Middle Sister's November Reads

The first cold night or two, the wind blowing through the trees, perfect for snuggling under the down blanket with a hot water bottle and a mystery to chill your bones.

Hot to Trot by M.C. Beaton and Rod Green The talented M.C. Beaton died just about a year ago, and this Agatha Raisin, presumably the last, was outlined by her with the assistance of Rod Green, who wrote it. Mr. Green does a good job of channeling Ms. Beaton's Agatha and her obsession with her looks and the men in her life. Agatha, as her fans know, is abrasive, short tempered, and spiteful, and Ive always enjoyed that about her because there were other things that were admirable--when she's knocked down, she gets back and tries again. She is persistent, smart, and willing to put herself in danger to solve the case. Agatha's life does change over the course of the series, with a second marriage (and a second divorce), a new career, and the slow embrace of people as friends she can trust and count on. This, like all Agatha Raisin mysteries, is a fast read. This one takes place in the competitive horse showing world, and the reader gets to learn a little about it along with Agatha as she investigates who killed her former boyfriend's new wife. I did figure out the whodunnit very early, but I enjoyed watching Agatha figure it out and wreak revenge on the bad folks. Well done, Ms. Beaton--you had a long and very prolific career, and Hamish MacBeth and Agatha Raisin and their worlds will always be a fun place to visit. R.I.P.  Recommended. Net Galley

A Catered Book Club Murder by Isis Crawford Sisters Bernie and Libby own a cafe, above which they live with their widowed father, retired policeman Sean. Although there are ten or so novels in the series, this was the first I read, and sadly, it is likely to be the only one I read. I wanted to like Bernie and Libby--they squabble like real sisters, they love their dad, they enjoy their work as caterers and cafe owners. But alas, they are very stupid, and it's an irritating kind of stupid. How irritating? I left myself 66 notes about things the sisters say or do in the course of investigating who killed artist Margo. Some passages read as if there were edits that had removed earlier sections with pertinent information that the reader therefore doesn't get; they jump to conclusions without any evidence that of course turns out to be correct; and apparently the only way the author can figure out to keep Bernie and Libby's investigation proceeding is to have them break into someone's house or business. Which they do--three times. Which their policeman father does not yell at them about. They traipse all over crime scenes and handle things, all without getting in trouble when their fingerprints should have been left behind. Some of the dialogue is very juvenile, e.g. "Maybe Lydia really has a reason for setting up the meeting at Le Cafe," Bernie countered... "Other than she's nuts?" Libby replied (Location 2307). It was after reading this passage that it occurred to me what the author was trying to do: create two slightly hip sisters who are nerdy enough to be non-threatening to older readers, who wear vintage clothes and are daddy's girls yet are hip enough not to be shocked by casual drug use so as to appeal to younger readers. I think she was trying to create, basically, grown-up Dana Girls or Nancy Drew for those  of us who wanted to grow up to be Louise or Jean or Nancy. Except they are not Louise or Jean or Nancy. The author tries to catapult the murder into the high stakes world of art forgeries and big money swindles and forged passports and it doesn't work. Not Recommended. Net Galley

Home Is Where You Make It by Geneva Vanderzeil Amply illustrated and nicely laid out primer on some basic design principals for decorating your home on budget. I really like her perspective on re-using and re-purposing items (although she's not the first to espouse this), and he love of thrift store finds. So many even so-called budget remodels and re-designs cost well into the five figures, and that is just beyond so many of us. However, I have to say, the book didn't address some basic issues that stump my house decor: I do not not a mud room nor an area I can easily designate a mud room; my house if 70 years old and has two tiny closets in the bedroom and that's it for storage; I live in a very dusty part of the country (my mom lived back east and there was never dust in her house and she was as lazy and disinterested a housekeeper as I am!); and I live with pets, who are more important to me than anything else. Finding pet-friendly fabrics and designs is not as easy as you think. I like some of the ideas and think a lot of first timer renters, first time homeowners, and downsizers will find fun, easy, and doable projects in this book, Recommended. Net Galley

In Praise of Walking by Shane O'Mara I took up running a few years ago for a variety of reasons, but my first love is and will always be walking. Walking and hiking are essential to my well being and happiness. Mr. O'Mara is a neuroscientist who begins the book by describing why and how we walk-- the evolution of bipedalism, the mechanics of walking, the musculoskeletal and neurological requirements to hold us upright and tell us/allow us to move. He also discusses the role walking plays in creativity for many people, offering just a few instances of notable scientists and writers whose ambles allowed them to work through problems. In the final chapters, he writes about walkable cities and their benefits to society. This is an excellent and readable treatise on something we do every day, without thinking about, but which is critical to our health, mental and emotional well being. Recommended. Net Galley

Middle Sister's October Reads

October was a grab bag of fiction, nonfiction, science, young adult, cookbooks, mystery--a smorgasbord of reading. 

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket This is the first in the latest Lemony Snicket series, All the Wrong Questions. I really enjoyed his other books, although I haven't finished the Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is a prelude to Unfortunate Events, but I felt as if I had stumbled into the series without having read the first 3 chapters. The allusions to people who are important, people who will figure prominently in the future, half stories or events not explained--I wound up listening to the first 7 chapters twice to make sure I hadn't missed some things. I live these as they portray children as smart and competent and brave, but I also got a little tired at the lack of resolution of so many story lines. There's no end; the plots are largely unresolved. I only like one or two cliffhangers--I don't want the entire book to be a cliffhanger, whether it's an adult book or a children's book. Having complained about that, though, let me add that this is, as always, very well written (as all the Lemony Snicket books are) and I love the alternate universe they are set in. I just wish one or two of the mysteries would be solved so we;d be excited for the next book, not frustrated by this one. Of course, I'm 40 years older than most readers of the series, so take my complains with a hefty grain of salt. Recommended.

What It's Like to Be a Bird by David Sibley My Sibley bird book is one of my two birding Bibles. David Sibley may be the greatest living ornithologist of our day, but this book is not a guide book. Rather, it's a collection of essays and beautiful watercolor illustrations of birds that will delight the lifelisters you know as well as those wanting to start birding as a new hobby. The illustrations are amazing, and the layout is clean and crisp and delightful. The facts and tidbits may be familiar to serious birders, but I am probably the world's worst birder, so even though I knew many of these facts, I enjoyed reading them again, often in conjunction with an illustration that made it clearer and more informative. I loved it so much I hope someone gets me the hardcover for Christmas this year. Highly Recommended. Net Galley

The Hidden Life of Ice by Marco Tedesco If it seems like I've been reading a lot of books about Greenland and the Arctic, that's because I have been. It was a very long, record-setting hot summer here in the desert, so I tried to escape it as much as I could through my reading. It's mid-October and this will be the first week since April (maybe even March--it's all one long, hot, burning, oven-like blur) that our temperature hasn't been in the 90s*F, but that hasn't stopped my curiosity re: science and exploration in this extreme landscape. Tedesco's book outlines the glacial lake experiments he undertakes, but devote much more time to explaining the changes that have taken place in the glacial and arctic environment, to the detriment of those fragile ecosystems. The description of the scientific experiments he undertakes in Greenland are narrated over just one day, which gives his books a unique narrative structure. He ends the book with a dire warning about arctic tourism and climate change, which I hope we as a society listen to. Well written, with almost lyrical descriptions of the austere and beautiful landscape he works in, the exact opposite of the lush, tropical landscape in which I did my science, which may be part of its appeal to me. Beautiful photos. Recommended. Net Galley

A Deadly Chapter by Essie Lang I had read one book written by this author with her other series character, and while I didn't like that book, I am a sucker for anything bookstore-related and thought I'd giver her a second chance to see if her authorial skills had improved. Verdict: only somewhat. The premise is intriguing: Shelby Cox runs a small bookstore and gift shop owned by her aunt on an island near what is clearly New York state's Adirondack Park, where a converted castle draws tourists by ferry. This is the fourth inthe series, and I did not read the others, but there was enough backstory provided that the reader didn't feel lost. However, Shelby's insistence on investigating the murder is hollow: she repeatedly tells everyone--her aunt, her boyfriend, the sheriff--that she is not going to investigate the murder, even though the body was found next to her houseboat and even though the victim's daughter asks for her help. "Well, it's no surprise that Chief Stone wants to be out of it but, after all, I talked to the guy and found his body." Does she turn over evidence to Chief Stone--no, she decides to pursue it, potentially jeopardizing the entire investigation. This is just lazy writing, when the author can't think of an ingenious way to keep the amateur detective involved in the mystery, and resorts to their withholding evidence and just being nosy. Other elements that rang false: no one plans a literary event "a little over a month away" and expects to be able to get authors, caterers, etc. lined up. And there are also some weird inconsistencies, such as: "'And I certainly do have lots of books for you to look at." She led the way to the small section..." Shelby spends almost as much time considering a return to Boston as she does the murder. She laments many times through the book that she had no friends, no life, etc., in Boston, and was terribly unhappy there, unlike her new home in Alex Bay. But then we read she "found herself slipping back into her old ways, not wanting to share her feelings, and not being used to anyone asking about her or her well-being..." So it seems like her lack of friends and support in Boston was her own fault, and not the cold, closed city. There's just too much going on in this book: the murder, her relationship with Zack at a turning point, her mother re-entering her life and wanting a relationship. Yes, sometimes life pours things on you one after the other or all together but I've been dealing with that in my own life and don't want that turbulence in a book I'm using to escape from my own overwhelming-at-times life. The murderer was easily identified quite early in the book, without even trying to do that. Ultimately, I didn't like Shelby at all, although I really liked her aunt and would prefer her to be the amateur detective. Only suitable for folks who have to read anything that includes a bookstore or is located in New York state, otherwise, not recommended. Net Galley

Blueberry Love by Cynthia Graubert One of my favorite fruits is the beautiful blueberry. I will eat it in any form. I yearn to go to Maine during blueberry season, pick them till I can't lift the pails (or my arms!), and then stuff my luggage with as much as I can. This recipe book was written for me. Gorgeous photography, mouth-watering recipes! I want to make them all. Really. I must make them all. I will make them all. Incidentals I loved about this book: the author fearlessly tells people not to worry, unless the recipe says otherwise, frozen berries will work, and she also used a hand mixer (so many recipes assume we all live in houses with miles of counter space for all the gadgets, including a stand mixer. I live in a 70+-year-old house with about 2 feet of counter space.). And she may have found the one reason on the planet I can think of for using an instant pot. If you love baking desserts, or love blueberries and are looking for some salad and chicken recipes that incorporate this small but mighty deliciousness, you will love this book. Highly recommended. Net Galley

Murder with Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith Just like I'm a sucker for mysteries set in bookstores, I'm a sucker for mysteries with a tea theme. However, I think I'll be passing this series by. Daisy and her aunt Iris own a tea shop, and Daisy finds herself involved in various mysteries that plague her small, quiet community in Amish country. Unlike other tea-themed series, Smith's tea knowledge seems pretty limited; the only reason the title involves oolong is that it is the tea that Daisy drinks over and over and over and over. No one is killed by the oolong. Daisy can only make four items to go along with tea: snickerdoodles, blueberry coffee cake, lemon tea cakes, and sugar cookies. Over the course of the book, she makes these over and over and offers them to patrons and family alike. Blueberry coffee is one of my favorites and I make a mean one myself, but if I owned a tea room, I'd expand the menu a little beyond these four. Goodness, make a scone! They're not hard. One of the reasons I disliked this mystery is that there is simply too much going on--the murder, Daisy's younger daughter has befriended a troubled teen who comes to stay with them for several weeks (coincidentally, her grandmother lives right next door to the murder victim), Daisy and her boyfriend have a terrible row when she tries to push him to address a major issue in his life; her older daughter and her husband are experiencing financial problems, then there's the drama that emerges in the victim's life. It's all too much. By the time we got to Daisy ruminating on her formally strained relationship with her mother that is now much more solid, I literally said out loud "Oh, for crying out loud!" In an attempt to make Daisy Everywoman, the author has just succeeded in trying the reader's patience. The mystery was very easy to figure out. The victim was 5'7" and maybe 110 lbs and they wonder who could have strangled her. Anyone--that woman was emaciated! So we should have had a harder time since there were no physical limitations that could eliminate a suspect. I'm 5'7 and I weighed 110 lbs in 4th grade. And yes, there was a lot of Daisy denying that she was getting involved in the murder and then two paragraphs later, running over to interview a suspect she's sure the police have not interviewed because,,,,she wants to, or finding out something she should tell the police about but deciding not to because, I guess, since she's Super Everywoman, she knows better. For example: "Tatum didn't seem to hold any bitterness or resentment. But was she telling Daisy the whole story? On the other hand, had Althea plagiarized someone else who also had Tatum's drive and knowledge of social media and the Internet?That was an answer the police should explore, but would they?" (Chapter 7, location1263).   No they don't, because Daisy doesn't tell them about this, nor does anyone else who knows about this incident, at least for a while. And I'm going to reveal it: one suspect is identified because he was the only person named William attending a conference of a couple of hundred people. It's the third most popular boy's name in the US. Really, only one William? Totally unbelievable and lazy writing to make this an important piece of sleuthing. Not really bad, but very bland and uninteresting with a boring writing style (see above quote, or weird word choices like the tea garden was "supremely busy," location 2261--you can't use supreme as an adverb here; it just doesn't work). Without either a character that I really like or a mystery that I can't figure out, there's no reason to recommend this. There are others in the series, and perhaps they are better than this one, but honestly, I'm not going to bother to find out. Net Galley

Middle Sister's September Reads

September was overall a good reading month for me this year. I listened to two amazing books while dog walking and cleaning, and they have helped solidify my enjoyment of the medium (although I still miss maps and photos and footnotes, so audiobooks will never take the place of a book in my life). 

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben The Hidden Life of Trees combines synopses of current scientific research findings with an almost romantic appreciation of the beauty and strength of the forests and trees. Mr. Wohlleben combines his experiences as a forest manager in Germany of many of many years, and the many insights into trees he has gained over those years, with a deep appreciation for the many lessons the trees can teach us about helping our neighbors, weathering storms, fighting disease, and dying gracefully. This is a unique blend of science and romance, data and personal observation, that only a few times strayed into anthropomorphism and near mysticism. I love forests, I love walking through, camping, sleeping in, and just observing forests and the trees and animals that live in them, so I share the author's view of the forest as a living, breathing, vast interconnected being. I enjoyed hearing about European research into trees, fungi, and other topics covered herein. But mostly, I just enjoyed hearing and feeling the love Mr. Wohlleben has for his forest come through in his words and the poetic imagine of forests and trees he created. Recommended. Audiobook

Gods of the Upper Air by Charles King Amazing book, and on my list of best books of 2020. Mr. King traces the beginnings of anthropology as a scientific discipline ("the master science," which accolade I loved) with brief mentions of some of the big names of the late nineteenth century. He focuses on Franz Boas, and traces his career from Germany to the United States, with all its up and downs until he eventually lands at Columbia, where he trains the earliest female anthropologists, including Margaret Mead. When I was in grad school for anthropology, Boas' contributions were cited and acknowledged, but focus immediately shifted to Mead. I didn't really learn where Boas did his research and how he came to his revolutionary stands on race. Mr. King's book corrects that and spends several chapters on Boas in the field. The book then introduces Mead and Ruth Benedict, Boas' first female grad student and arguably (at least in my opinion) a far better anthropologist than Mead, and traces their personal and professional lives. Benedict was given a lot of attention in my grad school career, so she has not been overshadowed professionally by Mead, the only anthropologist most civilians can name. I was excited to learn about Ella Cara Deloria, an anthropologist and linguist who worked with Boas and whose name I had never heard in my intro classes in school; learning about her was a highlight for me. Zora Neale Hurston is the fourth female Boasian in the book, and this may be the finest summation of Hurston as an anthropologist I've read. Many books address Hurston the writer, but all too often they ignore her anthropology schooling. The book is particularly timely, given Boas' famous anti-racist and anti-fascist beliefs, both of which seem to be on the rise in the US right now. My hope is that a very small number of people who believe these are just emboldened to speak. But the parallels between Boas' society and ours are strong and unfortunate, and the final chapters are unsettling in these times. An excellent book, highly recommended. Audiobook

A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking This book focuses on just some of the science and theories so masterfully presented by the brilliant scientist many years ago in his Seminal work, A Brief History of Time. I enjoyed it very much, but this may be one book that is better read than listened to. While the narration was fine, I had to replay so many sections so that I could comprehend them that I wish I had read this rather than listened to it. I was last in a physics class nearly 40 years ago, so there was a lot of new-to-me science in here. Graduate degrees aside, this may explain why my degrees are not in a natural science. Recommended. Audiobook

Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody by Barbara Ross  Jane Darrowfield is a recent retiree who enjoys helping her friends with small problems because she is forthright and willing to cut to the chase and say what needs to be said. She is drafted by a friend to help the manager of a senior community deal with cliques that are upsetting the harmony of the community. When someone is murdered, Jane jumps in to help the police because the suspicious seniors are reticent to talk to outsiders; that is, until they discover Jane is helping the police. All in all, a pleasant mystery; easy to solve and the murderer and motive are easy to spot. Jane is a little officious, which is why her sudden moments of emotion are so jarring, and frankly, I'd have liked to see her a little more befuddled entering the dating world after so many years alone. But it's nice to see a group of seniors represented in all the diversity that group entails--not all are befuddled or sickly or have reverted to childlike irascibility. Although I must say, the closer ti get to that age group, the more worried I get about what I'll find among my contemporaries. Jane wouldn't be a close friend of mine, but she's an acquaintance I'd certainly eat lunch with. Recommended. NetGalley

The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews My library is getting in the way of my reading all the Meg Langslow books in order by not having all the Meg Langslow books available on audiobook (and they have only recently moved to curbside pick up of titles; another pandemic fallout). But NetGalley gave me the chance to jump ahead and read the latest Meg mystery. The twins are 11 (11!) and don't figure nearly so prominently in this book. Hey, I like kids, I just like them to be tertiary characters in my murder mysteries. This time, Meg and Family are participating in a Renaissance Faire, and murder makes an appearance one stormy night when the most disagreeable cast member is killed. I liked the send up of Ren Faires (I know folks who love them!) and enjoyed having Cordelia and Meg's grandfather represent the family rther than the boys. And do we ever learn er grandfather's name? Cordelia is never called grandmother but Cordelia, another strong woman in the family who overpowers the men in her orbit. It's not that I don't like Cordelia, but I adore Grandfather. He's warm while she's cool; he's interested in everything while she's interested in things that she decides merit her attention and not interested in anything else. He's rumpled and funny and she's a bit domineering and scary. No wonder their marriage didn't last long. Another winner in the Meg Langslow series, this was fun to read, with more entertaining characters entering the Langslow Orbit (Faulk and Tad--I want more of Tad in particular). Recommended. NetGalley

Silver Hair, the Handbook by Lorraine Massey and Michele Bender I've dyed my hair three times, in my twenties, and all three times the new color was just a slightly more vibrant and shiny version of my natural hair color. I had long ago decided to embrace whatever hair color changes came as I got older. Well, now in my mid-fifties, the gray and whites have taken over the front while my slightly ruddy brown curls remain in the back. Lorraine Massey, who taught me so much about how to care for my curls, now has a primer on how to care for your silver or gray or while hair, and embrace it. There are lots of great photos and uplifting stories that will surely inspire some who are loathe to face that most visible sign of aging, seen daily in the mirror. But even those of us comfortable in our skin can use tips on how to care for our changing selves, and Lorraine is the ultimate hair cheerleader. Recommended

Middle Sister's August Reads

August was a very hot, long month, and I tried to hide inside, reading as much as possible. I'm not sure if the never-ending summer is what made me cranky, or if the characters that ticked me off would be as annoying to anyone else as I found them to be, but I found myself writing extensive notes to address a lot of annoyances and irritations, large and small, in this month's books.

Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart I thought I'd spend the month reading things taking place in cool climes or other seasons. The Pamela Paterson series takes place in northern New Jersey, my old home. I'd read the first and enjoyed it enough that I thought I'd read the latest offering. Pamela is probably in her 40s, a widow with a daughter in college, and lives alone with her two cats, is a copy editor, and organizer of her local knit night. Sounds like me, so I'm exactly the reader the author and publisher want. She has a couple of very good friends who are also older, and they form the core of Knit and Nibble, the premise around the series. Knit of the Living Dead opens on Halloween, when fictional Arborville's civic Halloween party is ruined by murder. Unfortunately for this reader/knitter/middle-aged woman, the author's tendency to either cut and paste, or limited descriptive skills, began to irritate me so much that I started tracking how many times the same phrase was used. Tell me once that Pamela had decided after her wedding to use the china they were given. I love the idea of living beautifully on a budget and using your stuff. Once tells me all I need to know about Pamela--that she loves pretty things but has a practical streak and a romantic side. Do NOT tell me every single time Pamela has a cup of coffee that she uses her "wedding-china cup." And food is put on her "wedding-china plate." Would you like to know how many times that phrase was used in a book 271 pages long? Seventeen. Yes, 17. That means, on average, every 16 pages we read that description. We also read, in detail, multiple time, the exact same way she makes coffee with her carafe. Look, I love detail, and descriptive evocations of scenes are a delight to me, because I like to visualize what I'm reading as I'm reading. But badgering me with the same descriptions over and over just makes me start to dislike the book and character, when what I really dislike is the author's limited vocabulary. This book would have benefited greatly from a tight edit to weed that issue out, and tighten other aspects (she's an editor at a fiber magazine, but I don't need a treatise on every topic she's reading about. In fact, the author spends way too much time on certain unnecessary things--an entire long paragraph on what a ham and Swiss on rye sandwich looks like?) Also, does the author actually knit, or is she writing a description of knitting she's found elsewhere? Llama and alpaca wool was thriving in the real world knitting community prior to the pandemic, and Germaine could have easily found a shearer in NJ, especially if there were as many llama farms in the area as Jordan said there were. My friend with llamas has no trouble finding a shearer to come to her place once a year. And please, enough with the old-fashioned and not at all realistic stereotype of female professors as frumpy, allowing their hair to go gray and wearing shapeless clothes. Has Ms. Ehrhart been on a college campus lately? This former professor can attest that tattooed and pierced profs are as common as tattooed and pierced undergrads (and we're capable of and expected to clean our own coffee mugs in the faculty lounge). Oh, and at least in Essex and Passaic counties in NJ, where I and my family lived/still live and pretty much exactly where this story takes place, fallen leaves have to be bagged, not just piled at the curb, for municipal collection (a pile would just blow around, Ms. Ehrhart, and Pamela and her neighbors would be out there 24/7 doing nothing but raking leaves so as to avoid getting a ticket and fine from the city). Readers of this blog know how much I detest this attitude in my amateur detectives "But we could look into it too. Sometimes the police put people off, or they don't ask the right questions" (Nell). Yes, probably true, especially at the forefront in readers' minds in 2020, but I hate this supercilious attitude. Who asks if  you eat doughnuts with a fork or fingers, and all landscapers speak Spanish (ugh), and the abstracts for each article Pamela reads for Fiber Craft are sometimes interesting but I feel sometimes they just take up valuable space (we get it, Pamela is an expert in everything)--my list could go on of things that need to be tempered or eliminated. The author wastes too much time on these details and not enough on making the mystery better--I knew who had done it as soon as the murderer's character was introduced.  The other suspects were just not as suspectful or legitimate enough, and what happened with the anonymous letter? I really want to like Pamela and the series, but I would hate to visit her knit night, and her lifestyle is just too formal and stiff. Why did I spend so much time nitpicking? Because the editor should have done this. (NetGalley)

A Study In Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas I was torn by this book. I loved the premise--that Sherlock Holmes was based on a very clever woman who could not operate as a consulting detective in Victorian England because of the social mores of the time. I didn't care for the execution: I found Charlotte Holmes a bit insipid and her contrivance to escape her family's home wrong for someone who's supposed to be so clever. I was quite confused with the beginning half of the book, because it's not made clear until halfway through how Ashburton and Charlotte know each other. The revelation that they were friends as children, as such close friends, flies in the face of the overprotectiveness of her parents, which is hammered home again and again.  I cannot see them allowing her the freedom and ability to form such a close friendship with a boy, even one fro a noble family. I did love Mrs. Watson as the widow of John Watson (even more that she was older than him and an actress) who finances Charlotte's career as Sherlock. In fact, I really liked Mrs. Watson and wished she'd been the main character. Warning: child sexual abuse figures in the story. Conan Doyle's Sherlock can be viewed as someone perhaps on the spectrum; Charlotte Holmes appears to have Asperger's syndrome and is unable to relate to even her own sister. And that makes her close friendship and romance with Ashburton the more illogical and disappointing and for this reader, annoying. She cannot express love for her sister and confidante, but she can experience such passion for Ashburton?  I was amused by the physical difference to Sherlock--Charlotte is blonde and girly and ultra feminine and fond of flounces; I like that dichotomy between the two fictional characters. The author set up this character and let the reader think Charlotte's going to be independent and clever and make her own way; but in reality, she's financed by someone else (and id have been disappointed but since I like Mrs. Watson I'd have found this less troublesome), and only where she is because a man pulled strings to help her in just about every possible way. I wanted Charlotte to be smart enough to do this on her own, and she wasn't. Ugh. There are several books in the series that seem to build an each previous title; I will not be pursuing this series. 

Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation by Bill Nye I admit it--I was in graduate school and I still watched Bill Nye the Science Guy on PBS. What a great show, and what a wonderful explanation of science to children, bounded by respect for their curiosity and intelligence. I knew Mr. Nye had taken on creationism, even debating their main proponent, and this book sprang directly from that experience. An absolutely delightful book, and I recommend you read it as I did, by listening to the audiobook, so you can hear Bill Nye make his own jokes and speak with all the passion he feels for science and all things scientific.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein What a fun young adult book! Mr. Lemoncello creates the most popular video games, and Kyle loves all of them. Mr. Lemoncello expands and re-opens the town library, and organizes a real-life game for the kids to play while locked in the library over the weekend, without any adults. I wished I could be part of Kyle's team because that library sounds amazing (as does the AI technology in the library). Kyle and his friends successfully solve the mystery using clues found in books in the library stacks (hooray for the Dewey Decimal System, which is a star in the book), and it was great fun to see so many familiar and many new book titles peppered throughout the story. 

Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews I continued to read the Meg Langslow series in order, and this is the second in the long-running series. Meg and Michael are now a romantic couple, but the action takes place immediately after Murder With Peacocks. They decide to get away from the crazy summer they've just been through and spend some quiet, romantic time together in Meg's aunt's house in Maine. Unfortunately, so does her family, and unfortunately, someone gets murdered, and the main suspects are Meg's dad and aunt. The story takes places over just a few days, with a major hurricane threatening mayhem and destroying clues and serious birders running roughshod over the island and getting in the way. I remembered reading this one years ago, but luckily, not many of the details, so it was just as enjoyable. A little dated, since again, this takes place in pre-cell phone days, but this spin on a country house murder mystery is a fast, fun, well-written story with engaging characters. I'd be happy to be stuck on a small island with no electricity with the Langslow extended family circle.

Deader Homes and Gardens by Joan Hess I love Joan Hess' Maggody series, which is funny and full of quirky characters and odd incidents. I've never liked the Claire Malloy series as much, even though I wanted to. Claire is a single mom when the series starts, trying to make a go of an independent bookstore and rebuild her life with a typically sullen teenaged daughter. I hadn't read a title in the series in years, but it was never critical to have done so before, so when I saw this one (published in 2014), I thought "Let's see where Claire is these days." I wonder if Ms. Hess has grown tired of the character, because the book is sloppy in details and Claire is annoying and oblivious and I wound up hating her. Yes, hating her. And because of that I kept copious notes of everything that irritated me, and yes, I'm going to include them all here. Examples of sloppy details first: the tax assessor's assistant--how does she look the property up with incomplete information? Lots are listed by Township, Range, and Section, and the book mentions only Section and Township, and lists them incorrectly by the way (why yes, I did have to use TRS locational data in my former job almost every day). Why did I hate Claire: her obsession with the house is so far over the top that it leaves realistic behind almost immediately and makes Claire act in callow, illegal, inconsistent ways. And I call it an obsession because that's what it is. She lies to get it (she tells Terry Kennedy that her daughter is sick and needs to recuperate in the country and insists that is why Terry has to sell his house to her, spinning this lie after he's told her he's not interested in selling it). "Fine line between optimism and pessimism?" No, fine line between obsession and downright crazy. And since when is 48 hours too soon to report someone missing? Not in real life, only on TV. The snark she voices to Pandora when they first meet is completely uncalled for (think it, Claire, don't say it out loud), especially after the encounter is described by Ms. Hess as Claire politely declining to dance and politely asking if she can drive on by. Why I hated Claire Reason no. 2: Terry Kennedy agrees to travel from Florida to talk to Claire about the house, gets poisoned in front of her, and she is told by the police that they are not sure if he will survive and the very next day she tells her husband that all she cares about is moving into that house, and should they get a rental unity to store their stuff (without a lease, without a sale, and with the owner dying in the hospital). Not one word of concern for Terry. Real sympathetic, Claire. Then what does she do? Calls Terry's lawyer and says that "he told you he was going to lease the house to us" and tries to strongarm the lawyer into letting her have the house. Again, it's all about Claire, dying Terry be forgotten. When Billy, Terry's friend, finds out Terry's in the hospital and wants to visit him, Clair says "He's in a coma. There is no reason to breach hospital protocol" to visit him. But Claire can go enter Terry and Winston's house to look around, look for clues, and that's not a breach of any ethics or protocols at all. But woe betide her daughter, Caron, when the daughter breaks into the dead woman's house! That's illegal and you could wind up in jail! "The police have archaic rules about civilians interfering" she tells a 14-year-old. Nice way to adult, Claire.  And there's more examples of do as Claire says, not as Claire does, because Claire advises Mattie to let the police handle things, the exact opposite of how Claire feels about her own 'investigations.' And what the heck is Claire doing when she threatens Charles that he had better talk to her by saying her husband Peter, the deputy sheriff, would listen to her and if they had to go to the police station then rumors would like like he had brought in for chid porn? Extortion, Claire? Claire just comes and goes from her dream house as if she already owns it, snoops through desks and furniture, all to solve the murder before her husband returns from a business trip. She doesn't own the house, she doesn't rent the house, the oner is dead, the owner's husband who inherited the house is now dead, there is a legal dispute over ownership of said house now, but she just trespasses and enters (breaking and entering, because she doesn't have a key). What made me laugh out loud was when Claire says that she's out of her comfort zone going to Angela's house to break in, yet she happily and without any concern enters Winston's (now Terry's) house many times, snoops through his stuff, etc. Difference? Claire wants Winston's house and Claire will happily do whatever she wants to get what she wants. Four times Claire is deep into investigating and in a potentially sticky situation and discovers that her cell phone battery is near empty (four times!). Claire must be incredibly incompetent after the first life-threatening, dead-cell-battery incident if she can't even plug the dang phone in the wall while she takes a shower. This takes place in 2014, not 1990 when cell phones were a lot less common. And then she blames technology for her cell phone battery not being charged when the reason it's not charged is because of Claire's stupidity not charging it. And finally, her relationship with Jorgenson, the policeman, is ridiculous--she does not respect him and yet he lets her get with anything she wants. He tells her to leave what is happening alone; she won't; he tells her to go to the tavern to meet him, she decides not to. And yet, he lets her sit in on Jorgenson's interrogation of Donny. What? A civilian just sitting in while the police question a suspect, and when Donny rightly questions this, Jorgenson says "well, it's hard to explain" is ridiculous. It's unprofessional on Jorgenson's part, and if Donny were the killer, would be the technicality that would get him off free and clear.  Ynez, her daughter's best friend, whom she's known for years, has two wisdom teeth removed and "Claire felt obliged" to offer her a little sympathy. Obliged? Claire has to pretend to feel sympathy that this young woman, whom she has known for years, fed, driven places, had sleep over in her own home, is in pain? Another near rage-inducing moment: when Claire thinks "Trespassing was no more than a minor breach of etiquette." It's actually illegal where I live, but why quibble? The inconsistencies in Claire's behavior, her selfish disregard for anything other than getting that dream house because she wants it, her inability to be the role model for her daughter she should be (and claims to be), her inability to recognize that her actions could affect her husband's professional standing, her lack of compassion when Terry is poisoned, and the ease with which she gets over the one pang of guilt she feels when she realizes he would not have died if he had not come to town to talk to her--all this made me actively hate Claire. I think Ms. Hess may, too. You know, it's okay to just stop writing a series when your contract is over. Claire has married the wealthy, gorgeous man of her dreams--end the series and let her ride off into the sunset. Instead, I've come to actively and vehemently dislike a character I initially felt ambivalent towards. 

Death in the Sound by Rhen Garland Every year or so, I try to read a paranormal or fantasy book, which are not my usual genres, to shake things up and get me out of my comfort zone. Death in the Sound sounded like it might be of interest to me, combining an historical period with an exotic locale, New Zealand. However, I wound up putting the book down about a quarter of the way through. I found the beginning to be very confusing--not the paranormal portion of the first chapter, but the subsequent introduction of character after character after character and their multiple points of view. Some of the dialogue left me confused, as if I'd walked into a conversation halfway through, and no one whispered a summary of what was going on to me. I also found it very hard to understand what the Versepellis is/are, their duality (over time and space?), and how they came to be here and now in the world of the book. I've decided that I can give up this self-imposed insistence on stretching my literary leanings every so often by picking up something so completely different. Reading to me is a pleasure, and 60 plus pages of confusion and feeling lost is not a pleasant experience. I defer any review of this book to others who enjoy paranormal and fantasy genres.

Middle Sister's July Reads

July was the month of Donnas, and another very hot desert summer plus COVID-19 pandemic-caused cabin fever meant I wanted to escape--to someplace I've always wanted to visit, to a similarly tumultuous and frightening period in our history, to a big, raucous, loving family as mine has contracted sharply and sadly.

Duck the Halls by Donna Andrews I love Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series, and one that takes place in a cold, snowy Christmas season is perfect. However, as much as I love the bird puns, and the silly situations that weave in and out of the events that transpire, and as much as i have a teeny fictional crush on Meg's husband Michael, I have to say--the three-year-old twins were way too precocious. They were incredibly articulate, and listening to and following adult conversations, to which they responded. None of the three-year-olds I know have really done that, although they will keep up a conversation you start directly with them, and occasionally catch a word for something they know and love, like cake. I actually found the twins a little off-putting this time around. Really, Josh sat there and intently watched his father perform the entire A Christmas Carol? I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that without a desperate need for a bathroom break. As usual, the mystery is believable, the secondary characters delightful, and Carphilly a wonderful place to spend the holiday. Recommended

Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews So after listening to Duck the Halls, I decided to see what my library had available and start this series at the beginning again. I was sure I had read the first few books in order, but it's been over twenty years, so that means it was like reading a new book. A couple of criticisms I have to get out of the way: I've been a maid of honor twice (in the late 1990s to boot, same era as the book), and I was not responsible for anything Meg did for her friend, mother, and brother's fiancee. What bride lets someone else pick out her wedding dress? Completely unrealistic! And who writes thank you notes before the wedding? Who even opens the gifts before the wedding (Id think that was bad luck, personally). Second criticism: I listened to the audiobook, and the reader gave Meg's father a very high, feminine voice. There are a lto of characters in these books because Meg has a huge extended family. My advice? Just read in your natural voice--Ms. Andrews generally does not have long passages of dialogue that would be hard to follow without weird voices.  Meg is delightfully thickheaded about Michael's interest in her in this book, and her father may be one of the most romantic men in fiction. The mystery is enjoyable, puzzling enough to entertain, and the wedding shenanigans don't take over the narrative. Recommended.

The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews Meg, the Queen of Organization, is assistant director of the Carphilly Un-Fair, the county's response to the cancellation of the Virginia State Fair. There are giant pumpkins, and baby lambs, and an unusual twist with an emphasis on heritage livestock. When someone starts damaging the arts and crafts entries and smashing the produce and stealing the heirloom chickens, Meg swings into action. She almost has to jump into this mystery, as the fair is located on land that straddles Clay County and Carphilly, and the Clay County sheriff's department is being ornery and unhelpful. Although this book immediately preceded Duck the Halls, the twins are not nearly as unnaturally articulate as they are in Duck. Another fun entry in the series.

Deady Nightshade by Cynthia Riggs  I read a Victoria Trumbull mystery years ago, although I can't remember which one, and I like the idea of a 92-year-old female lead character. I love the Martha's Vineyard location, a place I have long wanted to visit. Victoria is the most naive 90-something I've ever 'met'. It's very easy to identify the murderer, but Victoria's disbelief that the murderer was who it was simply because of certain things which were blindingly obvious to the reader made me want to shake Victoria. Except that I couldn't yell at my elders and she's too frail, probably, despite being so active. The clear social strata and tensions between the old white folks and the Black newcomers, as exemplified by Domingo, adds an interesting element. In fact, Domingo and his wife were two of my favorite characters, and I look forward to reading more of his encounters with a city council that cannot believe he cannot be blackmailed. Recommended

Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon Guido Brunetti is one of my fictional crushes, and I love him, his family, and coworkers. At first this book depressed me, concerning as it did an assisted living facility for lonely old people. And Signorina Elletra was not as likable and funny in this entry as in other books. One of the best things about a Guido Brunetti novel are the meals he shares with Paola and their children, or that he eats with colleagues, but there was hardly any food in this book. Just as i was worried about the ending, Guido and Ms. Leon saved it for me, and I was very happy Guido fell on the side of what is right as opposed to what is just. The older people were very sympathetic, some were sad and heartbreaking, but all made me worry a little for my own solitary future. Recommended

1774 by Mary Beth Norton An excellent history of the year 1774 in the American colonies, focussing on an unusual perspective in American Revolution histories, that of the Loyalists. Dr.Norton does an exhaustive job of setting the scene for the year with enough background to inform the events, and similarly an exhaustive job of following the events and their repercussions throughout the thirteen colonies, and even how they were perceived in London. There were an enormous number of parallels between 1774 and what was going on the American society with what is going on in American society today, in 2020. I am hopeful that we were able to overcome these arguments and differences before and will do so again. Excellent and recommended. (NetGalley)

An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters The Brother Cadfael mystery series is well known for its excellent writing and very evocative depiction of medieval England. Ellis Peters' series can always be depended upon for a great mystery. An Excellent Mystery was true to form, and while I knew the secret at the heart of the story early on, it did not disappoint. If you have never met Brother Cadfael, read the series and watch the excellent adaption starring Derek Jacobi.

The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes I gave this book several chapters, but I did something unusual for me and stopped reading after about 5 or 6. Louisa's stepfather and his intention to sell her sexual services to someone he owes money to, her paralysis and inability to tell her mother what was going on was all just too distasteful. This book could be triggering to anyone who has been sexually abused. I shouldn't have been surprised--I hated Downtown Abbey and couldn't get beyond the first season. Not recommended.

Middle Sister's June Reads

June is the hottest month here in the desert, and I usually start reading books that take place somewhere temperate or even downright cold, or in winter, or near water. This month I traveled to another desert in El Kaliouby's autobiography and the hot and humid Panamanian jungle--what was I thinking? Must read some Christmas books in July.


Girl Decoded by Rana El Kaliouby Girl Decoded is an interesting autobiography on many levels: that of a woman in tech and coding, two industries notable for the lack of women throughout their ranks; brains behind and later CEO of a tech start up (see earlier comment about lack of women in tech--they are even fewer in tech start ups); a naturalized American born and raised in Egypt, in a culture where educated women face serious dead ends to any ambition. I first became aware of El Kaliouby when she hosted Nova Now on PBS, and I knew from that program that she worked on emotional AI. I've always wondered how emotional AI works--how do you even approach a subject as complex as human emotion and break it down to be able to code it and program it? So that was the carrot that hooked me, and the book does a good job of describing how exactly she worked at facial recognition of emotion for her dissertation and then for commercial purposes. She also does a great job talking about her childhood and thirst for education and provides very brief glimpses into the life of a prosperous, educated Egyptian family. The book failed, in my opinion, in just one part--the personal transformation that led to the end of her marriage and her cleaving from some of her cultural heritage. She may not want to reveal all the details of her marriage, after all, her children could read the book. She may naturally be too reticent to reveal that part of her. But the anthropologist in me was most fascinated by the clash of cultures and that's where I felt the book didn't go into enough depth and introspection. But overall an interesting biography, well written, with enough tech to inspire women techies and not too much tech to turn off other readers. Recommended. Net Galley

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell Clearly I've been on Revolutionary War kick these past two years. It's my favorite period of American history, and there have been so many good books published about it recently. I love Sarah Vowell (oh, how i miss her New York Times columns), and the chance to listen to her read her own book about the revolution? Not to be passed. The book's impetus was seeing a little girl's dress in a small museum with the placard that it was worn when Lafayette visited during the 1830s. That intrigued Ms. Vowell, and started her on her journey to learn more about why that visit merited saving the dress, why Lafayette was so admired, and deep into Revolutionary War history and ultimately to this book. To hear it read in her own voice made it even more delightful. It's the perfect blend of history and humor. Highly recommended.

In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delany I'd read a review of the series in Mystery Reader's Journal a year or so ago, and it had piqued my curiosity enough that when I saw the audiobook on my library's website, I borrowed it. Molly )Midnight) Smith is a brand new cop in a small town in Canada, and this book explores her transition from private citizen to police officer in a town where everyone knows her name and remembers her as a child. I enjoyed the book although I was a bit disappointed in how the murder mystery was resolved. It seemed a tad abrupt and the red herrings were so overemphasized that it felt like the author wasn't giving her readers a fair chance to solve the mystery along with Molly. The repeated misogyny and very overt violence against women were realistic but I felt battered over the head with it. I really liked Molly's hippie parents and the secondary characters, especially Winters, so much so that I already have another one in my queue. Recommended.

The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon I loved Nancy Drew, the Dana Girls, Kay Tracey, the Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, etc. when I was growing up. But my fairly traditional family never thought to give me Hardy Boys books to read, and I never thought to try them myself. My library keeps all the mystery audiobooks in one folder, adult and juvenile, so when I saw the first Hardy Boys book on the list, I had to listen to it. And what fun it was. So innocent, but still a bit harsher than Nancy's adventures were--I don't remember anyone actually dying in Nancy's books, and here the suspect dies of accidental injuries. This reading included some mysterious music and noises, such as cracking twigs and barking dogs, that absolutely added to the ambience of the listen. It was a short, 3-hour journey to my childhood, and I had a blast. The adult me reprimanded the boys sometimes, but little girl me wished I could share their adventures. Perfect summer listen for grown up Hardy Boys fans or new young ones. This would be an ideal companion on a road trip. Highly recommended.

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914 by David McCullough Newly available as a digital audiobook, this is an early David McCullough, published in 1977. Characterized by McCullough's exhaustive research and command of thousands of facts, dozens of people, and evocative reconstruction of time and place, this very thick book and very long audiobook is very suitable for readers who like American history. But McCullough begins in 1870 and the first third of the book focuses on the French, flush with their success building the Suez Canal, began thinking of a canal to join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. I just wish I'd had access to the photos and maps the book has. However, I was very distracted by the audio, which was so clear on my iPhone that I could hear the moist mouth noises of the reader, which nearly made me stop reading after just the first chapter. Recommended, but only as hardcover or trade paperback for the illustrations.

Middle Sister's May Reads

Overall, May was a good reading month, beginning with some excellent mysteries and an interesting non-fiction history, but unfortunately, the holiday weekend at the end of the month was soured by bacb-to-back less than stellar mysteries. Ah well, those are not bad odds in the book department.

Death on Tuckernuck by Francine Mathews I originally wanted to read this book for several reasons: I've always wanted to visit Cape Cod and Nantucket and the surrounding area; stories near water become very appealing as the hot, dry, desert summer descends on me here at home and my yearly hankering to escape to a lake or ocean overwhelms me; and cheesily, I liked the cover. I loved the book! In fact, I read over half of it in one long reading session because I didn't want to put it down. Very fast paced and well-written, I was swept up into the many storylines of several Nantucket residents facing a Category 3 hurricane bearing down on their island and disrupting their lives, for some of them, permanently. The majority of the book takes place in the 24-hours of the hurricane's direct onslaught, and switches between the viewpoints of 4 or 5 main characters. Generally I am not a fan of multiple POVs, because many authors have trouble juggling several storylines, but Mathews did a superb job of not dropping any of the story lines nor lingering too long on any. Perfect summertime escapism, Maybe not if you're planning a fall vacation on Nantucket, however. Highly recommended.

Fire in the Thatch  by E. C. R. Lorac Poisoned Pen Press began publishing a series called British Library Crime Classics, with introductions by Martin Edwards, several years ago. Long out-of-print British mysteries are reintroduced, with gorgeous covers, to an eager audience--I am one of them--that has discovered, through the wonders of the Internet, a number of OOP authors.  Fire in the Thatch, originally published in 1946 and taking place just shortly before that date, is a thoroughly wonderful example of the lost mystery gems in the imprint. Fire in the Thatch takes place in Devon, England, where a war hero has rented a ramshackle thatched cottage, located in a remote village, that he intends to restore. A tragic accident follows, an accident that someone believes was not accidental at all, and Scotland Yard is called in. I loved this book! It's superbly well written, with great attention to detail, an atmospheric sense of place and time that made me feel I was there, and believable characters, some nice, some not nice.  Ms. St. Cyres, Nicholas Vaughan, Inspector Macdonald, and respectful recreations of charming yet quirky Devon natives were all well drawn. The mystery is intriguing, and carefully spun out so that the reader, if they try, may guess what happened. I am eager to read more by Lorac, and find more new favorite authors through Poisoned Pen's BLCC imprint. Perfect summer reading. Highly recommended.

Still Life by Louise Penny I have heard for years how wonderful the Inspector Gamache series was, so when the first in the series became available at the library, I grabbed it. And it was worth it. Armand Gamache is not flashy, he's not heroic; he's a middle aged, happily married, quiet man who listens and notices. In Still Life, Jane Neal, a nice, quiet woman whom everyone in the village of Three Pines likes, is murdered with an arrow. Why would anyone want to kill someone everyone agrees was a nice person? What is simmering below the convivial relationships between her friends and neighbors? I really liked Gamache, and I really liked his supporting cast, especially Jean Guy Beauvoir, Gamache's partner and second. A divisive character was Yvette Nichol, on her first case with the Inspector. I sympathized because everyone knows what it's like to start a new job, and not know what is expected of you, what to do and when, how to read your new coworkers. But Yvette was so obtuse and unable to understand the people around her (a difficult place for a police professional) that at times she was exasperating and unlikeable. I thought perhaps she was on the autism spectrum. Some of her internal dialogue was so clueless and arrogant that at other times I thought she was just a jerk. I've since read that the author has said she identifies with Yvette. Perhaps thats why the series and characters are so nuanced. A wonderful start to the series, and now I can't wait to read more. Well written, deft handling of a large number of characters, each individual and never losing their voice, tight control of all the storylines--I can't praise this book enough. Highly recommended.

Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal Second in the series. Maggie Hope has finished her job with Winston Churchill and tried to join MI5. She's done well with the intellectual part of training but has failed at the physical tests, so she's recruited to go to Windsor Castle under the pretext of teaching young Princess Elizabeth mathematics as there is a suspicion a German spy has infiltrated the king's household. I listened to the audiobook of this title, and confess I was really irritated by the narrator's choice of voice for Maggie. Maggie is British but was raised in America and has an American accent. The narrator gives her a high, little girl voice I found really distracting and iannoying. A couple of the coincidences that the story relies on are visible a mile away, although I appreciated the author trying to grapple with headier aspects of World War II, such as how injured soldiers dealt with what we now call PTSD and conflicting loyalties. I don't like the dark turn the series seems to be making, and the emergence of an unnecessary love triangle detracts from the story on serval levels. Let a woman whose love disappears in action go through the loss and bewilderment--tens of thousands of women experienced that. A far fewer number had their loves turn out to be alive behind enemy lines. The addition of that story line is going to make it hard for the author to keep everything moving smoothly, without a feeling of complete disconnection between plots, in future books. Yes, life was disconnected during World War II, but I don't think the author has the skill to make this work. She may be trying to create a more sophisticated subgenre, but it's not what I look for in a 350-page cosy, historical mystery (and that's how these are marketed). And frankly, I found Princess Elizabeth's relationship with the much older Prince Philip kind of creepy. Enjoyable enough but I suspect this will be my last Maggie Hope novel.

The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart I thought the basis for the story had great promise: Princess Alexandrina is the the daughter of the Maharaja of Prindur, whose principality is now under British rule in India. They have moved to England, where they inhabit a world in between--they are not commoners because they are royalty, but they are foreign and therefore suspicious and unaccepted. However, the execution of the book left me unsatisfied. In this second book in the series, Alexandrina, whose nickname is Mink (why is never explained in the book), is bereft when her father dies unexpectedly and she discovers that he has left massive debts she must pay off. She accepts an invitation from Queen Victoria to live at Hampton Court Palace, rumored to be haunted but inhabited by quirky, decidedly live people--until one is murdered. My dissatisfaction with the book stems largely from Mink just not acting as a Victorian-era princess, even one flat broke and foreign, would. She's very open and friendly with her maid (and really, poor Pooki can singlehandedly run the entire household--cook, maid, lady's maid, washing, scrubbing the house, cleaning Mink's clothes by hand, buying the food, and doing a little investigating?) and with others (She just goes up to the keeper of the maze and interacts so informally and familiarly with him, even going to his house unannounced and sitting down with him for a cup of tea? Really?) in a way that a twenty-first century woman might act, but probably not a twenty-first century princess, much less a Victorian-era princess. And what romance with the doctor is there other than Pooki's pronouncement that Mink is attracted to him? I saw no evidence from Mink's behavior or her thoughts that she was interested in the doctor. I wanted to like the book because of the unusual premise. I didn't.

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman I re-read this favorite for an article I was writing, and was reminded why I find Mrs. Pollifax so endearing. She's not spunky--she's just sensible and active and wants more than life as a widow in suburban New Jersey offers. She's kind and thoughtful and smart, and while maybe a bit naive in this, her first CIA assignment, she's cognizant that there are nuances to spying that she doesn't understand. When faced with grim realities, does what she must to survive, yet remains true to herself. Even though the story (originally published more than 40 years ago) is dated (no cell phones, Communists are the evil enemy, no 24/7 news, no sophisticated digital and electronic spy methods), it was just as enjoyable and gripping as it was when I first read it about 35 years ago. Mrs. Pollifax deserves to be as well known as Miss Marple, Miss Seeton, Miss Silver, and the other elderly female sleuths. Highly recommended

The Templars by Dan Jones Exhaustive history of the Knights Templar--their origin, their history, and their modern legacy. Jones has undertaken extensive research to document the real history of the Knights Templar, the various houses and chapters, and their role in the various Crusades. A very large cast of Templars, kings, and sultans and their exploits and contact and impact on European and Muslim history are recounted. Their rise and downfall, successes and losses, torture and betrayal are presented in almost excruciating detail. Mr. Jones ends the book with a rumination on why the Knight Templars resonate in modern society and appear in so many recent books and movies. The juxtapostion of this book, which included discussion of the expansion of Islam in the Near East and Spain, which I read right after last month's history of Nile exploration and it's brief discussion of expansion of Islam in Africa, was very interesting. Highly recommended for history buffs.

Middle Sister's April Reads

April was the month of non-fiction. With COVID-19 stay-at-home directives, a full month of working from home (now in week 8), the inability to go anywhere and do anything outside except walk my dog and weed the garden, you'd think I would have wanted to read cheesy mysteries that would allow me to escape. But no, I had a hankering for non-fiction, with a smidgen of mystery thrown in, and got to travel to Egypt and the upper and lower Nile, and popped all over the world to see what everyne was doing in the year 1000.

Death at the Mariner's Hotel by Betty Rowlands Sukey Reynolds is a brand new police constable in this entry in the series, and she's teamed with someone who consistently treats her as just any other brand new constable (which Sukey doesn't say but her actions and thoughts clearly reveal how much she dislikes this treatment). And she makes some rookie mistakes you'd think a former scene of the crime officer would not. Some of these she gets called out for, but others slip by and for me, anyway, colored my reading of the story--for instance, Sukey allowed the nurse to collect the syringe from Gasspar's hospital room instead of collecting the evidence herself. Naturally my suspicious mind thought "What if the nurse is in cahoots with the killer? Will she turn over the real syringe or substitute another one?" Sukey didn't even go in with her to observe the nurse collecting the evidence for an assault or attempted murder. Very amateur hour for both Sukey and the author. I like this series despite blunders like this. Sukey is usually relatable, her life story and the secondary characters who surround her are believable, and the writing is general is good. If you're looking for a new police procedural (bear above amateurish mistakes in mind) or a series with a fairly strong feminine lead, or just a modern English almost-cozy series, you will like Sukey. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sukey show up as an ITV series someday. Recommended

The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen Although publication of this book in 2000 would have made more sense, The Year 1000 is an ambitious attempt to demonstrate that the 21st century globalized society we are living in today has very real antecedents in prehistory. Hansen seems surprised by the extent of long-distance interaction in some areas of the globe in the past. She begins with the exploration of North America by the Vikings and proceeds on to long distance trade networks in Central America, the Silk Road, Asia, Africa, and everywhere else where archaeologists have demonstrated extensive trade networks existed. And that's probably why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected to: archaeologists have known for decades that prehistoric peoples traded extensively. Would Hansen be surprised to learn that Paleoindians moved obsidian around North America across hundreds and hundreds of miles? Perhaps not globalization in the more capitalistic definition she clearly uses as her basis, but ancient peoples were very much aware of other ancient peoples and societies, even at quite a remove in some cases. This is not new information to students of prehistory, although perhaps to the general public it is. I can't speak to the veracity of her sources, but I do have some particular concerns. I knew one of her sources, the late Mike Coe, personally, and read quite of bit of Mary Miller's published work (I even used one of her books as a supplemental text in a class I taught years ago), and I can assure you that most archaeologists who have worked at or visited Chichen Itza or studied the Maya do not think that the blonde, light-skinned people in the mural in the Temple of the Warriors might be Viking warriors. And she makes similar mistakes in other areas I know very well; for example, she mistakenly calls southwest kivas 'storage rooms.' They are ritual architecture which yes, may have also stored some seed used each year to start the annual planting rituals, but to call them storage rooms misses their main purpose by a mile. She refers to a prolonged period of drought in the Maya area but doesn't tell us what evidence suggests such a drought occurred (I know there are some pollen cores from Lake Peten Itza that suggest that, but there are hundreds of km between the lake and Chichen Itza, the site she's discussing at this point in the book). I don't know enough about the archaeology and prehistory of the rest of the world to feel comfortable voicing some of my issues with her reconstructions, but I found myself scribbling lots of questions marks in the margins. While I really wanted to like the book, because I liked the idea behind it, I hesitate to recommend it. There were just too many question marks in the margins.

The Explorers of the Nile by Tim Jeal Excellent, thorough, and riveting account of the history of European explorations for the source of the Nile, beginning in the mid nineteenth century. This exhaustive history not only delves into the back stories of the famous explorers (Stanley,  Livingstone, Burton) but others, not famous, who should be (Speke), but deftly and thoroughly traces their connections to colonialism, the rise of independent states, and modern-day problems and triumphs in 21st-century Africa. I listened to the book, and it was excellently read and produced, but I sorely missed tracing journeys on maps and seeing the faces of the explorers themselves. Strong kudos to Jeal for exhaustively researching his material, including the original sources, many of them unpublished diaries and accounts, that put light to the myths that surround some of the players. In particular, I was amazed to listen to the biographies he was able to piece together about the Africans who served as guides and porters, who carried the expeditions literally on their shoulders, many of whom died for what must have been to them a crazy undertaking. Highly recommended.

The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Four years ago I started working in a field where the Meyers-Briggs, Strengthfinders, and other personality trait tests are well known and frequently discussed. When I saw this book, I thought, "Well, tendencies are perhaps not as immutable as personality traits, so let's see how this schema arranges people." And was floored when I recognized almost every single tendency that defines the upholder in myself. The other tendencies are  questioners, obligers, and rebels, and while I saw some of me in the questioner and obliger, I have no rebel tendencies at all. Not a surprise to me at all. It was interesting to think of family and friends in light of this framework, but I'm pretty sure I will not actualize her recommendations on dealing with the other tendencies. They should just do it because. Recommended

Middle Sister's March Reads

March madness usually refers to the college basketball playoffs, but the COVID-19 outbreak has been ongoing for three weeks as I write this. Working from home has cut into my audiobook commuting time, and I'm trying to read some of the teetering piles of magazines all over my house. But I did get some reading done.

In the Hurricane's Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick Somehow it seems appropriate to me to continue reading about the Revolutionary War, the social, political, and economic milieux, the sacrifices made by Americans (of course, they were colonists then) for a greater good they believed it, a greater good that nearly slipped away. The book focuses on Yorktown, and all the events that lead up to this decisive battle. Mr. Philbrick focuses on naval battles, although land battles are detailed, especially those near Yorktown. The author doesn't shy away from the fact that many of the Founding Fathers owned slaves, and some reviewers have opined he spent too much time on this, and presented too unflattering a picture of George Washington, slave owner. But sometimes it is necessary to be reminded that even those who do great good, who make huge sacrifices, are not perfect and may, in fact, have sides to them that are unpleasant to others and to history. Excellent book, well written, well researched, dynamic descriptions of battles, and a very well read audiobook; recommended.

Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs Well, Charleston is set to go the way of Cabot Cove--a much higher homicide rate than any very big city, and if you meet Theodosia anywhere, run, run far away. Doesn't matter, I still enjoy this series because I love tea, and am fond of the characters. First, what I didn't like about this entry in the tea shop mystery series: as soon as she encounters the murder victim, Thoe moves the body so she can get a better look at what may have caused the death. What? Have all these murders and talking to Tidwell taught her nothing? It's not like there was any chance the victim was still alive. Nope, it was prurient curiosity. Then, the police just let the witnesses stand there while they removed the body from where it was, and it wouldn't have been pretty. What? Then, in Chapter 6, Theo goes blabbering information that the police hadn't released yet--probably because they were holding that info back. Nice way to ruin the investigation, Theo. And then Theo just ignores the crime scene tape and enters a restricted area, instantly contaminating it. "No matter; Theodosia just ducked underneath." What?? Then new neighbor Alexis shares exactly how much money she made at the grand opening of her shop with Theo. Really? Because a 10-minute conversation instantly makes one privy to that kind of personal info. And telling your new policeman boyfriend Riley that his not sharing police information with you is "just plain silly?" Theo, I'm not liking your attitude at all. You're too good for her, Riley. There were some other annoying scenes and dialogues (cultural appropriation; has the author ever been to a cat show?), but I'm going to stop with BAM BAM BAM! There were at least 3 capitalized banging scenes in the book, and they were to quote Theo, just plain silly. I know, it sounds like I hate the series. I'm picking on it because I don't think these things would have happened in earlier books. Childs is writing so many series now, and publishing them so quickly, that quality and established character traits are falling by the wayside. Charleston and the Indigo Tea Shop are still fun places to visit, but just like visiting family, things start to get on your nerves after a while. Recommended, but this is a weak entry in the series because of these faults.

Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt A mystery with dogs (one a golden retriever) in Paterson, NJ? I had to read it. I love dogs, I have golden retrievers, my grandfather worked in Paterson 90 years ago, I've been to many of the places the author mentions, like Little Falls. This is the first book by Rosenfelt I've read and unfortunately, I won't read another. The first person snark and attitude of the main character just became so repetitive and annoying, and remember, I'm from Jersey. I grew up there. I know Jersey. If this is how he presents us to the outside world, no wonder people make fun of us. I found, after dozens of chapters, a sudden and very short switch in point of view to be very disconcerting. And the blatant 'I'm reading David Rosenfelt, he's a great author' line--didn't come across to me as funny, but self-promoting and today's post's favorite word, annoying. But I'd love to find a fruit stand that has sweet cantaloupes so heavy they set the front seat belt sensor off--that's some melon! Recommended only to his fans and folks who feel they have to read any book about New Jersey

Middle Sister's February Reads

Short month (Leap Day notwithstanding), short list of books.

Shawls, Wraps, and Scarves by Louisa Harding Prominent knitwear designer Louise Harding, who also makes lovely yarn, has a new book of shawls and neckwear, and I love it. There are at least 5 shawls and 3 scarves that I want to make from this lovely compilation of new patterns. Well illustrated with dreamy photos, I will admit I was surprised that no charts were included. I can only follow simple charts myself, so I was pleased that the patterns were written out, but I would have expected to see both. Lovers of knit shawls and laceweight yarn, who dream of wafting through a beautiful countryside (yup, I live in a dry, brown desert, really) will enjoy the book. Recommended.

Molded 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton Of course I had to read this book--it takes place in Sun City, Arizona. The senior community lifestyle, real towns like Punkin Center, and a fair pace characterize the book (even though she calls Payson a city and there's no way that Payson could be called a city, with its population of 15,000; and I don't think there are Joshua trees anywhere near Payson.). The main character, Sophie Kimball, is someone I should like (in her forties, caring for a strong-willed and independent mother), I suspected right away that I wouldn't like her as much as I should when we are introduced to her as Phee. Yup, everyone calls her Phee. But I didn't like it, in fact, it irritated me to no end. As soon as Phee starts helping her investigator boyfriend and investigator boss look into the murder of an octogenarian, she and her mother come up with "a theory I was sure the deputies as well as Nate and Marshall hadn't considered." I truly hate it when the amateur detective thinks the police or professionals are stupid, I really do. That attitude makes me hate the amateur detective in their smugness. Also lazy is making up a patently ridiculous reason to get the amateur involved in the case; Nate and Marshall are asked by the Sheriff's Department to interview residents of the senior community because they are understaffed. I hope no one at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department reads this book; what a slam to them (and having the sheriff's department not conduct a thorough search of the victim's apartment is just silly). Eaton's and therefore Phee's disrespect of crime-fighting professionals is clear in this sentence: "As for the forensic lab at the sheriff's department, the'd take their own sweet time [processing samples from the crime scene]." Nope, they'd be professional and process things as they came in. The entire story was convoluted and unbelievable. Skip this series. Not recommended.

Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff Excellently written and meticulously researched recounting of the crash of three planes in Greenland during World War II and the heroic attempts to rescue the trapped airmen. Zuckoff mirrors this with a modern-day search to find one of the crashed planes, now buried under dozens of feet of ice. He becomes a character in his own when he invests his own money in the search for the Coast Guard plane. Although I read his previous book, this one I listened to, read by the author, and he does a great job. Riveting, exciting, and so far the best book I've read this year. (And imagine my delight: after 'meeting' Bernt Balchen in this book, I encountered him in the the very next book I read, by Bill Bryson--but that's for next month). Highly recommended.

Middle Sister's January 2020 Reads

Happy New Year! Jan. 12 will be 10 years since BookTeaCatDog was begun!! I may be the only sister left still posting (I hope I can get the others back one day), but I have enjoyed  the blog tremendously, exploring themes through my monthly reading, finding new authors, revisiting old favorites. Here's to another 10 years!

I'm hoping to get more reading  done this year. Last year's total was 48 books. I am not sure I can ever reach one book a week (until I retire, that is). There was a lot of reading in hospital visits and listening to books in transit to these hospital visits that I won't do this year (I hope and pray), so no holding me to that unofficial goal. And now, on to the books which began 2020.

Borrower of the Night by Barbara Michaels Barbara Michaels and her other persona, Elizabeth Peters, is/are one of my favorite authors, and I've read just about everything she's written. Her older audio books are being re-released, and so I've had the pleasure of listening to several. Borrower introduces Vicky Bliss, historian, who appears in several light-hearted novels. Vicky predates Amelia Peabody, and is Ms. Michaels' first attempts at combining humor with her trademark romance and mystery. There are no light Gothic elements in the Vicky Bliss books, another trademark of Ms. Michaels' stand alones. We meet Vicky in all her amazonian, blonde, intellectual glory here, and she's strong and slightly sarcastic and searching for a religious wooden sculpture in Bavaria. If you haven't met Vicky Bliss yet, I recommend starting with Borrower. They do build slightly on each other, but each is a hilarious romp on their own. Great audio reading by Barbara Rosenblatt, but it is not a re-reading of the book, just a digital version of the much older cassette tapes. Highly Recommended.

'Round the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne Read for my book group. I've seen the classic David Niven movie several times, so I was curious when my book group offered this as a January choice, to see how well the movie tracked the book. Very well indeed. Yes, the book overtly smacks of colonialism in parts, but it's not nearly as bad as other books of its era. We had read War of the Worlds a few years ago, and the contrast with 'Round the World was startling: industrial and technological progress are celebrated here, while War argues that our technology won't save us and offers a far darker and scarier journey. It has made me curious to research where Verne was in his life when he wrote these two novels, and what was happening personally and in society at large that resulted in two such different books. Recommended.

The Brothers of Baker Street by Michael Robertson I'd not read the first book in the series, The Baker Street Letters, but was intrigued by the idea: two barrister brothers rent space in Baker Street, London, and start receiving mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes. London's famous Black Cab drivers are ready to revolt, as one of their own has been charged with the murder of a fare (which they staunchly insist their code of honour would never allow), and the city's transportation authorities are weighing whether to require all cabs, including the Black Cabs, to use satellite navigation systems. Reggie defends the accused cabbie, and in the midst of that case receives a letter from someone claiming to be the descendent of Professor Moriarty, Holmes' nemesis. Reggie's unrequited love interest, Laura, is becoming more seriously involved with Lord Buxton, whose newspaper is making Reggie's professional life a disaster with its scandalous headlines. I enjoyed the book, and despite what seemed like a couple of coincidences too many, the mystery as well. I will have to track down the first book to read the brothers' backstory. Recommended.

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett Last year, I watched the movie and read the book for several pairings. Nick and Nora Charles as played by William Powell and Myrna Loy are always a delight to watch, and I've seen the movie several times, so when I had the chance to read the book, I was intrigued. In this case, Hollywood did a number on the original, carving out huge swaths of the story that would never have made it past the censors of the time, and also condensing the story to fit within a less-than-two-hour timeframe. The women in the book were all very shallow and silly and less than one dimension, if that's even possible; Hammett clearly wrote for men. Nick and Nora are far more engaging and equal in the movie than in the book. Perhaps most shockingly, Asta is a female in the book! I don't think the book has aged very well, but it considered a classic, so the mystery lover in me is glad I've read it. And I'll never read it again. Though I will watch Nick and Nora and delight in ditzier Hollywood version of the story.

Women in Aviation by Julian Hale Much too short a recitation of some of the famous names in British aviation history. Mr. Hale summarizes the lives of a dozen or so female aviation pioneers with less detail than, and with writing as dry as, a Wikipedia entry. The photos were great, but I'd have liked much more detail on the women, their adventures, and what happened to them after they gave up flying. As a primer to the topic, it's useful, but the lack of research makes this a lackluster history. NetGalley

Middle Sister's December Reads

December was a great month for books, both read and listened to, and, of course, I tried to read some holiday books. Because murder is best when it's fraught with holiday family tension and indulgent food.

Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves The fifth Jake Tiptree mystery, originally published in 2001. The book starts off with a bit of a bang--Jake and Ellie find Faye Anne's kitchen, and FayeAnne herself, covered in blood, but the mystery, and the murder, are not that simple. There's only a smattering of house improvement asides in this novel, which is good (after all, you can't do much housework during the winter in Maine). The story does show a little of its age (with references to early cell phones), there were parts that disappointed me, and it was easy to figure out the whodunnit, but the depiction of hard-working people in Maine, the winter storm, the fear when a boat goes missing are all well done.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie  Originally published in 1938, Hercule Poirot is enjoying a holiday dinner when he is drawn into the murder of a family patriarch, who thought summoning all his far-flung children home for the holidays would be a good idea. Gentle reader, we know that never is. The wonderful thing about re-reading old favorites at my age is that I don't remember the plots anymore, so hooray, it was a murderous visit with a familiar detective friend.

The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris  This was my first Thomas Silkstone mystery. Set in 1780 England, Thomas is an American surgeon who is fascinated by, and a student of, anatomy at a time when medicine's understanding of the human body was minimal. I enjoyed the mystery, although I think it was a little long in the middle, and while there were a few twists that surprised me, I did guess the ending. That did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, however. The physical descriptions were detailed and sometimes a little gross, so readers with sensitive stomachs, beware, and the romance I found a little implausible. At times I found myself yelling "Don't do it! Don't do it!" so a modern reader may feel a little superior. I enjoyed the book despite the rotting bodies and will definitely read further in the series.

The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories by Martin Edwards A collection of golden age novellas with a Christmas theme republished by British Library Crime Classics. A gunshot at a holiday party, a perfect jewel heist, a train stranded by a blizzard--all were well written, atmospheric, and very enjoyable. I'm so happy with this British Library Crime Classics line; it has introduced me to several authors who should never have been forgotten and who I am so glad I was able to read in this volume edited by Martin Edwards, such as Donald Stuart, John Bingham, and Selwyn Jepson. The perfect short story collection for a brief respite during the holiday madness, best enjoyed with a cup of tea.

A Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry Henry Rathbone goes to visit the home of his goddaughter for Christmas, only to be informed that her husband has died. Henry does not think his death was natural, and he sets out to understand why Judah was out walking in the dark, cold, wet night in which he died. Judah's family had been threatened by a claimant to their estate with whom Judah had a dark history, and his vitriol is just the most obvious threat and the most obvious suspect Henry must investigate.

High Stakes by Dick Francis I've never read a Dick Francis novel, and I know there are a lot of them, so in my search for new series to follow, I thought I'd give him a try despite my complete lack of interest in horse racing. I'm happy to report that although there is a lot of horse and horse racing talk, they don't dominate the book. Originally published in 1975, the book unfortunately does have some passages that don't age well (pardon my paraphrase, but our main character really does muse to himself that "You could always tell a virgin by her eyes..."--!). The story itself is ingenious and it was fast-paced, but I wonder how popular the series would be if it was starting now. The plights of very well-to-do race horse owners in a time when horse racing has dropped precipitously in popularity would not not make them the best sellers I remember they were when I worked in the bookstore all those years ago.

What I Lick Before Your Face by Jamie Coleman Beautiful, heartstring-tugging photos of dogs, haiku dedicated to the dog's perspective--what's not to love? Some of these were hilarious, and I read a few out loud to the vet tech while my dog was having an acupuncture treatment. She and I both laughed. Dudley would not let on if they were accurate portrayals of the dog's perspective. A great gift for the dog lover in your life.

Classic Krakauer by Jon Krakauer  Wonderful compilation of magazine articles published over the past 20 or 25 years. The variety of subjects are strung together by the taut and yes, almost lyrical writing of Krakauer, although some also share a tragedy, as you'd expect of him. The book is a wonderful example of his clear and pristine writing.