Before I even ask today’s question, I’ll start with how are you doing? Since we’re not talking about Distractions on Mondays, I just want to make sure everyone is emotionally okay. I think about you, scattered all over the country, and the world. Take care of yourselves.
As always, Thursday’s question is what are you reading? As I write this on Wednesday night, I have sixty pages left in Tracy Clark’s What You Don’t See. This is the third book in Clark’s Cass Raines series set in Chicago. Cass is a ex-cop turned PI, and I really like her. She’s tough, doesn’t take any guff from anyone. But, she is really loyal to her friends. A friend from the police force, Ben, is moonlighting as a bodyguard, and asks Cass to work with him. Their client is a snob, a media diva who tries to control everyone who works for her, but Cass won’t allow it. That client won’t tell them what she fears about letters and flowers she’s been receiving. But, when Ben is attacked with a knife at a bookstore, he’s in the hospital, and Cass is looking for the secrets their client tried to hide. I really like this series, the character, and this book.
Once I finish What You Don’t See, I’m going back to reread Sarah Stewart Taylor’s The Mountains Wild. I’m interviewing her Friday evening for The Poisoned Pen so I want to read it again.
What are you reading this week? I know we’re interested.
I am feeling much better. Thanks for asking. Surgery was last Thursday, followed by three horrendous days of recovery when it seemed like it was never getting better. Monday was a slow transition day, and Tuesday and Wednesday have been much, much better.
So, obviously, not getting a lot of reading done. I am nearly done with the second volume of James Sallis stories, and I am halfway through Andrea Camilleri's The Safety Net, the 25th Insp. Salvo Montalbano book.
Just read that the Brooklyn Public Library will be reopening the Main branch and six others starting July 13 for "grab and go" drop off and pickup, though they haven't announced the first branches to open, so that's a start.
It is a start, Jeff. That's great. What is even better is that you're feeling much better. Certainly understand why reading wasn't the top priority in the last week. You and Jackie take care of yourselves.
Hope your recovery continues to go well Jeff.
This week I finished LAST COUPLE STANDING by Matthew Norman. I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Jessica and Mitch have been married for 12 years and are determined to not fall into the divorce trap of their closest 3 couple friends. Jessica comes up with the experiment of "relaxing" their marriage. They discuss monogamy and draw up rules and conditions. Without spoiling anything, it is not as easy going as planned. I thought it was written with lots of insight and humor. My only quibble was Jessica was a therapist which made me wonder why she wouldn't know better as to how the situation might enfold.
Next I read THE TOURIST ATTRACTION by Sarah Morgenthaler. I thought this was great fun and loved Ulysses the moose.
Now I am reading MURDER IN THE STORYBOOK COTTAGE by Ellery Adams. I enjoy this series and was happy to learn it will be continuing.
Happy Reading!
What a coincidence–Lesa, I just started What You Don't See yesterday! Here's what I read this week:
MOUSSE AND MURDER by Elizabeth Logan (aka Camilla Minichino) is a pleasant first outing with Charley, proprietor of her parents' diner in Alaska. When her chef disappears and is later found murdered, Charley and her journalist friend, Chris, are "deputized" to help the local police with their investigation. It turns out there is a lot more about chef Oliver than anyone (except the killer) knows. I enjoyed the setting in rural Alaska, a stopover for adventurers headed for more remote locations, and many of the characters. There's just a soupçon of potential romance, but it's not yet fleshed out (so to speak). And there's a killer recipe for cherry cheesecake mousse.
Thanks to Lesa for her review of THE BODY IN THE GARDEN and interview with the author, Katharine Schellman. In the first in a promising series set in Regency England, Lily Adler has been a widow for two years. At a party at a friend's estate, she overhears two men arguing, and one is shot and killed. She doesn't understand why the police aren't trying to find the killer until she discovers that a magistrate has taken a bribe from a wealthy landowner. With the help of her husband's dashing best friend and a young heiress from the West Indies, she takes matters into her own hands to find justice for the victim. I look forward to more in this series.
I also enjoyed SUMMER LONGING by Jamie Brenner. Retired after a successful career running her own cosmetics business and divorced for many years, Ruth decides to move to beachside Provincetown, where she met her husband. Renting the home of two married women who are currently living over their tea shop, she is shocked to find a baby left on their doorstep one morning. One of the owners of the house, desperate for a child after IVF has been a disappointment, takes the child in, while her partner urges her to go through social service channels. causing a rift in their relationship. Ruth finds herself drawn into the situation, even as she longs to mend fences with her own estranged daughter, Olivia, who resents the fact that her mother wasn't sufficiently resent for her while she was growing up. For once, a "beach read" title fits the story, thanks to the Cape Cod setting, an oyster fishing subplot, and the fact that Provincetown in the summer, along with some of the locals, has the power to transform Ruth, Olivia, and Ruth's husband.
Sharon, I loved Ulysses as well! Darn tourists.
I have to get back to some of Ellery Adams' books. I always like the ones I read.
Margie, I'm so glad you liked The Body in the Garden. It feels like a promising start. I'm just sad it came out when it did, and got overlooked because of Covid-19. I think some of those books deserve a second chance. That's one of them.
I'm working my way through Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, a middle grade short story collection by members of Mystery Writers of America and headlined by Chris Grabenstein. These stories are designed like the Encyclopedia Brown books, so the clues you need to solve the mystery are all presented, and you are invited to try to solve it before turning to the back to read the solution. I've enjoyed the stories I've read so far.
How am I doing? It's been a long week. Many ups and downs at work with the massive layoffs coming next week. I'm trying not to stress, but I'm not doing a very good job of that. (My job is still safe, but with a pay cut for the next 5 months.)
Oh, and my work computer has been working on an update for the last 40 minutes. I have too much to do today to sit here waiting for my computer to decide to let me work.
I’m glad you’re feeling better Jeff. Things are starting to open up here in NJ but we’re still not comfortable going a lot of places yet. I’m writing this from our screened in porch, the weather is beautiful, and we got some gardening done this morning.
I read an ARC of Witch Hunt by Cate Conte. It wasn’t my favorite new mystery series. I find main characters who don’t know they are a witch has been overdone and I didn’t connect with the characters.
The Zoo Gang by Paul Gallico. This is a book of 4 stories about a group of WWII French resistance fighters who are still friends in the 1960s and still operate on both sides of the law. I read it years ago and enjoyed re-reading it.
I'm a fan of Tracy Clark's also, and loved WHAT YOU DON'T SEE. This is a series that's now on my "auto read" list.
I haven't been reading as much this past week as previous weeks. I've rediscovered needlepoint and knitting, but the two books I did read were –
The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell which I fell head over heels in love with. The characters are all kind, pixies do the dusting in this wonderful old mansion, and fairies do the gardening. I hope this is the beginning of a new series.
The Heat Wave by Kate Riordan (ARC) which I think I liked, but I'm not sure. It certainly wasn't the calming read The Wizard's Butler was.
xxoo
Mark, I'm sorry. It doesn't sound as if it's easy being at work right now, and stressful worrying about it when you get home. I'm sorry that's happening to you and your co-workers.
Super Puzzletastic Mysteries sounds like a fun escape, but I know it's not easy.
I always liked Paul Gallico, Sandy. I read his Mrs. 'Arris books & Snow Goose, as well as the children's books. You brought back memories!
I even bought my copy of Tracy Clark's book, Kaye! You're right. Her books are on my automatic read list. I really liked this one, and I love Cass Raines.
Some weeks are good for reading, and others are ones just to escape. I don't think I did much of anything at all last Saturday.
Hope you continue to improve, Jeff.
I read all e-books again:
Obsession: Dishonor thy Wife; Twin doctors meet at a medical convention and decide to switch places. Guess they never read The Prince and the Pauper.
The Patient; an arrogant psychiatrist tires to cure a mental patient nobody has managed to even diagnose. Lovecraftian twist at the end.
A Song for Lonely Wolves; A Korean tea girl police-woman tries to solve several mysteries during the 1300's. This Korea is a cold and joyless place I'd never want to visit.
Lexi Monarch; Second in a fantasy romance series about a princess fairy who runs off to Mating Mountain because she doesn't like her prospective fiancee.
Special Operations War; Odd Men's Adventure novel about a man who recovers his memory and runs for an office like the old Roman Senate, only in a fictional country much like today.
The Eye That Never Sleeps; Dime Novel parody about a detective who befriends a safe cracker.
Countdown America; A CIA agent's family is kidnapped, and she tries to find them.
The Bourne Evolution; Jason Bourne is back with his usual bag of tricks.
It sounds as if some of your selections were a little better this week, Glen. I hope so!
The Korean set book was very good. Might make my Best Of list this year.
I'm reading The Reckoning Stones by Laura DiSilverio and anxious to start an advance copy of The Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima. Putting my nose in a good book has always been my favorite escape.
I am reading The Guest List by Lucy Foley and Don't Turn Around by Jessica Barry. On audio, I am listening to the Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine.
Hope everything is going well at your library.
I've decided to go back to a series I really enjoyed last year – the White House Chef mysteries by Julie Hyzy. I care about the characters and the action is non-stop. I'm finding it hard to concentrate this week with the spikes in COVID cases in Florida. We were over 2,000 earlier this week, but today went over 8,000! Even my own town increased 6 fold in one week. The new cases seem to be concentrated in younger people since they seem to still think this is all a hoax. Older people like me are sequestered at home. I haven't left the house in 4 months but will need to see the doctor soon. Stress fills my days lately. Hard to read that way.
I am a date late! Reading How Sweet Bitter Soup by Lori Qian. A poor woman leaves her mother, and her father who has Alizheimer's in Chicago for the best job offer she ever had. The job
was teaching English in total immersion in China. This for the very rich elite children.
Also listening to Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. Fascinating examination of real events where people believed people that they should have like Hilter and did not believe people who told the truth (like people on death row who did not commit the crime). Makes you really think-how to avoid this? I am really enjoying it.