July 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read

813 by Maurice Leblanc (1910)  4/5 stars

Arséne Lupin, gentleman thief and adventurer, is framed for murder, a situation which leads him to match wits with a most devious opponent.  This is a fun book, with many twists and turns, and though I guessed the biggest surprise, I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Leblanc writes engaging prose (or the translator is particularly good) and the fast-paced plot, incredible as it is, makes for an entertaining read.

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams (2021)  4/5 stars

The less known about the plot of this well-written historical novel the better, as it allows for surprises, so I'll just say that it is a complex story regarding an American who defected to the Soviet Union with his family.  It's not my usual genre, but I was hooked immediately and engrossed throughout.  I certainly plan to try more of Williams' historical fiction.

Bab: a Sub-Deb by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1917) 4/5 stars

This novel about a few momentous events in the life of 17-year old Deb is, at times, hilarious, and always engrossing.  It's told in the first person, with bad spelling and rambling thoughts, and is the forerunner of Lorelei Lee in Anita Loos' equally funny Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  My version contained a fourth story, added in later publications, dealing with the Great War which was sometimes poignant and gave an excellent insight into an American woman's view of the conflict.  Overall, while some parts weren't as side-splitting as others, I give this a whole-hearted recommendation for those who appreciate the time-period.

Audio Books Completed:

Watching From the Dark by Gytha Lodge (2020)   3/5 stars

This is a mostly well-written mystery, but I found the solution to be unsatisfactory.  I was impressed by Lodge's first book, but found this one to be contrived and only average.

Too Close by Natalie Daniels (2018)  4/5 stars

It's best to go into this knowing little of the plot, so I'll not give any description, except to say that it is not a psychological thriller as advertised but is instead a novel of female friendship and betrayal.  It's extremely well-written for the most part, but I felt like it built up to a fantastic conclusion but didn't deliver.  I still enjoyed it, and found the characters most natural and believable.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle  (1902) 4/5 stars

This is an entertaining classic, despite the solution depending on a coincidence, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Through the Wall by Patricia Wentworth (1950)  3/5 stars

This follows Wentworth's typical formula with Miss Silver investigating while a light romance goes on around her.  I enjoyed it, as I have all of the series, but it wasn't particularly memorable.

The Widow's Cruise by Nicholas Blake (1959)   4/5 stars

While on a cruise, Nigel Strangeways investigates a death that could be suicide or murder.  It's quite well-written and very enjoyable.  I knew the solution early on, though, but that was not the fault of the author: it's simply that in all my years of reading mysteries, I had already encountered the situation.

Did Not Finish:

Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

I have enjoyed other melodramas by this Victorian author, but the plot of Aurora Floyd  was somewhat dull and seemed to go on interminably.  I quit and then returned numerous times, and, despite wanting to know the ending, when I realized that I was only about halfway through the three volume novel, I finally admitted defeat and read the Wikipedia plot summary. 

The Town in Bloom by Dodie Smith

Smith's I Capture the Castle is one of my top ten favorite books, but this one was simply not enjoyable.  I was struggling through it, expecting it to get better, but when the reader was supposed to regard an affair with a married man as amusing and charming, I quit.

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

During the summer of 2019, I binged on the Ruth Galloway series and loved it.  With last year's release, however, I became tired of Ruth's personal drama.  I still waited for months to borrow this new one, though, because Griffiths' mysteries are usually good.  I got a few chapters in, however, and realized I just couldn't get interested.