Middle Sister's November Reads

Hooray, I have a new job! But to deal with the stress of learning a completely new job, I stuck to comfort reads this month.

Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews This is the 2025 Christmas murder mystery by Donna Andrews, who's given Meg Langslow quite a few holiday murders to solve. And I love them all! We've never been given a family tree of Meg's mother, we just know that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of Hollingsworths roaming the Virginia countryside, and they often descend en masse on Meg and Michael's house for holidays. This time, they are celebrating not only Christmas but two weddings. Two Hollingsworth cousins, competing with each other since childhood, have both decided to throw extravagant holiday weddings. Meg has kept herself out of the wedding shenanigans, by and large, but her mother is getting battered from all sides by the incessant infighting. Then the wedding photographer both brides had hired is murdered, and not only is there panic over the weddings, there's panic over who in their midst is a murderer? I enjoyed having some of the usually nameless cousins named and part of the story. Caerphilly is always a hoot to visit, and this book doesn't disappoint. 

Fellowship of Fear by Aaron Elkins I enjoyed this series when I worked in the bookstore and it was first published, so when I discovered that my library is getting digital vueriosns of some of these older books, I thought I'd begin at the beginning of this series. This is the first in the Gideon Oliver series. Gideon is an anthropology professor and forensics specialist whose ability to read the bones of recent and long-dead humans often comes in handy. In this first book, Gideon is undertaking a lecture circuit at US military bases in several European countries. He's been mourning the death of his wife, and this is the first work-related project that sparked his interest. On his first night in Germany, two men in black invade his hotel room and nearly kill him. The next day, Gideon finds out that the two previous lecturers both died mysteriously. Who would want to kill professors, and why? This story is more spy novel than later books in the series which are straight forward murder mysteries. There's some misogyny and dated male/female interactions which I didn't enjoy at all. But we are introduced to a secondary character who will reappear in later books. Not sure I'd recommend it except for fans of the series who  want to have read them all, like me.

The Sherlock Society by James Pronto Alex and Zoe Sherlock are trying to figure out a non-boring summer job they can do when they hit upon the idea of being detectives. Their first forays flop, but the two are soon joined by their grandfather and their friends Lina and Yadi. After Mom puts her foot down and tells them that they are not to try to solve any real life mysteries at all or they will be in serious trouble, the the pre-teens decide to solve a historical mystery and find the long-lost treasure of Al Capone.  After all, everyone involved in the story is dead, so it's not really like they are breaking their promise to Mom. But instead of long-lost treasure, they stumble upon a real-life case of corporate and environmental corruption that could cost them their lives. I found this YA story to be excellent--well written, with engaging characters, relatable relationships between the children and the adults and the between the adults themselves. 

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie Poirot and Hastings meet a charming young woman named Nick Buckley, who tells them of a few brushes with death that have happened recently. But she does not take any of them seriously. She lives in the ramshackle family homestead that is falling down around her ears, has no family fortune, and there's no reason anyone would want to kill her. But when one attempt to kill Nick occurs right in front of Poirot and Hastings, they urge her to take the situation seriously, and Poirot decides to protect her himself while finding out who is trying to kill her, and why. Nick lives in the ramshackle old End House, and several friends are visiting her, and it's clear to Poirot that one of those friends is out to kill her, but which? More strange accidents happen, and Nick is nearly poisoned by chocolates allegedly sent by Poirot, and then someone does die. Poirot takes these events personally and becomes personally involved in this incident, which is a bit unusual. The seance and contorted ending are a little far-fetched, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. It is, after all, Dame Agatha, and even at her worst (and this is not her worst), she's far superior to most mystery writers.

Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie Rosaleen Underhay inherited everything when her husband of just a few weeks, Gordon Cloade, was killed in the London bombings. His family, who had never expected the determined bachelor to marry and who relied on him for money, are devastated that their financial lifeline has been cut off. Gordon always told them not to worry about money, that he would take care of them, and now he's gone. What will they do? Although Rosaleen is soft-hearted and willing to give her new family some financial support, her brother, David, is adamant that she not support them. Poirot, at his club during another air raid, listens to a story about a man named Robert Underhay who disappeared but whose body was never found. Could Robert still be alive? If he was, that would invalidate Rosaleen's marriage and make her inheritance null and void. A mysterious man names Enoch Arden suddenly appears and attempts to blackmail David, claiming to know where Robert is. But then, Mr. Arden is found dead, and things get complicated.

Fer de Lance by Rex Stout. In my continuing effort to read some series in order, I re-read the first Nero Wolfe. Nero is approached by Maria, who asks him to discover what happened to her brother Carlo. Carlo mysterious disappeared after suddenly coming into some money. How is his disappearance connected to the death of a college president? And who sent Nero Wolfe the deadly fer-de-lance snake? The characters are slightly different than in the later novels and Stout works his way through establishing their characters and quirks, but the bare bones of the recurring characters are there, even if unpolished and dated (some racism). Despite these few quibbles, I enjoyed the book.

Middle Sister's September Read

Why the backlog? Well, like hundreds of thousands, if not millions of USAians, I lost my job this year. And while reading was a welcome escape, I was working hard to find a job and working hard at odd jobs to support myself. So bear with me, Gentle Reader, as I get caught up on yet another draft that was waiting to published.

The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews Magpie was last year's Christmas book published by a favorite author of mine. And since it was hot and dry, reading of another snowy holiday murder in Caerphilly hit a large number of comfort notes for me. This time, Meg and Caerphilly Helping Hands are helping a hoarder with cleaning and decluttering his dilapidated house. Harvey is a nice man, albeit a little shy, but his behavior is not like that of any hoarder any of us have been on TV. The hoarders exploited on distressing TV series are resentful of the attention, fight folks trying to come into their house, and are seriously emotionally upset when their things are disturbed, much less hauled away. Whereas Harvey just lets the well-intentioned ladies of Helping Hands box up all his stuff within minutes of meeting Meg and Caroline--unrealistic, even for a series in which I usually suspend disbelief at how kind and generous everyone in Caerphilly is (which I why I'd like to live there, but I digress). And as much as I love this series, there were, honestly, some parts that rang off: the hoarder not acting like a hoarder, the idea that the hotel would foster a few dogs that guests could check out to run with or visit with--who's going to administer that program? What about liability, for both parties, the hotel and the animal rescue? When dogs are released and transferred from one shelter to another, the process involves lots of paperwork. And you can't just stick them somewhere not approved for animal housing like a human hotel, where paying guests could be allergic or frightened of dogs. I did like how Harvey's murder was resolved, but Magpie was a weak entry in the series. I still want to live in Caerphilly, though. No. 28 in the series

Mockingbird Court by Juneau Black I loved Beatrix Potter's books when I child, and I loved the Cottage Tales series by Susan Witting Albert, and you've read in the past how I love the Shady Hollow mystery series by Juneau Black. They are warm, grown-up versions of an animal world where the animals are vegetarians, live in towns and hold jobs, and generally live in harmony except for the occasional murder. In Mockingbird Court, we not only are treated to another delightful and cosy murder, we are treated to learning more about our heroine, Vera Vixen. Vera's past has always been mysterious. We knew she came from the city, but we knew nothing of why she left, nothing about her family. We learn Vera's story, a very human one, when someone from her past is murdered, and Vera is the main suspect. Will she be able to prove her innocence, and will her relationship with Orville survive this murder investigation? If I were an animal, I'd want to live in Shady Hollow, eat at Joe's, and shop at Lenore's bookstore. Highly recommended. (Net Galley)

Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green This was one of two selections for the Governnerd's Book Club Sharon McMahon organizes, and what a fantastic read it was! One of my favorite books of 2025. This book is so well researched but written so thoughtfully and engagingly, with enough science to satisfy this scientist but not too much science to drive non-scientists away. It's an extremely compelling history not only of the disease, but our society's reaction to it medically, socially, politically, and economically. Once you read it, you will agree that yes, everything is tuberculosis. Highly recommended

Crouching Buzzrd, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews Back to the beginning of the series, as my library has started filling in missing titles. Meg and Michael are searching for a new place to live in, one that will be large enough for the two of them, but Caerphilly has a sever drought of affordable and decent houses or apartments. The search for a home is stressful enough, but Meg's been roped in to serving as business manager and switchboard operator for Mutant Wizards, her bother's computer game company. Mutant Wizards has grown very quickly, and Rob, in typical Rob fashion, doesn't want to, maybe doesn't even recognize, the managerial issues that have been building up and which Meg gets to address. First issue: the one-winged buzzed that lives in the office lobby. Second issue: Michael's mother's dog, Spike, who likes no humans and to whom has mother is allergic, so Spike is now living with Meg and Michael and terrorizing everyone at Mutant Wizards.  Third issue: the company's popular computer game has inspired crazy fans and possibly industrial spies to try to steal their way in every day, and it's up to Meg to chase them out. The company is staffed by brilliant and kooky computer geniuses, who as a lark have laid out a track for the mail cart to follow automatically. Then on one sweep through the office, the mail cart is carrying an extra package--a dead colleague. Highly recommended. No. 4 in the series

Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews Given my library's non-sequential catalog of Meg Langslow titles, I had to jump forward several titles from Buzzard to Cockatiels. Newlyweds Meg and Michael are still renovating their new house when Meg's old friend Karen stops by. She's in desperate need a babysitter for her son, Timmy, for a couple of hours, and begs Meg to help her out. Meg, of course, does agree, but when four, then five, and then six and more hours go by and Karen hasn't returned for her son, Meg is worried that Karen has been in an accident. But it's worse--Karen seems to have disappeared completely. Poor Timmy has no food, no clothes, and his favorite toy needs repair, and Meg is suddenly afraid for Karen's life and afraid of her own reactions to the sudden, temporary childcare roll. Rob is acting very mysteriously, and Meg's dad and grumpy zoologist Montgomery Blake are involved in some animal welfare project Meg worries will land them in jail. Meg's worries heighten when it becomes clear that some dangerous men are after Timmy, and will stop at nothing to get him. Highly recommended. No. 9 in the series

Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews Sure, I could order these sequentially, but I write about the books in the order that I read them, so, Gentle Reader, join me in another jump through fictional time. Meg and Michael are excited at their new home, a rambling Victorian mansion owned by the late Edwina Sprockett. They haven't moved inlet, however, since of the reasons they got such a good deal on the house was because they were going to have to clean it out. And Edwina was nothing if not a collector. Their solution: a giant yard sale, and they're delighted by the local interest, but not delighted by the would-be treasure hunters showing up at 5 am to try and sneak in to find the best items before everyone else. Too bad everyone had the same idea. Among the treasure hunters are Edwina's distant relatives, who have decided that maybe they wrong in agreeing to sell the house and all its contents as is, and now are trying to prove that Meg and Michael hoodwinked them out of large inheritance. Endangered barn owls living in the ramshackle outbuildings add to the general confusion. When Meg spots someone sneaking into one of the off-limits outbuildings, she hurries over to herd them back to the yard sale, and finds one of the antique dealers, dead. Would someone really kill someone over Edwina's junk? Highly recommended. No. 6 in the series

We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews And let's step back one more time, Gentle Reader! Meg and Michael are attending a fan convention for Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle, a cult TV show that Michael has a minor role in. But now that he has a stable position int he Drama and Theatre department at Caerphilly College, Michael would like to leave Porfiria behind. But not everyone wants him to leave the show, especially the star and executive producer, and when she's found murdered, Michael is just one of a number of cast and crew under suspicion. The series rarely leaves Caerphilly, so it's always a treat when Ms. Andrews finds a way to get Meg and Michael away. And the loony, besotted, sometimes weird fans are a funny substitute for Meg's eccentric family. Highly recommended. No. 5 in the series

Why Didn't They Ask Evans by Agatha Christie Bobby Jones is the vicar's son, and he's at loose ends and avoiding making a decision about what to do with his life. What better thing to do than play golf? Until he hits his ball over the edge of the cliff, and running to see if it's visible, he finds instead a dying man. Bobby is perplexed by his last words: "Why didn't they ask Evans?" but a search of the pockets reveals just a photograph of a beautiful young woman. Bobby and his childhood friend, Frankie, aka Lady Frances Derwent, daughter of the local lord, are intrigued when the deceased is finally identified as Alex Pritchard and his sister claims to be the woman in the photo, despite the lack of any similarities between the young beauty in the photo and the middle-aged sister. Then the photos is published, and it's a different photo than the one Bobby had seen and replaced in the dead man's pocket. And that's when Bobby and Frankie realize that something sinister is going on. Highly recommended.

Agatha Christie: an Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley Lucy Worsley has written a new biography of Agatha Christie and filmed a television biography show on the BBC. Ms. Worsley spends a little bit more time tracking down clues to Ms. Christie's mental state during and after her famous disappearance, looking through old phone books to identify psychologists the author may have consulted that were located near her London apartment. Ms. Worsley found a brief interview I'd never seen referenced before in which Dame Agatha herself talks about her mental state during and after the breakup of her marriage. While that's the only new information in the book, there is more on her marriage to the archaeologist Max Mallowan than most biographies report. I knew it was a happy marriage, but the excerpts from their letters made my heart glow that a such a broken heart was able to be healed by love again. Recommended.

Murder Takes A Vacation by Laura Lippman When I first read the description of the story, I thought, well, this sounds like fun. Muriel Blossom, middle-aged widow and former employee at a private investigative form, wins  a lottery and decides to take a Paris river cruise. This middle-aged reader would love to win something like that. Too bad the book was so dreadful I had to stop reading it. She's a former private investigator who worked with Ms. Lipman's other series character, Tess Monaghan, and yet makes the most naive and stupid decisions ever: she accepts a gummy from a stranger in the airport to help her sleep not he flight to Paris--hunh? He doesn't wake her up when their flight arrives so she misses her connection--hunh? She then lets him make reservations at a hotel for them? Lets him convince her not to follow her carefully planned itinerary? Hunh? Then she makes out with him and lets him stay in her room while she sleeps? What?? Then she gets to Paris, meets a young man she lets paw through her clothes and claim to be her son when. body is found--and that's just the first 2 chapters! I chucked it. Completely unbelievable. Completely stupid behavior. I hated every character by the end of two chapters--that is not a good sign. I was delighted to learn later that someone in my online mystery book club had disliked it as much as me. Avoid at all costs.

Middle Sister's July Reads

July begins my first month of unemployment. So while I desperately try to find a new job, I am trying to tackle some housekeeping. In order to remain sane, I'm reading, but mostly comfort reads to help me de-stress. 

Simple Designs for Meditative Knitting by Barbara Breen There have been several mindfulness knitting books published over the years; it seems anew one is published every four years or so. Simple Designs for Meditative Knitting is the latest such book, and like the other, it's well designed to help novice knitters and experienced knitters alike. For many knitters, the online world is full of people who shout proudly that they read and knit at the same time, or knit movie theaters, or at concerts--the list is endless. This might be off-putting to a novice knitter who has to pay attention to their needles so they don't get lost. Ms. Breen reminds them, and experienced crafters, that the meditative qualities such mindfulness produces are worthy goals in and of themselves. She presents several basic patterns for contemplative knitting. Nicely produced, with a variety of projects. (Net Galley)

Midwinter Murders by Agatha Christie There is no greater comfort read than Agatha Christie for me. I have loved mysteries since I was a child. I remember borrowing from my aunt's collection of Agatha Christies at her summer bungalow when I was just ten or eleven. And since mid-July temperatures are now well into the 110s F here in the desert, I read mysteries set in the winter. This short story collection features Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne. It's the perfect summer or winter read for a mystery lover.  

O Deadly Night (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery) by Vicky Delaney Vicki Delaney is one of my favorite  contemporary cosy mystery authors. Her main characters are relatable and real, people you'd want to be friends with in real life. They have jobs they have to do--they can't just go off detecting. They had quirky relatives or friends. I worried that this Christmas-themed series would be too cutesy for me and for it to last, but I'm delighted to say that after reading three of them, Ms. Delaney is doing a great job of keeping an unusual premise going realistically. In this soon-to be-published book, Merry is juggling getting her shop's holiday float ready for the Rudolph town parade and gearing up for the December retail extravaganza when she makes the majority of her sales, so when her landlady, the quirky Mrs. D'Angelo, starts pestering her about mysterious goings on at the house across the street, Merry is too overwhelmed to pay much attention. Until Mrs. D'Angelo disappears. I loved this premise--Merry reacts as any one of us would to the situation, with a little guilt and determination. We find out a little bit more about how Merry's father, the Mayor, helped revitalize a dying town by turning it into a Christmas destination that celebrates all year. Because we see more of Mrs. D'Angelo in this entry, we see less of Allen, Marry's boyfriend, but he and the other regular secondary characters appear, add drama (the store scene brought to mind retail incidents from my own past as a store clerk; yes, they do happen!), add spice, and generally make this an enjoyable series. O Deadly Night will be published in October 2025, and will be a great diversion for mystery lovers who need a little escape from the holiday craziness. (Net Galley)

One Final Turn (An Electra McDonnell Mystery) by Ashley Weaver It's become quite fashionable for series to end nowadays, rather than just go on and on and on, with authors tiring of their main characters, slipping in their attention to details and probably becoming uninterested in the stories and people they created but have been living with for year. This is the gift Electra McDonnell World War II mystery, but it was the first I read in the series. Electra's cousin Toby, working with the resistance, has disappeared in Europe, and she and Ramsey go to Portugal to see if they can find his trail on one of the escape routes from Nazi-controlled territory. This final entry has to finish two competing story lines: whether Toby is alive, and if he is, can he be rescued, and the relationship between Ramsey and Electra, apparently over at the end of the previous book, still has embers threatening to reignite. I will admit this was not a favorite of mine. There was a lot more romance than I care for in my mysteries (a personal preference, of course), but more importantly, our spies are probably the worst spies ever. They talk about plans in lobbies full of people, they draw attention to themselves when setting out on midnight reconnaissance missions by walking through the lobby--it all reads as very amateurish. If you've been reading the series all along, this book provides a satisfactory end to Electra's story. If you haven't been reading this series, I can't recommend you start based on this book. (Net Galley)

Middle Sister's April Reads

 I continued comfort reading in April, as I learned that my unit was being closed and I was losing my job in 60 days. I didn't have the headspace for much reading, unfortunately.

The Murder at the Links by Agatha Christie I had started reading this through my library's Hoopla account several years ago, but I am not fond of reading on my laptop, so when a audiophile became available, I jumped on it. This is the second Hercule Poirot novel, and the first in which he's summoned by someone who thinks they are in danger but who unfortunately dies before Poirot arrives. Nevertheless, Poirot feels obligated to uncover who killed Paul Renauld. A complicated story with secret identities, it is not one of my favorite Christies, but as I have a long-term goal of re-reading them in order and I could not remember ever having read this one before, I was glad to find it in a more accessible format for me. 

Booked for Murder by P. J. Nelson Madeline inherited The Old Juniper Bookshop from her late aunt. Madeline's feelings of obligation and the many happy memories of childhood visits with her aunt, as well as acting career that seems to be in holding pattern, send her back, although she's not sure she will keep the bookstore. Someone sets a fire within hours of her arrival, and then the murder of a new friend anger Madeline, who determines to identify the killer no matter the cost to her personal safety. I enjoyed the book, Madeline's reunion with people she knew as children years ago, and the probable love interest.  The writing was engaging, and the secondary characters were well developed; I can't wait to read more about Madeline's aunt's best friend. This was a debut novel for a new series, and as I am a sucker for a bookstore or library mystery, I will be retuning to the Old Juniper Bookstop again.

Murder by the Hook by Betty Hechtman I haven't read one of the Crochet Mystery stories in years, and I will admit that it's because I'm not crazy about Molly Pink, the protagonist. I just don't seem to be able to gel with her as a reader. But I wanted to give the series another try, and the latest was made available to me via Net Galley. The bookstore where Molly's crochet group meets is closed for renovations, so Molly and the Tarzana Hookers decamp to Pixie, a nearby resort town, for a relaxing weekend. Mason, Molly's former beau, asks her to accompany him to a pre-wedding reception his client is giving in, of all places, Pixie--what a coincidence. Someone keeps pilfering small items whenever Jerry R and his wife, Lisa, host one of their gala parties, and Mason thinks that Molly can help him identify the kleptomaniac. But then someone is killed, and Molly finds that finding a thief takes a back seat to finding a killer. Still not my favorite series, still not sure I actually like Molly, and liking the main character is a basic requirement to keep my attention. The series isn't gory or terrible, it's just kind of dull to me. But this is book 16, I think, so clearly a lot of people enjoy the Tarzana Hookers and their shenanigans in the LA area. (Net Galley)

Middle Sister's March Reads

March included two trips, one business, one pleasure, so I had a fair amount of airplane time to read.

A Lethal Walk in Lakeland by Nicholas George This is the second book in the series that revolves around retired policeman Rick 'Chase' Chasen and rambles in the English countryside. It's nearly a year after the first book, and Chase and Mike, the Devonshire coroner he met in the first book, have been talking regularly and their romance is heating up. So Chase decides to go spend time with Mike and together explore the Lake District. Unfortunately, Mike is prevented from starting the walk by an urgent work-related incident, and Chase reluctantly decides to continue the walk alone. Well, not completely alone, as his friend Billie is also along for the walk, as are several members of a family that have come to find closure on the walk. Then suddenly, one family member is dead, the rest are suspicious of each other, and Chase has to untangle threads from a terrible tragedy in their childhood as well as solve the modern day murder. I like this series; Chase is a pleasant main character, and I'm happy to see him ready for romance with Mike after the death of his husband. I just wish Chase didn't wallow in his feelings quite as much as he does, but that's a personal opinion. I look forward to the next book in the series, where hopefully Mike will be more a central character helping Chase solve whatever mystery they encounter on their next ramble. (Net Galley)

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey This is one of my favorite mysteries of all time, and my copy somehow was lost. Macmillan published a reprint I bought over 20 years ago that had a duplicate section of about 30 pages, but the actual 30 pages of text were missing. I've been searching for a clean copy ever since. I was in Denver for a conference and wandered into used bookstore and there it was, a clean copy! I read the entire book, cover to cover, in my flight home. Tey's masterpiece is notable for two things: Inspector Allen Grant is not able to do any physical investigation as he's bedridden with a bad broken leg, and this is one of the earlier books to utilize this plot device that I know of. And it almost single-handedly revived the interest in the murder of the princes in the Tower, providing a cogent argument against their uncle Richard III as the murderer that has been cited by many Ricardians as their jumping off point for delving deeper into this medieval mystery. The book stands the test of time, remaining as riveting more than 70 years after it was published as any modern mystery. An excellent mystery I recommend to anyone. 

Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie While I've read all of Christie's novels, I haven't read all of her short stories. I listened to this audio recording of four Hercule Poirot stories, originally published in 1937, and was not disappointed. Was Barbara Allen's death a suicide? Will secret war plans be stolen for the Nazis? Who killed Sir Gervase, who summoned Poirot but who was killed before the detective arrived? And who killed the beautiful Valentine Chantry: her jealous husband, her lover, or someone else? It was absolutely wonderful getting to listen to what were new-to-me Christies.

Middle Sister's November Reads

Honey Drop Dead by Laura Childs Yes, I read another book in a series I love to hate. Again, I love the premise and enjoyed the first few books in the series. Theodosia's tea shop in historic Charleston is a dream tea room to visit fictionally, in a great setting with tremendous atmosphere and great story potential. But Theodosia has evolved from being someone I'd have liked to be friends with, or at the very least someone whose tearoom I would have patronized, to someone I am almost actively hoping gets hurt. This story begins, as so many of the books in the series do, with Theodosia hosting a tea party of some sort, this time, an art show event for her friend, Holly. The party is interrupted by someone in a HAZMAT suit who sprays a toxic smoke around, sickening many of the guests and leaving thick, impenetrable clouds of smoke. When the smoke lifts, a local politician is dead. I love/hate recounting some of the more ridiculous escapades Theodosia engages in to show how ridiculous the series has become. This book starts the unbelievable Theo escapades right away: Theodosia, while everyone else is hacking and crying from the smoke, is able to run at top speed to chase the HAMZAT-wearing miscreant. When she finally catches up with him, she throws a vase which she snatched up from a table and ran through the woods holding at the person. They shoot the vase and aim at her, but Theodosia manages to grab a shard of glass and threaten the murderer. It was ridiculous. Later in the book, Theodosia thinks it's perfectly OK to steal the boat of an acquaintance of hers to go traipsing out to a suspect's cay to, what, confront him? We're not sure what her plan really was, but, as is typical in the TheodosiaUniverse, she suffers no repercussions when the friend's boat is rammed and severely damaged and nearly sunk. Without knowing at all what the police are doing, she's convinced they are not following leads and will not be able to solve the murder, so she has no choice but solve it herself. Pete Reilly, her boyfriend, again specifically asks her not investigate and she agrees. The ending to the book was rather abrupt, with Theodosia endangering the life of Drayton because she can't believe she was wrong in figuring out who the murderer was. I continue to really hate that she repeatedly lies to Reilly. He seems like a nice guy, but how does he not call her out on this? She's been lying to him through several books now, and I don't know anyone who would accept being repeatedly lied to. I know, I know, why do I keep reading this series? I keep hoping they'll get better, that the author will use a little talent to figure out a way to get Theodosia involved that doesn't involve her typical arrogance and lies, but she doesn't. Isn't that the definition of insanity? (Audiobook)

Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew (A California bookshop Mystery) I should have liked a book set in a bookstore, even if the location was Southern California. Scarlett has just broken up with her boyfriend, who had been her partner in opening a bookstore located right by a popular beach and tourist hotspot. Scarlett finds a dead body on the beach, and then discovers that she has inherited a large sum of money from a relative she never knew. Both situations throw her life into chaos. I really couldn't get into this new series. I didn't find Scarlett that interesting, and I found her relationships and interactions to be rather juvenile and superficial. The mystery and the murder were neither suspenseful nor difficult to solve. I'll give any future books in this series a hard pass. (Net Galley)

Birding to Change the World by Trish O'Kane Great nonfiction book that is so much more than a bird book. It's a fascinating read about her journey from losing everything to Hurricane Katrina and moving to Madison, Wisconsin, to go to graduate school after years of working as a social justice reporter in various countries. She stumbles into what she sees is a social justice issue when the small park across the street from her house in a working class neighborhood is slated to have the grassy areas and small wetlands paved and resurfaced for parking lots, soccer fields, etc. It's a great book about the intersection of the upheaval of her life with her discovery of the joys of birding and studying ornithology. As an urban birder myself, I loved the program she began bringing middle schoolers to the park and introducing them to the birds, the animals, and to standing up for themselves and their neighborhood. Great book, well written, and covering more than just birds, but how the birds around us can reveal so much about our society and how local policies can impact nature and our communities. (NetGalley; to be published in 2024)

Irish Milkshake Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, and Liz Ireland I am enjoying this series of short story novellas that center on a shared theme, previously a Christmas scarf, and this time, an Irish milkshake. Each auther gets to define what the Irish milkshake is made up of and how it figures into the murder mystery.  Peggy Ehrhart and her character Pamela are fast becoming favorites, and so her story was my favorite. Carlene O'Connor's story was the most rollicking of the three, with murder at an isolated hen party in Ireland, with boozy milkshakes and Irish dancers. I had recently read a full length novel by Liz Ireland that I enjoyed a lot, so I was delighted to meet Mrs. Claus and other residents of Santaland in this short story. The elves are fascinated by yet another holiday that April has told them about, St. Patrick's Day. I enjoyed  the premise of seeing what trouble the elves and Santa and everyone else gets into after the Christmas holiday is over. Fun book to be published late in December, and three great authors. I can't wait for the next themed mystery. (NetGalley)

Death of a Maid by M. C. Beaton (Hamish Macbeth Number 22) Hamish Macbeth has been gifted the services of a cleaning lady, Mrs. Gillespie, and while he's not thrilled, he leaves her to do what she can at the police station. When he returns, he finds evidence that she may have been snooping. Hamish goes to confront her and finds, instead, her lifeless body. Who would have wanted to kill the cleaning lady? The book is another charming visit to Lochdubh, where the quirky residents and humorous situations don't completely cover the ugly underbelly of human interactions that can be found anywhere. (Audiobook)

Highland Christmas by M. C. Beaton (Hamish Macbeth Number 16) Hamish's family is in Florida for the holiday, so Hamish is in Lochduch, working. But the problems aren't the most exciting: a missing cat and stolen holiday lights. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems in Lochdubh, and soon Hamish finds that there's more going on than he thought. But it's Lochdubh, so we know that somehow, Hamish will make sure that all is well just in time for Christmas. (Audiobook)

Murder by Invitation Only by Colleen Cambridge (A Phyllida Bright Mystery) The very competent Phyllida Bright, housekeeper to Agatha Christie, returns in this murder mystery. Agatha and Max are invited to a murder by their new neighbors, but as they are in London, Agatha asks Phyllida to attend the murder party in her stead. The invited guests are horrified when the murder tableau is real. Phyllida, as a witness,  jumps into the investigation, and it was amusing to read her reactions when other party attendees expect her to find the murderer based on her reputation. I chuckled when Agatha used this incident as inspiration for one of her own murder mysteries. And I enjoyed the staff's consternation over the newfangled vacuum cleaner--a small side story that helps to set the story in its time and place. I enjoy this series a lot. (Audiobook)

The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie Well, after reading a book with Agatha Christie as a character, I had to read a book by the master herself. I don't think I've reread The Mystery of the Blue Train since I first read it when I was about 12, when I borrowed my aunt's copy at her bungalow one summer. This is a slightly more convoluted story, with a longer set up and character introduction before Hercule Poirot makes his appearance to solve the crime, than many of Ms. Christie's more famous books. But it's still a very good read, even after almost 100 years (it was first published in 1928).  

Buried in a Good book by Tamara Berry (By The Book  Mysteries 1) I've very much enjoyed books 2 and 3 in this series, so I tracked down book 1 at my library so I could meet Tess and Gertrude and learn more of their backstory. Tess is recently divorced, and her ex is ignoring their daughter, so to try and give them both some breathing space, and to try and give Gertrude something else to think about other than her father's lack of attention, Tess decides they should spend the summer at her grandfather's cabin. But they are greeted by a funny yet kind of gross explosion of fish and human body parts, which has to be one of the most memorable ways to start a book I've ever read. Kudos to Ms. Berry for her choice of murderer, a bold move. But despite that, I think I like books 2 and 3 better, which is a great indication that the author and her series are developing full steam ahead. I can't wait for book 4.  

Middle Sister's December Reads

December was a busy month, but I had two weeks of vacation and was looking forward to reading, and reading a lot. And I did. And it was wonderful! I hunkered down and spent good quality hygge time in my want-to-be-home, Sea Harbor, MA. But tragedy struck December 8--my beloved Kindle Voyage died! Amazon made the wrongheaded decision 4 years ago to cease production of the Voyage, even though many of us Kindle diehards thought it was the best Kindle ever made. I tried to live without a Kindle but broke down within  a week and ordered an Oasis, which will be delivered soon. I hate reading on my phone, so most of the books read this month were audiobooks or library books. A Net Galley ARC was interrupted by the tragedy, but I will resume reading Comet Madness as soon as Fred the Fourth arrives.

A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum Years ago this series was published by one of the mass market publishers, and I fell in love with it when I discovered it early on. After several books, the publisher decided not to pursue the series, but luckily for us, Kensington Publishing picked up the author and the series continues. Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, is a small coastal town, but it's home to a large number of great businesses I'd patronize if they were real. Chief among them is the Seaside Knitting Studio, owned by Izzy Chambers Perry. The series began years ago with Izzy opening up her yarn shop and over the books, she knits deep relationships with three women in town. They are all very different, in age, in lifestyle, in experience, but they bond over their shared love of knitting and their lives become interwoven. Over the series, their lives change, but the friendships and love stay strong. I would love to be best friends with Izzy, Nell, Birdie, and Cass, and have Thursday night knit-ins and Friday night dinners with them. The mystery is almost secondary for me. I love escaping to this cosy, beautiful town full of caring and conscientious people and set in a gorgeous, sea side locale. But, a mystery series this is, so someone does get murdered, and each investigation is spearheaded by a different woman. I had just read two of the Seaside Knitters mysteries in November, and I didn't want the happy glow of living in Sea Harbor to dissipate, so I immediately jumped into my third consecutive book, which is also the most recent. This time around, the mayor's holiday party is marred by a murder, and the victim is discovered by Nell, Izzy's aunt (and personally my favorite of the four women). With Christmas and the holidays looming, the women decide to solve the murder so the town can enjoy the festive season without worrying that a murderer lurks in their midst. I love this series, and passed this book on to a friend to read on her vacation, and she is now a convert and fan, too. What better way to celebrate the season than with this wonderful trip to my favorite place.

Black Orchids by Rex Stout This audiobook has two stories, Black Orchids and Cordially Invited to Meet Death. As all fans know, Nero Wolfe never leaves his townhouse, but the one thing that might get him to leave his home is a rare orchid, and this is not just a special rare orchid, it's a black orchid. When Archie Goodwin discovers a dead body at a flower show, Nero is drawn into a complex mystery that centers on an exceedingly rare little bloom. The black orchid reappears in the second story, in which a society matron receiving poison pen letters tries to get Nero Wolfe to find out who is sending the letters to her. Wolfe turns down the job, and then regrets it. This audiobook is literally just the old cassettes now in a digital format, complete with "end of cassette 1, please turn the cassette over." But the wonderful Michael Prichard and his gravelly voive are perfect for Nero Wolfe, so less than perfect presentation aside, I love these audiobooks.

The Capture of Cerberus and The Incident of the Dog's Ball by Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot read by David Suchet. There is nothing more to be said. Perfection.

Knot on Your Life by Betty Hechtman years ago, I gave up on Hechtman's other series because, as detailed in other reviews on this blog, the stories are simplistic, the writing often juvenile, and the mysteries unsatisfying. But, sometimes it's hard for a reader to know if some of the fault lies with the publisher, who demands a certain kind of mystery for a certain audience, and constrains the author with requirements and limitations. So when I found that Hechtman had another series out there, I thought I'd give it a try. Casey Feldstein has created a career arranging yarn retreats in Vista Del Mar, but the resort idyll is not without its evils. In this, book number 7, her nemesis, the resort manager, has started arranging retreats, trying to poach on Casey's success, but his attempts leave his first clients, a Silicon Valley tech company, unsatisfied, and they reach out to Casey to save their retreat. But it's not a restful retreat when someone dies, and Casey decides to solve the murder herself. Gentle Reader, I had so many issues with this book, it's hard to list them, but here are some, and they are my last straw pet peeves: why does Casey think she is a better detective than the police, because she worked as an assistant to a detective long ago? Why on earth does her boyfriend, the cop, tell her things that could get him fired if his boss knew he was telling her these things? Why does she let him do this? And why the heck is a 30-something woman afraid to date a man in the open? Does she really think the locals will gossip nonstop about them? Casey, you're neither that important nor that interesting. The juvenile romantic relationships Hechtman always has make the bad mysteries absolutely unreadable for me. It's insulting to Ms. Christie and Mr. Stout to read something like this right after reading their classic and well-written mysteries.

AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary: 200 Modern Knitting Motifs by Andrea Rangel Fantastic stitch dictionary of modern and unusual motifs for the adventurous knitter who wants to move beyond diamonds  and chevrons into dinosaurs, robots, and 3-D inspired motifs, among others. This is a great addition to any knitter's library. Nicely illustrated, but only charts.

And there you have it. The 69 books I read in 2022. On to 2023 and adventures with my new Oasis.

Middle Sister's May Reads

Gentle reader, the long-awaited month of May arrived. Six months ago I began planning a two-week road trip to the Pacific Northwest, and it finally became a reality in May. And what is a good, 3,000-mile road trip but the perfect opportunity to listen to audiobooks?

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters I have loved the Amelia Peavbody series for over 30 years, and own the books. But the chance to listen to one of my favorite books was too good to pass. The story is just as entertaining, Amelia is just as admirable, Emerson is just as infuriating, and Ms. Peters' re-creation of the heady days of Victorian explorers just as detailed and delightfully descriptive as I'd remembered. However, I wasn't thrilled with the audiobook because of the narrator. Her breathy voice for the determined, intrepid Amelia Peabody was just wrong. Amelia is a take charge personality who doesn't suffer fools. Her voice is is always strong, sometimes slightly sarcastic, but never breathy like an ingenue. Emerson's voice should be deeper; he almost starts off with a whiny nasal sound in his first few appearances. Ah well, I suppose no one can read the book the way I hear it in my head when I read it. Still a rollicking good book to listen to.

Summer of the Dragon by Barbara Michaels This is the same author who wrote as Elizabeth Peters. While I think I have read every single one, I don't remember all the standalones. They remind me of the Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt novels I devoured in my 10-14 years, with their beautiful and spunky heroines, the hero who is initially gruff and insufferable, the modern gothic air of mystery. This book takes place in Arizona, and I have to admit that while the book may be 40 years old, Ms. Michael's descriptions are still apt, even her description of Phoenix (exponentially larger than it was in the 1970s). Her description of the desert is almost lyrical, and I have to wonder if the author ever participated in an archaeological field school out here. The book is a bit dated: the references to the movie stars after which our heroine, DJ, and her siblings are named will be familiar to fans of classic movies but no one else. DJ tends to say "Right on!" a lot, and the drugs used to waylay characters are certainly not ones that would be used today. But there are still a lot of people who are searching for the Lost Dutchman mine, who think the Peralta stones are real, and their crazy theories will be familiar to anyone who watches too much cable TV. The secondary characters with their quirks and passionate crazy theories were quite funny. The one thing that bothered me was that the household staff were called servants. I doubt they were still being called servants in 1975. Oh well, DJ is a delightful heroine, and it's easy to identify with her love of food, her naïveté about the desert, and her spunk. However, major complaint: the narrator did not know how to correctly pronounce many words derived from Native People's languages or Spanish. Mesa Verde is not pronounced Mesa Verd. Saguaro is not pronounced "sahgwaro" with a hard g, nor is cholla pronounced with an l-sound; it's a Spanish double ll which is pronounced as a y. Mogollon, Sinagua and Sinaguan similar do not have hard g's or l's. I don't think that's being picky because the archaeological sites and desert plants are so central to the story (and in the case of Mesa. Verde, very well known) that to mispronounce them repeatedly detracts the listener. And really, how expensive would it have been for the audiobook publisher to consult someone to get the proper pronunciations? 

In at the Death by Francis Duncan Mordecai Tremaine's fourth murder mystery begins with a game of chess with Chief Inspector Jonathon Boyce that is interrupted because of a murder in Bridgton. Jonathon asks Mordecai to come with him on the case, so in this entry in the series, Mordecai happens upon the murder and the crime scene with the police. This is a neat way for Mr. Duncan to get his amateur detective involved, because in previous novels, Mordecai was usually present at a weekend party or a similar social event when the murder happens. Here, he gets to work more closely with the police to solve the murder. I enjoy this series so much. The books, written between 1944-1954, only seem dated because of the lack of technology and the sometimes old-fashioned ways of describing people, especially the women. I especially liked the dramatic ending of the book, with its ambiguous depiction of the many ways justice can be served. Let me add that these audiobooks are excellently read by the narrator, which just adds to my enjoyment of them.

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch This book introduces Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and amateur detective, who despite avowing how much he prefers his quiet, dull life, has so far solved 14 mysteries. In this first entry, Lenox's dear friend and neighbor Lady Jane asks him to investigate the death of a young maid, Prudence. I liked the book well enough to probably read more, but it wasn't without its irritations. Lenox and Jane's friendship would never have taken the shape it did in Victorian times. Prudence's many sexual relationships would have been frowned severely upon and it would have been thought she deserved her untimely end because of her behavior. The fact that Lady Jane is not at all shocked by her promiscuity is not, I think, realistic to the period but is a bone thrown to the modern reader. Then another murder occurs, and Lenox begins to suspect that they are all tied to a possible financial scandal involving a highly-placed government official. The errors in making Victorian England appear a little too twenty-first century are not too egregious as to prevent me planning to read more in the series, but in general, I really dislike it when modern social mores are inserted into very different historic cultures.

On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle I read one Coffeehouse series mystery years and years ago, and it wasn't my cup of tea, but when I saw that the library had the audiobook of the first in the series on hand, I thought I'd give it a try. My conclusion--I still don't think I like this series. I want to like Clare. I like how she created a life for herself and her daughter (in suburban New Jersey, where I grew up, too) after leaving her philandering husband, and how that life has been a hodgepodge of different jobs strung together to make a living. Shades of modern day life for many, many of us. What I didn't like were the cutesy names (Cosi and Allegro as last names? Madame Dreyfus-Allegro-Dubois?) and Clare's romantic interest in her ex-husband. And I think there was an overlooked problem with the identification of the killer. The reason for the killing was predictable but plausible, but (and I'm going to reveal something here, so spoiler alert, skip to the next book on this list if you haven't read this one and plan to) the killer left the coffee house thinking that no one would be able to trace them to Annabelle. So why take the key to the coffeehouse with them and leave her purse with all its other belongings behind? At the time of Annabelle's murder, there was no reason to suspect they (the murderer) would ever have to return to the coffee house, so why take it and draw attention to that fact? There was no reason for that to happen, and to make the whole story hinge on that seemed very forced to me. It smacked of lazy writing and an author desperately trying to figure out how to solve the murder while writing it. I know it's a long-running series, but I think I won't try a third time to read it.

Death of a Dustman by M.C. Beaton Ah, Hamish MacBeth, always to be relied for a murder mystery that is not what it seems. I'm still heartbroken that Ms. Beaton's death a couple of years ago means no more Hamish. I do think Hamish has been pining over Priscilla way too long, but at least that's just a very minimal part of the book. Just like in the Mordecai Tremaine book, justice is served in different ways here, too, and sometimes it just doesn't seem right. In Death of a Dustman, the odious trash collector in Loch Dubh knows secrets about everyone and has been trying to blackmail them all. The suspect list is consequently long and no one, not even the widow, mourns the nasty dustman. I do enjoy the revolving sidekicks that are Hamish's subordinates and how they find their lives changed forever by their time in Loch Dubh. Contrast their experiences with Hamish's; his life stays the same no matter what happens. Fun series, and again, very well read.

My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith The powerhouse that is Alexander McCall Smith (how does he write so many books) has written a charming book in My Italian Bulldozer. Paul Stuart has broken up with his girlfriend of four years, and so to heal his broken heart, he decides to go to Italy to complete writing his latest cookbook. But the working holiday gets off to a bad start when he is accused of stealing a rental car. The only transport he can get is a bulldozer, on which he rides off into the sunset and a set of misadventures while gaining a new appreciation of life and romance. Delightful and charming, this standalone is a good introduction to the author and his dry wit. I just wish we'd had more of Gloria and her sharp mind and discerning intellect. 

Desert, Driving, and Derelicts by Tonya Kappas Again. I like the premise but not the cutesy name: the Campers and Criminals series. Mae West (Maybelline is her real name) got shafted by her ex-husband and the only thing that she could salvage was an RV park, the Happy Trails Campground, in Normal, Kentucky. My sister is about to move to Kentucky (this week, in fact), so I wanted to take a little dive into what fiction thinks Kentucky is like. I like the premise because it gives the author a lot of scope--the comings and goings of people at the RV park, and the people and businesses in the nearby small town that caters to the visitors provide plenty of ways to get Mae involved in a mystery. I also liked how Mae plunges into trying to get whatever work she can, so a second job as a cleaning lady is welcome and treated with great dignity by the author. I'm not so crazy about the juvenile crush Mae develops, and when she's cleaning his camper, she starts snooping though his stuff. Ding, ding, ding--stalker! Mae is stalking and being a Toal creepster in this subplot! This is not cutesy but really alarming to me as a reader. I did enjoy the outlandish characters and their over-the-top southernliess, but a little goes a long way. So while I might read another in the series, I may need a little time away from Happy Trails in between my visits.

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie I started my road trip with an Agatha Christie novel because you might as well start a three-day road trip of 1,500 miles with a bang. Hercule Poirot helps the daughter of a convicted murderer discover the real murderer of Amyas Crale. I really enjoyed the whole premise, of Poirot investigating a very cold case that everyone thought had been satisfactorily solved. However, I didn't find the British rhyme made much sense with he chapters; this might have been more evident with a read rather than a listen to the story. But you can't go wrong with an Agatha Christie, and the lesser known Poirots are always fun to read.

Behold a Fair Maid by Francis Duncan This is the last Mordecai Tremaine novel written by Francis Duncan. Mordecai goes to an island for vacation and finds that the slow idyllic life on the island masks old grievances and criminal activity. I found this the most convoluted of the Tremaine novels, and had to read the ending twice to make sure that I understood the many threads and how they were woven together. And because of that I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as I had the other four in the series. I wish there had been more descriptions of the island and the settings, but it was still a very enjoyable book.

Middle Sister's March Reads

Spring has sprung! We've had some rain out here in the desert, but not at the right time to give us any spring flowers. However, given he decades-long drought we are in. I will happily take whatever rain I can get, whenever it comes. Rainy nights are great night to read.

The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger by Agatha Christie Yes, I am still reading Agatha Christie, and while I had hoped to read them chronologically, availability of titles has caused me too jump around a little. In this short story (which I listened to as an audio play dowloaded from my library, rather then a book read by one narrator), Tommy and Tuppence Beresford are drawn into international espionage, and Tommy is secured by Tuppence at the last minute. Research tells me Dame Agatha modeled the story on series written by Douglas Valentine. A mystery rabbit hole to explore further.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie My library has obtained a number of audiobooks that are apparently either radio recordings or books read and recorded as plays, with several actors portraying different characters. It had been a long time since I'd read And Then There Were None, although I  recently watched yet another version of it. This is deservedly a classic Christie that touches on self righteous behavior and self delusion, fear, and paranoia, and wraps it all up in a fast-moving, clever mystery.

A Is for Arsenic by Kathryn Markup As long as I was reading Christie, why not read a book about Christie? This book takes an unusual slant by focussing on some of the poisons Dame Agatha used to dispatch her victims. Ms. Markup does an admirable job of summarizing the chemistry of each poison and its affects on the body, the availability of the poison at the time the book in which it appears to help shed light on how easily Christie's murderers could have obtained that poison for their dastardly intentions, and then summarizes the actual Christie novel, with a brief discussion on the victims and what poisonous effects appear in the Christie story. Real life murders using those potions are also presented, although in some cases these would probably not have neen known to Dame Agatha and therefore didn't serve as inspiration, although other real cases surely did. A novel concept, and I enjoyed the book. The nerdy scientist in my liked the actual chemical structure of each poison being included, and also given their own appendix. I also enjoyed the appendix that listed all the different ways that victims were killed in all the books and short stories. One quibble--the book ended very abruptly. There is no final chapter, however brief, that sums up the book. The last poison is discussed and then the appendices and a select reference list is presented. Some neat tidying up, some summary conclusions, something would have been better than turning the page to see the book was done. But enjoyable overall, especially to Christie aficionados.

Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien Volume 8, Noodle Shop Mysteries. I read Hot and Sour Suspects as an advanced reading copy from Net Galley, and the series was brand new to me. What a winner! I loved everything about this cosy mystery. I love the characters; Lana Lee and her mixed race family reminds me exactly of my ethnically and racially mixed family. The secondary characters, no matter how infrequently a part of the narrative, are so skillfully sketched that the reader immediately gets a sense of their personality and the relationship dynamics (e.g., Lana's grandmother). The dialogue and relationships between Lana and her sister, Lana and her roommate, Lana and her boyfriend the policeman, etc. are all very realistic and engaging. I adore the fact that the author was creative in how she gets Lana involved in the murder. Rather than relying on Lana simply pumping her boyfriend Adam for information he shouldn't tell her as he's a policeman working the case, Lana (and the author) respect his professionalism and keep him out of the picture. After last month's disaster Bear Witness, where the police investigator slept with the amateur detective/suspect and told her police information she should never had been told, to have Lana and Adam's relationship treated so professionally, so respectfully, so realistically, was delightful. Kudos, Ms. Chien! The story itself moves along at a pace fast enough to keep reader interest despite Lana doing things like actually working at her job (I hate it when the main character is able to drop everything to go haring after clues, as if jobs and commitments didn't exist) and having Sunday dim sum with her family. Absolutely enchanted with this series, and I will absolutely be looking for the rest of the Lana Lee books to read. Net Galley.

100 Great American Parks by Stephanie Pearson Beautifully photographed new book published by National Geographic that present 100 of the many amazing natural wonders, historic sites, seashores, and wildernesses across the United States. This was a galley from Net Galley, and unfortunately, only 7 parks were included in this sample for review. From what I saw, the layout is nice (large format color photographs, many full page), with fairly engaging text and side bars with additional information. It's divided geographically, and as the entire list of parks is not presented not he Table of Contents, it's impossible to tell if the book focuses on the most popular national parks and monuments, or if it details some of the smaller and less well known parks. This is the first time an advanced reader copy obtained from net Galley did not include the entire book for review, and I must say I'm disappointed. It's National Geographic, so we can assume the quality is high, but if you opt not to provide the entire book, why not just rely on your reputation alone/ And full disclosure--I worked on projects funded by National Geographic, although that was over 30 years ago. Net Galley

The Supper Club Murders by Victoria Dowd Smart Woman's Mystery, Book 3. Well, I'm a pretty smart woman, so that series name appealed to me (smart intellectually, smart mouthed? Either sounded intriguing), and I read this galley hoping that I'd find a second new-to-me series to add to my TBR pile. The book and author were described as being along the lines of an Agatha Christie--a supper club in a lonely, deserted part of England is stranded during a terrible storm, the roads are flooded, the phones are out, and then, someone is murdered. Sounds like perfect reading material. It was not. The reader is immediately thrust into a series of conversations amidst the protagonists (the smart women) that revolve around what happened in previous novels with little to no explanation, so the reader is left confused and bewildered. Now, that might work to an author's advantage as a deliberate plot device to increase tension, if we were supposed too identify with the main protagonist, but I could never get a real handle on the protagonist, Ursula, and what happened to her and why she was reacting as she was, and there was no elucidation that alleviated my confusion. What the heck happened with Mirabelle and how does it relate to these women and why won't someone tell me the reader what the heck is going on? I should be drawn into caring for these people; instead, I started to be heartily irritated by Ursula, Pandora, Aunt Charlotte, the hairless cat, everyone. This made me very testy as I read on. The writing style was unusual: "The whites of his eyes had a dirty, tarnished color to them, as if they'd see too many things they regretted." An attempt at noir, maybe, it just reads as dreadful. "Torches cast only moments of light into darkness." "Threads of water made their way down my neck..." Rivulets of water, streaks of water, trickles of water I can see, but threads of water? The rain "...typed with fast efficient fingers on the stone cobbles." "The room was so taut I could hear the high note of tension ringing in my ears." Sorry, but these descriptions are laughable, although I don't think they were meant to be. There is a paranormal element to the story, and I dislike paranormal mysteries, so I was unpleasantly surprised by his appearance. The book did not live up to its description, and though I didn't hate it as much as the few others panned over the years, I will not be reading any others in this series. Net Galley

Middle Sister's January Reads

January 2022--the beginning of year 12 of this book blog, and what a lovely set of books that rang in the new year. 

No Stopping Us Now: The Adventures of Older Women in American History by Gail Collins Gail Collins is one of my favorite columnists in The New York Times. In this book, she addresses how women and aging have been perceived by American society. As an aging woman myself who lives history and social commentary, how could I not read this book? Ms. Collins begins with the lives of woman in the early seventeenth century, when their lives were short, hard, and likely full of medical issues But a surprising number of women found successful lives as ministers, midwives, and even authors as society changed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The pressure to be beautiful and appear young becomes more urgent even as a small number of professional opportunities arose in the twentieth century. Ms. Collins introduces the reader to many famous and should-be famous women of history, and IO enjoyed the book very much. I listened to the audiobook, and I wish Ms. Collins had read more than her prologue; I found the narrator's style sometimes annoying, The book, however, was fascinating. 

After the Funeral by Agatha Christie I listened to audiobooks while walking this month, and I was happy to find my library has acquired audiobooks of several Agatha Christie short stories. Cora thinks her brother's death was not an accident, but it's not until her murder that her suspicions are taken seriously. Hercule Poirot is hired to find out the truth. Enjoyable as all Agatha Christie stories are, and personally delightful to me to find some Hercule Poirots that I don't remember. 

The Gate of Baghdad by Agatha Christie Parker Pyne appears in several Agatha Christie short stories, and in this one, Mr. Parker Pyne his traveling in Syria when one of the passengers on the bus is murdered. As much as I love Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, I enjoy stories that rely on her other detectives like Mr. Parker Pyne or Ariadne Oliver. Another engrossing short story enjoyed as an audiobook while walking.

The House by Raelyn Drake Everyone is scared of the abandoned house at the end of Gracie's street. Part of the mystery surrounding the house is that every Halloween. candy appears on the porch for trick or treaters brave enough to venture close. Gracie and her friends decide to investigate and solve the mystery of the house be bravely spending an entire night there, alone. Wonderful, atmospheric story for young tweens, with engaging role models in Gracie and her friends, and a heartwarming mystery behind the abandoned house.

Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool by Clara Parkes Clara Parkes is well known in the fiber arts world. In Vanishing Fleece, she tells the story of her year-long adventure to turn a 676-pound bale of wool into yarn. Ms. Parkes begins at the beginning, at the merino sheep farm and the very sheep from which her wool was shorn. She documents the process that fleece undergoes and how the wool industry, once dominant in certain parts of America, has dwindled to just a few producers and a number of mills that can be counted on one hand. Wool lovers and crafters will be fascinated by the journey of the raw material, but historians will find the book a useful summary of the history of wool production in America.  

Wendy Knits Lace by Wendy D. Johnson Charming book of knit lace patterns by designer Wendy Johnson. Beautiful photos illustrate patterns for socks, shawls, and even a couple of sweaters. 

Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig Hannah Fettig is popular knit designer on Ravelry whose Featherweight Cardigan pattern has been knit 10,176 times as of this writing, so it makes sense that her popularity would lead to a publication of her patterns. Closely Knit features 32 patterns for adults, children, and the home.

Knitting Classic Style by Veronik Avery Prolific knit designer Veronik Avery has published several books of patterns. As the title implies, those published in this 2007 compilation stress classic lines for men, women, and children.

Middle Sister's August Reads

 It was a wet and rainy August... really. We had over 12 inches of rain at my house in late July and early August, and more than 15 inches elsewhere in town. So of course when it's hot and humid and rainy here, I want to visit other places in my reading travels that are not hot and humid.

Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon Guido Brunetti has quickly become one of my fictional crushes, right up there with Roderick Alleyn and Homer Kelly. The series is extremely well written and provides a wonderful, intimate view of life in Venice, Italy. However, it's the complicated twists and turns of the mystery that Ms. Leon always manages to adroitly weave together that make the series a favorite. In this novel, Guido is confronted by two seemingly unrelated issues: the deaths of two American service personnel and the robbery of several valuable paintings. Just as I was wondering how Ms. Leon could pull off solving the mysteries, she did, and I was astonished yet again by her prowess. Highly recommended (Audiobook)

Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls by Beth McMullen Absolutely delightful YA novel! We meet Abigail as she's about to be sent to a boarding school against her wishes, but once there, she makes several strong friendships. But one night, prowling around the headmistress' apartment, Abigail learns that the school is a cover for an elite spy school for children, because, as the founder said, no one pays attention to children, so they can hear and see lots of things they shouldn't. The book is very well written, with likable and well-defined characters, rollicking adventures, and a fast pace. I listened to the audiobook, and it was very well read. I already have the second book on hold at my library. Highly recommended (Audiobook)

The Big Four by Agatha Christie I'm pretty sure I've read every Agatha Christie novel. My aunt loved them and I used to borrow them from her when we spent the summers with her. However, it's been 40 years since I read some of them, and I've been enjoying re-reading her work. This is one I didn't remember at all. The Big Four is Ms. Christie dabbling in a spy thriller, and I have to confess I didn't like this one as much as her other Poirot books. Poirot tackles an international crime syndicate with global reach. The book's setting moves around as Poirot tracks down the big four, the criminal masterminds who run the organization. The book is very episodic in nature, with each section involving Poirot traveling somewhere, identifying one of the master criminals, both trying to trap the other, and a slow weaving together of their organization and Poirot's plan to defeat it. It's not a typical Christie and it may be my least favorite, but it is interesting for Christie fans to see the Grand Dame attempt to write a spy thriller. This might have been more successful with an original main character, rather than thrusting Poirot out of his country manor setting into a global conspiracy. (Audiobook)

Murder in an English Glade by Jessica Ellicott Although this series was new to me, it's the fifth in the Beryl and Edwina series. Beryl Helliwell, an American adventuress, and Edwina Davenport, a proper English gentlewoman, were schoolgirl chums who meet again after WWI and start their own private  enquiry agency. In the proper English society in which the books take place, Edwina's understanding of the social mores is helped by Beryl's forthrightness in solving crimes. In this entry, Constance Maitland hires the two to pretend to undertake an investigation to placate her cousin, Cressida, who is convinced that Constance's brother's wife is having an affair. But then the alleged adulterer is killed, and Beryl and Edwina have to go undercover while undercover to help Constable Gibbs. It's a peasant read, perfect for the summer. I admit that I had a hard time accepting the author's choice of a female constable, even though she explains away the impossibility of a woman holding that position with a blithe comment that there were simply not enough men to fill the constabulary because of the war. It was hard to accept that early 1920s English millionaires and the upper crust would recognize and cooperate Constable Gibbs as a legitimate police officer, and that one incongruity tainted my enjoyment of the book. But it's an easy read, the story is well written, and there were no huge gaffes on the author's part. Recommended. (Net Galley)

Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolten Am I the only person who hates it when people spell doughnut donut? It was a hot, very rainy month here in the desert, so naturally I wanted to read a book that takes place at Christmas in a small and very snowy Wisconsin town. This is another new series to me, the Deputy Donut series. Deputy Donuts is a doughnut shop in Fallingbrook, WI, owned by a retired police chief and his widowed daughter-in-law, Emily, our amateur detective. Fallingbrook is quite the idyllic town, where everyone is good friends who care for and watch out for each other. And it's even more Hallmarkian at Christmas, with every shop and home decorated, nearly the entire town participating in caroling and the ice festival, and it's all almost too much so for this reader to happily suspend her disbelief. But I decided not to resist the saccharine and just enjoy a small town that I'd like to live in with people I wouldn't mind being friends with. Emily and Brent, her late husband's partner, are the first to respond to a bus accident during a raging blizzard in which the driver is severely injured. Townspeople immediately open their homes to house the tourists from the bus, and they all pitch in to provide activities to amuse the unhappy stranded families, led by Emily and her team. They make doughnuts to bring to the people, they throw a doughnut-decorating party, they make doughnuts and cookies for the fire department's Christmas party--they eat a lot of doughnuts in this town. A lot. And apparently all are handmade as the book mentions them cutting the doughnuts by hand. Frankly, boutique designer doughnuts or not, I'd want an industrial doughnut machine.  Fallingbrook must be largely inhabited by retired police and firefighters, as they own the doughnut shop, the cleaning service, and seem to be everywhere. I get it; if you work in that field, you know a lot of people in that field, but they all work and hang out and marry each other--it's quite incestuous. The story is okay, although not very clever, and the hamhanded attempts to make some people mysterious and possible murderers is clumsy. Therefore, the final reveal of the murderer was a bit of a surprise as they flew under the radar of this reader. Enough of a surprise that I will overlook the unsuccessful and blatant shoving of certain characters into our fictional faces as red herrings and look for the other titles in the series. Fallingbrook may be too good to be true, even for fiction, but it's perfect for a Hallmark movie, which may be the author's ultimate goal. (Net Galley)

Scones and Bones (Tea Shop Mystery #12 ) and Devonshire Scream (Tea Shop Mystery #17) by Laura Childs (Tea Shop Mystery #12) I used to really like the tea shop mysteries. I love tea, almost obsessively, and tea shops, and mysteries, and plunk a beautiful tea shop in a beautiful city like Charleston with its history, and I'm sold. But I stopped reading the series years ago after reading Scones and Bones. After all these years, I hadn't remember which book had ticked me off. I'm on the road a lot right now, and have been going through audiobooks at a steady clip. When I saw this title, I thought I'd give the series a chance again. And I remember why I started to dislike the series so much. In Scones and Bones, Theodosia Browning's character took a turn for the worse. I think we were supposed to sympathize with her instant attraction to her friend's boyfriend Max, despite dating restauranteur Parker for several books. After all, most of us have experienced sudden chemical bursts when we meet a stranger. But Theo instantly forgot about Parker, and when they finally talk, she isn't honest with him (despite literally consoling herself by saying that she's always honest). I think we're also supposed to sympathize with her maternal desperation when Haley, her pastry chef, is kidnapped. But that desperation is no excuse fo Theo's utter disregard for her, Haley's and everyone's safety when she ignores Detective Tidwell's instructions as the police surround the house they think Haley is in to rescue her herself. But I thought maybe this was an aberration, maybe Ms. Childs was exploring new characteristics for Theo that maybe didn't pan out, so I then skipped several books to listen to Devonshire Scream. Only to find that the irritating dismissal of the professional police has now been extended by Theo to the FBI. Theo is an annoying buttinsky--she tells the police what to do, she tells the FBI what to do, she tells the Coast Guard what to do. There were a lot of annoying incidents in this book that just do not ring true: Theo's insistence that Brooke's niece's death is murder, not felonious murder as we listeners know it is (after all these crimes, she doesn't know what this is?) and that Brooke would immediately start planning the funeral within hours of the death rather than her niece's parents was very odd. Theo assumes a lot in this book: she assumes she's the only eyewitness to suspect a woman was involved in the explosion, she assumes this was an inside job, she (and Drayton) assume that they can just substitute a tea for Delaine that they she should drink rather than the one ordered (OK, this may be stretching it, but change my order at a restaurant and see what happens), that of course she can just waltz onto a yacht during a private party--the list goes on and on. I have to confess I heartily enjoyed the last chapter, when the whole scenario Theo had constructed fell down around her and she was proven to be completely wrong in her blundering investigation. And Ms. Childs, Earl Grey is a therapy dog, NOT a service dog (pet peeve of this dog trainer, therapy dog handler, and therapy dog evaluator for an international therapy dog organization), and the breed is called the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, not the King Charles Cavalier spaniel.  She clearly looked the breed up enough to be able to describe it accurately, so perhaps she could have cut and pasted the name correctly, too. I'll probably give in and read more of the series, but I predict I won't enjoy them if Theo continues on this path. (Audiobook)

Big Book of Baby Knits by Marie Claire Editions Very nice knitting book with a lovely selection of baby knits perfect for the new grandmother or aunt. Coordinating sets of tops and little sweaters, sometimes with a matching blanket or pants, are presented in order of increasingly complicated knitting techniques, from plain stockinette through to cables. The photography is lovely, and the layout very engaging and crisp. There are no little babies in my life, which I was ruing very much after reading this pattern book. Patterns are presented with written directions, occasional charts, and every pattern has a sketch to show how the pieces fit together. Charming book for avid knitters or for someone expecting a new little one. (Net Galley)

Pawmistry by Megan Lynne Knott Absolutely delightful and charming book for cat lovers, especially cat lovers with a bent for astrology. I read Ms. Knott's book as a very subtle parody of astrology and palmistry, but it's done so sincerely your horoscope-loving, cat-loving recipient might not realize that. Ms. Knott's illustrations are enchanting--I'd love a tea mug or tee shirt or tote with her images on it. Short and sweet, each page brought smiles and memories of some of my own cats, and some pages inspired loud guffaws. I know one cat-loving friend who will be getting this book for Christmas. (Net Galley)

Middle Sister's December Reads

 It's finally winter here in the desert, with long, dark, cold nights perfect for reading.

Stargazer by Anne Hillerman At this point, it's no longer necessary to say that Hillerman took over from her father's storied legacy. Her novels stand on their own now. In Stargazer, the death of an astronomer working at the Very Large Array in New Mexico, a confession by his wife--Bernie's college roommate, and the discovery of a dead baby and a nearly dead young woman cause Bernie Manuelito professional distress at a time when she is dealing with what may be the deterioration of her mother's health, professional strains on her marriage, and a crisis of confidence in herself. Extremely well written, as the entire series is, although not the hardest to solve. It didn't matter that I figured out who the murderer was about two-thirds of the way in. Hillerman's style is gripping, and her depiction of my southwest home region is spot on, down to the last detail. I really like Bernie--she's an interesting main character who is coming into her own as a police officer, which is not an easy job for a Navajo woman, while facing the uncertainties and problems in her personal life we all face. I like Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, but I can identify with Bernie a lot more on a personal level. Highly recommended. Net Galley

The Secret Ingredient Cookbook by Kelly Senyei I loved this cookbook! I love cooking, and enjoy both following recipes and tweaking them to my own likes and what I have on hand. I loved the idea of this book, where Ms. Senyei presents well known and well loved classics, but adds a secret ingredient that takes them over the top. The week I read this, I made the caramelized onion dip (I almost ate the entire dish at one go), cacio e pepe (now a regular in my dinner rotation), and the honey-roasted cauliflower and broccoli (delicious). There are at least ten other recipes on my to-be-made list for 2021. Beautiful photographs, well written recipes (many of which are easy), but I do have one complaint--there's no nutritional information provided. I've become so accustomed to checking the sodium levels that I was surprised and disappointed not to find them listed after each recipe. Otherwise, a delightful cookbook I can heartily recommend to novices and experienced cooks alike. Net Galley 

Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry This is the third in a series called the Garden Squad series, centered on a group of friends who love gardening, and in case you weren't aware, gardens are one of the deadliest places in the mystery world, so it stands to reason that gardeners would stumble upon bodies. The main character is Lilly Jayne, who at 65 is only 10 years older than me but whose attitude is entirely different to mine and the women in their early 60s with whom I'm friends (more about that later). Her partner in crime is her roommate, Delia Greenway, although other Garden Squad members and neighbors play important secondary roles. The gardeners are involved in a multi-day fall festival in their town in Massachussets, which includes a 10K race and a Halloween haunted house walk. I liked so many things about the book--the small town where everyone knows everyone else (although I hated the town name: Goosebush; maybe it's explained in the first book in the series, but I grew up back east and towns in MA don't have names like this); the autumnal setting, most of the characters (can we see more of Roddy, please?). Unfortunately, my least favorite was Lilly. Also, the author makes a big mistake int he beginning of the book that only people who used to work in my job and related industries would catch--the bodies discovered in the public park (buried with their china!) would have had to have archaeological work done because of the use of municipal funds (there are a lot of laws that cover this, beginning with the Antiquities Act of 1906). Delia submits the DNA from one of the bodies to an ancestry-type company for analysis--patently ridiculous! Where did she get the DNA and how was it extracted (these places usually utilize saliva tests, whereas DNA from archaeological sites is usually extracted from teeth or long bones, preservation allowing). And the Medical Examiner would have taken samples that were sent to the Police Lab for processing, not refused to take on the case "since the bodies were so old."Then Delia follows this with the announcement that the bodies were members of the Howland family, but no living members of the Howland family submitted DNA for comparison; we're to assume that they were on this ancestry site already because they'd taken of these kit tests, too? And why would someone running away from home take fragile china with them? Where did the information that Catherine Howland left home with her china come from? There were so few facts included in Delia's presentation of her actions and her interpretation that I wound up thinking she must not be very good at her job, whatever it is. There were also a few turns of phrases that confused me; what is an army of attention? By baskets on the back of a bike do they mean panniers? Baskets go on the front of a bike. And since this happens in the first chapter, the niggling irritation followed me through the whole book. I also hate the attitude they state forthrightly here: "I'm thinking that this case is going to get a lot of attention. Let's try to help Bash (the police) as much as possible." Because after all, we're amateurs and therefore just as competent as professional police officers. I was also really turned off when the victim's employer 1) knew his password to his laptop and 2) made Delia and administrator on his website and gave her the password. I cant imagine there are many people who are not aware that you don't share your password with anyone! None of my employers or coworkers or family know my passwords! Another key point--someone's Internet history on their computer only tells you what sites they visited, NOT whether or not they lost any money on investments (that would be in the account information, not the browser history, which is just a list of sites visited). All these mistakes were compounded by Lilly's judgmental attitude. Who cares that Cole's house exhibits what Lilly decided was a "lack of personality." It's his house, not hers. "This room feels like several historical eras vomited their worst decor, don't you think?" How rude, Lilly. And I have to say the bit about the use of the victim's telephone and locational information from it confused me. I'm not sure you can track a phone whose location sharing with you is not enabled. You can't just follow a phone when it calls--using it's GPS--unless you're the police. It sounds like I'm being picky, but when there are this many mistakes (and there are others, not noted, like when did Cole say he had a few wealthy clients to Lilly?) in what could have been a decent mystery, I get irritated. And I want to remind myself not to get sucked into reading another in the series in a year or two when I forget the author and series names. Net Galley

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie My book club's choice for this month, the first Hercule Poirot. While the character of Poirot is slightly different from his later novels (Poirot gesticulates wildly and run--runs!--in this book), it's still a great story. It had been so long since I read it, it was like a brand new book to me. And it's Poirot! Say no more! Highly recommended.

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart I heard or read a review of this book when it was published, and it went on  to the TBR list. I finally got around to listening to an audio version of it, and I'm glad I did. I was intrigued that the impetus for the novel was a real life incidence the author read about. And as a Jersey girl, and book that takes place in historical New Jersey is of interest to me. The main character, Constance, is an interesting woman, having lived such a sheltered life. Her coming to dig deep within herself to find the resources to deal with the messiness of the outside world when it intersects with hers was generally well displayed. I wish we had learned a little more about Norma, as her personality is so different from her older sister Constance. On the other hand, I found the 17-year-old Fleur very annoying and hope that she grows up and matures in the rest of the series because I wanted to smack her upside the head a few times. This first entry in the series is well written, very evocative of the time, yet has enough action to pull the reader in while entertaining and informing us about life in 1914. Highly recommended.

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.

Middle Sister's May Read

Yup, another month where I finished just one book. But it was a classic: The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. This was the second Miss Marple, and there were dramatic differences between the first two books in the series, separated by eight years. Miss Marple is almost a secondary character in Murder in the Vicarage, but by Body in the Library, there are numerous allusions to her skill as a detective. She's also much more likeable as a character. 

And Dame Agatha has evolved as a writer, no doubt influenced by the politics of the 1930s. There's a subtext of classism that is not explored, but is very explicit.

I've read all of these before, but one of my online book groups is reading all the Miss Marple books in order. It's casting a fresh light on these old favorites.

Middle Sister's February Books

February flew by in a blink, but I still managed to read some books while continuing to plow through my book club's Mark Twain selection for this month (which I will clearly not finish by the end of the month). Here's what provided some distraction from Twain:

At Home by Bill Bryson Very entertaining discourse on the different parts of the house as we know it, where they came from, how they came to be, with a few splashes of famous names like Thomas Edison and the scoundrel Samuel Pepys for good measure. I've been to the Pepys Library and hod no idea he was such a scoundrel. Naturally, the historic homes were of particular interest to me, and I was glad to hear mention of Skara Brae. Mr. Bryson is so adept at weaving what at first glance appear to be disparate threads together into a dazzling, informative, yet fun whole. This was an audiobook I listened to while gardening, and let me just say right here that I'm blaming Bill Bryson for my sore back two weekends ago. He made pulling weeds so enjoyable that I kept doing it, hour after hour after hour...

Rosemary and Crime by Gail Oust This was an ARC from NetGalley that I really, really wanted to like. The protagonist is a woman about my age, starting over after a divorce, with a teenaged daughter and a spoiled ex-husband, who opens a spice shop in a small town in Georgia. Yup, see, that was the problem--that part of the premise. Had her shop been set in a fancy strip mall, or a restored tourist attraction--then I might have bought it. But the downtown of a small town? Not buying it. The downtown of big cities and small towns alike have been deserted for decades, and are not the place to set a specialty store of this kind unless, unless, the owner was part of a larger redevelopment project. That could have introduced a whole slew of people, but nope, our shop is downtown with the bank and  used car lot. While the mystery and murder itself wasn't bad, the premise, plus Piper's inconsistent attitude towards her former mother-in-law were glaring problems. Another gripe--I'm not sure the author is a chef or a spice expert. Those that she mentions and the recipes she discusses are all generic and standard (chili, lamb) and didn't convey that Piper or her shop would offer me the reader anything I couldn't find in a cooking magazine. I did find Piper's relationship with her daughter to be realistic and understandable, and very well portrayed. But really, Piper should have let her ex-husband find his gorgeous home trashed by drunken teenagers and cleaned it up himself--Piper cleaning it all up before telling him about the drunken prom escapade meant any lesson learned by Dad was going to go in one ear and out the other, which makes me ponder her character. Probably not recommended except to diehard genre fans.

Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie Another book group read. While I've read all of Christie's novels, I haven't read her short stories, so this CD of stories narrated by Joan Hickson (the perfect Miss Marple), Anna Massey, and Isla Blair was fun to listen to. All except the creepy The Dressmaker's Doll. Creepy dolls are as creepy as creepy clowns and I don't like them. Perhaps Dame Agatha was trying her hand at a different genre with this short story--there was no mystery, no murder, just a creepy doll. Still, it's Dame Agatha...

The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayle I have enjoyed Mr. Mayle's nonfiction but had steered clear of his fiction up till now. I should have kept steering away. I wasn't terribly impressed. Beautiful people, all wealthy, all gorgeous, and rivals over a local development in the south of France sounds like perfect light summer reading, but it left me wanting much, much more. I hate perfectly gorgeous people in perfectly wonderful relationships--they never seem real. Elena in particular was very flat and one dimensional; she's a high-powered executive in an international insurance firm yet she acts like a high school tween when she meets Mimi or Fifi or whatever the journalist's girlfriend's name was. Francis Raboul is a self-made multi-billionaire, yet he didn't write a prospectus for the presentation to the development committee until Sam suggested it just days before the presentation? How did he make those billions? The descriptions of local French food were the best part of the book, and that's pretty pathetic in what was supposed to be a funny, fast-paced romp through the south of France, with menacing thugs, attempts to disrupt large real estate developments, and kidnapping. Just re-read a Year in Provence instead of this; it's much, much better.

Two out of four--not bad, I guess.