacol Boogie: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke. NetGalley ARC from Grove Atlantic.
Description
Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke’s iconic detective, returns to investigate the death of an unidentified woman, pulling him into a vortex of corruption and violence in the Louisiana bayou
When a cloaked, disfigured man leaves a dead woman in a garbage bag on Dave Robicheaux’s property, he knows his world and family are about to change.
With Valerie Benoit, a detective new to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department who is grappling with sexist and racist harassment from their colleagues, and the volatile but fiercely loyal Clete Purcel, Dave embarks on an investigation that brings him into the most dangerous moments of his career and threatens the lives of Valerie and his daughter Alafair.
He encounters a local handyman who leaves cryptic notes and warns of the ghosts who roam the shores of the bayou and is targeted by a vicious New Orleans button man and gangsters from the north.
Through brilliant prose and a quintessential cast of characters, James Lee Burke weaves a portrait of a gritty, violent Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century. Visceral, atmospheric, and wholly original, The Hadacol Boogie brings to life Dave Robicheaux’s fierce determination to confront evil both past and present.
Oh, Kevin. That weather does sound awful. And, the forecast doesn’t sound good either.
I know James Lee Burke has a wonderful reputation, and he’s a true master, but I read a few of the early books, and then just quit. I hope you enjoy this one!
This is Friday night. I was thinking all along “I must comment on Friday about what I’m reading.” But my week is so often with being at my parents’ and Thursday being a holiday and today a vacation day. I just don’t know what day it is any more. 🙂
Anyway, I’m reading WHINE AND DINED by Marc Jedel. It’s fun since it’s set near where I currently am, but in a small town I haven’t spent much time. But I am struggling with it since the plot should be moving along faster than it is. It isn’t helping that I am not getting as much reading time as normal since I’m with my family. I have to remind myself that when I’m just reading a chapter or two a day instead of a third of a book, it is going to move slower.
Anyway, that’s me on this Friday night almost Saturday morning.