The Storm King by Brendan Duffy

The Storm King
Brendan Duffy
anticipated publication date February 2018
4/5 stars

Nate McHale survives a tragic accident in his youth, and it's effect continues through his high school and college years.  Now, 14 years later, he's a respected surgeon and a family man, having left the past behind.  Then, skeletal remains are found in his hometown of Greystone Lake, and he returns for the funeral, and to discover the murderer,   This reawakens his past with a vengeance.

The Storm King starts slow and somewhat confusingly.  The reader follows McHale's return to Greystone Lake without any knowledge of the past.  Then, Duffy begins to weave the past and present stories together and the novel becomes enthralling.  Duffy keeps the reader guessing, both as to the identity of the killer, and to where the story is actually going.  The narrative flows quickly and pulls the reader along.  (Though, I must say that the last 80 pages or so seemed too long, and at a slower pace, and detracted from what should have been a dynamic ending.)

The main character is not actually McHale, but the town itself.  Duffy creates a history, and even a mythology of sorts, for Greystone Lake, which is one of the best parts of the story.  It's not often that location plays such an integral part of the plot, and this is well done and effective.

Overall, this is a fine suspense novel, engaging and entertaining.  If suffers from a rambling ending, but otherwise makes a great, quick read.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

The Beekeeper's Apprentice: or, On the Segregation of the Queen
Laurie R. King
3/5 stars

Teen-aged Mary Russell meets retired Sherlock Holmes outside of his farm in Sussex.  He discovers that Russell (as he calls her) has a mind as sharp as his, and takes her as his unofficial apprentice over the next few years.  This first in a series follows Russell's tutelage, the beginning of her Oxford career, and her first cases with Holmes, including a deadly game of living chess with a most skilled opponent.

This is an engaging book, but it reads like fan-fiction, with Russell as the quintessential Mary Sue.*  I certainly don't mean to imply that I disliked this mystery; as a Holmes fangirl for more than three decades, I can appreciate the desire to write a novel like this.  I did find it often unbelievable, Russell too perfect, and the final opponent over-the-top.  On the other hand, King's depiction of Holmes was wonderful, her treatment of his original supporting cast quite good, and the budding relationship between Holmes and Russell irresistible.  I reserve the right to appreciate this book as a near guilty pleasure, but look forward to the next one to see what develops.

*According to Wikipedia, a "Mary Sue" is " an idealized and seemingly perfect fictional character. Often, this character is recognized as an author insert or wish fulfillment."

Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair

Bramton Wick
Elizabeth Fair
4/5 stars

This novel follows the inhabitants of Bramton Wick over the course of a few months, as they go about daily business interacting with each other in various ways.  It is witty and snarky, yet gentle at the same time.  Fair is able to make most of her characters three-dimensional, despite the number.  The vignettes tie together and give an interesting and amusing picture of village life in post-war England.

I would especially recommend Fair to fans of Angela Thirkell.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
Farahad Zama
5/5 stars

In the town of Vizag, India, Mr Ali (tired of being retired) sets up a marriage bureau in his home.  Business does so well that he hires an assistant, Aruna, a modest and competent girl whose proud family needs extra income.  They can't afford to make a match for Aruna, but love appears in a very unexpected source.  Meanwhile, Mr. Ali must deal with an adult son that is prominent in a widely-reported protest, firmly against Mr. Ali's wishes.

This is a charming book.  It moves slowly, letting the reader get to know the characters in a way reminiscent of an Austen novel.  The marriages arranged through Mr. Ali's help are mentioned, but the main focus is the family relationships of the Ali family, and of Aruna's family.  A picture of culture and family life in India is painted, perhaps more idealistically than is true, but in fascinating detail.  Reading about the practices of both a Hindu wedding and a Muslim wedding was wonderful.  This gentle book was a delight to read, even the second time.

September Wrap Up

Books Read
Night and Day by Virginia Woolf   3/5 stars (my discussion here)

The Black Goatee by the Little sisters 4/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed
The Rise of the Automated Aristocrats by Mark Hodder   4/5 stars    (my review here)

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan 5/5 stars (my review here)

A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd 4/5 stars
Bess becomes involved with a family being persecuted by gossip and slander, and helps to find who is responsible.  Not the most mysterious of plots, as it was easy to figure out, but still well written and engaging.  I enjoy Todd's style, and am fond of the characters.

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall 5/5 stars  (my review here)

Latter End by Patricia Wentworth  4/5 stars
The new mistress of Latter End has everyone turned against her.  When she is found poisoned, the suspects are numerous. Wentworth sets up the mystery excellently by giving the reader a solid introduction to the family.  Once the murder happens, Miss Silver enters and unravels the clues, giving a most satisfying solution.

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall 4/5 stars (my review here)

Time to Murder and Create by Lawrence Block 4/5 stars  (my review here)