I finished my 4th book of 2021, one by my January Focus Author - Simon Brett. I'll provide my review of it and also the synopsis of the next Brett book. Then I'll continue with my look at favorite authors.
Just Finished
"The Torso in the Town is the 3rd book English author, Simon Brett's Fethering cozy mystery series. I've also enjoyed books in his Mrs. Pargeter and Charles Paris series. The Fethering series features two neighbors, Carole Seddon & Jude, from the south coast town of Fethering (near Brighton) who get involved solving mysteries in the surrounding communities.
Jude is invited to dinner by a couple, she met previously in Spain, living in a nearby town, Fedborough. During the dinner, the Roxby's teenage son discovers a loose panel in the cellar and behind that panel the dismembered torso of a woman's body. It appears that the body has been there for a number of years.
Carole has withdrawn from her friend and Fethering due to a failed romance with neighborhood bar owner Ted Crisp. Carole is embarrassed and can't bring herself to face Ted. Jude thinks that investigating the appearance of the body and how it ended up in the Roxby's basement might distract Carole from her issues.
So the two friends begin to spend time in Fedborough, taking part in the communities Art Festival, meeting and chatting with locals, trying to gather clues on the body and the 'murder'? It's an entertaining story and is filled with interesting characters. Jude and Carole make an excellent team and it's fun getting to know them again. I find it interesting that Carole still doesn't even know her neighbor's last name or much else about her private life. It's due to a combination of Carole's insecurities and Jude's enigmatic attitude towards providing info about her life.
It's a nice, entertaining cozy mystery with lots of clues and suspects. The process of trying to gather information is as interesting as the mystery itself. I liked discovering more about the community of Fedborough, how everyone in a small community seems to know everything about everyone else; or tries to portray that they do and also the power of the gossip chain of communication. All in all a light, entertaining mystery. (3.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Simon Brett introduces Melita Pargeter, his newest detective. Melita is a rich and vivacious lady, whose mystery-solving talents come in handy when a murderer strikes a hotel for retirees. Simon's talents come in handy for writing hilariously."
My Favorite Authors - Peter O'Donnell
Peter O'Donnell was an English author of mysteries, comic books and was best known for his Modesty Blaise thriller / adventure series. He was born in Lewisham in 1920 and died in Brighton in 2010. O'Donnell wrote 13 books in the Blaise series and I have every book on my shelf and have finished 5 so far. 
Peter O'Donnell
My review - "Very good adventure. I've now read two of the Modesty Blaise series and enjoy the series. Modesty and Willie Garvin, her partner in crime, have given up the Network, a crime organization and live in retirement but come out when the need arises, now to help stop crime. I like their relationship, their skill and the stories are interesting. Not much else to say. :) (3 stars)"
Synopsis - "This installment of the Modesty Blaise adventures finds Modesty and faithful friend Willie Garvin trying to get to the bottom of another of Seff's evil plots. When it is discovered that a disturbed young man named Lucifer has the ability to foresee the death of those around him, Seff recruits the boy into his gang and uses his powers of premonition to evil ends, extracting ransom from rich victims who have been told of their impending death. During the course of her investigation Modesty's cover is blown, and she finds herself trapped on Seff's island stronghold and must use all of her guile and brains to escape."
My Review - "Exactly what I expected and I wasn't disappointed. An interesting adventure/ thriller. Modesty Blaise and her partner Willie take on mercenaries to help out MI-6. Modesty is larger than life, competent, skilled, imaginative and able to think out of any problem. Willie is the perfect partner, what Modesty can't do, he can. Their lives are at risk, but they find ways to even the odd. A perfect Saturday afternoon serial type movie. I enjoyed very much. (3 stars)"
Synopsis - "Exactly what I expected and I wasn't disappointed. An interesting adventure/ thriller. Modesty Blaise and her partner Willie take on mercenaries to help out MI-6. Modesty is larger than life, competent, skilled, imaginative and able to think out of any problem. Willie is the perfect partner, what Modesty can't do, he can. Their lives are at risk, but they find ways to even the odd. A perfect Saturday afternoon serial type movie. I enjoyed very much."
"I've read two other books in this series but finally managed to snag a copy of the first book. It's an entertaining series. Modesty Blaise was an war-orphan who moved about and eventually, relying on strength of character and other factors, ended up running The Network, a successful 'crime' organization that operated in Europe and other locations. In this story, she has been retired and is living in London, when the secret service asks her to come out retirement to help them stop a major robbery and prevent an international incident. She accepts and bringing along her friend and partner, Willie Garvin, begins an adventure that will take her through the Mediterranean, Egypt and other locations as she tracks down Gabriel and his gang who want to rob a ship of millions in diamonds. It's kind of James Bondish, Doc Savage, but with a heroine who is confident, successful and talented. Lots of fun and a good entertaining adventure. (3 stars)"
"A Taste for Death is the 4th book in the Modesty Blaise adventure / thriller series by Peter O'Donnell. I enjoyed this as much as the first three. Modesty is a strong, independent woman (think Lara Croft) who finds herself in many sticky situations and is helped to deal with them by her partner / best friend Willie Garvin. Both started out in the criminal world and have retired. Living in England and enjoying life they regularly help British spymaster, Tarrant, with various situations that need an independent, non-governmental hand.
In this story, Willie Garvin is on vacation in Panama, diving for pearls, when he comes across an attack on two women and saves one, her sister being murdered.
The enemies involved include Gabriel and McWhirter, who Modesty and Willie have battled previously. A new foe also is involved, one from Willie's past. The two, along with Modesty's beau, Stephen Collier, must travel to Algeria, to try and save blind Dinah Pilgrim and a group of archeologists, from Gabriel and Delicata (one of the more vicious villains I've met yet), risking their lives in the process.
Like the others, this is an entertaining, page turner, with strong likeable characters who you find yourself rooting for. Most enjoyable (3.5 stars)"
"The Modesty Blaise series is a fun, entertaining, action-packed thrill ride. Modesty is a larger than life heroine, a one-time master criminal who lead the Network, ably assisted by her right-hand man and best friend, Willie Garvin. Now retired, she still helps British Intelligence when requested by her friend, Sir Gerald Tarrant, as she does in the 2nd story, The Giggle Wrecker. But more often than not, she just gets caught up in situations, finding herself and Willie rescuing friends from unfortunate situations. She is matter of fact, a marksman, physically talented in hand-to-hand combat and at the same time, a lady and with a strong moral compass about what is right and wrong. I enjoyed this series of short stories, all entertaining and finding Modesty in Britain, Finland and the Mediterranean. Best story for me was I Had a Date with Lady Janet, where we saw Willie in the major role, forced to save Modesty from an old enemy. Lots of fun and an enjoyable read. (3 stars)
My focus author for September is O'Donnell so I hope to make more progress on this series. The complete list of O'Donnell's works are available in this link.
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