January 2020 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
Dzur by Steven Brust  (2006) 4/5 stars
To help his ex-wfie, Vlad wades back into the middle of the affairs of the very crime organization wanting his head. Armed with his wits, his familiars, a Great Weapon, and the potential help of his goddess who likes to play tricks with his memory, his long-shot plan just might work.  Brust skillfully weaves two stories together against the background of a loving tribute to food.  Fast-paced and full of humor and adventure, Dzur is entertaining and satisfying.

Coffin Scarcely Used by Colin Watson (1958)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Black Piano by Constance and Gwenyth Little (1948)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Black Stocking by Constance and Gwenyth Little (1946)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Jhegaala by Steven Brust  (2008) 4/5 stars
Vlad goes East, to his mother's hometown, to try and locate relatives.  Instead, he becomes involved in the conspiracies of a small town where the Coven, the Guild, and the Count all vie for power.  Not as fun as other of Vlad's adventures, and a bit confusing at times, this is still an entertaining and well-written novel.

Audio Books Completed
Skeleton Hill by Peter Lovesey (2009)  4/5 stars
A skeleton is found that appears to be about twenty years dead, and in the same neighborhood, a homeless man is murdered.  Detective Peter Diamond of Bath CID takes on the two cases, convinced that they are in some way linked.  Lovesey is an excellent mystery writer and Diamond is most realistic with his good and bad points.  The plot was credible and the story engrossing.  This is another great addition to this series.

Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh  (1968)  4/5 stars
Inspector Alleyn's wife, Troy, makes a spur of the moment decision to take a five day pleasure river cruise.  Troy finds meandering the (fictitious) river in Northern England a true pleasure, until she discovers the murdered body of a fellow passenger.  This novels has excellent character development and plot, wrapped up in intelligent prose.  It was a bit convoluted a few times, but stayed intriguing to the end.

Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (1992)  5/5 stars
The three witches must defend Lancre from the Elves on the eve of Magrat's wedding.  This is a wonderful book, with much laugh-out-loud humor and even some touching bits.  Pratchett's world is so vivid and his characters so alive, that every trip into the Discworld is a delight, but this one is especially so.

Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers (1930)  4/5 stars

A woman is on trial for the murder of her lover, but Wimsey is certain she is innocent.  When the jury can't come to an agreement, he has a month to find out the truth.  This is one of Sayers best, in part because of Wimsey's emotional involvement, but also because it's an ingenious, if hard to fully believe, solution.

Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer  (1944)  4/5 stars
Lord Sheringham needs to marry to come into his inheritance, as he's badly in debt.  When his choice refuses him, he proposes to a childhood friend, Hero.  An orphan, she is about to be sent to be a governess, so this marriage of convenience is the perfect solution for her as well. What Sherry doesn't realize is that Hero has loved him all her life.  Friday's Child follows the first several months of their marriage, as Hero struggles to find her way in society and her place in Sherry's heart.  This is one of Heyer's best, with witty conversation, engaging characters and a plot that isn't as predictable as it first seems.

Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (1993)  4/5 stars
It's nearly impossible to describe a Pratchett novel, but in short: a dwarf is murdered with a weapon no one can fully envision, and the Night Watch becomes involved in the mystery.  Men at Arms fleshes out characters met in previous novels, and introduces some memorable new ones.  It's laugh-out-loud funny, but is also a richly layered, well-written novel.

Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (2006)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Raven Black by Ann Cleeves

Raven Black
Ann Cleeves
2006
4/5 stars

When a young woman is murdered on the Shetland Islands, the community is certain that an elderly learning-disabled outcast is responsible, as they had suspected him for the disappearance of a child nearly a decade ago. Jimmy Perez, the local inspector, is not convinced, however, and continues to investigate despite the arrest made by outside authorities.

This was quite a good story, with a compelling plot and strong writing.  The characters were believable, though not deeply drawn, and their interactions and conversations natural. The book is rich with details and intricate layers. I was certain I had the mystery solved, only to be taken aback by the true answer. This is the first of a series that I will most certainly continue.

The Black Stocking

The Black Stocking
Constance and Gwenyth Little
1946
4/5 stars

Irene is mistaken for a psychiatric patient, and admitted to a private hospital.  It doesn't take long to straighten out the mess with the handsome head doctor, but it's just the beginning of a mystery involving a disappearing corpse, a headless nurse, a black stocking, and, of course, a murder.

This isn't as much a screwball comedy as is usual with the Little sisters, but it is still brimming with humor and the absurd.  The plot is good and the solution extremely clever.  The characters are a fun assortment involved in ridiculous situations, generally reacting as any average person would.  The Black Stocking is a thoroughly diverting and engrossing book and while it's not the best example of their talent, it's still well worth reading.

The Black Piano by Constance and Gwenyth Little

The Black Piano
Constance and Gwenyth Little
1948
4/5 stars

While on vacation, Gloria Rouston finds herself pushed off a bridge, and she knows it's an attempt by a family member to murder her for her large fortune.  Instead of going back to her home, she uses all her cash to fix her nose and change her hair, and returns to town as Jane Cowrer, the new wife of a up-and-coming lawyer, determined to find out who wanted her dead.  In the meantime, her other husband, Dick Rouston, identifies a body as Gloria's, takes over her money, and becomes engaged.  Add to this an actual murder, a ghostly piano, and a whole lot of lies and secrets, and Jane/Gloria may be in too deep.

The Little sisters excel at writing laugh-out-loud slapstick comedies wrapped around a solidly good whodunnit.  The Black Piano, however, has none of their signature humor.  It is still a well-written novel with a nicely plotted mystery and a engrossing story.  I wouldn't recommend it as the first novel to read by the Littles, as it's not a good example of their talent for the zany and absurd, but on it's own, it is certainly a good read.

Coffin Scarcely Used

Coffin Scarcely Used
Colin Watson
1958 
4/5 stars

When the owner of the local newspaper is found electrocuted, Inspector Purbright suspects murder rather than suicide.  As the bodies pile up, Purbright puts his lens to the most upright of the male members of Flaxborough society, and finds vice worth killing over.

The blurb refers to Watson as "arguably the best of comic crime writers".  While he has an understated humor that shines out occasionally, this book at least was not the work of a comic genius.  (It was not even in the same class as the hilarious mysteries by the American sisters, Constance and Gwyneth Little.)  Watson does, however, have an excellent turn of phrase and paints an often absurd, but always vivid picture of this respectable seaside town. The plot was mostly credible, but the murder method was overly complicated and somewhat ridiculous; why that method was necessary was never explained.  Despite that, this is an intelligent and interesting mystery that starts slow, but finishes strong.

December Wrap Up

Books Read:
Issola by Steven Brust  4/5 stars
Vlad and his friends face up against the Jenoine, the enemies of the gods, which ends in a bittersweet reward.  Brust's world building is superior, and his characters real and likable.  The plot, while a bit convoluted at times, is engrossing, humorous, and even a bit emotional.  Another great addition to Vlad's chronicles.

Audio Books Completed:
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer  4/5 stars
This light Regency romance/mystery was both well-written and well-researched, as are all her novels.  The plot was, while predictable, enjoyable and the characters nicely fleshed out.

The Lighthouse by P.D. James  4/5 stars
Dalgliesh is called to a private island to investigate the death of a famous novelist.  The story is, as always with James, well-written with excellently drawn characters and a solid plot.

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett  5/5 stars
The witches travel to Genua, an adventure in itself, where they must face off with a fairy godmother who wants things to be too perfect.  Laugh-out-loud fumy, memorable, and even moving at times, this is a Discworld novel not to be missed.

Mr. Wray's Cash Box by Wilkie Collins  3/5 stars
This short melodrama, by one of my favorite Victorian novelists, was sweet and well-written, but lacked a deep enough story line to be memorable.

Not My Blood by Barbara Cleverly  4/5 stars
A young boy finds the dead body of his teacher and runs away to Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands for help. This is the tenth in a series, and my first Sandilands mystery, but I was easily able to work out the personal dynamics.  The novel was gripping from the beginning and had an eerie and believable plot.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly read more by Cleverly.

Small Gods by Terry Pratchett  4/5 stars
Brutha meets his god, Om, who is currently stuck in the body of a tortoise, and discovers that much about his religion is desperately wrong -- and just as desperately needs righting.  Pratchett excels at a mix of humor and the thought-provoking.


2019 Stats:
This year I read 55 books and completed 62 audio books, quite a bit more than 2018.  My goal for 2020 will be 52 books read, not counting the audio books. Main points of the year: I discovered Elly Griffiths and devoured her Ruth Galloway series, and began a reread of Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series (working my way up to the ones I've not yet read).   Here is the link to my Year in Books on Goodreads