July 2019 Wrap-Up

Books Read
The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths (2015)  4/5 stars
When the body of a World War II pilot is unearthed, both forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson are called in for their opinion.  It is obvious that man was murdered, leading Nelson to investigate a local well-known family, while Ruth excavates for evidence that will lead to the killer.  As with the previous books of the series, the Ghost Fields is an intelligent and engrossing mix of mystery and the private life of the main characters.  (This series should be read in order.)

The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths (2016)  3/5 stars
DCI Nelson is investigating the murder of a young woman, a crime that could be connected to the poison pen letters being received by one of Ruth's friends.  The mystery and solution were a bit convoluted, but the story was interesting and the writing excellent.  (This series should be read in order.)

The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths (2017)  4/5 stars
When bones are found in an underground chamber, both forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson are called in to investigate.  Soon, Nelson is involved in a case involving the murders of two homeless men and the disappearance of three women.  Meanwhile, Ruth, though on the periphery of the case, becomes involved in the solution.  This is another well-written, intelligent, and gripping story by Griffiths. Ruth and Nelson are such likable people - - well-intentioned, fallible, and completely convincing - - that the reader is as much drawn to their story as to the mystery.   (This series should be read in order.)

The Art of Disappearance by Anita Desai  (2011)  2/5 stars
This is a set of three melancholy longish short stories.  Desai's prose is beautiful, sometimes poetic.  The plots of the stories, however, are meandering and uninteresting, exploring the inner workings of bland characters with endings that feel unfinished.

Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym  (1977)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths  (2018)  3/5 stars
An Italian colleague requests Ruth's help, but while visiting she discovers a murder victim.  Meanwhile, back in Norwich, a convicted murderer who has sworn revenge on DCI Nelson is out of prison and possibly stalking his family.  This one was more about the personal lives of the two, with the mystery being just the hook for hanging the story.  It was still well-written and engrossing, but lacked the suspense and atmosphere of previous books.

The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths  (2019)  4/5 stars
DCI Nelson becomes involved in solving a cold case from the 1980s, and later, a kidnapping case that may be tied to it.  Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist, helps solve part of the puzzle, while also dealing with specters from her past.  As with all the Ruth Galloway novels, this is intelligent, well-written, and engrossing.  The mix of  mystery with personal life is perfect, making for a hard-to-put-down read.

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths (2019) 4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths (2014)  3/5 stars
In Brighton, in 1950, a woman is gruesomely murdered in an imitation of a magician's trick, in a crime that seems to be connected with a special operations group from the War.  Griffiths' talent for arresting prose, entertaining plots, and likable characters shines through in this mystery.  There were a few plot holes, and the culprit's reasons weren't convincing, both issues which weakened the book. The Zig Zag Girl it's still a fun read, though, and completely engrossing.

Audio Books Completed
King Arthur: History and Legend by Dorsey Armstrong, PhD (2015)  5/5 stars
This is not a book, but a 12 hour course from the Great Courses about King Arthur in history and literature.  It was fascinating and informative, and Dr. Armstrong was clear in speech and idea, as well as an obvious expert in the field.

Birds of a Feather  by Jacqueline Winspear  (2004)  4/5 stars
In 1930, Detective Maisie Dobbs is hired for a missing person case, which leads her to investigate three murders which may all be connected to the Great War.  While Maisie's character isn't fully believable,  the writing is great and the mystery was fully engrossing.

The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (2015) 3/5 stars
Isabella, Lady Trent, continues her autobiography in this third volume, as she describes a sea voyage and subsequent adventures while hunting for aquatic dragons in the Broken Sea.  As with the previous two novels, the world building is fantastic and the writing solid, but it was certainly not as charming or captivating as the prior books. In addition, the plot dragged at the beginning, then occasionally through out, with most of the action occurring in the last quarter of the book, making for uneven reading.

Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh  (1962)  4/5 stars
This is another of Marsh's Inspector Alleyn murder mysteries.  One of Marsh's strengths is how well she introduces the characters before the actual event, letting the reader feel invested in the suspects and victim.  This book is also solidly plotted, and though the actual murder was a bit far-fetched, the overall whole was satisfying.

An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson (2008)  3/5 stars
Josephine makes a friend on the train to London, and when the girl is murdered, she becomes involved in the solving of a crime that has in origins in the Great War twenty years prior.  The mystery itself hinged on many coincidences and had some plot holes. The last third dragged on and on due to three excruciatingly long personal confessions.  I'm giving it three stars instead of two, though, because of Upson's good prose and character development.

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (1989)  5/5 stars
The eighth in the series, this Discworld novel introduces the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork, who must defeat a dragon summoned by a secret cult trying to take over the city.  This is one of Pratchett's best: witty, funny, intelligent, and wise, with a complex and entertaining plot, and fantastic, lovable characters.

Did Not Finish:
Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart
Another mystery located in the U.S. that I just couldn't get interested in, despite it's being historical and based loosely on fact.  I listened for a couple of hours, but never became connected to the characters or their situation.

A Death of No Importance by Mariah Fredricks
Yes, I tried another U.S. based mystery.  You can see where that got me.  The protagonist is a lady's maid during the Gilded Age that apparently has enough time on her hands to solve mysteries.  (I dumped one with the same premise in May.)  The historical accuracy of mores and social intricacies was lacking, and I couldn't connect with the character.

Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss by Rajeev Balasubramanyam
I listened to over an hour, but did not connect with Chandra nor feel any interest in his life.  I did not like Chandra's (the author's ?) view of the world around him or of his inner self, and I didn't care enough to stick around and see if he changed either.