Little Souls by Sandra Dallas

December 28, 2022

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas

Denver, 1918 - as World War II is winding down and the Spanish flu epidemic is ramping up, sisters Helen and Lutie Hite are coping the best they can. Helen is a nurse, caring tirelessly for influenza victims while Lute works as a graphic artist for one of Denver's leading department stores. Both sisters are engaged to be married. But their pleasant lives are shattered when Lutie returns home from work to find Helen crouching over a dead man with an ice pick in her hand. More disasters await them as they struggle to hide the man's murder.

I have mixed reactions to Dallas' historical novels. I have really enjoyed some of them, others not so much. This is one of the not so much novels. It's not terrible but the characters didn't engage my interest. I figured out the romance angle way in advance of when it actually happened. Also, the child abuse storyline is difficult to read. "Little souls" was a slang term for child prostitutes. Not recommended unless you are a die-hard historical novel fan.

A warning sign from the 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic, much like the advice we received in 2020-2021

True Biz by Sara Novic

December 22, 2022

True Biz by Sara Novic

True biz: American Sign Language expression that means really, seriously, honest truth

At the River Valley School for the Deaf, the students are just like kids everywhere: they want to pass their courses, go to parties, and hook up with one another. They also wish their parents, school administrators, and politicians would stop telling them what is the right thing for them. Especially the ones who are not deaf. Charlie is a transfer student with an unsuccessful cochlear implant. Her beauty pageant mother is desperate for her to be "normal" at any cost and pushed for the implant, not allowing Charlie to learn sign language. Austin is another student at the school, from a family with a genetic history of deafness and intermarrying with other deaf people. His world is turned upside down when his sister is born hearing. Eliot is Austin's roommate, whose mother resorted to faith healing to heal his deafness with disastrous results. When the school principal learns that local officials want to close the school and integrate the students into the public school system, she struggles to save the school, the students and her marriage.

There is so much here: coming of age, the deaf community and culture, family wanting to do what they think is best, use of sparse resources for the needs of a small percentage of the population. There is also the history of the deaf community, including standard American Sign Language versus Black American Sign Language (as well as sign language in other countries), plus the many problems with cochlear implants which are well-known to the manufacturers but hidden from the deaf community. Book clubs could spend hours or even multiple sessions talking about these topics.

As a hearing person, I never realized there was so much controversy within the deaf community. I know one person with a cochlear implant and another who was approved for an implant but opted not to get it. The person who did get the implant said it helped in some situations but certainly didn't give them great hearing. Not sure whether they regret getting the implant or not.

A really interesting read, highly recommended.

Cochlear implant

Exiles by Jane Harper

December 21, 2022

Exiles by Jane Harper

Aaron Falk, AFP officer, returns for a third case, this time in the wine country of Southern Australia near Adelaide. Falk has been invited to stand as godfather for his friends' new baby son, with the christening set to coincide with the local food and wine festival. But what should be a happy occasion is overshadowed by the mysterious disappearance of a young mother, as well as an unsolved hit-and-run case that continues to affect the community. As Falk learns more about the woman's disappearance, he begins to suspect that she didn't vanish by choice.

I really enjoy Harper's Aaron Falk series. Her detective is intelligent and professional, but also has a vulnerable human side. Harper writes clever intelligent mysteries that wind in all of the seemingly unrelated threads in a satisfying manner. I did not enjoy her previous standalone novel (The Survivors) that much, so I am glad that she returned to Aaron Falk. Readers who enjoy the Harry Bosch series will enjoy this mystery series set in Australia.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Wine country in Southern Australia

An Act of Foul Play by T. E. Kinsey

December 18, 2022

An Act of Foul Play by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong return for another adventure, this time investigating the murder of an actor in Bristol. Posing as a pair of socialites wanting to open an artsy theater, they go undercover to learn about the members of the company and who might have had a motive for wanting the man dead. They learn that just about everyone did, so they have to sort through the conflicting stories to get at the truth.

Such a fun series with two appealing heroines. This isn't Holmes and Watson - Flo is just as capable at solving a mystery as Lady H. Very enjoyable cozy read, highly recommended.

Bristol, England

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

 December 15, 2022

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

A history and expose of the pharmaceutical company that was largely responsible for the opioid epidemic, Purdue Pharma, and the Sackler family, the family that owned the company. Although the Sacklers didn't discover or invent oxycodone, they were responsible for marketing OxyContin, their own brand of oxycodone, as a safe, non-addictive pain reliever. The company's sales force continued to push doctors to over-prescribe oxy through sales incentives and marketing campaigns for everything from back pain to menstrual cramps to toothache.  The drug decimated rural and low-income areas in particular, and when the government began limiting the drug's availability, many users resorted to hard drugs like heroin.

First, let me say that oxycodone is a wonderful drug. I was prescribed oxy following surgery (which is how it is intended to be used) and it helped tremendously with post-operative pain. At that point, in 2021, oxy's addictive properties were well known, and even though I was prescribed enough oxy for seven days, I was encouraged to use it only when I really needed it (I stopped taking it after three days). It was criminal the way the Sacklers continued to push drug sales, long after they knew that people were dying from overdoses or moving on to stronger street drugs. It was unconscionable and indicative of a family that was morally deficit.

OxyContin, Purdue Pharma's trademarked brand of oxycodone

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

December 11, 2022

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Louise and her brother Mark have never gotten along. When their parents are killed in a car accident, they leave a controversial will that gives Mark the house, furnishings, and money, while leaving Louise with her mother's "artwork." After some bickering, they agree to sell the house but first they have to clean out all their mother's junk: dolls, puppets, puppets that look like clowns, paint by number pictures, string art, even a set of stuffed squirrels from when their mother took a taxidermy class. There are strange noises coming from the attic, and the dolls and puppets appear to be moving around. At first, Louise and Mark suspect that the other one is screwing with them (because that's what siblings do). But when a realtor does a preliminary walk-through, she tells them that the house has weird vibes and that they need to do a spiritual cleansing to get rid of the negative energy if they ever want to attract a buyer.

This is a really creepy book that has a cohesive storyline. Horror fans should really enjoy it but they'll probably want to read it in the daytime with the lights on.

(For me, dolls and puppets are in the same category as clowns, monkeys and mimes, when it comes to creepiness. I was creeped out before the actual horror even started. I would have packed it all up in trash bags and driven to Indiana (or maybe Ohio, since Indiana might not be far enough) to get rid of everything.)

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The television in the novel keeps coming on by itself, and it's always playing the Home Shopping Network selling dolls

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Bennett

December 9, 2022

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Bennett

On the first Christmas following her death, Liliana Armitage-Feathers has arranged for her surviving family to assemble at Endgame House, the family's country house. Every Christmas, they play a game, following clues that lead them to their Christmas presents. This year will be no different, except the clues will lead them to the ultimate holiday gift: the deed to Endgame House.

The Westing Game meets Clue (or Cluedo, it you're a Brit). I love mysteries set in country houses but this one was disappointing. The author was so focused on showing the reader how clever she is, that she neglected to use that same focus on the mystery. I had a good idea pretty early on about who was the murderer and who was working behind the scenes. I always read a few seasonal books, and this is my last Christmas mystery for 2022.

Disappointing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Christmas at an English Country House - always wanted a place like this

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

December 7, 2022

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

A group of teens living in an isolated Alaskan town find a boot with a dismembered foot on the shoreline. This is a frequent occurrence and the gruesome find is chalked up to a suicide or someone who fell off a cruise ship. But when an Anchorage detective hears about the discovery, she wonders if it is related to the disappearance of her husband and son a year earlier. She travels to the town, only to be stranded by a snowstorm and avalanche. With nothing else to do, she begins digging into the town and its residents.

This starts out as a nice "locked room" mystery with a limited number of characters who live in the same building in the same tiny town. Everyone is stranded by the snowstorm, unable to leave. There is even a moose named Denny. But about 2/3 of the way in, the author introduces a group of characters from a nearby Native American village (the "Rez Men," who she takes great pains to emphasize are NOT Native American) who are able to move about and come and go as they please. They all sound like their dialog is from a 1950s B-movie. I'm sure the author liked all of her characters and didn't want to make one of them the bad guy so she decided to pin it on someone from outside the town, but I hate it when authors do this. It's a cop-out.

Also, the two detectives are conducting a thorough investigation up until this point, but at the 2/3 mark, they suddenly get stupid. Instead of thoroughly searching the town and surrounding area for two children who go missing, including the nearby abandoned military compound (hint, hint), they decide to hop on snowmobiles and go search the Native American village that is two hours away.

The ending is just two unbelievable. The reader is supposed to believe that the murder victim in a tiny isolated town was somehow involved with the deaths of the detective's husband and son. How unbelievable is that?? Talk about a stretch.

And why does Cara, the female detective, start seeing and talking to ghosts, including her dead husband? I know she is supposed to have PTSD, but ghosts have nothing to do with the story and an editor should have cut out those parts. It pisses me off when authors portray women as weak-minded. The male detective doesn't hear or see anything supernatural.

Yamashita tried to deal with too many big issues: domestic abuse, drugs, poverty, suicide, illegal immigration, PTSD, the plight of many Native Americans. These are all important topics, but pick one (or two, at the most) and work with it.

Disappointing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Talkeetna, Alaska, where this novel does NOT take place

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz

December 6, 2022

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz

Hawthorne and Horowitz return for another case, this time at a small literary festival on one of the Channel Islands. Horowitz is invited to be a guest speaker and Hawthorne decides to go along. But when one of the festival sponsors is found dead, Hawthorne is enlisted to assist the local police. As they investigate the conference attendees and the island residents, they discover a lot more than literary rivalries.

Horowitz appears as a character in his own mystery, playing Watson to Hawthorne's Holmes. Not a good as The Magpie Murders but still has some good twists. Like most mysteries, it's one of the less likely characters who done it. I find Hawthorne to be an unlikeable character, who has his own sense of justice (not sure if other readers feel the same way). I enjoyed listening to the audio version.

One of the Channel Islands

Wellmania by Brigid Delaney

December 5, 2022

Wellmania by Brigid Delaney

After almost two decades of partying hard every night, Australian journalist Brigid Delaney details her search for health via the multi-billion dollar wellness industry. After being prescribed drugs for high blood pressure and high cholesterol in her late 30s (more commonly prescribed to people in their 60s), she decides she is going to change her life and fix her health naturally.

The first half of the book is very interesting as the author talks about undertaking a controversial 101 day fast, then getting into an intensive six-week yoga program that includes taking a 90 minute yoga class daily. Later she experiments with various types of mediation an retreats. One of the things that she notices is that when you start pursuing health via one of these intensive programs, it brings up all the shit that you have stored down in the basement that you'd rather not think about (relationships, wasted years, why you go out drinking every night, etc.). She also talks about the wellness industry itself which is supposed to be for everyone, but then places like Lululemon sell yoga pants for over $100 a pair and the largest size they come in is a 10. But then in the second half, she frequently drifts off into politics and the state of the world (pre-Covid 19) and gets off track. The takeaway is that if you decide to do any of these things for yourself, the most beneficial is vedic meditation.

The book is supposed to be made into a movie next year.

An advanced yoga pose - Delaney notes that unless you're born with a specific type of body or are willing to take a 90-minute yoga class every day, it's unlikely that most of us will ever be able to achieve this level.

Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson

December 4, 2022

Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson

Lydia Southwell is a translator for the Logi cultural attache, Fitzwilliam (not his real name, but as close as possible in English). Translating from English to Logi is exhausting and leaves the translator feeling drunk. After having a public meltdown, Lydia takes a short vacation home to England, then returns to New York to resume her duties. After a cultural event and banquet, Lydia wakes up the next morning to discover that Fitzwilliam has been murdered and that she is the prime suspect.

Confusing plot as conspiracy books often are. There are a lot of peripheral characters who are red herrings or have no bearing on the plot at all (like Lydia's brother Gil and his friend Rank), who are in the story briefly and then just fade away. It all turns out to be an elaborate set-up, a lot of the characters turn out to be actors, and there is actually just one person behind the murder. The reader is left wondering why. Overall rating: meh.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Seven Moon of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

December 1, 2022

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

Maali Almeida (photographer, gambling addict, promiscuous gay man) wakes up in what appears to be a government office, to find out that he is dead and his dismembered body has been thrown in Beira Lake in Colombo, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). He has no idea who killed him (although he has an idea why), and he learns that he has seven days (moons) to get any answers to his questions, including contacting his lover and his best friend about some explosive photos that he took.

Winner of the 2022 Man Booker Prize and deservedly so. There are threads of folklore as well as hints of books like Lincoln in the Bardo (George Saunders), A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry), and Elsewhere (Gabrielle Zevin). You also learn a lot about Sri Lankan politics and the civil war along the way. BTW, I knew who the King and Queen were long before the characters realized. Highly recommended, although not for everyone since the style is somewhat experimental.

Colombo, Sri Lanka, capitol city of Sri Lanka

Beira Lake, which figures prominently in the novel

Soldier in Sri Lankan civil war

Madam by Debby Applegate

November 29, 2022

Madam by Debby Applegate

A biography of Polly Adler, notorious New York madam, as much a history of New York City in the first decades of the 20th century as a biography. Polly started out as a nice Jewish girl from Russia who came to America alone as 13 year old Perle, seeking the golden land. After working a series of low paying jobs (such as factory worker and seamstress), Polly realized that she wanted more and the fastest way to get there was by opening a brothel. Polly was known for having some of the most beautiful prostitutes in New York working for her.

The book is well-researched and an astonishing number of famous writers, actors, and politicians, as well as gangsters, were friends, clients, and associates of Polly. The book is very long and there is a little too much detail about Polly's many, MANY addresses around New York, as well as the number of times she was interviewed by the police, which could have perhaps been summarized (such as, "In 1935, Polly was interviewed by the police about Dutch Schultz at least 15 times."). But it was an interesting biography about an independent self-made businesswoman and author who is virtually unknown today. She wrote a book called A House is Not a Home that was made into a movie - Shelley Winters portrayed Polly in the film.

Polly Adler at her most glamorous

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

November 28, 2022

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Emily Sheridan and Chess Chandler have been friends since elementary school. Both are writers: Emily writes cozy mysteries and Chess writes self-help books. Following a bad period in Emily's life, Chess suggests they spend the summer at a villa in Italy where both can work on their writing. At first, the house seems like the perfect place to spend the summer. But when Emily learns that a murder occurred at the villa 50 years earlier, she begins to dig deeper into the story.

There are two timelines here, set 50 years apart, that mirror each other to a certain extent. I figured out the plot about one third of the way into the story. But there were some unexpected twists as well as two different endings, and the reader is left wondering about the truth. Quite a few of the characters are unlikeable, so it didn't bother me when they died or got killed. This is enjoyable escape fiction, well-written, that is perfect for vacation, and readers of psychological or suspense fiction will be drawn into the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Orvieto, Italy, the setting for The Villa

#veryfat #verybrave by Nicole Byer

November 28, 2022

#veryfat #verybrave by Nicole Byer

Comedian Nicole Byer celebrates her plus-size body in this collection of photos showing off her collection of bikinis. She also talks about growing up as a large child and living as a plus-size adult in a society that scorns fat people. She discusses her acting career and how she gained the confidence to be #brave enough to appear in her bikinis in public. 

Nicole is a funny lady and I enjoy watching her on the Netflix baking disaster series Nailed It! The cover photo is a take-off on a photo of the singer Lil Kim.

Nicole on Nailed It!

Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore with Eric C. Westman, M.D.

November 27, 2022

Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore with Eric C. Westman, M.D.

A beginner's guide to starting a keto diet with explanations of how keto differs from low calorie, low carb, and paleo diets. My sister-in-law is doing some kind of carnivore's diet, so I wanted to see if that's the same thing as keto. It's not.

The research on keto's positive effect on a variety of health conditions is intriguing, including diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular disease, aging, and cognitive disorders. Carbs are my downfall and I do better if I stay away from carbs altogether, rather than trying to limit them like plans like WW do (which works well for some people - one of my brothers has done WW for years with great success). Keto eliminates most carbs except for non-starchy vegetables and the few carbs that you may get in protein sources. I actually like vegetables (no, I'm not an alien), but this might be a good diet for the non-vegetable eater.

Another thing about keto that appeals to me is that you limit protein, since I'm not a meat lover. The hardest thing to get your head around is increasing the fat in your diet. If you aren't eating sugar or starch, you body will start to burn your dietary and stored fat. It seems counter-intuitive to eat fat when you already have plenty of fat stored around your body, but it seems like the dietary fat triggers fat burning. Also, it's been drummed into us for decades that fat is bad for you, even though studies have proved that this isn't true, that it's based on a hypothesis rather than genuine research. Most of what the government tells us about what we should eat comes from lobbyists from various food industries (sugar, snack foods, dairy, grain, juice box manufacturers, soda producers, etc.) and who will pay the most money. Most doctors know very little about nutrition since they don't take even a single class on diet in medical school - I've heard that nutritional instruction is an hour or two at the most.

Overall, keto sounds like it might be a good way to give your organs a rest, especially your liver, kidneys, and pancreas, so I am planning on trying it for 30 days and then evaluating the results.

Peanut butter fat bombs, one of the more delicious things that you can eat on keto

Nut butter fat bombs:

1 c. nut butter (preferably almond or cashew, but I used low sugar p.b.)

3/4 c. coconut oil

2-3 T. unsalted butter

2-3 packets stevia

Combine all ingredients in a microwavable bowl and heat in microwave until melted, stirring about every 30 seconds. Pour mixture into ice cube trays or other container. Freeze for two hours. If using a larger container, freeze for 1-1/2 hours and cut into 16 portions, then freeze until solid. Enjoy one after dinner in place of a high-carb dessert. Makes 16 servings.

The Maker of Swans by Paraic O'Donnell

November 20, 2022

Eustace is a servant to Mr. Crowe, a mysterious man with a magical literary talent. Crowe shares his home with his ward, Clara, a mute girl who is extremely intelligent, and writes and draws. But when Mr. Crowe commits a violation of the rules that govern his magic and is set a task to atone for his offense, Clara is abducted until Mr. Crowe completes his punishment.

This is a difficult book to review. The writing is gorgeous and lush, and I really enjoyed listening to the story. Also, the characters are fascinating and I wanted to learn more about them. The book has two parts: the first part has very little magic in it and is just a good story about a reclusive man, his faithful servant who cleans up his messes, and the child who lives with them. The second part is about Eustace descending into despair after Clara is abducted, and also about Clara's imprisonment.

One of the novel's problems is that Mr. Crowe's magical power is referred to in only the vaguest of terms, so vague that the reader isn't sure what it is that he can do. It sounds like he might be a writer's muse of some sort, but it isn't clear. Another problem is that the book ends quite abruptly. Some people loved it, but I'm ambivalent.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

November 19, 2022

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

The six Mitford sisters are the toast of the London social scene, even in the middle of a worldwide economic depression. Oldest sister Nancy concentrates on her marriage and her writing, while sisters Diana and Unity are caught up in Hitler's fascism and become close personal friends of the Fuhrer, as well as strong supporters of the British Union of Fascists. Meanwhile, younger sister Jessica is a devout communist and runs off to Spain with her boyfriend to fight Franco's regime.

Marie Benedict really captures life in England and Germany between the two world wars. She focuses on the three oldest sisters: Nancy, the best known of the sisters for her writing; Diana, married to the head of the British Union of Fascists; and Unity, Nazi fangirl who possibly had an affair with Hitler. As with all of Benedict's books, research is sound and even readers who are unfamiliar with this time period will have no problem being caught up in the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Five of the six Mitford sisters

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

November 15, 2022

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

It's almost the holiday season. On his way to a charity dinner, Mayor Alex Oliva is shot and killed in his driveway. Lawyer Andy Carpenter is drawn into the case when his Golden Retriever Tara digs up a body in the local park. After a reporter who had a grudge against the mayor is arrested for the crime, the editor of the local paper asks Andy to represent the reporter. But when a second person is killed, Andy suspects there is more going on than just an unhappy constituent. 

Fun holiday read. As usual, reluctant lawyer Andy lets his friends sucker him into taking on another case that he doesn't want. It's not necessary to read the series in order. If you like lighter mysteries and dogs, this series is a good choice.

BTW - Andy believes that Tara, his Golden Retriever, is the best Golden Retriever ever, but he's wrong - that title goes to my Golden Retriever Luke.

Paterson, NJ, Andy's hometown

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

November 15, 2022

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

Ann Stilwell is a Renaissance art graduate student who is offered a summer internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but when she arrives, the only position available is at The Cloisters, a branch of MOMA that specializes in medieval art. At The Cloisters, Ann works with the stunning Rachel and Patrick, the equally stunning curator who is obsessed with finding an original tarot deck from the 15th century. When one of her co-workers is murdered, Ann realizes that she is part of a dangerous game.

I love all things medieval and I've always wanted to visit The Cloisters in New York. Medieval literature was one of my concentrations in grad school, so I was looking forward to reading Hays' novel. I loved the setting, and the descriptions of the museum and the gardens were wonderful. But the plot really dragged, and the characters were irritating. Ann was incredibly naive, Rachel vacillated between brilliant, manipulative, and extremely childish, and Patrick's only real interests were tarot and Rachel. There is also a lot about the cutthroat world of academia. I guess publishing houses don't have editors anymore?

Many thanks to Edeweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC. Wish I had liked it more.

The Cloisters museum in New York

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

November 14, 2022

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Children's author Beatrice Darker is celebrating her 80th birthday on Halloween, and her family is gathering at her house on an isolated island off the coast of Cornwall. Once it's high tide in the early evening, the house will be cut off from land. Her son Frank, his ex-wife Nancy (who Beatrice is actually closer to than her son), their three daughters Rose, Lily and Daisy, and Lily's daughter Trixie are largely estranged from each other, so this will be the first time that the whole family is together in a long time. It will be an uncomfortable gathering at best. But in the middle of the night, one family member is found dead and it appears someone plans to pick off another one every hour.

A review in one sentence: And Then There Were None meets The Sixth Sense. Even the book cover is a rip-off from Agatha Christie. It kept me reading right up until the disappointing ending. At least the dog is okay at the end.

The Cornwall coast

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

November 11, 2022

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

Ten years ago, famous magician Violet Volk disappeared in the middle of her stage act. Violet always had magic tricks that seem beyond rational explanation, even to other magicians. No one has seen or heard from her in ten years, not even her sister Sasha, although rumors of Violet sightings run wild on the Internet, creating a cult of Violet fanatics. Unlike her sister, Sasha has led a quiet life in their hometown of Willow Glen, NJ, with a husband, daughter and business. To protect her family, Sasha tries to avoid all the misinformation about Violet. But now the ten-year anniversary of her vanishing is approaching, and the uproar is increasing to new levels, with a podcast series in addition to the annual vigil. As Violet mania intensifies, Sasha begins to wonder if she is losing her mind.

This started out as a decent missing persons story, and I would have been happier if it had stayed that way without the magical realism slant. Although some readers may find it annoying, I liked the combination of narrative mixed with podcasts, emails, and interviews - it worked quite well in the audio format and reflects how we get information in the 21st century. Sasha also talks about the horrible things that people do today, like throwing a Molotov cocktail through the window of her business because someone didn't think she was grieving properly (again, a reflection of the times we live in).

But then the ending just falls flat. Instead of finding out what happened to Violet, the reader is led to believe that she transported to some higher plane or alternate universe, and that maybe Sasha wants to go there, too. This is the second book by Montimore that I've read - the first one was disappointing, but I decided to give her another try. This one was disappointing too. It's like she gets her characters into a situation and then can't figure out how to get them out, without "magic."

A female magician with her male assistant - there are plenty of female magicians out there

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

November 10, 2022

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and her friends Adeena and Elena have finally opened their cafe, the Brew-ha Cafe, in Shady Palms, IL, right next door to Lila's family's Filipino restaurant. They are getting ready to participate in the town's annual holiday bazaar, when Lila's prodigal cousin Ronnie returns home to Shady Palms as the new owner of the local winery. But when one of his financial backers dies suddenly after drinking one of Ronnie's wines, Ronnie is a prime suspect and Lila's aunt asks her to help clear his name.

This is the third book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series, a cozy mystery series centered around a Filipino family restaurant in a small town about 100 miles from Chicago. Lots of food and eating. There are recipes in the back of the books for some of the traditional Filipino dishes. I worked with Mia's mom, Marian, for years at the Chicago Public Library, and I know she is proud as heck of Mia. Very enjoyable mysteries.

Bibingka, a traditional Filipino coconut cake served during the Christmas holidays

Crooked River by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

November 9, 2022

Crooked River by Douglas Preston and Lincoln

Captiva Island in Florida is a vacation paradise, with beautiful beaches where visitors enjoy collecting a wide variety of shells. But one morning, dozens of amputated feet wash up instead. The case is strange enough that the FBI's most unusual agent, Special Agent Pendergast, along with his sometime-partner Armstrong Coldmoon, is assigned to investigate. Pendergast's ward, Constance Green, is along for the ride and manages to find her own mystery to solve when she's not working with the two agents.

This is #19 in the Agent Pendergast series. Agent Pendergast is mysterious and has a number of quirks, but his ward Constance Green (who has quite a backstory of her own) and Agent Coldmoon aren't far behind in the quirky/mysterious category. Very enjoyable series, looking forward to the next release. I would suggest reading the books in order so that you get the full narrative. I listened to the audiobook - the narrator gets the inflections exactly right.

Captiva Island

Crooked River State Park, Florida

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

November 7, 2022

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

A history of five English queen consorts from the 14th and early 15th centuries, well-researched with a focus on the lesser known royal women. They influenced politics and economics as well as fashion and the cult of courtly love. The narrative flows smoothly, intended for a popular audience rather than a scholarly audience. The bibliography and notes at the end are extensive, should the reader want to consult primary sources.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Philippa of Hainault, queen consort to Edward III