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.

Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis

Reflections on the Psalms 
C.S. Lewis
1958
5/5 stars

Lewis discusses the Psalms as poetry and as scripture, and expresses both his enjoyment of and his difficulties with them.  He offers wise insights into how they were intended to be read, and how to read them now.   Lewis also uses the Psalms as a springboard to other observations regarding the Bible, Christianity, and Christ.  I highly recommend this intelligent but accessible book, which is illuminating while still giving the reader much to muse on.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Magpie Murders
Anthony Horowitz
2017
3/5 stars


When book editor Susan Ryeland begins to read the manuscript of the latest novel of cozy mystery writer Alan Conway, she does not expect to become embroiled in an investigation of his murder, a circumstance which puts her in deadly peril.

Magpie Murders is a book-within-a-book, beginning with Susan introducing herself and the novel she is about to read.  That novel, a nod to the Golden Age of mysteries, is then read. It tells the story of professional detective Atticus Pünd as he solves the murder of the lord of the manor in a small, peaceful village.  After reading most of the manuscript, Ryeland discovers that Conway has committed suicide and, given certain incidents, decides that it actually murder and that his latest book holds the key.  The plot then follows Susan as she searches for the answer.

This is an ambitious plot style, and Horowitz pulls it off well.  The switch between the stories works nicely, and the use of the Pünd adventure is quite effective.  That story itself is compelling and well-written, and a definite loving tribute to the Golden Age writers.  Susan's story, however, relies too much on coincidence -- despite a discussion by her of how she doesn't care of coincidences in mysteries -- and makes for a weak end to what began as an intelligent, highly interesting, and engrossing novel.