August 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer (1932)  3/5 stars

This, Heyer's first published mystery, doesn't have a great plot but still contains her signature humor, style, and well-written conversations.  It wasn't memorable, and I wouldn't recommend it as a first Heyer novel, but it does have some fun moments.

The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs (1961)  3/5 stars

This has a great start, but when the solution becomes obvious, the plot looses it's momentum.  Bellairs' prose is extremely sparse, as well, making the book feel unpolished.

Castle Skull by John Dickson Carr (1931)  3/5 stars

This is well written and entertaining, and I was completely engaged until the reason behind the murder was revealed.   To prevent spoilers, I'll merely say that I didn't find it believable.  I enjoyed it enough, though, that I wouldn't hesitate to read another mystery by Carr.

When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1909)  4/5 stars (my review here)

Capital Crimes: London Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (2015)  

4/5 stars

This is an anthology of crime -- though not always mystery -- short stories written by (mostly lesser known) Golden Age writers.  As always with the British Library Crime Classics collections, the appeal varies but the diversity is fantastic.  

The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer (1933)  4/5 stars

This is a pleasant English Country House mystery written in Heyer's typical light, fun, and witty style.  I didn't feel like I had quite enough clues, but found the solution satisfying and the book enjoyable overall. 

Audio Books Completed:

Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King (2015)  4/5 stars

This novel finds Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes in an adventure in Japan -- one which has repercussions that follow them to England a year later.  As nearly always with this series, it's well-written, completely engrossing, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Anna, Where Are You? by Patricia Wentworth (1951)  4/5 stars

When a young woman abruptly quits corresponding with an old friend, Miss Silver is hired to investigate her possible disappearance.  This was well-written and entertaining with a good plot and, though following Wentworth's typical formula, still managed a couple of surprises. 

The Perfect Guests by Anna Rous (2021)  4/5 stars

While sometimes referred to as a mystery or suspense, this complex story is not exactly either, but is a compelling, engaging, and hard-to-put-down novel.  While not every twist is a surprise, Rous does present some unpredictable turns, keeping the book interesting. I recommend reading as little as possible about the plot, however, to maximize the enjoyment of the experience.

Did Not Finish:

This was quite the month of not finishing!

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English by John McWhorter

This read more like a thesis than a "survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar" as advertised, and, as far as I read, focused primarily on disproving other theories instead of providing insights. 

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

I only made it about thirty minutes into the audio book and found it, frankly, awful.  This was my second time trying a thriller by Unger, and will be my last.

Cold Mourning by Brenda Chapman

This started out with sexual violence against a child, and I quit before the scene was over.

Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker

I only got about twenty minutes into the audiobook, but found it bit too "twee" for my taste.

The Searcher by Tana French

French's books have always been stellar for me, and I expected no less from this one. I had trouble with some animal scenes, though, and after a couple, I was wary of there being more, maybe worse, to come so I quit several hours into the audio book.  

The Last Landlady: an English Memoir by Laura Thompson

Despite the subject, it never captured my interest, though I gave it a good try.

The Transcendental Murder by Jane Langston

This is the first of a popular series, but I found the first chapter poorly written, to the point of being confusing, so stopped.  I'm sure it got better, but I wasn't interested enough to push on through.

Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams

I really enjoyed Our Woman in Moscow by Williams, but after several chapters I still wasn't particularly interested in the story.

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

I am Alice-mad.  I will read any Alice pastiche and as a result have encountered some horrible ones that I couldn't finish (Alice by Christine Henry, about sex slaves and sadism, springs to mind) as well as some magnificent ones (like Heartless by Marissa Meyer that beautifully tells the backstory of the Queen of Hearts).  After Alice falls into the "bad but at least not stomach churning" category.  Maguire did not capture any of the feel of Wonderland or of Carroll's style, and as a result just didn't interest me.  I went in with great hopes, loving the concept, but forgetting that I have not really enjoyed any of the few Maguire novels that I have previously read.

Note:
Force of Nature by Jane Harper (2017)  3/5 stars

I read this in July, but somehow missed both noting it and writing a review.

This was an enjoyable and well-written mystery/suspense with Harper's trademark style, but I did not find the solution fully satisfying.