The Waynes of Wood Mount

This is a three-book series by Elizabeth Cadell about the Wayne family and their friends, focusing on relationships, with light romance thrown in.  The publishes states that these books stand alone, but I feel that they should be read together, in order, to best appreciate the characters.

The Lark Shall Sing (1955) 4/5 stars
The Blue Sky of Spring (1956) 4/5 stars

Six Impossible Things (1961)  3/5 stars

In the first book, The Lark Shall Sing, the Wayne family of six siblings (aged 24 down to 7) is introduced.  They've been orphaned, and were scattered around the country for a year.  Lucille, the eldest, has decided to sell the family home, Wood Mount, and her two sisters and three brothers are horrified.  They descend on Lucille, to beg to stay at Wood Mount as a family.  What follows is a sweet tale of family relationships, lightly romantic, gently humorous, and fully enjoyable.  

The Blue Sky of Spring follows the oldest brother, Nicholas, the woman he loves, and an American stranger.  Again, it's a gentle book about relationships -- friendship, romance, family -- with an interesting and not fully predictable plot.  The Waynes are charming and their situations heart-touching, and the book is completely entertaining.

In Six Impossible Things, Julia, the youngest sister, returns from studying abroad, a local friend is getting married, and a stranger involves the Waynes in her attempt to break up from a controlling and vindictive fiancé.  The result is an appealing, mostly lighthearted story of romance, friendship, and connections, but one not as substantial and griping as the previous two in the series.

November 2023 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Riddles of Hildegarde Withers by Stuart Palmer (1947)  3/5 stars
I've read the first of the Miss Withers mysteries, and enjoyed it in general.  This is a set of average short stories, and I don't think that she and her friend Inspector Piper show up to their best advantage here.  

The Man of Dangerous Secrets by (Margery Allingham writing as) Maxwell March (1933)  3/5 stars

The far-fetched plot was often ridiculous, but managed to be mostly entertaining, though slow at times.

Fishy, Said the Admiral by Elizabeth Cadell (1947)  4/5 stars

This is a delightful and entertaining novel of family and friend relationships, wrapped around a light romance, and filled with a good deal of charm.  I certainly enjoyed it.

Audiobooks Read:

To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World by Arthur Herman (1975)  5/5 stars

This is a stupendously good history of the British Navy, well-written, intelligent, easily accessible, and totally engrossing.  I highly recommend it!

An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew by Annejet van der Zijl, translated by Michele Hutchison  (2015)  3/5 stars

This promised to be an interesting book, based on the summation of Tew's life in the blurb, but it was spoiled by historical misconceptions (and even some inaccuracies), poor writing (or translation?), and the fact that the author made the men in Tew's life the focus, with her as a sort of side character. It was, overall, quite disappointing.

A World Beneath the Sands: The Golden Age of Egyptology by Toby Wilkinson (2020)  4/5 stars

This is a fascinating account of the British, German, and French attempts to gain Egyptian artifacts, beginning with Napoleon's Egyptian campaign through to Carter's discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922.  Wilkinson writes well and presents his information in an accessible fashion and, in addition, makes the characters and situations come alive.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

October 2023 Wrap Up

the Lockridges

Books Read:

The Norths Meet Murder by Frances and Richard Lockridge (1940)  3/5 stars
This is the charming beginning to the Mr. and Mrs. North series, written by Frances Lockridge and her husband Richard.  Detective Weigand of the NYPD does most of the solving, but Mrs. North's personality steals the show.  It's a solid and entertaining mystery.

Murder out of Turn by Frances and Richard Lockridge (1941)  3/5 stars
As with the first in the series, Detective Weigand of the NYPD does most of the solving, but the Norths help in their own particular fashion.  It's charming, interesting, and definitely entertaining.

A Pinch of Poison by Frances and Richard Lockridge (1941)  4/5 stars
This third in the series follows the pattern of the first two, with Mrs. North's personality being the main draw, and Detective Weigand of the NYPD doing most of the investigating.  The solid plot was convoluted enough to stay engaging and entertaining, while the Norths and Weigand are becoming even more likable.

Audiobooks Completed:

Mapping the Great Game: Explorers, Spies and Maps in 19th-century Asia by Riaz Dean (2019)  4/5 stars
This is a highly interesting and entertaining history of the race between Imperial Russia and Victorian Great Britain to map India, Afghanistan, Turkestan and Tibet. The author made sure to include lesser known heroes, even nameless ones, in addition to the famous.  It is easy to read, and surprisingly engrossing.  I definitely recommend it to those with any interest in this very specific area.

September 2023 Wrap-Up

I'm a wee bit late, aren't I? 

The Devil and Her Son by (Margery Allingham writing as) Maxwell March  (1935)  4/5 stars
The plot is hard to describe, and it's really better to go in knowing as little as possible about the book, to be able to enjoy the surprises more fully.  It's easy to sum up in this way, though: melodramatic, gothic, improbable, and yet, extremely enjoyable   

Dead Men Don't Ski by Patricia Moyes  (1959)  4/5 stars
In this book, the first in a series following Scotland Yard Inspector Henry Tibbit, Tibbit is requested to investigate a potential drug smuggling ring while on a skiing holiday.  It is well-written and entertaining, with an excellent number of clues and red herrings.  Despite having read it before, I enjoyed it immensely and found Moyes' plotting to nicely executed. 

The Sunken Sailor  by Patricia Moyes  (1961)  4/5 stars
In this very enjoyable and well written novel, vacationing Scotland Yard Inspector Henry Tibbit feels that the apparently explained death of a sailor seems to be less certainly an accident and more definitely murder.  

House of Storm by Mignon Eberhart (1949) 4/5 stars
Early on, this suspense novel seems light, silly, and painfully obvious.  As it progresses though, Eberhart infuses it with such Gothic vibes that even the location is menacing.  

Postmark Murder by Mignon Eberhart (1956)  4/5 stars
A large amount of bequeathed money, an orphaned Polish child, and a murdered stranger combine with a likable heroine in this light novel of mystery and suspense.  Eberhart had a knack for creating a sinister atmosphere in the most normal of environs, and did so nicely in this entertaining story.  

Call After Midnight by Mignon Eberhart (1964)  4/5 stars
In this mystery-suspense novel, Jenny, thinking she is still in love with her ex-husband, is quick to go to his aid when his new wife is shot.  When the wife is shot again -- fatally this time -- Jenny is among the short list of suspects.  This is an atmospheric, enjoyable read that, though short, had some good moments.

Audiobooks Completed:

The Taste of Conquest: The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spice by Michael Krondl (2007)  4/5 stars
In this nonfiction, Krondl gives the history of the spice trade through the three most important spice trading cities of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: Venice, Lisbon, and Amsterdam.  It's easy to read and, though light, still informative and enjoyable.

The Artist, the Philosopher, and the Warrior: The Intersecting Lives of Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Borgia and the World They Shaped by Paul Strathern (2009)  2/5 stars

The author's premise is that these three men spent a small amount of time together, and that time changed their perspectives and, from there, the course of history.  Unfortunately, the book is full of supposition and speculation -- especially about Da Vinci -- with these repeated words and phrases summing up the gist of the information given:  might; might could have; possibly; probably; must have; in all likelihood; it would seem; it would appear to suggest; it would have been out of character; if we assume; we can surmise.  Though I finished it in hopes that he would eventually prove his point, I came away very frustrated as he was unable to do so without postulating.

Elixir: A Parisian Perfume House and the Quest for the Secret of Life by Theresa Levitt (2023)  5/5 stars

Levitt tells the history of the development of organic chemistry in 18th and 19th century France through biographies and anecdotes, with a strong grounding in historical context.  The book is accessible to those (like me) with little or no chemistry background, the prose is well-written, and is a delightfully interesting and engaging read.

August 2023 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Kingsclere Mystery by Moray Dalton  (1924)  4/5 stars
This, Dalton's first published crime novel, is a mix of gothic novel and murder mystery, and was completely enjoyable.  As with her later novels, it's generally well written and fully engrossing, and, despite being easy to solve, was a darn good story.

Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer  (1935)  3/5 stars

This mystery contains Heyer's signature wit, along with her usual likable characters, amusing situations, and snappy conversations.  Unfortunately, the crime was too easy to solve as well as unconvincing.

The Buckled Bag and Locked Doors   (1914) by Mary Roberts Rinehart  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Miss Pinkerton by Mary Roberts Rinehart  (1932)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart  (1942)  4/5 stars (my review here)

Episode of the Wandering Knife by Mary Roberts Rinehart  (1950)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Shadow on the Wall by Moray Dalton (1926)  4/5 stars

It's best to know little of the plot of this mystery-suspense novel going in, so that it unfolds as a surprise.  I'll merely say that while it is melodramatic and implausible, it's also engrossing, twisty, and highly entertaining.

Audiobooks Completed:

The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak  (2022)  4/5 stars

This is a nonfiction account of Brunhilde and Fredegund, two rival Queens (sisters-in-law, in fact) of the 6th-century Merovingian Dynasty, and how they shaped the Frankish Empire and it's future.   It's extremely interesting, generally well-written, and surprisingly entertaining. 

Three Empires on the Nile: The Victorian Jihad, 1869-1899 by  Dominic Green (2007)  4/5 stars

This nonfiction account tells of the clash between Victoria's Britain, Turkish-ruled Egypt, and the Islamic army of the Madhi in Sudan toward the end of the nineteenth century.  Green brings many of the Victorian players to life, and manages to tell a good yarn while explaining a tragic bit of history.  I certainly recommend it to those interested in Victorian foreign politics, or larger-than-life Victorian figures.

The Nurse Hilda Adams Mysteries by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Mary Roberts Rinehart wrote three novellas and two novels about Nurse Hilda Adams, who was recruited to work undercover with the homicide department.

Mary Roberts Rinehart

The Buckled Bag and Locked Doors  (1914) 3/5 stars
These two novellas introduce Hilda Adams, a nurse who is engaged by a Police Inspector to do undercover work.  Told from the first-person point-of-view of Nurse Adams, they are at times both delightful and amusing.  The mystery in both is quite interesting, and the stories were enjoyable overall.

Miss Pinkerton  (1932)  4/5 stars

When an elderly lady's nephew commits suicide, Police Inspector Patton is skeptical and arranges that Nurse Hilda Adams should be the nurse in charge of the old woman's care.  This well-written novel is told in Nurse Adams' delightful and amusing voice, and is both engrossing and entertaining.

The Haunted Lady (1942)  4/5 stars

A family matriarch, convinced that someone in her own house is trying to scare her to death, requests police assistance, and Nurse Hilda Adams is sent in undercover.  Unlike the previous stories featuring Nurse Adams, this one is not told from her point of view.  It's understandable, as the reader will need more information than Hilda could give in first-person, but I certainly missed her delightful, amusing voice.  The mystery itself was nicely twisted and satisfying.

Episode of the Wandering Knife  (1950)  4/5 stars

This is a collection of two novellas (The Episode of the Wandering Knife and The Secret) and one short story ("The Man Who Hid His Breakfast").  The first novella was laugh-out-loud funny and a true pleasure, worthy of five stars.   The second novella, featuring Nurse Hilda Adams, was implausible, though certainly interesting, but only three star material.  They sandwich the entertaining and well-written short story, following a retiring Police Inspector's final case, which was not fully satisfying, earning four stars from me.

July 2023 Wrap Up

Books Read:

The Strange Case of Harriet Hall by Moray Dalton (1936)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Death in the Dark by Moray Dalton (1938)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Art School Murders by Moray Dalton (1943)  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Unexpected Night by Elizabeth Daly (1940)  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Deadly Nightshade by Elizabeth Daly (1940)  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly (1941)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The House without the Door by Elizabeth Daly (1942)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert (1950)  3/5 stars

This murder mystery is well-written and generally enjoyable, but the combination of a most unlikely disposal of the victim and a not fully convincing motive made it only an average read for me.

The Chignon Scarf  by Mignon G. Eberhart (1939)  3/5 stars

This mystery is improbable and, at times, silly, with a case of love-at-first-sight, a remote and cut-off location, and overdone drama.  It's not Eberhart's best, but is still undeniably entertaining for those who enjoy the light suspense novels of this era.

The Canary Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine (1927)  3/5 stars

Georgette Heyer

This is an interesting, mostly entertaining, and generally well-written locked room mystery with a clever solution.  Unfortunately, Philo Vance, the amateur detective and hero, only figured it out by accident and that lessened my enjoyment.

Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer  (1933)  4/5 stars

Heyer's Regency novels are better known than her Golden Age mysteries, and rightly so, but this one was quite enjoyable.  It has a solid and twisty plot with plenty of clues, and is filled with Heyer's typically excellent dialogue and signature wit.   The culprit is obvious early-on, but the journey to the solution is where the fun lies.  

Audio Books Completed:

Queen Victoria's Matchmaking: The Royal Marriages that Shaped Europe by  Deborah Cadbury (2017)  4/5 stars

This is a nonfiction discussion of European politics during the late Victorian era as seen through the lens of the marriages of Queen Victoria's children and grandchildren.  The title suggests that it will tell of the Queen's personal involvement in the marriages, which was not actually a lot, but the subtitle truthful shows that it only features those marriages that affected European politics.  I found both aspects to be somewhat disappointing, as I would have enjoyed learning about some of the Queen's lesser-known children and grandchildren.  Nonetheless, I found it generally well-written and thoroughly entertaining and informative; I would certainly recommend it to other armchair historians also interested in this area.

In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire by Laurence Bergreen (2021)  3/5 stars

This is a nonfiction account of Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe,  his role in defeating the Spanish Armada, and his relationship with Queen Elizabeth I.  The topic itself is fascinating, but Bergreen didn't do it full justice.  The narrative rambles at times, tends to repeat itself, and, while detailing some events, gives very little information on others.  So, while I liked it and learned new-to-me information, I can only recommend it with the caveat that it is not a lively or completely enjoyable book.

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The House without the Door by Elizabeth Daly

The House without the Door
Elizabeth Daly
1942 
4/5 stars

Vina Gregson was acquitted of her husband's murder, but must live in seclusion due to all the negative publicity.  When attempts are made on her life, she asks amateur sleuth Henry Gamadge for help, with the hope that he can not only come to the bottom of the threats to herself, but find Mr. Gregson's true killer as well.

Gamadge continues to blur the line between what the law requires and what he thinks is appropriate, giving him a more dynamic personality than in the early books.  By this fourth book in the series, Daly has become better at plotting a crime that is solvable by the reader, and yet still obscure enough to be an enjoyable read.  The book is intelligent and well-plotted, as well as  entertaining and engrossing. That, combined with a good twist and a rewarding solution, kept me so interested that I read it over the course of 24 hours.  While it's not perfect, I certainly recommend it.

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Three by Elizabeth Daly

Elizabeth Daly (1878-1967) was an American author who wrote light verse and prose for magazines, until she published her first novel (Unexpected Night) at the age of 60.   She was an honorary member of the Mystery Writers of America, and was awarded a "Special Edgar" by them in 1961.  I don't generally care for crime novels based in the U.S., but the books I've read by Daly have been consistently engaging and enjoyable. 

Unexpected Night (1940)  3/5 stars

Henry Gamadge, an expert in detecting document forgeries, is on hand when a mysterious death occurs.  He has no reason to investigate, but he and the State Detective discover that Gamadge has an uncanny knack of reading people, sorting out the truth from lies and irrelevancies, and solving mysteries.

This is Daly's first novel and it is a bit rough around the edges, with characters that are not fully developed.  Furthermore, I don't think the clever crime could be solved from the information given. Despite that, it's entertaining, intelligent, and a promising start to the Gamadge series.

 
Deadly Nightshade (1940)  3/5 stars

Several children in a Maine resort town are given nightshade berries by a stranger; while two recover, one dies and another goes missing.  The State Detective on the case is a friend of Henry Gamadge, and knows first hand about bookish Gamadge's unexpected ability to understand human nature and, as a result, see clearly in otherwise murky situations.  As a result, Gamadge runs up to Maine for the weekend to put his skill to the test.

This is an intelligent, generally well-written, and engrossing mystery with a pleasingly complex plot and solution.  Gamadge is a likable character, despite not being fully fleshed. Like the first of the series, I don't know that the reader will come to the correct answer based solely on the clues, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment.

Murders in Volume 2 (1941)  4/5 stars

A stranger comes to Henry Gamadge, an expert in antique books and forgeries, with a tale of a bizarre swindle being practiced on her wealthy uncle.  She and her family feel that Gamadge's particular line of work make him particularly suited to uncover the truth.  Before Gamadge can expose the fraud, there is a murder.  Then another.  Gamadge soon finds himself partnering the police as his talent for understanding people and motives and finding hidden truths cause him to uncover the why and how of the crimes.

This third in the series is agreeably complicated, with an interesting plot, and a satisfying conclusion.   Gamadge's personality is more rounded than previously, and Daly handles the large cast of characters well.  I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and look forward to reading more of Gamadge's adventures.

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The Moray Dalton Binge Continues

The Strange Case of Harriet Hall by Moray Dalton (1936)  4/5 stars

This mystery features Inspector Collier again, Dalton's believable and likable Scotland Yard Detective, who is assigned to the case when a woman is found in a well, obviously murdered.  The culprit seems obvious, but Collier, who is not as hard-boiled as others of his occupation, is not convinced. 

As I have come to expect from Dalton, The Strange Case of Harriet Hall  is well-written, intelligent, and entertaining.  It also has an engrossing plot which, combined with a fantastic ending, makes for a totally enjoyable read. 

Death in the Dark by Moray Dalton (1938)  5/5 stars

A young acrobat, David Merle, is found guilty of the murder of a wealthy, eccentric theatre patron, Joshua Fallowes, but his sister Judy firmly believes in his innocence.  With some encouragement from a new friend, Judy sets off to infiltrate the family that benefitted most from Fallowes' death, Oliver Ramblet and his half-sisters.  The Ramblet's live at Sard Manor, a small, ill-funded and floundering zoo.  As a housemaid there, Judy uncovers enough secrets to put her life in danger.

Scotland Yard Detective Hugh Collier learns about the crime long after the trial and, with only days until Merle's execution, becomes convinced that Judy is right.  In a race against time, Inspector Collier must uncover the real culprit and prevent the death of an innocent man.

There are many uncommon elements in this mystery/suspense novel, as well as a variety of unusual characters, a memorable plot, and an extremely likable and spunky heroine. It (like the previous one) is well-written, intelligent and entertaining. This may well be my favorite Dalton novel, for it's unique story as much as for it's overall quality.

The Art School Murders by Moray Dalton (1943)  3/5 stars

A model is found murdered in a formerly prestigious art school in a county outside London, and Scotland Yard is called in.  The country is swathed in a blackout due to the War, which helps the murderer commit two more crimes before Inspector Hugh Collier is able to solve the case.

Though still well-written and generally enjoyable, this is the weakest mystery by Dalton that I've read.  Too much relies on information never given to the reader, making the solution more frustrating that satisfying.

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June 2023 Wrap Up

Books Read

The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine (1926)  4/5 stars  

This is the first in the series featuring amateur detective Philo Vance.  Van Dine (pseudonym for American art critic Willard Huntington Wright, 1888 – 1939) was best selling author, and even from this first in the series, it's easy to see why.  An arrogant aesthete, Vance is nonetheless appealing for his intellect, perspicacity, and a surprising amount of compassion.  There were so many possible believable solutions that I wavered back and forth as to who was the guilty party.  Only occasionally did Vance seem to pull a clue from thin air, and on the whole this is a well-written, interesting, and intelligent mystery. 

Post After Post-Mortem by E.C.R. Lorac   (1936)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Black Wings by Moray Dalton  (1927)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Tragedy at Freyne by Anthony Gilbert  (1927)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

One by One They Disappeared by Moray Dalton  (1928)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Night of Fear by Moray Dalton  (1931)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Belfry Murder  by Moray Dalton (1933)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman by Moray Dalton (1936)  5/5 stars (my review here)

Audiobooks Completed:

A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie (1993)  3/5 stars

This is the first in what has become a lengthy and well-regarded series.  It is attention-holding and entertaining, but seemed too contrived and not fully convincing.  I enjoyed it enough, though, that I will most likely continue the series.

The Dutch Shoe Mystery by Ellery Queen  (1931)  3/5 stars

Ellery is invited to witness a surgery, but the patient is murdered beforehand; he lends his investigative talents to his father, Inspector Queen of the NYC PD, but they struggle to find the solution.  This is an early Ellery Queen, and he's more pompous and less sympathetic a character than he becomes later in the series.  The mystery itself is layered, and while the clues are available for one part of the solution, I felt cheated by the solution to the second aspect.  It's still entertaining, though, and gives the reader a taste of NYC in the late 1920s.  

Fortune's Children by Arthur T. Vanderbilt II  (1989)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile 

by Julia Fox (2012)  4/5 stars

This easy to read nonfiction account follows sisters Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile from marriage to death, showing how they shaped their world, and attempting to dispel the persistent negative portrayals of the two.   Fox is definitely prejudiced to her own point-of-view, but makes some compelling arguments.  There were inferences made, as well as some conclusions that seemed based on weak evidence, that I would want to research  myself before I could fully accept the information.  Otherwise, it's both entertaining and enlightening.

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Two More by Moray Dalton

I've been binge-reading mystery/thrillers by Moray Dalton the past couple of weeks.  Here are two more.  (See this post for biographical information on Dalton.)

The Belfry Murder  (1933)  4/5 stars

It's impossible to give a coherent summary of the plot of this mystery/thriller, as it is complicated, elaborate, and layered.  While requiring a suspension of belief at times, it's also completely enjoyable, well-written, and thoroughly attention-holding.  Inspector Collier, Dalton's believable recurring character, is sometimes uncertain and fallible, making him quite likable.  It is full of clues and false clues with a few twists, and is overall an entertaining read.

The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman (1936)  5/5 stars

When two murders occur within hours of each other in a small county, a Scotland Yard Detective, Inspector Collier, is sent to investigate. The more Collier uncovers about the victims, the more complex the case becomes.  Collier becomes friends with Toby, the boy who found the first, and the vicar, the only friend of the second, making the local police force feel that he may be biased.  

As I have come to expect from Dalton's novels, this is well-written and engaging.  In addition, it's an absorbing mix of mystery, suspense, police procedure, and court room drama, with a memorable solution.  I certainly recommend it.

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Top Five Wednesday: Seaside

This week's Top Five Wednesday challenge is to list five books set by the ocean. Though I think it was intended as a summery topic, mine aren't exactly that. Here are the five from my shelves.  

Rebecca (1938), Frenchman's Creek (1941), and Jamaica Inn (1936) by Daphne du Maurier

Since I have these three in one volume, I'm going to cheat a bit and make them one book  These three all take place on the Cornish coast.  Frenchman's Creek and Jamaica Inn are both historical novels, with the first being a romance and the second a novel of suspense.  Rebecca is a favorite suspense, and one of the best gothic novels I've read.

Seaview House by Elizabeth Fair (1955)

This is a charming, well-written, and highly enjoyable novel centering around two sisters who run a hotel in a English seaside village.  Fair excelled at slice-of-life, character driven novels and it's a shame that she only published six.

The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer (7th Century BC)

These epics are obvious choices, with the sea figuring prominently in both.  I love this gorgeous boxed set.

The Water of the Wonderous Isles by William Morris (1897)

I've not read this fantasy, but it centers around a young woman who travels to mysterious and fantastical islands.  I've read and enjoyed another of Morris' fantasies, The Well at the World's End (1896), and have long planned to try this one.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

Woolf's excellent novel takes place on the Isle of Skye, and is a wonderful example of her flowing style.  

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Word of the Week: Heyday

 "Word of the Week" is a meme hosted by the Plain-Spoken Pen on Mondays in which we share a word that we find entertaining, enlightening, edifying, or just plain fun to say! 

I used the word "heyday" in my last blogpost, and it made me wonder where it came from and just how it developed.

Looking it up,  I discovered that in English, "heyday" was originally used to describe high spirits, or as a lively greeting, usually in joy or surprise, and dates back to the late 16th century. Some sources state that it's probably came from the German phrase "hei da", meaning "hey there".  

Shakespeare had Hamlet use it to mean "high spirits" when (Act 3, Scene 4) he told his mother that at her mature age, one decides with cool reason, not with the excitement of passion:

You cannot call it love, for at your age
The hey-day in the blood is tame, it’s humble,
And waits upon the judgment.

Here it is in use as a negatively excited greeting in Austen's Northanger Abbey (completed 1803, published 1817):

Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a place, however, when her attention was claimed by John Thorpe, who stood behind her. "Heyday, Miss Morland!" said he. "What is the meaning of this? I thought you and I were to dance together."

How it moved from "hi there" to it's current usage was harder to pin down, and while I didn't get a consensus, it was suggested in a few places that "high day" (as in a really great day) became blended with the greeting, and eventually took it over so that "heyday" carried the former meaning, and the latter use/meaning fell out of fashion.

Regardless, it is certainly a fun word!

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Fortune's Children by Arthur T. Vanderbilt II

Cornelius ("the Commodore") Vanderbilt

Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt
Arthur T. Vanderbilt II 
1989 
4/5 stars

This is a nonfiction account of the rise and decline of the famous Vanderbilt family.  In 1887, Cornelius Vanderbilt had made himself the richest man in the world.  Within fifty years of his death, however, his fortune no longer remained.  The author, a descendant of Cornelius, follows the Vanderbilt family from Cornelius' humble start, through the family's heyday, and finishes by showing how the Vanderbilts lived by the time of publication.  

This is a generally well-written and completely engaging family biography, full of anecdotes, information on corresponding historical events, and even brief biographies of some of the society people who influenced the Vanderbilts.  The biographies of some of the family members are not as detailed as I would have liked, but overall, it was enlightening, interesting, and a fascinating read for those who are interested in America's Gilded Age.

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Two by Moray Dalton

Moray Dalton (1881-1963) is the penname of Katherine Renoir (née Dalton), a British author who published two well-received novels, Olive in Italy (1909) and The Sword of Love (1920), before turning to crime fiction in 1924.  Other than the introduction (by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans) in these recently rereleased novels, I've been unable to find out any more about Dalton, nor can I find her photograph.  I must agree with Evans that it is a shame Dalton's fiction was lost to the public for long.

One by One They Disappeared  (1928)  4/5 stars

Elbert J. Pakenham holds a yearly dinner for his fellow survivors of a tragic accident.  As he is very wealthy with no heirs, he tells these men that he has left his fortune to be divided among them. Unfortunately,  by doing this Pakenham has given someone a reason to murder.  

This is the first book to feature Inspector Collier of Scotland Yard, a likable character with realistic fallibility. The plot is complex, with clever false trails and a particularly good twist, and though it does stretch credulity at times this well-written novel was thoroughly enjoyable.

The Night of Fear   (1931)  4/5 stars

During a house party, the guests play a game of hide and seek which ends in the discovery of a murder.  The most obvious suspect is arrested, but his steadfast friends are convinced of his innocence, and, at the recommendation of Inspector Collier (who has been removed from the case), they hire private detective Hermann Glide to investigate.  Glide searches for evidence in a race against time, as the court case proceeds.

Collier doesn't figure much in this book, as it focuses more on Glide's search, the characters of the house party, and the court drama.  Glide is not fleshed out well, but that doesn't detract from the story.  The plot is layered, with many surprises and a satisfying conclusion.  Overall, it's well-written, intelligent, and completely engrossing.

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Three from the Golden Age

Post After Post-Mortem by E.C.R. Lorac   (1936)  4/5 stars

In this volume of Lorac's long-running series featuring Inspector Robert Macdonald, a young woman's suicide garners suspicion after her last letter is received.  Scores of lies were told at the inquest to protect her memory, the uncovering of which leads to many clues, and red herrings.  As Macdonald investigates her life, he discovers a myriad of motives among her friends and family.

This is an intelligent, well-written and interesting mystery.  It was complex but not convoluted, twisty enough to keep me guessing, and held my attention throughout. The solution and motive were unanticipated, and not fully credible, but the book is certainly worth reading.

The Black Wings by Moray Dalton  (1927)  5/5 stars

This is a complicated story, and not easy to summarize without spoiling the plot.  It's made up of murder, blackmail, family secrets, abduction, light romance, police procedure, and courtroom drama, with a nod to the classic Jane Eyre.

This book is advertised as "A Golden Age Mystery", but that is not quite accurate.  Though there is a mystery, this is actually a crime novel of suspense and adventure, with elements that are not at all typical of a Golden Age Mystery.  It is well-written, intelligent, and, while over-the-top at times, absolutely absorbing all the way up to the stunning conclusion.

The Tragedy at Freyne by Anthony Gilbert  (1927)  4/5 stars

An artist, Sir Simon Chandos,  is found dead in his study, apparently by his own hand, but a discrepancy reveals that it was actually murder.  His friend, who has loved Chandos' wife for years, is the obvious suspect and is quickly arrested.  A confession from a different party follows, and it appears that the crime is solved, but another friend is not satisfied and proceeds to investigate on his own.

This mystery is clever, interesting, and well-written.  It is narrated in the first person by a Watson of sorts whose believable voice adds greatly to the book.  The solution was unexpected, and may not have been solvable from the information given, but overall this is a satisfying read.

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Side Note:

Interestingly enough, all three of these authors are women using pen names, and I was unable to find a photo any one of them!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Wishes

 Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday top is "Bookish Wishes", with the instructions to list the top ten books you wish you owned.

These five are some of my newest wishes:

The Jane Austen Escape Room Book by Marjolein Bastin (2023)

This illustrated book supposedly combines the characters of Pride and Prejudice with puzzles to solve, with Bastin's gorgeous artwork.  I'm intrigued!

The World Cloud Classics edition of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925, 2022)

Mrs. Dalloway is among my top favorite novels, and the World Cloud Classics editions are so gorgeous, that this was love at first sight for me.

The Word Cloud Classics edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll (1871, 2016)

The situation is exactly that of Mrs. Dalloway -- a favorite book, a gorgeous edition.

The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler (2013)

I have another volume edited by Penzler (The Big Book of Female Detectives) which, while I haven't completely finished,  I have thoroughly enjoyed.  As I love holiday mysteries, I'd love to have this one sometime.

One Pair of Hands: Upstairs and Downstairs, Seen Through the Eyes of an Ex-Debutante Turned Cook by Monica Dickens (1939)

One reading of the title, which says it all, and my interest was totally piqued -- it raises so many questions!

While these five have been on my list the longest:

These two are from the Furrowed Middlebrow imprint of Dean Street Press, which I wish-listed in 2018.  I don't even know what they are about, but I've loved all I have discovered via this publisher, and am eager to try new ones.

Lastly are three short story collections, edited by Martin Edwards, from the British Library Crime Classics series.  They've also been on my list since 2018, about the time I fell in love with the BLCC

  

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The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine

Willard Huntington Wright, 1888 – 1939

The Benson Murder Case
S. S. Van Dine
1926 
4/5 stars

This is the first in the series featuring amateur detective Philo Vance.  Van Dine (pseudonym for American art critic Willard Huntington Wright) was a popular and best selling author, whose Philo Vance books became movies and radio programs.

While an arrogant, foppish aesthete, Vance is nonetheless appealing for his intellect, perspicacity, and surprising amount of compassion.  While not fully fleshed out in this early novel, the reader can still see facets to his personality.

The plot was intriguing and entertaining.  There were many possible believable solutions, and only rarely did Vance seem to pull a clue from thin air.  On the whole, this is a well-written, interesting, and intelligent mystery and I look forward to reading more of the series.

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Word of the Week: Quidnunc

"Word of the Week" is a meme hosted by the Plain-Spoken Pen on Mondays in which we share a word that we find entertaining, enlightening, edifying, or just plain fun to say! 

I just finished reading The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine (published in 1926), and came across a new-to-me word:

From various sources on the internet, I learned that quidnunc, from the early 18th century, is a mashup of the two Latin words "quid" and "nunc" meaning "what now", mimicking the question of a nosey listener.  What a great word!

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May 2023 Wrap-Up

Books Read: 

To the Letter: A Celebration of the Lost Art of Letter Writing by Simon Garfield (2013)  4/5 stars

This nonfiction book is exactly what it claims to be: a celebration of letter writing.  Garfield gives short biographies of some of the most famous letter writers in history, discusses the art and history of letter writing, and breaks the chapters up with the love letters written between a solider in World War II and his girl back home.  He covers a lot of territory and not always in depth, but it's a genuinely enjoyable experience, especially for one who still writes, receives, and cherishes letters.

Audiobooks Completed:

I continued my reread of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series this month.  I enjoyed these three even more this second time.

Garment of Shadows (2012) 4/5 stars

Dreaming Spies (2015) 4/5 stars

The Murder of Mary Russell (2016) 5/5 stars

I began the 15th of the series, Island of the Mad, but did not enjoy it nearly as much as my review showed I did previously.  I listened to about a third of it, and then decided not to finish. As I had read the most recent two of the series within the last twelve months, I decided it was time for new authors.

The Body Politic by Catherine Aird  (1990) 3/5 stars

The plot is somewhat convoluted in this well-written mystery, but the book is fully enjoyable,  Aird's sly wit is laugh-out-loud funny at times, and the performance of the audiobook narrator, Derek Perkins, adds to it immensely. 

The Great Mistake by  Mary Roberts Rinehart (1940)  5/5 stars

I'm a long-time fan or Rinehart, and to me, this is one of her best.  It has a complicated plot, but all the pieces are available, and it makes sense in the end.  The Great Mistake is well-written, slyly humorous, and nicely plotted, and her famous tongue-in-cheek "had I but known" foreshadowing is excellently done.  This thoroughly enjoyable mystery would make a good introduction to Rinehart for those who enjoy the mysteries of the 1940s.

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Word of the Week: Louche

 "Word of the Week" is a meme hosted by the Plain-Spoken Pen on Mondays in which we share a word that we find entertaining, enlightening, edifying, or just plain fun to say! 

I'm currently reading To the Letter by Simon Garfield, and he used the intriguing word "louche", which had me scrambling for a dictionary.  According to multiple sources, it is from the French, originally meaning "squinting" or "cross-eyed", and describes something that is not socially acceptable -- immoral, disreputable, sordid -- but yet, at the same time, kinda appealing.  A rakish fellow, for example, or (the fictional versions of) pirates, gangsters, or smugglers.  

How about you? Can you think of any good examples of this great word?  And did you find any interesting words last week?

April 2023 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan (2017)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Audiobooks Completed:

During the last half of April, I haven't felt motivated for a variety of reasons; then my laptop became unusable and I had to switch everything over to another; at the same time, I did way more playing of Valheim than I did of reading or blogging.*  For those reasons, I ended up not reviewing my rereads of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King, and am instead linking to my very brief previous reviews.  I will say that I enjoyed each one at least as much as I did originally and am getting great pleasure out of reading them straight, one after the other, instead of with other books read in between.  (The audiobook narrator, Jenny Stirlin, is fantastic, by the way, and makes the books come alive.) 

*I also discovered that I inexplicably stopped getting notifications of comments here on my blog for about two weeks, causing me to seem rude or uninterested in my visitors -- so sorry!

The Game (2004)  4/5 stars  (April 2019 review can be found here.)

Locked Rooms (2005)   4/5 stars  (August 2019 review can be found here.)

The Language of Bees (2009)   4/5 stars  (November 2020 review can be found here.)

The God of the Hive (2010)   4/5 stars  (December 2020 review can be found here.)

Pirate King (2011)   4/5 stars  (January 2021 review can be found here.)

If you are interested in this series, start with low expectations, as the first two read like fan-fiction.  As the series progresses, however, they become well-written and engrossing.  Also note that they should be read in order.

Top Ten Tuesday: Audiobook Narrators

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday top is "Top Ten Audiobook Narrators".  I listen to an average of 60 audiobooks a year, and believe me, I have definite preferences. I don't have ten favorites, but these six have never disappointed me. 

Hugh Frasier

My number one, hands-down favorite is Hugh Frasier.  He gives charming performances of Agatha Christie's mysteries and I simply love him. 

Timothy West, CBE

Well-known British actor Timothy West could almost oust Frasier as my favorite.  His stellar performance of Trollope's Palliser series just knocked my socks off.  (I get equally excited when I see him in a movie or British TV episode.)

Jenny Sterlin

Another firm favorite is immensely talented Jenny Sterlin.  I loved her narration of Diana Wynne Jones' Howl series, but she really shines reading the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. Kng.

Gerard Doyle

Gerard Doyle is a definite favorite.  I don't think I would have loved Mark Hodder's Burton and Swinburne series nearly as much without his distinctive voice.

Lucy Scott

Lucy Scott (most known for her portrayal of Charlotte Lucas in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice) gives wonderful performances, both with British accents and American.

Joanne Froggatt

Joanne Froggatt of Downton Abbey fame is a fantastic narrator, and is especially good at emotional content.

Barbara Rosenblat

Barbara Rosenblat is just plain fun.  Her witty delivery of the Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters kept me laughing out loud, and I'm always glad to see her listed as narrator.

Special Mention:
Joe Mantegna gets special mention.  I've never listened to a book narrated by him, but my husband found his performance of The Godfather to be perfect.

Least Favorite:
And lastly, I have to be mean and mention the one I absolutely hate: Xe Sands. If I see that she has narrated a book, I simply do NOT get it, no matter how much I want to read it.

How about you?  If you listen to audiobooks, do you have any favorites?