The Unwilling by John Hart

February 23, 2021

The Unwilling by John Hart

The French family has had their share of sorrow: son Robert was killed in Vietnam, and his twin brother Jason came home drug-addicted with a serious case of PTSD that landed him in prison. His mother has disowned him and is pinning the family's hopes on youngest son Gibson, about to graduate from high school.

Jason encounters Gibby at the local quarry where everyone goes swimming, and wants to reconnect with him. He proposes spending a day of fun and adventure together, but he shows up with two skanky young women. One of the women taunts the inmates on a prison bus and later is found murdered in a horrific manner (even if you're a skank, you don't deserve to be murdered). With no suspects, the police focus on Jason (who has a criminal record). Jason disappears, and Gibby and his girlfriend are determined to find him and help him clear his name. Their search leads them through the underworld where they meet bad people and learn bad things.

John Hart is a great writer and I have really enjoyed his previous books. This one was somewhat flat for me, partially since some of the characters were like caricatures. Jason is a macho sort, almost too macho, the kind who would say "if you don't do this, you're not a man." Likewise, X the criminal is so bad that he's like a supervillain in a comic book.

If you haven't read John Hart before, I would suggest reading Down River instead.

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

Trials and Tribulations by Jean Grainger

February 20, 2021

Trials and Tribulations by Jean Grainger

In the final installment in the Robinswood trilogy, Sam and Kate Kennefick have renovated part of the Robinswood estate and reopened it as a hotel. But they need help to run such a large house. Siblings Eve and her husband Bartley (seventh son of a seventh son, one of the travelers, tinkers or gypsies), Lady Lillian and her African American husband Beau, and Aisling and her troubled husband Mark all come to the estate, hopefully to contribute. Even Lillian, who at first is referred to as being as useful "as an ashtray on a motorbike" finds her niche. There are joys and sorrows for all of the family members, with a bittersweet conclusion.

I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a sweet, wholesome read, especially if you enjoy family sagas or women's fiction.

The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds by T. E. Kinsey

February 17, 2021

The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds by T. E. Kinsey

In post-World War I London, the Dizzy Heights jazz band has a permanent gig at the prestigious Aristippus Club. The owner plans a dance contest to attract new customers. But the musicians learn that a jewel thief is planning to steal a cache of diamonds hidden somewhere in the club on the same night as the dance contest, when there will be a lot of people around. The musicians are perfectly placed to do some light snooping, but the stakes are unexpectedly raised when a murder occurs at the club.

This was an Amazon Kindle First Read in 2021. T. E. Kinsey also writes the Lady Hardcastle series, and some characters from that series appear here. You don't need to have read any of the Lady Hardcastle books to enjoy this series, but that is a fun series too.

Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

February 10, 2021

Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

At the age of 16, Eliza Lucas' father left her in charge of the family's three South Carolina plantation while he went to pursue his dreams of military glory. As her father drains the family's funds, Eliza realizes that it's up to her to save the family. When she learns how much the French are willing to pay for indigo dye, she decides that growing indigo is the way to salvation. But no planters will share the secrets of growing indigo, so Eliza is forced to find other allies. Her most dangerous alliance is with a slave who is willing to teach her the process in return for Eliza teaching the slaves to read.

I enjoy historical fiction where I learn about something that I didn't know. Indigo Girl is based on historical documents, including Eliza's own letters. Eliza's dye proved much superior to English indigo and indigo dye became one of the South's largest exports and was the foundation for many Southern families' fortunes. 

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

July 29, 2022

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

In the 16th century, at the age of 15, Lucrezia di Cosimo de Medici (yes, those Medici) of Florence married Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. Alfonso was about ten years older than Lucrezia. Less than a year later, Lucrezia was dead. Historians believe that she died of tuberculosis or some other lung ailment, but immediately after her death, rumors began to spread that the Duke had murdered her.

Maggie O'Farrell creates a fictional biography based on the limited information that is available about Lucrezia. It's an enjoyable read with a storyline that implicates the Duke but still gives Lucrezia a happy ending. But the question remains: why would the Duke want to kill his pretty young wife? Lucrezia had yet to produce an heir, but they had been married less than a year and Lucrezia was only 15. The Duke went on to marry two more times, but neither one of those marriages produced an heir either.  Was the Duke infertile or gay? He did have a very close relationship with Baldassare, his lifelong pal and consigliere.

I enjoy books about lesser known historical figures and events, and I love Maggie O'Farrell's books.

The only known portrait of Lucrezia di Cosimo de Medici.

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

Lamentation by C. J. Sansom

February 4, 2021

Lamentation by C. J. Sansom

Summer 1546 - as Henry VIII lies dying, lawyer Matthew Shardlake is summoned to the palace by Queen Catherine Parr. As a Protestant supporter, Queen Catherine authored a distinctly Protestant tract which, if discovered by the Catholic faction, could bring about her arrest and execution. The manuscript has vanished from a locked chest, but a single page is found clutched in the hand of a murdered London printer.

At the same time, Matthew is dealing with a civil law case that is essentially a family feud regarding inheritance rights. Both cases are more complex than they first appear.

This is the sixth book in the Matthew Shardlake series. The titles in this series are well-researched and give an accurate picture of daily life of both courtiers and common people in the 16th century. There is seamless blending of real and fictional characters, and fiction with historic facts. This is one of my favorite historical series.  Highly recommended.

Demelza by Winston Graham

January 31, 2021

Demelza by Winston Graham

To the shock of both their families, Ross Poldark marries his servant Demelza Carne. Although she and Ross are genuinely in love, the shadow of Elizabeth, Ross' first love now married to his jerk cousin Francis, continues to hang over their marriage. While Ross struggles to secure mining rights for the local communities, Demelza tries to adapt to life among the gentry. Their first child Julia is born, to their great joy.

Demelza is a wonderful character, caring, selfless, and thoughtful, even to those who look down on her (i.e., Elizabeth and Francis), working to nurse others back to health when smallpox hits the community. She also aids Ross' cousin Verity who has fallen in love with a man that her brother (Francis the jerk) doesn't approve of. Demelza works to help them get together and in the end is proven right. (I don't like Francis - can you tell?)

This is the second book in the Poldark series. It's full of history, romance, joy and tragedy, and I think it will be my favorite book in the series.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

January 28, 2021

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

Even as a child, Marie Kondo liked order and was always reorganizing her family's home. But she would finish one room, and a day or two later, it would be in chaos again. She developed an innovative approach to clearing clutter, advocating a category-by-category approach rather than working room-by-room. The author asserts that if done correctly, you will never have to declutter your home again. Her system is based on evaluating each item to see if it still "sparks joy." If the item no longer excites you or is no longer useful, she recommends thanking the item for its service and then deciding whether to donate or discard the item.

She suggests taking every item of one type (for example, all of your clothes) out of closets and drawers, putting them all in a pile on the floor or the bed, and then going through the pile, evaluating each item. I have a feeling that as you get toward the bottom of the pile, you start discarding stuff faster just to be done with the task. Kondo even has recommendations about how to fold or store items such as t-shirts and socks. 

I tried this system on my clothes and it does work well. Where I got bogged down with with things like family collectibles (like my mother's crystal and my grandmother's silverware), which I don't want anymore, but I'm not sure I have the right to get rid of them without consulting other family members. Still working on that.

Also, you need to make up your mind that you're not going to buy stuff that you don't actually need or want, and to buy things only to replace other things that are worn out or being discarded. Otherwise you'll end up with piles of clutter again. Maybe that's more of a Japanese thing rather than an American thing.

Return to Robinswood by Jean Grainger

January 24, 2021

Return to Robinswood by Jean Grainger

It's 1946, and World War II has finally ended. Sam Kennewick, the new Lord Kennewick following the death of his father, marries Kate Murphy, the caretaker's oldest daughter. They return to Robinswood, the family estate in County Clare, Ireland. Sam's mother has attempted to sell the property but it is too run down for anyone to buy it. Sam and Kate decide to turn it into a hotel, but they will need help in order to rehab the decaying house and property. During the war, Sam's sister Lillian had an affair with Beau, an African American serviceman, that resulted in a baby, but they are unable to marry while Beau is still in the military. He returns to the U.S.A. to be demobilized, but ends up in prison. The second Murphy daughter, Eve, is living with a friend, helping to care for her children while they wait for the friend's husband to come home from the war. The youngest Murphy daughter's husband comes home from the war with a severe case of PTSD that results in increasingly violent behavior. When he ends up in jail, Aisling decides to return to her family home in Ireland. Refurbishing the Robinswood Estate and reopening it as a grand hotel may offer salvation for both the Kennewick and Murphy families

This is the second book in the Robinswood series. It's a very enjoyable read with a heartwarming story and familiar characters. I look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

January 22, 2021

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist, studying old bones from the Iron Age. She is 40-ish, overweight, and frumpy, living in a remote cottage with her two cats, living a quiet, orderly life. When a child's bones are found in the sand of a beach near her home, the local police suspect they are the bones of a child who disappeared about ten years earlier. But to Ruth's delight, the bones are much older, about 2,000 years old from the Iron Age. But then another child disappears and Ruth begins receiving threatening letters similar to the letters that the police received when the first child disappeared. 

This is the first book in the Ruth Galloway series.  It's a creepy mystery, very atmospheric, lots of dark and fog with the tide coming in and cutting off escape routes. Although Ruth describes herself as dumpy and unattractive, there are several men who are interested in her. I didn't care for this series enough to continue reading any more of the books, but many people enjoy it.

The Black Cat Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 20, 2021

The Black Cat Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is invited to the wedding of an old friend at the Earl of Bloxford's country estate in the Cotswolds. Before Lennox, Greggs, and Mr. Fogg even arrive, another wedding guest is murdered. Lennox's old nemesis Inspector Swift of Scotland Yard shows up to investigate, except this time, he seems to think that Lennox is there to be his assistant.

This is the second book in the Heathcliff Lennox series, with the same loony collection of friends that you'd expect in a P. G. Wodehouse novel. Not only is Mr. Fogg the cocker spaniel in attendance, Lennox receives a black kitten as a present from the bride. Fogg immediately falls in love with the kitten. The kitten, named Tubbs for his chubby appearance, is so small, it rides around in Lennox's pocket when it's not rearranging his desk. The cuteness factor is higher than in the first book but that's okay. This is a fun series that is a refreshing change from most mysteries.

What Once Was True by Jean Grainger

January 15, 2021

What Once Was True by Jean Grainger

Two Irish families, the aristocratic Keneficks and the working class Murphys. The Murphy children have grown up at Robinswood, a grand estate in County Clare, Ireland, where their parents work as caretakers. Lord and Lady Kenefick are British and even though Lord Kenefick gambles and drinks away the family fortune, they work hard to keep up appearances. Their once fine mansion is falling down around them and there is no money for repairs. After Lord Kenefick's death, Lady Kenefick decides to put the estate up for sale and moves to London.

With the loss of Robinswood, the Murphys are forced to find a new home and new jobs. With the start of World War II, two of the Murphy daughters move to England to join the women's air force, while the two Kenefick children are forced to reinvent themselves as well.

This is book one of the Robinswood trilogy, a heartwarming family saga. Anyone who enjoys domestic or women's fiction will enjoy this as well as readers of historical fiction.

Why Kill the Innocent by C. S. Harris

January 12, 2021

Why Kill the Innocent by C. S. Harris

During one of the worst winters in memory, the body of Jane Ambrose, a talented young musician, is found in a snowdrift. As music teacher to Princess Charlotte, heir presumptive to the throne, as well as the children of other aristocrats, Jane had ties to the royal court.

At first, Jane's death appears to be tied in some way to Princess Charlotte's upcoming bethrothal. But as a trail of bodies turn up in various London districts, it quickly becomes obvious that more than the court is involved and a complex web emerges. While Lord Jarvis and others close to the Prince Regent prefer to ignore Jane's murder, Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife Hero refuse to allow Jane's killer to go free.

I love this series, with its seamless blending of real and fictional characters with historical and political events. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Last Call: a True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green

January 9, 2021

Last Call: a True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green

In the 1980's, a serial killer was preying on gay men in midtown New York, hanging around gay bars until closing time, when he lured lonely men to leave with him. Dubbed the Last Call Killer by the press, he was bland and inconspicuous and faded into the crowds at the gay bars (the pianist at one bar described him as forgettable).

Even though bags of body parts were showing up along New York highways, law enforcement were slow to recognize a pattern, partly because the victims were gay men, and partly because there was no online crime network at the time, so the police departments in the various towns did not work together. 

His crimes have been largely forgotten with the AIDS crisis and the rising crime and murder rates. Elon Green remembers the victims rather than the serial killer, allowing each man's life to tell his story. Love the noir-ish cover.

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

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

January 8, 2021

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Galadriel Higgins, known as El, is a student at the Scholomance, a special school for gifted magical children. There are no teachers, yet the school itself determines the curriculum for each student.  The school's main purpose seems to be to weed out about 75% of the students before graduation, but it's still safer than the outside world, where the only chance for safety is to belong to a wizarding enclave. The enclave kids at the Scholomance are the only ones who have resources and a chance of getting out alive. 

El is an indie kid - she was raised by her whimsical mother in a magic commune in Wales. They are poor as dirt because her mother gives away her magic for free. El was supposedly born evil and has the potential to become a very powerful sorceress. Although the school seems determined to test or kill the students at every turn, El slowly makes friends (for the first time) and even has a boyfriend of sorts who keeps saving her life against her wishes. She and her friends are determined to find a way for more students to make it out alive and to protect the younger students.

This isn't Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series - the Scholomance is far deadlier. It's a cliche, but the school itself is a character. There is a really creative collection of monsters and supernaturals that inhabit the school. El has a very funny snarky voice, adding sarcasm to typical teenage angst. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Nightcrawling by Lelia Mottley

July 24, 2022

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

After their father's death and their mother's incarceration, Kiara and her brother Marcus are left to fend for themselves. They struggle along for a couple of years but eventually both drop out of high school to work at minimum wage jobs. When their uncle Ty makes it big as a rap artist, Marcus quits his job to chase a fantasy of becoming a rapper, too. With no way to pay the rent or buy food, Kiara resorts to selling herself on the street. At first she only works as a prostitute to make enough to pay the rent and the bills, but when the Oakland police catch her in the act, they force her to work as a prostitute for their fellow officers, even though they know she's underage, threatening to arrest her if she refuses. At the same time, Kiara is trying to protect a neighbor's child whose mother has abandoned him.

While this is really well-written (especially considering the author is a young adult herself), it was hard to read. It's gritty, sad, and yet compelling. Just about nothing good happens to the kids in the book: prostitution, trafficking, drug dealing, grinding poverty, rape, prison, single parenthood, foster care, abandonment by the adults who should have been caring for them, as well as by the systems that should be in place to protect them. About the only good thing that happens to Kiara is her friend Ale (who has her own grief to deal with). If you give yourself to the streets, it's as good as planning your own funeral.

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

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 6, 2021

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

After serving in the RAF in World War II, Major Heathcliff Lennox just wants to live a quiet life at his country home (he goes by Lennox - to his chagrin, his romantic mother named him Heathcliff after the character in Wuthering Heights - all the women that he meets insist on calling him Heathcliff). With him are Greggs, his former batman during the war, and Mr. Fogg, a golden cocker spaniel, plus Cook and Tommy the boot boy, who is also Cook's nephew and is being educated despite his protests. Shortly before they are to leave to spend Christmas with Lennox's uncle at Melrose Court, a dead body appears on Lennox's doorstep. 

After contacting the local police (who have no idea what to do), Lennox and company motor down to Melrose Court to share some holiday cheer. Another dead body shows up soon after their arrival, and Inspector Swift from Scotland Yard is intent on hanging Lennox for the crime.

This is the first book in the Heathcliff Lennox series.  I love mysteries set in English counrtry houses and I love this series - it's like Agatha Christie meets Downtown Abbey, or Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster and Jeeves with a dog plus all the zany friends and relatives. One problem with this series is that the characters spend a lot of time eating and drinking delightful things, so I found myself wanting to snack along with them. I can't wait to read the other titles in the series.

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

January 4, 2021

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

After serving in the war, Ross Poldark returns to Cornwall to find his whole world turned upside down. His fiancee is married to another man, his father has died, and his family home is overrun with livestock and drunken servants. In spite of everything, he decides to stay and start over.

Ross is your standard brooding hero, an angry young man. As he reconnects with the local residents, he begins making some non-traditional decisions about how he is going to live and work.

This is the first book in the Poldark family saga. It was written in the mid-20th century but has recently been re-issued since PBS is producing it for Masterpiece Theater. There are at least eight more books in the series.

Heartstone by C. J. Sansom

December 24, 2020

Heartstone by C. J. Sansom

1545 - England is at war again.  Henry VIII's invasion of France was a catastrophe, and his subjects suffer under his increasing irrationality.  At the request of Queen Catherine Parr, lawyer Matthew Shardlake takes on a case of alleged abuse committed against a ward of the court. At the same time, Matthew is investigating the case of a woman residing in Bedlam (whom he met in the previous book). With his long-time assistant Jack Barak, Matthew travels to Portsmouth to investigate a strange family where one death has already occurred. They arrive just in time for the French invasion, which has disastrous consequences for the English navy.

This is the fifth book in the Matthew Shardlake series and it is a wonderful addition to the series.  Wonderful research seamlessly blending real and fictional characters. This is one of my favorite series and I look forward to the next book.

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

December 22, 2020

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

Change is coming to the small town of Faha, located on the western coast of Ireland where nothing has changed for a thousand years. Not only is electricity being installed, the rain has finally stopped.

Noel Crowe is 17 years old when the changes come, living with his grandparents. The death of his mother triggered a crisis of faith that caused him to leave the seminary in Dublin. Christy, one of the workers installing the electricity, comes to lodge with the family, but his job isn't the only thing that has brought Christy to Faha. 

Lyrical prose, beautiful descriptions, and endearing characters are all reasons to read this slow-moving story where not much happens but so much happens.  The story will stay with you long after you finish the book.

The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabrielle

 July 22, 2022

The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabrielle

Interesting re-evaluation of European history during what we commonly think of as the Dark Ages.  Turns out they weren't so dark after all:  people, religions, and cultures migrated farther than originally believed, women had more influence than is usually credited to them, and broad terms like "Viking" need to be re-defined.  People who lived in the Bright Ages considered themselves to be as modern as we consider ourselves today.  The Dark Ages are considered to be dark only because fewer records were preserved, compared to later eras.

I was expecting the narrative to be focused on a popular audience, but I think it's a little too scholarly for that.  Serious historians will be intrigued by the author's new perspective.

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

When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald

 December 18, 2020

When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald

Zelda is a young adult who is on the spectrum and diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. She lives with her brother Gert. Zelda is obsessed with Vikings to the point of dressing like a Viking and carrying a sword. Her goal is to live a legendary life based on Viking values. When she learns that Gert has resorted to some illegal activities and questionable companions to support them, she determines that it is up to her to save Gert and herself.

This one wasn't for me. I had a problem getting into this book since it was hard to relate to the characters. There are a lot of positive reviews but I found Zelda to be a difficult narrator. When narrators are on the spectrum, I always wonder how accurately the author is portraying them. The author addresses a number of controversial topics including a long section on how Zelda wants to have sex with her boyfriend who is also on the spectrum, and how developmentally delayed young adults still have the same desires and needs as other young adults. I do love the cover art.

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

 December 16, 2020

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Shortly after winning the Oasis contest, Wade Watts discovers a new development in the Oasis vaults, one that will make the game even more addictive.  With the new challenge comes a new and dangerous rival, willing to kill to get what he wants.  Wade and his friends must band together to defeat this new enemy.

Ready Player Two is the sequel to Ready Player one.  It's no where near as good as the first book.  It was really disappointing because I loved Ready Player One so much.

Deacon King Kong by James McBride

December 12, 2020

Deacon King Kong by James McBride

In the courtyard of a Brooklyn housing project, a middle-aged church deacon shoots one of the local drug dealers at point blank range.  Even though there are at least 16 witnesses, nobody sees nothing.  The balance of the story focuses on what led to this event and the overlapping lives connected to the neighborhood.

Heartfelt and humorous, characters include project residents, church ladies, prostitutes, local cops, drug dealers, mobsters, and even a ghost or two.  There is a mystery, a romance, a treasure hunt and plenty of secrets. The main themes are what makes up a family and a community.  

The plot is really hard to describe - suffice it to say that I loved it. This is one of the best books that I read in 2020.

Revelation by C. J. Sansom

December 8, 2020

Revelation by C. J. Sansom

1543 - Henry VIII is courting a reluctant Lady Catherine Parr to become his 6th wife.  Lady C. is known for having reformist leanings, so the royal court and church officials are paying close attention.  At the same time, a young man who is a religious fanatic is committed to Bedlam for the insane.  His parents seek out lawyer Matthew Shardlake, hoping that he can assist their son. When an old friend of Matthew's is found murdered, Matthew discovers links to both situations.  Soon more murders occur that appear to have links to prophecies in the book of Revelations.

This is the 4th book in the Matthew Shardlake series, a wonderful historical series set during the time of the Tudors.  Lawyer Shardlake has links to the Tudor court through Thomas Cromwell and other members of the court.  If you like your mysteries steeped in excellent research, you will enjoy this series.

Haven by Emma Donoghue

July 20, 2022

Haven by Emma Donoghue

After a prophetic dream where God tells him to found a new monastery in a remote location, a priest chooses two monks to accompany him.  His chosen spot is a small island (really, a large barren rock) inhabited only by waterfowl.  No fresh water, no vegetation, no trees, not even any soil for growing food.  The two monks (one elderly, one young) devote themselves to survival and making it work, figuring out ways to collect fresh water, compost soil, and find fuel.  They manage to "MacGyver" every challenge that they face, until they realize that the priest is most likely an insane egomaniac.

I really liked the two monks and about halfway through, I was hoping they would push the priest off the top of the rock into the sea.  Although the priest is supposed to be focused on God, he really is focused on glorifying himself and how future generations of monks will think he was such a fabulous guy.

Not the best of Donoghue's historical fiction.  I do like the cover.  If you want to try one of her historical novels, try Slammerkin instead.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Where the Dead Lie by C. S. Harris

 December 6, 2020

Where the Dead Lie by C. S. Harris

When the body of a homeless child is found on the grounds of an abandoned factory, Inspector Lovejoy requests the assistance of Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin.  Devlin has assisted Lovejoy in the past when crimes involve members of the aristocracy, and Lovejoy suspects that someone from the upper classes is preying on street children, luring them with promises but torturing and murdering them instead.  Sebastian's investigation leads him through the underworld haunts of depraved aristocrats to find the murderer.

This is book #12 in the Sebastian St. Cyr series and it does not disappoint, although the subject matter does make for difficult reading at times.  Wonderful details about Regency life among both the upper and lower classes, great supporting characters like Sebastian's wife Hero and his surgeon friend, and great research on the social and political climate of the day make this a stellar historical mystery.

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee

November 27, 2020

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee

Desperate for a fresh start after World War I and the death of his wife in the 1918 flu pandemic, Captain Sam Wyndham accepts a job in Calcutta, India, to head up a new criminal investigation division.  He barely arrives before he is assigned his first investigation:  the murder of a senior British official (a rising man) whose body was found behind a Calcutta brothel.

The descriptions of India at the time of the British Raj are wonderful and the history of the time is very well-researched.  Set near the end of the British Empire in India, the British are desperately trying to hang on and maintain their standard of living, while the Indian populace are pushing for home rule.  These conflicts are reflected in the interplay between Captain Wyndham and his two detectives who represent these differing points of view.  Captain Wyndham is a damaged character who unfortunately is not very good at being a detective - this is one of the main flaws in the story.  This is the first book in a series so hopefully the main character will get better at his job

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom

 November 8, 2020

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom

1541 - With England in a state of political turmoil, Henry VIII sets out on a royal progression with his court to visit the far reaches of his realm and calm his troubled subjects.  Archbishop Cranmer tasks lawyer Matthew Shardlake with the unenviable job of ensuring that a suspected conspirator is returned safely to London to stand trial.  Shardlake also becomes involved in investigating the murder of a local businessman after pages found in the victim's possession that question the legitimacy of Henry VIII's reign.

This is book #3 in the Matthew Shardlake series.  Like the previous titles in the series, it is well-researched and provides a fascinating look at life in Tudor England in addition to a page-turning mystery.  The overall tone is darker than the first two books, but England was growing increasingly grim the longer Henry reigned.

Great series - highly recommended to fans of historical fiction.

The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul by Eleanor Herman

 November 18, 2020

The Royal Art of Poison:  Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul by Eleanor Herman

For centuries, royal families have lived in fear of poison more than any other weapon.  It was relatively easy for a disgruntled relative or courtier to slip a little something-something into the royal goblet or gravy boat.  Kings, queens, and their main advisors relied on food tasters and questionable antidotes (deer gallstones, anyone?) to hopefully save them from the common poisons of the day.

But a good number of suspicious deaths were more likely the result of dirty living conditions, poor hygiene, cosmetics made from lead and human feces, and the medical practices of the time.  This is a very entertaining and readable collection of the follies of past centuries - it will make you happy to be living in the 21st century.

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

The Swift and the Harrier by Minette Walters

 July 18, 2022

The Swift and the Harrier by Minette Walters

Jayne Swift trained as a physician but in 17th century England, women are not allowed to use the title of doctor.  When civil war breaks out, she strives to remain neutral and treat the injured on both sides.  Her resolve is complicated by a mysterious man named William Harrier - he seems to pop up everywhere.  Who is this man and what is his role?  Is he a spy?  Which side is he on?  It becomes increasingly difficult for Jayne to remain neutral with her father and younger brothers fighting for the Royalists, and her older brother fighting for the Parliamentarians.

This is a well-researched historical novel set in the 17th century at the time of the English Civil War.  I was drawn in for the first half of the book.  Unfortunately, the war scenes, political arguments, and medical treatments become repetitious as the book goes on.  Although the reader understands that Jayne is supposed to be progressive in her medical treatments, some of her practices are suspiciously 21st century.  

I am a fan of the author's previous crime novels which are excellent, but not so fond of her historical fiction.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

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

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

November 2, 2020

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

(Yes, this is a title that I read in 2020.  I'm going to try to catch up the blog with the books that I've read in the past year and a half.  Before I had my hip done, it was too painful to sit at my laptop for any length of time, so the reviews didn't get done.  But I have the whole list of what I read - I'm obsessive/compulsive that way.)

In  post-World War II London, an unmarried middle-aged teacher decides to go search for a mythical beetle that has fascinated her since childhood.  She sets out for New Caledonia with a traveling companion who could not be more different from her, except that she too is at a crossroad in her life.  Although they have different reasons and goals, the two women must learn to trust and depend on each other, and an unlikely friendship develops.

This is a heartwarming historical novel in the same vein as the author's previous work The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry  It reminds the reader that the journey is often more important than the destination or the conclusion.

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

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

July 15, 2022

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Hello - I've been missing in action for a while.  I retired, I had a hip replacement, my sweet rescue dog Asia went to the Rainbow Bridge, etc.  Life happened.  All along, I've been reading, so I'm planning to reactivate my reading blog so I can inflict my reading taste on even more people (I already share them on GoodReads and NetGalley).

Sam and Sadie were childhood friends who bonded over illness and a love of games.  After being estranged for many years, they meet again in college and decide to collaborate on a video game.  With their friend Marx, they design and create several popular games.  Over the course of two decades, they experience friendship, love, and loss.

I've read several of Zevin's books and I really enjoyed this one - so far, it's one of the best books that I've read this year. The main characters in this novel are young adults but it's not a YA book.  It's also about gaming but you don't have to play games to enjoy it or connect with the characters.  Even though I'm over 60, I play games online like many people do, so I understood the definitions about the different types of games and the abbreviations, although the terms are explained well enough for non-gamers to understand.  (While I don't care for shooter or racing games, I do enjoy world-building games and puzzles - there is something out there for everyone.)

I highly recommend this title to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction, well-developed characters, and a good storyline.  

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