New Books and Women Authors

Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria. (We'll be back!)

Yesterday Jo and I decided to go down to Coombs and treat ourselves to our first dinner out in over a year, at Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria. It being a Monday we thought it might not be busy. Were we wrong! It actually felt claustrophobic with all of the people wandering around the Goats on the Roof market and there was a line-up waiting to get in to Cuckoo. We were quite disappointed but we decided to wander around Qualicum Beach instead and have lunch at Baileys if it was still open and not busy. It was open and while the food quality isn't up to Cuckoo's standards, we were satisfied enough with everything and then had a nice wander about town. Unfortunately for me, the one book store that I really wanted to visit was closed on Monday. But other than that it was a great day; just really nice to get away from Comox for a little bit and see some other sights. Of course the puppies weren't thrilled that we were gone for 4 hours or so, but they've probably become much to dependent on us being here every single day.

In the last two days, I received a couple of books. I'll provide my synopses of them both and then I'll continue with my ongoing look at Women Authors whose work I've been enjoying.

New Books

1. Locke & Key, Vol 3: Crown of  Shadows by Joe Hill (Locke & Key #3). I've read the first two graphic novels in this series and enjoyed so very much.

"The dead plot against the living, the darkness closes in on Keyhouse, and a woman is shattered beyond repair, in the third story-line of the Eisner-nominated series, Locke & Key! Dodge continues his relentless quest to find the key to the black door, and raises an army of shadows to wipe out anyone who might get in his way. Surrounded and outnumbered, the Locke children find themselves fighting a desperate battle, all alone, in a world where the night itself has become their enemy."

2. An Easy Thing by Paco Ignacio Taibo II  (Hector Belascoran Shayne #2 / 1977). Taibo is a new author for me, writer of Mexico crime noir. I thought I'd like to see how his stories are.

"Set amidst the political turbulence and social unrest of contemporary Mexico City, An Easy Thing introduces English-speaking readers to Taibo's human and world-weary protagonist, independent detective Hector Belascoarán Shayne. In this debut outing, our hero, who, incidentally, possesses an insatiable appetite for Coca Cola and cigarettes, tackles three cases simultaneously: a killing in a corrupt factory; the deadly threats against a former porn starlet's teenage daughter; and, strangely, the search for Emiliano Zapata, folk hero and leader of the Mexican Revolution, rumored to be alive and hiding out in a cave outside Mexico City. Combining black comedy, social history and a touch of surrealism, Paco Taibo's wonderfully idiosyncratic detective novels are admired the world over and are particularly popular in Europe and in the Spanish-speaking world."

Women Authors I've Been Enjoying - Ariana Franklin (nee Diana Norman)

Ariana Franklin

Ariana Franklin was born in London in 1933 and died in Datchworth, England in 2011. She began writing under Diana Norman in 1980 and then began writing mysteries under Ariana Franklin. I discovered the first book in her Adelia Aguilar historical mystery series in 2007 and was hooked immediately. Before she died, she wrote 5 books in this excellent series, with the last book finished by her daughter, Samantha Norman. I've read the 1st four books so far and have the last book sitting on my bookshelf tempting me.

1. Mistress of the Art of Death (#1 / 2007).

"A most enjoyable mystery. Set in the England of Henry II, the story is about a Mistress of Death, Adelia Aguilar, a doctor who listens to dead bodies to find out how they died. She is sent to England to solve the murders of children in Cambridge. The story moves along so very nicely and involves you in the plot and characters immediately. Loved the setting, the characters were very interesting and the story was excellent; a great mystery that contained humour and horror.. Excellent (4 stars)"

2. The Serpent's Tale (#2 / 2008).

"What a great story! I enjoyed the first book, Mistress of the Art of Death very much, was surprised how good it was. This story was even better. The characters are interesting, the plot intricate and the setting, King Henry II's England, well-described. I read the story voraciously, it flowed so smoothly. Super story. (5 stars)"

3. Grave Goods (#3 / 2009).

"I do so very much enjoy this series. The stories are well-written; I like the main characters and the plot is always interesting and a page - turner. I enjoy a historical mystery and also like mysteries set in the UK for some reason. Maybe it's just the history and culture that draws me. This story revolves around Henry II's task to Adelia to ascertain if the bones discovered after the fire at the Abbey at Glastonbury are those of Alfred and Guinevere. Adelia and her friends journey to Glastonbury to follow Henry's orders. Along the way, of course, other mysteries intrude on the initial mission. The people that Adelia meets during this adventure/ mystery are interesting and make the story that much better. I especially liked the Tithing (I think I've got that right), poor men, forced into petty theft, but with honour and morals. I won't write more as I don't want to ruin the story for others, but Grave Goods lives up to the first two books in the Mistress of Death series and kept me interested throughout. Highly recommended. (4 stars)"

4. A Murderous Procession (#4 / 2010).

"I discovered Ariana Franklin a few years back, this is the last book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. I'm so glad I discovered the books, each one was better than the previous one. I've grown to feel a sentimental, personal attachment to the characters; the lovely, independent Adelia Aguilar, the Mistress of the art of death, who is confined to England by the King Henry II; her lover, Bishop Rowley, grumpy, irascible but always loving Adelia and their child; the aloof Mansur, the Arab eunuch who accompanied Adelia to England as her bodyguard and companion in the first book and has remained loyally by her side ever since and the others, an interesting assortment of well-crafted personalities who all enhance every story.

Added in this story is the Irish Sea Captain, O'Donnell, who also loves Adelia and you've got a fantastic mix. In this story, Henry assigns Adelia, Mansur and Rowley to escort his daughter, Princess Joanna, to Sicily to marry the Sicilian King as an alliance measure. An evil character from the previous story accompanies the party, with dangerous intent. A great story and mystery, as always, and a story filled with historical facts. Loved it. Try the series, you'll be hooked. (4 stars)" (Ed Note. It seems as though I actually have one of Franklin's standalone novels. There is one more book in this series though and I will have to find it.)

e. The Siege Winter (2014). This is a standalone historical novel finished by her daughter.)

"1141 a.d.: King Stephen is warring with his cousin Empress Matilda over the throne of England. Every cathedral, every castle, every seat of power will swear fealty to one or the other—but not every stronghold is as strategic or as valuable as Kenniford Castle in Oxfordshire. Its mistress, sixteen-year-old Maud of Kenniford, swears fealty to Stephen, but Matilda’s forces have decreed that she marry the odious John of Tewing.

Life in the fen-lands carries on as usual—that is, until the mercenaries ride through the marsh, and a small red-haired girl named Em is snatched and carried off. After the soldiers have finished with her, they leave her for dead. But fen-land girls are not easy to kill.

Although she has lost all memory of her past life, including her name, Em survives and falls under the protection of Gwyl, a Breton archer. Together Gwyl and his new protegé—now crop-headed and disguised as a boy—travel through the countryside giving archery exhibitions. But there is one man who hasn’t forgotten the little red-haired girl. He has some unfinished business with her, and he is determined to see it through.

And one freezing winter in an Oxfordshire castle completely besieged, he might well get his chance..."

The complete listing of Franklin's work can be found at this link. Enjoy the rest of your book.