June 2020 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
On Being Catholic by Thomas Howard (1997)  5/5 stars
This scholarly work by the apologist Dr. Howard was both insightful and accessible.

Audio Books Completed:
The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain (2014)  4/5 stars
This is a sweet romance about a man who finds a stolen purse and attempts to reunite it with it's owner.  It's not my typical genre, but I enjoyed the writing and the style and would be willing to try another novel by Laurain.

Broken Harbor by Tana French (2012)  5/5 stars
In this grim mystery, Detective Kennedy is put on the case when a family is attacked inside their home.  With three of the victims dead, and the survivor comatose, he attempts to piece together what happened, all the while facing his own personal demons.  French is a phenomenally good writer; the characters were fleshed and believeable, and the plot was gripping.  As with the previous books in the series, not all the questions are answered, making it incredibly real.  I highly recommend French's novels.

Stagestruck by Peter Lovesey (2011)  4/5 stars
Detective Peter Diamond of the Bath CID is called in to investigate an accident in the theatre that may have been more than accidental.  A suicide follows, then a murder, and Diamond must work fast to prevent another death.  Peter Diamond became one of my favorite characters early in the series, and this one solidifies his realistic character.  Lovesey writes well and always creates an engrossing mystery.  I highly recommend this series.

Tied up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh (1972)  3/5 stars
Inspector Alleyn becomes involved in a murder case that takes place when his wife is at a Christmas house party.  Marsh doesn't do well in portraying the 1960s and '70s; her slang and references feel forced and the atmosphere creates the feel of a much earlier decade.  I enjoyed the characters and most of the plot, but wasn't fully convinced by either the murder or the reason behind it.

May 2020 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
Hawk by Steven Brust (2014) 4/5 stars
Tired of being on the run, Vlad plans a scam that will allow him to end his personal war with the city's criminal organization.  Amusing and engrossing, Hawk is another example of Brust's excellent world building and clever plots. I'll admit to being a bit disappointed by the ending, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book overall.



Audio Books Completed:
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (1894)  4/5 stars
This was a reread, so I was familiar with the stories and remembered most of the solutions.  Nonetheless, the various adventures are interesting, well-written, and truly enjoyable.

The Dreadful Hollow by Nicholas Blake (1953)   4/5 stars
Nigel is hired to find the source of the poison pen letters plaguing a small village, which has led to one suicide and another attempt.  Finding the culprit is straightforward for Nigel, but he didn't account on an additional perplexing murder.  This was a solidly good mystery, with plenty of suspects, clues, and false trails.  I did discover the answer before Nigel, but that did not lessen the enjoyment of the story.

A Death in the Dales by Frances Brody  (2015)  4/5 stars
While on vacation, Kate is introduced to a ten year old crime, and persuaded by the main eye-witness that the wrong man was hanged for it.  Brody captures the atmosphere well and adds in historical details that make the novel convincing.  The prose is good, the characters are appealing, and the mystery is involved enough to be engrossing without being over-complicated. Overall, it is satisfying and enjoyable read.

The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves (2001)  4/5 stars
Three women from very different backgrounds involved in an ecological survey at a remote cottage become the center of a murder investigation led by D.I. Vera Stanhope.  This is a very well written, completely engrossing mystery and while I didn't feel there were quite enough clues to point to the answer, I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to continuing the series.

Rattle His Bones by Carola Dunn (2003)  3/5 stars
Daisy is on the scene at the Museum of Natural History both when a murder occurs, and when a robbery is discovered that might have bearing on the killing.  This is another charming installment in this cozy mystery series.  The guilty party was easy to pick out, but the characters and period details make it an enjoyable, if casual, read.

44 Scotland Place by Alexander McCall Smith (2005)  4/5 stars
This novel follows the residents of 44 Scotland Place as they go about their daily life experiencing both the mundane and the exciting.  McCall Smith is excellent at writing realistic characters, believable situations, and gently amusing prose, and while not a lot happens, it is an altogether satisfying read.


Did Not Finish
White Nights by Ann Cleeves
I enjoyed the first of this series (my review here) and Cleeves writes well, but after two hours I had yet to become interested in the relationships that were so important, and as a result the story just dragged.

Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander
I made it about an hour into this Victorian mystery, and Lady Emily used the term "weekend"; I had other qualms, historical and otherwise, about the book and found the plot rather unappealing, so I gave it up.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
I read this and loved it as a teen, so thought I'd revisit it.  I'm guessing I must have read an abridged version, or skimmed a lot then, because I found it tedious at times, with stilted prose, unconvincing situations, and truly unlikable characters.  I made it ten hours into the audio book, and just couldn't go further.

April 2020 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Tiassa by Steven Brust (2011)  4/5 stars
This, the thirteenth in the Vlad Taltos series, chronicles the history of a silver statue and how it affected Vlad, those connected to him, and the Empire.  Old friends from another Brust series feature, and a long-standing mystery is answered.  The story is told in three parts, in three different periods of time, and from several voices.  Brust is skillful at weaving multiple plots together, at keeping the reader guessing, and at writing an intelligent, entertaining, and compelling story within an incredibly real world.  I highly recommend this fantasy series.

City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill (1922) 4/5 stars
In this gentle Christian novel, Mark is accused of murder, and his childhood friend, Lynn, stands by him, while his young friend, Billy, has the proof to show Mark innocent, if only he will be unselfish enough to do so.  The plot is surprisingly engrossing, containing an adventure story in addition to the mild romance.  There were parts that would have been better more fleshed out, but overall, it's an enjoyable, light novel -- more substantial than a fluff-novel, but still a nice escape read.

The Black Smith by Constance and Gwenyth Little 3/5 stars  (1950)
A private hospital is the scene of past wrongs, disappearing corpses, complicated relationships, and a bit of murder.  The Little sisters are known for their screwball comedy-mysteries, but this one lacks the laugh-out-loud humor of their earlier books.  There is still enough snappy banter, ridiculous situations, and bizarre characters, though, to make it an enjoyable read.  The solution was the weak point; there weren't enough clues to point to the culprit and the reason was not fully convincing. I wouldn't recommend this as an introduction to the Littles, but their established fans will still find it fun.


Audio Books Completed:
The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World by Edward Dolnick (2011)  4/5 stars
Dolnick gives a brief but interesting sketch of the history of the Royal Society, and some of it's doings during the 1600s, alongside a more detailed account of Isaac Newton and his discoveries, with anecdotes of other 17th century scientists.  With the exception of the long narrative about calculus, it is accessible to the lay-person, and written in an engaging and appealing style.  The title is a bit misleading, as the idea of a clockwork universe is not the main point of this book, and only appears in the last chapters, nor does the Royal Society figure largely.  Some of Dolnick's discussions about the religious atmosphere and about the general history of this period are too broad and do not give a correct portrayal.  Overall, though, it is enjoyable and informative.

The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths  (2016)  3/5 stars
D.I. Edgar Stephens and his friend, the magician Max Mephisto, are roped into the investigation of the murder of the Colonial who was over their war-time unit, the Magic Men.  The feel of 1950s England is convincing, but the plot was not.  The personal lives of the characters are more interesting than the mystery, and kept the book lively enough to finish.

Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (1995)  5/5 stars
Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax leave the familiarity of the Ramtop Mountains to travel to Ankh-Morpork to check on the welfare of one of their local girls, Agnes.  Agnes, currently in the chorus of the opera, becomes involved in a mystery featuring a ghost, some dead bodies, and the magic of the opera itself.  The two witches have to stick their noses into it, of course, and the result is a delicious mix of humor, drama, intrigue, and pathos. The characters are wonderfully written, the prose intelligent and the plot engrossing -- in other words, a typical, delightful Discworld novel.

Faithful Place by Tana French (2010)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth (1948)  3/5 stars
While on a visit to a friend, Miss Silver is asked by the chief suspect to investigate a murder.  As with all of Wentworth's novels, this is a cozy mystery with a a bit of romance sprinkled in, and featuring many false clues.  The plot was quite interesting throughout, but the solution is actually told to Miss Silver by another person, and though she gives her reasons later as to why she already knew, this was an unsatisfactory way to resolve the mystery.

Faithful Place by Tana French

Faithful Place
Tana French
2010
4/5 stars

Undercover cop Frank Mackey left his family 22 years ago and never returned.  Now, a suitcase belonging to his past has surfaced, causing Frank to have to go home again.  He will have to decide which has his loyalty: his job, his memories, or his family.

French is a fantastic writer, catching the reader immediately and never letting go until the end with excellent characters, an engrossing and convincing plot, and gripping prose.  Frank was beliveable, with his good points, his blind spots, and his flaws, making him easy to love, but just as easy to dislike at times.  The only thing holding this mystery back from a full five stars is that the solution was not fully convincing; it left a bit hanging, untied.  As with the two previous of this series, Faithful Place was grim, real, and at times unsettling, but always enthralling.

March 2020 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
The Duke's Daughter by Angela Thirkell  (1951)  4/5 stars  (my review here)


Audio Books Completed:
When in Rome by Ngaio Marsh (1970)  3/5 stars
While in Rome on an Interpol mission, Superintendent Roderick Alleyn is part of a sight-seeing tour which ends in murder.  As it ties in with his case, he rather reluctantly becomes part of the investigation -- and finds a solution quite different from that of the Roman police.

Though with well-written prose, the plot is not fully believable, the solution not fully satisfying, and the characters are somewhat stereotypical.  When in Rome is also dated by the 1960's slang, and, on the whole, does not feel as convincing as those Marsh wrote during the 1930s-50s.

Head of a Traveler by Nicholas Blake (1949)  3/5 stars
A headless corpse is discovered and, as  friends of Nigel are suspected, he becomes involved in the mystery.  The writing is good and the lead up to the end was interesting, but it was obvious who was the murderer from very early on and the solution not fully believable.  One should also note that this novel contains a dated and disturbing view of a rape.

Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett (1994)  4/5 stars
This, the 17th in the Discworld series, follows Rincewind's misadventures in the Aurient as he becomes unwillingly involved in revolution.  The Wizards of Unseen University make an appearance, while Cohen the Barbarian and his Horde feature prominently.  Interesting Times is funny, intelligent, and thoroughly entertaining, while still managing to be thought-provoking.

Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James (1977)  5/5 stars
A forensic scientist is found murdered in his lab, and Dalgliesh is called in to investigate.  This is an excellent mystery with many well-drawn suspects with believable motives, a clever crime, and a satisfying conclusion.  It is compelling, intelligent, and, as always with James, excellently written.

A New Lease of Death by Ruth Rendell  (1967)  4/5 stars
When the Reverend Archery's son wants to marry the daughter of a convicted killer, Archery decides to delve into the past in hopes of finding that Inspector Wexford had got the wrong man.  This is a clever mystery, well-written and intelligent.  Both the main plot and the subplots draw the reader in fully, and the characters are believable and often appealing.  While not perfect, it is completely entertaining and worth reading.

The Duke's Daughter by Angela Thirkell

The Duke's Daughter
Angela Thirkell
1951
4/5 stars

This delightful continuation of the Barsetshire series follows eight youngish people, still finding their places after the War. It picks up right where County Chronicle leaves off, and needs to be read in order to understand the characters and relationships.

Thirkell's prose is witty, sometimes snarky, intelligent, and always entertaining. In the midst of the stories of the county are glimpses of post-World War II struggles, bringing poignant history to life.

I fell in love with these gentle novels from the first volume, and have yet to be disappointed as the inhabitants age, mature, and develop with the changes brought about by contemporary events.

February 2020 Wrap -Up

Books Read:
Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (2015)  4/5 stars
As with all the Poison Pen Press/British Library Crime Classics short story collections edited by Edwards, this contains a five star assortment of authors, some well known and some now obscure.  The stories themselves vary in quality, with a few duds and a few gems sprinkled among average works.  Despite that, they are all worth reading for the exposure to the authors, the variety of styles, and the various takes on the country house mystery.

The Black Rustle by Constance and Gwenyth Little (1942)
4/5 stars
In this delightful screwball comedy/mystery, Marina visits a friend's family for the weekend and becomes entangled in not one, but two murders.  The Little sisters are aces at snappy dialogue and ridiculous situations that wrap nicely around a well-plotted, engrossing mystery.  While not their best, the Black Rustle is well-written and a great deal of fun.

Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis (1958)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

Iorich by Steven Brust (2010)  4/5 stars
Vlad, still on the run from the main Dragaeran criminal organization, discovers that his friend has been arrested and, to save her life, he risks his own by a return to Adrilankha.   Iorich is clever, well-written, and thoroughly entertaining, as are all of the Vlad Taltos novels.  Brust's ability to build a realistic world is impressive, and he has created a plot that is complex, but still comprehensible and credible.

Audio Books Completed:
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2017) 3/5 stars  (my review here)

Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (1994)  4/5 stars
A new form of music known as "Music with Rocks In" appears on the Discworld, affecting everyone who hears it.  Archchancellor Ridcully is convinced it's alive and dangerous, while the other wizards begin to wear leather and grease up their hair.  Meanwhile, Death has disappeared, leaving his granddaughter Susan to carry on the family business.  Laugh-out-loud funny and full of tributes to classic rock-n-roll, Soul Music is entertaining and engrossing.  It lacks the poignancy of many of the Discworld novels, unfortunately, but is still the well-written, intelligent, and fun that one expects from Pratchett.

Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters (1980)  4/5 stars
When a man is murdered by a potion of Cadfael's own, he becomes interested in the death.  The man's young stepson, Edwin, is accused of the crime, but Cadfael is not convinced of his guilt -- and as Edwin's mother is Cadfael's childhood sweetheart, he has extra incentive to find the real killer.  Throughout this series, Peters writes with believable detail and creates intelligent, engrossing mysteries.  Cadfael is a delightful character and Monk's Hood is enjoyable all through.

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (1964)  4/5 stars
While on vacation, Miss Marple becomes convinced that a man's "natural" death is anything but.  While she muses on that problem, another murder occurs, and she must race against time to stop a third.  This is a satisfying and enjoyable mystery, with excellent twists and turns, and yet with all the pieces obvious, once the reader knows the solution.  Christie is a master at false clues and deceptive happenings, and A Caribbean Mystery full of both. It is a light and easy read, but compelling and certainly worth while.

Styx and Stones by Carola Dunn  (1999)  3/5 stars
Daisy's brother-in-law asks for her help in uncovering the source of the poison pen letters in his village.  When she stumbles over a murder victim, her fiancé, Scotland Yard Inspector Fletcher, hurries down to the country to help. This cozy mystery, like the rest of the series, is mainly fluff and atmosphere, but still entertaining and peopled with endearing characters.

Did Not Finish:
The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean
This book is supposed to be full of fascinating stories relating to the elements and their discoverers, and suitable for the layperson.  I made it two and a half hours (five chapters), but found that when it wasn't over my head, it simply wasn't interesting. I am truly disappointed, as I had high hopes for this book.

A Spider in the Cup by Barbara Cleverly
I listened to over three hours of the audiobook, and it was so rooted in international politics that I just couldn't stay interested.