Books Read:
Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung (1898) 2/5 stars (my review here)
The Angel of His Presence by Grace Livingston Hill (1902) 3/5 stars
This short Christian book is light on plot and, as one of Hill's earliest, is not a fully developed novel. It was still a pleasant quick read, though, and hints at Hill's style to come.
Audio Books Completed:
Cop to Corpse by Peter Lovesey (2012) 4/5 stars
A sniper is picking off police officers in the district. When one of Bath's own is murdered, Inspector Diamond follows his instincts and investigates the crime from an unofficial angle. I love Diamond; he is flawed, likable, and real. As usual, Lovesey created a solid plot with good twists and a satisfactory ending. I'm proud of figuring out an important part early on, but I was still kept guessing as the book progressed. I certainly recommend this series to mystery lovers.
DI Vera Stanhope finds a murdered woman in the steam room of her gym, sparking an investigation that that appears to be tied in with the previous death of a child. Vera Stanhope is a fantastic character, flawed and likable and real. The well-written plot was twisty and involved, with a satisfying ending. This series has become a solid favorite.
The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths (2020) 3/5 stars (my review here)
Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett (2018) 3/5 stars
This is a light, historical cozy mystery with pleasant characters and a nice 1920's atmosphere. The writing was good, but the mystery and solution were not particularly convincing.
The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves (2012) 4/5 stars
When DI Vera Stanhope's neighbor is implicated in a murder, Vera risks a conflict-of-interests to find the truth. The investigation expands when another victim is found, and Vera seems to be involved in a case with literary touches. The characters are nicely drawn, the prose is good, and there are many twists and false leads. Though a large coincidence played a major part, this is still another satisfying mystery by Cleeves.
Did Not Finish:
The Windfall by Diksha Basu
It began as a rather charming tale, but I became utterly repelled by the continual fixation on money -- then there was the body shaming, the idolization of the purely materialistic aspect of American culture, and some truly unlikable characters. I'm really surprised at the rave reviews.
Emily Fox-Seton by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I generally enjoy light Edwardian novels, and this was one of Burnett's most popular adult books and the type that I usually find delightful. After reading the first quarter, though, I still didn't feel connected to the characters, and actually found Emily to be a bit weak and easily bullied.
A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym
Her writing is fantastic, and this book was no different, but I just wasn't in the mood for a serious read.
