It's Sunday... I Should be Mowing the Lawn.. Nah! Instead a Reading Updt and the Science Fiction Novel

What We Do in the Shadows

It's a bit cooler today but the sun is shining and it's lovely and bright. The dogs and I went out to do our Sunday shopping, just to pick up a few things. Yesterday Jo and I enjoyed a few shows on the tube. They were all on FX. I watched Devs, the first episode, and it looks kind of interesting; a science fictionish type show, and mystery. Then both of us watched the first episode of Mrs. America, a drama focused on the ERA Amendment. Great cast; Cate Blanchett, Margo Martindale, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Banks, Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson, etc. It really seemed interesting. And finally we watched the first two episodes of Season 2 of What We Do in the Shadows, a nice little comedy about a group of hapless vampires living in New Jersey. All in all it was a nice day of TV. Of course we also watched an old Vera and Inspector Morse.

I finished a book yesterday and have therefore started a new one. I'll provide my review of the former and synopsis of the latter. I also will finish my look at the Science Fiction novel.

Just Finished

1. The Con Man by Ed McBain (87th Precinct #4). Excellent series so far. Glad I finally tried it.

"The Con Man by Ed McBain is the 4th book in his 87th Precinct cop series. It's a simple cop story relatively but at the same time for all of its simplicity, also very rich.

Two crimes are being investigated by the detectives of the 87th Precinct. Arthur Brown, Det 2nd Grade, is looking into a pair of con men who are ripping off people. Det Steve Carella is investigating the discovery of a 'floater', the body of a woman found in the river, apparently murdered.

I enjoy the process of the various investigations, the methodical nature and introduction to the other departments, Missing Persons bureau, the daily Line-up where detectives from the various divisions come together to review the line-up of people arrested. I enjoyed that section very much.

I also enjoyed the meeting of the various detectives' spouses and girl friends as they also added to the story, especially Carella's wife, Teddy, deaf and mute but still a force to be reckoned with. The story is so well paced and in the one case McBain ramps up the tension until the final outcome. 

The story is so fascinating and it draws you in immediately. I liked the detectives, their family and the tattoo artist, Mr. Chen. Just a great, enjoyable crime story and a most satisfying ending (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading (er, listening to)

1. Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher #4). My first ever attempt at an audio book and I'm enjoying so far. Of courser I love everything about the Phryne Fisher mystery series anyway but having a good narrator helps. I bought the audio book by mistake, ordering it on line and not realizing it was a cd. It's sat on my shelf a long time but I need to move on with this series.

"The devastating Phryne Fisher is under fire again in her fourth mystery. A very young man with muddied hair, a pierced ear and a blue tattoo lies cradled in Phryne's arms. But sadly it's not another scene of glorious seduction - this time it's death. The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, beautifully dressed in loose trousers, a cream silk shirt and a red-fox fur has just had her windscreen shot out inches in front of her divine nose. But worse is the fate of the pale young man lying on the road, his body hit by bullets, who draws his final blood-filled breath with Phryne at his side. Outraged by this brutal slaughter, Phryne promises to find out who is responsible. But Phryne doesn't yet know how deeply into the mire she'll have to go - bank robbery, tattoo parlours, pubs, spiritualist halls and the Anarchists. Along this path, Phryne meets Peter, a battle-scarred, sexy Slav, who offers much more to her than just information. But all thoughts of these delights flee from Phryne's mind when her beloved maid, Dot, disappears. There's nothing Phryne do to get her back safely."

The Science Fiction Novel - Final Post 😢

In my final post I'm going back to an author I featured previously, Maggie Stiefvater (this link) (The Scorpio Races).. Since those posts I've purchased new books by both authors and in series I've yet tried. So I thought I'd highlight those books for you.

a. Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater (Dreamer Trilogy #1).











"The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.

And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.

Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tie.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . . Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . ."

Just as a note, I thought I'd purchased a book by John Scalzi but in fact I think I entered a contest to win a free copy and the book title was automatically added to my Goodreads book shelf. Interesting.

So there you go, my three month look at the Science Fiction novel. Obviously it's not a complete list but just those books and authors who I've tried over the past many years. I hope it provides you with some ideas should you want to explore the genre. I'm not sure what I'll do next. I've thought of looking at my favorite authors over the past few years or maybe going into the spy / thriller genre. I guess you'll know when I start posting, eh?

Anyway, enjoy what remains of your weekend and have a great week. Stay safe.