My August 2018 Reading Summary

Well, today was Jo and my 16th year together. We had a nice quiet day at home and will probably be going out to have a nice lunch tomorrow. :0)

I know it's not the end of the month quite yet but I won't be completing any more books before the end of the month... at least I don't think I will be. :0)

So here we go, first some stats and then a review of my reading challenges.

General Stats

Aug 2018

General Info               Aug               Total
Books Read -                10                    81
Pages Read -                3000              26100

Pages Breakdown
    < 250                          4                    27       
250 - 350                        2                    23
351 - 450                        4                    18
   > 450                                                 13

Ratings
5 - star                            1                     5
4 - star                            6                    48
3 - star                            3                    27
2 - star                                                    1

Gender
Female                          3                     25
Male                             7                     36

Genres
Fiction                          2                     16
Mystery                        6                     47
SciFi                             1                     12
Non-Fic                                                2
Classics                        1                      2
Poetry                                                   2

Top 3 Books

1. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (5 stars)


"I've read a few books by Josephine Tey. The others have been part of her Inspector Alan Grant Series. Brat Farrar is one of two standalone mysteries by Tey. It was also turned into a TV mini-series and a movie.

I will readily admit that I had an inkling about part of the book when I was fairly shortly into it and this turned out to be correct. However, having said that, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book at all.

Brat Farrar, an orphan, left England at a young age and traveled through France and the US until as he neared the age of 21, he returned to England. Alex Loding sees him by chance in London and realizes that he looks remarkably like Patrick Ashby, who committed suicide as a young boy after a tragic accident which killed his parents. The Ashby's live in Westover County and run an estate that makes its money breeding horses. Simon Ashby, Patrick's younger twin stands to inherit the estate on achieving his 21st birthday. Alex Lodings' proposal is that Brat should turn up at the Ashby estate and claim the inheritance and for his efforts, Alex would receive a monthly allowance from Brat.
Brat allows himself to be persuaded and after training on Patrick's life and that of the family, he introduces himself to the family solicitors to be identified as the true heir.

I won't get into the story anymore except to say that all goes well, and Brat is welcomed into the family as the long lost prodigy. There are of course mixed feelings, especially those of Simon who now loses the inheritance.

The story is an evenly paced work of fiction as we follow Brat through his introductions and new life with the Ashbys. They are wonderful characters, especially Aunt Bea, who has run the estate while Simon, now Brat, grew to the appropriate age to take over. And also, the lovely Eleanor, oldest of the sisters, who trains horses and welcomes Brat.

At times I wondered how this would work out, waiting patiently for some action. But, you know, it wasn't necessary. The story reminded me of watching one of those thoughtful, excellent movies on TCM, the classics, enjoying the characters and the story. Of course, Brat's taking over of the life of Patrick has consequences and it's a joy to see how everything is resolved.

An excellent novel and enjoyable mystery, one of those little surprising gems (5 stars)"

2.  Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (4 stars)





"I've seen the movie based on the book, that being Blade Runner, many times and always enjoy. For some reason, even though I find Philip K. Dick a fascinating science fiction writer, I've not picked up Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? before. It might be one of those things about not wanting to ruin the movie by reading the book, or something like that. Anyway, a couple of years back, I saw a new edition at one of my favorite book stores in Victoria and picked up a copy. And this year it was chosen for me as one of my Challenge reads. And for that I'm glad.

The story follows the basic plot line of the movie. Rick Dekkard is a bounty hunter for the San Francisco PD, paid to hunt down and 'retire' escaped androids. The story is set in a future where the world was almost by a World War. Many people have emigrated to the Moon and Mars and other planets. Few remain behind. Some, known as chicken heads, don't have the mental abilities to emigrate, due to the effects of the dust from the World War. Others just don't want to.

A group of androids, the Nexus 6 version, escape from Mars and come to San Francisco. Dekkard is given the assignment to find and retire them after his partner is almost killed by one. So that is the gist of the story.

Other elements only hinted at in the movie play much bigger roles in the book. The desire to have 'real' pets as most animals were killed in the world. People keep them on their roof tops. Dekkard is only able to afford an electric sheep and craves a real animal as he hopes it will help his marriage. Yes, he is married in the book. The other main character, John Isidore, a chicken head, works for a company that builds and repairs electric animals. There is also the interesting dichotomy between the Buster Friendly TV program that blasts out all day long on TV and also radio and Mercerism, an emotional linkage between millions of people.

All in all it's a unique story, quite fascinating. Dick can leave you feeling cold with his stories, I find, but as ths story progresses and comes to the end, it did provide an emotional satisfaction. Well worth reading if you've not explored the Science Fiction of Philip K. Dick. (4 stars)"

3.  Slicky Boys by Martin Limon (4 stars)


"Slicky Boys by Martin Limón is the 2nd book in the Bascom and Sueno mystery series. The first book was Jade Lady Burning. George Sueno and his partner, Ernie Bascom are Cpls in the 8th Armies CID organization. They spend a lot of time in Seoul's red light district, partly investigating black marketing and other crimes, but also, they just like the place.

A young woman asks them to deliver a message to her boyfriend, a British soldier who is part of the UN militaries honor guard. This message unfortunately results in the soldier being murdered. Feeling a responsibility for this, Sueno and Bascom take on the investigation. The two play fast and loose sometimes with the law. They sometimes work with the local Korean National Police. They often rile their boss, the Top Sgt in the CID with their methods.

The story is told mainly from Sueno's perspective as he is the more thoughtful of the two. He has made the effort to learn the Korean language and he respects the locals. Ernie Bascom is his wild partner, loves drinking, sex, tearing things apart... that sort of thing. Sueno asks questions and when answers are not forth coming, Ernie steps in.

The murder leads to others. We are introduced to the Korean Slicky Boys, the organized underworld of Korea, dealing in the black market, stealing and selling US items. We meet Herbalist So, the king of the Slicky Boys, always seeming to be one step ahead of the crime fighting duo.

There is another wild card in this, a mysterious serial killer, who might be an American soldier. He is a constant threat throughout the story and we do get sneak peeks at him as the story develops.

At times the story is quite far-fetched, but at the same time, it's tense, exciting and portrays a fascinating cultural conflict; that of the South Koreans and their American allies. The story moves along at an excellent pace and draws you in totally. It's a well-crafted, page turner and well worth trying. I'm looking forward to finding a copy of the 3rd book, Buddha's Money. (4 stars)"

12 + 4  Challenge (completed 13)
1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

New Series (completed 21)
2. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow (Kate Shugak #1)
3. Laidlaw by William McIlvanney (Jack Laidlaw #1)

Ongoing Series (completed 17)
4. Slicky Boys by Martin Limon (Sueno and Bascom #2)
5. The Moor by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell #4)

Decades Challenge (completed 16)
6. Bear Island by Alistair MacLean (70)
7. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (49)
8. The Fall of the House of Usher and other writings by Edgar Allen Poe (mid-1800's)

Canadian Content (completed 14)
9. A Siege of Bitterns by Steve Burrows
10. Seaweed on Ice by Stanley Evans

Sep Books

Currently Reading

 
1. Anthony Trollope - Can You Forgive Her? (12 + 4 Challenge)
2. Hans Helmut Kirst - Last Stop Camp 7 (Decades Challenge)
3. Peter James - Looking Good Dead (Ongoing Challenge)
4. Jason Matthews - Red Sparrow (New Series)

In the Mill

1. Margaret Millar - A Stranger in my Grave



"What happened to Daisy Harker on December 2,1955? That was the date she had seen on the tombstone and yet she was still alive. The name on the grave was hers but whose was the body?

Regardless of the lives that would be shattered by the truth, her implacable search for a single day in her past leads back through a maelstrom of hatred and remorse to the single catastrophic fact that underlies a lifetime of deception."

2. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game

"Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.

But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails."

3. Frank Muir - Eye for an Eye



"The idyllic university town of St. Andrews has become home to the most vicious serial killer Britain has ever known. Striking during heavy rain, choosing only victims who abuse women, 'The Stabber' has Detective Inspector Andy Gilchrist and his team baffled."

Well, there you go, another month almost finished. Looking forward to September. Enjoy your Labour Day weekend, if you celebrate.

Mysteries from Asia - Chinese Style

Heading back to my Mystery genre discussion. Today I'm visiting Asia. Now because Asia is such an expansive region, consisting of 50 independent countries, including the Middle East, Russia, the Far East, etc I'm going to try and break my discussion to specific countries or regions. Today, I'm visiting China, the area which contains the majority of my authors. I've tried only one of the authors so far but I hope to get into some of the others this year.

Mysteries from Asia - China

David Rotenberg

1. David Rotenberg (Inspector Zhong Fong). Canadian writer David Rotenberg is also an acting teacher and director. He directed the first Canadian play in the People's Republic of China, which may have helped inspire him to write his mystery series featuring Inspector Zhong Fong. There are 5 books in this fascinating series. I've enjoyed them all and hope that someday he might write some more books in the series. I note that he has also another series, The Junction Chronicles and some standalone novels. I'll discuss the Zhong Fong books.

a. The Shanghai Murders (1998).












"This is the first book in the Inspector Zhong Fong series. I've read out of order, this being the first book and I've now finished the series. Excellent and probably better to have read in sequence as it would have been fuller and more complete. But having said that, each story on its own is a fascinating read. You get a perspective of the Chinese culture as China moves from a closed Communist society to one trying to open its doors to trade and foreign money. Shanghai is a very interesting city. Do I want to visit? I'm not sure, but it's fun reading about it.

In this mix, Inspector Fong, head of Special Investigations in Shanghai must try to work within severe constraints to try and solve two gruesome murders. He faces severe constrictions from his superiors, who plot to oust him, work with the American wife of the first victim and also fight the ghosts of his wife and the tragedy that befell her. It's a page turner and a fast - paced story. Fong is a very sympathetic character and a superb detective.

I also enjoyed his cast of supporters, especially his forensic specialist, Lily. Amanda Pitman, the American, is also an interesting character and I enjoyed the developing relationship between her and Fong. The Canadian in the mix, Geoffrey Hyland, the lover of Fong's dead wife, is brought in to provide ammunition for Fong's arrest for the possible murder of his wife. And let's not forget the killer himself, trained in Taipei to be a killing machine.

There are plots and sub-plots and all the while Fong works to solve these murders and find out who is pulling the strings and why? It's unfortunate that Rotenberg only wrote five books in this series. All are excellent and entertaining. One of my favourite series. (4 stars)"

b. The Lake Ching Murders (2002).

"Detective Fong, former head of Special Investigations, has been exiled to Northwestern China. Two men come and whisk him away in the middle of the night to investigate the brutal murder of seventeen men." I gave it 4 stars.

c. Hua Shan Hospital Murders (2003).

"Detective Fong has regained his position as head of Special Investigations in Shanghai. All seems under control until one of Shanghai's state run abortion clinics explodes in a ball of fire. A note is left in English, then a second clinic is attacked." I gave it 4 stars.

d. The Hamlet Murders (2004).

"In the latest installment in the Zhong Fong series. The city's 18 million residents are hurtling toward modernization, and hits home when Fong's rooms at the Shanghai Theatre are being condo-ized and he can buy them at a special price four years worth of his salary. The night watchman summons Fong to the theatre where finds his old rival Geoffrey Highland swinging from a rope at center stage." I gave it 4 stars.

e. The Golden Mountain Murders (2005).












"As Shanghai surpasses Hong Kong as Asia’s most important city, Zhong Fong’s Office of Special Investigations faces an increasingly sophisticated, and increasingly global, breed of criminal.

When Fong follows a disturbing lead, he finds himself in the rural backwater of Anhui Province. Here, he is shocked to discover a blood-trafficking racket and a massive outbreak of AIDS. In pursuit of the blood traffickers, Fong embarks on what proves to be the longest journey of his life. It will eventually take him to the streets of Vancouver – and a meeting with a man who holds an old, and potentially lethal, grudge." I rated it 4 stars.

Qiu Xialong

2. Qiu Xialong (Inspector Chen Cao). Qiu Xialong, born in Shanghai, is a poet, translator, crime writer and critic. He is known for his Inspector Chen mystery series. Since 2000, he has written 10 books in the series. A number of the books have been adapted as BBC Radio 4 dramas. I may have to check them out. I have the first and sixth books on my shelves.

a. Death of a Red Heroine (2000).









"A young “national model worker,” renowned for her adherence to the principles of the Communist Party, turns up dead in a Shanghai canal. As Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Special Cases Bureau struggles to trace the hidden threads of her past, he finds himself challenging the very political forces that have guided his life since birth. Chen must tiptoe around his superiors if he wants to get to the bottom of this crime, and risk his career—perhaps even his life—to see justice done."

b. The Mao Case (2009).

"Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department is often assigned cases considered politically "sensitive," and now the Minister of Public Security insists that Chen personally take on a 'special assignment.' Leery of international embarrassment, the party is concerned about rumors related to Chairman Mao. Jiao, the granddaughter of an actress who had a 'special relationship' to Mao has moved into a luxury apartment and become involved with a new social set centered around the remnants of pre-Communist Shanghai society. All without any visible means of support.

Worried that Jiao has inherited some sort of artifact that could prove damaging to Mao's reputation, Chen has been given a few short days to infiltrate her social circle, determine if the feared material exists and, if it does, retrieve it quietly. And if he fails to solve this 'Mao case, ' the consequences will be unpleasant for all concerned."

The other books in the series are -
- A Loyal Character Dancer (2002)
- When Red is Black (2004)
- A Case of Two Cities (2005)
- Red Mandarin Dress (2007)
- Don't Cry, Tai Lake (2012)
- Enigma of China (2013)
- Shanghai Redemption (2015)
- Becoming Inspector Chen (2016)

Eliot Pattison

3. Eliot Pattison (Inspector Shan). American writer Eliot Pattison is also an international lawyer besides being a mystery writer. His Inspector Shan mystery series is set in modern day Tibet. He has also written another series that I am interested in checking out but it does not fit this sub-genre. Since 1999 he has written 9 books in the series. I currently have 3 that I am interested in trying.

a. The Skull Mantra (1999).









"The corpse is missing its head and is dressed in American clothes. Found by a Tibetan prison work gang on a windy cliff, the grisly remains clearly belong to someone too important for Chinese authorities to bury and forget. So the case is handed to veteran police inspector Shan Tao Yun. Methodical, clever Shan is the best man for the job, but he too is a prisoner, deported to Tibet for offending someone high up in Beijing's power structure. Granted a temporary release, Shan is soon pulled into the Tibetan people's desperate fight for its sacred mountains and the Chinese regime's blood-soaked policies. Then, a Buddhist priest is arrested, a man Shan knows is innocent. Now time is running out for Shan to find the real killer."

b. Water Touching Stone (#2 / 2001).

"In Water Touching Stone, the sequel to the internationally acclaimed The Skull Mantra, Shan Tao Yun is cloistered in a remote Tibetan sanctuary when he receives shattering news. A teacher revered by the oppressed has been found slain and, one by one, her orphaned students have followed her to her grave, victims of a killer harboring unfathomable motives. Abandoning his mountain hermitage, Shan Tao Yun, a former Beijing police inspector who has been exiled to Tibet, embarks on a search for justice. Shadowed by bizarre tales of an unleashed 'demon,' Shan braces himself for even darker imaginings as he stalks a killer and fights to restore spiritual balance to the ancient and tenuous splendor of Tibet."

c. Mandarin Gate (#7 / 2012).









"In an earlier time, Shan Tao Yun was an Inspector stationed in Beijing. But he lost his position, his family and his freedom when he ran afoul of a powerful figure high in the Chinese government. Released unofficially from the work camp to which he'd been sentenced, Shan has been living in remote mountains of Tibet with a group of outlawed Buddhist monks.

Without status, official identity, or the freedom to return to his former home in Beijing, Shan has just begun to settle into his menial job as an inspector of irrigation and sewer ditches in a remote Tibetan township when he encounters a wrenching crime scene. Strewn across the grounds of an old Buddhist temple undergoing restoration are the bodies of two unidentified men and a Tibetan nun. Shan quickly realizes that the murders pose a riddle the Chinese police might in fact be trying to cover up. When he discovers that a nearby village has been converted into a new internment camp for Tibetan dissidents arrested in Beijing’s latest pacification campaign, Shan recognizes the dangerous landscape he has entered.

To find justice for the victims and to protect an American woman who witnessed the murders, Shan must navigate through the treacherous worlds of the internment camp, the local criminal gang, and the government’s rabid pacification teams, while coping with his growing doubts about his own identity and role in Tibet."

The other books in this series are -
- Bone Mountain (#3 / 2002)
- Beautiful Ghosts (#4 / 2004)
- Prayer of the Dragon (#5 / 2007)
- The Lord of Death (#6 / 2009)
- Soul of Fire (#8 / 2014)
- Skeleton God (#9 / 2017)

Elsa Hart

4. Elsa Hart (Li Du). I only recently discovered Elsa Hart. Her Li Du series was listed in one of the other mysteries I enjoyed this year. She is a bit of a world traveler, born in Rome and living in Moscow, the Czech Republic, China and the US. She has written 3 books in the Li Du mystery series so far. I have recently added the 1st book to my "To Be Read" shelves.

a. Jade Dragon Mountain (#1 / 2015).












"On the mountainous border of China and Tibet in 1708, a detective must learn what a killer already knows: that empires rise and fall on the strength of the stories they tell.

Li Du was an imperial Chinese librarian. Now he is an exile. In 1780, three years of wandering have brought him to Dayan, the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border. He expects a quiet outpost barely conscious of its place within the empire, but Dayan is teeming with travelers, soldiers, and merchants. The crowds have been drawn by the promise of an unmatched spectacle; an eclipse of the sun, commanded by the Emperor himself.

Amid the frenzy, Li Du befriends an elderly Jesuit astronomer. Hours later, the man is murdered in the home of the local magistrate, and Li Du suspects it was no random killing. Everyone has secrets: the ambitious magistrate, the powerful consort, the bitter servant, the irreproachable secretary, the East India Company merchant, the nervous missionary, and the traveling storyteller who can't keep his own story straight.

Beyond the sloping roofs and festival banners, Li Du can see the pass over Jade Dragon Mountain that will take him out of China forever. But he cannot ignore the murder that the town is all too eager to forget. As Li Du investigates, he begins to suspect that the murderer intends to kill again. The eclipse is coming. Li Du must solve the murder before the sun disappears. If he does not, then someone, perhaps Li Du himself, will never again see its light."

The other two books in this series are -
- The White Mirror (2016)
- City of Ink (2018)

Tom Bradby

5. Tom Bradby. English journalist Bradby is also a novelist of six novels. I include him in this list for one of the two novels of his that I have on  my book shelves.

a. The Master of Rain (2002).

"Shanghai, 1926: a sultry city lousy with opium, warlords, and corruption at the highest levels. Into this steamy morass walks Richard Field, an idealistic Brit haunted by his past and recently appointed to the international police. He's not there long before called to the flat of a Russian prostitute, former daughter of privilege found sadistically murdered, handcuffed to her bed. When he discovers among her possessions a cryptic shipping log, he senses that this murder is more than a random crime of perverse passion. What unfolds is a searing story that propels Field into a confrontation with the city's most ruthless and powerful gangster, and a dangerous attraction to another salacious Russian whose sordid connections seem destined to make her the next victim."

So there you go. If you enjoy exotic locales with your touch of mystery, you might like to check out some of these writers. Enjoy! 

My Continuing Author's A - Z

No political talk today, no complaints about the weather, just books. It's been awhile since I last had a post about my Author's A - Z list on Goodreads. My last post is here. So, no books finished since my last post, no new books arrived in the mail and I'm going to take a little break from my Mystery genre posts to catch up on my A - Z. I finished with Elizabeth Daly last time.

So, with a quick bow to the sunny skies (see, not a complaint) and with Clyde keeping an eye on me from the chair in the family room, I now move on to my A - Z. Taaaadahhhhh!

Bill's Authors A - Z

James Dashner

1. James Dashner (Fantasy). American writer, Dashner, is a writer of speculative fiction. He's written a number of young adult series. The one I've started is his Maze Runner series of 5 books. I've finished the first and have the second on my bookshelf.

a. The Maze Runner (2009).












"The Maze Runner is the first book in the Maze Runner YA/ Fantasy / Dystopian series by James Dashner. Thomas wakes up with no memories on an elevator which empties out on to the Glade. It's peopled by a bunch of teenage boys who live and work there and are trying to find the way to escape by searching for a way through the Maze. The boys who take on this task are, of course, the Maze Runners.

Normally, it seems that the new boy or the Greenie works his way through various tasks in the Glade until he finds his official duty. Thomas, for some reason, is drawn to being a Maze Runner.
Events speed up rapidly with his arrival. Normally a new boy arrives once a month. Each night the entrances to the Maze close, which is a good thing, as the Maze is peopled by creatures known as the Grievers. If the gate were left open, they would kill every body. The Maze Runners must get back to the Glade before the gates close or they will have to stay overnight in the Maze, a fatal situation. The sting of the Griever causes hallucinations and a Changing (you have to read about it, I'm not telling you everything.)

There is normally a new arrival once a month but the day after Thomas arrives, a new person arrives... A GIRL!!! And then things start happening more and more rapidly. The idea is that the boys have to find a way to escape the Glade or who knows what might happen.

It's an interesting story, with a few neat twists and an interesting ending.. well, not really an ending but rather a cliff hanger. I have the second book on my shelf so I'm sure I'll see how the story moves along and see if any other answers are provided. (3.5 stars)"

b. The Scorch Trials (2010).











"Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die. The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive."

Lionel Davidson

2. Lionel Davidson (Spy / Thriller). English writer Davidson was born in Yorkshire in 1922 and lived until 2009. He was a writer of spy thrillers. I discovered Davidson early in 2000 and have enjoyed 3 of his books so far. I've got another two resting on my bookshelves. From 1960 - 1994, he wrote 9 thrillers. He also wrote 3 books of stories for young adults under the pseudonym David Line and also some collections of short stories. Let's take a look at the books I've read and have on my shelves.

a. Kolymsky Heights (1994 / To be read).

"From the heart of Siberia have come coded messages implying a mysterious secret to be entrusted to only one man. How that individual gets in, finds the contacts, and tries to get the secret out is a masterpiece of wrenching excitement and immensely intelligent story-telling. Lionel Davidson is an award-winning author critically acclaimed on a par with le Carre, Forsyth and Follett."

b. The Rose of Tibet (1962 / 3 stars).

"In the forbidding mountains of a remote, hidden land, a goddess cries a river of emeralds, an enemy army is missing on the border, and Charles Houston is fighting for his life in an avalanche of danger. Searching for his missing brother, he comes upon an innocent people and is plunged into a bizarre religious ritual."

c. The Chelsea Murders (1978 / to be read).

"A terrifying, grotesque figure bursts into a young art student's room. Head covered with a clown's wig, face concealed by a smiling mask, it wears the rubber gloves of a surgeon. The girl is seized, chloroformed, suffocated and - horrifyingly - beheaded. This is only the beginning of a series of murders terrorizing London's fashionable Bohemia. The police target three avant-garde filmmakers. One of them is mocking the other two, and openly taunting the police as well. But which of them is behind these appalling crimes?"

d. A Long Way to Shiloh (1966 / 3 stars).

"THE MENORAH MEN, Lionel Davidson's acclaimed best seller, is set in Israel, the author's adopted country. It is a thriller with an archeological background which tells of the modern quest for the original Menorah, the Holy Grail of the Jewish faith.
Caspar Laing, a young British archaeologist, is persuaded to travel to Israel to decipher a recently discovered scroll. Its contents set him hot on the trail of the long-lost Menorah. Accompanied by Shoshana, a dusky Yemenite soldier who is his chauffeuse, Laing scours the Holy Land in a dangerous search for a priceless buried treasure."

e. Night of Wenceslas (1960 / 3 stars).


"In the novel that launched Davidson's career as a master thriller, young Nicholas Whistler, on a seemingly innocent business trip to Prague, finds himself caught between the secret police and an amorous suitor named Vlasta."






The other thrillers in his catalogue are -
- Making Good Again (1968)
- Smith's Gazelle (1971)
- The Sun's Chemist (1976)
- Under Plum Lake (1980)

Nope, it's not Tolstoy :0)

3. Robertson Davies (Canadian Fiction). Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist and professor Robertson Davies lived from 1913 - 1995. If I remember correctly, he was the Master at Massey College, the graduate residence of University of Toronto, while I was attending for my undergraduate degree. In my university days, I read one of his many trilogies, the Deptford trilogy, which featured Fifth Business (1970), The Manticore (1972) and World of Wonders (1975), a trilogy featuring magic, life, mystery. It was many years before I tried another of his books. In 2012 I tried another of his trilogies, the Cornish trilogy. I finished it in 2016. I've since purchased another of his books. He is a wonderful story teller.

a. The Rebel Angels (1981).












"Loved it! Entertaining, well-crafted, intelligent. The story is developed carefully and lovingly. Story is told from two characters' perspective, two narrators. Both are interesting and I enjoyed both of them. Darcourt, the priest/ professor was most interesting and Maria, the gypsy/ student wonderful and easy to see why all the male characters fell in love with her. It's been ages since I read anything by Robertson Davies and I'm glad I read this story. I look forward to reading the other stories in the trilogy. (5 stars)"

b. What's Bred in the Bone (1985).











"This is the second book in the Cornish trilogy. It basically tells the life story of Francis Cornish, with side discussions by his daimon and an angel analyzing how his life is progressing. The reason for this story is that Simon Darcourt is one of a trio, including Arthur Cornish (Francis' nephew) and Maria, Arthur's wife, who are tasked with managing Francis' Trust. Darcourt is having difficulties writing Francis' biography, feels there are potential scandals in his life and finds too many secrets in his life. So the story begins then with Francis life and follows through until his death. What I do like about the story is the fluency of Davies' writing. It's intelligent but still accessible and flows so nicely. My only issue is that ultimately, it doesn't really mean much to me. I kind of felt, so what... but it hopefully ties into the final book, The Lyre of Orpheus to round up everything. Still so well-written and if read in concert with the first book, The Rebel Angels, I'm sure you would enjoy very much. (4 stars)"

c. The Lyre of Orpheus (1988).












"This is the 3rd book in the Cornish trilogy. I enjoyed the first, The Rebel Angels, very much. It had been most enjoyable to get back into Robertson Davies. The second book, What's Bred in the Bone, while interesting, didn't hold the same level of enjoyment that the first did. So The Lyre of Orpheus has sat on my shelf for a couple of years now. I'm so glad that I dusted it off and got back into this trilogy. It was excellent. I loved everything about this, the writing, the characters, the story. 

The basic story is that the Cornish foundation, run by Arthur Cornish and his lovely wife, Maria, and assisted by a loose collection of directors, agrees to use Cornish foundation money, to fund the doctoral work of a young music student, Hulda Schnakenburg, who is trying to complete an unfinished opera by Hoffman, the Story of Arthur of Britain. A concurrent story has Simon Darcourt, old friend of Francis Cornish and of Arthur and Maria, seeking to complete a biography of Francis Cornish. The investigation into this biography, to find out the missing middle of Francis' life and the development of the opera, are fascinating stories. 

The characters, from the main ones, as well as Schnak and the others brought in to help with the creation of the opera, were lovingly written and so interesting. I won't say I'm an opera fan, but watching the creation and development and the ultimate presentation of this opera, was a joy to read. Throw in asides by Hoffman, throughout the story, as he watches from Limbo and waits to see what the ultimate result will be, and you've got a wonderfully rich story. Sex, cuckoldry and just downright entertainment and you have a fantastic, wonderful story. A perfect ending to this trilogy. (5 stars)"

d. The Cunning Man (The Toronto Trilogy #2 (unfinished) / 1994).

"A mysterious death prologues a rich and meaty saga, narrated by Dr. Jonathan Hullah, which looks back over a long life punctuated by the dazzling intellectual high-jinks and compassionate philosophies of Hullah and his circle."

Well, there you go folks. Some new reading ideas for you and a mix of genres and styles.

Now to watch the Blue Jays and see if they can win a game. Enjoy your Tuesday!

A Bottle of Chianti, a Bowl of Spaghetti Bolognese, a Glass of Grappa - Mystery Italian Style

RIP Senator John McCain

I'll continue my Mystery genre topic but, firstly I wanted to offer my condolences to the McCain family on the death of Senator John McCain. While I might not agree with all of his political beliefs, Senator McCain was a true hero to the United States and served his country, both in the military and in politics, with honor and distinction. I hope other politicians, of both parties, will take up his mantle and continue to challenge those who serve only to divide our neighbour to the South. RIP Senator McCain!

So, let's move on to my discussion of books. I've finished one book since my last entry and, of course, have started one new one. I'm also going to continue with my look at the mystery genre, this time those set in Italy. I'll highlight 4 authors, one who is actually Italian. One of those listed is one of my favorite authors of mysteries. I've tried one other, due to a TV series both Jo and I enjoyed. The other two are new authors for me.

OK, let's go!

Just Finished

1. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow (Kate Shugak #1). This will be a Group Read Discussion in September and since I nominated it, I'll be moderating the discussion. I guess it's appropriate that I read it, eh?










"A Cold Day for Murder is the first Kate Shugak mystery by Dana Stabenow. Kate was the lead investigator for the Anchorage ADA, Jack Morgan. Something happened on one of her cases which lead her to quit and move back nearer home in The Park. She lives alone with her dog (wolf) Mutt. Kate is an Aleut.

Jack and an FBI agent show up to ask her help in finding a missing Ranger and the current ADA investigator. The Ranger disappeared 6 weeks ago and his father is a US Senator who has pressured the FBI to become involved. Morgan had sent Ken Dahl to search for the young man and he also had disappeared two weeks ago. Morgan wants Kate to take up the search. (Morgan and Kate had previously had a relationship, it seems)

Taking on the assignment means Kate returns to her home town, Niniltna to find their trail. This means making contact with her grandmother Ekaterina (Emaa), who rules the roost and is a leading member of the Aleut community in Alaska. There is considerable friction between the two.
The story is a quick read, with action right from the get-go. We meet a great many interesting people, from her Uncle Abel, Bennie owner of the Road House and Bobby, the legless Vietnam Vet who provides weather reports and short wave radio communications for the community to the world at large.

There are many suspect, including family members of Kate and the story moves along nicely. We get an excellent feel for The Park and being winter, you can almost feel the cold. It's very much a Wild West (or maybe North is more appropriate) and a fascinating place. For a first story, it's an excellent intro to Kate. I hope we find out more about her past in future stories. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading
I'm hoping to finish at least one more book this month, maybe two. It's been a satisfying month so far.

1. Looking Good Dead by Peter James (Roy Grace #2). I read the first book in this series a few years back and I'm looking forward to getting back into the series. I'm enjoying the first few chapters so far. It's nice that the series is set in Brighton. That means I can ask Jo about locations, etc. as she lived just down the road.







"Tom Bryce picks up a CD which has been left behind on a train seat, but when he attempts to track down the owner, he finds himself the only witness to a savage killing. Reporting the crime to the police has disastrous consequences for Bryce, and the lives of both he and his wife are threatened--by a notification on the Internet, no less. When DS Roy Grace becomes involved, he finds himself up against a malign group of very well organized criminals."

Murder Italian Style

Donna Leon

1. Donna Leon (Commissario Brunetti). Donna Leon was born in New Jersey but has set her Commissario Brunetti series in Venice, Italy. She has written 27 books in the series since 1992 and has one listed for 2019. This is by far one of my favorite all-time mystery series. Since I came to the Comox Valley in 2001, I've read 10 books in the series.

What I like most about the series is the richness of the stories. It's more than just a mystery. You get a feel for Venice (or wherever in Italy Brunetti might find himself) and its people. You get to enjoy the people who work with Brunetti, the food that he and his wonderful family eat. I like an excellent thriller or psychological mystery but the series that rank up at the top are those like Leon's series. I include Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police, Jane Haddam's Gregor Demarkian books and Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series. I haven't read the Leon books in order and, while that might be the best way to start, it hasn't affected my enjoyment at all. I'll highlight the first 5 books, whether I've read them or not.

a. Death at La Fenice (#1). I read this in 2010 and rated it 4 stars.












"There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice.
But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape--a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one. . . ."

b. Death in a Strange Country (#2). I read this in 2007 and rated it 4 stars (probably a common theme.. lol)










"Early one morning Guido Brunetti, Commissario of the Venice Police, confronts a grisly sight when the body of a young man is fished out of a fetid Venetian canal. All the clues point to a violent mugging, but for Brunetti, robbery seems altogether too convenient a motive. Then something very incriminating is discovered in the dead man's flat - something which points to the existence of a high-level cabal - and Brunetti becomes convinced that somebody, somewhere, is taking great pains to provide a ready-made solution to the crime ..."

c. Dressed for Death (#3). I read this in 2011 and yes, a 4 star rating.












"Commissario Guido Brunetti's hopes for a refreshing family holiday in the mountains are once again dashed when a gruesome discovery is made in Marghera - a body so badly beaten the face is completely unrecognizable. Brunetti searches Venice for someone who can identify the corpse but is met with a wall of silence. He then receives a telephone call from a contact who promises some tantalizing information. And before night is out, Brunetti is confronting yet another appalling, and apparently senseless, death."

d. Death and Judgment (#4). I read this one in 2006. Yup, 4 stars.











"Someone is killing Italy's prominent businessmen, and, at first glance, the murders appear unrelated. However, Venice's most charming and tenacious detective, Vice-Commissario Guido Brunetti, suspects a fatal link. After mounting an unorthodox investigation, Brunetti uncovers a disturbing international web of exploitation run by Venice's most influential citizens."

e. Acqua Alta (#5). I read this one in 2006. Guess what rating I gave it?












"Donna Leon's growing American fan base is hungry for more of the books from her internationally bestselling series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti. Now in what many consider one of the finest in the series, Venice braces for the onslaught of "acqua alta"-the rising waters from torrential rain. But Brunetti has his own problems, beginning with the savage beating of an old friend. When a man's body is discovered, Brunetti must wade through the chaos to solve one of his deadliest cases. Full of marvelous plot twists, "Acqua Alta" is a chilling addition to Donna Leon's addictive series."

I won't list all of the other books. Next in line for me to read is #9 Friends in High Places. It's always a pleasure to visit Brunetti's world. There is another of Leon's books that has interested me. It's called A Taste of Venice: At Table with Brunetti (of Brunetti's Cookbook). Yes, it's a cookbook, based on food enjoyed in the Brunetti stories.

Michael Didbin

2. Michael Dibdin (Aurelio Zen). Dibdin was an English crime writer who lived from 1947 - 2007. He is known for his 11 book series featuring Aurelio Zen. The last book in the series was published posthumously in 2007. I was introduced to the series by a BBC TV series featuring Rufus Sewell as Zen. Jo and I enjoyed it very much. Unfortunately it was only for one season. I've read the first book and didn't quite enjoy as much as the Brunetti series. I will continue it however and see how the series develops.

a. Ratking (#1 / 1989).









"Ratking is the first book in the Aurelio Zen mystery series by Michael Dibdin. I first became aware of the series when it was turned into a British TV series starring Rufus Sewell as Inspector Zen. When I discovered it was based on a book series, I had to try and find a copy.

Zen is a disgraced Italian Criminal Investigator who has been placed into an administrative position due to events that resulted in the kidnapping of former Italian PM Aldo Moro. As a result of a series of phone calls he is placed back into the investigation service to help solve a kidnapping of a wealthy industrialist in the North of Italy, in Perugia.

He basically finds himself in a no-win situation. The local police resent him being there and the family of the kidnappee are suspected of involvement. It's a meandering sort of case as Zen works to find the kidnappee and also the kidnappers. Events take a bad turn when a body is found and Zen finds himself being used as a scapegoat for the lack of success. With nothing to lose, he works against the system and time to solve the kidnapping and murder(s).

I enjoyed the story although I do think I preferred the TV series. However, it was interesting to see the Italian political system at work and to get to know Zen. It was also interesting trying to compare Zen to one of my favourite Italian police inspectors, Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti. I'll have to keep reading to see if Zen can live up to Brunetti.  (3.5 stars)" 

b. Vendetta (#2 / 1991). 

"In Italian police inspector Aurelio Zen, Michael Dibdin has given the mystery one of its most complex and compelling protagonists: a man wearily trying to enforce the law in a society where the law is constantly being bent. In this, the first novel he appears in, Zen himself has been assigned to do some law bending. Officials in a high government ministry want him to finger someone--anyone--for the murder of an eccentric billionaire, whose corrupt dealings enriched some of the most exalted figures in Italian politics.


But Oscar Burolo's murder would seem to be not just unsolvable but impossible. The magnate was killed on a heavily fortified Sardinian estate, where every room was monitored by video cameras. Those cameras captured Burolo's grisly death, but not the face of his killer. And that same killer, elusive, implacable, and deranged, may now be stalking Zen. Inexorable in its suspense, superbly atmospheric, Vendetta is further proof of Dibdin's mastery of the crime novel."

3. Cabal (#3 / 1992).

"An apparent suicide in the Vatican may in fact have been a murder conducted by a centuries-old cabal within The Knights of Columbus. A discovery among the medieval manuscripts of the Vatican Library leads to a second death, Zen travels to Milan, where he faces a final, dramatic showdown. Meanwhile, Zen's lover, the tantalizing Tania, is conducting her own covert operations—which could well jeopardize everything Zen has worked for. Richly textured, wickedly entertaining, Cabal taps the mysterious beauty of Italy in a thriller that challenges our beliefs about love, allegiance, history, and power—and the lengths to which we will go to protect them against the truth."

Andrea Camilleri

3. Andrea Camilleri. Born in 1925, Camilleri is a prolific Italian writer of both standalone and series mysteries. In 1994 he began his Inspector Salvo Montalbano mystery series. The first 22 books have been translated into English. I did highlight Camilleri in a previous entry from my Author's A - Z series. If you click on the link below, just scroll down to that entry. I haven't enjoyed any of his books yet but I do have #1 and others on my book shelf. I'll highlight #1 and a standalone mystery I also have.

a. The Shape of Water (#1 / 1994, translation 2002).













"The goats of Vigàta once grazed on the trash-strewn site still known as the Pasture. Now local enterprise of a different sort flourishes: drug dealers and prostitutes of every flavor. But their discreet trade is upset when two employees of the Splendour Refuse Collection Company discover the body of engineer Silvio Luparello, one of the local movers and shakers, apparently deceased in flagrante at the Pasture. The coroner's verdict is death from natural causes - refreshingly unusual for Sicily.

But Inspector Salvo Montalbano, as honest as he is streetwise and as scathing to fools and villains as he is compassionate to their victims, is not ready to close the case - even though he's being pressured by Vigàta's police chief, judge, and bishop.

Picking his way through a labyrinth of high-comedy corruption, delicious meals, vendetta firepower, and carefully planted false clues, Montalbano can be relied on, whatever the cost, to get to the heart of the matter."

b. Hunting Season (1992, translation 2014).








"In 1880s Vigàta, a stranger comes to town to open a pharmacy. Fofò turns out to be the son of a man legendary for having a magic garden stocked with plants, fruits, and vegetables that could cure any ailment—a man who was found murdered years ago. Fofò escaped, but now has reappeared looking to make his fortune and soon finds himself mixed up in the dealings of a philandering local marchese set on producing an heir."

4. Magdalen Nabb (Marshall Guarnaccia). English mystery writer Magdalen Nabb lived from 1947 - 2007). She was born in Blackburn and died in Florence. She is best known for her Marshall Guarnaccia mystery series. I discovered her recently, her books listed at the back of another series I'd begun. She wrote 14 books in the series from 1981 - 2008. I have the first book in the series and the 10th. I'm looking forward to trying it.

a. Death of an Englishman (#1 / 1981).

"Marshal Salvatore Guarnaccia of the Florentine Carabinieri wants to go south for Christmas to spend the holiday with his family in Sicily, but a retired Englishman living in Florence has been murdered. Who has shot Mr. Langley-Smythe in the back? The marshal must discover the identity of the criminal and the motive for the crime before he can take the train home for the holidays."

 b. The Monster of Florence (#10 / 1996).

"Marshal Guarnaccia's job with the Carabinieri usually involves restoring stolen handbags to grateful old ladies and lost cameras to bewildered tourists. So when he is assigned to work with the Florence police in trying to track down a vicious serial killer, he feels out of his league. The crimes he must try to understand are grotesque, the case materials harrowing.  To make matters worse, the Proc he must report to is Simonetti, the same man he knows drove an innocent man to suicide several years earlier in his blind quest for a conviction." 



So there you go, folks. Enjoy a murderously fun trip to Italy... Enjoy your last week of August.