Inspector Queen's Own Case by Ellery Queen

Inspector Queen's Own Case
Ellery Queen
4/5 stars

Inspector Queen (Ellery's father) has retired and is not happy about it.  While visiting friends, he becomes involved in the possible murder of an infant.  The baby's nurse, Jessie, appeals to him for help and they form a partnership to investigate the case.

This is my favorite Ellery Queen mystery, despite Ellery not appearing in it at all.  Richard Queen has a wonderful personality, and Jessie was a delight as well.  The mystery was engaging and the writing good.  Overall, it's an excellent book and just barely falls short of 5 stars.

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall

The Case of the Missing Servant
Tarquin Hall 
5/5 stars

Prominent lawyer Ajay Kasliwal is being accused of murdering his missing servant, Mary, and hires Vish Puri to prove his innocence.   Punjabi Puri, affectionately known as "Chubby", is the owner of  Most Private Investigators Ltd. in Delhi, a highly successful private detective firm where "discretion is my watchword".  With his operatives, Puri sets out to solve Kasliwal's case, while also investigating both a prospective bridegroom, and the latest attempt on his life.

Puri is well-drawn: personable and clever, with an amusing streak of pomposity.  The supporting characters, especially Mummy, are as fun and nearly as fleshed-out.  The solution of the case rests on some information that the reader doesn't have available, but it doesn't lessen the enjoyment of the experience.  However, it's the details about India in general, and Delhi in particular that make this novel rise about the average mystery.   I highly recommend this book, especially to those with interest in modern India.

(On a personal note: this was my second time reading it and I think I liked it even better this second time.)

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir
Jennifer Ryan
5/5 stars

It's the spring of 1940, and as most all of the men in the village of Chilbury are off fighting the war. As a result, the women are learning to shoulder tasks they wouldn't normally do, including singing in a choir exclusively for women.  The story, through journals and letters, follows several ladies from this choir over the course of a few months, observing how they are affected by the war, the choir, and each other.

This novel is simply splendid.  Ryan's writing is lovely, the characters are fully-fleshed and believable, and the story is, by turns, moving and funny.  I truly hated to see this delightful book come to an end.

The Rise of the Automated Aristocrats by Mark Hodder

The Rise of the Automated Aristocrats
Mark Hodder
4/5 stars

Burton

In this sixth and final volume of the Burton and Swinburne series, Burton is retrieved from his death bed in our line of history, and taken to the alternate steampunk universe to help his friends find the missing inventor, Babbage.  The very history that Burton risked his life to change is now becoming a reality as he must fight against technologically-enhanced aristocrats,  sadistic enemies, and an artificial intelligence gone rogue.

Hodder has an amazing talent for creating a realistic alternate universe with believable crises.  This novel, while at times too philosophical, wraps up the series nicely with an exciting, complex plot and wonderful, multidimensional characters.  Overall, this steampunk fantasy series is a winner and comes highly recommended.



(previous reviews are here, here, here, here and here.)

    
      

August Wrap-Up

Due to being sick for three weeks this month, I didn't do much reading!

Books Read:
The Lost by Jonathan Aycliffe 2/5 stars (my review here)

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Greip  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:
Little Men by Louisa Mae Alcott 4/5 stars
While not as good as Little Women, this was an enjoyable read with memorable characters and cute vignettes.

Opening Night (a/k/a Night at the Vulcan) by Ngaio Marsh 5/5 stars
Marsh's excellent mystery focuses on a murder during the opening night of a play.  It is complex and entertaining, as is the norm with her novels.

Devices and Desires by P.D. James  5/5 stars
James is a master storyteller, giving in depth character studies of all those involved.  This was a complex, sophisticated, and engrossing mystery.

Inspector Queen's Own Case by Ellery Queen 4/5 stars (my review here)

Did Not Finish
The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen
Despite an intriguing synopsis, I could't connect with the characters and as a result was unable to be interested in the plot.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

12 Days at Bleakly Manor
Michelle Griep
expected publication date: 1 September 2017
3/5 stars

In 1851, Clara, newly impoverished, receives a mysterious invitation to stay at Bleakly Manor for the Twelve Days of Christmas, with a promise of 500 pounds if she stays through to the end. Arriving there, she finds other guests who have been given similar invitations with differing promises if they stay all twelve days. One of the guests is Ben, from her past and an unwelcome addition. These twelve days become a time of second chances for the two of them.

This short book is very light reading, at times insipid, with a plot not fully believable and stereotypical characters. The Victorian atmosphere was not well pulled off, and details such as mores, language, and customers were often not quite right. Advertised as a Christian novel, it has only brief mentions of the faith. However, Griep did a great job of gradually revealing the past stories of Clara and Ben, which raises this book to three stars for me. Overall, though, while I didn't hate it, I wouldn't recommend it either.

The Lost by Jonathan Aycliffe

The Lost
Jonathan Aycliffe
2/5 stars

After his Romanian father's death, Englishman Michael discovers that he is the heir to a castle in Romania.  A series of frightening events follow him, as well as his friends back in England, as he makes his way to the castle.  Once there, he discovers the terrible secret of his family.

Excellently written in the epistolary style, The Lost mirrors Dracula in some ways.  Like the original, it builds in suspense slowly, given the reader an increasing sense of unease.  Unlike the original, though, it falls flat with it's climax.  In addition, there were several unexplained circumstances and loose ends.  Overall, I found it to be quite disappointing.