Diamond Dust by Russ Swain

September 17, 2024

Diamond Dust by Russ Swain

After borrowing $10,000 from a loan shark and realizing he had no way to repay the loan, Russ Swain decided to put his artistic skills to good use and forged a pile of $20 bills that were so good even the Secret Service had a hard time detecting them. After his life crashed down around him, Swain used his talent to rebuild his life.

Who doesn't love a good Mormon book? A lot of information about what makes U.S. currency unique (who knew there was silk in the paper or that the surface has a slight grit to it), as well as how to counterfeit a $20 bill. Will appeal to readers of true crime, general nonfiction, and do-it-yourself.

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

Example of a counterfeit $20 bill

The Curse of the Marquis de Sade by Joel Warner

May 17, 2023

The Curse of the Marquis de Sade by Joel Warner

The Marquis de Sade was imprisoned in the notorious Bastille prison in Paris. He was a prolific writer, penning plays, essays, novels, short stories and political tracts, although he is best known for his erotic works. While in the Bastille, he wrote his magnum opus, "120 Days of Sodom." The manuscript was written on paper that was four inches wide; when he got to the bottom of the page, he glued another page to the bottom and kept writing. When the page was 40 feet long, he turned it over and wrote on the other side. When the Marquis was moved to another prison, the manuscript was left behind and later found after the Bastille was liberated. The manuscript became a collector's item, passing from one collector to another.

Part biography, part history of the notorious manuscript and other erotic literature, part investigation of the mania that grips collectors. The chapters about the Marquis's life and the history of erotic literature are far more interesting than the parts about rare documents as an investment. Should have been more interesting than it was.

The Marquis de Sade

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.

The Nanny by Gilly MacMillan

August 31, 2019

The Nanny by Gilly MacMillan

When Jocelyn Holt was seven years old, her beloved nanny left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.  When she asked where Nanny Hannah had gone, her mother blamed Jocelyn for the nanny's departure, saying that she was a terrible child and the nanny couldn't stand her anymore.  With her parents spending most of their time in London, the little girl was soon shipped off to boarding school, and she never forgave her parents' for her loveless childhood.  Thirty years later, Jo is widowed and forced to return to her family's estate in rural England with her daughter, Ruby.  While Jo and Ruby are boating on the lake, they find a human skull in the water.  Jo suspects it may be Hannah, but if it is, who put it there?  And if it's not Hannah, who is it?

I enjoyed this very much.  Nannies are popular fictional characters because they are outsiders who are invited into the home to share intimate space with the family.  Fictional nannies can be wonderful (like Mary Poppins) or they can be psychopaths.  I usually don't read "nanny" books (The Perfect Nanny, Woman No. 17, The Au Pair) because the nannies all tend to be troubled women out for revenge, but this one appealed to me because it was about a missing person at an English country home that might be a cold case.  

The Nanny includes many of the themes that make psychological fiction so great:  family secrets, false identity, tense relations between the family and the locals, missing or false memories, illegal business dealings.  With interesting characters and fast pacing, this is a great reading choice for vacation or a long weekend.

Many thanks to NetGally and the publisher for an e-ARC in return for a review.