Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee (2018) 4/5 stars (my review here)
Death in the East by Abir Mukherjee (2019) 4/5 stars (my review here)
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (2020) 3/5 stars
This is a generally charming novel taking place in a Regency England filled with magic, where a young woman is suffering from a fairy curse that has taken away half her soul. Atwater is heavy handed with her morality message, unfortunately, and about half way through, she sends the plot in that direction, away from the interesting plight of the heroine, and creates a novel less engaging than it could have been. Despite that, I enjoyed both the characters and the sweet romance, and those aspects kept my attention until the end.
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch (2011) 5/5 stars (my review here)
Audio Books Completed:
The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie (1930) 4/5 stars
This set of short stories all feature Mr. Satterthwaite, an elderly gentleman of the world, who spends much of his time visiting friends both in England and out of the country. In each story, Mr. Satterthwaite runs into a mysterious man named Mr. Quin, and every meeting ends with Mr. Satterthwaite involved in some sort of conundrum that he helps resolve with aid from Mr. Quin. It's hard to explain these stories, obviously, but they are well-written, completely enjoyable, and sometimes even moving. They are not all out-and-out mysteries; some are about loss and recovery, and remind me more of Christie writing as Mary Westmacott than of a typical Christie plot. The Mr. Quin stories do not seem to be as popular as her more traditional mystery stories, but should not be overlooked.
Mythos: the Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry (2019) 4/5 stars
Fry uses his delightful way with words to give his own version of the famous Greek myths. As he says in the afterward, he has reimagined these tales -- they are not retellings or interpretations, rather the traditional stories told in his own words. I am well-versed in Greek mythology, and did notice a lack of detail at times, which is the only reason this wonderful collection is not a five star book. It is a fascinating read and would be appropriate for those new to the world of Greek myths or for those just wanting a refresher.
Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King (2012) 4/5 stars
This picks up where Pirate King leaves off, with Mary Russell and her partner/husband Sherlock Holmes in Morocco. Russell, waking up with amnesia, finds herself involved in a secret attempt to prevent war between the French government and the Moroccans of the Rif Revolt. Garment of Shadows is intriguing and gripping, and solidly good overall. King remains one of my favorite authors of historical suspense.
The Witch Elm by Tana French (2018) 4/5 stars
Unlike French's Dublin Murder Squad series, this is not a crime novel, police procedural, or even really a thriller. Instead, it's a psychological character study that centers on the discovery of a human skull in the back garden. French is amazingly talented at creating a realistic, largely unlikable protagonist, and having the reader become intimate enough with this person that a sympathetic bond is formed. While long and at times slow moving, the Witch Elm is still a skillfully written, sometimes unsettling, and overall powerful novel.
Did Not Finish:
The Widening Stain by W. Bolingbroke Johnson
American authors aren't my first choice, as I've often said, but I've recently been trying some reprinted Golden Age American mysteries, and this is one of that series. I didn't connect with the humor, location, or characters, but it could just be that I needed a break from mysteries for a bit, so I'll not rule this one out as a definite "no".
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
After reading the Rivers of London, I was in the mood for more fantasy. The plot was cute, but the writing was not so great. I might try a different series another time, but for now I'm moving on.
Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March
This highly acclaimed first novel just did not have an authentic feel to me. Maybe it was too soon after the fantastic Wyndham series for me to try another Colonial India mystery.
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
Exactly the same problems as with March's novel.
