Books Read:
Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths (2015) 3/5 stars
While Max performs in a local pantomime, the murder of two children sees Edgar scrabbling for clues. This second in the Magic Men series continues the personal lives of the protagonists, in addition to the solving of a mystery. Griffiths writes well, and the plot and characters are appealing, but she projects 21st century mores and views onto characters from the 1950s, giving an unrealistic atmosphere. In addition, the culprit's motive was unconvincing, as were some details of the crime. Griffiths, while quite talented, is not at her best with this series.
Jhereg by Steven Brust (1987) 5/5 stars
Vlad Taltos, a Jhereg assassin in Dragaera with forty-two successful jobs to his credit, recounts the events leading up to his forty-third. It's hard to give any more information about this book, because the world-building is so amazing, with a society that is rich, complex, detailed, and believable, that it just isn't easily explainable. This was a re-read for me, and
Jhereg still immediately engages the reader, and continues to do so to the last page, due to strong writing, a thrilling plot, likable characters, and an unforgettable world.
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield (1916) 4/5 stars
In this delightful children's book, coddled city-girl Elizabeth Ann goes to live with relatives on a Vermont Farm and finds a new level of happiness. The story is both fun and tender, with well-written prose. Canfield, who was responsible for introducing the Montessori method to the United States, clearly shows the way she feels children should be reared and taught, but not in a didactic manner. Though dated,
Understood Betsy is still a charming novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Yendi by Steven Brust (1984) 4/5 stars
Vlad recounts the turf war that gave first gave him his territory, and the conspiracy that was behind it. While not as fully charming as Jhereg and a bit heavy on dialogue at times, this is an entertaining tale with appealing characters and a fascinating world.
Teckla by Steven Brust (1987) 4/5 stars
Vlad's wife, Cawti, becomes involved with a grassroots revolutionary group at the risk of her life and their marriage. Brust writes well, the characters are real and likable, and the world of Dragaera is fantastically imagined. The discussion of the whys and hows of the proposed revolution did tend to drone on a bit, but the overall plot, while not as lighthearted as the previous volumes, was gripping and compelling.
Taltos by Steven Brust (1988) 5/5 stars
Vlad is hired by two Dragaerans, Morrolan of the House of Dragon and master of the floating Castle Black, and Sethra Lavode, the undead Enchantress of Dzur Mountain, to traverse the Paths of the Dead and rescue the Dragonlord heir to the throne. Brust skillfully weaves three tales together to tell the story of the rescue, while also recounting what led up to his working for the Jhereg Organization, and following Vlad as he performs a potentially deadly spell. Brust, unlike some other authors and screenwriters, has no trouble going back and forth in time with his stories, and doesn't have to retcon characters or rewrite events to make it work. As with the other Vlad novels,
Taltos is intelligent, funny, exciting, and memorable -- all that good fantasy should be.
Phoenix by Steven Brust (1990) 4/5 stars
The Demon Goddess Verra requests Vlad's talents for a regicide and the consequences are many. Brust excels at world building and creating memorable characters. The plot is solid, intelligent, and complex resulting in a memorable novel.
Audio Books Completed:
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer (1935) 4/5 stars
Heyer's first Regency novel sets the tone for those to follow: it's intelligent, witty, enjoyable, and historically accurate. While I generally eschew romance, I have been a Heyer fan since my early teens, and appreciate the details and tangled plots even more now.
Cat of Many Tails by Ellery Queen (1949) 3/5 stars
A serial killer is loose in New York City, and the Mayor requests Ellery's help. The plot was quite good, but long passages of introspection, discussion, and explanation made it twice as long as it should have been. I knew the answer quite some time before Ellery, and by the last hour, I was antsy just to get it finished.
(Ellery Queen is one of the few American mystery authors I enjoy; others include Mary Roberts Rinehart and Anna Katharine Green, and sometime Mignon Eberhart.)
Alter by Jeremy Robinson (2018) 4/5 stars
Greg is the sole survivor of a plane crash, which leaves him stranded in the Amazon with few supplies. He makes allies, learns new skills, and finds himself forgetting that a world exists outside the jungle. Robinson writes well and makes Greg and other characters believable. The plot is interesting, sometimes riveting. The last chapters drag, but the ending was beautiful.
Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King (2005) 4/5 stars
Mary Russell and her husband visit San Francisco for Mary to attend to some family business. While there, they become involved in a mystery in Mary's past. This is a well-written, intelligent, and entertaining mystery, with wonderful characters and an engrossing plot.
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (2017) 3/5 stars
Amber is a conwoman, who has picked Jackson Parrish as her intended husband. She ingratiates herself with Jackson's wife, Daphne, and worms her way into their lives. The story is told in two parts, first from Amber's point of view, then from Daphne's. This had such promise, but lacked excitement and depth. It kept me intrigued, but I was certainly disappointed as it worked it's way to a conclusion.
Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie (1953) 4/5 stars
A businessman who is poisoned is discovered with a pocket full of rye. Miss Marple becomes interested due to a personal connection, and helps the police find the solution. The answer seems so straightforward, but Christie throws in a fantastic surprise making it a truly enjoyable read.
Did Not Finish:
Middlemarch by George Eliot
This was a reread for me, to fit in with a reading challenge, and I remember loving this the first time I read it. This time, though it was still wonderful, I found that I was just not in the mood for a lengthy, slow-paced novel at this time, so I went back to quick, lighter reads.
Dead Souls by Ian Rankin
I've enjoyed the two mysteries I've previously read by Rankin but this one was bleak and depressing. I made it five hours through, but when I looked and saw that I had that much more to go, I simply couldn't.
Super in the City by Daphne Ulliver
I made it a few pages into this, but it was not my style.
Dangerous to Know by Margaret Yorke
This highly recommended thriller deals with domestic abuse and I simply couldn't stomach it.
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