I’m looking forward to our conversation today, although I’ll miss Rosemary who is in Rome for a couple weeks. It’s only October, and I’m already cold. It was 43 degrees on Tuesday morning. That’s already too cold for me.
I went to the library Monday night for a program called “Spooky Columbus”. That’s as spooky as I like. Two librarians from the Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan System’s History and Genealogy Department presented stories from Columbus’ spooky history, beginning with a cemetery. The presentation included the Ohio Penitentiary, a castle, the Thurber House, and stories of other locations that are supposed to be haunted. My favorite story was an urban legend about the Mooney Mansion, a story the librarians said reappears every couple years in the newspaper or on the radio. A 1950s urban legend says Dr. Charles Mooney snapped, murdered his wife and children with an axe, and hanged the bodies or himself from the nearby Calumet Street bridge over the Walhalla Ravine. BUT, Dr. Mooney actually died of an illness in 1944, and his widow lived until 1975, and his children lived long lives. I loved the fact that the urban legend is so specific, and the facts totally debunk the story.
Last night, Linda and I went to see the musical “Death Becomes Her” for the first Broadway in Columbus show of the new season. I’ve never seen the show or the movie, but that may have been the funniest musical we’ve seen. The cast was terrific, as was the set. And, I know the touring company does this in every city, but Columbus is fanatical about Ohio State football. So, early in the show when they mentioned The Ohio State University, the actress called out, O-H, and of course, the entire audience answered I-O. But, one of the funniest lines of the entire show may have been at the end. The last scene was “Fifty Years Later”, and the two women are doomed to live forever. They’ve been to the cemetery, and had to decide what to do for the rest of their day. As they walked off, one said, “I wonder if the Buckeyes are playing.” One of the best laughs of the night. They did a great job with everything.
What have you been doing this week? What are you reading?
I’m reading a debut, The Memory of Borrowed Books by Meg Anderson. “A sweeping, magical ode to community and the stories we leave behind, The Memory of Borrowed Books follows one librarian who discovers a hidden room of unfinished memories—and must find the one that can save her beloved library from closing forever.“
I haven’t read much of the book yet, but I like the voice. I hope to see more character development for Claire, the librarian, who, so far, seems a little too meek and mild. I expect that will change.
Meg Anderson is appearing at one of the library branches as part of the Authors at the Library series. I’ve already signed up, so I hope I’ll have an event recap for you then.
What about you? What have you been reading this week?
We’re in the middle of a heat wave, but should get relief soon.
This week I read:
The Realist by David M. Sacks; A biography of Hans Morgenthau, the academic who created the realist school of foreign policy. While everybody likes to think they’re a realist, I’m not sure anybody really is.
The Hangar by Kaelith Phoenix; A guy who was at Roswell sends evidence to a reporter. She reluctantly investigates, and finds something even more insidious than Little Green Men. There is a school of thought in paranormal circles that agree with the premise here. Aliens are more fun, though.
The Parent Trap by Vic Thune; A novelization of the original movie, which had heart that the remake completely lacked.
The Shepherd by Frederick Forsythe; A pilot loses his instruments and gets lost in the air at Christmas. A good Christmas ghost story.
Tiny House Terror by Kathleen Lynn; A retiring couple buy a tiny house out in the woods. Unfortunately, a serial killer is a frequent visitor. Sometimes, a tiny house sounds good, but I wouldn’t know where to put my books.
Jane and the Barque of Frailty by Stephanie Barron; Jane has just finished Sense and Sensibility, and is hanging out with the In Crowd, when there’s a murder. As usual, she’s a prime suspect, and has to clear her name. Too bad they didn’t have mystery as a genre back then, she’d have been rich.
We did make it up to 80 yesterday, Glen, which is great. Just my temperature, but I hate it when we start at 42.
That’s funny, Glen. I wouldn’t know where to put my books either if I lived in a tiny house. I’ve often thought I could live in a one bedroom apartment, but I use that second bedroom for books. So, you’re right.
You read some good books this week. The Shepherd and The Parent Trap both sound as if they had heart.
The Shepherd sounds interesting and my library actually has it.
I always like reading your reviews Glen. I usually find something I think will be entertaining and this time around I’m interested in The Shepherd.
Nothing terribly exciting this week and yet the days flew by. Our son and little Evelyn came to visit on Sunday. Evelyn was keen to try fishing in the river near us. She saw no fish, nor did she catch any but she was thrilled to see five crayfish.
We’ve decided to get new vanities in our two bathrooms since the ones that were here when we moved in are in rough shape. Finally settled on door colour, counter top, sink style, and faucet today. It will be a couple of months till they’re built and ready to be installed. Not looking forward to the eventual noise and disruption but the end result will be good I think. We’re also going to get some slide-out drawers for the lower kitchen cabinets, which should help with finding all those items that tend to migrate to the back of the cabinets and be difficult to get back.
David and I had never seen the TV show Shetland, and have now gotten as far as two thirds of the way through the 3rd season. It’s very good! Not sure why we haven’t seen it till now.
Only one book this week:
THE HIGHGATE CEMETERY MURDER by Irina Shapiro (Bk1 in the Tate and Bell Mystery series)
Sebastion Bell – police inspector with Scotland Yard, grieving the death of his wife, ‘coping’ by indulging in opium, and on the verge of losing his position at Scotland Yard.
Gemma Tate – newly returned from nursing duties in the Crimean war, lives with her twin brother who is mourning the death of his wife.
Sebastion and Gemma, both battling demons of their own, end up working together when his latest case (young woman murdered and found attached to a cross in Highgate Cemetery) seems to have a connection to Gemma’s brother (killed in a recent omnibus accident).
Set in Victorian London, this was a good although disturbing and dark book, especially given the recent discussions here on Lesa’s blog. It covers a lot of ground – class divides, racism, distrust of ‘other’ religions, opium addiction, murder, but the overriding one, as well as the most disturbing one, has to do with sexual assault and rape.
I’m still trying to un-see the disturbing images in my mind that the author did such a good job of placing here and there. And yet it was an engrossing read and I realize how difficult it would have been to solve crimes in Victorian times without DNA testing or fingerprinting and the like; just a lot of work questioning all and sundry and trying to put random pieces together, and I was just willing with my whole being for the two main characters to figure out who did it so that some sort of justice could happen.
The book does a great job of introducing the two main characters and sets things up nicely for future books and I look forward to seeing their story continue in them. Having said that, I’m glad to have this case over and done with so I can anticipate some less-upsetting murders. If that makes sense at all.
Your conclusion makes total sense, Lindy, that you’re looking forward to less upsetting murders. All of us here who read mysteries probably get it.
What a tragic book to begin with; men who lost wives, and then Gemma’s brother is killed by an omnibus.
You, and others, delve so much deeper into mysteries than I usually do. That analysis of Victorian murders and how difficult it must have been without DNA and modern techiques. I’m not sure I would have even thought about it, just sailed through reading the book.
I enjoy your stories of Evelyn’s visits.
Lindy, I always enjoy your stories of Evelyn’s visits.
I know what you mean about having slide out drawers in the kitchen! One of those life is easier decisions. There were Lazy-Susan turntables in the cabinets of first house I rented. Quite the assortment of odd items collected in the far back.
Lesa, there’s actually a lot of paranormal activity in Ohio, including The Loveland Frog Man and the Melon Heads, to mention two of the more outre.
Now, I’m going to have to look up both of those stories, Glen. I only remember the ones from up home. I didn’t know the ones from Columbus. Up home, we had the Gore Orphanage story, a popular local legend claims that a devastating fire broke out at the orphanage in the late 1800s, killing dozens of children and a matron. Actually, the orphanage closed due to financial and sanitary problems, but as long as I remember (probably from junior high) there have been stories of Gore Orphanage Road. There are others, but my Mom reminded me of that one.
Lesa, when we were kids, my brother and I went to summer camp in Pennsylvania, just south of the border across from Binghamton, New York. The ghost story we got was of one Joshua Howard, who was (supposedly) arrested and, eventually, executed for murder in the post-Civil War era. He swore he would haunt the valley. Several years later, a man arrested for another crime in London confessed to the original murder.
From that year on, every year on Joshua Howard’s birthday – July 29 – it could be a beautiful day, but as soon as night fell, there’d be no moon or stars, just spooky gloom. Any camper who had the nerve (not me, ever) could sign up to walk – alone, without a light or a weapon – a mile to the graveyard where Joshua Howard was buried. Anyone who made it without chickening out got some kind of prize. Meanwhile, they played spooky music over the loudspeaker.
You can tell this had a real effect on me, as I remember the details 65 years later.
That story certainly did have an effect on you, Jeff. You can remember all the details of the story. And, I wouldn’t have done that walk, either!
My brother Ken did start that walk but quickly gave it up. When they asked him why, he said, “Too spooky.”
Lesa, you might not even think of “up home” as a regionalism, but I’ve never been aware of it. I recently saw a dialect map from the NY Times and the eastern two-thirds of the country can be divided up into small areas with identifying speech.
I’m trying to enjoy our last couple of hot days this year. I expect we won’t quite recover after the cool down we get this weekend. We might only hit the 80’s. 🙂 I’m just wondering if we will actually get rain on Sunday/Monday. They predict it. Then they don’t. This morning, it was back on. Only a third of an inch, but it will be the first rain in months, so I’ll take it.
It’s been a while, but I am in between books. I just finished ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE SCARY, which is a Halloween set book in the Year-Round Christmas series from Vicki Delany. I might be done with the series. It’s the third 3 star book in a row. The pacing is just off. At least I got it from the library.
I think next up will be MY FATHER ALWAYS FINDS CORPSES by Lee Hollis. I’ve read a few of his novellas, but this will be my first novel by him. We’ll see what I think.
I have “Tis the Season to be Scary, but I wasn’t going to read it since I haven’t read others in the series. I think I started the first one way back when, and didn’t care for it. Now, I’ll definitely not read it. Great cover, though.
Enjoy the last days of summer, Mark.
Good morning! It is definitely getting cooler in Michigan, although so far, it is a warmer than usual fall.
I read A Village in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd. The village of Oberstdorf, near the border with Austria, has kept meticulous records of its history. The author provides of highly readable account of life for people during all of the political changes and during the war and also how the people of differing political views related to each other in that small environment. A very interesting book.
I also read The Seagull by Ann Cleeves,. I always enjoy reading about Vera and her team. Another good read.
After Luciano’s treatment on Friday, my husband and I are driving to St. Louis for a baby shower for my daughter in law and son. We are excited to celebrate with them.
Have a good weekend everyone!
An interesting sounding book, Jennifer, since you said it was readable.
I’m with you. I always enjoy the books about Vera.
Safe travels to St. Louis. I’m still praying for Luciano, but it’s nice that you’re going to a celebration of life.
Lesa, I checked on Amazon for the next Vera book and the description says Last Vera Book. Hope this isn’t the case.
That’s what I understand, Jennifer, unfortunately.
Good morning. We’ve had a couple of mornings in the low 40s too. We just ordered a power ice scraper – we don’t have a garage so I expect we’ll get to try it out in about a month.
We saw And Then There Were None last Saturday. The first half of act 1 is a lot of setting everything up and I had to poke Roger because he was dozing off but he enjoyed the second act. We went out afterwards to a restaurant near the playhouse that was doing Oktoberfest. The place has been hit or miss for us over the years but the chicken schnitzel used to be good unfortunately this year it was a miss except for the hot fudge sundaes we had for dessert. We won’t go back there again.
I only read one book this week, CHOMPING AT THE BIT: HOW I BECAME A HORSE VET by Matt Evan’s. I wasn’t a fan of his writing style but some of the stories were interesting. James Herriot is better
Sounds as if your whole day was hit or miss, Sandy. At least the sundaes were good. Even your book sounded so-so.
Good morning Lesa and gang – always fun to hear those urban legends. We have one in our area about a haunted restaurant that used to be a home. People swear that they have seen the ghost, that they hear chains, and that the grandfather clock that doesn’t work occasionally chimes. Who knows?!
I have a 3 hour drive tomorrow to a larger city for shopping and dinner with my niece. Next week my husband and I are going on vacation to more northern climes for fall leaf peeping. Today I have to work – so without further ado, here are my book reviews
– The Shadow Step (Detective Miller #3) by Mark Billingham: Wow, this is the 3rd book in the DI Miller series and it’s the best one yet! What starts out as an innocuous tiff in a park between two dog walkers, ends up with one of the men falling backward into a river and dying after hitting his head on a rock. The other man didn’t realize that he was deceased until the news reported it the next day. He goes to the police to explain what happened and the park video surveillance backs his story up. The deceased man turns out to be a drug mule for Jackie Cutler – the wife of Wayne Cutler who was sent to prison in the 2nd book. She has taken over his illegal drug smuggling business and her bodyguard thinks that their mule was murdered so he sets out to murder the man who pushed him. Unfortunately, a different man opens the door to the house and he mistakenly kills him. An ex-army friend of the innocent man decides to take revenge on his buddy almost getting killed and kidnaps Jackie’s son. The rest of the book has DI Miller and his partner trying to straighten out the whole mess. Miller’s wry sense of humor sprinkled throughout the book makes this a real joy to read. I hope that there is another in this series.
-River Deep by Bryan Gruley: The 2nd book in “A Bitterfrost Thriller” is every bit as good, if not better, than the first book! I so hope that the author has one more coming in this series! In this book, Devyn Payne returns to Bitterfrost yet again. She is casually dating Jimmy, the Zamboni driver, who was her client in the first book. She also does the unthinkable – she represents one of the members of the dreaded Dulaney family. Catriona and her boyfriend Sammy and their two children went into the river with their car. Sammy and Catriona survived, but the children did not. Cat was driving and is on trial for murder. Devyn was initially on the prosecutors side (which was a huge shock), but came to her senses (and her north star) by switching to the defense. The unraveling of the story that led to the drownings is extremely interesting and full of twists and turns. Highly recommend.
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I agree, Mary. Those urban legends are fun.
Enjoy shopping tomorrow, and then leaf peeping!
Both of your books sound good this week, although what a messy situation in The Shadow Step.
When Lesa asked what our favorite reads were for the first half of this year, our favorites were very close to the same. So I am now always interested in what you are reading and enjoying. Guess what? I just finished Shadow Steps this week too. Have read all three books in that series now and I am enjoying it. Since I am enjoying that author’s writing, thought I should try his other series.
I have the Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon here to read. I enjoyed Frozen River by her several years ago. It was one of my best reads of 2024. I googled the character in her book and there is a lot of information online for her. I watched an excellent National Geographic documentary on Grace O’Malley. She was really an interesting person. However, now I don’t know if I want to read the book as I know her life story already. I realize the Pirate Queen is historical fiction about Grace O’Malley though. I don’t read books twice and don’t watch too many movies more that once. There are exceptions with the movies though.
So I started on my Kindle The Killing Code by JD Kirk. I have both books right now to read. I will now check out River Deep by Bryan Gruley since it was also a book you read this past week as we seem to have similar tastes in books.
You might indeed want to skip The Pirate Queen as reviewers that loved Frozen River are generally unsatisfied while those unfamiliar with the author think it’s great.
Thanks for the information. Interesting-wonder why. Will have to look at reviews.
Lynnt, I’m one of those who was disappointed by The Pirate Queen after loving Frozen River. Mainly it was because the book covered three time periods in the protagonist’s life, and the last one was non-stop battles and violence. The character development dropped off. But I’m sure there are many who enjoyed it.
I hope that you enjoy the Bryan Gruley book. Make sure you read Bitterfrost first! 🙂
I found I had Bitterfrost on my Kindle. Ordered it Sept 10, 2026. So I will read it soon. Something triggered me in Sept to purchase it.
Looked back on what are you reading on Sept. 10 and you had high praise for it. So that is what triggered me to buy it.
Today is supposed to be the last day of summer here. Tomorrow, the temperatures are going to drop at least 25 degrees. I was supposed to go to a meeting in north Idaho this weekend. It’s in a tiny mountain town. From there, we were going up to Montana and over to Coeur d’Alene for a funeral. Because they are predicting 6 inches of snow in Montana this weekend, we’re skipping the meeting and just going straight up to Coeur d’Alene for the funeral. Works for me seems how I’m the one doing all the driving.
With the cooler temperatures coming, I’ve been getting my flower beds ready for winter. Which means every day after work, I’ve been out in the garden and haven’t been reading that much. I did get one book read though.
Malice by Jonathan Kellerman
I keep thinking someone here also read the latest Dr. Alex Delaware book, but I couldn’t find the review. While I was looking, I got to wondering how many Dr. Alex Delaware books there were. Forty-one and I’ve read them all.
Alex and Milo are once again embroiled in another mysterious series of deaths. An 18-year-old savant is murdered, and everything points to his half-brother as a murderer. But then, someone else is murdered in the same manner. No connection between the two individuals is found which leaves Milo and his team brainstorming what the two murders could have in common. All together there are five murders including the half-brother. Alex starts to look for the abnormalities like he normally does and has a light bulb moment which helps Milo and his team find the murderer.
Follows the normal pattern of Alex and Milo thrillers. I’m beginning to think they are starting to get a little repetitious.
Safe travels, Bev. Six inches of snow isn’t my idea of the division between summer and fall, but you live in Idaho, and are driving to Montana. I’m sure you’re a better driver in that weather than I am.
Well, after forty-one books, you’d know if the stories were getting repetitious.
Jackie’s recovery continues well 3 + weeks after the surgery. She has PT twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Books. After the dragon trilogy, she is reading a book in a favorite series, ENTER THE NGHTMARE by Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz). Apparently it is funny and entertaining while also being nastier than others in the series. Any series that has dust bunnies as characters is not your normal book. Krentz is another author that Jackie has read all lot of, over 100 for sure, counting the Castles and Amanda Quicks.
WE CHASE SHADOWS is the second in Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders series. I know Lesa doesn’t like this, and it’s certainly no Thursday Murder Club, but I did enjoy this second tale of Steve, the retired cop who talks to his dead wife daily, his daughter in law Amy, the former bodyguard, and Rosie, the world’s best-selling author. Here they finally get a murder case to solve, while traveling the world on Rosie’s jet, and there are a couple of good surprises along the way.
GOLDEN AGE LOCKED ROOM MYSTERIES was edited, along with the rest of the American Mystery Classics series, by Otto Penzler, one of 5 (so far) short story collections in the series. The others are novels by Anthony Boucher, Craig Rice, Cornell Woolrich, Fredric Brown and others. (I have two more of the collections on hand.) Stories by John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen, Boucher, Woolrich and others are always worth reading.
I had never heard of (orread, obviously) Sally Hepworth until I started reading rave reviews of her MSD MABEL, and for once the hype was right: this is one of the best books you’ll read this year. It’s funny in parts, it’s touching and it’s sad. She does a masterful job and even throws in a couple of surprises I didn’t see coming. Mabel is Elsie Fitzpatrick, an 81 year old curmudgeon (of sorts), who is outed here (much like the character in I’M NOT THE ONLY MURDERER IN MY RETIREMENT HOME) as Australia’s youngest ever convicted murderer, now living a quiet life in a Melbourne backwater. We get her current story in the NOW chapters, and her past in the THEN. We see (as with characters like Sybil on THE CORRESPONDENT and Olive Kitteridge) that there’s much more to her than meets the eye. Her friendship with pesty 7 year old Persephone will get to you. And the ending… well, just read it and see. It’s a beautiful book.
Current reading:
COUNTRY CHRISTIE – short stories, all probably read before.
Harlan Coben, PLOT TWIST: LIFE, CRAFT, AND THE MESSY FIRST DRAFT: A MEMOIR ON WRITING. I’m 2/3 of the way through this very entertaining book. The title says it all.
Not sure what I’ll read next, but I have library books by several people on hand.
MAD MABEL
I’ve added it to my TBR!
Jeff, Happy to hear Jackie is making progress.
Just because I didn’t care for the Osman book doesn’t mean everyone else won’t love it. I’m sure my expectations were high because I like his other series so mcuh.
I really should read Mad Mabel sometime, but I have so many books.
Mad Mabel is now on my wish list Jeff. How could I not want to read it after your wonderful review!
Good morning, all. What a strange week! The babysitting for my grandkids went well last Thursday–school pickup, piano lessons, sports practices, dinner. My son and daughter-in-law ended up getting home at 9:30 so I wouldn’t have had to stay overnight, but I don’t like driving after dark so I stayed. The highlight was having a bedtime conversation with almost-8-year-old Autumn and finding out about a book series that will make great birthday and Christmas gifts and discussing capybaras. I ordered the 30 bags of bark for my HOA=directed refreshing of my front and side lawns, and son Zach and grandson Henry showed up unannounced on Saturday to do the work. It only took them about 90 minutes, and I am so appreciative. I treated us all to a nice dinner that night, and Henry got $20 for his part (and was not expecting it!). I also had a credit card issue that was troublesome but was resolved, an issue with HP Instant Ink where I ran out of the ink that is supposed to be sent automatically, and a continuing sprinkler problem that I hope will be resolved soon. As if that weren’t enough, all of our bathroom faucets started leaking last night. I can see a plumber in the near future! On the positive side, I had a couple of fun card games, I got to see Henry successfully kick for 2 points at his football game,and I am thrilled to see that Lesa loved Death Becomes Her. I will be seeing that same Broadway tour next year, but not until September. Here’s what I finished reading this week.
Ruth Hogan is an extraordinary comfort read author who never lets me down. A perfect example is her seventh novel, THE STRAY DOGS. It’s been out in Europe since late August, and I was recently thrilled to find it available in the US on Kindle. One of Ruth’s biggest strengths is character development, and there are so many relatable characters in this book. Leo (nee Leona) is a veterinarian in her late forties who was left at the altar by her fiance. She wearies of working in a big city practice, with the last straw being a clueless customer who insists that she euthanize his gorgeous 11-month-old collie, Bob, because he was bitten when he mistreated the dog. Leo managed to convince the man that she had put Bob down with a lethal injection, while actually spiriting him away to her new home in the small town of Fiddlers Green and renaming him Goose. Her ultimate goal is to open a rescue shelter for abandoned dogs, while working part-time for a vet close to retirement. Fiftyish Desmond, a divorced plumber, is looking for something more exciting to do with his free time and settles on reviving his old band, The Wild Boys, who were quite a sensation decades ago. When he meets Leo, he offers to get the band to play concerts where the entry fees will all go toward opening the rescue home, and Leo agrees to let him try. Other characters who figure prominently in the story include Vera, the kind proprietor of a hair salon. and Darcus, formerly the fiery leader of The Wild Boys, who hasn’t been invited to front the band’s new gigs. There’s also the obnoxious owner of the glitzy rival hair salon, who will do anything to keep Leo from reaching her goal. And, of course, there are the dogs. Besides Goose and a harlequin great dane named Maverick whose human was dying, there are more requests to take on dogs from another shelter that faced destruction, even before all of the necessary money had been raised. And one desperate dog runs through the story, being taken on by a succession of new humans who can barely care for him. Trust me–there is something for everyone in this lovely book, and reading it is a glorious experience. I’ve read all of Ruth Hogan’s books and can recommend them without reservation A special favorite of mine is The Phoenix Ballroom.
As for the second book, Lucy Connelly’s The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor, I discovered this morning that I have yet to review it, so I will save it for next week. Lesa has already reviewed it–thank you, Lesa.
Margie, That was so great that Zach and Henry showed up to take care of the mulch. You have a great family.
I think I read an early Ruth Hogan, and for some reason just have not picked up more. They sound so good, and I read for character, so I should enjoy them. This one sounds good.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy “Death Becomes Her”. It was so much fun.
Thank you! I always enjoy your comments and reviews.
Margie, I have yet to read a book by Ruth Hogan, so I might just start with this one. Sounds delightful.
Almost perfect fall weather here in Reno with hot days and cool nights only marred by another wildfire. But the fire was miles away from where I live, so just smoke. Between yard work and dog-sitting, I did finish three books.
Miss Marple, the elderly character at the center of many Agatha Christie whodunits, solves a new case in Lucy Foley’s latest mystery MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL. Set at a secluded resort in Switzerland, the Grand Alpine is practically cut off from the outside world, only accessible via a gondola ride during particular hours of the day. (This plot was first done in Dead Men Don’t Ski by Patricia Moyes)
I’ve read several books by Lucy Foley, and if the goal was to write a Lucy Foley mystery and put Miss Marple into it, then it’s a success.
My library system had books 3 & 4 in the Mac (aka Rushmore) McKenzie series by David Housewright. But I didn’t want to skip the second and was able to locate TIN CITY as an e-audio book in the Clark County system. Then I needed to wait for it to be returned. I’m glad I waited as this had a more violent, yet introspective Mac. I find it interesting to watch character development over a series and well as getting additional background.
Featuring fourteen stories selected and introduced by Edgar-winning anthologist Otto Penzler, GOLDEN AGE CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES (2025) offers hours of cosy reading, best enjoyed on a cold, snowy night, in a comfortable chair near a blazing fire. (from the book jacket). But also enjoyable during these October days pretending to be summer.
That weather does sound perfect, MM. I love hot days, and good nights for sleeping.
I need to get back to the David Housewright books. I have the third one here, but haven’t had time to get to it, yet. My brother-in-law is further along than I am in the series.
Oooh, I like the atmosphere required for the Golden Age Christmas Mysteries, as long as I don’t have to go out in the weather.
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green
October in the mountains is a glorious time of the year.
What I’ve read and enjoyed –
The French Illusion by John Grisham
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • John Grisham delivers a gripping, suspenseful page-turner about a Paris honeymoon gone horribly wrong—and the nightmare that follows.
After Paul and Chelsea Tanner’s fairytale wedding, their future is full of promise. But their honeymoon to Paris takes a dark, shocking turn when they are kidnapped while on a day trip to the French countryside. Who would target them, and why? It turns out this is not the first crime of its kind. The search for clues soon stretches across borders, with the FBI, CIA, and French Intelligence trying to work together to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Struggling to find answers, a young lawyer is recruited to be the bait in an elaborate CIA operation.
Propulsive and surprising, The French Illusion is an unmistakable Grisham thrill ride—gripping and impossible to put down.
Kaye, I’m always happy to hear that an author who has been writing for years is still on the right track. So good to know!
Enjoy your October in the mountains.
I enjoyed Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi, a very short graphic about Iranian women sipping tea and discussing their love lives, and sex.
The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery by
Siddharth Kara. It is a masterpiece of non-fiction! It has receieved awards and should have more in the future.
Also finished Going into Town: A Love Letter to New York by Roz Chast. a short cartoon guide to New York. I loved it.
4.
Now reading The Thread Collectors by Shanna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman is loosely based on family ancestors of the authors. The black couple are of the more priviledged black slaves, the woman from a line of women chosen by their masters for their pleasure but they still have forbidden love of black men. The black man was saved from field world by his grandpa. A gift of a hand carved pipe and his great musical aptitude. He was secretly taught to read music and went on to learn to play classical music on his flute.
The other couple is white two Jewish people in New York. The man learned to several different instruments and his wife, was a suffragette and abolitionist;
Both men joined the Union Army. The black man was given a worn uniform and the camp was separate from the white with much worse food and equipment. The Jewish man experienced discrimination and called horrible slurs.
Going into Town sounds interesting, Carol. You always have interesting books to share.
It’s another sunny warm day at my house. I keep waiting for the cool fall weather to come and stay. This up and down stuff is for the birds.
Yesterday we went up and did early voting. It was fairly busy, but we were able to walk right up to registration and to a machine. I joked to my husband now that I did my civic duty, does this mean I won’t be subjected to the awful Ohio political commercials anymore? Seriously this election cannot come soon enough.
I read two books this week. Frank & Red by Matt Coyne was just charming and the feel-good book I need. Frank is grumpy curmudgeon whose only company is the ghost of his dead wife, Marcie. Red is six. He is trying to deal with parents’ recent separation, a new school and a school bully. He is smart, extremely talkative and has a trampoline. When he appears over Frank’s fence while jumping on his trampoline an unlikely friendship is formed. I laughed and shed a few tears and truly loved this.
My second book was Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn. This was reviewed last week. I enjoyed this very much too and found it fascinating.
We are knee deep in October baseball and so happy our Cleveland Guardians are still in the race over the Chicago White Sox.
Happy reading!
I think all political ads should disappear once you vote, Sharon. I read an article yesterday in the NYT saying the governor’s race here is the dirtiest in the country. So disgusting with the lies. The senate race isn’t much better.
Everyone is enjoying Family of Spies. I need to read it this weekend.
We mute all the ads Lesa but we’ve them ad nauseum so we know what they say anyway. The current one with Soren in the senate race is particularly offensive. You can’t help but wonder if people really believe this stuff.
Sorry. I did not mean to mention politics.
I think you will enjoy Family of Spies.
Lesa,
If I had my way, political ads would be something you have to opt in to get.
Frank & Red sounds like something I’d really enjoy, so I’m going to look for it Sharon.
You should see if you can find a copy of RIPSNORTING WHOPPERS by Rick Sowash if you want more Ohio urban legends.
Thanks, Cindy. I’ll have to look for that.