Just One More

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

I knew nothing about the history between Korea and Japan, until now.  The story of three generations of Korean immigrants in Japan, history comes alive through her amazing characters.  Most of the people I know are far removed from this sort of struggle, which continues today.  It is fascinating and humbling, and I was very sad to come to the end of this book.  Read soon!!

Doing All the Things Before Christmas

Which includes cleaning off my desk.
Here are a few for you:

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

Love this series, and Lethal White is the best yet.  Devour this,
or start at the beginning with Cuckoo's Calling, because the characters
get better with each book.  (Also, if you haven't heard, this is J K Rowling's pen name!)



A Sue Grafton Binge

She is the reason I love detective/mysteries so much.  We will never see a "Z is for...", but we can always start over at A is for Alibi.  I did just that, reading the first seven books in less than a week.  Then I had murder and kidnapping nightmares.  (For real!) The moral of the story is:  too much of a good thing is just that.  Will be reading the rest of the alphabet more leisurely:)



The Colors of All the Cattle by Alexander McCall Smith

A gentle reminder that good will triumph over evil, even in politics.
My favorite of all his series, Smith never disappoints.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2019 to All!!! TBC

The Readymade Thief

The Readymade Thief by Augustus Rose

 An unlikely but likable heroine betrayed by family and friends, the creepy secret society pursuing her, and Marcel Duchamp's most famous piece of art (see below) all converge in a story that will keep you riveted until the last page. 

 The Readymade Thief is completely original from start to finish, and I highly recommend it.

The artwork is The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even by Marcel Duchamp.  It is a VERY abstract sculpture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I found it helpful to refer to a site the author recommended in his acknowledgements:

www.understandingduchamp.com

Scroll horizontally down the timeline to 1923 for an explanation and animation of the work.

CSRB

Can't Stop Reading Books.

Problem?  I think not!!

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Proof that mean girls (and boys!) are nothing new.

Murder at the Grand Raj Palace by Vaseem Khan

The newest in one of my favorite series. Love them all:)

The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase

A fifty-year-old mystery in a haunted English manor house? 

Yes, please!

The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal

Shades of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None all wrapped up 

in a tale of WWII espionage.  What more can one want?

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

Read all seven, again.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Fantastic beach read. Or by-the-fire-in-the-fall read. Just read.

Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush

Beautiful, funny and touching.

Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott

True confession:  first time I've read the whole thing. 

150 years old and still rings true.

A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of Life

The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

Harry Potter meets Vampire Diaries. 

I bought the first book at the airport two weeks ago 

and finished the third last night. Don't start reading if your calendar is full.

Murder in Venice and A Christmas Case

both by L. B. Hathaway

More from the world of Posie Parker, one of my favorite fictional detectives.

The Man Who Couldn't Miss by David Handler

Hollywood Ghostwriter Stewart Hoag is back with basset hound Lulu by his side.

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

A modern Sherlock Holmes story by one terrific author.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

A beautifully told post-Civil War story of an elderly War Veteran and the ten-year-old girl he must return to her family in San Antonio after she was kidnapped by and then rescued from the Kiowas. 

A National Book Award finalist.

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

Will make you think twice about saying "yes" to friends.

The Mystery of Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah

The new Hercule Poirot mystery written by Hannah but sanctioned by Agatha Christie Ltd.

Long live Hercule Poirot!!

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

White picket fences do not the perfect family make.  

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan 

How one person can make a huge difference. Based on a true story of heroism in Italy during WWII. Fascinating, heartbreaking and humbling. Also, now I want to go to the Italian Alps.

About My Mother by Peggy Rowe

The mother of Mike Rowe, Peggy couldn't be anything but funny, and this book is a riot!! Self-published but promoted by Mike, the first run quickly sold out on Ebay, was picked up by a publisher and proceeded to "break" Amazon.  I believe you can still pre-order copies on B & N.

Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton

Such a bittersweet treat to read Sue Grafton's final book.  I couldn't put it off any longer, and I will miss her writing so much.  I may have to start again at A...

Until next time...TBC

Look at Me Not Procrastinating

The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock will love this one, especially fans of Rear Window. 

Whether suffering from a broken leg or agoraphobia, what would you do if you think 

you've witnessed a murder but can't leave your house to prove it?  

What if no one believes you, especially because of the surplus of pharmaceuticals 

and empty wine bottles in your kitchen? I certainly wouldn't want to be the woman in this window.

This is a terrific psychological thriller and will make a great movie...already in the works!

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Finally got to this one and was glad. A revealing look at late 1800's Chicago/America and the planning of the 1893 World's Fair. Oh, and a serial killer going about his business right under everyone's noses.  Fascinating and terrifying at the same time, I loved it!  

The Little French Bistro by Nina George

German Marianne is stuck and unhappy, and decides to take matters into her own hands.  

Through a quirk of fate she ends up in Brittany, that magical part of France where all things seem possible and life can begin anew at "the end of the world."

Like The Little Paris Bookshop, 

this is a story about new beginnings growing from the mistakes of the past.

Je me suis vraiment bien amuse.

(I looked up how to say that!)

In the Balance by Patricia Wentworth

A Miss Silver Mystery...who knew?!  Amazon did, and I have to thank the all-seeing-powers-that-watch -over-our-on-line-purchases for the recommendation. Apparently a contemporary of Agatha Christie, Patricia Wentworth has created her answer to Miss Marple in Miss Silver, a clever and no-nonsense retired governess.  If you've read everything Agatha ever published, try Ms. Wentworth.  

I think you'll be glad you did!   

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

The story of the German officers who opposed Hitler and what happened to them and the families they left behind. A revealing look at Berlin and Germany in defeat, where bravery, determination and luck would determine the fates of the survivors.  

To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear

Another WWII novel by one of my favs!  

Maisie Dobbs is back in the days surrounding Dunkirk. 

Love Maisie and Jacqueline Winspear...no need to say more:)

The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse by Alexander McCall Smith

And finally, another of my very favorites with another winner!

A lovely stand-alone by McCall Smith, this is a WWII story of an English land girl, an American reconnaissance flier and the good pilot Peter Woodhouse, who just happens to be a dog.  

Perfection, per usual:)

Until next time...TBC

Two Quick Reviews

The Heirs by Susan Rieger

My friend lent me this book, so I thought I'd better write about it quickly so as to return it in a timely fashion.  Perhaps the key to overcoming procrastination is borrowing and not buying!
Anyway...I LOVED The Heirs!  It's a terrific story about a family and their secrets, exploring the question of just how much we really need to know about those closest to us. Susan Rieger is a superb writer, jumping back and forth in time seamlessly, all the while creating characters that jumped off the page and into my heart.  I finished the book wanting more.
Thank you, Karen!!



The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Karen, when I bring back The Heirs I'm bringing this for you.
Just be sure to start it on a day when you have nothing else planned.
OMG...this is a winner.  Agatha Christie on steroids, clever and suspenseful,
with a lot of creepy in the mix.  I think atmosphere is Ruth Ware's special skill.
One more thing:  DO NOT read this on a cruise ship.
You've been warned!

Hello, It's Me...and My Books.

Once again, lots of reading, too little writing going on. 

About to remedy that situation...

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Hands down one of my favorite books ever.  Rules of Civility was fantastic, and this is even better.  Read it now, and let me know if you agree:)



The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

 The Lying Game is an atmospheric triumph that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, so prepare to lose some sleep over this one.  A cautionary tale/thriller/mystery that everyone can to some degree relate, as we've all said or done things as teenagers that we regret. I'm a little late to the party when it comes to Ruth Ware.  I can't wait to catch up on what I've missed!



Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich

Grave robbers, headless bodies, zombies and an escaped boa constrictor named Ethel are just business as usual for Trenton bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. For me, it's another laugh-out-loud joy ride with Janet.  Can't wait for Twenty-Five!!



The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

I admit it, I read the Twilight series.  It was definitely entertaining, and so is The Chemist. If you like Jason Bourne you'll like The Chemist, if Jason Bourne were a brilliant scientist, and a woman.
A perfect vacation read:)



Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford

Love and Other Consolation Prizes revolves around Seattle's two World's Fairs,  the first in 1909 and the second in 1962. Ernest Young, our half-Chinese orphan hero, finds himself as the raffle prize at the 1909 fair, where he goes from a loveless boarding school to the houseboy at a high-class brothel. There Ernest finds love in the unlikeliest of surroundings, but all might be lost in this competing world of vice, suffrage and intolerance. Inspired by true events, it is an astounding story, one that will remind you of what humanity is capable of, both good and bad.



The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

Sherlockians everywhere will love The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz. Well, at least I approve, as does the Conan Doyle Estate. Actually, I recommend anything he writes, including the amazing Foyle's War on PBS. Thank you for all you do to entertain us, Mr. Horowitz!



The Usual Santas
A Collection of Soho Crime Christmas Capers

Love me some crime short stories, some more than others!  There's a stocking-full to choose from in this great collection.  Enjoy:)



The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith

Another gem from my favorite author.
The eighteenth book in this series,
McCall Smith and Precious Ramotswe never disappoint.
Start at the beginning if you haven't read any of these.
You're welcome.



A Time of Love and Tartan by Alexander McCall Smith

It's a toss up as to which of the above two series I love more, but I must say that Bertie Pollock is my most favorite character.  Follow the adventures of seven-year-old Bertie and all of his neighbors in this latest from the 44 Scotland Street series.



The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

You wouldn't expect an author that lives in Stockholm, Sweden could write a novel about small-town life in Iowa, but that's just what Katarina Bivald has done, and very convincingly.
Besides, it's a book about books.  What's not to like?!



Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Another favorite is Louise Penny. Her books featuring Inspector Gamache of the Surete du Quebec are intriguing and suspenseful, and Glass Houses exceeds all expectations.
So glad I found you, Ms. Penny!



The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal

This series just keeps getting better. Maggie Hope finds herself pretending to be an Irish bride shopping for a wedding trousseau in Nazi-occupied Paris.  Of course fashion is not her real mission, which is very dangerous and in the end, very revealing.  Definitely read these books in order!



 The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley

It always amazes me that a man can write so convincingly about a twelve-year-old girl, but
Flavia de Luce is not your average young girl.  Once again our little chemistry genius has stumbled upon a murder in the English countryside, but the solution to this mystery might also be the solution to all of her family's considerable problems.  Have a cuppa and enjoy!



A Matter of Loyalty by Anselm Audley and Elizabeth Edmondson

I am so sorry to say that this is the third and final book in a terrific series. Elizabeth Edmondson died unexpectedly before she could finish A Matter of Loyalty, so her son/editor Anselm Audley finished it for her. He decided at that time to end the series here. Both will be missed.



The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes by David Handler

This is a 2017 book, but it is part of the beloved Stewart Hoag Mystery series that Handler wrote from 1988 to 1997.  It is set in 1992, which means very few cell phones, not much internet and a lot more legwork for any good detective, even one who is supposed to just be a celebrity ghost writer.
 I LOVE this slice of the recent past as portrayed by Handler, so of course I had to read the whole series! When I bought this book I also bought and read the first two in the series, The Man Who Died Laughing and The Man Who Lived by Night. However, the rest of the original eight book series is mostly only available on Kindle, which is how I read them.

The series in order is:
The Man Who Died Laughing
The Man Who Lived by Night
The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Woman Who Fell from Grace
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
The Man Who Cancelled Himself
The Girl Who Ran Off With Daddy
The Man Who Loved Women to Death

Of course, once I finished these, my Kindle kindly let me know of the other books he has to offer.  I much prefer paper to screen, but it was super easy just to order up the next series as e-books since I was already there.  (My bookshelves are thanking me.) This is how I started reading The Berger and Mitry Mysteries, of which there are currently eleven.  Set in a picture perfect coastal New England town, full of not-so-perfect people, a most unlikely pair fall in love and solve all the murder mysteries.  I'm hooked.

I've finished the first four:
The Cold Blue Blood
The Hot Pink Farmhouse
The Bright Silver Star
The Burnt Orange Sunrise

One more thing, I just found out that a NEW Stewart Hoag Mystery is coming out in August!
I ordered it in paperback.  Sorry, bookshelves.