Thursday! And, if you’re concerned about the Coronavirus, you should be sitting at home with plenty of time to read. I’m still working daily, so I don’t have any more time. But, I did receive a gift copy today of Carousels of Paris by Kaye Wilkinson Barley with photographs by Don Barley and Kaye Barley. So, that’s the book I was looking at last night. And, I feel really lucky because both photographers autographed my book.
Other than that, I’m reading a book for review for Library Journal, and can’t really talk about it. So, you can just enjoy the cover of this beautiful book.
Tell us what you’re reading this week, other than all the articles about the virus and your local community.
I really think the current message should be “Stay calm and carry on.”
We don't have much choice but to carry on. I wish there was one clear, straightforward message from the White House with the truth and what to do, because every time you see people who are not sick walking around with masks on, you know the fact that this will do nothing to protect you from the virus is just not getting through. We are still not sure about driving home two weeks from today.
But meanwhile…in the time away from the constant virus articles, I am reading the Arthur Train stories, which are entertaining period pieces. This week I read Killing Quarry by Max Allan Collins, the latest in his series (going since 1975, intermittently) about the Vietnam veteran turned hitman. Even though it is a new book, it is set in the 1980s. Readable, as always with Collins, but not outstanding.
Yesterday I finished A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris, second in her Gunnie Rose series. Once again, Lizbeth's team (a new team this time, as she was the only survivor in the first book) is attacking when they are guarding a cargo (unlike the people they were protecting in the first book), and again not everyone survives the attack. And once again, Eli Suvarov, the Russian wizard (and her occasional lover) comes to her aid. I like these.
I have the latest Margaret Mizushima K-9 book downloaded, and got a notice the new Peter Robinson is available too, so I have plenty of material on hand.
Be careful and safe out there, everyone.
It’s crazy going to the store and seeing entire sections empty. Fortunately I stocked up on paper goods last month because I had coupons so we’re good for a while.
This week I finished LET IT ALL BURN by Denise Grover Swank. A woman’s hot flashes start fires.
An ARC of BOUND TO EXECUTE by AFC Bookens. Extortion and murder in a small town bookstore.
HERE COMES THE BODY by Maria DiRico. The first book in a new cozy mystery series set at a catering company run by a former mafia enforcer and his daughter. It took me a while to get into the book but I wound up enjoying it.
BLOOD SISTERS by Audrey Starr. Another first book in a new series – a cozy mystery where the main characters are vampires. Except for drinking blood the vampires were pretty much like regular people.
I have read all five of Lori Rader-Day's books and always look forward to the next one. Sadly, THE LUCKY ONE was not one of my favorites. Kidnapped for just a few hours at age 3, Alice was miraculously found by her police officer father. The family promptly moved to Chicago, and her father became a partner in a construction company, where Alice later worked as well. Because of her own experience, Alice also volunteers on a network which seeks to find missing people or match them up with their found remains. When she recognizes the photo of her kidnapper on the network (really? she was 3), her world is turned upside down. At the same time, Merrily is seeking her mother's former boyfriend, who has kept in touch remotely but has now disappeared. Their stories do intersect, but I had no feelings whatsoever for Alice, a one-note character, and only a bit more for Merrily. I kept the pages turning, but I found the plot unnecessarily confusing. Disappointing, but I will definitely seek out the author's next book because I enjoyed the others so much.
I think I liked Joanna Schaffhausen's ALL THE BEST LIES a lot more than Glen did, based on his comment last week. This is the third in the series featuring Ellery Hathaway, who was the first in a long line of women/girls kidnapped by a serial killer who survived (at age 14), saved by young FBI agent Reed Markham. Ellery is currently suspended from her law enforcement job, but Reed–now in a higher-level position–has asked her to consult on a cold case. He has his own issues, having been adopted as a baby following his single mother's brutal slaying. He recently learned through DNA matching that his adoptive father, a US senator, is actually is real father, but no one had ever bothered to tell Reed. And he sees some evidence that makes him wonder if his father is responsible for his mother's death. It's a suspenseful story with lots of suspects and an uncooperative police department, and although I guessed who the killer was, the twist at the end was unexpected.
STARDUSTED, Deb McCaskey's debut mystery, features the irrepressible Frankie Franklin (nee Hickenlooper), an up-and-coming movie star of the mid-1930s whose studio has deemed her America's Kid Sister. Frankie's father had been a stuntman and horse wrangler who taught her to ride at an early age. While making a western, Frankie inadvertently shoots a costar with a gun that was supposed to be loaded with blanks. The other actor in the scene is Frankie's ex-husband. Does someone have it in for her or for her ex? Frankie seeks answers from the stunt coordinator, but he has disappeared. Other accidents occur, leading Frankie to do more investigating. This is a thoroughly delightful story, told with a light touch and featuring interesting characters (including Frankie's new composer husband) and a fun look into the "pictures" business of the era. I hope there are more Frankie stories to come.
Read a really good debut – No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez – hooks you immediately – highly recommend. One tip – when I get books from the Library I spray Lysol on a paper towel and then wipe off the book cover and then let it rest -I also am spraying all of my mail before opening it. Stay safe everyone.
sqeeeeee – lookit that gorgeous cover <3 Thank you, Lesa!!! It makes me happy that you're enjoying it.
I'm reading an ARC of Lisa Unger's "Confessions on the 7:45." WHAT a roller coaster read this is – I'm loving it!
Checking in from Left Coast Crime. I’m working on ABSTRACT ALIASES by Ritter Ames and really enjoying it.
You really should know by now not to ask what I'm reading. LOL
My Current Library TBR List
A Long Petal of the Sea – Isabel Allende Due
No Fixed Line – Dana Stabenow Due 03-27-20
Mermaid Inn – Jenny Holiday Due 03-24-20
Dead in Dublin – Catie Murphy Due 03-23-20
The Escape Artist – Helen Freemont Due 03-23-20
Pies Before Guys – Kirsten Weiss Due 03-24-20
Lucky Catch- Debra Coontz Due 03-24-20
On the Lamb – Tina Kashion Due 03-24-20
Murder Makes Scents – Christin Brecher Due 03-24-20
Dressed up 4 murder – J.C. Eaton Due 03-24-20
Home Sweet Home – Fern Michaels Due 03-24-20
Death by Chocolate Frosted Donut – Sarah Graves Due 03-24-20
Ronald Rabbit is a Dirty Old Man – Lawrence Block Due 03-24-20
Huckleberry Lake – Catherine Anderson Due 03-26-20
How to Love Your Elf – Kerrelyn Sparks Due 03-26-20
This week I read OONA OUT OF ORDER. I liked it and was fascinated by the story. I had a hard time wrapping my orderly mind around the whole she is living in one year but her body is only one year older chronologically. It also bothered me that none of her inner circle like Kenzie or Edward or her mother just accepted this anomaly happens to her.
Now I am reading HERE COMES THE BODY by Maria DiRico. It is a little different to have the mafia as part of a cozy mystery but I am enjoying it. Mia's Nonna reminds me of my little Italian Grammie.
Happy Reading and Stay Healthy!
In other words, Jeff, it's okay to be Gunnie Rose's lover, but not on her team. Sort of like being a red shirt, right?
It's hard to decide what to do. I understand your concern as to whether or not to go home when you planned. You and Jackie take care of yourselves. We'll all try.
Extortion and murder in a small town bookstore, Sandy? No place is safe anymore.
I pick Stardusted, Margie. That's the one that sounds interesting. Of course, I've already read Lori's book, so I don't need to pick that one.
I read:
The Beast: A Bigfoot Thriller; The title says most of it. Set in 1986 New Jersey, even tough the characters use 21 century phrases.
Heaven vs Reincarnation: A cartoon book comparing the two, even though they are not mutually exclusive.
Hard Winter at Broken River Crossing; a very slow, plodding cold weather western.
The Stolen Season by Steve Hamilton; An Alex McKnight novel. I don't like these all that much, but people keep giving them to me.
I just finished two amazing reads, The Lantern Men (#12 in the Ruth Galloway series) by Elly Griffiths and Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen. Loved them both so much. Today, I'm starting the next Doyle and Acton, Murder in Deep Regret, by Anne Cleeland. Glad I have so many books surrounding me in this time of uncertainty.
Back when my wife repeatedly had zero immune system thanks to chemo and a failed stem cell transplant, we both wore masks and gloves all the time when out in public anywhere so as to protect her, the patient. That was mandated by the doctors and staff at Texas Oncology as well as doctors and staff at three different hospitals in two states where things had to be done. I won't bore everyone with blow by blow medical facts. The bottom line was and is that if I breathed in something that made me sick, it would get passed to her. Knowing that, I am acting accordingly and protecting myself no matter what others chose to think.
As to reading, I have had a hard time focusing as I have been dealing with a lot here. In eBook, I am still working on reading the November 2019 issue of Mystery Weekly Magazine. About halfway through the issue. In print, I am working on THE EYES OF TEXAS anthology of which I was gifted a signed copy of while at Bouchercon 2019 here in Dallas.
KRT
Kevin, I'm sure it's a tough time for you. I'm glad you picked up your books before the library closed. You and Scott take care of each other.
I am still working also. I'm currently reading Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson. On audio, I am listening to Still Alice by Lisa Genova.