October was another difficult month, as is shown by the low amount of books I consumed.
Orca by Steven Brust 4/5 stars
An immediate sequel to Athyra, this book finds Vlad attempting to help a young friend suffering from a nervous breakdown. He finds a promising healer, but in return for her help, she needs help of her own. As a result, Vlad becomes embroiled in a financial scandal that could rock the entire Empire -- and end in his death. As always, Brust creates a believable situation with living characters in an amazingly detailed world. Kiera the Thief pays a larger-than-usual part, with part of the story told from her perspective. Overall, Orca is intelligent, funny, well-written, and a great addition to the Taltos series; it also delivers an especially good surprise near the end, and, as with the others, should only be read in order of publication.
Audio Books Completed:
4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie 4/5 stars
One of Christie's most well known, this Miss Marple mystery seems so obvious and then throws quite a curve.
Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers 4/5 stars
Sayers' mysteries are so rewarding as they are extremely well-written, generally believable, and thoroughly enjoyable. In this one, Wimsey investigates what appears a natural death on the surface, but strikes the attending doctor as just a bit odd.
Heirs of the Body by Carola Dunn 3/5 stars
Daisy's cousin is searching for the heir to his title, which leads to murder. As all in this series, this mystery is light and cute, rather predictable, but pleasant to read.
An Infamous Army by Georgette Heyer 4/5 stars
This well-researched novel meticulously recounts the Battle of Waterloo, weaving a fictional couple and their romance into it. Heyer's novels are always a delight, and this one was in general, but the battle details did get tedious in parts.
Death at the Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh 3/5 stars
Marsh is a master, but this one wasn't her best. The pre-murder story was well-told, with the characters nicely fleshed out, but the actual mystery wasn't fully convincing or satisfying.
