I hope you’re all doing well this week. First, because so many of us are mystery/crime fiction readers, I want to share this article from Library Journal, “Crime and Comfort: 90 Mysteries for Our Times Promise Escape and Coziness / Mystery Preview 2021” by Melissa DeWild. https://bit.ly/3kImGUD I hope you can all open it, if you’re interested.
I’m rereading right now, S.J. Bennett’s The Windsor Knot. I loved this book, and on Monday, March 8, I took an hour off so I can talk about the book with Bennett. I’m hosting her for a virtual event on The Poisoned Pen’s Facebook page from 3-4 PM ET. (The time listed below is MT.) It’s an afternoon event because Sophia is in England. If the event turns out well, it will appear later on YouTube. But, you can always catch it on Facebook after the program is over.
So, what about you? What are you reading this week? I’d love to know!
Good morning. I have The Windsor Knot on hold at the library so hopefully it’ll be in soon. I’ve noticed that it’s been taking them a lot longer to get new books in lately. But I’ve had the same problem with the last two books I ordered from Amazon so I don’t think it’s them.
This week I read all cozy mysteries.
PREMEDITATED MORTAR by Kate Carlisle. A dead body is discovered during the renovation of a shuttered asylum. It took a long time to get this but it was worth the wait.
PERILS AND LACE by Gayle Leeson. This is the second book in her haunted dress shop series. I like the characters, especially the ghost, Max.
DEATH ON WHISPERING LAKE by Joanna Carns. A woman from Chicago inherits her uncles property in a small north woods town. She doesn’t believe the rumors that he committed suicide. This could have been a good story with a complete rewrite.
THE DIVA SPICES IT UP by Krista Davis. An OK read but not particularly memorable.
DEAD MAN’S HAND by Lorraine Bartlett & Gayle Leeson. This is the latest book in the Artisan Alley series. I’m done with this series. The main character, Katie’s relationship problems have taken over too much of the last few books.
Sandy, I was just complaining about the fact that March 2 book releases haven’t even arrived in the library yet. I order the fiction for our system, so I know when the boxes should arrive. If they’re not here tomorrow, I’m going to complain. Yes, it’s taking longer, and I’m going to gripe about it.
So, moving on to books. Don’t you hate it when the authors start dealing with relationships instead of the mystery itself? We start those series because of the mysteries, grow to like the characters, but their personal life isn’t the most important part of the story.
I’m afraid this will have to wait until later as we are heading downtown (Trader Joe!). The weather is up and down but the snow is gone, Spring is coming and we are done (fingers crossed) with the snow. Warmer weather is coming, if only intermittently so far. More of our friends are getting vaccines and my sister called that she got her first shot yesterday, which is good as she had breast cancer.
Back in a couple of hours.
Jeff, I made a trip to Trader Joe’s yesterday. I wanted to stock up on Irish bangers since this is the only time of year they carry them
I want spring! I hope you’re right, Jeff, that it’s on its way. Later!
So glad you really enjoyed this one Lesa! I pre-ordered it at a good price & just got a notice today that it’s on the way – Yippee!!
Looking forward to your interview. I’ll definitely be watching on Monday afternoon.
I just finished reading Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain. LOVED it (and I rarely – almost never read pure romances). This is a very funny & charming period romance. I actually laughed out loud a number of times. She has another book coming out in August, Miss Lattimore‘s Letter. Can’t wait 😊
Good luck on Monday & happy reading!
I almost read Mr. Malcolm’s List, Anne. Now, I’ll have to look for it. When someone tells me they laughed out loud, that’s a good sign. I can use funny. Thank you! I don’t know how my end of the interview will go, but Sophia is wonderful! You should enjoy her.
I’m reading The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan. We are totally hooked on the Acorn series Wartime Farm (also Victorian Farm!) at our house and this novel of WW2 British woman fighting for the cause with cooking is perfect.
Thank you, Melanie! I have The Kitchen Front on a TBR pile, and even the cover appeals to me. I’ll have to get to that soon. And, it’s a Melanie pick!
I’ve added Kitchen Front to my pile also!
This week I finished WE’RE ALL DAMAGED by Matthew Norman. I enjoyed it and found it funny. Attacking squirrels with paint balls to keep them from bird feeders and the home owners association self appointed cop in the golf cart was hilarious and in the case of the association police, sadly true.
Next I read SHIPPED by Angie Hockman. I found this one only okay despite all the 5 starts on Goodreads. Two co-workers vying for the same promotion are sent on the same cruise to Galapagos Islands. I did enjoy reading about the Islands themselves but for an enemies to shipboard romance storyline, Christina Lauren’s UNHONEYMOONERS was better.
Now I am reading my pick for the week-INK AND SHADOWS by Ellery Adams. I absolutely love this series and more than halfway through this one does not disappoint.
Enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather. Happy reading!
One of my friends LOVED Ink and Shadows, Sharon. I’m behind in the series, and I need to read earlier ones before that one. He raved about how well-written that one is.
I love that point about attacking squirrels with paint balls. I’ll have to tell my sister about it.
Thanks for posting the article. The spreadsheet they posted was very helpful.
You’re welcome, Mary! I thought so, too. I printed it out for work. Very helpful!
Good morning! It was a good reading week for me–I liked everything!
Sharon, I read Ellery Adams’ INK AND SHADOWS as well. I’m a big fan of both of Adams’ current series, and the fourth in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society mysteries more than lived up to my expectations. It continues the story of Nora, proprietor of Miracle Books, who changed her name when she moved to MIracle Springs to rid herself of some troubling events in her past. She and several other women in the town have formed the abovementioned society, where each has revealed her secrets to the others. In this book, a woman and her daughter come to town to open a shop called Soothe, selling items that treat stress and chronic pain, including CBD oil muffins. Some of the townspeople are upset about the possible influence of the store on their children, and they’re not too thrilled about Miracle Books’ latest window display featuring books with strong women, since it includes a figure stirring a cauldron. The newcomers soon fall victim to some brutal attacks, and Nora senses there’s a connection to their previous life in an artists’ colony run by an eccentric and potentially dangerous man nicknamed Maestro. No more spoilers from me–I recommend this series.
I finally read BORN A CRIME, comedian and late-night host Trevor Noah’s memoir about growing up in South Africa during apartheid and after and found it both entertaining and informative. Trevor’s mother was a black South African woman, and his father was a Swiss/German man. They never married. At that time and for the first 5 to 6 years of Trevor’s life, sex between races was a crime punishable by up to 5 years in jail. Trevor was too dark to be white, too light to be black, so he had trouble finding a community that accepted him. He was high-spirited–never mean-spirited–which got him into some trouble as a child, and later on he found ingenious ways of getting along in school and making money. His mother, a feisty and determined woman who loved him fiercely, was a huge influence on his life and overcame hardships and trouble to inspire and motivate him. So many people had recommended this book, and I’m glad I read it, even though I don’t watch Noah’s show.
In debut author Helen Fisher’s FAYE, FARAWAY, Faye’s loving husband, who is preparing to make a career change to vicar (yes, the story takes place in England), knows that something strange is going on with his wife, but he is clueless. How could he even imagine Faye has suddenly found herself traveling in time back to 1997–twice– in the box of a childhood riding toy. Faye’s longing for her mother, who was suddenly taken from her when Faye was eight years old, has somehow allowed her to strike up a relationship with that very person, a year or so before she disappeared–and with her 8-year-old self–without revealing who she was. The contact with her mother is priceless to Faye, but she can’t bring herself to tell her husband, and certainly not her two beloved young daughters, that she has risked life and limb for this precious time with her mother, which resulted in each time in only 3 hours away from home. She finally confides in her blind friend from work, who tries to dissuade her from any future adventures. After all, what are the “rules” of time travel? Is she changing something that shouldn’t be changed? Is it possible she will not be able to return to her precious family? I couldn’t tell where this story was going at any time, and I was enraptured by it. I know it sounds crazy, but it worked for me. I hope at least one of you will try this book and let me know how you liked it. I think it’s a real find.
Margie, What a beautiful description of Faye, Faraway, saying you were enraptured by it. I’m happy when anyone finds a book that just works for them. I’m going to have to go down and pick up Ellery Adams’ next book so I can catch up with that series.
Thanks Margie! I am hoping to finish INK AND SHADOWS this afternoon.
Good afternoon from a cold but thankfully no longer ice-bound Deeside.
This week I finished ‘The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie’ by Alan Bradley. I enjoyed it more than the first time (when I gave up half way) but I wouldn’t say it was a favourite read. I think I found it difficult to suspend disbelief enough to believe that Flavia could exist, she is such a polymath at such a yound age, and it’s hard to work out where all her knowledge has come from (I know she reads, but at that age I would have thought much of what she reads would need explanation?)
Bradley was a lot better than many other authors I have read recently at not letting Americanism slip into English characters’ dialogue, which did make the book much easier to read, and I felt it was indeed well written. I liked the character of Dogger,and the treatment of the issue of shell shock – something that, certainly in the first world war, was something only even recognised in officers. Many were treated at Craiglockhart Hospital in Edinburgh (now part of Napier University), but the ‘lower orders’ were not given any help at all, just thrown back into a country supposedly ‘fit for heroes.’
Now I am reading Marian Keyes’ ‘Watermelon’ for Reading ireland Month. Keyes is a very popular Irish writer. Watermelon is the first of her books about the Welch family – parents and five grown up daughters – living in Dublin. This story focuses on Claire, who moved to London, married the man she loved and with whom she thought she would spend the rest of her life, only for him to tell her, on the very day of their daughter’s birth, that he was leaving her to shack up with one of their neighbours.
Claire flees, with the new baby, back to her parents’ house, where, after spending quite a bit of time lying in bed drinking vodka and reading ‘Hello’ magazine, she gets a grip and starts to rebuild her life.
This being Keyes, there is a lot of humour, and she can be very funny, but she also addresses real issues (she herself is an alcoholic in recovery, and suffers from intermittent depression, about which she is very honest and upfront – she is a good person.) As I mentioned before, I think, I didn’t take much to her ‘The Mystery of Mercy Close’.’Watermelon’ is better, but I still wouldn’t say it was 5* reading. It’s a quick read though, despite being over 500 pages, and I’m happy enough to read on and find out what happens. The best characters in the story so far are the Welch parents (who turn up again in ‘The Mystery of Mercy Close’) and Anna, the flakiest of the sisters, who floats about in a kaftan, believes in spirits, and spends much of her time smoking dope with her boyfriend.
I’ve just been sent a copy of ‘Wild Winter’ by John D Burns, who wrote ‘The Last Hillwalker’, one of my favourite non-fiction books of 2020, so I am looking forward to reviewing that for his excellent publishers, Vertebrate. I also hope to read more books for Reading Ireland month. Cathy, who lives in Dublin and organises the month, has just reviewed what sounds like a wonderful little novel on her blog – it is ‘Foster’ by Clare Keegan (the review is here if anyone wishes to read it: https://746books.com/2021/03/04/no-431-foster-by-claire-keegan-readingirelandmonth21/) It’s about a young girl whose irish farming family send her to stay with relatives when they can’t cope with any more children. I’d love to read it.
I’m also toying with the idea of starting a similar ‘month’ for Scotland. I think it is sorely needed, especially to give authors and publishers outside the Central Belt (Glasgow-Edinburgh) some airtime. I’m enthusiatic about it but I’m a bit worried that I won’t be up to the task – so once Reading Ireland month is over, Cathy has very kindly offered to discuss it with me.
This week I have also had two lovely walks with two separate friends. One was a 5.5 mile walk around Westhill and Skene – mostly quiet country roads and paths, with great views of the hills, which still have snow on the tops. The other was around the Crathes Castle estate policies near here, also lovely, and now covered in snowdrops. When I went down to the river this morning, the daffodils were clearly trying to come through too.
When I was out with my good friend Nancy we were discussing the new Jed Mercurio serial, Bloodlands, which we both watch. Nancy said ‘wasn’t Sheila Hancock (a well known veteran English actress) brilliant in this week’s episode? And they still haven’t found out who those four bodies in the car were.’ I honestly began to think I had fallen asleep in the middle of the programme, as I did not remember one bit of this, but nancy was sure it had happened. Then after a while she said ‘Oh my goodness, I was talking about Unforgotten!’ (Another new serial, much acclaimed, but I haven’t yet seen it – it was only when she mentioned that there was a Paklstani detective involved that the penny dropped, as I had heard this from one of my daughters…) What a pair we are – it’s such a comfort when it’s not just me.
And now I must take myself off, as I am taking some books to another local resident – we have an excellent Facebook page for the local area, and one of the things people use it for is to offer surplus items and to ask if anyone has a certain thing they need. I found I had duplicates of some books, and as none of our charity shops are currently allowed to open, I put a photo of them on the page, and this lady asked for them. I myself acquired a whole stack of terracotta flower pots last weekend in the same way – I am dleighted with those, as they are so much nicer than plastic, but now so much harder to find.
Rosemary, I’m not a gardener of any sort, but my late husband loved to have plants and flowers all over the place. He and I would certainly agree about the terracotta flower pots. Much nicer than the plastic. You’re right.
That is so funny about the descriptions of the TV shows. I can see why you thought you might have fallen asleep mid-episode.
Oh, I think with Clare’s help, you would be an excellent person to kick off “Reading Scotland”. As long as you still find it fun, and not work.
Daffodils! What a beautiful sign of spring! I can’t wait.
Flavia can be a little much for some people. I could suspend disbelief for a while, and then after I read a good number of the books, I just quit.
OK. We’re back. It is overcast and chilly and the wind is picking up, but at least it’s dry.
Read a LOT of short stories last week (33!) and finished 77 for the month of February (101 in January). I finished BULLETS AND OTHER HURTING THINGS: A Tribute to Bill Crider, edited by Rick Ollerman. Good collection, fine writers (Sara Paretsky, Joe Lansdale, William Kent Krueger, James Reasoner, James Sallis, etc.). Bill is truly missed by all who knew him. Nearly done with IT OCCURS TO ME THAT I AM AMERICA, another anthology, edited by Jonathan Santlofer. I’d say the most powerful stories so far are by Paretsky, S. J. Rozan and Richard Russo. Of course, the short story collections keep coming in.
Also read: THE BREAKER, the latest (sixth) Peter Ash book by Nick Petrie, this one set in Milwaukee. It is a good one, very fast moving, and I liked it a lot more than the last one (which was too unbelievable in a “Superhero” way for me).
Bill Pronzini (or his publisher) calls his THE PEACEFUL VALLEY CRIME WAVE a “western mystery” and that is accurate, but it is definitely a mystery rather than a western. It is set in 1914 Montana, narrated by the Sheriff of the county. Nice smooth read.
Also reading HOWDUNIT: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club, edited by Martin Edwards, and Joan Didion’s latest collection of essays (written 1968-2000), LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN.
Stay safe, everyone!
I have the tribute to Bill Crider, Jeff. I just haven’t had a chance to read any of it except Angela’s introduction. That was interesting. We just never know our parents as other’s do, do we?
I also have a collection of stories based on Jimmy Buffett songs. That should be fun.
Good to know the latest Peter Ash book was better than the previous one.
Thank you!
I just started reading The Golden Cage by Camilla Lackberg – was on wait list at the Library for months so hope it turns out it was worth the wait. Yes, Spring is coming here to Connecticut too – snow is gone and vaccine is flowing!
Great comment, Donna – “snow is gone and vaccine is flowing!” It’s flowing in Indiana as well. We’re now doing 50 and up here.
We’ve closed the month and the quarter at work (we have a slightly off fiscal year). However, now comes the fun of the extra reports. It’s going to be a long Thursday and Friday.
On the reading front, I should be finishing PRODIGAL SON by Gregg Hurwitz today. When these thrillers are at their best, they balance character and suspense. This one erred on the side of character development. I get why given the set up, but still, it’s just not as good as the best books in the series.
And just to make sure I am clear, I am enjoying it. I’ll give it 4 out of 5 stars (unless the final 100 pages knock my socks off). It’s just good and not outstanding, like Gregg’s books usually are.
Oh, I get it. I’ve read some Louise Penny books and liked them, but didn’t love them as I do some of hers, Mark.
Always fun to see what everyone’s reading. I’m especially interested now in Faye, Faraway thanks to Margie.
I’ve read some fun things this week:
Fatal Scores by Mark de Castrique – a terrific entry in one of my favorite series which takes place in one of my favorite cities; Asheville, Nc. The author always gives us some interesting facts and history along with well written characters and a good story.
The Beach House by Rachel Hanna – A light read which was just what the doctor ordeted.
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber (ARC) – Another excellent story from Heather Webber with her signature bits of woo-woo.
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner (ARC) – a very well written “Me, Too” story.
Kaye, It’s great to see that you’re reading again now that you survived the results of your vaccine. And, even better to know they were fun books.
Is spring on its way to Boone yet?
It seems like spring is here, and we didn’t get much winter, but hopefully, the rainy season isn’t quite over.
I read:
What You Don’t See by Tracy Clark; The usual bodyguard/grand vizier plot. Chicago definitely doesn’t seem like a good place to live.
The Blizzard Party by Jack Livings; This got a lot of positive reviews, but it featured a bunch of neurotic, unpleasant people.
Relentless by Mark Greaney; The Gray Man is wounded, and suffering from a bone infection, but he gets sent out into the field, anyway. He learns that a software program has everyone’s faces, and can identify everyone, and that his crush is in danger in Germany. He goes there to protect her, although she doesn’t much need protection. They’re pursued and being pursued by a whole lot of people. The Gray Man might end up with two girlfriends!
Deliberate Duplcity; An American male detective named after his Russian grandfather investigates murders that leave no evidence. Luckily, they get a good tip…or do they???
Exploded View; Die Hard on a cruise ship, or Speed 2 without Sandra Bullock. I think this is a spoof, but I’m not altogether sure, as the best spoofs are a good example of the genre they’re spoofing.
Bodies, Baddies, and a Crabby Tabby; After losing her job and her fiance on the same day, a woman decides to visit her parents. She finds a body, and a tabby on the same day. She and her uncle start poking around, and accidentally solve two crimes.
Tearing at the Seams; There has been a plethora of these books examining what links Americans together, and I’ve read probably more than my share. This seems a little more even handed than most, and far more charitable.
Glen, It sounds as if you had some good reading in the past week. At least most of your reviews didn’t say how bad the book is. And, if you think Chicago doesn’t seem like a good place to live when you read Tracy Clark, let me tell you about a June release. Jeffrey B. Burton’s The Keepers is about as dirty as Chicago politics can get. And, I read Jon Talton’s May release, City of Dark Corners. Set in Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun in 1933, those were the dirty years of Phoenix politics, although I can’t say Phoenix and Arizona is really much better now.
Last night I finished Cat Among the Pigeons by Christie, another Poirot book. One of the later books in the series, not in the top tier, but still a good read.
I am in the middle of two long books. Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution is over 600 pages and very heavy reading. I grew up in Birmingham at the time so it feels very depressing at times. I am determined to read it all.
The other one is The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox. 700 pages long. It reads like The Woman in White except that it is not pulling me into the story yet, and I am about 200 pages in. We shall see, I want to like it and finish it.
Tracy! You need Agatha Christie as a break from your other books. Why is it that I have a hard time with long books, but can sail through 3 books that equal the same number of pages? I admire your determination. Good luck!
Tracy, I missed Carry Me Home, probably because it was so long. But I added it to my Kindle Wishlist. Planning to get a Paperwhite to replace moy old non-working Kindle on my birthday. I have a lot on my wishlist. I put them there to age and get more affordable.
I received Face by Justine Bateman yesterday, from LibraryThing about our culture’s attitude toward aging faces. I have not read the first page yet
I have started Poisoned Water, about Flint Michigan by Candy J. Cooper. It reads like a factual horror story. I am glad that the people who caused the problem went to prison. But I do not see how they will ever get back to normal. Before the water tragedy, they were poor, redlined and cheated out any promising jobs. Now, two chapters in the cats are throwing up and losing their hair, dogs dying and people, children and babies dying. They noticed the difference on t he first day that their water supply was switched from Lake Huron to Lake Flint. It smelled awful, terrible, and they got acid burns on their skin when they took a shower.
I am concerned about our water here. We used to be able to read about the different contaminants, and now we can’t! It is posted in small blurry print. I am going contact them to see I can get any information. I have a compromised immune system and was sick for two years because they allow low levels of a parasite into the tap water.
What a frightening book, and a frightening scenario for you, too, Carolee. I don’t blame you for wanting to find out more.