A Reading Update and My Continuing Look at my Favorite Authors

 I finished another book today, my 10th of August. It was a new author for me, the first book in a series of 3 so far. Loved it. I'll provide my review of that shortly. I'll also provide the synopsis of the next book I'm taking on, another new series for me. (Convenient since one of my 2020 Reading challenges was to start new series.) I'll also continue with my look at my Favorite authors. 

Just Finished

1. Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackmann (Ellie Cooper #1).

"Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackmann is the first of 3 books featuring Ellie Cooper, a young American, an Iraqi War vet and now a woman struggling with post traumatic stress issues and pain from a war bombing, now living in China. I have to say this story grabbed me right from the get-go, drew me in and held my interest until the very end. Excellent first book.

The story starts in China. Ellie lives there, now separated from her cheating husband, Trey, struggling with her issues and surviving on her medical benefits and working part time at a bar. She is in a semi-relationship with a Chinese artist Lao Zhang, spending time with him and also sharing a flat with another Chinese computer geek, Chuckie. The story moves from events in China to her time in Iraq as an Army medic and the development of a relationship with Trey (Military Intelligence) and traumatic events she sees and in some ways participates in. 

Back in China, Ellie finds herself involved in 'something'. It all revolves around an Uighur man who is staying with Lao Zhang. American security personnel are interested and also Chinese security officials follow and interrogate Ellie. The whole story is fascinating and action packed, some quite disturbing. Ellie is something of an anti-hero; suffering constant pain, finding it difficult to trust anyone and having her own dark secrets. The story moves around China as Ellie both tries to evade her 'enemies' and tries to communicate with Lao Zhang. Very interesting concept as they move also through an internet game world, using avatars to communicate.

Ellie is definitely an interesting, multi-dimensional character, a person unsure of what she must do and often just reacting to situations. Her friends are all interesting and the story and situations all just grab your attention. I don't want to ruin the story but suffice it to say that you will find it difficult to put down and will find some satisfaction with an excellent ending. (5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Hag's Nook by John Dickson Carr (Gideon Fell #1).

"In his detecting debut, larger than life lexicographer Dr. Gideon Fell is entertaining young American college graduate Tad Rampole at Yew Cottage, Fell's charming home in the English countryside. Within sight of his study window is the ruin of Chatterham Prison, perched high on a precipice known as Hag's Nook. The prison's land belongs to the Starberth family—whose eldest sons must each spend an hour in the prison's eerie "Governor's Room" to inherit the family fortune.

Rampole is especially interested in the family, having met the young and beautiful Dorothy Starberth on the train from London. He readily agrees when Fell and the local reverend, Thomas Saunders, ask him to accompany them as they watch and wait for badly frightened Martin Starberth to complete 'his hour' in the prison. Martin has every reason to be afraid; more than one Starberth heir has met an untimely end. Will his turn come tonight?"

My Favorite Authors - Barbara Cleverly

Barbara Cleverly

Barbara Cleverly is an English author, born in Yorkshire in 1940. She has written two series, one featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Joe Sandilands and another featuring architect, Laetitia Talbot. So far I've just tried the first series and enjoyed very much. As I recall, the first book was ok and the stories just improved with each new one. I've read five books in the Sandilands series so far. In the fifth, Sandilands has returned from a working trip to India and is now again working at Scotland Yard. So let's take a look at this series. 

1. The Last Kashmiri Rose (2001).

"In a land of saffron sunsets and blazing summer heat, an Englishwoman has been found dead, her wrists slit, her body floating in a bathtub of blood and water. But is it suicide or murder? The case falls to Scotland Yard inspector Joe Sandilands, who survived the horror of the Western Front and has endured six sultry months in English-ruled Calcutta. Sandilands is ordered to investigate, and soon discovers that there have been other mysterious deaths, hearkening sinister ties to the present case.

Now, as the sovereignty of Britain is in decline and an insurgent India is on the rise, Sandilands must navigate the treacherous corridors of political decorum to bring a cunning killer to justice knowing the next victim is already marked to die." (3 stars)

2. Ragtime in Simla (2002).

"World War I hero and Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands is traveling to Simla, summer capital of the British Raj, when he is thrust abruptly—and bloodily—into his second case of serial murder: His traveling companion, a Russian opera singer, is shot dead at his side in the Governor of Bengal's touring car at a crossroads known as Devil's Elbow. Like Cleverly's award-winning and enthusiastically reviewed The Last Kashmiri Rose, which debuted Sandilands, Ragtime in Simla effectively combines exotic settings with high suspense in a deftly plotted tale of 1920s India. At Simla, in the pine-scented Himalayan hills, the English colonials have re-created a bit of home with half-timbered houses, glittering dinner tables, amateur theatricals, and gymkhanas. But when Joe's murder investigation turns up an identical unsolved killing a year earlier, he begins to uncover behind the close-knit community's sparkling façade a sinister trail of blackmail, vice, and deadly secrets." (3 stars)

3. The Damascened Blade (2003).

"This is the third Joe Sandilands mystery I've read and it's my favorite so far. The setting is fantastic; what is now Pakistan, on the frontier border with the Khyber Pass. The characters are well-crafted; I enjoy Sandilands and I particularly liked Lily, the spirited American girl. The mystery was interesting and the story as well; well-written and well-paced. Barbara Cleverly clearly has found her stride and I'm now looking forward to getting the next book in the series. Well-done! ( 4 stars)"

4. The Palace Tiger (2004).

"This is the 4th book in the Joe Sandilands mystery series, so far set in India during the time of the Raj. Sandilands is a Scotland Yard commander who, in the first book, was seconded to the British police in India to teach law enforcement techniques to the Indian police and to learn from them as well. In the 4 books he has also worked for Sir George Jardine, the governor of Bengal, travelling around India solving various mysteries and acting as Sir George's eyes and ears in outlying areas. 

This story finds Sandilands in Ranipur, looking into the suspicious deaths of two heirs to the throne of the prince who is also dying. As well, he is to assist if possible with tracking and killing a tiger that has been killing local people. I like the pace of the story and I've grown to like Sandilands, his detective style and his personality. The mystery is interesting and worked at methodically and this allows Barbara Cleverly to give an excellent portrayal of the region and of life in the Raj at the time. The story isn't complex but it's still an entertaining read. I will now have to find the next in the series, The Bee's Kiss, which finds Sandilands returning to London. I'm looking forward to seeing him in action in more familiar turf for him. 3.5 stars."

5. The Bee's Kiss (2005).

"The Bee's Kiss by Barbara Cleverly is the 5th book in her historical mystery series featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Joe Sandilands. The series is set after WWI. The first four books found Sandilands assigned as a special investigator in India. In this fifth novel, Joe is back in London, now back with Scotland Yard and called to investigate the murder of Dame Beatrice Jagow-Joliffe who was found murdered in her room at the Ritz hotel. Two police officers, Det Sgt Bill Armitage and a female Constable, Tilly Westthorpe, were both on site when the crime was committed, Tilly as a guest at party and Armitage on security detail, keeping an eye open for a cat burglar who had been making the rounds. Both are assigned to Sandilands team.

The investigation kind of wanders hither and thither. The team travels up to the Dame's home outside of London and finds a place with lots of friction. There is one very lovely character that we meet there, Dorcas, daughter of the Dame's brother, Orlando. There are a number of suspects, including the brother, a boyfriend of Beatrice, her lady's companion as well. It turns out that Beatrice was a leading light in the WREN's during WWI and an excellent cryptographer. She continued to be involved with this organization. 

The mystery includes the impending miner's strike, Bolshevists, maybe German spies and other possible intrigues. Sandilands is told to wrap up the investigation from the top but continues on his own, with help from his team and others in Scotland Yard. It took me awhile to get into this story, but I warmed to it. There were many good characters and the little twists and turns in the investigation added to the intrigue. Sandilands is a light-hearted character, a bit of a ladies man and intelligent. I enjoyed the ending and the overall story. Number 6 sits on my bookshelf, awaiting my attention (3.5 stars)"

So there you go. I have the next Sandilands' mystery and the 1st Laetitia Talbot mystery on my book shelves. The complete listing of Cleverly's works can be found at this link.

My next entry will be my mid-week music medley. Enjoy the rest of your night. If you're watching the RNC convention, wear ear defenders if the shouting form last night is carried forward.