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| Borrowed from Hameedullah |
OK, rant over.. *mutter mumble*
Yesterday I got a book in the mail that my lovely wife ordered for me. While I currently have six books on the go, I've started it anyway. That way I'll finish sooner and Jo can send it to a friend of hers. I'll provide synopsis of it and then I'll continue with my ongoing look at my favorite authors.
New Book / Currently Reading
"In this revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him, Mary L. Trump, a trained clinical psychologist and Donald’s only niece, shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world’s health, economic security, and social fabric.
Mary Trump spent much of her childhood in her grandparents’ large, imposing house in the heart of Queens, where Donald and his four siblings grew up. She describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse. She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald.A first-hand witness to countless holiday meals and family interactions, Mary brings an incisive wit and unexpected humor to sometimes grim, often confounding family events. She recounts in unsparing detail everything from her uncle Donald’s place in the family spotlight and Ivana’s penchant for re-gifting to her grandmother’s frequent injuries and illnesses and the appalling way Donald, Fred Trump’s favorite son, dismissed and derided him when he began to succumb to Alzheimer’s.
Numerous pundits, armchair psychologists, and journalists have sought to parse Donald J. Trump’s lethal flaws. Mary L. Trump has the education, insight, and intimate familiarity needed to reveal what makes Donald, and the rest of her clan, tick. She alone can recount this fascinating, unnerving saga, not just because of her insider’s perspective but also because she is the only Trump willing to tell the truth about one of the world’s most powerful and dysfunctional families."
Numerous pundits, armchair psychologists, and journalists have sought to parse Donald J. Trump’s lethal flaws. Mary L. Trump has the education, insight, and intimate familiarity needed to reveal what makes Donald, and the rest of her clan, tick. She alone can recount this fascinating, unnerving saga, not just because of her insider’s perspective but also because she is the only Trump willing to tell the truth about one of the world’s most powerful and dysfunctional families."
My Favorite Authors - W.J. Burley
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| William John Burley |
William John (W.J.) Burley was born and died in Cornwall, UK, living from 1914 - 2002. Over the course of his life, while he did write some other books, his focus was on police detective Charles Wycliffe. From 1968 thru 2003, he wrote 23 books in the series. I've not seen it but the books were the basis for a popular British TV series in the 90's. Since I discovered the series I've read 8 books, not in any particular order at first. But of late I've enjoyed the first book and will continue in sequence until I finish the series. Let's take a look at those I've read.
"I've read a few of the Superintendent Wycliffe mysteries and enjoyed. This is the second in the series and finds Wycliffe on vacation with his wife, Helen at the coast. While there he gets involved in investigating a murder in a hotel by the waterfront. He's an interesting character, is Superintendent Wycliffe, likes to use his instincts more than criminal analyses of the CSI vein. As we delve into the story and find out more about the woman who was murdered and what she's been involved in and the people around her, the story becomes a nicely complex puzzle. I enjoyed it very much and am glad that I refreshed my acquaintance with Wycliffe. Nice ending too. (4 stars)"
"Every year, at Halloween, high on the Cornish cliffs, a life-sized effigy of a man is strapped to a blazing wheel and run into the sea - a re-enactment of a hideous old legend where the figure had been a living sacrifice. And now Jonathan Riddle, well-known and respected local builder and undertaker, has disappeared - and it seems all too likely that his corpse has gone the way of the historic 'scapegoat'. As Chief Superintendent Wycliffe begins to investigate, more and more unpleasant facts emerge until he is left with an incredible, and seemingly impossible, solution . . " (3 stars)
"Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine is the last Wycliffe mystery published from W.J. Burley's work. He died without completing his last work. As all of the books in this series I've read so far, this last one was excellent.
Wycliffe is assigned to investigate the murder of Francine Lemarque, one of a group of artisans who make up the Guild of Nine. Francine appeared originally in The Quiet Virgin, one of Burley's earlier Wycliffe mysteries. In that story, Francine murdered her father. She has obviously served her sentence and now lives in the family home and works with her brother for Frances Bacon Archer, the creator of the Guild. Francine has inherited a large amount of money and wants to buy into the Guild and become one of the directors. She is in the process of arranging this with Archer's wife, Dutch born Lina, when she is found dead.
Returning to Mulfra (west of St Ives) with his investigation team will bring back many memories for Wycliffe. At the same time, he is considering retiring as he has just received a new supervisor and in his crusty way isn't sure he wants to work for her.
I do love the process followed in these mysteries. While Wycliffe often relies on his wits in solving the crimes he investigates, we do also get to see how his team works; from the Forensics to the Coroner, to his investigators, even down to the administrative process. I liked his DS Lucy Lane, who is his sounding board in this story, but even the smallest of his team can play a role.
As Wycliffe investigates, he must deal with further deaths in the colony and adds a sense of urgency to the investigation. Is there one murderer? Or more? Are the deaths related to Francine's investigation into the dealings of the colony or maybe into her 'love' life, such as it is or isn't or maybe even into her past life and murder of her father.
The story moves along nicely and thoughtfully. There are a few red herrings along the way but the story is enjoyable and a pleasure to read. It's unfortunate that this is the last Wycliffe mystery but I'm lucky that I haven't been reading in order so I still get to enjoy this series. (4 stars)"
"I've read and enjoyed five or six of W.J. Burley's Inspector Wycliffe mysteries and finally got a copy of the 1st book, Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy. Once again, I enjoyed the story and mystery. Wycliffe is working a case in Kergwyns, on the Cornish coast, having been sent from his home base of Essex. A woman, Pussy Welles is dead, murdered by a gunshot to the chest. One of her stockings has been torn off, revealing that her left foot has only three toes (hence the title).
Wycliffe is not your typical police inspector. He lets the forensics crew and other experts do their work, but tends to eschew their results. He prefers to wander about, talking to people, even that seems somewhat grudging, and let his intuition solve the crime. He even finds himself grumpy when forced to listen to theories from his investigators.
Kergwyns is a small coastal town and Pussy held court with a small group of acquaintances. She had relations with all of the men, married or not, and used the power to gain advantage. Basically, she wasn't necessarily a popular person, especially so to the wives of the men affected. Most were not sad to see her gone.
Wycliffe investigates, thinks, talks to suspects and thinks some more. There have been other deaths and close calls related to Pussy's past. Were these related to her murder?
The story isn't so much about figuring out the crime; the ultimate solution seems somewhat to come of left field (there are clues of course). It's more about Wycliffe's interactions and feelings. I do like the Wycliffe stories. They move along nicely and offer a good perspective on Wycliffe's personality. This was an excellent introduction. (3.5 stars)"
"Chief Superintendent Wycliffe doubted whether he would enjoy his Christmas. With his wife away, he rashly accepted an invitation to stay with a Penzance lawyer and his family, but when he arrives the weather is awful, the house miles from anywhere, and the family less than welcoming.
Then a young girl goes missing. Wycliffe had seen her playing the part of the Virgin in the local nativity play, but when he asks around he discovers the girl was difficult and unpopular in the neighborhood. Even her parents seem indifferent to their daughter's disappearance. So Wycliffe instigates a search - and soon finds himself caught up in a major criminal investigation" (3 stars)
"Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street by W.J. Burley is the 5th book in the Chief Superintendent Wycliffe mystery series. Wycliffe works for CID in a West County town. It's a few days from Xmas and a prostitute is murdered on Stanley Street.
As Wycliffe and his team investigate, the murder is not as simple as it seems; is the prostitute blackmailing people, are drugs involved, is it a spurned lover? Wycliffe is a grumpy fella, adjusting to a new appointment and new location. He has an excellent team, from his assistant, WPC Saxton to crusty Inspector Gill.
The story moves along matter-of-factly. We do get so spend a brief time with wife, Helen and the family. But it's all about the case for Wycliffe and he just seems to fall into the solution. The story is a pleasure to read, almost cozy, with a slight edge. (3 stars)"
"There was no doubt at all that the girl was dead. The front of her skull and her facial bones had been splintered like the cracked shell of an egg. What made it even more shocking was the setting of the murder - an idyllic corner of the Scilly Isles where violent crime was almost unknown.
"Caroline Bryce came from the top of the social register in the tranquil town of Treen. So it was quite a scandal when her body was dragged from the bottom of the river. As Superintendent Wycliffe investigates, he’s faced with a number of questions: Who would want to kill the beautiful Mrs. Bryce? Was it a lover’s quarrel? Or a long-held resentment that had suddenly exploded in a moment of madness? As Wycliffe begins to unravel an intricate tangle of love and hate, he finds himself on the trail of a psychotic killer who feels no remorse." (4 stars)
It's been an enjoyable series and I look forward to continuing it. The complete listing of Burley's books can be found at this link.
Enjoy the rest of your week and enjoy a good book.
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