A TGIF Update

I refuse to run in the rain (drizzle)

We actually had a bit of rain (maybe more like drizzle) overnight. I had planned to go for a run this morning but chickened out because I thought I might melt.. 

As is always the case, yesterday a bunch of books came in, one through the mail and others I'd ordered at one of my local bookstores, Books4Brains. Three fantasies, one fiction (spy / war) and one mystery. I'll provide the synopses for those and since I haven't finished any more books, I'll continue with my ongoing thread on Women Authors Whose Work I'm Enjoying.

New Books

1. Finders Keepers by Belinda Bauer (Exmoor #3). I've enjoyed the first book in this trilogy as well as a standalone by Bauer. 

"The eight-year-old boy had vanished from the car and—as if by slick, sick magic—had been replaced by a note on the steering wheel: “You don’t love him.” At the height of summer, a dark shadow falls across Exmoor, as children begin to disappear, with each disappearance marked only by a terse, accusatory note. There are no explanations, no ransom demands, and no hope. Policeman Jonas Holly (a character returning from Bauer’s first two novels) faces a precarious journey into the warped mind of the kidnapper if he’s to stand any chance of catching him. But—still reeling from a personal tragedy—is Jonas really up to the task? There are some who would say that, when it comes to being the first line of defense, Jonas Holly may be the last man to trust."

2. Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony by Chris Riddell (GG #4). I enjoyed the first book so very much. I'm so looking forward to continuing this series.

"Lord Goth is throwing a music festival at Ghastly-Gorm Hall, with performances from the finest musicians in the land.

Ada can't wait, but it's quite distracting when her grandmother is trying to find her father a fashionable new wife, there's a faun living in her wardrobe, and Maltravers is up to his old tricks. Ada must make sure everything goes to plan, and luckily help is at hand from a very interesting house guest..."

3. Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright by Chris Riddell (GG #3). What I said above. 😉

"People are flocking to Ghastly-Gorm Hall from far and wide to compete in Lord Goth's Literary Dog Show. The esteemed judges are in place and the contestants are all ready to win. Sir Walter Splott is preparing his Lanarkshire Lurcher, Plain Austen is preening her Hampshire Hound and Homily Dickinson and her Yankee Poodle are raring to go. But there's something strange going on at Ghastly-Gorm - mysterious footprints, howls in the night and some suspiciously chewed shoes. Can Ada, the Attic Club and their new friends the Vicarage sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) work out what's going on before the next full moon?"

4. To Walk in the Way of Lions by H. Leighton Dickson (Upper Kingdom #2). I'm currently enjoying the first book in this unique fantasy series.

"The conclusion to the sweeping epic that began in 'TO JOURNEY IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER, the story picks up where Journey leaves off, in the harsh deserts of Khanisthan. The team is running under a very set of different dynamics than before, for not only will they be forced to confront enemies tracking from the North and a hostile force from the Palace following from the South, but they must face their own demons that are plaguing them from within. It's man against man, cat against cat, Seer against Alchemist, knowledge versus ‘the Way of Things’ – a Sci-Fi 'Pride and Prejudice and Lions', like you’ve never read it before.

From the ruthless wilds of Khanisthan to the wind-swept shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the beauty and savagery of the Upper Kingdom unfolds like a living thing before them as they travel, and Kirin will find out what it means to follow the code of Bushido to the gates of death and beyond…

This is the journey of six individuals as they travel beyond the edges of the known Empire, into lands uncharted and wild. Theirs is a journey of magic and mystery, science and swords, romance and intrigue. It is a journey of different perspectives and unexpected karma and love found in surprising places. It is a journey that takes place five thousand years or so in the future, naturally in the Year of the Tiger."

5. The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin (2022). A new author for me. I saw this book when I went to pick up my orders at Books4Brains and it seemed interesting.

"Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.

As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war."

Women Authors Whose Work I'm Enjoying - P.D. James

P.D. James

English writer P.D. James lived from 1920 - 2014 and was responsible for the excellent Inspector Dalgleish mystery series. As well, she wrote other novels, Sci-Fi, Fiction, etc. Over the course of her life, she wrote 19 novels. I've managed to read 5 so far, 4 of the Inspector Dalgleish series (all excellent) and her Sci-Fi novel, Children of Men, which was better as a book, not so good as a movie. I'll look at the three most recent books I've purchased to give you a flavor for her stories.

1. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray #1 / 1972). P.D. James wrote two books in this series.

"Handsome Cambridge dropout Mark Callender died hanging by the neck with a faint trace of lipstick on his mouth. When the official verdict is suicide, his wealthy father hires fledgling private investigator Cordelia Gray to find out what led him to self-destruction. What she discovers instead is a twisting trail of secrets and sins, and the strong scent of murder."

2. Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales (2017).

"A holiday gift for all P. D. James fans to stand alongside her bestselling The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories six previously uncollected stories from the beloved "Queen of Crime"--swift, cunning murder mysteries from throughout her extraordinary career.

Put your feet up and enjoy a good read! Longtime P. D. James fans will devour these short tales of criminality and deception, each one a pleasure, evocative and engrossing. Including several stories originally published in magazines, this enchanting arrangement of memorable whodunits treats the reader to atmospheric storytelling, mysteries to be solved, and enjoyable puzzles that will keep you guessing. With wit and warmth, P. D. James pays tribute to her English crime-writing forebears, delighting in the dark secrets that lurk beneath the surface of quintessentially English settings."

3. A Private Patient (Inspector Dalgleish #14). This is the last book in the Inspector Dalgleish series. I've always been impressed with the thoughtfulness and intelligence of the Dalgleish mysteries.

"The scar on Rhoda Gradwyn's face was to be the death of her . . .

When the notorious investigative journalist, Rhoda Gradwyn, books into Mr. Chandler-Powell's private clinic in Dorset for the removal of a disfiguring and long-standing scar, she has every prospect of a successful operation and the beginning of a new life. But the Manor holds a secret and deadly enemy. While she lies drowsily recovering from the anesthetic a white-shrouded figure stealthily enters her bedroom and within minutes Rhoda is dead.

Dalgliesh and his team, called in to investigate the murder, and later a second equally horrific death, find themselves confronted with problems even more complicated than the question of innocence or guilt."

In case you're interested, this was my review of the first book in the Dalgleish series.

1. Cover Her Face (1962).

"I've previously read a couple of other PD James' Inspector Dalgleish mysteries before and enjoyed very much. I like how intelligent James writes. This is the first Dalgleish mystery and I must say I enjoyed as much as the others I've read. Dalgleish is almost a peripheral character in the story, James rather focusses on the other characters/ suspects and their activities, motivations as she develops the story. Basically, Sally Juup, a housemaid is found dead (strangled) in her bedroom. All of the family members are suspects. The story follows Dalgleish as he performs his policework, interrogating the family members, travelling around the area to discuss Sally's character and past with family members and other relations. But at the same time, the story also follows around the people from the estate, allowing us to see their motivations, their thoughts on the murder, their own investigations. It's an interesting way to present a case and I found the story well-written and interesting. There were some nice little surprises which added to the story. All-in-all, most enjoyable and I will be continuing my experiences with Inspector Dalgleish. (4 stars)"

The complete listing of James's works can be found at this link. Enjoy your weekend.