Books Read:
Tiassa by Steven Brust (2011) 4/5 stars
This, the thirteenth in the Vlad Taltos series, chronicles the history of a silver statue and how it affected Vlad, those connected to him, and the Empire. Old friends from another Brust series feature, and a long-standing mystery is answered. The story is told in three parts, in three different periods of time, and from several voices. Brust is skillful at weaving multiple plots together, at keeping the reader guessing, and at writing an intelligent, entertaining, and compelling story within an incredibly real world. I highly recommend this fantasy series.
City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill (1922) 4/5 stars
In this gentle Christian novel, Mark is accused of murder, and his childhood friend, Lynn, stands by him, while his young friend, Billy, has the proof to show Mark innocent, if only he will be unselfish enough to do so. The plot is surprisingly engrossing, containing an adventure story in addition to the mild romance. There were parts that would have been better more fleshed out, but overall, it's an enjoyable, light novel -- more substantial than a fluff-novel, but still a nice escape read.
The Black Smith by Constance and Gwenyth Little 3/5 stars (1950)
A private hospital is the scene of past wrongs, disappearing corpses, complicated relationships, and a bit of murder. The Little sisters are known for their screwball comedy-mysteries, but this one lacks the laugh-out-loud humor of their earlier books. There is still enough snappy banter, ridiculous situations, and bizarre characters, though, to make it an enjoyable read. The solution was the weak point; there weren't enough clues to point to the culprit and the reason was not fully convincing. I wouldn't recommend this as an introduction to the Littles, but their established fans will still find it fun.
Audio Books Completed:
The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World by Edward Dolnick (2011) 4/5 stars
Dolnick gives a brief but interesting sketch of the history of the Royal Society, and some of it's doings during the 1600s, alongside a more detailed account of Isaac Newton and his discoveries, with anecdotes of other 17th century scientists. With the exception of the long narrative about calculus, it is accessible to the lay-person, and written in an engaging and appealing style. The title is a bit misleading, as the idea of a clockwork universe is not the main point of this book, and only appears in the last chapters, nor does the Royal Society figure largely. Some of Dolnick's discussions about the religious atmosphere and about the general history of this period are too broad and do not give a correct portrayal. Overall, though, it is enjoyable and informative.
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths (2016) 3/5 stars
D.I. Edgar Stephens and his friend, the magician Max Mephisto, are roped into the investigation of the murder of the Colonial who was over their war-time unit, the Magic Men. The feel of 1950s England is convincing, but the plot was not. The personal lives of the characters are more interesting than the mystery, and kept the book lively enough to finish.
Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (1995) 5/5 stars
Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax leave the familiarity of the Ramtop Mountains to travel to Ankh-Morpork to check on the welfare of one of their local girls, Agnes. Agnes, currently in the chorus of the opera, becomes involved in a mystery featuring a ghost, some dead bodies, and the magic of the opera itself. The two witches have to stick their noses into it, of course, and the result is a delicious mix of humor, drama, intrigue, and pathos. The characters are wonderfully written, the prose intelligent and the plot engrossing -- in other words, a typical, delightful Discworld novel.
Faithful Place by Tana French (2010) 4/5 stars (my review here)
Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth (1948) 3/5 stars
While on a visit to a friend, Miss Silver is asked by the chief suspect to investigate a murder. As with all of Wentworth's novels, this is a cozy mystery with a a bit of romance sprinkled in, and featuring many false clues. The plot was quite interesting throughout, but the solution is actually told to Miss Silver by another person, and though she gives her reasons later as to why she already knew, this was an unsatisfactory way to resolve the mystery.
Tiassa by Steven Brust (2011) 4/5 stars
This, the thirteenth in the Vlad Taltos series, chronicles the history of a silver statue and how it affected Vlad, those connected to him, and the Empire. Old friends from another Brust series feature, and a long-standing mystery is answered. The story is told in three parts, in three different periods of time, and from several voices. Brust is skillful at weaving multiple plots together, at keeping the reader guessing, and at writing an intelligent, entertaining, and compelling story within an incredibly real world. I highly recommend this fantasy series.
City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill (1922) 4/5 stars
In this gentle Christian novel, Mark is accused of murder, and his childhood friend, Lynn, stands by him, while his young friend, Billy, has the proof to show Mark innocent, if only he will be unselfish enough to do so. The plot is surprisingly engrossing, containing an adventure story in addition to the mild romance. There were parts that would have been better more fleshed out, but overall, it's an enjoyable, light novel -- more substantial than a fluff-novel, but still a nice escape read.
The Black Smith by Constance and Gwenyth Little 3/5 stars (1950)
A private hospital is the scene of past wrongs, disappearing corpses, complicated relationships, and a bit of murder. The Little sisters are known for their screwball comedy-mysteries, but this one lacks the laugh-out-loud humor of their earlier books. There is still enough snappy banter, ridiculous situations, and bizarre characters, though, to make it an enjoyable read. The solution was the weak point; there weren't enough clues to point to the culprit and the reason was not fully convincing. I wouldn't recommend this as an introduction to the Littles, but their established fans will still find it fun.
Audio Books Completed:
The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World by Edward Dolnick (2011) 4/5 stars
Dolnick gives a brief but interesting sketch of the history of the Royal Society, and some of it's doings during the 1600s, alongside a more detailed account of Isaac Newton and his discoveries, with anecdotes of other 17th century scientists. With the exception of the long narrative about calculus, it is accessible to the lay-person, and written in an engaging and appealing style. The title is a bit misleading, as the idea of a clockwork universe is not the main point of this book, and only appears in the last chapters, nor does the Royal Society figure largely. Some of Dolnick's discussions about the religious atmosphere and about the general history of this period are too broad and do not give a correct portrayal. Overall, though, it is enjoyable and informative.
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths (2016) 3/5 stars
D.I. Edgar Stephens and his friend, the magician Max Mephisto, are roped into the investigation of the murder of the Colonial who was over their war-time unit, the Magic Men. The feel of 1950s England is convincing, but the plot was not. The personal lives of the characters are more interesting than the mystery, and kept the book lively enough to finish.
Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (1995) 5/5 starsNanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax leave the familiarity of the Ramtop Mountains to travel to Ankh-Morpork to check on the welfare of one of their local girls, Agnes. Agnes, currently in the chorus of the opera, becomes involved in a mystery featuring a ghost, some dead bodies, and the magic of the opera itself. The two witches have to stick their noses into it, of course, and the result is a delicious mix of humor, drama, intrigue, and pathos. The characters are wonderfully written, the prose intelligent and the plot engrossing -- in other words, a typical, delightful Discworld novel.
Faithful Place by Tana French (2010) 4/5 stars (my review here)
Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth (1948) 3/5 stars
While on a visit to a friend, Miss Silver is asked by the chief suspect to investigate a murder. As with all of Wentworth's novels, this is a cozy mystery with a a bit of romance sprinkled in, and featuring many false clues. The plot was quite interesting throughout, but the solution is actually told to Miss Silver by another person, and though she gives her reasons later as to why she already knew, this was an unsatisfactory way to resolve the mystery.
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