I’m just starting a book that looks appealing. Before I talk about the book, I want to talk about the imprint. Graydon House is a new imprint from Harlequin. This is the second book I’ve picked up by them. I loved Something Like Happy, the earlier one I read. Now, I’m trying Nicola Cornick’s House of Shadows. I can’t tell you how much time I spent today researching “the Winter Queen, Elizabeth of Bohemia”. House of Shadows is a romantic suspense novel, a time-slip novel that “weaves between the 17th-century life of the Winter Queen, Elizabeth of Bohemia, and a modern-day missing-person case.” It centers on Ashdown House, and if you search online for Ashdown House, England, you can see pictures of the actual house. That’s the house on the cover of the book.
So, my book has an interesting premise. What about yours? What are you reading this week?
I'm rereading a great SF novel, Clifford Simak's RING AROUND THE SUN.
I like that house.
I'm still having a problem finding books that I can just dive into and stay until the end. I've started a few things that were OK but didn't hold me, and a couple that I just said, "meh. Maybe later."
Anyway, I did read QUICK FIXES, the collection of Repairman Jack stories by F Paul Wilson. I'm currently reading OUT OF THE BRONX: The Joel Sachs Stories, a clearly autobiographically based book by Jerome Kass, who went on to write QUEEN OF THE STARDUST BALLROOM and its adaptation as BALLROOM.
In non-fiction I'm reading a giant, beautifully illustrated trade paperback, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction, by Grady Hendrix. It's a lot of fun looking at the covers of the old paperbacks, mostly spawned by the success of ROSEMARY'S BABY, THE EXORCIST, and THE OTHER.
I've started the third DS Lucy Black book set near the border of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic by Brian McGilloway, THE FORGOTTEN ONES (originally PRESERVE THE DEAD). Lucy's father raised her after her ambitious mother left them, but now he has Alzheimers and is in a facility (while her mother has risen high in the police ranks). While visiting him, the staff tells her they've spotted a body floating in the River Foyle, but when she pulls it out, not only is the man dead, he's been embalmed. So far, I'm involved.
I have BIBLIOMYSTERIES waiting at the library for me.
I read Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence in one sitting. I found it clever and funny. I knew there was a reason I've never read any Nicholas Sparks books.
Yesterday afternoon I finished The Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton. After 28 books I am breaking up with Agatha Raisin and hope she lives happily ever after with Sir Charles. The writing seemed scattered, the resolution out in left field and I lost track of the murder altogether or in reality quit caring.
Last night I started Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris. The Aurora Teagarden books are the only ones I've read by her. I have not watched any of the Hallmark movies based on the series which makes me wonder if that's why she's revived the series.
Sometimes, Bill, it's just comforting to do a reread.
I hate that Jeff, when nothing seems to work. If you've noticed, sometimes books appear on my What Are You Reading, but they never appear as a book review. That means I dropped the book, and it just wasn't working for me. I get it.
Sharon! I love your astute comments about all three books and series. Yes, Agatha Raisin was a disappointing book this last time. I'm guessing yes with the Aurora Teagarden series, probably for Hallmark. I like her darker books – loved the Lily Bard ones, and I really like the Midnight Crossroads ones. Not that found of Aurora, even when she was a working librarian.
Sorry I don't have the link, but a Canadian couple at Bouchercon were launching an interactive video game involving Lily Bard. They invited us to a launch party with Charlaine, but we didn't get back from dinner early enough.
I'm reading The Trophy Child by Paula Daly -quite good – I'm enjoying it. I have to agree about Agatha Raisin – just not good anymore.
I finished a Coz mystery 12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS which I enjoyed.
Iām currently reading a somewhat unusual paranormal mystery novella, FERAL-LY FUNNY FREAKSHOW by Ann Charles and a cozy mystery YULETIDE HOMICIDE BY Jennifer David Hesse.
Lessa I enjoyed the Lilly Bard books too. I wish there had been more of them.
Jeff, Well, I liked the Lily Bard books, but I know I wouldn't want to live in her world. I'm going to pass on that video game! Maybe for Sandy!
Interesting. I wonder what's happening with the sales of the Agatha Raisin books.
I'm reading Everfair by Nisi Shaw. The story is a little jumpy, but I would definitely recommend the book.
Count me in with those who have rejected more than one book lately because it didn't engage me immediately. I think it's because I know I have 3 holds waiting for me at one library and 3 in transit at another. I did, however, enjoy Ellen Byron's A Cajun Christmas Killing, and I'm hopeful about The Lost Letter by Jillian Kantor, which I just started this morning.
The following books I read this past week:
Murder in the Art Gallery by Sandi Scott
The Mystery of the Blue Dolphins by Sandra Baublitz
Strawberry Cream Cupcake Murder. by Ann S Marie
Blueberry Cream Cupcake & Murder by Ann S Marie
Chocolate Cream Cupcake & Murder. By Ann S Marie
Vanilla Cream Cupcake & Murder. by Ann S Marie
I am reading:
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins. I have kinder pushed it aside to read a ebook from a hold from the library with only 14 days to finish it.
The Western Star by Craig Johnson. Only on chapter 2
Lesa, have you gotten back into the reading groove yet?
I have been pushing it. I challenged myself to read more books than I did last year. As of today I am three books past the amount I read last year. I will keep on till the last day of the year. This will even be a bigger challenge for next year.
Have a fun week reading.
šššš
Charlotte,
Thank you. I am back in the reading groove. I have a couple books I'm enjoying, and I'm finishing one up right now. And, I'm really excited about one that's arriving next week, but it doesn't come out until the spring.
As they say, so many books, so little time. And, I think we'll all agree too many books that are good to worry about the ones that don't catch our attention.
Margie,
Just too many options, right?
I think I lost track of what I've read…
I know I read Quarry's Climax by Max Allan Collins. I think Collins is getting little soft with these. I feel like he's writing about subjects that are perhaps a little too close to home for him.
Silent Fear by Lance and James Morgan, a book loosely inspired by the murders at Gallaudet University several years ago and is way too long.
Murder Ole by Corinne Holt Sawyer featuring senior citizen detectives. Miss Marple they ain't.
Murder on the Serpentine, which I enjoyed, but seemed to have rather more modern attitudes than perhaps actually existed during Victoriana.
Written in Blood by Layton Green, a Police Procedural type mystery set in a hipster college town in the Carolinas.
Finally, This is Murder, Mr. Jones by Timothy Fuller. Feature Harvard criminologist Jupiter Jones. I read it thinking it had some sort of tenuous connection to the Three Investigators series, as Jupiter Jones was a character in that. But it's a different Jupiter Jones. What are the odds? It's a WWII set novel, written in 1943, and I wanted to punch Jones in the head by the end of the novel.
Not a great week, but I've had a lot worse.
Glen, I read that series by Corinne Holt Sawyer. You're right. They weren't Miss Marple.
Written in Blood was okay, but not great. Your reading week looked just okay, as you said.
Wow! I missed your post! Almost finished with Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer. Then will start The Beautiful Lost by Luanne Rice. I have been listening to Brother I Am Dying by Edwidge Danticat. I love the stories of this woman's life growing up in Haiti and more. I highly recommend this book!
Charlotte,
How did you read 6 books in a week. Do you eat or sleep? š
I just started "Glass Houses" by Louise Penny. My wife borrowed it from the library and is reading another book for right now. I have to hurry, because she will need it when she is done w current book. So far it's a typical Armand Gamache book.
I've read every one in the Gamache series.