December 2024 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren (2011)  5/5 stars (my review here)

The Upas Tree by Florence L. Barclay (1912)  3/5 stars

This is a Christmas story of sorts by one of my favorite Edwardian romance authors, about sacrifice, misunderstanding, and redeeming love.  This is not her best, as she tries to incorporate a bit of the supernatural into it which weakens the rest of the story.  Otherwise, though, it's an enjoyable, if light, novel that will appeal to those of us who appreciate this genre and the times and mores of Edwardian England.

Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod (1978)  4/5 stars

Peter Shandy series, book 1 

This was a witty, intelligent mystery.  The solution wasn't fully satisfying, but I enjoyed it tremendously overall and look forward to reading more by MacLeod. 

Heads You Lose by Christianna Brand (1941)  4/5 stars

Inspector Cockrill series, book one

The six members of a winter house party become suspects when first one neighbor, then another, is found decapitated.  This is a mostly well-written mystery which, if not subtle, was still enjoyable. 

Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (2016)  4/5 stars

This is a collection of twelve short stories by Golden Age of Crime authors, many since forgotten, that take place around Christmas.  The variety is excellent, but the quality is mixed -- as is to be expected with an anthology.

To Crack a Soldier: A Nutcracker Retelling by Sarah Beran

(2023)  4/5 stars

The war is over, and it finds Alexander wounded in both body and mind.  After he witnesses a battle between a lovely ballerina and her regiment against another army with a grey mouse as their standard, he falls into the world of Faerie where he discovers that his music is the weapon the ballerina has been seeking.

In this is a delightful portal fantasy, Beran pays tribute to the classic "The Nutcracker and The Mouse King", while using her own characters, magic system, and worldbuilding. The nods to the original story are nicely done and I enjoyed making the connections.  The book does touch on serious topics, but is overall a fun and lighthearted tale with a gentle love story, likable main characters, and engaging adventure.  I found it immensely enjoyable and satisfying, and look forward to reading more by the author. 

Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century by Melanie Rigney (2020)  3/5 stars

This book consists of brief and very basic biographies of twenty-one modern female saints.  In addition, the author includes a short paragraph about the world background of the saint, two verses that resonate with that saint's particular characteristic, one quote from the saint, and a few other resources and quotes; the entire chapter per saint is around five pages.  The longest section of each chapter is called "Living Radically Today", in which the author attempts to connect the saint's calling to some incident in her life or the life of a friend.  I mean no disrespect to the author when I say this, as I am certain she put her heart and soul into these, but I found these entries to be most often tenuous and not always relatable.  It would have benefited from more details on the lives of these saints and how each one affected her world, along with more quotes (in context).  On the plus side, I was introduced to many new-to-me saints that I would like to research more in depth. 

Rose Petals and Snowflakes: Snow White and Rose Red meets Sense and Sensibility by Kendra E. Ardnek (2021)  4/5 stars

The Austen Fairy Tale series, book one

This is a delightful pastiche, and Ardnek stays true to the spirit of each story.  The sisters are very much the fairy tale sisters, but at the same time, their personalities match Elinor and Marianne nearly perfectly.  I loved finding the tributes to the classics, yet enjoyed Ardnek's original world, characters, and plot equally well.  There were times I struggled to understand the magic system, but I think that might be due more to reader than author.  Overall, it's well-written, sometimes humorous, full of heart, and completely enjoyable.  

Walk with Care by Patricia Wentworth (1933)  4/5 stars

Benbow Smith series, book three
When a politician's young secretary finds himself being framed as a blackmailer and thief, he begins his own investigation in an attempt to outwit his unknown enemies.  This is an generally well-written novel of domestic espionage, quite tense at times, and, if unrealistic, still fully entertaining.  I would recommend reading this series in order, as some characters reappear.

Crown and Cinder: Pride and Prejudice derails Cinderella by Kendra E. Ardnek (2022)  4/5 stars

The Austen Fairy Tale series, book two

This is another delightful fairy-tale-plus-classic combination.  Ardnek puts a different spin on  Cinderella and combines it nicely with Austen's famous story, all the while excellently blending it with her original plot, world, and characters.  The story continues from the first book, so they must be read in order, but it was wonderful to continue to follow previous characters and see them interact with the ones in Crown and Cinder.  I'm thoroughly invested in this world now, and am looking forward to reading the next in this series.

Audiobooks Completed:

The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham (1955)  4/5 stars (my review here)

Hide my Eyes by Margery Allingham (1958)  5/5 stars (my review here)

The Warden by Anthony Trollope (1855)  4/5 stars
The Chronicles of Barsetshire, book one
Original review from September 2022: Septimius Harding is an upright clergyman who is the devoted warden of a local charity.  John Bold, his young friend (and his daughter's suitor), becomes convinced that the charity is not being managed according the original intents, and involves Mr. Harding in the agony of a public debate.  

This, the first of the Chronicles of Barsetshire,  deals with a hot contemporary topic, and Trollope handles the subject well.  However, had this been the first novel I had read by him, it would probably have been my last.  Happily, I read the Palliser novels first (all six of which were five star reads for me), so I know what gems Trollope can write.  As it is, The Warden lacks the sparkle, humor, and charm of the Palliser books, and while still well-written, is not compelling.  Despite this, I will continue the series, in anticipation of great things to come.

Note: Upon this rereading, I must raise my rating to four stars.  My first reading came immediately upon the heels of the Palliser novels, and I think I unfairly compared the two.  At this point, some two years later, I can appreciate The Warden much more without the immediate memory of the other series.  I'm eagerly looking forward to continuing the Chronicles of Barsetshire now.  (counting towards The Classics Club)

Did Not Finish:

Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to Egyptian Queen by Jane Draycott

Draycott has tried to write a biography of Cleopatra Selene without there being enough resources available to do so.  She relies heavily on "may have", "might be", "possibly", "probable", "assume".  The bits that are not about her, but about the world around her, were interesting, but the actual "biographical" information was not, nor was it well written.  I tried to plow on through, hoping that as Cleopatra Selene aged, more of her life would have been accurately recorded, but -- with less than 100 pages to go -- I finally gave up. 

Homecoming by Kate Morton

I have really enjoyed previous novels by Morton, but this one dragged, especially when the "nonfiction novel" was introduced.  I made it through ten hours, but with nearly eight left to go, I just could not go on.

Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Susan May Warren

2011

5/5 Stars

It's December 22, 1949 in the small Midwest town of Frost where Dottie, the reclusive town librarian, finds the holiday season too much of a trigger for her grief. She plans to hunker down in her oversized house and not emerge until Christmas is over. A severe snowstorm drives four people into her home, however, and ruins her plans.  

Gordy is her lifelong neighbor, with whom Dottie shares an emotional past. Violet is Dottie's assistant at the library yet still a virtual stranger, who is still dealing with the reactions of her family and the town to her service during the war. Jake is a stranger to all three, and has come to Frost to give Violet some information that he dreads to share. Arnie is a local elementary school student, lost in the snow, who brings them all together into a sort of family as they wait out the storm.

The title and cover of this novel do it a disservice, making the book appear to be a light-hearted rom-com. This is far from the truth. Baby It's Cold Outside is a serious, Christian-based story of grieving, lost, and broken people, some of whom need to re-find Christ, and all of whom need to give and receive godly love.

I was surprised at just how good this book is. I cried often, and cared intensely for the characters and the outcome. Though Warren writes well, I did have to reread the first two chapters before I started the third, to make certain I knew everyone and their motives, as she revealed their pasts in such small, cryptic bits in the beginning. After that, it flowed smoothly, into a plot that was engrossing and moving. 

 In addition, Warren had obviously researched the World War II era, and was able to drop in details here and there that really added to the book, as well as giving it a realistic feel.  

Despite loving it as much as I do, I can't refer it universally, as I think  those readers not interested in historical fiction might find it hard to connect with the characters or time period.  To the rest though, I can't recommend this one enough!  I'm already looking forward to rereading it next Christmas.

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.

March 2023 Wrap Up

Books Read:
No physical books this month, though I have been reading quite a good one that I'll be able to report on in April.

Audio Books Completed:

As is apparent, this month I have been indulging in a binge reread of the Russell/Holmes series. 

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (1995)  4/5 stars

When I first read this in 2018, I gave it three stars, saying that it was still like fan-fiction and was so slow to start that I nearly abandoned it.  While I still agree with the first statement, I disagree with the later.  I enjoyed this immensely this time around, and found the gradual build-up of plot to be most satisfying.  Perhaps it's because it's a second reading (though I remembered very little about it), or maybe it's because I've become used to King's style over the years, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King (1996)  4/5 stars

Laurie R. King

I also first read this third in the series in 2018, gave it three stars, commented that the writing had greatly improved but said that I was disappointed with the ending.  The writing is considerably better than the previous two, but I wasn't let down by the denouement this time.  Granted, the mystery itself wasn't as exciting as earlier ones, but it is still intelligent, interesting, and compelling.  I was completely invested in the characters and fully engaged in the plot, despite the obvious solution.  As a result, I've raised my rating to four stars.  

The Moor by Laurie R. King (1998)  4/5 stars

In this entertaining mystery-adventure, King skillfully blends her original ideas with both canon Holmes and historical fact, creating an interesting, engrossing story.  I enjoyed this reread just as much, despite remembering some of the plot.

O, Jerusalem by Laurie R. King (1999)  4/5 stars

I skipped this one after a few chapters my first time reading the series, because I didn't think I would be interested in it.  Then, when I started the next book (Justice Hall, see below), characters from O, Jerusalem featured and I regretted my decision.  This read through, though, I did not skip it and I ended up loving it!  It fills out an adventure alluded to in the very first book, when Russell was still Holmes' apprentice. They ventured to Palestine on a mission for Mycroft, and became involved in a most dangerous adventure.  This is a vibrant story, full of interesting characters, well-written suspense, and darn fine storytelling.  Once again, King weaves her original character with both world history and Holmes' canon into a believable fabric.  By this time in her career, King's books are polished, much less like fanfiction, and completely enjoyable.

Justice Hall by Laurie R. King (2002)  5/5 stars

This one knocked my socks off when I first read it and I think I loved it even more this time.  It's not so much a "novel of suspense" as is general with the Russell/Holmes series, as it is the story of families -- the love, pride, and devotion engendered by family members, family history, and family name.   World War I features largely; it's an area of great appeal to me, which no doubt added to my enjoyment, but may lessen that of other readers without said interest.  I found it engrossing, moving, and deeply satisfying; it's definitely one of my favorites of the series.

Note: I recommend this series whole-heartedly for fans of Holmes or historical mystery, but strongly recommend reading them in published order.

Shelf Control: Alva, That Vanderbilt-Belmont Woman

 Shelf Control is a weekly feature hosted by Literary Potpourri to discuss unread books sitting in our to-be-read piles.

 

I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, the home of George Vanderbilt's castle, the Biltmore House.  History interested me at an early age, as did the fairy tale aspect of Biltmore, so I loved visiting and learning about it from preteen age and up.  In my mid-twenties, my workplace was a few minutes away, so I kept a season pass and on my lunch break would spend twenty minutes driving the three mile Approach Road (landscaped by Fredrick Law Olmstead), past the house, and back out, while eating my sandwich and just soaking in the atmosphere.

On one of my many trips to the Estate shops, sometime back in the late 90s, I bought Alva, That Vanderbilt-Belmont Woman: Her Story as She Might Have Told It, about Vanderbilt's sister-in-law.  I don't know much about Alva (1853-1933), other than that she was both a multi-millionaire and a women's suffrage advocate, that she divorced William Vanderbilt on the grounds of adultery at a time when divorce was scandalous, and that she was apparently a strong-minded, opinionated, and out-spoken woman.  She seems so interesting that I was quite looking forward to learning more.

The book cover calls it the "first biography of one of America's richest and most powerful women", so I bought it expecting a true biography, and was disappointed to discover later that it's written in the first-person, and therefore actually fiction.  

So the question is, will I ever read it?  I don't know.  The Goodreads reviews are mixed, it's over 300 pages long, it's not a actually a biography, and life is short -- so probably not. Regardless, it's full of photos which makes it interesting to browse.  

How about you?  What books of interest are on your TBR?

February 2023 Wrap-Up

 

No physical books read this month.

Audio Books Completed:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) 5/5 stars

I've loved this book since high school, and I enjoyed my reread immensely.  Austen's writing is witty, funny, intelligent, and perceptive, and while Pride and Prejudice is not my favorite of her works, it's still a five-star experience.

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman (2018) 3/5 stars

In this Victorian-era story, Frances Wynn, the American born Countess of Harleigh, finds her early widowhood to be quite a bit more exciting than her married life.  She moves to London with her young daughter, takes on the coming-out of her teenaged sister, is accused of murdering her late husband, becomes involved with a spate of high society robberies, and tries her hand at detecting.

This is a fun, light mystery, generally well-written. The prominent characters are likeable, especially Frances herself, who narrates the tale.   Historically, it is mostly accurate, though it doesn't keep the feel of the times. Plot-wise, it's not always believable nor particularly twisty or surprising, yet is still fully entertaining enough to make me want to continue the series.

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder by Dianne Freeman (2019) 3/5 stars

The second in the Countess of Harleigh series is also fun and light, despite featuring two murders, scandal, and danger.  The same characters feature, and are as engaging as in the first book.  The solution is easy to see but it is an entertaining tale nonetheless.  The problem is that it misses the mark on Victorian atmosphere several times, with things that are just possible, but not probable, and made some of the book ring false for this armchair historian.  

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman (2020) 3/5 stars

In the third of the Countess of Harleigh novels, a series of accidents at a country house party begins to look like attempted murder.  As with the previous two, it's a light and fun mystery set in Victorian England, with engaging characters and an entertaining plot.  Freeman kept to the era better than she did in the second book, a gave it a more twisty story and a less obvious solution.

A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder by  Dianne Freeman (2021)  3/5 stars

The fourth of the Countess of Harleigh novels follows the style of the others, and so is a light and fun story, with likable characters and an interesting plot, and a generally authentic late Victorian atmosphere.  I had no trouble deducing the culprit early on, but that is probably due more to my 40 years of reading mysteries than to obvious foreshadowing.  Like the rest of the series, it was enjoyable but not exceptional.

Castle Shade by Laurie R. King (2021) 5/5 stars (my review here)

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King (1994)  3/5 stars
After finishing the last (so far) of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, I had a desire to revisit the early books.  The gist of my 2017 review (here) still stands.  It feels like fan-fiction, Russell is too perfect, and the final conflict is overly melodramatic, so technically-speaking it's not worth more than three stars (though later better-written books have earned a well-deserved five).  Despite that, I loved it like a guilty pleasure, like eating an entire box of chocolates all at once: I totally enjoyed myself, but I would be ashamed to admit it.

Did Not Finish:
The Untold History of the Potato by John Reader

Because I enjoy this type of nonfiction -- one that focuses on a person, thing, or event and uses that as the touchstone for reporting what went on around that focus -- I was excited to read this.  I listened to the audio book for two hours, but it was slow and dull and not engagingly written.  When I realized that I'd zoned out for about thirty minutes and would have to go back and re-listen, I decided I'd just rather quit.

Castle Shade by Laurie R. King

Marie, Queen Consort of Romania

Castle Shade 
Laurie R. King
2021
5/5 stars

When Mary Russell's husband and partner, Sherlock Holmes, announces they are going to Transylvania to sort out whispers about vampires, she laughs at him.  It turns out, however, that Queen Marie of Romania  is in genuine need of help to stave off a spate of rumors of supernatural events, and to protect the Princess Ileana from threat.

As usual, King blends her original story with the canon personality of Holmes in a convincing way.  The story goes between Russell's first-person point-of-view and the third-person chapters that follow Holmes both smoothly and naturally.  Russell is genuinely likable, Holmes garners respect and admiration, and their relationship is as believable as possible, given the circumstances, and immensely entertaining.  Actual facts are woven in with the fiction nearly seamlessly, with the personalities of the historical figures being convincing, and the supporting cast, as it were, seeming lively and realistic.  It's not difficult to determine the culprit in this adventure, but the characters, plots, atmosphere, and general personality of the book make it completely engrossing and memorable.  Castle Shade is closer to 4.5 stars technically speaking, but it's worth the higher rating for the pure pleasure and satisfaction it gives.

2022 Wrap-Up and January 2023 Wrap-Up

2022 Wrap-Up
Last year was a good year for reading.  My goal was for 75 books and despite those enormous tomes from the Palliser series I passed that, without pushing myself or stressing over it, and finished with a total of 83: 65 audio books and 18 physical books.

some of my stats from Goodreads

January 2023 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Birthday Party by C.H.B. Kitchin (1938)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove (2019)  4/5 stars

This is one of the better Holmes pastiches that I've read.  There were only a few times that Lovegrove gave the great detective lines or emotions that, for me, didn't fit the canon.  The story was well-written and the mystery interesting, with enough twists and humor to keep the book engrossing and entertaining.  Lovegrove has written novels for two other Holmes spinoffs, "the New Adventures" and "the Cthulhu Casebooks", as well as two more in this particular (unnamed) set; I enjoyed the Christmas Demon enough to definitely continue to the next book, and perhaps to check out the other series as well.

 

Audio Books Completed:

The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1933)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Window at the White Cat by Mary Roberts Rinehart  (1910)  4/5 stars

The plot is complicated to explain, but it is full of drama and mystery, with good twists, funny moments, plenty of red herrings, and a satisfying solution.  It's written in Rinehart's signature witty style with much cheeky "had I but known" foreshadowing, and as such is a delight to read.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811)  5/5 stars
No need to write a plot synopsis, or "review" a book this well known.  It's a (4th? 5th? 6th?) reread, and I find I love it more each time.  Austen's dialogue is fantastic, and her sharp wit and (sometimes overlooked) snarky humor are often laugh-out-loud funny.  Those that see it as only a romance are perhaps missing Austen's sardonic social criticism, her main focus on sisterly love and affection (reread that final sentence), and her brilliant studies of the characters, even some lesser ones.  While it's not my favorite Austen, it's still a five-star read.

A Dead Liberty by Catherine Aird  (1986)  3/5 stars

Though full of Aird's usual wit and strong, entertaining writing, this short mystery is only average, with an easy-to-solve crime and a not-fully-convincing tying-up of ends.  

The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters (1982)  5/5 stars

This is a complex and satisfying mystery taking place in the High Middle Ages, which, though a reread, held me gripped throughout.  Peters is known for her excellence, and this is a strong example of why.  The plot, the characters, and the historically accurate atmosphere all combine to make it engrossing, enjoyable, and memorable.
  

Did Not Finish:

The Wisdom of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
I found the first volume of Father Brown stories to be a mostly-entertaining four-star read.  These, however, did not have any sparkle or charm, despite my desire to love them.  I made it through six-and-a-half of the twelve stories and dreaded continuing, so I cut my losses and quit.

November 2022 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Face on the Cutting Room Floor by (Ernest Borneman writing as) Cameron McCabe  (1937)  2/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:
Portrait of Jennie by Robert Nathan (1940)  3/5 stars
This is a modern fantasy of sorts, in which a painter meets a child who slips through time to visit him, aging quickly across the months of their friendship, trying, as she says, to catch up with him.  The plot premise of this popular book is intriguing and appealing, but the delivery was underwhelming. The prose is often dull, the story barebones, and the characters not well-fleshed.  It's only 125 pages, and it might have packed more punch had it been pared to the length of a short story instead.  

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden (2019)  3/5 stars (my review here)

Catherine Aird

The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards (2015)  5/5 stars (my review here)

Slight Mourning by Catherine Aird  (1975) 3/5 stars
Though somewhat predictable, Aird's sly sense of humor and solid writing make this an enjoyable mystery. 

The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton (1911)  4/5 stars

This is the first set of short stories to feature Father Brown, and I found them generally enjoyable.  Father Brown's personality is developed very little, unfortunately, but Chesterton creates clever and sometimes baffling problems, and writes well overall.  His Christian faith comes out clearly in his moral judgements, which is only fitting for the Catholic priest and his outlook.

Some Die Eloquent by Catherine Aird   (1979)  4/5 stars

Interesting plot with a satisfying solution, combined Aird's particular humor and strong writing, made this an enjoyable read.

Did Not Finish:

The Gentleman and the Thief  by Sarah M. Eden (my discussion here)

Two of the Dread Penny Society Series by Sarah M. Eden

This is a series by Sarah M. Eden, each featuring a different member of the Dread Penny Society: a secret men's club made up of penny dreadful authors with a strong social conscience, who rescue children and women from the streets.  Eden alternates between the point of view of the two protagonists, and includes her own short stories as penny dreadfuls written by series characters.

The Lady and the Highwayman 
2019 
3/5 stars

Headmistress Elizabeth Black is the clandestine author of penny dreadful serials written as Mr, King. Top-selling author and Dread Penny Society member, Fletcher Walker, has his income threatened by Mr. King's success, so he sets out to uncover King's identity.  When Fletcher and Elizabeth meet by chance, they find an unlikely mutual spark that becomes something stronger the more they are together -- but Elizabeth must protect her hidden identity even from him, for the sake of her school.

First off, this is not my typical genre, as I don't generally enjoy romance novels. In addition, I'm coming to it with a background of extensive reading of Victorian sensational novels, and of having an above-the-average knowledge of Victorian England.  Due to that, I seem to be a harsher critic than most of the reviewers on Goodreads and Audible.

The Lady and the Highwayman is a sweet and clean light romance with a bit of adventure, and faux penny dreadful novels thrown in the mix.  The historical atmosphere was not convincing, and the combination of two greatly overused tropes (Victorian-lady-with-modern-views and Victorian-people-with-a-21st-century-amount-of-social-conscience) was trying. Eden's penny dreadful stories lacked a lot of the typical characteristics, so didn't feel authentic.  I waded through situations highly improbable in Victorian society, complicatedly contrived occasions for meeting, decisions that made no sense, and plot lines that eventually led nowhere (all with an audio book narrator I don't care for), because the DPS appealed to me on many levels, and I was curious where the story would go.  I wasn't fully satisfied by the ending, nor did I feel, given the social circumstances, that the romance would be possible for Elizabeth, yet. . . I did -- inexplicably -- rather enjoy this book.  Enough that I will give the second volume of the series a chance. 

The Gentleman and the Thief 
2020
Did Not Finish

I had the exact same problems as I did with The Lady and the Highwayman but, unfortunately, this one was so bland that I couldn't finish it.  As I said above, it's not to my regular taste anyway, so it's shouldn't be much of a surprise that it didn't grab me. 

September 2021 Wrap-Up

 

Books Read:

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley (2014)  3/5 stars  (my review here)

The Killer and the Slain: a Strange Story by Hugh Walpole (1942)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King (2016)  5/5 stars

This Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes adventure revolves around their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, and her past.   As with most of the series, The Murder of Mary Russell is intelligent, compelling, and well-written, but King's greatest strength lies in her ability to weave together canon Holmes with her own inventions, as she does marvelously here. 

Mary Russell's War and Other Stories of Suspense 

by Laurie R. King (2016)  3/5 stars

The talent for writing short stories is quite different from that needed for novels, and sadly, Ms. King does not appear to possess that particular gift.  I feel I'm being generous giving the collection three stars, as many of them were rather poor.  However, the title story giving more of Mary's background was generally good and worth reading, and the story of their wedding was, despite feeling like a novice attempt, mostly amusing -- hence the rating.

Audio Books Completed:

The Stone Wife by Peter Lovesey (2014)  4/5 stars

Another solid mystery featuring Inspector Diamond. It seemed straight-forward at first, but then became nicely complex and twisty.  I fully enjoyed it; Lovesey and his Diamond are firm favorites.

Mistletoe and Murder by Carola Dunn (2004)  3/5 stars

This takes place during a Christmas house party, and has a real Golden Age of Mystery feel to it. In fact, I quite enjoyed it -- until the obvious murderer and weak motive were revealed.  I still continue to read the series, though I only find the books average, because I enjoy Dunn's cheerful, breezy style and her pleasant characters.

Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures by Stephen Fry (2018)  4/5 stars

Using his particular clever, intelligent, and witty style, Fry tells some of the Ancient Greek stories of heroes.  I would have preferred more details given to some of them -- I felt the same with Mythos (my review here) -- but otherwise Heroes is a wonderful collection of tales well-told.  

The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill  (2007)  3/5 stars

DS Freya Graffham moves to the cathedral town of Lafferton and becomes deeply interested in a missing person case.  When more women go missing, and she gets closer to the truth, Freya becomes a target herself.  

Hill writes well, and I was impressed by her ability to bring characters and situations to life.  I enjoyed it tremendously, found it engrossing and gripping. In the end, however, I had to give it three stars instead of four, because there were many people and incidents that had no purpose in the long run, except as filler.

Did Not Finish:

Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie

I've never not finished a Christie mystery, but. . .  This is set in Ancient Egypt and is, I think, the only one of her novels that I have not read.  I was instantly interested in the plot; however, I was listening to the book and found I couldn't keep up with the names.  Once I'd processed what the name was, Emilia Fox was two sentences on and I was left trying to catch up.  So, it's not the fault of the author, or even the narrator, but of my difficulty with the names.  I will probably get the book from the library; I think I would be much better served reading it at my own speed.

The Dead Letter by Seely Regester

This is considered the first full-length American detective novel, and, as Victorian era sensationalism is one of my favorite genres, I was excited to read it, and really enjoyed the first 30%.  At that point, though, a clairvoyant was introduced and was responsible for giving vital information; I prefer my crimes to be solved by the skill and intellect of the detective, not through a Deus Ex Machina situation.

The Detective Wore Silk Drawers by Peter Lovesey

I'm such a fan of Lovesey, so I have been trying his first series with the Victorian Sargent Cribb.  This is the second of that series, and is centered around bare-knuckle pugilism and, as such, didn't interest me as much as the first one did.  Having a stack of other library books to read, I decided to give this one a miss, at least for now.

Waltz into Darkness by William Irish (pseudonym of Cornell Woolrich)

I read and thoroughly enjoyed two other noir novels by Woolrich, and this one was good for the first quarter or so.  At around 33%, though, it lost it's momentum and liveliness and, as a result, my attention.

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

I read the first of this series (my review here) and since I found this one on audio at the library, decided to continue with it.  I listened for four hours, and then stopped.  My problems were threefold: the main characters all have French accents and the narrator didn't differentiate well with them; the over-melodramatic grieving grated on my nerves; and finally, the sense of unrecognized entitlement which allows these rich sisters to achieve their desires was more pronounced here than in the Seven Sisters.   I put most of the problem on the fact that I was listening to the Storm Sister  and therefore not in a position to skim over things, like I did when I read the first.  I've not called it quits on the series entirely, as the premise intrigues me, but I don't think audio is the way to go.

Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison

I really wanted to like this, as the blurb made it sound so interesting, but alas. . . the writing and the characters were unappealing, and I didn't make it longer than an hour of the audiobook.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

The Seven Sisters

Lucinda Riley

2014

3/5 stars

The Seven Sisters is the first in a series that follows a set of adopted sisters as they heal from the loss of their father, consider their unknown past, and make decisions for the future.  This book sets the scene by introducing the sisters and then follows Maia, the eldest who is in thrall to her past, in her quest to uncover her birth-family's history in Rio.

This is not my typical genre (a combo of historical and contemporary romance/fiction) but I enjoyed it.  I did have quibbles with some of the plot, but for the most part found it engaging and intelligent, and with characters I came to care about.  At one point, I feared it was taking a predictable and trope-ish turn, but was pleasantly surprised.  In the end I found the Seven Sisters, if not fully original, both interesting and well-written enough to continue the series.

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.

When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart

When a Man Marries

Mary Roberts Rinehart

1909 

4/5 stars

This turn-of-the-nineteenth century novel, a precursor of Hollywood's screwball comedies of the 1930s, is a laugh-out-loud misadventure that is well-written, engaging and completely entertaining.  Telling the plot would spoil it, I think, as so much of the pleasure is derived from wondering just WHAT could possibly happen next?!  The best thing to do, is to let Kit (the narrator) tell it in her own words: 

It began with Jimmy Wilson and a conspiracy, was helped on by a foot-square piece of yellow paper and a Japanese butler, and it enmeshed and mixed up generally ten respectable members of society and a policeman. Incidentally, it involved a pearl collar and a box of soap, which sounds incongruous, doesn’t it? 

Rinehart, known for her popular mysteries, has a wonderful knack for writing conversation and ridiculous situations, both of which made When a Man Marries such fun. It is not perfect, and there are a few bits that could have been smoothed out better or explained more, as well as some dated, now offensive, language.  Despite that, I got five stars worth of enjoyment out of it, and am truly sad that I can't honestly give it the full five rating. 

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.

June 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Lost Man by Jane Harper  (2019)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Girl from Montana by Grace Livingston Hill (1908)  3/5 stars

Written in 1908, this novel follows the story of a young woman fleeing Montana to escape from a wicked man's evil intent.  During her flight, she encounters a man from the East, lost and in trouble, whom she helps, and who helps her in return.  While sweet and mostly entertaining, this Christian-themed novel is light on plot in the second half -- quite a let-down after the promising start.

The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1945)  

4/5 stars

When Carol Spencer arrives at her summer house in Maine, she discovers a burnt corpse in her linen closet, beginning a nightmare for her family and the small coastal town.  Written and taking place during WWII, this mystery is interesting, well-paced, and suspenseful.  The plot is convoluted, and couldn't be fully solved from the clues given, relying at times on information the detective has but doesn't reveal.  Despite that annoyance, it was a good, quick read, complicated enough to be enjoyable, with a surprising and satisfying ending.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley (2020)  3/5 stars

This thriller takes place on a remote island the day before and the day of the wedding of a high-profile couple.  It follows several members of the party, in first-person alternating chapters,  as they muse on their past and their personal demons, while gradually leading up to the end of the wedding and a murder.  The Guest List has some good twists, and I stayed mostly interested, but I was never invested in any of the characters or their situations.  The various voices weren't distinct enough, nor the prose engaging enough, to make it an immersive read.

Audio Books Completed:

The Lake House by Kate Morton (2015)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie (1925)  3/5 stars

This is a sometimes convoluted story of international intrigue taking place in an English country house.  It's not one of Christie's best written or most believable, in part because not all the clues are available for the reader, but, despite that, it is still a generally entertaining escape, though not fully engrossing.

Did Not Finish

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss

I feel bad for not finishing this one.  I was interested in the plot, liked most of the characters, and generally enjoyed the format, but. . . I didn't care much for Mary, the main protagonist.  I didn't feel like she was well-drawn, nor particularly likable.  There were several historical inaccuracies, as well.  I tried to tell myself that as alternate history, the author doesn't have to stick to the facts, but (as a history major), it grated on my nerves continually. Then, there was the main reason: I especially hated how Goss made use of a  character called "Sherlock Holmes" who had very little in common with the canon Holmes.  (As a friend and I have discussed lately, Holmes fans tend to be very passionate about their interpretation of him, and soundly dislike authors that break with that vision.)  I began dreading to read it, not wanting any more interaction with the faux Holmes, so, with 57% completed, I stopped.  I  think it's really a case of "it's not you, it's me".  Good book on the whole, but a bad match for me.

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

This is the second in the Rivers of London series (my review here), and it was quite good: witty, funny, and interesting.  Unfortunately, about the time I reached page 75, BOOM, I was out of the mood for fantasy.  I'll set it aside and pick up the series again when I'm in that frame of mind again.

The Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle

Oh my.  I'm sorry, but this book is not very good.  Part of the problem is that Belle is depicting a fictional small town in the mountains of NC.  Now, I grew up in an actual small town in the mountains of NC, and her idea of how one works is quite different from mine.  Then there were several other things I found off-putting or eye-roll worthy, including a lot of ageism, so after over an hour of the audio book, I just quit.  

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

I really wanted to like this one, as it's got an average of over four stars on Goodreads, but, while it's not exactly a trigger, I just don't like to read about women in abusive relationships.  I made it a few chapters in, and decided it wasn't for me. 

The Lake House by Kate Morton

The Lake House

Kate Morton 

2015  

4/5 stars

The complicated plot of the Lake House is difficult to describe, as it follows both different time lines and different characters.  The cornerstone of the plot is that DC Sadie Sparrow, on leave from the Met, visits her grandfather in Cornwall and becomes obsessed with a 70 year old cold case.  

It sounds bland, explained like that, but it is actually a rich, complex, and delightful novel that is not so much a mystery as a character study.  The lake house, Loeanneth, features as more than just a setting, while the secrets that surround the tragedy form most of the story.  

Morton writes well, though not seamlessly.  There were times when the switches between characters/time lines was jarring, and the story dragged a bit here and there. There were also a few details that didn't fit with the historical periods.  Nevertheless, despite it's length (nearly 500 pages, and over 20 hours of audiobook), this is an engrossing, satisfying, and at times moving book that is worth the investment.

May 2021 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee (2017)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

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.

Two Books by Abir Mukherjee

Smoke and Ashes

Abir Mukherjee 

2018  

4/5 stars

This third installment of the series, takes place in 1921 in Calcutta, with Detective Inspector  Sam Wyndham stumbling over a murdered body in an opium den -- one he can do nothing about, as it would reveal that he had been there. The next day, he is called to the scene of another murder, and the victim has been killed in the same gruesome way.  Wyndham is hindered in his investigation by not being able to acknowledge the other corpse, which has yet to be reported by anyone.  He and Sergeant Bannerjee are searching for a connection between the two, when yet a third victim is killed the same way.

This is another solid mystery: interesting, compelling, and well-written.  Wyndham, with his morally gray ways and self-destructive habits, has fast become a favorite character.  Bannerjee is fleshed out more in this novel, and his friendship with Wyndham is more believable.  There was a surprising twist -- one that I perhaps should have seen coming, but was pleasantly taken off guard by it.  The action did get a bit melodramatic at the climax, but overall, Smoke and Ashes is still a great read. 

Death in the East

Abir Mukherjee 

2019  

4/5 stars

It is now 1922, and Detective Inspector Sam Wyndham leaves Calcutta for a trip to an ashram in Assam, in hopes of overcoming his opium addiction.  While there, he sees a face that reminds him of his first murder case, back in London in 1905.  That case becomes relevant again when an important Englishman is found dead in his bed in a locked room in the closest British settlement, Jatinga.  With Sergeant Bannerjee's help, Wyndham investigates the case -- one where a conflict of interest may be involved.

This is the fourth in the series, and is another strong mystery, atmospheric and well-written, with two engrossing plotlines.  Wyndham's past is skillfully told alongside his present situation, in alternating chapters eventually tying together, and the reader is given a glimpse into what has made Wyndham who he is.  As I've mentioned in all reviews of this series, Wyndham is morally gray, and that affects how he views this case in a most telling way.  The solution is ingenious, and while not a complete surprise, was satisfying, and the ending was pleasingly uncomfortable.  

A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee

 

A Necessary Evil
Abir Mukherjee
2017 
4/5 stars

In 1920, Sam Wyndham, Detective Inspector in Calcutta's branch of the Imperial Police Force, is a first-hand witness to the assassination of a Maharaja's son.  The other witness --his subordinate, Sergeant Banerjee --was a school friend of the Yuvraj, and is sent as an emissary to the funeral.  As far as the Imperial Police Force is concerned, the case is solved and Wyndham is to abandon his conspiracy theories and let the matter rest.  Not one to let a direct order stop him, Wyndham goes "on holiday" to  join Banerjee in giving his respects to the grieving family, while actually planning to continue his investigation.

This is an intriguing and well-written novel, picking up a year after the previous book (my review here).  The mystery had me guessing and the overall plot kept drawing me back.  Mukherjee draws realistic characters, with the morally gray and nearly morbidly fallible Wyndham being especially so.   The solution was a surprise, which I probably should have seen coming (the clues were there) but being caught off-guard made it even more enjoyable.