Middle Sister's August Reads

Summertime, and the reading is easy.... Because our unseasonably hot temperatures continued for most of August, I escaped to one of my favorite places, libraries, this month, and started reading some of many holiday mysteries that start appearing now. 

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library (Lakeside Library Book 3) by Holly Danvers I had not read either of the first two books in this series, but lakeside seemed like a great place to be in our summer heat, and this book tied in to the recent theme of Midwestern mysteries of a few months ago. Rain Wilmot has found Lofty Pines, Wisconsin, and the Lakeside Library the perfect balm to recover from her tragic past, and as summer gets underway, she's ready to move on with her life, including, perhaps, romance. One of the new activities she's excited about is the new book club the library is sponsoring and which she is hosting in her home. No one expects one of the book club attendees to be murdered, and in a manner shockingly similar to the first book the group is reading. Rain and her best friend, Julia, begin their own investigation, despite the warnings of Julia's brother, Jace, a policeman working the case. And despite Rain and Jace'sgrowing attraction to each other. My verdict: meh. Rain and Julia are investigating for no good reason other than curiosity, they contaminate the murder scene  by walking around it (potentially jeopardizing any court case, I would think, or at the very least, compromising the investigation and potentially leaving evidence at the scene). When Rain and Jace's relationship heats up, and he says"Don't ever lie to me again. Do you understand?... Can you promise me that?" she does, and then immediately lies to him. I left a note to myself that I wished he dump her when he found out she lied to him after promising not to do that, but it's a romantic mystery, so naturally he doesn't. And she convinces Julia to lie to her brother to keep their investigation and what they think they've discovered to themselves. They uncover a crucial bit of evidence and keep that from the police. There is a weird instance with a boat owner being friendly and leaving them alone to snoop around his boat for no reason (would anyone do that?), but then the boat owner does a 360-degree about face in his behavior for no reason. At first I thought midwesterners were too nice and naive, then I thought they were too weird, and then I decided the author was at fault. The book was mediocre; it's squeaky clean, but everybody seems to punch each other in the arm (Rain and Jace do that, something I can see a 13-year-old boy doing to a girl her likes, but not a grown man), Rain and Julia slap and tap and punch each other, Julia and her husband do this--I started tracking how many times characters do this to each other because it was that common. If I were a drinking game kind of person, this would be a great action to track, but you'd be drunk by the middle of the book. All in all, I found the mystery a little too uninteresting, the relationships a little too juvenile, the writing a little too inconsistent. It's not bad, it's just not good. And not promising enough that I'll read any more in the series. (Net Galley)

Murder Checks Out (A Blue Ridge Library Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert This begins a multi-month theme of holiday mysteries, and because it's been a blast furnace of a summer, I'm starting with a Christmas mystery. I've read two in this series, and I thought I'd missed quite a few books until I checked. The last I read ended with Amy and Richard's wedding. In this book, published just a couple of years after that one, Amy an d Richard have 5-year-old twins. The author is not letting these characters age naturally, and I expect the twins to be dating and driving cars within a book or two, at this pace. They are unnaturally articulate and read as much older than they're supposed to be, and I found that disconcerting. It's Christmastime, and while Richard and the twins are busy preparing for The Nutcracker Suite, Amy is busy dealing with her mother-in-law, who has decided to spend Christmas with them. That stress is compounded by the murder of a real estate developer, and the main suspect is Amy's brother's husband, Ethan. I love how matter of factly this series deals with the gay couple; they're just family, and none of the characters make any deal about it. Amy's involvement in the investigation is handled much more deftly, and there is none of the insulting and arrogant behavior Rain in the abovementioned book exhibited: Amy tells the sheriff about what clues or gossip she hears. She's part of the investigation but not at the expense of making the professionals appear stupid and incapable, and I hate the mystery writers do that. Disconcerting twins aside, this is a far more pleasant series, and I think I need to catch up with this series. (Net Galley)

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson The explosive popularity of Marie Kondo's decluttering book meant that publishers immediately jumped on the decluttering book bandwagon. This short book is an interesting take on the concept, since it's basic premise is "You don't want to leave a messy house for your children to have to clean up after you die." So Margareta introduces the rest of the world to the Swedish idea of cleaning and decluttering your house as you approach the end of your life. It's a very practical concept a lot of Americans, as terrified of death as we culturally seem to be, what with our incessant worship of, and mad pursuit of, youth, youth culture, and staying young forever. But anyone who has had to clean out a parent's home will recognize the wisdom in her approach to appreciating minimalism as we age, and of making decisions to give away, donate, or throw away the many things we all acquire over a lifetime. 

The Vintage Knitting Book, by Future Publishing Collection of vintage-inspired knitting patterns from the 1930s through the 1980s, both large and small, and sure to please vintage fashionistas and knitters wanting to incorporate vintage-inspired projects into their wardrobe.

Murder in the Museum by (Fethering Mystery #4) Simon Brett I enjoy the Fethering mystery series a lot. Mr. Brett has created two very opposite characters in Carol and Jude. Fussy Carol, not particularly likable, and earth mother Jude, eminently likable. Next door neighbors, they have become unlikely good friends. They share parts of their lives (and murder investigations) with each other, but there remain parts that they don't share, and to which the reader is witness, that seems to this reader to be important. Carol is frustrated by not being privy to every part of Jude's life and past, but this is part of what the reader recognizes as a general unhappiness with her own life. And it makes the reader understand Carol even if we don't necessarily like her. In this book, Carol has been invited to be on the Board of Directors of a small museum devoted to the life of a post-World War 1 poet, and what should have been just a minor commitment becomes something else when an old skeleton is u earthed in the garden. When a modern murder occurs, Carol and Jude discover links between the two, and this discovery puts Carol's life in danger. This is an excellent series I recommend. (Audio book)

Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish MacBeth #34) by M.C. Beaton It's a little wearisome by now--Hamish falls in love at the drop of a hat. But this time, she falls in love with him, and wedding bells are in Hamish's future. I liked this change for Hamish, and I'm glad we finally got to hear why he broke his engagement to Priscilla off all those years ago. The revelation makes me wonder why Hamish has spent 33 books pining after her, though. Anyway, I found this to be one of the better entries in the series, satisfying in both the murder mystery and character development. Even if you've tired of the basic formula of a Hamish MacBeth mystery, I think you will find this book a fast, enjoyable read. (Audio book)

Myths and Mysteries of Archaeology by Susan Johnston Recorded lecture series from a class on archaeological frauds from about 10 years ago. I used to TA a class very similar to this in the 1990s, so I enjoyed the first half of the book, where she deals with common questions asked of archaeologists (what about Piltdown Man? What about Atlantis? etc.), but I disliked the chapter on ESP. Archaeologists deal with material culture, and there is no material culture associated with ESP. What was a competent treatise on frauds or misunderstandings perpetrated by popular culture (Erich von Daniken) took a wrong turn here, and the book didn't recover from it. (Audio book)

Learning the Birds by Susan Fox Rogers I read this book last year, but a search of this blog indicates that I never reviewed it. As a middle-aged female birder, I was naturally interested in a book by a woman who takes up birding in her middle age. But instead of just coming to greater appreciation of nature and of life, instead of working through life's inevitable disappointments, instead of growing, Ms. Rogers substituted an obsession for birding for what were probably unhealthy obsessions in the rest of her life. She falls into a relationship with a man with whom she shares nothing but birding. She obsessively birds, even to the point of faking fishing in order to get a fishing license to go birding on a reservoir, an action (and an attitude) that would have been anathema to the birding community. She compares her binoculars, bought at the Audubon shop in Tucson (where I've shopped myself) to the very expensive binoculars Peter, her new boyfriend, was using, and immediately decided that costlier must be better (chalk up another win for marketing and advertising making us feel bad and inadequate). And then, she recounts when she and Peter try to lure a bird (generally forbidden in birding circles); they go out for long jaunts without food and water (???). At one point, I realized that Peter has no life either (having tragedy in his past that he used birding to avoid coming to terms with), so in one sense, they deserved each other. I found neither of them particularly likable, but Ms. Rogers more so. I wanted to like the book. Ms. Rogers lived here in Tucson for a while, and she mentions local places, like the Audubon shop and the Santa Rita Mountains and Whitewater Draw, places where I have been, places where I have birded. But I didn't. It's self-indulgent, a sad revelation of a life spent lurching from one obsession to another, of someone dissatisfied with life and unwilling to face why that really is. (Net Galley)

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 November Reads

Happy autumn! it is finally fall here in the desert. The days are shortening, the temperature is dropping (okay, only at night, but it's in the 70s Fahrenheit during the day and it's perfect), and as the humidity dissipates after the summer rains, the mountains re-appear, sharp and jagged. This is perfect weather for two of my favorite activities: hiking and reading. This month I looked into a few new and recent mystery series' first novels.

Well Offed in Vermont by Amy Patricia Reade I was attracted by the cover: a beautiful autumnal scene, with yellow, orange, and red leaves swirling around a stone well, and an old, clapboard home in the back. Shades of where I'd like to retire. Perfect for the season. So I settled in with some hot cocoa. I was put off by typos in the first chapter, and was really put off buy the main characters shortly thereafter. Bella and Nick have left New York City to move to Vermont for Nick's new dream job with the Forest Service, and after years of apartment living, they have bought a beautiful old house. I liked the opening: Stella's misgivings about moving somewhere so different from where she's always lived are furthered when she finds out on the drive up that she did not get the new job she had applied for. Before they even start to unpack, they find a murdered man in their house. The plot twist that they cannot return to the scene of the crime and literally have just the clothes on their backs and nowhere to stay was a good one, and could have been played a bit more for laughs (or at least, I would have). But the basic premise--that they're going to solve this murder because they are bored and don't want to wait for the sheriff to do his job--annoyed me; I don't care if her father was a cop--investigative smarts are not genetic. Stella is our main protagonist, and the fish out of water trope is a good one; that's why it's so popular. But Stella isn't just a fish out of water--she's a fish who thinks she's superior to her new pond and barely hides it, if at all. We're not given any insight in her emotional state to see if this is just part of her reaction to all the stress; it comes across as just her personality. She and Nick practically insult their new neighbors during many of their conversations. They are both underdeveloped characters with some annoying character traits.  She thinks she's always right and smarter than anyone; he's yodeling and cavorting like a middle schooler when he thinks he's solved the murder, crowing about how he's "number one!" She's highly insulted that the sheriff suggested she get a hand knit sweater (has she seen any of the gorgeous hand knit sweaters on Ravelry?) yet her hobby of choice is cross stitch and every time she sits down in the hunting cabin, she starts stitching. I'd argue cross stitch is a lot more old-fashioned, unpopular, and non-trendy a hobby than knitting. The writing and situations are often quite juvenile; for example, in Chapter 13, when, during a conversation with suspect Jake Brunelle, Stella and Jake discuss whether Nick was flirting with Jake's wife Betsy and Stella agrees, setting her husband, who is right there, up to be punched by Jake. The dialogue is like a bad rom com movie, and actually, a lot of the interactions can be read as a the author trying to write a Hallmark mystery television rom com with a dash of mystery. This is the first in a new series, but I doubt I'll read any more. I probably would be able to overlook everything I just wrote, knowing that some authors often need a book or two to hit their stride. But in Chapter 17, Stella says "Don't mind my husband; he's being tested for Tourette's." What? How insulting! How did that get past an editor? I had a friend with Tourette's and this blatant rude and disrespectful comment really angered me. Because of that insult, I won't recommend this book. Those who like clean mysteries--no cussing, no sex, no gore--will enjoy it and may find the married couple repartee amusing. I didn't. Ms. Reade should read some Nick and Nora Charles or Mr. and Mrs. North mysteries if she wants to create a flirtatious, charming married couple and not the prom king and queen solving a murder. (Net Galley)

This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber The success of the Charles Todd mysteries (Caroline Todd died just a week ago; what a loss to the genre!) spurned a mini-genre explosion of World War I-themed mystery series. Their Ian Rutledge series is excellent, as is the Maisie Dobbs series. This new Verity Kent series begins, like those, after the war is over. The societal upheavals, the family dramas with shattered men returning from the front, and the end of the Edwardian gilded age are all part of the book. Verity is a young widow whose husband died during battle. She's invited to attend the engagement party of his best childhood friend on a remote island, and the reader knows immediately that we're in for a good country house murder. Verity is surprised and confused when all the attendees turn out to have been connected with a tragic desertion case her husband was involved with in France just before his death. As the weekend party continues, it becomes apparent that there are secrets swirling around the desertion case, and  after she discovers a murder victim, Verity has to figure out what happened in France as well as what is happening then and there. Of course, there's a terrible storm and they are out off from the mainland, the electricity goes out, and Verity needs to identify the murderer before she's the next victim. I enjoyed the novel a lot, although there was a lot f jargon that the author tried to use to set the stage in the early 1920s that even this devotee of historical mysteries and old movies didn't recognize. For example, Tom is described as a dark,but when I looked it up, the Internet told me that is an American English word and not British slang. I'm still not sure how I feel about the main plot twist, and it would be giving away too much to discuss how that affected my impression of the book. But, the book is well written, the characters were nicely fleshed out, and I felt that I understood Verity and her actions much more than Stella in the previous book, because Ms. Huber dove into her emotional and psychological reactions. I recommend the book to those who like historical mysteries or English mysteries. (Net Galley)

Death of a Nurse by M.C. Beaton This is the 31st entry in the Hamish MacBeth series. While some books have been better than others, overall, Ms. Beaton maintained quality across the entire series. Death of a Nurse is one of the last Hamish MacBeth mysteries she wrote, and it's a pretty strong entry. Hamish, who always falls for a pretty face, this time is smitten by a private nurse working for the curmudgeonly Mr. Harrison. Of course, he's disappointed in love, again, when Gloria stands him up, and Hamish is moping and dour until her body is found. Hamish and Charlie find themselves working with Inspector Fiona Herring. Tough, no-nonsense Inspector Herring is an able match for Detective Chief Inspector Blair, and some of the most delightful passages in the book are the classes between these two. Of course, things get complicated pretty quickly, and only Hamish can connect the dots and solve the mystery in his own inimitable, quirky way. This is a great entry in the series, quite possibly because Priscilla, the object of Hamish's desire, is hardly in it, although she and her latest fiancé make several appearances. Ms. Beaton died in 2019, but luckily there are still quite a few Hamish stories I've not read. I never tire of visiting Hamish, and Lochdubh and all its eccentric villagers. Hamish is an acquired taste, but I recommend him to those that like a little silliness or comedy with their mysteries.

The Whole Art of Detection by Lyndsay Faye Sherlock Holmes has spawned a whole subgenre of books starring the detective, some good (Laurie R. King), others not so good. I'd put Lyndsay Faye's book in the good column. The Whole Art of Detection is a compilation of short stories featuring Sherlock and John Watson at various points in their careers, including some that take place very early in Holmes' consulting detective business. Overall, I'd say Ms. Faye did a great job capturing Watson, the adult Sherlock, and the time and place (London, late Victorian period), although her young Sherlock seems a little off to me. But trying to imagine a young Sherlock is a pretty daunting task, and she's created a reasonable possibility. The short stories are worthy of Conan Doyle himself. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes as well as historical mysteries fans. 

The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox I am a big fan of Ms, Fox's writing and her choice of nonfiction topics, and The Riddle of the Labyrinth doesn't disappoint those of us who love her eclectic choices. It focuses on the decipherment of Linear B, one of the oldest written languages in the world. Linear B, associated with the ruins on Crete, bewildered archaeologists, linguists, and historians for decades after the first inscriptions were excavated. Ms. Fox focuses her book not he's tory of the three people who were instrumental in the story of Linear B: Arthur Evans, the archaeologist who discovered the first Linear B inscriptions; Michael Ventris, who eventually completed the decipherment of Linear B; and most importantly for history and the reader, Alice Kober, a little known classicist in Brooklyn whose breakthroughs in decipherment, made after decades of study, laid the foundation for Ventris' success. Ms. Kober's part in the process and history had been overlooked or forgotten. Ms. Fox restores her and her contributions to the scholarly world. An excellent read.

Middle Sister's May Reads

Somehow, May get past me, but I found time to read some great books from different genres--mystery, autobiography, nature, children's fiction. Because all books are good! It was a very good month to read.

A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough I have had a huge crush on David Attenborough for decades, so I really wanted to read his autobiography. Then, when I saw it listed on my library's audiobook list, and it was read by the author---! Well, that settled it. I loved the way the chapters were set up--each begins with information on the date and therefore how many of his years had passed, and the amount of wild space left. How depressing to realize how quickly the amount of wild land has diminished, within just one person's lifespan. The changes that have happened to various locales that Mr. Attenborough has visited and documented in his amazing career had me nearly in tears for the whole first third of the book. While he is cautiously hopeful in the last chapters, when he reports on measures we must take right now to stop the trend to wholesale destruction of our lovely blue home, I am less so. Please read this book. PLEASE. We all should, and we all should immediately set to work to reverse some of the horrible damage we have done to our planet and the living creatures with whom we share it.  Amazing read, highly recommended, one of the best books I've ever read.

Death of a Ghost by M. C. Beaton Hamish Macbeth is on the trail of a ghost in this 2017 entry in the popular series. Except that instead of a ghost, he finds a dead body--naturally--and has to solve it in his usual low key style while not attracting undue attention to himself. I wasn't disappointed in the mystery, but my heart was breaking over Sonsie, who needs to be reunited with Hamish. And while I was happy to see Elspeth back in the picture as Hamish's romantic liaison, I was not happy with the turn Inspector Blair's character has taken. Bumbling, jealous of and therefore harboring a slight hatred for Hamish is one thing; become a murderous villain is another. I didn't enjoy this trip to Scotland nearly as much as the other Hamish mysteries.

Greenglass House  by Kate Milford The first in a YA series about remote hotel that caters to smuggler, Greenglass House is exactly the kind of book I loved as a tween (and as middle-aged person, too). The book is written from the perspective of Milo, who is just starting to experience a longing to find out who his biological parents were. I loved Milo's parents, and I loved how supportive and understanding of him they were. All kids feel like outsiders, like they are different, and Milo's emotions will be recognized by everyone. It's Christmas at the inn, normally a very slow time, and when several people show up, one right after the other, during a snowstorm, it becomes clear to Milo that they weren't just seeking shelter, but something else. Milo and his friend Meddy are determined to find whatever it is they all seek, first. I loved this book, and yes, the surprise ending took me by surprise, too. It's well written, with well developed characters, a great premise, and a superb atmosphere. I want to visit Greenglass House. Highly recommended for tweens and all lovers of good books, no matter their age

Middle Sister's November Reads

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

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

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

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

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

Middle Sister's Fall Reads

The past few months have gone by in a blur because of all kinds of personal chaos, but I did get some reading in to keep my sanity. Forthwith is a single post for the books read this fall, and yes, gentle readers, it is a small list, but in my defense, I was also trying to make a dent in a huge pile of magazines, including a literary magazine chock full of books I want to read.

The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout  In case it hasn't been clear the past two years, I've been trying to read or listen to as many Nero Wolfe mysteries as I can. In this title, Wolfe and Archie tangle with the FBI and the NYPD; guess who will win? More topical than some of the Wolfe mysteries, and very resonant today, despite the 1965 original publication date. Perhaps not my favorite Nero Wolfe,

The Dancing Floor by Barbara Michaels  I love Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, love, love, love. My great regret is she died before I could meet her. They are top notch entertainment in my book--just enough mystery with just enough romance, and in the case of Amelia Peabody novels accurate historical detail and laugh-out-loud funny. I'm pretty sure I've read them all, but I don't mind re-reading ones I haven't read in a while. The plot to The Dancing Floor didn't sound familiar, so I took it out from my library. It didn't engage me the way a Barbara Michaels usually does, so I wondered if this was a very early book in her repertoire. It isn't, published in 1997, but it's not as good as others. I thought the way she incorporated Heather Tradescant, our plucky heroine, into the Karim family was a little too easy and unbelievable, even for someone like me, who happily suspends rational thought for a ripping good book. Barbara Rosenblatt's reading of this audiobook was as a good as I had heard she was.  The Wiccan culture at the center of the mystery made this a great Halloween read. Not her best, but still very enjoyable.

Death of a Witch by M. C. Beaton Another fun visit to Lochdubh! I love the Hamish MacBeth series, and recently re-watched the television series just to spend more time with the quirky Highlanders and the beautiful scenario. In Death of a Witch (Halloween theme continued), a newcomer upsets the entire community with her herbal medicines, and Hamish manages to solve the murder, smooth the ruffled feathers of everyone in Lochdubh, and even engage in a passing romance with Leslie from forensics. The romance was typically Hamish-funny, with Leslie's disinterest in him until she realized Hamish is smarter than he acts pretty accurate as to how most of us feel about Hamish. I thought this was one of the more amusing of the Hamish stories, because so many of the eccentric community were embroiled with the mystery and I love it when they stymie Hamish.

The Bat  by Jo Nesbro  Scandinavian noir has been very popular in the mystery world for several years, but giventheir grimmer, grimier nature, I've resisted it. However, my library's acquisition of a audiobook of the first Harry Hole mystery was too much to resist. I enjoyed first half of the novel, even if it didn't take place in Norway. I overlooked the sometimes television-script-like dialogue between Andrew and Harry. I liked the burgeoning relationship between Birgitte and Harry. I especially liked the shock of the second murder, which threw some genre expectations out the window.  The first and third thirds were great, fast-paced and attention grabbing. Hated the middle third when Harry, understandably upset after the second murder, tossed his hard-won sobriety (which had garnered a lot of sympathy from me) and the joy (existence?) of his new romance for a week of drunken excess and one night stands. This was trite and cliched and evaporated my sympathy for Harry, despite the rest of the story and its effects on him. I have read that this was not Nesbro's best effort; perhaps I should've followed my usual routine of starting with a later title in along series to allow for the author to learn their craft and their character better.

The Division Bell Mystery by Ellen Wilkinson I love the British Library Crime Classics imprint, and this is latest title from that series I've read. It's a great locked room mystery that reads as only slightly dated, despite dating to 1932. Further enjoyable since the portrayal of the politicians shows some of them to be just as inept and out of touch as to have been pulled from today's headlines. We can enjoy that ineptness more because it's fictional. Wilkinson served in Parliament, so her insight into the inner workings of that political body are fascinating. I can only hope that this just demonstrates that 85 years later, things have changed and yet some things have remained the same, which may mean peril can be averted.

The Body by Bill Bryson Bill Bryson and a deep dive into human physiology and bodily functions--perfection. One of my favorite books of the year!

Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Xarissa You know how I love cosy mysteries located in unusual or exotic (to me) locations with an overarching, country-home-murder vibe. So naturally when I stumbled upon a series called the Isle of Man mysteries, I had to give it a try. The writing was okay, the setting was described well, the mystery was obvious and could have used a few more suspects, but the main drawback to reading another in this series is Aunt Bessie herself. She's so self righteous and almost intolerant of anyone who does things differently than she. I like a curmudgeon, and I'm on my way to being an old spinster lady myself, but that doesn't mean I have to be a silver seniors version of a mean girl in high school. And yet she's supposed to be so beloved by everyone on the island that they call her Aunt Bessie and tell her everything? I also was floored at the end when a policeman on a stakeout left to go grocery shopping, especially as this took place immediately after an attempt on the life of the person whose home was being staked out, the eponymous Aunt Bessie?
And the other policeman watched  through a window as Aunt Bessie nearly get killed "to see what the killer would do?" Generally I don't include spoilers, but I had to here to underscore why I found it hard to enjoy the book, despite liking some of the secondary characters and wanting to read and 'see' more of the Isle of Man.

Middle Sister's June Reads

It is hot in the desert, so during these dog days of summer, naturally, one of my July books had to have a dog or a cat involved.

Picks and Chews by Linda O. Johnston Cute idea but with a little too much scattered behavior that read as unreal. I could totally buy Carrie working only part time as a vet tech, as most of the techs at my vet work part time (with a couple of full timers) and a couple work for two different hospitals so they can have full time work. I didn't buy her working part time as a vet tech and running not one but two bakery businesses on the side. Despite being told that she arose early to go get the baking done before the people and dog bakeries open, I just was incredulous that Carrie was falling asleep behind the wheel of her car or over dinner with her hunky vet boyfriend--and I found that perfection a little irritating.  I've always worked at least two jobs and I'm tired all the time; c'mon, Carrie, admit you're tired, we get it, we will like you more for your confession. I loved some of the secondary characters, but thought the portrayal of Raela was a little over the top. As a long time volunteer with several dog-related and other charities, the community outpouring of support at the fundraisers was a little too unrealistic and again, too perfect. But it's an easy summer read, with generally genial characters, and what more can a reader ask when the temperatures are in the triple digits? (NetGalley)

The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan I had read a Penny Brannigan mystery before and enjoyed everything about it--the setting (a small hamlet in Wales), the protagonist (Penny, a middle-aged salon owner who is effortlessly elegant), and the plot, so was eager to visit the series again. Penny was a little more irritating this time in her perfection (geez, it must be the heat, or maybe authors think readers don't want a main character whose hair is sometimes a mess and who runs out without makeup on because she overslept?). A couple of the supporting characters were also a bit more irritating (Mrs. Lloyd is one), but the overall tone had remained the same. This brief glimpse into a Welsh agricultural show will be familiar to anyone who has been to a county fair, and the jealousies surrounding who wins and who doesn't are all too familiar. Kudos to the author for inserting a twist in the form of the return of a former resident who is not quite the person who left. I would have enjoyed that plot twist a little more if there had been at least one negative response to the circumstances surrounding the return of the native, as everything was a little too utopian and politically correct, but that's a pretty minor quibble. All in all, another easy summer read with pleasant characters and, yes, a black labrador retriever. (Net Galley)

Hiss and Hers by M.C. Beaton I've never even tried to keep up with M.C. Beaton's series--just too prolific an author. But watching the Acorn TC Agatha Raisin series 1 on television made me want to catch up with Agatha, and I grabbed this recent title. Aggie's come a long way since I last visited with her: a marriage and divorce, and starting up a private detective agency. I wasn't overly impressed with Agatha the professional, to be honest, and thought the wider supporting cast, while accomplishing the task of giving us some likable main characters to sympathize with (I know one person who cannot stand Agatha Raisin one bit and refuses to read the series), diffuses the action, and at times I can see where there might be too many cooks and not enough Bill Wong. (audiobook)

My book group selection for May and June was Waverly by Sir Walter Scott. I have enjoyed several of his books, but have to admit that I got no further than halfway through this very long novel. While I did like Edward Waverly and his adventures enough, the book is just too long with too much thick description, dialogue written in early 19th century Gaelic, and entire French paragraphs that I cannot translate for this heat. Sorry, group; I may keep plugging away at this for the rest of the year as I am learning a lot about the Jacobite rebellion.

Middle Sister's Spring Reads

Yikes, I have gotten so lazy about updating monthly. Perhaps because my reading has slowed down a little. But here are my reviews of what I've read this spring:

Victoria by Julia Baird A new biography of Queen Victoria, meticulously footnoted and referenced. I actually read the NetGalley ARC, which didn't have illustrations, so I hope the final print has a few photos and drawings of places and people. Victoria as a child and an elderly lady was very well conceptualized, but the largest part of her life, after the death of her husband, less so. However, Ms. Baird included some new (to me, at least) information about the death and burial of Queen Victoria that made the last chapter especially poignant and allowed me to feel some pity for a woman for whom, frankly, I hadn't felt that much sympathy for, other than normal sympathy at the loss of her family members. Recommended (NetGalley)

The Copenhagen Collection by Barbara Michaels One of my favorite authors, and the only one I wish I had met. This is an older title which I read many years ago, but an audio version was new to my library, so what better to listen to while gardening and cleaning and cooking? Like all good books, it didn't sound dated at all, despite the lack of cell phones, the internet, and other technologies that modern authors rely on to get their characters out of fixes that their writing has gotten them into but can't get them out. And how prescient--one of the main characters, Margaret, is an older woman who dyed her hair green, and later, purple. Very 2017!

Die, Die, Birdie by J. R. Ripley  I wanted to like this book, I really did. I'm the world's worst birder, but I like birds. I worked retail for years, and love it, and totally sympathize with the small business owner. And I empathize with a self-deprecating character. But one repeated refrain that main character, Amy, said over and over, was my opinion of the book--"so high school." The characters acted immaturely, the situations were immature (I don't think you can buy a house without an inspection, legally, can you?), and how the heck did she get the rolling pin to defend herself at the end of the book? She leaves her bedroom to explore the attic and never is it mentioned that she sped to the kitchen to get herself a weapon. And what murderer hauls a body to the attic to hide it rather than in the basement for easier disposal, especially in a building that has two inhabitants and a store on the first floor, so  lots of potential witnesses, which would make body hauling loud and difficult? Not an awful way to spend a spring afternoon, but not really worth the effort. (NetGalley)

The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Algernon Blackwood I've actually had time to read two of my book club's selections--yea, they won't kick me out. This was a fantastic selection of short stories that were spine-tingling and riveting. Except for some anti-Semitism in one short story, and it was difficult to tell if that was the character's failing or a failing espoused by the author, I heartily recommend this to anyone looking for a good, old-fashioned, creepy, late night read. A great book for Halloween.

Maria Edgworth by Helen Zimmern Last year I suggested my book club read Helen by Edgworth--and then I myself never read it because it was our November/December book, and I was just starting my new job, and life was hectic, and I felt guilty. Se when we decided that 2017 would start with a biography of the reader's choice, I read this biography, along with several other book group members. Surprisingly critical (one thinks all biographers from one hundred years ago were all completely noncritical of their subjects), but Helen was written very late in Edgworth's life and so was mentioned only in passing. I still have Helen on my Kindle and will read it one day. Really.

The Book Club Murders by Leslie Nagel Fairly good mystery that revolves around a book club and utilizes actual titles. Moves at a pretty good pace, and most of the character were likable. I'd give this a solid B. (NetGalley)

A Right to Die by Rex Stout It's Nero Wolfe, so there's not much to object to. In this outing, an interracial couple is at the heart of the mystery. I really would like to read all the Rex Stouts in chronological order, but hopscotching through the series is just fine. And I recently started growing y first orchid.

Death of a Chimney Sweep by M. C. Beaton Not, in my opinion, the best Hamish MacBeth story in the series, but it's always fun to visit the Scottish highlands for a little while. Too many coincidences, but I loved how every single one of the evil perpetrators got their comeuppance in this book. A much-needed reminder that those who play dirty will pay dearly for it.

And one Avoid:
Cat Got Your Diamonds: A Kitty Couture Mystery by Julie Chase I expected silly; I was in the mood for silly. And another small business retail setting, so I thought I'd enjoy it. Reader--beware! Bad! Stay away! I barely made it into Chapter 3 and already had at least 12 notes objecting to various passages on my Kindle: word choices were poor or didn't make sense in the context of the sentences, situations were just too outlandish, and they seemed to live way beyond a vet's salary. The last straw was Imogene, who had been the nanny and surrogate mother, missing out on a family dinner to--clean dishes? What? Veiled racism is how I read this. And you know, gentle readers, how much I hate when the amateur detective disparages the police officer and acts superior. But I tried, until the third chapter, when someone asked what kind of party needs a pet caterer, and she responded " 'All kinds, really. Birthdays, weddings, holidays, Bar Mitzvahs. Any event where your pet is the star or where your loved ones will have their pets with them.' He shook his head. 'That's crazy.' " And I agreed and left.

Middle Sister's April 2013 Books

Despite a crazy work schedule and a writing assignment and final exams to grade, I did manage to get four books read this month.

• Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black The latest in the Aimee Leduc mystery series set in Paris. These are not cosies, with grim stories and gory murders. This one is no different, except that we get to spend a lot of time listening in to Aimee as she struggles with finding out more about her mother while trying to solve the murder of an elderly gentleman whose Modigliani painting has vanished. Was I surprised by who her mother was? No. Did I enjoy the murder and mystery? Partly. Grim murders always depress me, but I enjoy art mysteries, and despite the Lenin-Modigliani connection (I have no idea if such a connection ever existed, but Black creates a realistic connection between the two), I enjoyed this one. Did I enjoy the last page? No. Most definitely not. I don't want to ruin the book for any who might pick it up, but not being a fan of long story arcs and fictional soap operas, the last page ruined an otherwise engrossing book for me. (NetGalley ARC on my Kindle)
• Death of a Kingfisher by M. C. Beaton Count me among those who will confess to a slight fictional crush on Hamish MacBeth. And while I haven't read all 27 books that preceded this one, you don't have to in order to enjoy these cosy police procedurals (now there's a contradiction in terms) set in a tiny town in Scotland. The murdered bodies were strewn about and quite numerous in this one, and Ms. Beaton is not afraid to let bad children be bad. A visit to Lochdubh is always a pleasant excursion. Well, as long as you're not one of the victims. Two of my favorite in one book--mysteries and birding--of course I enjoyed it. (Audiobook)
• Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley Yes, I wish I were Flavia de Luce, all grown up. This is the latest in the erudite series starring a chemistry-loving pre-teen English girl, her older sisters (they don't get along) and widowed father (very eccentric), living in a rambling old mansion in 1950s England. This may be the best mystery series to have been published in the past 10 years. Even if you didn't love Nancy Drew as a child (Flavia is no Nancy Drew, trust me), or cosy mysteries, you cannot help but enjoy a series that is so well-written, so finely drawn, so, well, smart. You'll learn a little bit about chemistry, too. Who wouldn't enjoy, sure as shandygaff, the rollicking good time a book with Flavia ensures? (NetGalley ARC on my Kindle)
• Brush with Death by Karen MacInerney The latest in the Gray Whale Inn mystery series. As usual, Ms. MacInerney's physical descriptions are wonderful--the winter snow and ice numbing the bones, the sparkling clothes worn by one regular character, all are well written and draw the reader in. And she's not afraid to kill off a recurring character, which is refreshing (albeit sad). But my enjoyment of a pleasant-enough story was marred by the terrible Kindle formatting and even worse editing. Missing quotation marks and hyphens, and spaces inserted where they don't belong, pale beside egregious errors like a secondary character whose name changes (Zelda is called Vivian, and it's not a mistake on the part of the speaker); Natalie muses how glad she is she made a spare lasagna the month before that she can serve surprise guests, and the next page muses how glad she is she made a spare lasagna the week before. I've not noticed Midnight Ink Press having this many obvious errors in any of the other books they've published, but when someone who's just reading for fun and escape (like me) notices the mistakes, they have to be prolific and obvious. (NetGalley ARC on my Kindle)

Middle Sister's June Reads

I was able to read a lot this month, for several reasons: a longish plane trip, which gave me a good 7-9 hours of solid reading time each way; the deliberate decision to back off some of the mindless television I was watching and read on my new toy (Fred the Kindle); and knowing that come July, I need to concentrate on revamping my lecture notes for the class I'm teaching in the fall, which will cut into evening reading time. Besides, several were short stories that took no time at all to read, so the time investment is not as great as it might appear from the length of the list. So, here go my books and impressions:

• Death of a Valentine, by M. C. Beaton  One of the few people I do occasionally lend books to is M, as we both love mysteries, but as she's a librarian, she is generally way ahead of me reading new books. But these Hamish MacBeth mysteries are such rapid reads that she read it in a weekend, gave it to me, and I read it in a weekend. Same old Hamish, still dithering and hamstrung by his inability to make a decision because a decision will mean things will change. But this cosy series is still charming, with quirky characters and beautiful scenery.
• Raining Cats and Dogs, by Laurien Berenson Melanie Travis is newly married in this entry in the mystery series, and the book focuses in part on her new family situation, especially on her search for a larger house to accommodate the new husband and his dogs. Yup, that's why I read this series, mystery-solving dog-owner--even if she does show poodles. This one centered on Melanie and Faith, her black Standard Poodle, becoming a therapy dog team and visiting a local retirement community. Since K and I used to visit at an assisted living facility, you can understand the instant interest on my part. The murder wasn't exceptionally mysterious, although the twist at the denouement with the showdown was fun, and the author was a little vague regarding real therapy dogs (e.g., the dogs in the story are not part of any organized therapy dog group, and no mention is made of insurance and the need for liability coverage, but I'm probably more knowledgeable than the average reader just because I do this kind of volunteer work), but an easy summer read. Melanie continues to be a likeable character the reader will enjoy meeting over a cup of coffee.
• The Bird and Insect's Post Office by Robert Bloomfield  An OOP children's book with the adorable premise that animals send each other little missives through the mail. Unfortunately, Project Gutenberg either doesn't have the illustrations referenced in the text or they don't download from PG, and I sorely missed seeing them. Very enjoyable for children who love animals (and grown-ups who believed in the worlds of Beatrix Potter and the Wind in the Willows). Very fast read.
• Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome Recommended in the 'favorite public domain books' thread on the Amazon Kindle forum, this humorous book relays the adventures of three late Victorian or early Edwardian men who decide to take a camping trip down the Thames despite their complete ineptness with regard to anything having to do with camping, boating, cooking, or navigating. Very funny, and only dated in a few places where references are made to carriages or shaving razors and things along those lines. The description of the men trying to erect a tent is surely the same experienced by lots of people this summer, as are other funny anecdotes about the preparation for the trip, what to bring, hiking along the tow path, cooking while camping, and other camping related activities that have changed very little over one hundred years. 
• The Bloody Tower by Carola Dunn I should like these Daisy Dalrymple mysteries, I really should. They take place in a time period I like (the 1920s), in a place I like (England), but I just don't. They just let me down every time I read one. This one is better than the other admittedly few entries in the series I've read, and from a totally persoanl standpoint that's because this deals with the Tower of London and includes a lot of facts and descriptions about the physical setting and modern use of the Tower, and because there's a map in it. I'm always inclined to like a book that starts off with a map. But the mysteries in this series, to put it bluntly, are boring and poorly thought out, and Daisy is becoming a little too prissy and perfect for me.
• My Summer in a Garden by Charles Dudley Warner Delightful ruminations on a vegetable garden over the course of the summer, from the selection and planting of seeds through early frosts.Relevant today given the resurgence of urban homesteading, Mr. Warner discusses how even in the early twentieth century, the tomato you grow costs far more than the tomato you buy, but his essays help define why growing your own is so much more satisfying and rewarding. Another OOP you'll have to track down on Project Gutenberg, Archives, or Amazon (free for the Kindle).
• A Series of Unfortunate Events No. 1, The Bad Beginning, or Orphans! and No. 2, The Reptile Room, by Lemony Snicket  I know, I'm jumping on the bandwagon with these children's books a decade after everyone else. Very enjoyable. I enjoy the elaborate writing style and how the children never succumb to adversity, but instead assume they will figure a way out, no matter how dire things appear. The interpretation of Sunny's nonverbal communication got old after a while, but a child probably won't tire of it. And really, how could the adults still not believe the children when they try to explain how mean Cousin Otto is after all his dastardly deeds of the past, but then, there wouldn't be a series if they did believe the children. I think I find Otto even creepier as an adult than I would have as a child. And I like how the author hasn't sugarcoated that bad thing happen even to children.
• The Secret of the Silver Car by Wyndham Martyn  A perfect example of why I love my Kindle. This exciting mystery has long been out of print, and because there's no sex, extreme violence (although there are some flying fisticuffs, gun shots, and general scary menacing), or technogadgets, it's unlikely to see print again. But it's a fast action thriller, with our hero, a Master Criminal, putting himself in danger to retrieve documents that could end the career and ruin the reputation of the father of the woman he loves. Excellent and recommended.
• Four Max Carrados Mysteries by Ernest Bramah The Max Carrados detective stories were contemporary with Sherlock Holmes (and even published in The Strand), but are unknown today. Their twist lies in that Max Carrados, our detective, is blind, and therefore relies on his own heightened senses and other people's impressions to solve the mysteries. The quality between these four short stories varies, but all are fast reads and worth the investment for mystery fans.
• The Serpent in the Crown by Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody. Need I say more? You either love or hate these, and I love them. Ms. Peters is winding down the series, with Amelia and her husband growing older (gray hair and a less active role in the mystery for Amelia) and her son Ramses and his cohort taking on the more active roles, such as midnight chases around the Valley of the Dead in Egypt. I'll be sorry to see them go. Perhaps not the strongest entry in the series, but still very well written, with an excellent and factually correct representation of early 20th century archaeology in Egypt, with real archaeologists making cameo appearances (e.g., Howard Carter).
• Walking by Henry David Thoreau A short essay extolling Thoreau's love of walking for it's own sake. Read to inspire me during my marathon training.
• Graustark by George Barr McCutcheon Another 'favorite public domain books' recommendation. When it was compared to The Prisoner of Zenda, one of my all time favorite movies, I had to read it. This is Book 1 of 6, and introduces us to the fictional principality of Graustark, somewhere in eastern Europe. A bit slow moving, and frankly I got a bit tired of the hero's constant pining for the Princess (c'mon, he has one very brief conversation and falls instantly in love? Yea, I do believe in love at first sight, but I also know you don't really know the person at first sight, as the hero seems to think he does despite all evidence to the contrary). A little less pining and a bit more action would have been good. But interesting enough that I will eventually read the next 3 novels, which are already on my Kindle.
• Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine How did I miss this funny mystery series? No new ground in the genre broken, no chilling mystery, but a sympathetic and funny main character with whom I instantly identified. The side story provided by the email correspondence with her parents was very funny, and I hope I meet her parents as characters in another story. Definitely a series I will pursue.
• The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law by Haywood Smith  I know, I know, I an not a mother-in-law nor do I have one. But the author get great reviews online, and I thought a humorous little book could not be a waste of time. Despite not having anything in common with the premise, I don't feel I wasted half an hour reading this because I walked away determined to apply one precept to my life today: "Just for today, I will not criticize. No, not one bit." And the book ends with the uplifting advice that "the secret is to keep trying and to keep laughing." Good advice for all.
• Letters From a Cat by Helen Hunt Jackson An OOP short story with a cute premise that fails in execution. The author should never have told the reader what ultimately happened to the cat in the introduction. Totally ruined it for me. Yea, I'm a sap.
• First Flight by Mary Robinette Kowal Charming short story from the Tor imprint this month, this time traveling fantasy has a grandmother traveling back in time to witness the Wright brothers and the first airplane flight. The time travel premise--you can only travel back as far as the year you were born--was an interesting and novel twist to the time travel genre. Very enjoyable.