Christmas Eve Post - A Book Update and Other Things

The view from dining room. Yes we had snow last night

Jo and I have had a busy few weeks, getting the house ready for Xmas, shopping for each other, going down to Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo, even going out to dinner a few times.

Jo did a great job decorating the tree

Last night, we had a dump of snow, thereby ensuring we will have a white Christmas. We spent a little time outside, cleaning the driveway, knocking snow off the hedge and lilac and other trees. Poor things were weighed over with the snow.

A number of odd looking deer, mice and gnomes have appeared around the house

The house has smelled lovely today. Jo made our traditional paté earlier, a chicken stew and now the house smells like lemon and lime as she's in the process of making her world famous lemon - lime cheesecake. We're taking a Xmas holiday from tracking our calories and carbs, even though we're not going hog wild or anything, just enjoying ourselves.

See what I mean, they are everywhere. May need an exterminator.

As I mentioned earlier, I shoveled the driveway and sidewalk between our place and the neighbor. The plow did our crescent but never made it into our Place, so it would be interesting to try and drive out of her, or even more so trying to get back in.

 My Library was a bit tired

A few weeks back, Jo and I took down My Little Free Library. It had been up for 5 years or so and needed a paint job.

Bright new and shiny

Jo willingly took on the challenge of painting it and as you can see, did a fantastic job with it. It looks great.

Looks great, eh?

So earlier in the week, prior to our dumping of snow, Jo and I put it back up on the post out front and I put in the books. It's open for business again!

I've finished 3 books since my last reading update. I've not started anymore books as I still have 3 to finish before end December. I've also received a few more books since the last update so I'll highlight those with the synopses.

Just Finished

 

1. The Armada Boy by Kate Ellis (Wesley Peterson #2).

"It's been a few years since I've delved into this series and I'm glad I finally did again. The Armada Boy is the 2nd book in the Wesley Peterson mystery series by Kate Ellis. Peterson is a Detective Sgt working in the West Country of England. He had started off as an archaeology student but changed over to police work; first in London and then moving west with his teacher wife, Pam (she is newly pregnant).

This story does have an archaeological twist to it; one case related to American veterans who were stationed in the community as they prepared for D-Day and the other story an archaeological dig looking into a shipwrecked ship of the Spanish Armada. How these two stories become related makes for very interesting reading.

The main story is the murder of one of the American veterans. A group of them have returned to the area to remember their time there and to take part in remembrance ceremonies. There are many suspects in the murder and as Peterson, his boss Gerry Hefferman, plus the other members of CID continue to investigate, they discover more possibilities.

It's all very well presented, crafted and moved along. The working relationship between Peterson and Heffernan is excellent. They have a great rapport and just seem to get along so very well, even though they are different personalities; Peterson an educated, intelligent and a happy family man; Hefferman a widow, down-to-earth, crusty and with a nice sense of humor.

The interweaving of the Armada story with that of the American troops story makes for an interesting scenario and how those stories impacted on the local community makes it even more interesting. Ellis tells a great tale and provides interesting characters a very satisfying resolution to the case. Most enjoyable. I hope I get on to Book 3 in the series a bit quicker. (4 stars)"

2. JFK is Missing by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #2).

"JFK Is Missing! is the 2nd PI Grace Smith mystery by English mystery writer Liz Evans. This was every bit as good as the first mystery, Who Killed Marilyn Monroe?.

Grace Smith is an ex-police woman who left the police force under a cloud of suspicion that she took bribes. She is now a competent, somewhat lazy and struggling PI working in a detective agency on England's south coast, in the town of Seatoun. Grace gets two cases on the same day; blind Henry Summerstone wants her to find a woman he had become friends with and seemed to be missing, and teenage girl Bones, daughter of rich parents, wants her to find an older man, because Bones wants to bring him on a date.

During her investigation as she wanders the waterfront trying to get info on missing Kristen, Grace runs into roller skater Figgy and his pregnant girl friend, Mickey. They have been living rough in a beach hut, but shortly will sneak into the apartment of Grace's fellow PI, Annie Smith (no relation) while Annie is away, causing all sorts of tribulation.

The investigation is always interesting and also very convoluted. Grace is a fascinating character, finding herself in predicaments, taking on guises to gather information. She's not always successful but she's so enjoyable to follow around; she's irascible , humorous and even tough. She's a bit of a loner but seems to have lots of friends. I enjoy all of the characters that show up in this story, no matter how small a role. I especially like Annie who is really her best friend, a skilled PI in her own right. I love the names Annie's parents give their kids; Zebedee, her brother, Tally one of her twins (Tallahassee) and the other twin, Tennessee.

There is so much to enjoy about the story, how it move along, how confusing it gets, how it ultimately ties together. There are lovely characters, humor, tension, great writing, etc. Just a wonderful enjoyable mystery; kind of a combination of Sue Grafton's world weary Kinsey Milhone and Janet Evanovich's klutzy Stephanie Plum. I won't wait so long to read #3, but there are currently only 6 books in this excellent series, so I don't want to rush things. (4 stars)"

3. The Revolt of Gunner Asch by Hans Hellmut Kirst (Gunner Asch #1).

"I've read and 'enjoyed' other books by German author Hans Hellmut Kirst, The Night of the Generals, Hero In The Tower, etc. He offers an interesting perspective on war, the Nazi army, etc. The Revolt of Gunner Asch is the first of a series of books featuring German artillery gunner, Herbert Asch.

The story is set pre-WWII and Asch is assigned to a military base in a small town in Germany. He's in love with Elizabeth Freitag who works in one of the messes on base. Asch's father owns a bar in town. Asch is a somewhat lazy soldier, getting by on his wits and good nature. But gradually he becomes irritated with the way his leadership treats the soldiers under them, especially Sgt Major Schulz. Schulz wants all of his subordinates under his thumb. He abuses his wife Lore, who now seeks attention from Schulz's subordinates, superiors, anybody. Schulz also tries to control his bosses with sycophantic displays.

When Asch's comrade in arms, Gunner Vierbein, a mild-mannered somewhat of a pushover, soldier, is driven to attempt suicide after an abuse campaign from Schulz, Asch begins a revolt, an attempt to upset the equilibrium in the camp and German army. An interesting story becomes more interesting with Asch's campaign, along with a bit of help from one or two of Asch's compatriots.

It's an interesting story one with a perspective I don't often sample. I liked Asch, his personality, strength of character and his attitude. I liked his compatriot Lance Corporal Kowalski, an outspoken, trustworthy trouble-maker. I  liked Asch's girlfriend, Elizabeth, a strong woman, who loves Asch and when she realizes what he's up to, steps in to try and keep him out of trouble. Lt Wedelmann, a young officer, who starts off the story as a lonely, friendless young officer, under Schulz's thumb, shows the most growth by story's end. All in all, an entertaining story, offering a nice perspective of life in a German army camp and of the surrounding community. (3 stars)"

I have three other books I hope to finish by year's end. They are -

1. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey (Inspector Peter Diamond #1)

2. Anne of the Island by Louisa May Alcott (Anne of Green Gables #3), &

3. There is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century by Fiona Hill.

New Books

1.  The Mask of Glass by Holly Roth (1957). I've read a couple of books by Roth and like her take on the spy genre.

"Jimmy Kennemore of the US Army Counter-Intelligence Corps, wakes up in hospital to find himself unable to move, bandaged and cast all over, his head wrapped up with a few spaces for eye holes. He has been saved by a Doctor Steinfeld (‘Doc’) a long term family friend, but the Doc doesn’t know what has happened and by the looks of it neither does Jimmy. As he slips in and out of consciousness Jimmy is forced to mentally reconstruct the last few days events, that lead to the intense night of violence he experienced. As each piece of the story unravels it builds into an exploration of corruption, murder and the haunting nature of a shifting identity, as Kennemore decides what action he can take in the wake of this terror."

2. Toff on Board by John Creasey (Toff #21). I've enjoyed other series by Creasey, who wrote under many pseudonyms. I have yet to try this adventure series.

" The Toff boarded the Princess May following a trail of blood and knowing the killer was on board and will strike again. The Toff finds the passengers to be a shady lot and he is in love with one of his chief suspects"

3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows #1). Bardugo is a new author for me. The story sounded very interesting.

"Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first."

4. Murder by Matchlight by E.C.R. Lorac (1945). Another new author for me. 

""A man who played about on the fringes of the Black Market, who had fought for Sinn Fein, who lived by his wits - and who finally became dangerous to somebody and was knocked over the head in the blackout. It may prove to be a sordid story, but I certainly find it an interesting one."'

London, 1945. The capital is shrouded in the darkness of the blackout, and mystery abounds in the parks after dusk.

During a stroll through Regent's Park, Bruce Mallaig witnesses two men acting suspiciously around a footbridge. In a matter of moments, one of them has been murdered; Mallaig's view of the assailant but a brief glimpse of a ghastly face in the glow of a struck match.

The murderer's noiseless approach and escape seems to defy all logic, and even the victim's identity is quickly thrown into uncertainty. Lorac's shrewd yet personable C.I.D. man MacDonald must set to work once again to unravel this near-impossible mystery."

5. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (Ruth Galloway #2). I enjoyed the first book in this crime series very much.

 

 

 

 

 

"It’s been only a few months since archaeologist Ruth Galloway found herself entangled in a missing persons case, barely escaping with her life. But when construction workers demolishing a large old house in Norwich uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway—minus its skull—Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand?

Ruth and Detective Harry Nelson would like to find out—and fast. When they realize the house was once a children’s home, they track down the Catholic priest who served as its operator. Father Hennessey reports that two children did go missing from the home forty years before—a boy and a girl. They were never found. When carbon dating proves that the child’s bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn ever more deeply into the case.

But as spring turns into summer it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death."

 

6. The Magic Cottage by James Herbert (1986). Herbert has quickly become one of my favorite horror authors.

"A cottage was found in the heart of the forest. It was charming, maybe a little run-down, but so peaceful—a magical haven for creativity and love. But the cottage had an alternative side—the bad magic. What happened there was horrendous beyond belief."

Well, folks. It's very late and I can't continue. Just pooped. Hope the books listed give you some reading ideas. I'll continue with this either Xmas Day when we're relaxing or on Boxing Day. Have a wonderful Xmas. Stay safe.